Final

"No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force."
-Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

Gallic Uprising Suppression / Rome Loses Gaul

This battle is another 'Roman Scenario' and represents the second time Gaul has had to be conquered. The enemy forces are:

1. Boom mode / French
2. Rush mode / French
3. Rush mode / Germans

The Part numbers represent the video numbers when I uploaded to YouTube. I've stopped doing that and the videos are no longer available. However, for my last campaign in this game the following summaries give an insight into the magnitude of this final battle.

Part 482: Campaign Begins

Sharoma receives word that the Gauls are fomenting rebellion and that the fearsome tribes of Germania are stirring. His 27th Campaign begins...

Part 483: Colossus Falls

During this part Spoletium continued to be raided by all three enemy armies. Since the legions were tied down, the 7th was formed as an expeditionary force from elements of the 4th, the 1st and available reserves. Once this improvised force had captured Erfurt the 4th came to reinforce them. A fort was built behind the line and javelineers sent to garrison it. After successfully defending Erfurt, the 1st arrived on the scene so the 7th could be disbanded in light of the Colossus falling. Its infantry was sent home to be assigned to the 6th, still holding the main line. Sharoma himself has to constantly shuttle between fronts to encourage and heal the troops. Although Vienna and Leipzig have been captured, the situation remains critical.

The loss of the Colossus brings great danger to the situation. Overall strength remained were it was, but as units died no new ones were sanctioned until the new limit of 200 was reached. This represents a 20% loss from peak strength when the wonder fell. A peacock resource is now sorely needed to boost population allowance.

Part 484: Vienna Seized

The situation remains critical. The Romans are under constant attack and only careful management is keeping the lines intact. The actions outside Vienna to defend its capture earned a number of centurions high praise. This sector has now been fortified and represents the main battle line, although it is vulnerable and Roman territory could be cut in two. The 6th Infantry, low on legionaries, is now remote from the main action and faces a whole nation by itself, without its head of state nearby to heal or offer encouragement.

At one point during the battle a 'fire squad' was formed as the 9th Infantry with orders to clear the outlying suburbs of Vienna so the main line could breathe, heal and dig in. They adopted a dense column and fought bravely.

There is no way to advance any farther without losing territory elsewhere so a new strategy needs to be developed. The loss of the Colossus is still bitter in the mind of the Romans - to compensate for the lost population, legions might have to share a single artillery regiment.

Part 485: Trier Taken

This hour of combat saw little progress other than the successful storming of Trier. Attempts were made to form a fortified line running from Vienna to Spoletium but not enough troops were available to guard every section. Most towers would eventually fall to enemy artillery (in Part 486) but Trier is still in Roman hands. Use of light infantry javelineers has increased as these troops can be raised and deployed the quickest, and are also the cheapest in terms of resource type required. The idea to consolidate all artillery into one regiment was abandoned as it wouldn't free up enough units to form a new infantry cohort. In minor non-combatant news, Spoletium was stripped of its food production infrastructure. Its farms were razed and the granary deleted to prevent it from falling into enemy hands and to free up more space for the units to form up.

Napoleon and Frederick the Great continue to co-operate around Vienna and action here is constant and harsh. Sharoma himself is positioned here to heal and do everything possible to prevent this vital line from collapsing. Forming a single front with which to face the enemy is a key strategy but it is exceedingly difficult to direct all three enemies to one location or target. Therefore I adopted the strategy of optimal defence, through which a position is held, usually at a reduced city, indefinitely while a stronger force elsewhere advances. This strategy is currently failing because the force that is supposed to be advancing now finds itself besieged and seeking to build its own optimum defence.

Future?

It is hoped that another hour or two of severe losses will force the 'defensive' French team out, as happened with Sitting Bull in the previous game (see Parts 420 to 481). Otherwise a population of 200 is unlikely sufficient to vanquish these three enemies and the tentative stalemate will continue. Bear in mind also that both French teams have supply wagon healing, whereas the Romans (and Germans) do not.

Part 486: Trier Holds

Three hours in and the Romans are stuck to their quarter of the map. The battle raged for another 90 minutes, during which thousands of Gauls and Germans died attempting to wrest Vienna from the Romans. Trier remains in Roman hands and all forces are still stretched to the limit. The fortified line to Spoletium has been damaged in various sectors.

When Trier is threatened from the north by forces loyal to Louis XIV, the 1st or 4th march north to relieve it, only to about-face and march back as soon as possible to relieve the now over-stretched formation at Vienna. This happened more than once in Part 486. The 2nd and 3rd Cavalry regiments - usually the heavy type - are constantly on the move, providing relief across the battlefield, screening the enemy and protecting the legions' flanks.

At 39:10 we see the 4th Infantry form a dense arrowhead formation, advance past Trier as it suffers from bombardment, to deploy into line of battle. They then about-face, hold formation and retreat to form a line with the city and its fort protecting their right flank. This re-positioning was achieved at the last possible moment, otherwise it would have been too messy to disengage and the legion, lacking support and with an exposed flank, would probably have taken heavier losses.

The 6th Infantry was formed and reformed several times and eventually moved out from its starting position once the Blue French moved off to invest Trier. After fighting outside the town alongside the 4th (see 1:33:40), they fell back again because Spoletium cannot under any circumstances fall to the enemy. Towers continue to be built in the vicinity, and by the end of Part 486 the 6th is strongly entrenched again.

...And After all that the borders haven't changed at all since Part 485!

At 1:38:38 (4:19:00 game time) you can see a militaman swinging his axe at a French trebuchet!

Part 487: Peacock Progress

Following the 90 minute defensive battles of Part 486, it appeared as though the blue French were exhausted and needed to regroup - the perfect time to attack. A muster of peacocks was identified to the north. This is strategically vital yet all sides up to now had mostly ignored it. A merchant here allows an expansion to population equivalent to 10% (20 extra units) and would help to make up for the loss of the Colossus in Part 483. Scouts identified and destroyed a French hut but little else. A merchant was ordered. The 1st Infantry was taken from the southern front at Vienna and without the Senator it marched north with the 6th Infantry in support, itself under-strength. This was a gamble. Two major defensive positions were being abandoned or weakened at a critical time, just to capture some peacocks. Trier would be left undefended: it could no longer be relieved by any troops from the south or east. It would be a bait to the French, but out of necessity, not intention. If I'd been able to hold it and advance north at the same time, I would. The reward of losing it, however, would be worth it. 20 extra units to form a new force or make the existing ones larger. At first a French city could not be found and the 1st Infantry did not stay with the 6th and removed from fighting for too long, had to quickly attack Cherbourg. It was sited expertly, thankfully - defense would be easy. It was seized but the peacocks were still not accessible and the French had already taken Trier and were threatening our central sector, still undefended. The 1st was now trapped in a pocket and for a time French territory enveloped them. They were able to hold out, however, allowing the 6th to keep the blues on the move. The 6th therefore moved south to retake Trier. It lacked sufficient artillery having only one trebuchet left. It took longer than usual, but this city too was retaken. Once barracks were built at Cherbourg, the front started to look secure and the French city of Bordeaux was now a salient in our territory, ripe for a pincer movement.

Numerous fortresses were built as soon as possible and pushed the border enough to encompass the peacocks, although the toll on our metal stocks has been heavy as each fort uses more than the last. The merchant immediately relocated and the barracks and stables provided the troops. The French hadn't even bothered to contest the peacocks or replace their lost hut. A soon as possible, a fortress next to the hut itself was garrisoned, even as other fronts bled. The French were not idle. The 1st and 6th were continually beaten back and at one point both were just the ragged remains of armies and even in combination were weak and their front held up only by emergency redeployment of heavy cavalry. Our overall population was down in the 180s but the 4th still held. Only core units of the 1st and 6th remained. The French too suffered heavy losses and could not recapture Cherbourg or Bordeaux. Their own exhaustion allowed us to rebuild. At 1:10:00 you can watch the French assault our prepared line outside the city.

Bordeaux had been captured in a pincer movement, when forces from Cherbourg could unite with our southern relief forces coming up from Vienna. For the first time the strategic initiative rests with the Romans as blue French forces are now struggling to form into larger armies. They are running to the battle as they appear and dying in detail.

The 4th Infantry stood firm throughout, behind its trenches, fighting two nations: bloodthirsty Germans and vengeful Gauls. A truly heroic stand. It was next to the supply depot and therefore never lacked for strength or reserves. Sharoma (The Senator) was here, healing troops in his vicinity. Heavy cavalry supported the right-north wing in a continuous stream - the toll on our metal mines has been so heavy that this stable will switch to light cavalry in Part 488. The main infantry barracks are also located here and a 7th Infantry shock force was at one point formed to aggressively push back the German line. This they did with 100% losses - a forlorn hope, as it were. At numerous points the rally point for fresh troops had to be redirected north to the Cherbourg front as pressure there was continuous and command shared between two generals, both of whom can't heal any troops.

Meanwhile, Leipzig was seized since the 4th Infantry stood so firm that the Germans lost numerous armies. They could not defend or even mount a meaningful recapture of Leipzig. It remains vulnerable yet is in Roman hands. Our tax and farming incomes have allowed us to redirect more citizens into the army. Despite that, metal mines in Trier reopened once our stocks fell below 5000 - dangerously low, since metal is needed to raise legions, equip heavy cavalry and build forts. Minor repairs were carried out in Munich. This front remains quiet but vulnerable.

Part 488: Brest Occupied

To further consolidate our gains in the north, protect the peacocks and relieve pressure on Cherbourg, Brest was occupied. Heavy fighting continued outside Vienna as the 4th Infantry stood fast. The 6th and 1st remain committed, constantly beaten down and brought back up to strength. The 1st lost almost all its infantry in seizing Brest.

Part 489: Loss of Brest & 6th Infantry

Six hours into the re-conquest of Gaul, with one German and two French armies constantly harassing our positions.

Elements of the 1st Infantry remained at Brest to defend it against recapture as the blue French continued to press Cherbourg. This necessitated redeployment of the 1st back to its assembly area where fresh troops were waiting, leaving Brest exposed. The Germans temporarily switched their attacks from Vienna and pushed north, investing and retaking Leipzig, which we could not spare troops to defend. The purple French attacked Bordeaux at the same time, which we did defend for a time with heavy losses, before it too fell. Vienna was briefly repaired during these incidents and its defending forces were sent out on operations to bring the enemy back to the Vienna front. The 4th was given a bloody nose but its mission succeeded. It wasn't long before the Germans renewed their attacks on Vienna and the 4th Infantry, reformed, took up its old position once again, with the 3rd Cavalry in support on its right flank.

Due to the fluid nature of the front, the heavy losses taken to hold Bordeaux and the loss of Leipzig, Brest could not be held as the 1st was unable to disengage from fighting around Cherbourg. Brest was lost and the surrounding area fell under French control. Compounding this setback, the 6th Infantry was completely wiped out defending Bordeaux and had to be reformed in the rear - even its commanding officer was killed, a rarity in these campaigns. For a brief time our central sector had no troops and our front was wide open, but the enemy did not press their advantage. The 6th was able to take its time lining up before advancing with cavalry support. Their counterattack succeeded in pushing out the enemy and Bordeaux is Roman again. Cherbourg was also retaken yet after an hour of battle we remain worse off than in Part 488, due to the loss of Brest.

Part 490: Defeat at Narbonne

Following the setbacks of Part 490 we were able to pause and consolidate our ground. The enemy are capable of upsetting our plans, especially in the middle sector where we remain weak. The 1st remained at Cherbourg, the 6th at Bordeaux and the 4th at Vienna. Once the purple and green forces united again to invest Vienna, the 6th could leave Bordeaux and head north in support of the 1st, where action outside Cherbourg remained intense. Their arrival was timed perfectly as the fort was about to fall. In an attempt to keep the initiative, we ventured to advance into French territory and began to bombard their barracks and stables. Our line of battle held, Bordeaux was repaired and reinforcements steadily arriving. The line of the 1st and 6th was advanced again until Narbonne was visible. Although worn down the 6th advanced to invest it and the 1st remained in support. Towers started to be constructed in our rear as a fall back position. The 1st retreated slightly to better link up with the 6th and they formed an arrowhead with the artillery and cavalry in the rear. Enemy troops continued to stream in, to be destroyed in detail. During this time, the 4th Infantry at Vienna was also seeing heavy action. The 6th Infantry seized Narbonne after reducing it but the 1st was low on strength and had to be pulled back from the battle line. A third formation of infantry (a battle group lacking any command or support troops) was able to plug the gap as we tried to hold Narbonne. A new fort ahead of Cherbourg provided much needed supporting fire, especially once garrisoned. The 6th remained at the town and ran out of legionaries. We had to commit our cavalry in a flanking charge to push back the enemy and make time for us to reform. This was possible - a temple and a fort were also built in the vicinity. However, our respite would not last long. The blue French would not cease attacking and with shortened supply lines, seemed to redouble their efforts, causing immense casualties to the 1st which had to be reformed numerous times. It was a mistake to advance the 6th beyond Narbonne as on the outskirts of Caen they were too exposed. They too had to pull back and were beaten down to such an extent that the formation was forced to make an ignominious retreat. Cavalry retook Narbonne from the French and for a time light infantry and horses were able to support the 1st and shore up the gap left by the 6th, which was now healing inside a fort. By the time it was ready again Narbonne was lost and the Roman lines pushed slightly back. We counterattacked but it was a bloody waste. We retook the town only briefly with the cost of most of the 6th, once again - heavy losses indeed. With the 1st also in flight we had to make a general retreat. Our newest border forts fell and we found ourselves facing a large French army outside Cherbourg. Fresh troops were rushed to the area and by the time we lost the city (again) the 6th and 1st were ready to perform the counter-thrust. From the south the 6th deployed into arrowhead and advanced as the 1st was retaking Cherbourg. Cavalry was able to mop up the enemy baggage train and by the end of Part 490 we were back where we had been at the end of Part 489.

Vienna is still in Roman hands and Brest remains with the Gauls.

Part 491: Brest Retaken

Both sides paused to rebuild. The 6th relieved the 1st at Cherbourg. The 1st moved north to invest Brest. The cost of seizing this city for the second time was high: in defending Cherbourg the 6th Infantry was cut to shreds. The 1st had taken Brest and kept most of its strength, so Rome had time to build a fort. Cherbourg held and the 6th could rebuild. In the south, the Head of State remained with the 4th, fighting a bitter defence at Vienna. In a predictable course of events, the blue French now turned their full attention to Brest. Cherbourg got a fort and the 6th, now back up to strength, moved north just in time to relieve the 1st. The 1st and 6th now combined and held one side each of Brest, with the 1st using the river to its advantage. Having won this battle without significant losses, the 1st ventured north and sighted Amiens. The 2nd Heavy Cavalry was now on the scene and the city was taken with ease. The 6th still held Brest and Cherbourg remained fortified. Extra forts were built throughout this sector. If Romans held the area, a fort would be built, thanks to our increased metal production. The battle then moved back to Cherbourg. Leipzig was still held by Germany and threatened the left southern flank of the northern army group at Bordeaux, which along with Munich underwent minor repairs. The battle continued, with Cherbourg falling and the 1st attempting to distract the French away by threatening their capital Paris and seizing the undefended town of Poitiers. The 6th liberated Cherbourg again and in true legionary style, kept marching forward and took Tours too; yet by the end of the battle in which the city changed hands at least twice they had fallen back to the Cherbourg sector. They had achieved their objective of defending the area and distracting the enemy away from the 1st. Paris was heavily defended and the 1st could not invest it without annihilation. They too fell back to repair, leaving Poitiers undefended. Both the 1st and 6th had to re-assemble near the barracks behind Cherbourg. Luckily the French then threw everything at Cherbourg, ignoring our exposed northern flank and the two cities we had just taken. After almost 90 minutes, genuine progress has been made with the acquisition of Brest and Poitiers. Vienna fell briefly but that front still holds, representing the pivot upon which the northern army group is slowly swinging.

Part 492: Tours Salient

In this part, the battle continued to swing back and forth. By the end of it, Tours had been taken again but is far from secure. Poitiers too is in Roman hands but is looking vulnerable. Vienna holds.

Part 493: Defeat & Retreat

Disaster on all fronts. We are being pushed back. Three cities have been lost: Poitiers, Bordeaux and Tours. Napoleon broke off his attacks on Vienna but the Germans are still investing it. The enemy alliance is now pursuing separate goals; when two sides were attacking Vienna, we were able to hold them and make progress. With each enemy now selecting their own targets, we don't have the forces to defend all of the front adequately and victory now seems highly unlikely. The 1st and 6th cannot reform properly and Brest looks likely to fall soon.

Part 494: Situation Stabilised

We managed to restore some semblance of order to the line, and it held. Brest remains in Roman hands and this is critical, as it protects the route to the peacocks. Light infantry has been formed into the 3rd and they are holding the high ground with a river to their front. They have their own general and have managed to so far protect our supply lines and make sure Cherbourg is secure from the south and east. The 4th still holds Vienna with the Head of State. The 1st is recovering at Cherbourg. The 6th and 7th together are holding the north, defending Brest and Amiens. We won two important victories in this sector. Our forces only just reached Amiens in time to save it from capture. Victory is still looking unlikely but at the ten hour mark we are still very much in this fight.

Part 495: Brest Falls

The blue French stepped up their efforts to liberate Brest and succeeded in driving the Romans out. We were hard pressed and our two northern formations, the 6th and the 7th, lacked any artillery. We therefore could not retake the town. It was in French hands and fully repaired before we could even muster troops for a proper counterattack. Elsewhere, our forces are stretched very thinly. Often we cannot organise them into proper units and ad hoc lines utilising the nearest spare soldiers have to be formed. Defeat is looking likely unless we can establish a workable defensive perimeter around territory that can still supply all our needs.

Part 496: Crisis

The enemy avalanche continues to gain strength as we lose Amiens, Trier and most importantly, Vienna. The enemy is rolling up our fronts and we will now have to retreat to our home cities and use the rivers around them as our last ditch defense. For this part, the campaign is fittingly renamed to Rome Loses Gaul. Our only success in this part was the detachment of infantry which aggressively pushed the enemy southward from Bordeaux. They did this without any senior officers.

Part 497: Falling Back

The retreat continues and our formations are still in disarray. The 4th lost all its infantry and could not retake Vienna. The 1st is still under-strength. The 6th and 9th are substantially weakened and cannot fight effectively. The 7th, like the 4th, lost all units except its general, supply wagon and explorer. Only the 10th, stationed to the north to guard the peacocks, is intact. It only joined the battle when its flank was threatened. The merchant's hut at the peacocks has been destroyed and must be replaced immediately. New towns are being founded in the south east to offset our falling food stocks. The infrastructure around Cherbourg, critical to our efforts there, has been destroyed. We must maintain contact with the 10th and the peacocks. The situation remains critical.

Part 498: Holding The Line

The 11th Hour approaches. Rome accepted the new strategic situation and retreated to a more manageable line. The peacocks were given up. We formed a new town of Bononia to bolster the front and control the enemy's attention, and when it was briefly taken, we could found Saturnia in our rear. Otherwise, only one town could be chosen as we were at our upper limit. This is about the only time it is advantageous to lose a settlement (as long as you can quickly take it back). The Senate at Rome was dismantled, to be rebuilt in the far eastern sector. Our infantry may need that space to defend Rome later on. Scholars were called up and sent straight to the front line. This was because food is becoming scarce and scholars will fight just for gold. The southern front was also altered. We fell back, destroying our own barracks, stables and siege factories before the enemy could. The 4th Infantry reformed and moved south to defend Munich, where it remains in action. Supply lines were altered, as were barrack orders. The 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th were abolished or retired. A new 1st Infantry was formed and the Senator (8th Support) rode north to help them retake our town of Bononia, vital for our morale, which they succeeded in doing. This gave us great hope. A new 9th Cavalry of Archers, some militia and light infantry were able to entrench in their aid to fend off the next Gallic onslaught. A new 6th Infantry is assembling. The 5th Cavalry was also reformed. Munich is important to hold because it is very easy to defend from the east, protected by trees on two sides and a river. Beyond it is open plains, not suitable when we are outnumbered. Nevertheless, Rome is cautiously optimistic that we can avoid defeat for a few more hours.

Part 499: 11th Hour Begins

Victory at Ancona and Bononia. The Senate House was reassembled in Saturnia, the first time this precaution has ever been taken. Rome may well become a front line city and there is no room for vulnerable buildings. Farming operations are also being established in Saturnia as food stocks fall below 10,000. Vienna was given up, only after the 4th exhausted itself defending it. The Senator returned and an orderly retreat was made to a new line anchored on Ancona, which was successfully defended from attack later on. Erfurt is the last German town Rome holds. Organization of surplus generals and explorers took some time. Formations were able to reform properly and heal at a new fort, as the Senator made his rounds. The 1st Infantry, supported by a 7th Heavy Cavalry, is fighting from a decent position to the east of Bononia. The offensive initiative briefly passed to Rome and a newly raised 10th Infantry took Trier. This game has become the longest of the series so far with the highest (predicted) casualty rate. The twin objects from this point are conducting a solid defence and re-acquiring the peacocks. Alternately, we might prolong the game by taking and razing Triers or Bordeaux, lengthening the time it takes the two weaker enemies to form up. The blue Gauls are strongest; defending against them soaks up half of our forces. A fort holds our central sector. It doesn't have a permanent garrison but was used to heal and reform elements of earlier divisions. 9th Cavalry is patrolling, aiding which front needs it most.

Part 500: Rome Rallies

The Gauls are banding together to attack Bononia as the Germans alone contest the southern front. This is useful for us as two fronts are much easier than three. We are fighting the German tribes intensely outside Erfurt, where the university forms part of the front line fortifications (forts by now cost a lot of metal as we have lost so many). Scholars are still being paid in gold and called up to the militia. More reorganizing is taking place behind the lines and offensive operations against the Germans are being considered. In a large battle, the 6th and 4th Infantry regiments with light troops in support did well advancing and retreating and keeping the Erfurt line secure. They even retook Vienna briefly, which highlights the effectiveness of our troops after almost half a day of constant combat. The peacocks could be captured with cavalry but holding that area currently soaks up more than the 20 extra units it allows for. The Senator is stationed at Bononia where the front is closer to home than Efurt, and therefore more important. Since we now hold no French towns and are unable to take any, Gaul is effectively lost for the Romans and they are now fighting a defensive campaign for survival.

Part 500 was recorded and uploaded on February 8th, 2017 and published on the 9th. Part 1 was recorded and released on January 18th, 2012. This is approximately 100 videos per year.

Part 501: Peacock Progress II

After the successful consolidation of our situation in Part 500, Rome was able to make notable progress in the north. By allowing Bononia to be briefly captured again, we were able to establish the settlement of Rhegium. This was to strengthen our hold on the area and secure the peacocks for the second time, which we did. It also adds another layer to the front, further protecting Rome and the new capital, Saturnia. Fierce fighting continued throughout the hot sectors of the map, with many lives lost contesting Bononia and Erfurt. Supply orders and rally points are continually optimised. New unit designations are necessary since most are constantly engaged. Formations which lose all their fighting men are withdrawn to forts to await fresh levies. Rhegium was fortified and barracks established. Various tactical withdrawals are being made to lure the enemy into areas we can more efficiently neutralize them, especially on the southern front where fewer forces must protect a larger area. By the end of this part we were standing firm in the south, having over-corrected our deficiency there, and were consequently struggling in the north. Green units have been spotted in the region of Bononia and since the other two enemy factions are also massing there, we need to immediately move north in strength or risk losing all our gains of the last two hours. The three strong formations fortified at Erfurt must strike the stakes they only just planted.

Part 502: Bononia Saved

Preparations are immediately underway to retake Bononia and defend the north. Southern formations are ordered to move. A fresh supply depot is built and artillery is ordered elsewhere, a sign that Rome intends to besiege a city in the future, should a distraction attack be necessary. The 10th Infantry arrives south of Bononia at a critical time and saves the situation. The Spoletium line will now see extended and costly action. A plan is envisaged to retake Trier or at least bombard it enough to attract intention. We don't want to lose a trebuchet so infantry is deployed forward of the fort to protect it, but not advance on the city. This leaves the fort free to concentrate on whatever makes it through to the artillery. Cavalry crashes into the German infantry as they run south to defend Trier. We do enough damage to slow the situation in our favour. We need time to build and regroup as we are not operating anywhere near efficiency: At the time of the loss of the line south of Bononia, and the continued enemy occupation of that valuable Roman town, our numbers looked like this: Time 12 hours, 4 minutes, 21 seconds. Population: 188 of 220 allowed (we have a bonus resource). 10 Farmers, 7 Wood workers, 13 Metal workers, 7 scholars (27 total). That leaves 161 military units, some of which are non-combatants or officers, to defend against three enemy fronts with a combined total of 525 combat units (our estimate based on their total combined 600 maximum population, since our Colossus was destroyed, nobody can rebuild it and we have the peacocks). This means our estimated numerical inferiority in terms of fighting troops is 3.2 to 1. We can recover this by raising an extra 32 combat units, which would pull that down to 2.7. It is still based on the assumption that each enemy has 25 civilian units from their total 200 population.

Next, the enemy successfully rallies to defend Trier, not that we advanced on it. Bononia is defended. The blue Gauls switch their attack north to take Rhegium, but we repel them. The barracks used are brand new, and later on train javelin throwers to reinforce the right wing of the line forming outside Bononia. Although we retake that town and defend Rhegium, we lose the peacocks. By the end of this part we are at 200 of 200 population and face renewed attacks to Bononia, this time from the greens, and Rhegium. We must now fight all over again for the peacocks or deal with an estimated numerical inferiority of 200 to 600, 3 to 1, which with estimated combat units is 525 to 173.

Part 503: Fall of Erfurt

This video contained voice commentary so I'll just offer a very brief description here. Erfurt is lost but Rhegium and Bononia are successfully defended again. The line is pushed back slightly and it appears that the relentless retreat continues.

Part 504: It's Up to You

A Special Treat to End the Series: The battle you've just read about is in its final stages and victory is almost certainly impossible. I've not finished the game so Sharoma is passing the mantle to you! Download and conclude Sharoma's final Rise of Nations Battle!