It is 170 CE, and Marcus Aurelius and his legions are about to mount a punitive expedition against the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Iazyges tribes, across the Danube, representing the Roman frontier.
Marcus Aurelius surveyed his legions, and determined that he would lead six legions against the hated Marcomanni, who had recently invaded Italy. It was the first time that Barbarians invaded Italian soil in over 200 years. Aurelius assigned his subordinate commander, Pompeianus and four legions to keep watch on the Iazyges. Aurelius trusted that his diplomacy would keep the Quadi tamed while he dealt with his adversaries.
Turn One, 170 CE
Spring
Aurelius surveyed the field and saw several possibilities. First, Aurelius elected to intimidate and demoralize his enemies by reminding the Tribes of the fearsome reputation of the legions. After demoralizing the Marcomanni, Aurelius personally led his legions into battle. The demoralized Marcomanni tribe was not able to make great use of the terrain. Although they fought bravely, Aurelius inspired his Legions, reminding them that they protected civilization against the Barbarians. The legions routed the enemy, forcing them to retreat. (Romans had strength of 9 (Marcus, +3, and six legions) Barbarians had strength of 4 (Marcomanni 2 + 2 terrain). Aurelius rolled a six and the Marcomanni rolled a five, for totals of 15 and 9, respectively. The Marcomanni are forced to retreat and, because Aurelius rolled a six, his Imperium increases by one.)
Aurelius decided to follow the Marcomanni north, in hopes of inflicting a crushing blow. The legions marched north, and caught the Marcomanni unaware. Aurelius lined up his troops for battle, and gave a long, philosophical oration. One of his Centurions had to announce that the Marcomanni were not waiting for Aurelius to finish, and had made preparations to attack. Aurelius was embarrassed, but the strength of his legions won the day. (Roman strength was again 9. Barbarians strength of 6 (2 +4 for terrain). Rome rolled a one, Barbarians a two, for totals of 10 and 8 respectively. This was a win for Rome, but Aurelius rolled a one, reducing his Imperium by one). Aurelius elected to end the Spring Campaigning season after this victory.
Summer
As summer began, a plague swept through the Legions. While the plague was not as severe as some, it took a toll on both Pompeianus’s legions (removing the XI Legion to the recovery box, leaving three legions under Pompeianus’s command), and Marcus Aurelius’s popularity among his soldiers (reducing Imperium by one, to three).
The Iazyges managed to regather their morale, but did not advance. After that, all was quiet on the Danube.
Aurelius decided that it was time to end the Marcomanni threat with one swift strike towards their homelands. (Rome plays “Seize the Initiative” which allows them to make two attacks on one front). The first battle saw the Marcomanni taking strong ground, effectively balancing the two forces. Unfortunately, Aurelius led his troops into a trap, resulting in many deaths and much questioning of his command. (Strength is 9 for the Romans, 8 for the Marcomanni (2 +6 Terrain). Aurelius rolls a 1 and the Marcomanni roll a 5, for 10 and 13 strength, respectively. A roman legion is eliminated, and Aurelius loses another Imperium point (down to 2)).
Aurelius was not satisfied with this result, and took the battle to the Marcomanni again, rather than retreating to recover his forces. The Marcomanni did not expect the legions to remain so disciplined in the face of a defeat, and were caught unprepared, reveling in their prior victory. The Marcomanni were defeated and pushed back to their home territory. (Strength 8 for the Romans (3 for Aurelius and 5 for the Legions), and 8 for the Marcomanni. Aurelius rolls a 3, and the Marcomanni roll a one, for final results of 11 and 9, respectively. The Marcomanni are defeated and must retreat. They are already demoralized, so their roll of 1 has no effect.)
Aurelius decided that this was the season in which the Marcomanni were forced to capitulate, and pushed his tired legions forward, hoping for one final battle in the Marcomanni’s home territory. Aurelius troops were at a disadvantage, but he was confident that his leadership would carry the day. Unfortunately, Aurelius’s aggressiveness was punished. He once again led the legions into a trap, allowing the Marcomanni to gain the upper hand in a battle that was not particularly close. Aurelius lost face among his men for the failure. (Strength 8 for the Romans and 10 for the Marcomanni (2 +8 terrain). Rome rolled a 1, and the Marcomanni rolled a 3, for 9 and 13 strength, respectively. Aurelius is defeated and loses an Imperium point, bringing his total to 1).
Aurelius knew that his position as emperor was precarious after the costly defeat of his legions, so he made sure that the legions were well rewarded for their efforts. (Aurelius discards 2 cards to gain 2 IP.) After these efforts, he ended his Summer campaign.
Winter
The Iazyges, emboldened by Rome’s failures against the Marcomanni, marched south towards Rome. Aided by the cavalry, they were ready to raid into the Roman territory of Moesia. With only a small army to stop them, the Iazyges launched two raids into Moesia, costing Aurelius both treasure and popular support. The Iazyges’s efforts emboldened the Marcomanni. (Iazyges Cavalry lets them move two spaces. Iazyges activate again, raiding Moesia, and forcing the Romans to discard a card. A surge occurs, emboldening the Marcomanni. Iazyges activate and raid Moesia again. Since the Romans have no cards to discard, Aurelius loses 1 Imperium Point.)
Aurelius chooses to invest in forts along the Danube, to protect his troops against the raiding the Iazyges and to prepare for possible retribution by the Marcomanni. Unfortunately, the Winter of 170 CE is a legendarily harsh one, resulting in the loss by attrition of the fort protecting Moesia from the Iazyges.
Turn Two, 171 CE
Spring
Spring 171 CE is another season of calamities for Aurelius. Although the Emperor shifted his forces, taking personal command of six legions on the Iazyges front, sending Pompeianus and four legions to the Marcomanni front, and leaving two legions to watch over the Quadi, he was not prepared for the Barbarian’s ferocity. The Marcomanni, emboldened by the Iazyges victories of Winter 170 CE, advanced, striking back against Aurelius. The Quadi, recognizing Rome’s weakness, threw off their temporary piece and began advancing towards Italy. The Iazyges and Marcomanni advanced as well, resulting in pillaging of Moesia and major loss of face for Aurelius. (Marcomanni activated, and then Quadi activated, causing a surge, which activated Marcomanni and Iazyges. Iazyges raided Moesia, causing the loss of 1IP (only 1 left on the track). After that, an event with no current effect resolved.
Aurelius knew that his grasp on power was weakening. One more setback and he could lose the faith of the legions and the people. Drastic action was called for, and so Aurelius returned to Rome, auctioning off imperial treasures in the Forum of the Deified Trajan, using the proceeds to bribe the legions, the senate, and the people. (+2 IP). Marcus used the remainder of his proceeds to establish the province of Samartia, squarely in the path of the Iazyges. The new province allowed him to settle some legionnaires and, more importantly, construct strong forts on the Iazyges border. (2 level 2 forts constructed in Iazyges.)
Finally, Aurelius led his troops into battle against the Iazyges. The might of his legions, supported by the newly constructed fort, was able to drive the Iazyges back. (Roman strength 11 (3 for Aurelius +6 legions +2 fort) versus Iazyges strength 6 (4 +2 terrain). Aurelius rolled a 3, and the Iazyges a 4, resulting in totals of 14 and 10, respectively. The Iazyges were drive back a space). Aurelius was content to take these successes, and weather the attacks of the Barbarians in the Summer campaigning season.
Summer
The summer saw each of the three Barbarian tribes march forward, While a Roman fort heroically fought to the last man to prevent the Marcomanni from advancing into Roman territory, the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Iazyges tribes all reached the Danube, threatening to enter Roman territory, and potentially to sack Moesia again.
For the summer season, Aurelius hatched a daring plan. His legions on the Quadi front were likely not strong enough to defeat the emboldened Quadi in combat. After investing in improving his support back home, he called for a champion to be sent from the arenas, a gladiator who would fight the Quadi’s best in single-combat. Ridlius Scotus, the leader of a prominent Ludus in Rome, sent his gladiator, Marcus Valerius Maximianus, an undefeated warrior. The Quadi sent a hulking brute of a man, easily a foot taller than Maximianus. The watching legionnaires began to doubt Aurelius’s wisdom, and their doubts were confirmed when the gladiator was struck down in one mighty blow. Aurelius became the laughingstock of the troops. (2 cards discarded to improve IP to 5. Single Combat card played, which forces a contested die roll with the Quadi. Rome rolled a 5, and the Quadi a 6, resulting in the Quadi champions victory. -2 IP to Aurelius, returning things to the status quo ante of 3 IP). Embarrassed, Aurelius ended the Summer campaigning season.
Winter
During the Winter of 171 CE, Marcus Aurelius held a series of sacrifices intended to win the favor of the gods for Rome’s efforts. This headed off the growing Roman unrest. Remarkably the Barbarian tribes were quiet for the Winter. (Barbarian card is Unrest in Rome. I play Lectisternium, a term meaning a special ceremony placating the gods, which cancels the event and ends the Barbarian phase.)
The Iazyges lured Aurelius and his troops into a battle on the ice, for which Iazyges horses were trained. They did not account for the tenacity of the Roman legions, however, who dug their shields into the ice and defeated the Iazyges, demoralizing them. (Battle on the Ice inflicts an automatic defeat on the Iazyges, pushing them back and demoralizing them.)
After this victory, Aurelius built forts on the Marcomanni and Quadi frontiers, hoping to prevent them from crossing the Danube into Rome.
C. F. Kane's Solitaire Games 