Stumbling, Bumbling to Victory

I have the extreme pleasure of participating in our editor's newest "Justinian's Wars" campaign, where my Visigoths have been on a four-month rampage of Death and Destruction. Well ... not really a rampage. Maybe, more like I stated to a fellow player, "a bumbling stumble to victory." I would like to give both an overview of the basic mechanics of the campaign and my own experiences so far.

The Mechanics

The overall strategic and tactical mechanics of Justinian's Wars are superlative. Their simplicity in style and complexity in execution are exactly what I look for in any game. Each major kingdom begins the campaign controlling 2-4 provinces, each containing a general and his army. Every general is rated from Level 1 to 4. Most kingdoms have one superior general at Level 2, some at an intimidating Level 3 (Belisarius), with the balance at Level 1.

Win one battle, and your Level 1 general is at Level 2, win two additional battles and he is now a seasoned Level 3 warrior. This is immensely important, as each level progressed gives the general three additional units to his basic 1 6-unit army (and an all-important modifier to his command and control to help utilize them).

The kingdom also has a small treasury that can be used to fund extra invasions, bolster defending armies against more numerous invaders, hire fleets, or most importantly, be used as bribes to gain political favor with the many neutral kingdoms or to instill disfavor in them towards one of your opponents.

Movement is by single provinces on land or large geographical areas for sea movement. If two armies occupy an area, a battle occurs. However, an invading general can return home to defend against an invasion, and there are provisions for moving through neutral provinces.

Tabletop Battles

The battles are resolved using DBA. Mike has modified them to increase army size to increase the army size to 18-27 elements instead of the usual 12, eliminated the quick victory on death of the general, and most importantly, modified the lists and given special abilities to provide more balanced and historically accurate armies. The core army is very similar to that listed in the DBA rules. Depending on the kingdom, players are also given a few limited choices in army composition. Players must consider the prevailing terrain of the province, the possible composition of the opposing army, and then make the crucial decision of what few extra troops they are going to muster.

The initial set up and terrain placement rules have been modified and can be different for each army as well, while the victory conditions are now gradated. Overall, this has immensely increased the realism, balance, and versatility of a very abstract set of rules.

The real innovation in his campaign system is that when a general successfully invades a province, a new Level 1 general and his attendant horde appears in the province he left. This ensures that every province has a general and that every invasion results in a battle. This eliminates the endless maneuvering and inconclusive skirmishing of most campaigns and concentrates on the final decisive battle for each province.

I can back up the claim to playability, as we gather once a month noon or 1 pm, plot our movements and spend our gold. Then up to 10 players fight out anywhere from six to 16 battles, and pack up in time for supper. Mike then writes up an entertaining synopsis of all the battles and political intrigue that occurred, updates the map, and then both posts the results at the store and sends them out via e-mail.

Stumbling to Victory

Having little knowledge of this era of history (that is, before the campaign, now Borders and Amazon are a little richer, and I am little poorer but wiser), I chose the Spanish Visigoths as their army was a very interesting mix of cavalry, warbands, and skirmish troops. They began controlling four provinces along the southern part of the Iberian peninsula, surrounding the two provinces of Suevi barbarians in the Northwest portion, and one menacing Basque province in the Northeast mountains. Across the narrows at Gibraltar, the rebellious Berbers and Vandals contest North Africa, while the Ostrogoths, Franks, and Burgundians contest Gaul.

My initial strategy upon coronation was simple. With the Spring rains subsiding, I would move to gain undisputed control of the peninsula, and slowly expand the borders. With this in mind, I tapped into the treasury for launching a second invasion in a season, and attacked both Suevi provinces. However, our inexperience with cavalry was readily apparent, as the woolly barbarians, all fighting on foot, inflicted a decisive defeat on Thororic, my best general.

The enemy formed up in long shieldwall along a low ridge and extending across some open ground with both flanks anchored on wooded areas. Thordoric sent his skirmishers into the woods to turn the right flank, but they where thrown back out and routed by an inferior force. Disgusted with their performance, and impatient for action, he then charged the whole line forward into the shieldwall. A few of his units surged forward victoriously, only to be out off and annihilated shortly thereafter. His army streamed from the field with a decisive 6-3 loss.

However, in the neighboring Suevi province, a relatively unknown warlord, Vigdonic, was more patient and conniving. He formed two small forces on the flanks composed of skirmishers and impetuous cavalry, while holding the center with two large blocks of warbands and heavy horse. Unexpectedly, the Suevi lunged forward in one large mass.

The whole fury of the Suevi army crashed into his warbands and heavy cavalry. Vigdonic's two striking forces just rounded the enemy flanks. The center fought desperately, Vigdonic himself going down wounded, but he held on long enough. While the struggle raged in the center, the other forces slammed into the flanks of the Suevi army. It simply buckled and folded, giving us a Decisive 8-3 victory.

Summer Plans Grow Hazy

At the start of the Spring, my long range plans for the summer campaign assumed both Suevi provinces would be subdued. I had thought to send my leading warlord Thordoric to invade the Basques, while another would strike across the narrow straits of Gibraltar and secured this back door to my kingdom. However, Thordoric's army was in disarray and would be unable to launch an invasion again till at least Winter, and the Suevi were still defiant and unconquered. I was a little dejected till I heard that every player kingdom, excepting the Vandals in Sicily, was defeated in their attempts at conquest!

I sent word to Vigdoric to crush the sole remaining Suevi province or let no man return alive. I then studied the map for a new enemy. The Basques are just too tough--strong leader, treacherous terrain, and a very flexible army perfect for ambushing and annihilating all byt the toughest warlords. I knew that Thordoric or Vigdoric would be hard pressed to conquer this realm. One of my novices would surely by annihilated. Across the waters to the south, the Berbers have proven to be too rebellious to conquer, constatly rising in revoly at anytime. They could keep their sand and rocks.

Expansion to the east and the fertile lands of Gaul was my only remaining option. The Frankish province of Aquitania was the bext option, helping surround the Basques and preparing for a further drive east. The armies marched forth while Suevi gold passed through the treacherous mountains towards the Basque capital--a distasteful but necessary bribe.

Frank Realities

My first battle with the Franks was a nightmare. While other foot slogging warbands are at a disadvantage against heavy cavalry, the Franks suffer no such problems. My only chance of victory would be to turn their flanks. Once again, the striking force of impetuous skirmishers and cavalry rushed forward from the flanks while the center was helpd by warband and heavy cavalry. The Franks broke their own battleline easily to meet these threats, forcing me into a general advance. Both of our armies became disorganized and fragmented and the battle quickly devolved into small, separate battles. I was bending but not breaking the flanks, while in the center my losses slowly began to mount. Again, my leader went down wounded and the army was on the point of breaking. I weakened my faltering center even more, dispatching two units of heavy cavalry to help on the right flank. They provided just enough punch to break the Franks, a close run 6-5 victory.

Battle-scarred Vigdonic charged into the sole remaining Suevi province and thoroughly crushed them. His tactics changed slightly, all the heavy cavalry on the left flank, the warbands in the center and a few impetuous cavalry and skirmishers on the right flank. They all advanced with the striking force streaking towards the enemy camp. The Suevi tried to realign and shift, became disorganized, and were simply ridden down. A decisive 9- 0 victory.

Treaties and Truces

The realm rejoiced at our good fortune and one more victory would have my kingdom expanding to twice its size in one year. Other realms, not knowing how close many of the battles had been, sent forth emissaries. The Vandals conquered the Berbers that summer, and now stood menacingly across the narrows at Gibraltar. Our able diplomats did not sign a treaty, but did agree that neither one of us wanted a costly war and would gladly stay on our respective sides of the Mediterranean. The Franks had failed once again in their battles against the Burgundians, and with their armies in disarray, sent an emissary pleading for a truce. I agreed and proposed a joint campaign to conquer the Burgundian provinces and divide Gaul amongst us.

As Summer turned to Autumn, my victorious army marched forth from Aquitania against the Burgundians while another caravan of plundered Suevi gold was received with joy in the Basque capitol. The Vandals were true to their word and a large army sallied out, leaving a small garrison across the narrows, while the Franks also honored our treaty and amrched against the Burgundians.

In the foothills of the Alps we found the Burgundian army soldily formed in a tight shieldwall on dominating high ground with a secure right flank. I advanced cautiously, and the Burgundians refused their flanks forming a crescent following the contour of the hill. I tried o turn the flank, but was repulsed. A general advanced also was forced back, but the Burgundian warbands impetuously pursued off their advantageous terrain. This allowed by cavalry to reform, surround, and annihilate them. A very difficult, but decisive, 8-3 victory.

Another Story

As Autumn turned to Winter, I was confident that all was well and left affairs fo state to trusted lieutenants and took to my winter palace. It was something I should not have done and I would spend the next year repairing the damage. But that is another story...