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5.3.1 Overview
- Location: Near the City of Matisco, Gaul Kingdom of Aeduii.
- Date: March 25, 58 BC.
- Objectives:
- Capture the village of Matisco.
- Eliminate all enemy forces.
- Caius Titus must survive.
- Cnaeus Gabinus must survive.
- Agrado of Talagatta must survive.
- Unit Control Points: 158/500.
- Troop Control Points: 9/50.
- Starting units: Agrado of Talagatta (Scout), Auxiliary Archers (30), Auxiliary Infantry (30), Caius Titus Rudus (Centurion, level 0), Cnaeus Gabinus Illyricus (Physician), 2x Legionaries (30), Spearmen (30), Wolf Scout.
- Available units: Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Infantry, Hawk Scout, Legionaries, Spearmen, Wolf Scout.
- Available construction: Assault Ladder (once Fortress reached), Catapult (once ladders complete), Defensive Tower, repair.
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| | = Village/barracks (may include various defenses).
* * = Fortification/wall.
. . = Path (minor pathways not shown).
~ ~ = River, sea or lake.
] [ = Bridge or location for bridge.
- Start location.
- Matisco. Population 200.
- Aeduii fortress.
5.3.2 Strategy
This mission starts with two new units - Legionaries and the Wolf Scout. The later allows dense woodland and grassland to be scouted, and you should use the wolf to find the enemy troops hidden in the woodland just to the east of your start location. Use your Legionaries and archers to kill them. Unlike Spearmen, Legionaries are capable of fighting in woodland.
Capture Matisco (2 on the map above) by using your Auxiliary Infantry to build a new garrison next to the village. This village is neutral at the outset, so there is no need to destroy anything. A group of enemy troops will attack from the north. As you engage them you may be fired at by enemy bowmen positioned on the ridged area on the far west side. Recruit the two additional Auxiliary Infantry as instructed, plus a range of other combat units: Archers, Legionaries and Spearmen are all potentially useful in the coming battle. If you are patient, you can produce as many troops as the mission Unit/Troop Control Points (500/50) allow. Ensure you bring your Centurion to the front line before commencing battle.
March towards the fortress (3 on the map above), but do not get too close. Select a unit of Auxiliary Infantry and construct some ladders. Follow these by a few Catapults. Construction should take place behind your lines - these units can be moved to the front at the appropriate time. Reform the remaining Auxiliary Infantry once construction is complete.
As you approach the fortress enemy cavalry will ride out and attack you. Stationary Spearmen are very effective against cavalry. Set them up in a line, and send a fast unit (such as your Centurion) towards the fortress to lure the cavalry into an ambush.
The final assault on the fortress benefits from similar decoy tactics. Siege weapons such as ladders and Catapults are very vulnerable to attack. For example, Catapults firing stones are very effective against stationary troops (such as those enemy units on the walls), however it only takes a few fire arrows to set a Catapult alight. While burning Catapults can be repaired (order spare Auxiliary Infantry to repair them), conducting repairs mid-battle is somewhat inconvenient. The main threat while outside the fortress is from enemy bowmen on the walls. Rather than letting them fire at vulnerable units, use Legionaries in 'Turtle' formation. In this formation, very little damage will be taken from arrows. Your Legionaries can safely soak enemy fire while you advance those units you intend to assault the fortress walls with, such as Catapults, archers and ladders.
There are two ways into the fortress. Either move ladders up to the walls, and then let melee troops climb onto the walls; or break down the gate. The easiest way to break down a gate is to use a battering ram; but those are not available in this mission. While regular melee troops or Catapults can attack the gate, this will take a long time. I think it is preferable to try and advance by climbing the walls. When using ladders, try to ensure all enemy on the walls have been killed, then move the ladder into position and quickly order melee troops (Legionaries are ideal) up onto the walls to deal with enemy melee troops that will attempt to repel your attack. Defeat all the enemy defenders, including the Chieftain, to complete the mission.
This tutorial is a good introduction to the idea of using the right unit for right job. Randomly throwing units at the fortress will result in huge loses, while careful tactics can reduce loses to almost nothing.