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5.17.1 Overview
- Location: Kingdom of the Avernii, Gaul.
- Date: April 9, 52 BC.
- Objectives:
- Escort a wagon to the first fortress.
- Escort a wagon to the second fortress.
- Escort a wagon to the third fortress.
- Titus Labienus must survive.
- Unit Control Points: 292/500.
- Troop Control Points: 12/50.
- Starting units (under your control): 3x Auxiliary Archers (30), 2x German Cavalry (12), 2x Legionaies (30), Spearmen (30), Titus Labienus (Centurion, level 0), 3x Wolf Scout.
- Available construction: Ballista, Battering Ram, Catapult, Defensive Tower, repair.
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.-'3'-.
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.-' . . . . 5 . . . . . . '-.
.-' * . . . . '-.
.-' 2 * . . . . . . *4'-.
'-. * * . . . . . . . . . . . . *.-'
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'-. ~ ~ ~ ] [ ~ ~ ~ ~ .-'
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* * = Fortification/wall.
. . = Path (minor pathways not shown).
~ ~ = River, sea or lake.
] [ = Bridge or location for bridge.
- Start location.
- West fortress.
- North fortress.
- East fortress.
- Crossroads.
5.17.2 Strategy
Each of the three wagons has an escort of Auxiliary Archers and Spearmen. In addition, the party is lead by a group of Praetorians and Balearic Slingers. You cannot control these units. They will only proceed once you start moving, and only move towards the fortress that you appear to be moving towards. This gives some flexibility and control over how fast the convoy progresses, although the lead party will always be ahead of your main army, so try to rest in a position where it is not under attack - Praetorians and Balearic Slingers may be good, but they can only take so much.
The fortresses can be visited in any order. I suggest you travel to the western fortress (2 on the map above) first because once you arrive you will gain a Physician, without which it will be exceptionally hard to keep your army alive. The north fortress (3 on the map above) should be the final destination, since it is the most heavily defended.
A few additional troops can be picked up at fortresses, but no new units may be trained. Again, care needs to be taken not to take significant casualties in any one battle. From jiehao85: "I tried to avoid the forests to keep away from the hunters. Make sure you have your spearmen to guard the back." In particular there are a few groups of Noblemen that will attempt to attack any part of the convoy they see is not well defended. LordJohnDrinksalot writes: "I used my hero and German Cavalry to charge any enemies my scouts found. Awesome attack: must charge but at end game I had something like 100+ kills for each German Cavalry troop with zero cavalry losses." Once you get him, keep your Physician close and your cavalry should last the mission. Without German Cavalry the mission becomes quite hard.
As you approach the northern fortress (3 on the map above) you will come under heavy attack. This is survivable if careful use is made of troops, particularly the Berserkers gained at the East fortress. However, the attack is tough and can be pre-empted, as Mark OHearn explains: "Instead of engaging in battle, set-up a strong fortified defence at the crossroads [marked 5 on the map above]. A couple of towers and siege weapons. Make sure you have medics and scouts to extend range. There is a small hill at your back that's great for siege/tower. Hide your legions in woods on hold until overrun. You will need to bait your enemies out of the woods - Centurions are good for this use." Finally send Titus Labienus up to the fortress to bait the remaining enemy before waiting for the final wagon to arrive at the fortress.