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Post by Gandalf on May 22, 2022 8:02:36 GMT -5
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, last surviving member of the house of the Caesars, is dead. Forced into suicide by subversive factions within the Roman Senate and Praetorian Guard, there is now for the first time no clear heir to step into the mantle of power, and multiple generals now cast their eyes towards claiming the purple for themselves. Players can either play the historical claimants to the title of Caesar or make their own, as well as assume the roles of prominent actors in the Roman state.
Already has the general Servius Sulpicius Galba leapt into the power vacuum, having marched on Rome with a number of levied legions and declared himself Augustus with the blessing of the Senate. However, Fortuna’s wheel turns quickly. Faced with the revolt of the legions on the Rhine frontier and unrest in the Praetorian camp, Galba was unable to prevent his own downfall and murder at the hands of his former subordinate Marcus Salvius Otho. Otho, now Augustus, has inherited a revolt not only in the west but in the east, as the Syrian legates now smell blood in the water and plot to raise one of their own to the Imperial throne. Two emperors have already risen and one is already dead, and the year is only just beginning…
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Starting scenario:
- Otho (whether as a player or NPC) is in control of Rome, Italia, Hispania, and the Senatorial provinces.
- Gaul, Germania and Britannia and all their legions are potentially in control of a player pretender (Vitellius as NPC if there is no takers)
- The Danube frontier is neutral if no player pretender claims it as a spot; the legions are there to be won.
- The east will have a pretender in control of Syria and Egypt with their legions besieging Jerusalem. (Vespasian as NPC if no takers)
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Players can either start as legates in the provinces or Senators/Equestrians in the city of Rome; there is no social class restrictions so you can all start as characters of whatever age and experience you desire. While I had originally envisaged two player pretenders in west and east I would not be opposed to having more begin in the field of play at game start.
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Post by Gandalf on May 30, 2022 4:08:16 GMT -5
Below is a list of legionary loyalties at game start, as well as the provinces that are loyal to their respective general-emperors.
For the purposes of the neutral legions, the provincial legates (if player controlled) have sway in where the legions loyalties lie. If NPC, their loyalties can be bargained for, subject to rolls. The legitimate Augustus (in control of Rome and the Senate) has a slight advantage in these instances.
Vespasian: Syria, Judea
IV Scythia - Syria/Judea
V Macedonica - Judea
VI Ferrata - Syria/Judea
X Fretensis. - Syria/Judea
XII Fulminata - Judea
XV Apollonaris – Judea
Vitellius: Germania Superior, Germania Inferior, Gaul
I Germanica - Germania Inferior
IV Macedonica - Germania Superior
V Alaudae - Germania Inferior
XV Primigenia - Germania Superior
XVI Gallica - Germania Inferior
XXI Rapax - Germania Superior
XXII Primigenia - Germania Superior
Otho: Italia, Hispania
VI Victrix - Italia
VI Hispania – Italia
VII Gemina - Italia
X Gemina - Hispania Tarraconesis
I Adiuturix - Pannonia
Praetorian Guard - Italia
Neutral
I Italica - Moesia
II Augusta – Britannia
III Augusta - Mauretania
III Cyrenaica - Egypt
III Gallica - Pannonia
VII Claudia - Moesia
VIII Augusta - Thrace
IX Hispania - Britannia
XI Claudia Pia Fidelis - Illyricum
XIII Gemina - Pannonia
XIV Gemina - Pannonia
XX Valeria Victrix – Britannia
XXII Deiotariana - Egypt
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Post by Gandalf on May 30, 2022 14:21:05 GMT -5
Starting Situation:
- Vespasian starts in command of the Judean war. Though his soldiers are planning to raise him to the purple, the Judeans must be contained or brought to heel lest the revolt be allowed to survive and spread. Tiberius Julius must also ensure that Alexandria is secured from the Jewish rebels. All the Eastern legions begin with three veterancy points.
- Vitellius begins in command of the Rhine legions, but finds the Batavi tribe in revolt against his rule. Though he can march to claim the purple, failing to defend the German frontier will undoubtedly lead to chaos in wider Gaul. All the Germanic legions begin with six veterancy points.
- Though Otho is in command of Galba’s Italian troops and the Praetorians, he must move to secure their allegiance quickly. Likewise must be secure either Africa, Egypt, or another source of grain lest he face civil unrest. However, Otho begins with control of the state treasury.
- Likewise, if the Danube defences are too heavily stripped by any of the claimants, the rising power of Dacia may seek to take advantage of the chaos.
NB: New legions cannot be levied until the civil war period is over. Existing legions must be used until manpower is exhausted or a victor declared.
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