The Battle of Agrigentum is the first scenario of the The First Punic War campaign in Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, replacing the Struggle for Sicily scenario of the The Rise of Rome demo. In the scenario, the Carthaginians must fight the Roman invaders and destroy both of their two Government Centers.
In Return of Rome, this scenario was replaced by "Struggle for Sicily" again.
Scenario instructions[]
Description[]
| “ | Southern Sicily, 262 BCE Your command in Sicily has been uneventful, save for a roving band of rebellious mercenaries who pillaged much of the island and angered the tyrant of Syracuse. Carthage's ruling council sees this as an opportunity to expand Carthage's influence, but a strange Italian backwater town has intervened in these affairs. The soldiers from this town call themselves Romans and they march on your positions. By the grace of Ba'al Hammon, King of the Gods, deal with these Roman upstarts. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
Starting conditions[]
- Starting Age:
Bronze Age - Starting resources: 250 food, 250 wood, 50 gold, 150 stone
- Population limit: 50
- Starting units:
- 8
Hoplites - 1 War Elephant
- 1 Light Transport
- 5 Villagers
- 2 Scout Ships
- 2 Fishing Boats
- 8
Objectives[]
- Destroy both Roman Government Centers.
- Do not allow your Government Center to be destroyed.
Hints[]
- It is not necessary to destroy the Romans entirely. The Government Centers alone should be your target.
- Friendly Numidian Cavalry will aid you if you can reach them in the west.
Players[]
Player[]
- Player ( Carthaginians): The player starts with a Bronze Age base, Villagers, a small navy, some towers and some land forces.
Enemies[]
- Romans ( Romans): This enemy starts with a moderate Bronze Age base to the west. They have one Government Center which the player must destroy. This enemy starts with some Short Swordsmen and Cavalry.
- Romans ( Romans): This enemy starts with a moderate Bronze Age base to the north. They have one Government Center which the player must destroy. This enemy starts with some Short Swordsmen.
Strategy[]
Both enemies start with a small army, which can be crushed in an early strike by the starting heavy infantry and elephant units. Removing one of then from the game will make the fight much easier. The western Romans (yellow) are weaker and more vulnerable, and should be targeted first. The northern entrance to the city can be walled off, or more towers built and upgraded, to stymie attacks from the other opponent.
The western Romans train only swordsmen and Scouts. The northern Romans (red) train swordsmen, Chariots, Stone Throwers, and Priests. Both the northern and western Roman Government Centers are within range of warships brought to the shoreline.
There are five Numidian (Gaia) Cavalry in the western corner. Unfortunately, they are stuck behind some trees, which will need to chopped down first.
History[]
Historical notes[]
| “ | Founded in 814 BCE by settlers from the Phoenician city of Tyre, Carthage was a major maritime power in the Mediterranean. Based on the coast of modern-day Tunisia, Carthage's power and influence extended along the North African coast, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and the islands of the Western Mediterranean. In the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, Carthage and the rising power of Rome would become embroiled in three wars, known to the Romans as the Punic Wars, for the Latin word for Phoenician. The First War (264-241 BCE) began when a group of Italian mercenaries called the Mamertines, or Sons of Mars, occupied the city of Messana on the northeast tip of Sicily. They pillaged the surrounding countryside, putting them in conflict with Hiero II, king of the Greek Sicilian city of Syracuse. The Mamertines were defeated in battle by the Syracusans but appealed to both the Romans and Carthaginians for assistance. Carthage dispatched a garrison to Messana, but the mercenaries further petitioned Rome. The historian Polybius writes that the Romans weighed aiding unlawful mercenaries against the dangerous prospect of allowing Carthage to increase her power in Sicily, particularly so close to Italy. A deadlocked Senate put the matter to popular assembly. where it was decided to aid the Mamertines. Landing at Messana in 264 BCE, the Romans marched on Syracuse. The city made peace with Rome and became a critical ally. The presence of a friendly power on the island meant that Roman troops could be supplied so far from Rome without relying on sea-based provisioning, which would have been a challenge for Rome given Carthage's naval superiority. In 262 BCE, the first large-scale battle was fought between Rome and Carthage. The Roman troops were citizen soldiers of a martial civic culture and hardened by the wars of expansion in Italy and the war against Pyrrhus of Epirus. In contrast, Carthage was a mercantile republic which relied heavily on mercenaries, usually recruited from North Africa, Iberia, and Gaul. At the city of Agrigentum in Southern Sicily, the Romans besieged the Carthaginians. After more than six months of siege and with starvation affecting both sides, the two armies met in battle outside the city walls. Although the Romans ended up taking Agrigentum, the Carthaginian army was able to escape. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
Victory[]
| “ | Though you defeated them, these Romans have impressed you with their fighting skill and tenacity. They are respectable fighters on dry land, but, as Sicily is an island, only naval mastery can assure victory. Fortunately, Carthage still dominates the sea. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
Loss[]
| “ | Your failure to defeat these interlopers from a minor backwater town has lost the key island of Sicily to our enemies. Our colonies and trade routes to the West are now in great danger. Report to fleet headquarters for duty as a rowing bench. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
