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{{Infobox Scenario
  
{{Infobox Scenario
 
|Image = Battle_frigidus_map.png
  
|Image = Battle_frigidus_map.png
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|Game = {{AoE2Icon|Khans}} ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition|The Last Khans]]''
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|Game = {{2icons|The Last Khans}}
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|Campaign = {{AoE2Icon|Alaric}} [[Alaric]]
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|Campaign = {{2icons|Alaric}}
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|Color = '''{{color|green|Green}}'''
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|Color = {{color|Green}}
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|Civilization = {{AoE2Icon|Goths}} [[Goths]]
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|Civilization = {{2icons|Goths}}
 
|No = 1
  
|No = 1
 
|Next = [[Razing Hellas]]
  
|Next = [[Razing Hellas]]
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|Co-op = [[The Battle of the Frigidus (co-op)]]
⚫
}}'''The Battle of the Frigidus''' is the first scenario of the reworked [[Alaric]] [[campaign]] in ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition]]''. It is based on the [[Wikipedia:Battle of the Frigidus|battle of the same name]] between the [[Western Roman Empire|Western]] and [[Byzantines|Eastern Roman]] Empires on September 5-6, 394 A.D.
  
  +
}}
  ⚫
'''The Battle of the Frigidus''' is the first scenario of the reworked [[Alaric]] [[Campaign (Age of Empires II)|campaign]] in ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition]]''. It is based on the [[Wikipedia:Battle of the Frigidus|battle of the same name]] between the [[Romans (Age of Empires II)|Western]] and [[Byzantines (Age of Empires II)|Eastern Roman]] Empires on September 5–6, 394 A.D.
   
 
== Intro ==
  
== Intro ==
Line 22: Line 24:
 
== Scenario instructions ==
  
== Scenario instructions ==
 
=== Starting conditions ===
  
=== Starting conditions ===
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* '''Starting Age:''' {{AoE2Icon|Castle Age}} [[Castle Age]]
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* '''Starting Age:''' {{2icons|Castle Age}}
−
* '''Starting resources:''' {{Resources|food=300|wood=250|gold=250|stone=400}}
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* '''Starting resources:''' {{Resources|food = 300|wood = 250|gold = 250|stone = 400}}
−
* '''Population limit:''' 110
 +
* '''Population limit:''' {{tt|120|110 prior to Return of Rome}}
 
* '''Starting units:'''
  
* '''Starting units:'''
  +
** 8 {{2icons|Villagers}}
−
** 8 [[File:VillagerMaleIcon.jpg|22px]] [[Villager (Age of Empires II)|Villagers]]
  
−
** 6 [[File:ManAtArmsIcon.jpg|22px]] [[Man-at-Arms|Men-at-Arms]]
 +
** 6 {{2icons|Men-at-Arms}}
−
** 1 [[File:ScoutCavalryIcon.jpg|22px]] [[Scout Cavalry (Age of Empires II)|Scout Cavalry]]
 +
** 1 {{2icons|Scout Cavalry}}
  +
  +
=== Differences between difficulty levels ===
  +
* On standard difficulty, the player starts with [[Murder Holes]] researched.
   
 
=== Objectives ===
  
=== Objectives ===
Line 37: Line 42:
   
 
=== Hints ===
  
=== Hints ===
  +
<tabber>Return of Rome=
  +
# The Visigoths are restricted to the Castle Age and a population limit of 120.
  +
# Your allies provide you with much needed support in the center and left flank of the battlefield. Assure that they survive.
  +
# [[Tribute]] surplus resources to your allies. They will use them to train and upgrade their armies.
  +
# The enemy Roman army is led by [[Centurion (Age of Empires II)|Centurions]], who boost the fighting abilities of nearby infantry. Eliminate them to demoralize and weaken enemy units.
  +
  +
=== Scouts ===
  +
Your scouts report:
  +
* The Visigoths (1,Green) have camped on the eastern flank of the battlefield. The Romans expect them to take the initiative and engage the most formidable enemy forces.
  +
* The Eastern Romans (2, Purple) have a large camp in the center from which they will lead the attack on the Western Romans (4, Blue). Aside from generic units, they will train [[Cataphract (Age of Empires II)|Cataphracts]].
  +
* On the western flank is General Stilicho (3, Red), who leads a Hunnic contingent. He needs time to build his base, but once he manages to do that he will train [[Tarkan]]s and [[Knight (Age of Empires II)|Knight]]s.
  +
* On the other side of the battlefield, the Franks under General Arbogast (5, Cyan) hold the flanks. Aside from [[Infantry unit (Age of Empires II)|infantry]], he will train [[Throwing Axeman (Age of Empires II)|Throwing Axemen]] and Knights.
  +
* In the center of the enemy line is the Western Roman camp. They will train various units but will also field [[Scorpion]]s and Centurions.
  +
  +
|-|Definitive Edition=
 
# The Visigoths are restricted to the Castle Age and a population limit of 110.
  
# The Visigoths are restricted to the Castle Age and a population limit of 110.
 
# Your allies provide you with much needed support in the center and left flank of the battlefield. Assure that they survive.
  
# Your allies provide you with much needed support in the center and left flank of the battlefield. Assure that they survive.
Line 45: Line 65:
 
Your scouts report:
  
Your scouts report:
 
* The Eastern Romans (2, Purple) have a large camp in the center from which they will lead the attack on the Western Romans (4, Blue). Aside from generic units, they will train [[Cataphract (Age of Empires II)|Cataphracts]].
  
* The Eastern Romans (2, Purple) have a large camp in the center from which they will lead the attack on the Western Romans (4, Blue). Aside from generic units, they will train [[Cataphract (Age of Empires II)|Cataphracts]].
−
* On the western flank is General Stilicho (3, Red), who leads a Hunnic contingent. He needs time to build his base, but once he manages to do that he will train [[Tarkan]]s and [[Knight]]s.
 +
* On the western flank is General Stilicho (3, Red), who leads a Hunnic contingent. He needs time to build his base, but once he manages to do that he will train [[Tarkan]]s and [[Knight (Age of Empires II)|Knight]]s.
−
* On the other side of the battlefield, the Franks under General Arbogast (5, Cyan) hold the flanks. Aside from [[Infantry units (Age of Empires II)|infantry]], he will train [[Throwing Axeman (Age of Empires II)|Throwing Axemen]] and Knights.
 +
* On the other side of the battlefield, the Franks under General Arbogast (5, Cyan) hold the flanks. Aside from [[Infantry unit (Age of Empires II)|infantry]], he will train [[Throwing Axeman (Age of Empires II)|Throwing Axemen]] and Knights.
 
* In the center of the enemy line is the Western Roman camp. They will train various units but will also field Cataphracts.
  
* In the center of the enemy line is the Western Roman camp. They will train various units but will also field Cataphracts.
  +
</tabber>
   
 
== Players ==
  
== Players ==
  +
=== Player ===
−
* '''{{Color|green|Player}}''' ([[Goths]]): The player starts in the northeast, with a small base surrounded by [[Palisade Wall]]s that includes a Town Center, [[Blacksmith]], [[Barracks (Age of Empires II)|Barracks]], and [[Archery Range (Age of Empires II)|Archery Range]], but no other defensive buildings; and a sizeable number of Villagers, economy buildings, and resources dispersed outside.
 +
* {{Color|green|Player}} ({{2icons|Goths}}): Starts in the northeast, with a small base surrounded by [[Palisade Wall (Age of Empires II)|Palisade Wall]]s that includes a Town Center, [[Blacksmith (Age of Empires II)|Blacksmith]], [[Barracks (Age of Empires II)|Barracks]], and [[Archery Range (Age of Empires II)|Archery Range]], but no other defensive buildings; and a sizable number of Villagers, economy buildings, and resources dispersed outside.
   
 
=== Allies ===
  
=== Allies ===
−
* '''{{Color|purple|Eastern Roman Empire}}''' ([[Byzantines]]): The Eastern Romans have a massive and well-defended fortification to the north of the map and west of the player's base, with two concentric [[Fortified Wall (Age of Empires II)|Fortified Walls]] built around a [[Castle (Age of Empires II)|Castle]], and some [[Guard Tower (Age of Empires II)|Guard Towers]] forming a third ring outside. However, they have no civilian units and rely on their allies to get resources.
 +
* {{Color|purple|Eastern Roman Empire}} ({{2icons|Byzantines}}): A massive and well-defended fortification to the north of the map and west of the player's base, with two concentric [[Fortified Wall (Age of Empires II)|Fortified Walls]] built around a [[Castle (Age of Empires II)|Castle]], and some [[Guard Tower (Age of Empires II)|Guard Towers]] forming a third ring outside. However, they have no civilian units and rely on their allies (the player's tributes) to get resources.
−
* '''{{Color|red|General Stilicho}}''' ([[Huns]]): Stilicho starts with a Town Center, Scout Cavalry, and some Villagers on the northwest, similarly to most players in random maps.
 +
* {{Color|red|General Stilicho}} ({{2icons|Huns}}): Starts with a Town Center, Scout Cavalry, and some Villagers on the northwest, similarly to most players in random maps.
   
 
=== Enemies ===
  
=== Enemies ===
−
* '''{{Color|blue|Western Roman Empire}}''' ([[Byzantines]]): The Western Romans have an identical fortification to the Eastern Romans on the south side of the map, just across the river from them. Likewise, they lack civilian units.
 +
* {{Color|blue|Western Roman Empire}} ({{2icons|Romans}} ({{AoE2Icon|Byzantines}} Byzantines before ''Return of Rome'')): An identical fortification to the Eastern Romans on the south side of the map, just across the river from them. Likewise, they lack civilian units.
−
* '''{{Color|cyan|General Arbogast}}''' ([[Franks]]): Arbogast has a Town Center protected by [[Watch Tower (Age of Empires II)|Watch Towers]] and a Castle on the southeast, directly across the river from the player's base, but no Walls. He has also several [[Stable (Age of Empires II)|Stables]] and [[Siege Workshop (Age of Empires II)|Siege Workshops]] on both sides of the Western Roman Empire's base, protected by Palisade Walls and Western Roman towers.
 +
* {{Color|cyan|General Arbogast}} ({{2icons|Franks}}): A Town Center protected by [[Watch Tower (Age of Empires II)|Watch Towers]] and a Castle on the southeast, directly across the river from the player's base, but no Walls. He has also several [[Stable (Age of Empires II)|Stables]] and [[Siege Workshop (Age of Empires II)|Siege Workshops]] on both sides of the Western Roman Empire's base, protected by Palisade Walls and Western Roman towers. He will resign when his Town Center is destroyed.
   
 
== Strategy ==
  
== Strategy ==
−
Since the player starts in the last allowed age and with a sizeable base and economy, the main priority will be to build an army and raid Arbogast's territory to keep him from attacking the Goths and Eastern Romans. Start with [[Spearman (Age of Empires II)|Spearmen]] to fend Arbogast's Knights and later add [[Crossbowman (Age of Empires II)|Crossbowmen]] to fight his Axemen, and [[Long Swordsman (Age of Empires II)|Long Swordsmen]] with [[Arson]] and [[Battering Ram]]s to destroy his buildings. [[Monk (Age of Empires II)|Monks]] (which are necessary to fulfill the Relic challenge) are also useful to [[conversion|convert]] Arbogast's Knights and Axemen and turn them on his [[Siege weapons (Age of Empires II)|siege]], which includes Rams and [[Scorpion]]s.
 +
Since the player starts in the Castle Age (and is restricted to that same age), with a sizable base and economy, and will never be attacked unprovoked for the entire scenario (so there is no need to set up defenses), the main priority will be to build an army and raid Arbogast's territory to keep him from attacking the Goths and Eastern Romans. Start with [[Spearman (Age of Empires II)|Spearmen]] to fend Arbogast's Knights and later add [[Crossbowman (Age of Empires II)|Crossbowmen]] to fight his Throwing Axemen, and [[Long Swordsman (Age of Empires II)|Long Swordsmen]] and [[Battering Ram (Age of Empires II)|Battering Ram]]s to destroy his buildings. [[Monk (Age of Empires II)|Monks]] (which are necessary to fulfill the Relic challenge) are also useful to [[conversion|convert]] Arbogast's Knights and Throwing Axemen and turn them on his [[Siege weapon (Age of Empires II)|siege]], which includes Rams and [[Scorpion]]s. A faster alternative consists in rushing Arbogast's Town Center with five Petards, which will make him resign.
   
−
There are three Relics. One is just across the river from the player's starting base but it is soon captured by the enemy. A second is in the southeast corner at the end of the road east of Arbogast's base, and the third is behind Arbogast's camp's Palisade east of the Western Roman base. If the first Relic is not retrieved, the next best option is to retrieve the easternmost Relic as soon as the path is cleared of Towers, defeat Arbogast, and then get the third Relic untroubled. Acquiring two Relics will research [[Perfusion]] for the player.
 +
There are two Relics. One is just across the river from the player's starting base, so the player should send a Monk to pick it up before the enemy does. A second is to the southeast of the Eastern Roman Empire base, and the allies' line of sight will make it visible. Acquiring the two Relics will research [[Perfusion]] for the player.
   
−
Though the player is asked to protect the Eastern Roman base, the Eastern Roman army can handle the Western Romans by itself just fine, even on Hard difficulty (the same is true of the opposite). As long as Arbogast is prevented from joining the attacks on the Eastern Roman base (for which he has to send his forces either near the Western Roman, or Gothic bases), the player's support for the Eastern Romans can be as limited as assigning one Villager to repair their southern defences and one Monk to heal their soldiers. Eventually Arbogast will be defeated or become too weak to help the Western Romans, while the Eastern Romans will be joined in their attacks by Stilicho's Tarkans and Swordsmen, taking the fight to Arbogast's western camp and the Western Roman base. Build a Castle on Arbogast's eastern camp and clear a path to the Western Roman Castle with Rams or [[Petard]]s while using Crossbowmen to snipe the remaining Western Roman [[Pikeman (Age of Empires II)|Pikemen]] and [[Light Cavalry (Age of Empires II)|Light Cavalry]]. After destroying the Castle, the Western Roman army will surrender.
 +
Though the player is asked to protect the Eastern Roman base, the Eastern Roman army can handle the Western Romans by itself just fine, even on Hard difficulty (the same is true of the opposite). As long as Arbogast is prevented from joining the attacks on the Eastern Roman base (for which he has to send his forces either near the Western Roman, or Gothic bases), the player's support for the Eastern Romans can be as limited as assigning one Villager to repair their southern defenses and one Monk to heal their soldiers. The hint recommending the player to tribute extra resources to the allies can be ignored. Eventually, Arbogast will be defeated or become too weak to help the Western Romans, while the Eastern Romans will be joined in their attacks by Stilicho's Tarkans and Swordsmen, taking the fight to Arbogast's western camp and the Western Roman base. Build a Castle on Arbogast's eastern camp and clear a path to the Western Roman Castle with Rams or [[Petard (Age of Empires II)|Petards]] while using Crossbowmen to snipe the remaining Western Roman [[Pikeman (Age of Empires II)|Pikemen]] and [[Light Cavalry (Age of Empires II)|Light Cavalry]]. After destroying the Castle, the Western Roman army surrenders.
   
 
== Outro ==
  
== Outro ==
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== Trivia ==
  
== Trivia ==
 
* This scenario is chronologically the oldest in ''Age of Empires II'', having beaten [[All Roads Lead to a Besieged City|the one it replaces]] by a little over a decade.
  
* This scenario is chronologically the oldest in ''Age of Empires II'', having beaten [[All Roads Lead to a Besieged City|the one it replaces]] by a little over a decade.
  +
* The complete fragment of the Roman Empire (395 AD) happened after this battle (394 AD). More precisely, the belligerents in this battle should be called the Roman Empire's Western and Eastern part.
 
* The only apparent similarity with the aforementioned scenario is a narrator beginning their tale with a recurring dream of wheat fields and nightmares of the [[Attila the Hun|Hunnic invasions]]. In the HD version, the narrator is Alaric's unnamed wife; here, his brother-in-law and eventual successor, [[Ataulf]].
  
* The only apparent similarity with the aforementioned scenario is a narrator beginning their tale with a recurring dream of wheat fields and nightmares of the [[Attila the Hun|Hunnic invasions]]. In the HD version, the narrator is Alaric's unnamed wife; here, his brother-in-law and eventual successor, [[Ataulf]].
  +
* In the European Spanish localization, Stilicho is voiced by the same actor who dubbed General Maximus in the movie ''Gladiator'' (2000).
   
 
== Historical comparison ==
  
== Historical comparison ==
−
* The battle opposed the Eastern Romans under Theodosius I and the Western Romans under [[Wikipedia:Eugenius|Eugenius]], who was captured and executed after his defeat. Theodosius then united the Eastern and Western empires under his rule until he died four months later. He was the last man to rule over the whole [[Romans|Roman Empire]]: his elder son Arcadius inherited the East, and his younger son Honorius (the emperor in [[The Belly of the Beast]]), the West.
 +
* The battle opposed the Eastern Romans under Theodosius I and the Western Romans under [[Wikipedia:Eugenius|Eugenius]], who was captured and executed after his defeat. Theodosius then united the Eastern and Western empires under his rule until he died four months later. He was the last man to rule over the whole [[Romans (Age of Empires II)|Roman Empire]]: his elder son Arcadius inherited the East, and his younger son Honorius (the emperor in [[The Belly of the Beast]]), the West.
 
* General Arbogast (portrayed as Franks) and General Stilicho (Huns) were half-Frankish and half-Vandal respectively, but were raised as (and identified as) Romans.
  
* General Arbogast (portrayed as Franks) and General Stilicho (Huns) were half-Frankish and half-Vandal respectively, but were raised as (and identified as) Romans.
−
** The Frankish faction is likely an allusion to the Western Romans employing Frankish ''[[Wikipedia:Foederati|Foederati]]'' at the battle. The Western Romans actually started winning, but this changed when some Franks defected to the other side; this is somewhat mirrored by the Franks being likelier to be defeated before their Roman allies.
 +
** The Frankish faction likely doubles for the Western Empire employing Frankish ''[[Wikipedia:Foederati|Foederati]]'' at the battle. Eugenius actually started winning, but this changed when some Franks defected to Theodosius' side; this is mirrored by the Franks being likelier to be defeated before their Roman allies.
−
** In a similar vein, Stilicho made career as a cavalry officer, which is the Huns' speciality in the game, and usually made of Barbarian contingents in Roman armies. Stilicho also had Hunnic bodyguards. At the Frigidus, the Eastern Romans also employed Alan cavalry under a commander named Saul, who would later fight Alaric in Italy; coincidentally the Alans are portrayed as Huns in the ''Definitive Edition'' version of [[The Catalaunian Fields]], having previously appeared as [[Vikings]] in ''[[Age of Empires II: The Conquerors|The Conquerors]]''.
 +
** In a similar vein, Stilicho made career as a cavalry officer, which is the Huns' speciality in the game, and the cavalry was usually staffed by Barbarians in Roman armies. Stilicho also had Hunnic bodyguards. At the Frigidus, Theodosius also employed Alan cavalry under a commander named Saul, who would later fight Alaric in Italy. Coincidentally the Alans are portrayed as Huns in the ''Definitive Edition''<nowiki />'s version of [[The Catalaunian Fields]], whereas they appeared as [[Vikings]] in ''[[Age of Empires II: The Conquerors|The Conquerors]]''.
−
* After defeating Arbogast, a message will say that his forces have fled to the Alps. In real life, Arbogast fled to the Alps and wandered for a few days there before committing suicide.
 +
* After defeating Arbogast, a message will say that his forces have fled to the Alps. In real life, Arbogast fled to the Alps and wandered for a few days before he committed suicide.
 
* The Relics quest claims that the Western Roman emperor is a Pagan sympathizer, as Eugenius was said to be. However, it is possible that such sympathies were exaggerated by Theodosius to claim that his victory was divinely mandated.
  
* The Relics quest claims that the Western Roman emperor is a Pagan sympathizer, as Eugenius was said to be. However, it is possible that such sympathies were exaggerated by Theodosius to claim that his victory was divinely mandated.
   
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{{Campaigns (Age of Empires II)}}
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{{Campaigns (Age of Empires II)|||u}}
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[[Category:Alaric]]
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[[Category:Alaric (Definitive Edition)]]
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[[Category:The Last Khans]]
  

Latest revision as of 08:31, 29 March 2024

The Battle of the Frigidus is the first scenario of the reworked Alaric campaign in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. It is based on the battle of the same name between the Western and Eastern Roman Empires on September 5–6, 394 A.D.

Intro[]

Each night I have the same two visions. One of a field of wheat stalks swaying in the wind...

...another of bright burning flames, trampling horse hooves, and loud screams.

My people, the Visigoths, came to Roman lands not as an invading army, but as a people running from a scourge... No! A plague sent by God himself!

We warned the Romans of the impending danger, but they ignored us. They despised and distrusted our kind. They treated us poorly, gave us barren lands, and when we suffered famine they made us sell our children for food. Inevitably, we went to war, and our great army struck a decisive blow to the Romans at Hadrianople. We slew their emperor and forced them to allow our people to settle in Roman lands.

Our victory taught the Romans to not underestimate Gothic warriors. In exchange for the land they gave us, our young men would serve in the Roman armies, fighting alongside our former enemies. As wars broke out between the eastern and western halves of the empire, we gathered our spears and served Rome in battle.

Scenario instructions[]

Starting conditions[]

Differences between difficulty levels[]

  • On standard difficulty, the player starts with Murder Holes researched.

Objectives[]

  • Prevent the Eastern Roman Empire's Army from being routed.
  • Defeat the Western Roman Empire.
  • Collect 2 Relics.
  • Destroy General Arbogast's Town Center.

Hints[]

  1. The Visigoths are restricted to the Castle Age and a population limit of 120.
  2. Your allies provide you with much needed support in the center and left flank of the battlefield. Assure that they survive.
  3. Tribute surplus resources to your allies. They will use them to train and upgrade their armies.
  4. The enemy Roman army is led by Centurions, who boost the fighting abilities of nearby infantry. Eliminate them to demoralize and weaken enemy units.

Scouts[]

Your scouts report:

  • The Visigoths (1,Green) have camped on the eastern flank of the battlefield. The Romans expect them to take the initiative and engage the most formidable enemy forces.
  • The Eastern Romans (2, Purple) have a large camp in the center from which they will lead the attack on the Western Romans (4, Blue). Aside from generic units, they will train Cataphracts.
  • On the western flank is General Stilicho (3, Red), who leads a Hunnic contingent. He needs time to build his base, but once he manages to do that he will train Tarkans and Knights.
  • On the other side of the battlefield, the Franks under General Arbogast (5, Cyan) hold the flanks. Aside from infantry, he will train Throwing Axemen and Knights.
  • In the center of the enemy line is the Western Roman camp. They will train various units but will also field Scorpions and Centurions.

  1. The Visigoths are restricted to the Castle Age and a population limit of 110.
  2. Your allies provide you with much needed support in the center and left flank of the battlefield. Assure that they survive.
  3. Try to secure as many resource deposits as possible early on. They will become vital as the battle drags on.
  4. If you have surplus resources, tribute them to your allies. They will use them to train and upgrade their armies.

Scouts[]

Your scouts report:

  • The Eastern Romans (2, Purple) have a large camp in the center from which they will lead the attack on the Western Romans (4, Blue). Aside from generic units, they will train Cataphracts.
  • On the western flank is General Stilicho (3, Red), who leads a Hunnic contingent. He needs time to build his base, but once he manages to do that he will train Tarkans and Knights.
  • On the other side of the battlefield, the Franks under General Arbogast (5, Cyan) hold the flanks. Aside from infantry, he will train Throwing Axemen and Knights.
  • In the center of the enemy line is the Western Roman camp. They will train various units but will also field Cataphracts.

Players[]

Player[]

  • Player (CivIcon-Goths Goths): Starts in the northeast, with a small base surrounded by Palisade Walls that includes a Town Center, Blacksmith, Barracks, and Archery Range, but no other defensive buildings; and a sizable number of Villagers, economy buildings, and resources dispersed outside.

Allies[]

  • Eastern Roman Empire (CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines): A massive and well-defended fortification to the north of the map and west of the player's base, with two concentric Fortified Walls built around a Castle, and some Guard Towers forming a third ring outside. However, they have no civilian units and rely on their allies (the player's tributes) to get resources.
  • General Stilicho (CivIcon-Huns Huns): Starts with a Town Center, Scout Cavalry, and some Villagers on the northwest, similarly to most players in random maps.

Enemies[]

  • Western Roman Empire (CivIcon-Romans Romans (CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines before Return of Rome)): An identical fortification to the Eastern Romans on the south side of the map, just across the river from them. Likewise, they lack civilian units.
  • General Arbogast (CivIcon-Franks Franks): A Town Center protected by Watch Towers and a Castle on the southeast, directly across the river from the player's base, but no Walls. He has also several Stables and Siege Workshops on both sides of the Western Roman Empire's base, protected by Palisade Walls and Western Roman towers. He will resign when his Town Center is destroyed.

Strategy[]

Since the player starts in the Castle Age (and is restricted to that same age), with a sizable base and economy, and will never be attacked unprovoked for the entire scenario (so there is no need to set up defenses), the main priority will be to build an army and raid Arbogast's territory to keep him from attacking the Goths and Eastern Romans. Start with Spearmen to fend Arbogast's Knights and later add Crossbowmen to fight his Throwing Axemen, and Long Swordsmen and Battering Rams to destroy his buildings. Monks (which are necessary to fulfill the Relic challenge) are also useful to convert Arbogast's Knights and Throwing Axemen and turn them on his siege, which includes Rams and Scorpions. A faster alternative consists in rushing Arbogast's Town Center with five Petards, which will make him resign.

There are two Relics. One is just across the river from the player's starting base, so the player should send a Monk to pick it up before the enemy does. A second is to the southeast of the Eastern Roman Empire base, and the allies' line of sight will make it visible. Acquiring the two Relics will research Perfusion for the player.

Though the player is asked to protect the Eastern Roman base, the Eastern Roman army can handle the Western Romans by itself just fine, even on Hard difficulty (the same is true of the opposite). As long as Arbogast is prevented from joining the attacks on the Eastern Roman base (for which he has to send his forces either near the Western Roman, or Gothic bases), the player's support for the Eastern Romans can be as limited as assigning one Villager to repair their southern defenses and one Monk to heal their soldiers. The hint recommending the player to tribute extra resources to the allies can be ignored. Eventually, Arbogast will be defeated or become too weak to help the Western Romans, while the Eastern Romans will be joined in their attacks by Stilicho's Tarkans and Swordsmen, taking the fight to Arbogast's western camp and the Western Roman base. Build a Castle on Arbogast's eastern camp and clear a path to the Western Roman Castle with Rams or Petards while using Crossbowmen to snipe the remaining Western Roman Pikemen and Light Cavalry. After destroying the Castle, the Western Roman army surrenders.

Outro[]

The dead bodies of young Goth warriors littered the flanks of the Julian Alps.

For all the blood we shed, the Romans did not even give us a crumb of gratitude. A Gothic commander in the Roman army encouraged us to desert and go back to our people. 'Hardship is upon your families, wives, and children, and your people need your help now more than ever,' he said.

Few had heard of Alaric, this Gothic commander, but he managed to gain a strong reputation during his service in the Roman army. He was a tall man with a voice that could silence a crowd. When Alaric spoke, all heads turned in his direction and his eyes flickered with an inextinguishable fire.

Trivia[]

  • This scenario is chronologically the oldest in Age of Empires II, having beaten the one it replaces by a little over a decade.
  • The complete fragment of the Roman Empire (395 AD) happened after this battle (394 AD). More precisely, the belligerents in this battle should be called the Roman Empire's Western and Eastern part.
  • The only apparent similarity with the aforementioned scenario is a narrator beginning their tale with a recurring dream of wheat fields and nightmares of the Hunnic invasions. In the HD version, the narrator is Alaric's unnamed wife; here, his brother-in-law and eventual successor, Ataulf.
  • In the European Spanish localization, Stilicho is voiced by the same actor who dubbed General Maximus in the movie Gladiator (2000).

Historical comparison[]

  • The battle opposed the Eastern Romans under Theodosius I and the Western Romans under Eugenius, who was captured and executed after his defeat. Theodosius then united the Eastern and Western empires under his rule until he died four months later. He was the last man to rule over the whole Roman Empire: his elder son Arcadius inherited the East, and his younger son Honorius (the emperor in The Belly of the Beast), the West.
  • General Arbogast (portrayed as Franks) and General Stilicho (Huns) were half-Frankish and half-Vandal respectively, but were raised as (and identified as) Romans.
    • The Frankish faction likely doubles for the Western Empire employing Frankish Foederati at the battle. Eugenius actually started winning, but this changed when some Franks defected to Theodosius' side; this is mirrored by the Franks being likelier to be defeated before their Roman allies.
    • In a similar vein, Stilicho made career as a cavalry officer, which is the Huns' speciality in the game, and the cavalry was usually staffed by Barbarians in Roman armies. Stilicho also had Hunnic bodyguards. At the Frigidus, Theodosius also employed Alan cavalry under a commander named Saul, who would later fight Alaric in Italy. Coincidentally the Alans are portrayed as Huns in the Definitive Edition's version of The Catalaunian Fields, whereas they appeared as Vikings in The Conquerors.
  • After defeating Arbogast, a message will say that his forces have fled to the Alps. In real life, Arbogast fled to the Alps and wandered for a few days before he committed suicide.
  • The Relics quest claims that the Western Roman emperor is a Pagan sympathizer, as Eugenius was said to be. However, it is possible that such sympathies were exaggerated by Theodosius to claim that his victory was divinely mandated.
Campaigns in Age of Empires II
AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings
CampaignIcon-WilliamDE William Wallace Difficulty easy PC: Marching and Fighting · Feeding the Army · Training the Troops · Research and Technology · The Battle of Stirling · Forge an Alliance · The Battle of Falkirk
Xbox: Preparing for Battle · The Battle of Stirling · Forge an Alliance · The Battle of Falkirk
CampaignIcon-JoanDE Joan of Arc Difficulty easy An Unlikely Messiah · The Maid of Orleans · The Cleansing of the Loire · The Rising · The Siege of Paris · A Perfect Martyr
CampaignIcon-SaladinDE Saladin Difficulty medium An Arabian Knight · Lord of Arabia · The Horns of Hattin · The Siege of Jerusalem · Jihad! · The Lion and the Demon
CampaignIcon-KhanDE Genghis Khan Difficulty easy Crucible · A Life of Revenge · Into China · The Horde Rides West · The Promise · Pax Mongolica
CampaignIcon-BarbarossaDE Barbarossa Difficulty easy Holy Roman Emperor · Henry the Lion · Pope and Antipope · The Lombard League · Barbarossa's March · The Emperor Sleeping
AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors
CampaignIcon-AttilaDE Attila the Hun Difficulty easy The Scourge of God · The Great Ride · The Walls of Constantinople · A Barbarian Betrothal · The Catalaunian Fields · The Fall of Rome
CampaignIcon-ElCidDE El Cid Difficulty easy Brother against Brother · The Enemy of my Enemy · The Exile of the Cid · Black Guards · King of Valencia · Reconquista
CampaignIcon-MontezumaDE Montezuma Difficulty easy Reign of Blood · The Triple Alliance · Quetzalcoatl · La Noche Triste · The Boiling Lake · Broken Spears
Battles of the Conquerors Icon Battles of the Conquerors Tours · Vinlandsaga · Hastings · Manzikert · Agincourt · Lepanto · Kyoto · Noryang Point
Hidden scenario The Saxon Revolt
AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten
CampaignIcon-AlaricDE Alaric Difficulty hard HD: All Roads Lead to a Besieged City · Legionaries on the Horizon! · Emperor of the West · The Sack of Rome
DE: The Battle of the Frigidus · Razing Hellas · The Belly of the Beast · The Giant Falls · A Kingdom of Our Own
CampaignIcon-DraculaDE Vlad Dracula Difficulty medium The Dragon Spreads His Wings · The Return of the Dragon · The Breath of the Dragon · The Moon Rises · The Night Falls
CampaignIcon-BariDE Bari Difficulty medium HD: Arrival at Bari · The Rebellion of Melus · The Great Siege
DE: Arrival at Bari · The Rebellion of Melus · Loose Ends · The Best Laid Plans · The Onrushing Tide
CampaignIcon-SforzaDE Sforza Difficulty medium HD: An End and a Beginning · O Fortuna · The Hand of a Daughter · The Ambrosian Republic · A New Duke of Milan
DE: Mercenaries and Masters · His Own Man · Prodigal Son · Blood and Betrayal · Viva Sforza!
El Dorado Icon El Dorado (removed) Tales of La Canela · The Split · The Amazones · The Cannibals
CampaignIcon-PrithvirajDE Prithviraj Difficulty medium HD: A Promising Warrior · The Digvijaya · The Elopement · Battles of Tarain
DE: Born of Fire · The Digvijaya · Hand of a Princess · The Fate of India · The Legend of Prithviraj
Battles of the Forgotten Icon Battles of the Forgotten Bukhara · Dos Pilas · York · Honfoglalás · Langshan Jiang · Kurikara · Cyprus · Bapheus · Kaesong (cut)
AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms
CampaignIcon-TariqIbnZiyadDE Tariq ibn Ziyad Difficulty medium The Battle of Guadalete · Consolidation and Subjugation · Divide and Conquer · Crossing the Pyrenees · Razzia
CampaignIcon-SundjataDE Sundjata Difficulty medium Hunted · The Sting of the Scorpion · Djeriba Gold · Blood on the River Bank · The Lion's Den
CampaignIcon-FranciscoDE Francisco de Almeida Difficulty hard The Old World · Lion of Africa · Ruins of Empires · Estado da India · A Son's Blood
CampaignIcon-YoditDE Yodit Difficulty hard Path of Exile · The Right Partner · A Fallen Crown · Broken Stelae · Welcome Home
AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas
CampaignIcon-GajahMadaDE Gajah Mada Difficulty medium The Story of Our Founders · Unconditional Loyalty · The Oath to Unify Nusantara · Serving the New King · The Pasunda Bubat Tragedy
CampaignIcon-SuryavarmanIDE Suryavarman I Difficulty easy Usurpation · Quelling the Rebellion · A Dangerous Mission · Challenging a Thalassocracy · Nirvanapada
CampaignIcon-BayinnaungDE Bayinnaung Difficulty hard The Burmese Tigers · The Mandalay Cobra · The Royal Peacock · The White Elephant · The Old Tiger
CampaignIcon-LeLoiDE Le Loi Difficulty hard The Dai Viet Uprising · The Mountain Siege · The Battle at Hanoi · Reaching South · A Three-Pronged Attack · The Final Fortress
AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition
CampaignIcon-TheArtOfWar The Art of War Difficulty easy Early Economy · Booming · Rushing the Enemy · Fast Castle Age · Defending Against A Rush · Land Battle · Destroying a Castle · Naval Battle · Battle Formations
CampaignIcon-Pachacuti Pachacuti Difficulty medium A New Power Arises · The Field of Blood · War of Brothers · The Falcon's Tent · Like Father, Like Son
00 historical battles normal Historical Battles Difficulty easy Scn 09 bukhara normal Bukhara · Scn 10 dos pilas normal Dos Pilas · Scn 01 tours normal Tours · Scn 11 york normal York · Scn 12 honfoglalas normal Honfoglalás · Scn 02 vinlandsaga normal Vinlandsaga · Scn 03 hastings normal Hastings · Scn 04 manzikert normal Manzikert · Scn 13 kurikara normal Kurikara · Scn 14 cyprus normal Cyprus · Scn 15 bapheus normal Bapheus · Scn 16 lake poyang normal Lake Poyang · Scn 05 agincourt normal Agincourt · Scn 06 lepanto normal Lepanto · Scn 07 kyoto normal Kyoto · Scn 08 noryang point normal Noryang Point
Event scenarios Mongol Raiders · Barbarossa Brawl · Mangudai Madness · The Siege (co-op)
AoE2-DLCicon-5 The Last Khans
CampaignIcon-Tamerlane Tamerlane Difficulty easy Amir of Transoxiana · Gurkhan of Persia · Harbinger of Destruction · Sultan of Hindustan · Scourge of the Levant · A Titan Amongst Mortals
CampaignIcon-Ivaylo Ivaylo Difficulty hard A Most Unlikely Man · An Unlikely Alliance · Tsar of the Bulgars · Echoes of Heroes · Where the One-Eyed Man is King
CampaignIcon-Kotyan Kotyan Khan Difficulty hard Raising the Banners · The Battle at the Kalka River · Saving the Huts · Blood for Blood · A New Home
AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West
CampaignIcon-EdwardDE Edward Longshanks Difficulty easy Vain Ambition · A Man of God · Of Castles and Kings · Toom Tabard · Hammer of the Scots
CampaignIcon-DukesDE Grand Dukes Difficulty medium A Kingdom Divided · The Wolf and the Lion · The Cleansing of Paris · Unholy Marriage · The Hook and Cod Wars · The Maid Falls
CampaignIcon-HautevillesDE The Hautevilles Difficulty hard Guiscard Arrives · Roger in Sicily · Bohemond and the Emperor · Bohemond in the East · Wonder of the World
Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes
Algirdas icon Algirdas and Kestutis Difficulty easy Family Affairs · No Man's Land · The Tatar Yoke · A Worthy Opponent · In the Shadow of the Throne
32 jadwiga normal Jadwiga Difficulty hard The Matter of the Crown · Star of the Poles · Duel of the Dukes · The Siege of Vilnius · Vytautas' Crusade · The Fruits of Her Labor
Jan Zizka icon Jan Zizka Difficulty medium The One-Eyed Wanderer · Courage and Coin · The Iron Lords · The Golden City · The Emperor's Fury · Warrior of God
AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India
Babur Icon Babur Difficulty easy Pearl of the East · The Last Timurids · Into India · The Battle of Panipat · The Rajputs
Rajendra Icon Rajendra Difficulty hard The Successor · Deeds of the Father · Rising Star · Sacred Waters · Slaying the Vritra
Devapala Icon Devapala Difficulty easy Dissatisfaction · Desire · Renunciation · Liberation? · Enlightenment
AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals
Tamar Icon Tamar Difficulty hard Takeover · Yury's Revenge · The Protectorate · Tamar the Builder · The Queen in the Panther's Skin
Thoros Icon Thoros II Difficulty easy Outlawed · The Emperor's Revenge · Caught in the Crossfire · Bloody Crestwaves · Of Turncoats and Traitors
Ismail Icon Ismail Difficulty medium The Red Hats · Road to Royalty · Alexander Safavi · The Fallen Amir · Khata'i
Aoe2 hb Victors and Vanquished
VictorsAndVanquished Campaign Icon
Victors and Vanquished 		Difficulty easy Scn 23 charlemagne Charlemagne · Scn 39 drake Drake · Scn 26 finehair Finehair · Scn 25 ironside Ironside · Scn 38 nobunaga Nobunaga
Difficulty medium Scn 36 fetih Fetih · Scn 21 gaiseric Gaiseric · Scn 24 ragnar Ragnar · Scn 27 robert Robert · Scn 37 shimazu Shimazu · Scn 32 stephen Stephen · Scn 33 temujin Temujin · Scn 22 vortigern Vortigern
Difficulty hard Scn 35 constantine Constantine XI · Scn 30 karlsefni Karlsefni · Scn 31 komnenos Komnenos · Scn 34 mstislav Mstislav · Scn 28 otto Otto · Scn 29 seljuk Seljuk
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