The Invasion of Britain (named just Britain in the original) is the second scenario of the Ave Caesar campaign in Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome. It depicts the invasions of Britain.
Scenario instructions[]
Description[]
“ | Britannia, 55 to 54 BCE Julius Caesar, you have been governor of Roman Gaul for 8 years and have fought a series of brilliant campaigns against the many enemies of Rome. You correctly determined that you had to bring Gaul under Roman control to gain popularity in Rome and extend your power. Now, with the Gauls subdued and the German invaders expelled, you look north and west across the sea into Britain, a land clouded in mystery and surrounded by many strange legends. It is clear that the Britons assisted the Veneti during their war with you in Gaul, and so a punitive expedition is in order. It is unclear what lies beyond the misty waters and tall, white cliffs, but rumors of ancient tribes using chariots and fanatical druids conducting human sacrifices are beginning to spread among your troops. | ” |
—In-game section |
Starting conditions[]
- Starting Age: Post-Iron Age
- Starting resources: 500 food, 500 wood, 200 gold, 200 stone
- Population limit: 50
- Starting units:
- Caesar
- 16 Legionaries
- 8 Centurions
- 6 Improved Bowmen
- 2 Heavy Catapults
- 2 Helepolises
- 2 Priests
- 6 Triremes
- 4 Juggernauts
- 4 Heavy Transports
Objectives[]
- Capture and hold all the British centers of power (Ruins).
- If Caesar dies, the mission will be lost.
Hints[]
- Protect your siege weapons at all costs–their survival is vital to the success of your campaign.
- Do not waste time converting villagers; concentrate on the mission.
Description[]
“ | 55 to 54 BC You have been governor of Gaul (modern France) since 58 BC and have fought a series of brilliant campaigns. The entire region west of the Rhine River is now under Roman control. With the Gauls subdued and their German allies punished, it is time to invade Britain and deal with the tribes there that have supported the Gauls against us. Take your legions across the channel into Britain and force the tribes to make peace. We want no further interference from them in Gaul. | ” |
—In-game section |
Starting conditions[]
- Starting Age: Post-Iron Age
- Starting resources: None
- Population limit: 50
- Starting units:
- Caesar
- 16 Legionaries
- 8 Centurions
- 6 Improved Bowmen
- 2 Heavy Catapults
- 2 Helepolises
- 2 Priests
- 10 Juggernauts
- 4 Heavy Transports
Objectives[]
- Capture and hold all the British centers of power (Ruins). If Caesar dies, the mission will be lost.
Hints[]
- Protect your siege weapons at all costs.
- Do not waste time converting villagers; concentrate on the mission.
Players[]
Player[]
- Player ( Romans): The player starts with a Post-Iron Age army in the southern corner of the map and must fend off an initial attack by Venetic Fire Galleys.
Enemies[]
- Veneti ( Carthaginians): The Veneti are located in the easternmost part of the map with a large walled base. Their ships and towers may threaten the player and they will infrequently send landing parties to the British mainland in order to attack the player's army. Still, they are not situated near the Ruins, and can simply be ignored.
- Cassivellaunus ( Phoenicians): The strongest enemy in this scenario, they have some Sentry Towers and patrolling units including Stone Throwers guarding the shores, as well as a well-established city inland in the westernmost part of the map. Their armies mostly consist of Scythe Chariots, Chariot Archers, and Broad Swordsmen, and the occasional Stone Thrower. One of the Ruins located inside their city.
- Brigantes ( Phoenicians): The Brigantes are located in the northwest of the map, between Cassivellaunus and the Picts, and are the weakest enemy in this scenario. They have some Sentry Towers guarding the routes into their base, but no starting units, and also start in the Tool Age.
- Picts ( Greeks): The Picts occupy the northernmost corner of the map, just to the northeast of the Brigantes, and are in the Tool Age. Their settlement is rather small, with merely a Town Center, as well as some Houses. Starting forces include Axemen, Slingers, Scouts, and Chariots. Both Ruins are located just to the south of their position, one on each side of the River.
Strategy[]
The player starts off at the south end of the map, with a sizable army of infantry, archers, siege units, and Priests. The Ruins are found at the mainland to the north, one in the territory of Cassivellaunus and two to the south of the Picts' position. Veneti is on the offshore land in the east and does not have a Ruin, thus can be ignored.
Transport the starting units across. There are two places where the cliffs allow the player to land: one to the west, and one to the east. The eastern one is less defended, and will bring the player closer to their goal.
Land, and make way north, using the Siege Units on the towers and the infantry on enemy units. Caesar makes a good scout due to his good speed and large Line of Sight, provided that the player keeps him somewhat safe - he can defend himself quite well, but if he dies, the player will lose the game.
Move towards the Brigantian base, with a quick detour to the east to capture the Ruins. Leaving a few infantry units at the Ruins to ensure that none of the enemies enemies manage to take them back. Continue through the Brigantian and Pictish bases, and locate the second Ruin. Then, move on to Cassivellaunus.
They are more heavily defended than the other two bases, and getting through the defenses will take time. Luckily, the player won't have to - send Caesar in to capture the Ruins, killing any enemy unit that stands too close to them. Once all three Ruins are under the player's control, the game ends.
History[]
Historical notes[]
“ | After Caesar's consulship, the patricians, fearing Caesar's growing power, tried to limit his strength by allotting him useless lands in Italy instead of the governorship of a province that ex-consuls normally received. Caesar and his political allies, however, fought back and through political maneuvering managed to secure him not just one but three provinces. Two of these, Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul, bordered Celtic Gaul, a land still unconquered by the Romans. At the time of Caesar's governorship some of Rome's Gaulish allies had become nervous due to a new, massive migration by the Helvetii people, and asked for Rome's help. Caesar used this to his advantage, and raised several legions to march north to stop the Helvetii and prepare further campaigns into Gaul. Caesar's expedition was a success and Roman interests in the region seemed safe. However, a new threat loomed when Ariovistus, chieftain of the Suebi tribe, planned to invade Gaul with a large German army. Once again, Caesar had to march out to counter the menace that threatened Rome's allies, and again he succeeded, defeating the Suebi over the course of multiple battles. Although peace had been secured, Caesar continued his campaign, interfering further into Gaulish affairs. In 57 BCE, he marched against the Belgae up north and in 56 BCE against the Veneti in Armorica in the west, defeating them both. With Gaul firmly under Roman control, he then mounted an expedition against the Britons across the British Channel, suspecting that the Veneti had received support from the Celtic tribes in Britain. Caesar first sailed to Britain with two legions (around 10 thousand men) in 55 BCE, but had to fight his way ashore with help from catapults mounted on his ships due to heavy resistance. After three weeks of hard fighting, he agreed to a truce and returned to Gaul. The following year, he invaded Britain again, but this time with five legions. Just as before, a large force of Britons assembled at the coast to contest the invasion. Seeing Caesar's large fleet and army, however, the Britons abandoned this strategy. Caesar and his armies then marched inland following the Thames River. The Britons avoided any major engagement and instead harassed the Romans, raiding the Roman camps at every opportunity. Another truce was arranged near modern-day St. Albans, and Caesar returned to Gaul after receiving the Britons' nominal submission. The British Isles remained outside the Roman Empire until they were invaded again by the Romans under emperor Claudius in 43 CE. All of Britain south of Caledonia (modern-day Scotland), was conquered by 60 CE, and remained part of the Empire for nearly 350 years. | ” |
—In-game section |
Victory[]
“ | The Britons' admission to Rome secures the northern flank of Gaul. Although you did not conquer the island, the information on the terrain and the local tribes will ease the full-fledged subjugation of the British Isles by Rome... if that proves necessary. For now, it is back to the mainland. There are rumblings that tribal leaders in Gaul are fomenting a new rebellion. | ” |
—In-game section |
Loss[]
“ | Your invasion performed a basic reconnaissance of Britain, but your army has suffered heavy casualties that cannot be replaced easily. Your failure has triggered a crisis and the tribes of Gaul, having heard of your failures, have begun to rebel. The northern frontiers of Rome may soon be in flames. Report to the Senate where certain leaders want to take a stab at explaining where you went wrong. | ” |
—In-game section |
Historical notes[]
“ | Caesar first entered Britain with two legions in 55 BC. He had to fight his way ashore with help from catapults mounted on his ships. After three weeks of hard fighting he agreed to a truce and returned to Gaul. The following year he invaded Britain once more with five legions and support troops. A large force of Britons assembled to contest the invasion, but Caesar marched inland across the Thames River. The Britons avoided a major engagement but harassed the Romans and raided their camps. Another truce was arranged near modern St. Albans and Caesar returned to Gaul after receiving the Britons' nominal submission. Britain remained outside the Roman Empire until it was invaded again in 43 AD. Britain south of modern Scotland was conquered by 60 AD and remained part of the empire for 350 years. | ” |
—In-game section |
Victory[]
“ | The Britons' admission that you have won secures the northern flank of Gaul. Although you did not conquer the island completely, the information on terrain and the local tribes will ease the full-fledged subjugation of the British Isles by Rome, if that proves necessary. For now, it is back to the mainland. There are rumblings that tribal leaders in Gaul are fomenting rebellion. | ” |
—In-game section |
Loss[]
“ | Your invasion performed a basic reconnaissance of Britain, but your army has suffered heavy casualties that cannot be replaced easily. Your failure has triggered a crisis. The tribes of Gaul have heard of your failures and are rising in rebellion. The northern frontiers of Rome may soon be in flames. Report to the Senate where certain leaders want to take a stab at explaining where you went wrong. | ” |
—In-game section |