For some weeks I have been taking part in an online wargame involving approximately thirty people. It is set during the period at the end of Augustus's rule in Rome, and the rise of Tiberius.
I am Silius (Gaius Silius, who was probably the son of Publius Silius Nerva), military governor of Upper Germany (Germania Superior), and whilst machinations are taking place back in Rome, my task is to keep Upper Germany safe from the German tribes. I am serving under the command of Germanicus and my main base is Mognotiacum (modern-day Mainz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) with another at Vindonissa (modern-day Windisch in Switzerland). Directly across the Rhine from Upper Germany are the areas occupied by the Chatti and Hermenduri.
The game is being run by an old friend of mine, John B. He is the umpire as well as acting as Emperor Augustus up until the latter's death. All communication within the game takes place using WhatsApp, and John B has set up several groups to facilitate this. For example, I am within the Rhine Army HQ group which allows me to communicate with my fellow Romans in Germany as well as the main group where I can communicate with Rome and pick up on what is happening elsewhere. We are also allowed to communicate privately with other players using emails etc.
To date, two of my four legions have marched north into Lower Germany to assist in the suppression of the troublesome Cherusci, who seem to have been encouraged to attack Roman Germania by the turncoat Arminius*. Now that they have been suitably chastened, I have moved back to Mognotiacum with one of my legions in order to deal with the Chatti, who have used the absence of the two legions I took north with me to come across the Rhine and to menace this fortified Roman base. (The base had been fortified and is occupied by a legion. The legion has been using a mobile column to try to keep the Chatti at bay without getting themselves involved in a major battle.)
Each turn lasts three or four days in real time, and covers a period of several months in game time. The pace has been quick enough to keep the participants interested without becoming onerous, and using WhatsApp means that an ongoing record of who did what and when has been easy to keep. I'm not sure how long the game will last, but it could easily go on for quite some time.
* Arminius (or Hermann) was the son of a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe who had been taken as a hostage of the Roman Empire as a child. He was brought up in Rome and joined the Roman military during his youth. He was eventually granted Roman citizenship and became a Roman equites (or knight). After gaining distinction during a revolt in Illyria, he went to Germania to serve under the governor, Publius Quinctilius Varus. At this point he changed his allegiance, and began plotting the overthrow of Roman rule in Germania. This culminated in the destruction of three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest.
I am Silius (Gaius Silius, who was probably the son of Publius Silius Nerva), military governor of Upper Germany (Germania Superior), and whilst machinations are taking place back in Rome, my task is to keep Upper Germany safe from the German tribes. I am serving under the command of Germanicus and my main base is Mognotiacum (modern-day Mainz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) with another at Vindonissa (modern-day Windisch in Switzerland). Directly across the Rhine from Upper Germany are the areas occupied by the Chatti and Hermenduri.
The game is being run by an old friend of mine, John B. He is the umpire as well as acting as Emperor Augustus up until the latter's death. All communication within the game takes place using WhatsApp, and John B has set up several groups to facilitate this. For example, I am within the Rhine Army HQ group which allows me to communicate with my fellow Romans in Germany as well as the main group where I can communicate with Rome and pick up on what is happening elsewhere. We are also allowed to communicate privately with other players using emails etc.
To date, two of my four legions have marched north into Lower Germany to assist in the suppression of the troublesome Cherusci, who seem to have been encouraged to attack Roman Germania by the turncoat Arminius*. Now that they have been suitably chastened, I have moved back to Mognotiacum with one of my legions in order to deal with the Chatti, who have used the absence of the two legions I took north with me to come across the Rhine and to menace this fortified Roman base. (The base had been fortified and is occupied by a legion. The legion has been using a mobile column to try to keep the Chatti at bay without getting themselves involved in a major battle.)
Each turn lasts three or four days in real time, and covers a period of several months in game time. The pace has been quick enough to keep the participants interested without becoming onerous, and using WhatsApp means that an ongoing record of who did what and when has been easy to keep. I'm not sure how long the game will last, but it could easily go on for quite some time.
* Arminius (or Hermann) was the son of a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe who had been taken as a hostage of the Roman Empire as a child. He was brought up in Rome and joined the Roman military during his youth. He was eventually granted Roman citizenship and became a Roman equites (or knight). After gaining distinction during a revolt in Illyria, he went to Germania to serve under the governor, Publius Quinctilius Varus. At this point he changed his allegiance, and began plotting the overthrow of Roman rule in Germania. This culminated in the destruction of three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeletePleased that your enjoying this Campaign- I'd have to admit such is beyond me as I do not have that great a grasp on History- certainly not ancient history- I think my Campaign imagination is limited to the forty year old Board Game- 'Kingmaker'. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI specifically didn’t read very much about the background to the campaign until it was underway so that any plans and decision I made were not made with 20/20 hindsight. Funnily enough, to date I seem to have done roughly what the real Silius did.
‘Kingmaker’ is an excellent campaign game, and the fact that it is still popular and still being used 40 years on is testament to how good it is.
All the best,
Bob
Have you listened to the 'In our time' program on the Teutoburg Forest - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000f69q
ReplyDeleteNigel Drury,
DeleteThanks for the link. I try to listen to it later today.
All the best,
Bob
It is Epic
ReplyDeleteAnd the weather is as inhospitable in the Danube area as the inhabitants are to Rome
;)
Geordie an Exiled FOG,
DeleteHow are things on the Danube? It is getting cold in Germania as winter approaches, and we are dealing with quite a large number of hostile tribesmen who’ve come across the Rhine into Germania Superiot.
As to what is happening in Rome ... well, they’d be better spending money paying the arrears due to the Legions on the frontier rather than on celebrations to mark the ascension of the new Caesar.
All the best,
Bob
Take your legions across the Rubicon Bob!
ReplyDeleteKhusru,
DeleteIt may we’ll come to that at some point!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteGood start to the campaign. Good to see that you are using technology to overcome lockdown.
How many players in the campaign?
We visited the Teuenburger Wald and the memorial to Arminius (or "Herman the German" as he was known locally). It was a typical large, imposing Germanic memorial. Similar to Leipzig. "In the Grand Manner" as Peter Guilder would have said.
Good luck with the campaign.
regards
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteAt present I’m up to my eyes in Chatti, although I’m getting reports that they falling back towards the Rhine. I’ve got a flying column outside Mogontiacum sweeping the area in the hope of either harassing the rear of the retreating German force or finding out if this withdrawal is just a trick.
There are about thirty people taking part in the game, although they are split into teams that work together (e.g. Rhine Army HQ) and have limited information about events outside their area of operations.
I’ve never been to that part of Germany, but it doesn’t surprise me that they built a huge monument to Arminius. He seems to have been a very important character in early German history.
All the best,
Bob
You need to dress up. Possibly a bed sheet as a toga. I’m sure as a geezer you must have sandals somewhere.
ReplyDeleteSteve8,
DeleteUnfortunately all our sheets are fitted (and light blue!) and I don’t own any sandals ... not even flip flops,
All the best,
Bob
I am glad to hear about the absence of flip flops. No man of distinguished years should own a pair.
DeleteSteve8,
DeleteI tried wearing a pair once ... and found that they kept falling off and were deadly on stairs!
I’d rather just wear ordinary shoes.
All the best,
Bob