From: Roberto Chiavini Subject: More game variants Trajan's wildest Dream: the Parthian War A scenario for West End Games Imperium Romanum II This is a short introductory scenario, ideal to learn the basis of the game, for two players only. Start: April A.D. 114 Historical Conclusion: November A.D. 117 Period: 3 Players: 2 DO NOT USE THESE RULES IN THIS SCENARIO: 5.7 (Alliances); 6 (Taxation & Talents); 10 (Naval Operations); 22 (Corn); 23 (Inactive Powers). Historical Note: The war of Trajan against the Parthians started already during the Second Dacian War, when the roman emperor annected Arabia Petrea to his domain, but the casus belli was the problem of the succession to the Armenian throne, to which both great powers aspired. It's uncertain who made the first move, but certainly the Romans in April 114 started from the Cappadocian legionary bases and pushed into Armenia as far as Elegeia, where Trajan eliminated with a dirty trick the pro-Parthian new rule r Parthamasiris. The following year, Trajan brought the war to the Parthian theater, taking over Mesopotamia and Osroene, and wintering at Edessa. The first two years of the war were totally favorable to the roman armies, and the Mesopotamian campaign was an ancient equivalent of a modern "Blitzkrieg". In the late winter of 116, Trajan took Ctesiphon and in the course of the year he conquered Babylon and reach the Persian Gulf. The Parthian Empire was at bay. But, at the height of success, the roman emperor dream of conquest was roughly broken by the Jewish insurrection in Cyrenaica, Egypt and other Near East provinces. This was the end of the advancing phase of the war for the Romans. Elated by the retreat of Trajan, the Parthians started an effective guerr illa warfare that recovered to their side a big part of the lost territories and when in late 117 Trajan himself died in Cilicia, his successor Hadrian was forced to put an end to the war, with limited results for the Roman Empire. The war among Romans and Parthians was simply in its introductory phases. MAJOR POWERS Trajan Imperator: Trajan Type: Roman Faction Morale: 130; Replacement Rate: 8 Controlled Provinces: Aegyptus, Arabia Petrea, Cappadocia, Cilicia, Iudea, Lycia & Pamphilia, Syria. Set up: Purple (CER A) 6712 W: +1-16 #2, 4 x 20-10, 2 x (6)-16, 1 x 6-16, 4 x 4-12, 1 x (4)-12, 1 baggage train. 6813 W: +1-16 #4, 4 x 20-10, 2 x (6)-16, 1 x 6-16, 4 x 4-12, 1 x (4)-12, 1 baggage train. 6616 W: Trajan, 2 x 24-10, 4 x 6-16, 2 x 4-12, 2 x (4)-12, 1 baggage train. 6426 W: 0-16 #D, 1 x 16-10, 1 x 4-12. 6919 W: 0-16 #A, 2 x 16-10, 1 x (6)-16. 7022 W: 1 x 16-10, 2 x 4-12. 6922 W: 1 x 4-12. 6820 W: 1 x 6-16. Notes: 1) In fact, Rome controls many more provinces, but see Special Rules 1. 2) Trajan may rebuild by the rules of section 8, even though is not a minor power. 3) From May 115 onward, the Roman player may use his replacement points to bring unit in play from the Red pool (CER A), up to 4 x 20-10, 2 x 16-10, 6 x 4-12, 2 x (4-12), 4 x 6-16. Parthia Imperator: Osroes Type: Civilized non-Roman Morale: 100 Replacement Rate: 8 Controlled Provinces: Adiabene, Atropatene, Babylonia, Charax, Elymais, Hyrcania, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Sagartia. Set up: Orange (cavalry CER A, infantry CER B) 1708 E: 0-16 #A, 2 x 6-16, 1 x (6)-16. 1212 E: 0-16 #B, 3 x 6-16, 2 x 4-12, 1 x (6)-16, 1 x (4)-12. Anywhere in Media, Babylonia, Charax and Persia: Osroes (use the Tigranes counter), 0-16 #C, 4 x 6-16, 4 x (6)-16, 5 x 4-12, 3 x (4)-12, 2 baggage train. Note: 1) The Parthian player can enter Roman starting controlled provinces only after the Roman player invades one of the Parthian provinces (not Armenia). He can enter Armenia and Osroene (and fight the Roman forces in these provinces) anytime he wants. INACTIVE MINOR POWERS Armenia Type: Civilized non-Roman; client state of Parthia Morale: 100 Replacement Rate: 2 Controlled Provinces: Armenia, Osroene. Set-up: Tan (CER B) Anywhere in Armenia: 0-16 #B, 4 x 6-16, 4 x 4-12, 2 x (4)-12. SPECIAL RULES 1) Play is confined to the players' "controlled provinces"; no unit may move outside these provinces. 2) For the purpose of rules 2.26 and 11, this scenario is considered to occur at the same time as scenario 9. 3) Starting from November 116, the Parthian player rolls a die for every one of the following provinces: Aegyptus, Iudea, Syria, and Mesopotamia and Osroene (if Roman controlled). He adds "1" to the die if the Roman player has less than 25 strenght points in the province, and subtracts "1", if the Roman player has more than 50 strenght points in the province. If the modified result is "5" or more, a Jewish rebellion start in the province. The Parthian player places 2 x 4-12 and 1 x (4)-12 units (taking them from the Yellow pool, with a CER B) anywhere in the province (if possible in a city). He controls all these units, he can replace them and build new units from the same pool, but the Jewish rebel cannot exit the province they start into. Victory Conditions Trajan: Control at any one time Antiochus, Edessa, Artaxata, Ecbatana, Ctesiphon and Charax. Parthian: Eliminate Trajan or avoid Trajan's victory conditions.