Below is another great article from InsideGMT contributor The Boardgames Chronicle, this time with an after action report of the Falling Sky scenario, “The Great Revolt” (52 BC). Enjoy! -Rachel

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The Game

The Counter Insurgency (COIN) series is definitely one of the defining boardgame series for simulating asymmetric warfare. It depicts various conflicts from historical eras as well as contemporary ones, presenting guerrilla fights, insurgences, and other situations. For many years, such conflicts seemed impossible to depict in standard wargames, but, thanks to Volkho Rhunke, we finally have a system which portraits them well.

Despite the fact that we have more and more COIN series volumes, as an ancient era fan, I still find Falling Sky my favorite game of the series. This game has a perfect climate resembling that period–you can really immerse yourself in the ancient Gallica and the struggle of Caesar to conquer it.

Although I have played Falling Sky many times in person (see here), it is often difficult to find enough opponents to play–and it really shines with four players. In such situations, the Vassal module for Falling Sky (see here) comes in handy. The software is really great, and the pool of people willing to play is vast. So when Brent asked me if I would like to play the short, three winters scenario (The Great Revolt), the answer could only be YES!…

The Scenario – “The Great Revolt” (52 BC)

52 BC- The crisis of the Gallic Rebellion approaches. Belgic king Ambiorix has fled Roman reprisal to his German brethren. Young Vercingetorix has turned all Celtica but the Aedui against Caesar. The question is: will this final uprising at last throw the Romans out? This short scenario begins with the Arverni already mobilized and the Belgae just beaten back. Caesar is free to concentrate on Vercingetorix, while the Aedui can choose their allies as they wish. 

The Great Revolt (52 BC) makes for a perfect Play by Email (PBEM) Game–it is short, presents a fairly developed situation on the map, and gives everyone a chance to achieve victory. 

What follows is the session report of one of the most volatile Falling Sky games I have played so far. I hope you will enjoy it!

YEAR 1 (52 BC)

The first year resulted in more dramatic, ground-shaking events than I have ever experienced playing Falling Sky. The following is a summary of events in the first year:

1. Following one of the most important rules for the Romans–to have as many disperse markers on the board as possible–Caesar hits Bellovaci & Atrebates in an attempt to save some of the territory before problems grow in the south.

2. And they do. Vercingetorix not only moved south but then acted pretty aggressively, devastating many of the regions adjacent to Provincia. As we will see, this move had lasting consequences. However, he was caught there by Caesar and–thanks to a lucky pro-Roman card sequence–pinned down, crushed, and executed in battle.

3. In the meantime, the suppressed Belgae used the opportunity to start to spread their influence, even reaching Britain’s shores!

4. Aedui is a pretty quiet faction; they showed slow but steady development, especially into the West.

5. While the great triumph over Vercingetorix was one of the most memorable of Caesar’s victories, his preparation for winter 52 BC was severely lacking (to the extent that it jeopardized the whole war effort); losing 3 legions and 8 Auxilia will have dire consequences–a true calamity. Really, I can’t imagine how Roman quartermasters allowed this to happen…

And just to sum up, the capabilities gained by factions during 52 BC were:

• Baelaric Slingers for Arverni
• Balistae for Belgae
• Baggage Trains for Romans

Summary of the year: Both Romans and Arverni are greatly shaken to the point of being broken for the rest of the game; as next year will show, both Belgae and (especially!) Aedui will taste–but not achieve–victory. Let us see!

YEAR 2 (51 BC)

The year 51 BC was both the time of Belgae and Aedui expansion and Arverni and Rome recovery. The trick was to prevent Belgae and Aedui from acquiring too much of an advantage (or even victory) while Arverni and Rome rebuilt their forces. The summary of that fateful year is below:

1. Belgae start to become famous travelers. After Britain, they conquest and settle Veneti!

2. Arverni are gradually rebuilding their forces. Vercingentorix successors appear, and a new army is being mustered.

3. Rome follows suit, focusing mainly on rebuilding Auxilia and capabilities (see below). That distraction is neatly used by Aedui, who are on the verge of victory. Thus, Rome has to break its long-standing alliance with them and brutally pacify Sequani.

4. In the three-winter scenario, we do not have much time to use capabilities. Using them initially is fine, but later on, the situation has to really be worth it to use (or simply desperate times). Both were true of me, so I raised Legio X–one of the best Roman treats–in 51 BC.

YEAR 3 (50 BC)

The final year has come–Rome and Arverni are somehow rebuilt, and Belgae and Aedui are in good position, so anything can happen. As you will see, the scores were extremely tight when we finished the game… The action map follows!

1. With its forces rebuilt, Rome attacks the Arverni region, killing everyone, burning villages and towns, and dispersing three tribes living there. The same fate awaits Sequani. Southern flank secured.

2. Arverni has also recovered, not only by mustering new forces but also by getting resurrected Vercingetorix. That, of course, allows them to easily take back what was theirs: the Veneti region.

3. Caesar’s march North continues. The Mandubi region is the next victim and is entirely pulverized by Romans. In general, Aedui are unfortunate victims of the fight between other big powers in that last year.

4. Belgae grab Treveri, as well as both Germania regions; the struggle for victory continues! 

5. The last phase of the epic Roman march finishes with one last push into Belgica. Everyone (including resurrected Vercingetorix) joins the fray!

Summary of the Game

The final scores were as follows:

1. Rome -1
2. Aedui -2
3. Arverni and Belgae tied on -4

That was one hell of a game. I have to admit that I went from the enthusiasm of defeating Vercingetorix to the despair of losing half of my army, which led to my steady and pragmatic recovery in the last year, meticulously executed. Aedui (Mark) were for a long time my trustworthy Ally and at one point were very close to victory– unfortunately, that was when our roads departed. Arverni (Richard) had a really tough start and, coupled with the most difficult victory conditions of all factions, a pretty harsh game. Belgae (Brent) quickly recovered and contested victory for most of the game, losing in the last year mainly due to the massive move of Romans and Arverni into Belgae, depriving him of control.

On a more general note, I find shorter, two- or three-winter scenarios of Falling Sky the most enjoyable, allowing for a quick and fun game without the stress and toll of long sessions, as there is no build-up of economy nor progression of the game. Such a length works perfectly for me.

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