  
 Fall of Rome
Tactics
Tactics have a profound impact on the course of any battle in Fall of Rome. All three
kinds of battles: Legion vs. Legion, Legion vs. PC, and Unusual Sighting Encounter,
require the player to select his tactic for the engagement. (Exception: the owner of a PC
under attack does not expend a command – the defenders of the PC defend it to the best
of their ability and without regard to specific tactics.) This document will address
various concepts around the tactics, and then detail each specific tactic.
Glossary
Tactical Requirements
Tactical Requirements: Most tactics have one or more required conditions for their
use. Requirements can include a certain level of leadership (command bonus), a certain
minimum morale for the legion, a minimum average for the legion’s experience or speed,
or a terrain restriction. Any of these requirements will be shown in the specific tactic.
Retreat Percentage
Retreat Percentage: Each tactic has an associated level of casualty acceptance before
the legion begins to retreat. The retreat percentage is almost always a range rather than
an exact percentage, e.g., 30% - 45% would mean the program will assign a value
somewhere between 30% and 45% prior to other modifiers for the legion in that specific
battle. The Retreat % ranges given in each tactic are “hard” minimums and maximums as
a base number to begin the retreat phase determination: that is, after modifications, the
range cannot fall below the minimums, or exceed the maximums. However, actual losses
may exceed the percentage indicated because retreat is only considered at the end of a
combat phase. Legions with high morale or excellent leadership typically accept slightly
(a few percent) higher casualties than does a legion with low level leadership or poor
morale before ordering retreat.
Trumped By
Trumped By: This is applicable only to legion vs. legion battles. Certain tactics can be
overridden (trumped) by a particular tactic used by the enemy. In this event, a different
tactical selection is used when the battle is resolved, as detailed in the description of the
tactic. For example, Organized Withdrawal may be trumped by Frontal Assault. The
legion which had ordered the Organized Withdrawal in this case would then execute
Stand and Defend.
Outcomes
Outcomes: Many tactics provide a benefit (and possibly an additional risk) when they
are properly executed. For example, the enemy may suffer additional losses in retreat
under a Determined Attack, or suffer a significant penalty to defense values if Flanked.
|
