The Eastern Frontier Calling

Hello Rome this is the Eastern Frontier Calling ; Over

Initial contact with Enemy Forces made; Casualties minimal. Over

Diplomatic Contact with Barbarian factions made; Casualties minimal ; Discussions on going. Over

The Glorious Emperor Nero Sighted, Appears to be having a bit of a crisis ;Please Send advice Over.

Bridging of Major Rivers in the Eastern Frontier sector partially successful, other projects ongoing. Over

Morale ; High. Over

Concern for Mental Health of Beloved Emperor ; High. Over

End of Transmission Over.


( Just so people know there is more to the Game of Rome is Burning, than the rebuilding of the Imperial Chamber Potty)

Over & Out

J Flower wrote:Hello Rome this is the Eastern Frontier Calling ; Over

Initial contact with Enemy Forces made; Casualties minimal. Over

Diplomatic Contact with Barbarian factions made; Casualties minimal ; Discussions on going. Over

The Glorious Emperor Nero Sighted, Appears to be having a bit of a crisis ;Please  Send advice Over.

Bridging of Major Rivers in the Eastern Frontier sector partially successful, other projects ongoing. Over

Morale ; High. Over

Concern for Mental Health of Beloved Emperor ; High. Over

End of Transmission  Over.

( Just so people know there is more to the Game of Rome is Burning, than the rebuilding of the Imperial Chamber Potty)

Over & Out

Seems to me that the Roman Army High Command is suffering from a degree of "geographic confusion" (probably to do with tree's and not seeing enough sky). Basically if the centre of the world is Rome as we all know it is then the above report should come from the Northern frontier.

While it would be very good news if the Roman Army on the Eastern Front has bridged the Tigris and was half way to all that lovely Parthian gold I really hope the Emperor is not riding round the Syrian Desert looking to review Legions which are now elsewhere.

Meanwhile for anyone who is depressed by reading reports about Roman Building Contracts and Food supply clains to Rome which all seem to be going wrong and Roman commanders who are suffering directional confusion. The good news is that Iberia is very nice

From looking at the Sun rise through the leafy canopy of the Teutonbergerwald in the morning it is defiantly the Eastern Front!

Now the Mist enshrouded damp cold Islands somewhere off the coast of Gaul they may well be the northern Frontier.

No wonder Nero is throwing his teddy in the corner he thought it was going to be sun sea & sand in Syria
he got dark damp & depressed in Dalmatia.

Geographical confusion? well possibly As long as it doesn't become Geographical Embarrassment it shouldn't be a problem.

Need to consult the Orbis Terrarum

J Flower wrote:From looking at the Sun rise through the leafy canopy of the Teutonbergerwald  in the morning it is defiantly the Eastern Front!

Now the Mist enshrouded damp cold Islands somewhere off the coast of Gaul they may well be the northern Frontier.

No wonder Nero is throwing his teddy in the corner he thought it was going to be sun sea & sand in Syria
he got dark damp & depressed in Dalmatia.

Geographical confusion?  well possibly  As long as it doesn't become Geographical Embarrassment it shouldn't be a problem.

Need to consult the Orbis Terrarum

I am pleased that as the Emperor inspection tour of the northern parts of the Empire gets off too a somewhat dodgy start that at least the sun is shining through the leafy canopy of the Teutonbergerwald rather than say cloud and sheets of rain as this will help avoid any more Roman Geographical Embarrassment such as seems to have effected the 24,000 Romans who should be in Belegica but clearly are not.

Do however think if the Emperor is going to prove his heroic status and save these poor geographically embarrassed citizens it would have helped if he could have packed his guards as well as his tidy whites and rain coat for his tour.  Which would have added advantage of moving tens of thousands of extra mouths from Rome for a year or so.  Plus helped the Emperor impress Roman subjects and want to be subjects in the North. (Anyone who has any spare influence with the Emperor - just remind him even the greatest Star should have a really great Chorus in really expensive white, gold and purple uniforms to help radiat his Glori).

Basically Rome looks to the commander of the Rhine Legions (I refuse to use this new fangled concept of calling them the Eastern Legions due to possible confusion with the even more eastly Legions in Syria and the currently disgraced lot on the Danube who failed to show up looking all shinny and new for the Emperor inspection)  Too sort out a quick trip across the Rhine for the Emperor and his Guards to enjoy a picnic in the woods and rescue of 24,000 Romans suffering Geographical Embarrassment.

I mean what with the lovely sunshine, a brand new bridge across the Rhine and Army copies of the Orbis Terrarum what could possibly go wrong?

Okay, okay, point taken the Legions in Germanica on the NORTH Eastern sector of the Empire, are cold & wet & the Mascot is off his hay.

If the Emperor -may he live for a thousand years- tips up on the fringe of the Teutonbergerwald then things could get interesting.
a walk in the woods could present a few story lines :-

Probably not a good idea to eat those mushrooms your Imperialness

No no those red berries are not a good idea your illustriousness.

Not sure if taking that Bear on single handed is wise your Mightyness.

Your guess is as good as mine, never though gingerbread was a good building material for a house, look at the size of that oven!.

J Flower wrote:Okay, okay, point taken the Legions in Germanica on the NORTH Eastern sector of the Empire, are cold & wet & the Mascot is off his hay.

If the Emperor -may he live for a thousand years- tips up on the fringe of the Teutonbergerwald then things could get interesting.
a walk in the woods could present a few story lines :-

Probably not a good idea to eat those mushrooms your Imperialness

No no those red berries are not a good idea your illustriousness.

Not sure if taking that Bear on single handed is wise your Mightyness.

Your guess is as good as mine, never though gingerbread was a good building material for a house, look at the size of that oven!.

How should the Senate in its collective wisdom put this too its northern military commanders:

- The Blue boy still has our Eagle and his Druidic propaganda machine is laughing at us. The Dacians have raided across the Danube and the only punishment has been a better deal on wine. While 24,000 Romans have gone missing somewhere in the German woods.

- Meanwhile back in Rome a wacking great fire, followed by sickness and failed harvests in southern Italy has torn a nasty hole in the Imperial finances and is likely to lead to famine, urban riots and damage to public monuments such as the Temple of Mars.

- So basically we have 120,000 of the best armed, best trained, best equiped and best paid troops in the whole world backed up with loads more really, really expensive Artillery, Cavalry, Medicial and Engineering services V a bunch of farmers in furry shoes and with some odd hair styles.

Any chance that said northern commanders could stop worrying about Germanic fairy tails and the pathfinder goat being off its hay and win a sodding victory or two or three for the Emperor? The Roman Plebs and tax payers really do not care who you beat up or why just so long as they are vaguely Barbarian and it looks good on the column!

Expecting to read of your great and glorious victories for the SPQR soon

The Senate has not made mention that not a single Legionary was lost in the latest expansion of the Northern boarders of the Empire.

Admittedly there were no great battles rip roaring pre battle speeches
No amazing battle reports
But the boarder has moved over the Rhenus for the first time

The year ahead is going to be an "Interesting" one

J Flower wrote:The Senate has not made mention that not a single Legionary was lost in the latest expansion of the Northern boarders of the Empire.

Admittedly there were no great battles rip roaring pre battle speeches
No amazing battle reports
But the boarder has moved over the Rhenus for the first time

The year ahead is going to be an "Interesting" one

Problem as I see it is that majority of Roman commanders seem to be looking at their little local picture - "the sight of sunshine filtering through German and Dacian woods and glinting of the water of the Rhine as it swirls around the latest marvel of Roman engineering crossing the river". rather than looking at the BIG IMPERIAL PICTURE. Which is in sodding crisis!

- Low sickness levels and losses amongst the Legions, nice bridges and improvements to communication networks, improvements to the local diplomatic situation are all very well and good but basically they are local and low key. When what the Empire needs are military hero's, those amazing battle reports and accounts of great rip roaring pre battle speaches or Rome and Nero could come crashing down starved of that essential requirement for Roman government and authority! The oxygen of military "Glori" and success.

- The Gov of Egypt men in particular but some other factions as well have worked really hard to hold the home front but they are taking a battering and slowly crumbling under month after month of never ending bad news. So if someone could win a smashing military victory to scare Jews and other possible rebels into obediance and provide the forum with something to divert the mob from its empty belly it would be really, really appreciated.

No rush but six months ago would have been best!

Can understand where your coming form with that last post.

Could well be that the Commanders at the sharp end are lacking a bit of direction from the centre

Taken a while to get used to the system, Troops probably started training in the first couple of game turns so were finished in June/ July turns. So half the game year was gone already & we are staring down the winter months, & associated SL

With it being a new game I guess some of us needed to get used to the mechanics of the game, personally still struggling with the maps & all those Latin Names. Not to mention a lack of knowledge of the period in question.

Like the death of Carlos in LGDR, maybe the death of Nero is hanging over the game as well. It is an historical event we all know happened, seems the game is holding its breath until he is gone. Could that be the trigger point?

So I can understand the frustration at the lack of battle reports in the paper, now things are in motion that may well change.

I think Rome has invented trains a lot earlier than anybody imagined, because I'm pretty sure that Rome is a train wreck right now.

Deacon wrote:
I think Rome has invented trains a lot earlier than anybody imagined, because I'm pretty sure that Rome is a train wreck right now.

Hah you have clearly fallen for the cunning plan of the top Roman Commanders to lure the Barbarians into a false sence of security then hit them hard when they do not expect it.

So what if one of our leading commanders is 6m denerii in debt and in deep political disgrace after putting out the red carpet in the wrong place. 6m denerii in debts would be petty cash to Gaius Julius Caesar and being in political trouble back home was pretty much the standard background for the campaigns of Caesar, Lucullus and Sulla.

Off course if the Emperor does try the corner at the Iberian games in his 12 horse chariot - well you may get your wish ref the cab crash.

Mobs rampage through Rome defiling temples, People are hungry, famine looms as Romans fight over who controls the grain supply such as it is, the Emperor is even more insane than usual (which takes some work), treason (or not) in the senate, Roman Legions are playing kissy face with barbarians, plagues are popping up among sailors (how does that Egyptian grain arrive again?), Empty demands are made for Golden eagles, and of course, everybody is plotting against Nero and each other.

As cunning plans go, that is so cunning I'm not sure any of us will survive it. Baldrick approves.

Well North, South, East or West, Dalmatia is deffo the best: With the emperor on hand to collect the 5 million Denarii (lots has been paid and the rest is a mere accounting issue).

OMG - just realised that’s a good reason for Geminus to “off Nero” ………

And how Roman is all this? The politics, the teasing of the guys in charge of the guys with the most pointy stick and keeping away from the cab wreck that is the capital….

I don't know why you lot are worried about those Roman tourists; Rome clearly didn't want them so, in doing you all a great favour, we've found them lodgings (sort of), food (just about), employment (lots) and they get to play our new hide and seek games if they are naughty! Well i say hide it's an open field and they are being 'seeked' by our now excellently trained heavy cavalry (the nobility don't start as those nasty raw recruits you have)...it's the hairy version of squid game...

With all this trouble at home why go looking for a fight you can't win? There are an awful lot of us you know, and whilst the cats away and all that (those Batavians are an untrustworthy lot)...I say love thy neighbour, peace and prosperity to all and if you could see your way clear to sending some more surplus citizens our way we have job opportunities opening up in Juteland, Burgundiones marshes and all points in between...
The lure of all those roaming romans is bringing friends from far and wide for their spring break fun!


Your Friends in the North

Well its good to have a proper Northerner corresponding and if you could only sort out the internal problems between the tribes your words would be more persuasive. Now we Romans have our issues but having some tribe ‘dissing’ the Emperor and fermenting war right on our border cannot be borne.

And if we have troops under arms and the potential for a civil war then we need to keep them up to scratch so what might be laughed off in better times becomes a cause célèbre during dark days.

So come on over (in peace) and join us - you know it makes sense!!

S Aalders wrote:I don't know why you lot are worried about those Roman tourists; Rome clearly didn't want them so, in doing you all a great favour, we've found them lodgings (sort of), food (just about), employment (lots) and they get to play our new hide and seek games if they are naughty! Well i say hide it's an open field and they are being 'seeked' by our now excellently trained heavy cavalry (the nobility don't start as those nasty raw recruits you have)...it's the hairy version of squid game...

With all this trouble at home why go looking for a fight you can't win? There are an awful lot of us you know, and whilst the cats away and all that (those Batavians are an untrustworthy lot)...I say love thy neighbour, peace and prosperity to all and if you could see your way clear to sending some more surplus citizens our way we have job opportunities opening up in Juteland, Burgundiones marshes and all points in between...
The lure of all those roaming romans is bringing friends from far and wide for their spring break fun!


Your Friends in the North

Flipping heck who let the northern Barbarian into the select Senatorial dining society !? What next Caladonians and PJ wearers? Clearly this society needs a tougher dress code........only people in proper Toga's, no tatoo's, blue paint or eye make up.

Jokes and friendly insults too one side (Hi Aalders ) I am starting to wonder if some Roman commanders have got more in common and better relations with tribal leaders on the other side of the frontier than they have with with the central government of Nero. While Tribal leaders may be thinking how much will my mate pay to replace the dodgy guard with a nice loyal German Bodyguard?

Just as well we still have an old school Gov of Syria and an old school King of Kings to show how true Romans (I am going to skin you alive and use you as a footstool) and true Barbarians (The only gold you are going to get from me is molton and poured down your throat....Roman) should act.

Ha! Indeed senatorial standards have slipped since those cherished days of Augustus, he who so generously re-armed the northern tribes, ah happy days...all gone...(naturally we'll skip over the aftermath and retribution!)

I blame all those administrators armed with policies, schedules, quotas and spreadsheets...next thing you know someone will be saying you've got to balance the books!

I say hang all that...if you want it come and take it...and don't worry we're on your side

'Give them nothing and take from them everything!' ah they don't write lines like that anymore.

S Aalders wrote:Ha! Indeed senatorial standards have slipped since those cherished days of Augustus, he who so generously re-armed the northern tribes, ah happy days...all gone...(naturally we'll skip over the aftermath and retribution!)

I blame all those administrators armed with policies, schedules, quotas and spreadsheets...next thing you know someone will be saying you've got to balance the books!

I say hang all that...if you want it come and take it...and don't worry we're on your side  

'Give them nothing and take from them everything!' ah they don't write lines like that anymore.

Think the current plan to balance the books is:

- Gov of Syria takes Ctesiphon-Seleucia and transfers wealth of Parthia to Rome. Ok so this will probably wreck the spice-silk trade for a generation and damage tax revenue/cash flow.

- If Jews and other's in east continue to be "difficult" the Gov of Syria arranges transfer of wealth of 2nd Temple to Rome and various client Kingdoms to Rome.

- Gov of Dalmatia takes Dacian gold and silver mines and increases the Imperial tax base-cash flow from ex-Kingdom of Dacia. Note Decian wine consumption is going up so they are almost ready to wear Toga's, go too the Baths, pay Roman taxes and be welcomed into the Empire.

- Gov of Germania rounds up 100,000 German slaves to replace the dead ones in southern Italy (sickly bunch these Germans) which will provide one off inflow of Silver from sale and allow re-dedployment of Roman man power in more profitabkle sector's to improve tax/cash flow.

However, the auditors at the Temple of Saturn do agree that some costs could be cut/ended to help balance the books inc a) The Golden House - poor auditors were crying when looking at bills for solid gold chamber pots set with Rubies and other gems and B) Sodding Britannia !! Basically from a rain soaked 4 Legion Province we get a few good hunting dogs, Oysters plus a little gold, silver and tin with production levels well below estimates. The books will never balance if we stay 300 years!

We may just have to find a nice Saxon or Angll chief who hates Druids, has a taste for imported wine and olive oil and is fed up with wet feet. Then set him up as a Confederate King of Britannia with slightly less wet feet. Its about the only way this particular section of the books are ever going to balance! The sacred chickens confirm this to be the case.

Sent off Rome is Burning orders a couple of days ago and have thrown everything apart from the kitchen sink - including divination, superstition, curse tablets, social snobbery and pretty boys at trying to influence parts of "team Rome" to do its job. Not so much "beware the ides of March" more "Beware your mothers last lover."

All I want is for the Guard to do its job and go and guard the Emperor while the Urbans keep some sort of order in Rome to allow some rebuilding work and food supply. An attempt to save the 24,000 enslaved Romans from the Barbarians would be a nice bonus.

What I expect will happen is that:

- Our unguarded Emperor gets murdered or kidnapped.

- That idiot (or is he something worse?) Senator Claudius turns the Guard on the Urbans and the Flavian faction allowing the mob to run wild.

- The Guard may very well defeat the Urbans and the Flavian faction in Rome but their leaders real power base is North Africa. So what happens when the man who controls about 1/3 of Rome's grain supply finds out his brother/mistress etc has fallen victim to Claudius? We all starve? Currently trying to work out if Claudius is a agent of Parthia or the Blue Boy or the RIB equal of the Grand Mufti in G2. A Agema NPC designed to drive players mad and cause them nasty thoughts about laying violent hands on a Senator of Rome. Do people think best option for Senator Claudius is a) The Lions B) Drag behind a Chariot across stoney ground or c) Send him to the Blue Boy with snotty message ref our Eagle and see what happens?

On the bright side the greatest living Roman writer is now about to be joined in Corduba by the blueist of blue bloods. Who can now doubt that Corduba is now the cultural and social capital of Iberia if not the whole western part of the Empire and by any natural justice we should get Latin Rights.

Also we now have Senators and Senatorial missions doing surveys of water supply, soil fertility, legal paperwork for land plots etc for some proper Colonia as an alternative to dumping citizens into a German bog or slave barracks. With luck this gives a proper retirement home for veterans of the Iberian Legions since land grants in the damp of Britannia or Germania play hell with the old war wounds.

Hopefully the Legions will start to pick up some old war wounds, medals and other awards fairly soon.

-

Did a quick count up; Historically Nero is about until June 821ab ((68AD(?) is that correct? Game start was 65AD) so that unless something happens to our beloved leader there are about another18 months of Game Time with Nero as Emperor. That is naturally assuming that the Historical framework is followed.

There is another point about Nero, was he actually as bad as we have been led to believe? Wasn't it one of the favourite pastimes of a new Roman Emperor to blacken the name of their predecessor? Did that happen to Nero.( Three Emperors all with dodgy claims followed him) Some sources say he was popular with the people of Rome & the Eastern provinces. Did he run afoul of the Roman propaganda machine?
Another factor may have been that he possibly targeted the early Christians as well, so maybe when the Christian Faith came to the fore, its scholars were able rewrite or simply fabricate in part the history books to show the suffering the faithful endured at Nero's hands, once again blackening his reputation.

Not saying he was good to his mother,( always visiting once a week with flowers,) as they seem according to the histories to have had a strained relationship.

However can we honestly say we know the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth with regards Nero?

I note that many important Romans such as the Empress, Piso and General Corbulo who should be dead of "unnatural causes" such as being ordered to fall on your own sword or being kicked to death by your husband (well probably perfectly natural causes for Rome) still seem to be perfectly healthy.

Since in AD 68 Nero is still a fairly young man in pretty good physical health if not mental health (stress of job?) I see no reason why he should just drop dead in AD 68 unless he is given a push my a player and that could happen before AD 68, after or even not at all. Think major issue in RIB is who gives him the push and do they own up or try to blame someone else?

Think if Nero were to drop dead current favourites for getting the blame would be a) The King of Kings who Nero threatened to turn into a foot stool and b) The Gov of Dalmatia who owes the Emperor 6m denarii and has been called lots of nasty names. But I am sure the finger may be pointed in other directions as well. Bet some evil minded individuals even come up with crack pot idea that it was the Iberians because our beloved Emperor has snubbed their games and not agreed to give them Latin rights. Note to self - look up Roman Law on slander!

Interestingly Nero seems to have been unpopular with the Roman elite and Christian's which has done a lot blacken his name. But even after his death many writters said the rich and powerfull were pleased he was dead up not the poor and general population of the Empire. Further evidence of this popularity with the general Empire if not the Senate can be found in the fact that rather than trying to blacken his name several of the Emperors who followed tried to link themselves to Nero as a popular and legitimate Emperor. And also after his death stories existed and were used by no less than three imposters that Nero was still alive.

I tend to think of him as a sort of Prima-Donna Pop Star/Donald Trump type - Some real talent for some things and wildly popular with his fans who refuse to believe a lot of the bad things said about him. But a total nightmare to work with.

Stuart Bailey wrote:



Sodding Britannia !!  Basically from a rain soaked 4 Legion Province we get a few good hunting dogs, Oysters plus a little gold, silver and tin with production levels well below estimates.  The books will never balance if we stay 300 years!

We may just have to find a nice Saxon or Angll chief who hates Druids, has a taste for imported wine and olive oil and is fed up with wet feet.  Then  set him up as a Confederate King of Britannia with slightly less wet feet.  Its about the only way this particular section of the books are ever going to balance!  The sacred chickens confirm this to be the case.    

Oh Stuart, Stuart, Stuart...why make things so difficult for yourself? Why waste all that time trying to find some Saxon when there is already that nice, friendly, cuddly, never-hurt-a-Roman King of Caledonia, who loves Romans so much he even looks after their lost property, who I am sure for the right incentives would look after Britannia and its inhabitants while your legions went home. Think of it, a Romano-Caledonian culture, with dual capitals in London and Aberdeen, inventing whisky a few hundred years early and exporting it, along with haggis and deep-fried dormouse, to their Roman friends? Might even throw in some bagpipes...

Jason2 wrote:

Stuart Bailey wrote:



Sodding Britannia !!  Basically from a rain soaked 4 Legion Province we get a few good hunting dogs, Oysters plus a little gold, silver and tin with production levels well below estimates.  The books will never balance if we stay 300 years!

We may just have to find a nice Saxon or Angll chief who hates Druids, has a taste for imported wine and olive oil and is fed up with wet feet.  Then  set him up as a Confederate King of Britannia with slightly less wet feet.  Its about the only way this particular section of the books are ever going to balance!  The sacred chickens confirm this to be the case.    

Oh Stuart, Stuart, Stuart...why make things so difficult for yourself?  Why waste all that time trying to find some Saxon when there is already that nice, friendly, cuddly, never-hurt-a-Roman King of Caledonia, who loves Romans so much he even looks after their lost property, who I am sure for the right incentives would look after Britannia and its inhabitants while your legions went home.  Think of it, a Romano-Caledonian culture, with dual capitals in London and Aberdeen, inventing whisky a few hundred years early and exporting it, along with haggis and deep-fried dormouse, to their Roman friends? Might even throw in some bagpipes...

Never trust a Druid bearing gifts................actually never trust a DRUID full stop.

Actually, Jason’s proposal re a Caledonian client king  makes a LOT of sense. If it works diplomatically, then it could free up at least a couple of legions.

J Flower wrote:Did a quick count up;  Historically Nero is about until June 821ab ((68AD(?) is that correct? Game start was 65AD)

Hi Jason - your dates are correct. Nero's death was followed in 69AD by "The Year of the Four Emperors", the first civil war of the Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Four_Emperors