BATTLES


DBA Battle Rules and Army Composition
Normally the battle rules of DBA 2.2 are followed, but with provisions for extra Roman forces and extra enemies and somewhat different terrain positioning and edge choice rules, to simulate campaign effects. The sequence in setting up a battle is:

1) In provinces where the terrain is variable, determine the Roman province terrain.
2) Secretly determine basic army composition; Roman player hires auxiliaries/allies/mercenaries, and Enemies of Rome roll for extra elements, add extra elements by spending money. In this step, the Enemy of Rome may determine if two enemies in the province form an allied army, or two armies from the same enemy join together. Note that if additional enemy troops are dependent on the battle aggression die roll, they cannot be counted for intelligence or scouting e.g. the extra German armies appearing in ‘March of the Cimbri’.
3) Determine intelligence outcome and effects. Note that the potential for hilly or wooded terrain can affect the intelligence die roll.
4) The winning player can hire additional elements, the losing player is stuck with the force he bought.
5) Determine scouting outcome. Note that the potential for hilly or wooded terrain can affect the intelligence die roll.
6) Players make final decision on army they take to field – in particular, players may leave elements ‘in camp’ to avoid the prestige effects of using large forces. However, any element used for scouting must participate in the battle.
7) Roll for aggression. Select terrain, board edge and set-up.

Army Composition
Roman Forces
PPraetorian governors or praetorian legates begin with a standard DBA army and cannot have more than 24 elements (the extra twelve can be mercenaries, auxiliaries or allies) in play in a DBA battle or Big Battle, unless they have received approval of the Senate for additional ‘imperium’ - see discussion of imperium. Consuls and proconsuls begin with two standard DBA armies and can deploy all the elements they can afford. For all types of Roman generals, the absolute limit is 36 elements per general in the army (each general represents presence of the logistical means to support the army).

The use of additional Roman 4Bd or 4Sp or 3Cv in Polybian elements above the standard army or an extra Roman general element normally requires procuring a Senatus Consultum authorizing the raising of additional legionnaires and/or assigning the praetor a legate (subordinate general). Additional Roman troops may also occur as an event. Romans may also be shortchanged 4Bd elements as a result of certain events. When shortchanged, the Roman player may replace the missing 4Bd elements with mercenary 4Ax or 2LH elements at his discretion. Roman players may procure mercenaries as auxiliaries, and are able to hire 4Ax, Art, 2Ps or 2LH elements anywhere. Roman governors may only procure 6 mercenary elements in one year unless in Macedon, Asia, or Greece when they can procure 12. Roman Italian war commanders can procure 6 mercenary elements per year from their sector, and an additional 6 per neutral or friendly Italian state. A Roman (or Italian) force may not have more than 4x2LH mercenaries per general; it may have additional 2LH recruited as auxiliaries. A Roman (or Italian) force may not procure more or 4x2LH mercenaries per general.

However, other elements (whether auxiliary or ally) must initially be procured from troops found in the lists of potential enemies for the province who are not currently at war with Rome. The number of auxiliary/ally elements hired may not exceed the total of those elements found in one DBA list from each potential Enemy of Rome in the province.

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