Master of Rome - A Caesar vs Pompey AAR

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051014.png (2.72 MiB) Viewed 604 times

This civil war is not only pitting Roman against Roman, but brother against brother: while his brother Gaius is fighting for the Pompeians, Quintus Cassius Longinus has decided to join the Caesarians. Not a very skilled commander, Caesar has decided to leave him in charge of Hispania Ulterior (further) alongside Calvinus, who is taking his two legions in Carthago Nova. Should trouble break out in Hispania, these two should be able to handle it, if it is nothing major.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051153.png (3.53 MiB) Viewed 604 times

Gallia enjoying the benefits of Roman civilization.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051416.png (2.6 MiB) Viewed 604 times

We also receive confirmation that Octavius and a few Hispanic legions (remnants of the army we were fighting just a few months ago) plus auxiliaries, have just joined the rest of the Optimates army in Africa. I suspect these surviving legions might be understrength though, thus unlikely to join Pompey in Italia soon.

[Nepos96]

Turn 15 - February 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051629.png (2.69 MiB) Viewed 603 times

Dolabella reaches the city of Emporiae and the army that is eager to face the Pompeians in Italia. Unfortunately for us, a storm severely damages the fleet, many ships at the bottom of the sea. Caesar must hope and pray to the Gods that no storm is there to sink the surviving ships with his army aboard. Caution is not an option right now.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051729.png (2.84 MiB) Viewed 603 times

The Numidian cavalry will reach Italia by land, as I cannot afford to wait so that I may embark them as well.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052122.png (2.59 MiB) Viewed 603 times

Our destination is Pisae, one of closest Italian ports available to us. Rome does not have a proper harbour, while Neapolis (where the rest of the army is located) is too far, going there would force me to stay a sea even longer than I am comfortable with.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052058.png (2.63 MiB) Viewed 603 times

After consulting with Fabius, Anthony comes to the realization that Pompey could easily bypass his position if he chose to take the Via Appia, a road connecting Rome with Brundisium through Capua (completely bypassing Neapolis). He then orders the two armies to retreat back to Rome.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052038.png (2.57 MiB) Viewed 603 times

While Decimus’ fleet moves to Drepanum (Sicilia), as I fear a surprise appearance of Pompey in Neapolis could cause significant damage to our ships located there.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051814.png (2.68 MiB) Viewed 603 times

The gods really seem unhappy with us, another epidemic, this time targeting our Italian ranks. A battle within the next few days could prove catastrophic.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 051801.png (2.74 MiB) Viewed 603 times

Former Praetor Servilius Vatia Isauricus (son of the namesake man who fought against the Isaurians, current Princeps Senatus and is available in the “Mithridatic war” scenario) joins our ranks. He will probably join the army of Anthony, but his decision to back us up during this conflict (even with the Pompeian army approaching) is going to be rewarded with the consulship for coming year (starting in March), Caesar of course being his colleague (after a very short stint as Dictator).

[Nepos96]

Turn 16 - March 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052209.png (2.81 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Pompey does indeed bypass Neapolis, taking his army to the walls of Capua. A short siege of the city is all that is left between Pompey and Rome.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052237.png (2.19 MiB) Viewed 600 times

It is that time of the year again, where people happily part with a portion of their earning for the good of the state. Since we now also control Hispania our income should be fairly close to what the Pompeians are getting from their eastern provinces. We wisely spend part of that income (460000 Denarii) by splurging on 50 new Quinqueremes.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052358.png (2.97 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Our armies took quite a beating over the last 12 months (battles, desertion and epidemics). New replacements are being trained so that they may soon join our legions. Finding enough men to fill up the legionary ranks cost us at least another 460000 Denarii. Some money has also been set us aside to reinforce our army in Hispania with a few Equites.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052419.png (2.94 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Current situation in the Res Publica: the conquest of Hispania gained us all our Iberian objectives; however, Pompey still controls the majority of them. Their morale has recovered since the loss of Rome and the VPs race is still hotly contested. Our army is almost as big theirs, but their fleet is at least 6 times bigger than ours. Truth be told, work on our new squadron in Drepanum has just started, while Dolabella fleet recently suffered quite some losses due to a storm. It will take us a while to replace said losses as I choose to focus on our land unit, but once our fleet has been patched up, the gap between us may not be as big as this screen would otherwise lead us to believe. Still, it is quite obvious that Pompey is doing everything he can to retain control of the sea.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052346.png (2.77 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Still hungry, but not as much, thanks to the conquest of Baetis. Progress!

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052329.png (3.33 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Speaking of progress, the people of Hispania are starting to come around to us.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052312.png (2.82 MiB) Viewed 600 times

Julius Caesar is back in Italia. His army is simply too much exhausted to even contemplate a march on Rome right after disembarking. However, Caesar mere presence in Rome may be enough to stop Pompey. After all, while Anthony legions are mostly made up of new recruits and former Pompeian soldiers (except for the two legions from Gallia Cisalpina), Fabius’ legions are veterans of his Gallic and Hispanic campaign.

[Nepos96]

Turn 17 - April 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052715.png (2.83 MiB) Viewed 561 times

Capua has fallen and Pompey is encamped in Casinum, just outside Rome. Truth be told I am not sure about the reason for such slow approach, nonetheless Caesar and Mark Anthony will march out to meet him and hopefully recover Capua.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235008.png (2.9 MiB) Viewed 561 times

While young Sulla will take the army that was resting in Pisae south, to join Caesar. It is highly unlikely these legions will reach their commander before the big battle though.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052758.png (2.6 MiB) Viewed 561 times

More Pompeian prisoners pressed into service.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 052823.png (3.26 MiB) Viewed 561 times

The city treasury of Hispalis has been looted, costing us a severe drop of support among the people of Baetica. But harsh times require harsh measures, and restoring the numbers of our fleets will not be cheap.

[Nepos96]

Turn 18 - May 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235154.png (2.7 MiB) Viewed 558 times

The first direct confrontation of the war between Caesar and Pompey and it is a victory for the Caesarians. However, the battle took place before Sulla could show up, while Anthony failed to coordinate properly with Caesar, meaning his legions did not take part in the battle. The end result was Caesar fighting with only 4 legions (all of them veterans) plus auxiliaries against 13 Pompeians legions (of dubious quality) plus a strong contingent of cavalry. Hence why the victory was not a crushing one. Under normal circumstances, the Optimates could simply attempt to wear down Caesar’s army through the sheer strength of their numbers, but Pompey is aware that more enemy legions are on their way, just waiting to join the fray and turn the tide of battle. He simply did not expect Caesar to be back in Italia so soon. The decision is taken, to stop the march on Rome, retreat south and attempt to face the Caesarians on their own terms.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235141.png (2.75 MiB) Viewed 558 times

Vatinius, an officer serving in Anthony's army, is no longer needed against Pompey and is therefore ordered to take Anthony's legions (Anthony himself is apparently busy with some political related issues) and crush one of the many rebellions currently endangering the routes to Rome.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235232.png (2.98 MiB) Viewed 558 times

While the fleet will move to Neapolis, just in case the army needs to embark quickly for either Africa or Greece.

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235342.png (2.4 MiB) Viewed 558 times

Our new legion, recruited among Pompeians soldiers, is ready for action in Syracuse. Its spawn location seems quite random; it will take these men at least 2 months to reach Rome.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-06 235329.png (2.71 MiB) Viewed 558 times

Unhappy with Caesar inaction when it comes to relieve the people of their debts, Praetor Marcus Caelius Rufus has taken up arms against the new government in Rome. It is highly likely that Caesar had simply opted to delay all kinds of “revolutionary” programs to a time when peace and stability was back in Rome, possibly wishing to avoid inflaming further the Optimates leadership or alienating those senators who had chosen neutrality and stayed in Rome.

[Nepos96]

Turn 19 - June 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 003934.png (2.57 MiB) Viewed 555 times

Marcus Caelius Rufus is joined in his insurrection by noted troublemaker Titus Annius Milo, the man responsible for Clodius Pulcher’s death, and his private army of gladiators.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 003924.png (2.78 MiB) Viewed 555 times

Every couple of months we lose a bit of national morale because of this event.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 003917.png (2.8 MiB) Viewed 555 times

But at least we get to save some money thanks to some volunteers eager to join our legions. With both an African and an Eastern campaign on the horizon, these men may be hoping for some lucrative looting opportunities in the near future.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 003855.png (2.84 MiB) Viewed 555 times

With Capua back in our hands, Caesar (now reinforced by Sulla’s legions) can now resume his chase against the Pompeians. He will either intercept them along the Via Appia or met them in Tarentum.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-07 003743.png (2.89 MiB) Viewed 555 times

Our fleet is intercept by Bibulus’ ships, not too far from the mouth of the Tiber River. Dolabella is able to disengage with “only” 15 ships lost.

[Nepos96]

Turn 20 - July 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004147.png (2.87 MiB) Viewed 517 times

The Caesarian army fails to intercept the Pompeian army on the field, but manages to arrive in Tarentum, the city where Pompey has established his Italian foothold and is now waiting for the fleet to evacuate his legions once again. The battle for the city is a bloodbath and despite being reinforced by the sailors of the fleet docked in the harbour, the Pompeian legions are butchered by Caesar’s men. Former Consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus is among the victim of the first day of battle.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004200.png (2.87 MiB) Viewed 517 times

The battle carries on for a second day. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, the roman general once in charge of the roman reinforcements in Massalia, joins the multitude of other Romans slaughtered on that day.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004220.png (2.87 MiB) Viewed 517 times

On the third and final day, Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, one of the men most responsible for the collapse of diplomatic talks between Caesar and the Senate mere days before the crossing of the Rubicon, falls in battle. What is left of the Pompeian army manages to scatter and flee the city through various secondary gates, hoping to find somewhere to hide. Others simply surrender. The senatorial army is no more. Minor note, a small quirk of the game is that armies inside cities are hugely penalized, instead of benefitting from the protection provided by walls, especially when it is a huge one like Pompey’s 70000 strong army. We could call this a “overcrowded debuff”. Hence leaving big armies inside cities can be a trap unless the city in question has above level 1 fortifications, hence unassailable without a proper siege first.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004130.png (2.79 MiB) Viewed 517 times

What is left of the Pompeian fleet manages to flee as the city falls into the hands of Caesar. I assume many ships were not lucky enough to be able to leave before the Caesarians took over the harbour and everything in it though. Dolabella’s fleet and the new squadron in Drepanum are sent to Brundisium. No time shall be wasted, with the Pompeians in complete disarray, Macedonia should now be defenceless and an easy target for Caesar’s legions.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004415.png (2.75 MiB) Viewed 516 times

Pompeius Magnus, the republic’s foremost man for the past 20 years, is dead. He refused to flee like many others, instead personally joining his own legionaries to fight alongside them. During the chaos of battle, it was simply impossible for Caesar’s men to even notice him among all other soldiers, otherwise any officer would have done his utmost to capture him alive. After his body was shown to a deeply pained Caesar, it was taken to Rome to be properly buried with all honours.

Note: The historical battle of Pharsalus took place in August, while Pompey died in Egypt a month later. So, with exception for the location of this decisive battle, this civil war is almost mirroring step by step the real one.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004334.png (3.11 MiB) Viewed 516 times

Antioch rises up in favour of Caesar, as the senatorial resistance looks like a lost cause now.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004359.png (2.94 MiB) Viewed 516 times

With Proconsul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio as governor of Syria and his small army in the area, I am not sure if the great Syrian city can hold out until Caesar’s arrival. Its walls are among the most impressive in the entire Mediterranean and it is unlikely Metellus was left in charge of anything but the worst soldiers Pompey had not bothered to take with him to Italia, but with Caesar several hundreds miles away there is not much I can do but hope for the Antiochenes to fight valorously.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004320.png (2.75 MiB) Viewed 516 times

Another month, another reminder Rome is hungry. More citizens join the rebels roaming around Rome.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004306.png (3.16 MiB) Viewed 516 times

Some of the prisoners are sold into slavery. Garrisoning the new provinces I am about to take over will require the recruitment of new legions, therefore I am going to need a lot of Denarii in the next few months.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004345.png (3.12 MiB) Viewed 516 times

The effects of the battle of Tarentum on the Optimates’ willingness to keep fighting are disastrous. A few more defeats and they might simply surrender. And even if they don’t, for the next few months their soldiers will be extremely demoralized in battle. In terms of VPs we are clearly ahead and it looks like we have now the bigger army as well (at the start of the game they had like twice the number of soldiers compared to us, and a fleet 3 times bigger than the Caesarian one).

[Nepos96]

Turn 21 - August 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004921.png (2.48 MiB) Viewed 440 times

Caesar decides to take a month, following his victory in Tarentum, to clear southern Italy of the rebels led by Milo and Caelius Rufus. One smaller band gets completely eliminated by one of our temporarily detached legions.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004931.png (2.56 MiB) Viewed 440 times

The other, much bigger one, suffers some losses but avoids annihilation.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004859.png (2.45 MiB) Viewed 440 times

Anthony will have to deal with them, as Caesar is not willing to wait any further, Greece awaits him.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 004956.png (2.7 MiB) Viewed 440 times

Drought in Asia Minor, no effect on either of us. I do not have an army in Asia, while Pompey does not have an army at all.

[Nepos96]

Turn 22 - September 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005110.png (2.56 MiB) Viewed 440 times

But it looks like, on his way to Brundisium, Caesar did manage to intercept Caelius Rufus one more time. The former Praetor leaves a third of his “army” on the field.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005145.png (2.89 MiB) Viewed 440 times

The short journey across the Adriatic will take Caesar to Dyrrachium. Local reconnaissance from Praetor Crassus confirms our suspicions that the Optimates have no army left in the Balkans to even attempt some sort of delaying action.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005200.png (2.62 MiB) Viewed 440 times

More mopping up in Italia.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005125.png (2.68 MiB) Viewed 440 times

While Vatinius moves to intercept the rebels roaming around Capua.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005211.png (2.74 MiB) Viewed 440 times

The more we act to crush these rebels, the more the poorest among the people of Rome throw their support behind them. I guess a better solution would be to find a way to get them the grain they are asking for.

[Nepos96]

Turn 23 - October 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005450.png (2.59 MiB) Viewed 440 times

One more victory. But this seems a never-ending fight.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005608.png (2.74 MiB) Viewed 440 times

Vatinius and Gabinius take their two legions (made up of former Pompeian soldiers) to Brundisium. With Macedonia soon to fall into our arms, we might need new governors and legions to garrisons the province.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005427.png (2.89 MiB) Viewed 440 times

A few more days and Dyrrachium will be ours. With the city in our hands, we will be able to freely march along the Via Egnatia, against Thessalonika.

[Nepos96]

Turn 24 - November 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005754.png (2.65 MiB) Viewed 436 times

The fall of Dyrrachium is a mere footnote in the annals of Rome. Guess the Optimates will now elect to make Utica their new capital.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005821.png (3 MiB) Viewed 436 times

A new legion is raised in the city, tasked with defending the province from any attempts by the Optimates to take it back.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005845.png (2.99 MiB) Viewed 436 times

Sulla is chosen as the new governor of the province. With him are 2 legions (VI and XII) detached from Caesar’ army, plus Crassus’ own auxiliaries. Between these men and the new legion I am raising in Dyrrachium, 20000 soldiers will be permanently stationed in Macedonia to dissuade anyone from turning Greece into a battleground.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005714.png (2.92 MiB) Viewed 436 times

Meanwhile Dolabella decides to delay his second crossing of the Adriatic as the storm makes any attempt to reach Greece a very risky one.

[Nepos96]

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005727.png (2.6 MiB) Viewed 435 times

Trebonius also gets bragging rights against the rebels.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005738.png (2.6 MiB) Viewed 435 times

And if you were wondering what kind of men are behind Caelius Rufus, here is an overview: thieves, gladiators and other kind of rebels.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 005641.png (2.95 MiB) Viewed 435 times

In dire need of more money, and with the city on the verge of being taken back by Scipio, the local treasury is “evacuated” to Rome.

[Nepos96]

Turn 25 - December 48 BC

Screenshot 2026-05-07 010055.png (2.91 MiB) Viewed 434 times

Sulla takes his legions south against Apollonia. I should be able to take over the province much more quickly if I split my army and it is not like I am at risk of being intercept by a bigger Pompeian force.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 010214.png (2.95 MiB) Viewed 434 times

While Caesar arrives in Thessalonika. It looks like the Optimates do have some men trying to hold the area. Thracian soldiers under king Sadala II, one of Pompey’s many client kings, without support from actual Roman legions they are merely little more than a speedbump for Caesar’s men. But it is something that governor Sulla will have to take care of once our main army leaves the area.

Screenshot 2026-05-07 010250.png (2.67 MiB) Viewed 434 times

Caesar then orders his legions to move south, against Pharsalus. I have like this felling I should have done something very important here. Nevermind that, we still have most of Greece to take over, plus we need to start thinking where to strike next: Africa, Asia, Syria or Aegyptus?

Screenshot 2026-05-07 010423.png (2.37 MiB) Viewed 434 times

Our fleet sails towards Athens. If the men aboard can capture the city before Caesar’s arrival, we may be able to save some time and embark for our next campaign more quickly.