Chaeronea 86 BC - Romans vs Pontus

[Ardaeshir]

Hi guys, its my first FoG scenario. Treat it as a beta version, so give me some constructive criticism on this. here is the link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?rk2272jtlren7vz

BACKGROUND:

This was the first major battle of the first Mithridatic war - and the first major victory for Sulla as a commander in chief. (This is NOT the battle of Cheronea 338 BC, with Alexander and Philhippos btw)

If you take the roman propaganda at face value, they would make you believe that 15 000 Roman infantrymen and 1.500 cavalry faced a Pontic army of over 120 000 men, killing 110 000 of them and losing only 12 roman soldiers while doing so.
According to the vast majority of modern historians, notably Adam Ziółkowski, that version is pure fantasy. The roman losses must have been notably higher than just 12 men, (as accounts of further events of this campaign keep mentioning a smaller and smaller amount of roman troops involved, noncombat losses aside). It is also pretty doubtfull if the small kingdom of Pontus, even with allied smaller asian contingents, friendly greeks, glataian and scythian mercenaries, would have been able to field 120 000 men. Most historians assume different amounts, from as low as 40 000 to as high as 100 000.

We know that Sulla had under his command 5 legions, that would roughtly be some 30 000 men, plus some mercenary and allied light troops, minus some troops left behind besieging the Acropolis of Athens.

In my scenario I assumed taht the Roman force was about 30 000 men strong, while the Pontine army is about twice as large. The romans are veteran troops - well trained and equiped. The pontic army is a diverse combination of troops. From elite chalkaspides phalanx or cataphracted bodyguard units, to motley warbands of anatolian hillmen and freed slave phalanx. The Pontic army is overall a colorfull bunch - you have troops from Pontus proper, from Cappadocia, anatolia, Galatia, Paphlagonia, Pisidia, Bithynia, the Bosphoran straights and even some scythian mercenaries from the great steppe.

In short: it is a pitched battle in a mountain valley, with Cephisus - a small river, running through the middle.
In general - the Romans have the edge in morale and quality of troops, the Pontic are more numerous and have an edge on the flanks, especially in cavalry. If the roman legions can brake the middle of the ennemy force and start chain-routing the weak freedmen phalanx (as was the historical outcome) then they can score a quick victory. If however the Pontic player can hold them long enough for his cavalry to brake into the roman rear, things might end up looking very different. I think the scenario is a bit easier as the Romans, but far from unwinnable for teh Pontic army.

[Amandil]

Sounds like fun! I'll give it a try.

[Ardaeshir]

Sounds like fun! I'll give it a try.

Thanks, give me some feedback if you do. I played the scenario myself a few times and can win as either side. The scenario is supposed to be slightly balanced in favor of the Romans (as was the historical situation), but not impossible for the Mithridatic player either.