An Introduction to the Campaign

Below you will find the introduction to my Domain of Soissons campaign supplement for Dux Britanniarum. At this point, I'm still planning on only including the Romans, Franks, and Visigoths due to my desire to focus the action in the campaign to the historical conflict, but the future may hold the addition of Alemanni, Burgundians, and Saxons as raider nations as well. It will all depend on whether these additions will better serve the campaign or if they will distract from the main premise of the campaign. We will have to see.

An updated map will be created before release with the correct provinces and points of interest.

The Last of the Romans

Dux Britanniarum and The Raiders immersed us in the plight of the beleaguered Romano-British kingdoms. Abandoned by Rome and her legions, they were beset upon by pagan barbarians and savage raiders upon all sides. While they fought bravely to maintain what later Christian scholars such as Gildas and Nennius would declare as the last bastion of civilization in the West, they were eventually defeated and the British Isles fell to the same darkness of Western Europe. However, the Britons were not the only ones abandoned by Rome during the slow collapse of the Empire. Roman Gaul, once a critical part of the Empire, was also abandoned by imperial authorities in order to protect Rome itself in the middle of the 5th century. While most of this territory was annexed or conquered by the Visigoths, Burgundians, and Franks, one bastion of Roman civilization remained. What would later be called the Domain of Soissons stood alone, an island of enlightenment and faith surrounded on all sides by the tempestuous seas of barbarity. At least, that’s what the Christian scholars would have us believe.

In truth, the Domain of Soissons was simply one of the final Roman rump states that stood firm as their world came crashing down around them. With the westward migration of the Goths and Huns, the Germanic tribes, such as the Franks and Saxons were forced westward as well. Initially enemies, then allies, and now enemies again, the Franks have been a threat to Rome for over a century. They may have been allies to Rome before the fall of the Empire, but they know that their time is now. The weakening of Roman Gaul provided them an opportunity for power and wealth that they could not resist. The only thing preventing the rise of a powerful Frankish kingdom was the Domain of Soissons.

With the addition of two new forces, five new factions, and a new map, we will be able to transport the Dux Britanniarum experience to a new location, further exploring the rich, yet mysterious, time period following the collapse of the Roman Empire. While this supplement does not expand upon the base game, it does enable the players to expand their experience with the system and the period of history it is set within. The supplement can be used similarly to the base game, with the Roman player faithfully protecting his realm from the Frankish barbarians or similar to The Raiders where the players will be presented multiple new campaign opportunities. The players may take on a campaign where one or more are Romans defending against raiding Franks, Visigoths, Alemanni, and Burgundians, they may all take the role of competing Frankish petty kings, seeking to rise to the position of King of the Salian Franks, or they may take on the role of a dreaded Visigothic raider lord, pillaging the lands of the Romans and establishing his reputation of fear. Much like how The Raiders greatly expanded Dux Britanniarum, The Last of the Romans seeks to offer a massive increase of depth and longevity to your gaming experience during the Age of Arthur.

Included are the details on how to transplant the Dux Britanniarum experience to Continental Europe: rules for the way the new nations fight, their campaign progression, and new optional campaign rules.