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Introduction[]
The Gauls are a confederation of many tribes who have successfully expanded their territorial range over centuries of migration. Their culture is vibrant, aggressive and proud, valuing courage in both their leaders and warriors.
Do not mistake the Gallic people for simple barbarians. They are far from a simple people. Their culture is ancient. They have kings, coinage and developed trade. Their metal working skills are superb, easily the equal of their so-called civilized neighbours. Their towns are well organised and prosperous. Their culture is rich and they have Gods aplenty to keep them from harm. They have warriors aplenty to do harm unto others. They may lack the writing of the Greeks or Romans, but this does not make them savages.
They are from the same robust Celtic stock as the Britons and indeed many of the same tribes can be found in both Northern Gaul and Britannia. The sea has been no barrier to their expansion. Like the Britons, the Gauls have a proud warrior tradition and are not people to lightly accept conquest or setbacks. They will fight, and fight hard, to preserve what is rightfully theirs, and to take new lands that could be rightfully theirs. A certain degree of bloody-mindedness also colours their druidic religion and warfare which many outsiders find deeply intimidating - headhunting does that to other people!
The Gauls are a people with a great future, if they can find the space to expand successfully. They face many threats, from both ‘civilized’ people and other ‘barbarians’, but these threats can equally be seen as opportunities for greatness and glory.
Description[]
Gaul is a playable faction in Rome: Total War, unlockable after completing the Imperial Campaign as the Romans. Gaul is a 'Barbarian' civilisation, and thus are unable to build stone walls or stand in perfect order in battle, but this means they get their elite unit at just Minor City level. The Gauls are a loose confederation of tribes who have expanded across much of Europe over many centuries of migration. They share much of their culture with their cousins in Britannia in particular. Although considered barbarians by their "civilised" neighbours, they are advanced enough to have developed extensive trade and metalworking skill equal to anyone else in the world.
Strategy[]
Gaul is mainly an infantry faction. Their infantry lack the Hoplons and Xistons of the Greeks or the Gladii and Pila of Rome, but they have a strong melee attack and good morale. Their cavalry is limited but effective and their Forrester Warbands can be upgraded to the best archers in the game.
Gaul occupies much of modern France, a central part of modern Spain and the north of Italy. Although their armies are the strongest starting armies of any faction, they start out surrounded by more enemies than any other faction. The Julii Romans will attack from the southest, Spain and possibly Carthage from the southwest, Britannia from the north and Germania from the east. Some clever play is needed to keep these wolves from the door in building up a defensible empire. Grabbing some rebel-held land early on might be a good idea, but it might also be worth taking out a neighbouring faction or two from the beginning.
Gallic infantry is very effective in melee, although they are poorly armoured. Warbands form the backbone of the early army and are always a good unit for fighting cavalry or chariots. Swordsmen and Chosen Swordsmen have the melee power to beat much enemy infantry, although getting them to melee range can sometimes be a challenge. Forester Warbands are excellent archers and the cavalry is very effective for the price.
Tactics: Since Gaul has strong infantry it's wise to build many warband in the beginning. Use these warband as the staple of your army to maintain fighting lines. Once a fighting line has been established in battle use a cavalry unit or two to flank the enemy. If you lack any cavalry units, swordsmen are good for this as well. Once the flanking is completed the enemy should be surrounded on at least three sides and you can then roll up the enemy battle line as they start to flee. Archers can be used to force the enemy to charge your battleline or to inflict causuilties before engagement in battle.
They start the campaign controlling:
- Alesia (Capital City)
- Numantia (Large Town)
- Patavium (Large Town)
- Mediolanium (Large Town)
- Condate Redonum (Town)
- Lemonum (Town)
- Narbo Martius (Town).
