In the year 43 AD, Roman legions splashed ashore in Kent, unopposed by the Britons led by Caractus, who had sworn to repel them. The Emperor Claudius had dispatched Aulus Plautius and 45,000 men to conquer the mist-covered island where Julius Caesar had failed almost a century earlier. Over the next 40 years, Roman would clash with Celt in a series of battles that neither realized would determine the future of Western civilization. The Romans broke the Britons, whose furious courage could not match Roman discipline. The island would pass under Roman rule for the next several centuries, implanting a Latin-oriented culture and shoving Celtic ways to the very fringes of Europe. All that would remain were their legends; not least among them the fiery leadership of Boudicca, warrior-queen of the Iceni and resolute enemy of Rome.

The Rome at War series covers Roman battles against both their neighbors and each other. The first game, Hannibal at Bay, covered the last battles of Carthage’s favorite son. The second, Fading Legions, focused on the empire’s latter years, when it was beset by barbarian invasion, an implacable rival, and civil war.

Rome at War: Queen of the Celts is the third installment in the series. Rome has outstanding heavy infantry, good light cavalry (provided by her allies) and even an elephant. The Britons depend on the fury of their Celtic charge, and also chariots and slingers. Plus they have Druids to help inspire them. [Source]

“The namesake of our Rome at War: Queen of the Celts game, Boudicca, was a fierce, take-no-prisoners kind of gal. Although she lost her final battle against the Romans, her army and allies killed 70,000 civilians in the violence that preceded her swan song. “We knew we wanted a certain look for the box cover of Queen of Celts, so we hired freelance artist Lorenzo Sperlonga to paint a portrait of Boudicca and her two daughters heading into battle. Lorenzo and Avalanche Press have a long, happy history together. He has painted the covers for several of our games through the years.”

Avalanche Press also go on to say:

There are nine scenarios, or game situations, included in Queen of the Celts:

1. The Medway, Summer 43
2. The Thames, Summer 43
3. The Fall of Camulodunum, Fall 43
4. Rape of Maiden Castle, Spring 45
5. Hit and Run, Summer 47
6. Last Stand at Caersws, Summer 51
7. A Woman Scorned, Summer 60
8. Search and Destroy, Winter 73
9. Celtic Twilight, Summer 84

Queen of the Celts is the 3rd in Avalanche’s ancient battles series of games. The first installment, Hannibal at Bay, details the 2nd Punic war after events turned against the Carthagenians. Volume two, Fading Legions, details the campaigns of Julian the Apostate, among others, during Rome’s decline and fall. Warhammer Ancients fans will readily recognize the periods from the WAB supplements, Hannibal and Fall of the West. The game simulates nine battles of Rome’s campaign in Briton, from epic proportion to small scale raids, as suited to the individual gamers taste. Even the largest engagements can be played in less than two hours.

Original Game Board	Custom Game Board

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Their main advertisement for the game, which retails at $39.99, can be found here and they have several interesting articles relating to the period. There is Boudicca’s War by Mike Bennighof which tells us about Boudicca here:

“In stature she was very tall,” the Roman historian Dio Cassius wrote of Boudicca. “In appearance most terrifying, in the glance of her eye most fierce, and her voice was harsh; a great mass of the tawniest hair fell to her hips; around her neck was a large golden necklace; and she wore a tunic of diverse colors over which a thick mantle was fastened with a brooch. This was her invariable attire.”

Also you can find Evolution of the Roman Army by Steve Cabral here and a Developer’s Preview here.

It can also be seen here.

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