1.x AI Faction Progression Thread [Archive] - Page 3

The Persian Cataphract

11-02-2008, 23:56

Okay, this much has been established:

* Pahlava has a great expansion routine which appears quite faithful to historicity.

* Pontos does also seem quite capable of expanding quite well; sometimes they end up as far as the Bosphorus.

* Sauromatae, from selected reports are aptly strong.

* Hayasdan has fine expansion possibilities, but usually ends up in the northern steppes, which must be addressed.

* Baktria seems aptly down-toned; still some traces of awkward expansion into the southern parts of Greater Iran, as far as Persis, but may be capable of properly expanding into India.

* The Seleucids are literally sodomized... Some might think it's apt, but it should be a 50/50 outcome and not arbitrary. For instance they should be strong around Syria.

* Ptolemaioi. The Yellow Fever. This may be the primary cause of the downfall of AS, and historically out of the two powers, it was actually the Ptolies who got the shorter end of the stick. They are clearly over-powered.

Ideally all these factions should have some substance of reasonable proportion to them as far as the AI is concerned.

Ravenfeeder

11-03-2008, 00:56

LordCurlyton

11-03-2008, 01:37

Well I wouldn't say that the Ptolies are overpowered. Its just that it seems that the AS ends up at war with all of their neighbors in 10 years or less. If a way could be found to keep them loyal for maybe even 5 years longer the AS could probably have a decent shot at holding them off. The fact that Carthage seems to not desire the Sand Wars anymore also seems to help the Ptolies. Even bringing a renewal of the Sand Wars would likely divert enough Ptolemaic attention to give the AS life. Personally I would like to see a situation where both slowly decline, but that is a personal preference admittedly since engaging one of the two superpowers is a task of slogging through endless phalanx stacks, which kills the game for me eventually. Unfortunately the main reason the Ptolies seem to win out is that they get to the triple-gold uber-general faster than the AS, and those they get will almost certainly be bunched in Anatolia and the Levant, whereas the AS will have any they get spread out over the various wars. If only a way to minimize the effect of a general on auto-calc could be found, it would probably alleviate many of the problems.
I believe the Hai keep choosing the steppe b/c either the Sauro tend to leave their cities almost undefended by sending troops westwards to conquer or they believe the Sauro cities to be easier as they have the mix of infantry and HA whereas Sauro is plain ol' HA.
On another AS note: if you play with FD and get the Syria/Levant/Anatolia area for yourself right after the Ptolies begin to conquer the AS core (i.e. before they Seleukia and Babylon), raze the military buildings of the territories you are going to give back to the Ptolies and leave the ones you will give back to the AS unscathed then the AS tends to be able to hold on. In fact, I actually had them sign a peace treaty that left the AS with the non-coastal part of Mesopotamia and the Ptolies with the coastal part (the Maks had conquered half of Anatolia and Pontus the other half by that time), at which point the AS began to crush their Eastern opponents one by one. So I really think that the AS/Ptolie war is very balanced stat-wise, just slightly in favor of the Ptolies, which in the end adds up to a Ptolie victory more often than not. So not a total nerfing but perhaps a modification of starting armies/wealth. For example, why do the AS start poor? Even with the dissent and all I would have figured the AS would still have a decent war chest available.
I do like the Pontus/Pahlava expansions as well, though Pontus still tends to not build up their MICs in multple cities. I usually only see big MICs in Ankyra and Amaseia. Pahlava however seems to love to crank out the MICs.

penguinking

11-03-2008, 01:41

So far the AS almost always does fine in my campaigns. They take Tarsos and tend to expand a bit more in Asia Minor. I've yet to encounter a Yellow Death in four campaigns; they are always pretty inactive and really slowed down by Saba.

I've also noticed that Macedon is frequently very strong. The KH may need some help. Saka seems to be doing better too.

LordCurlyton

11-03-2008, 01:46

@Lovejoy - No Casse invasion :(. Not that it would do much as Barbarian nations never build ships (I wish I knew why), so no reinforcements would happen.

The Ptolemaioi have tried to take Lepki several times earlier in the game, but just saw their forces wiped out. They haven't tried again for the past decade - probably due to the 2 full stacks waiting for them. It is actually the Saba who've stopped their expansion - normally they go through Palmyra to get to Mesopotamia, but the Saba garrison there is huge, giving the Pahlava time to get there first.

@SwissBarbar - the only extra modding is raising the value of Gold to 4 and lowering Silver to 2 making Large and Small Vein mines give different values (in standard EB the value of both is 3 and so the value of all mines is the same).

@TPC - Your analysis is, as usual, correct. I wonder whether the Hai are actually trying to head for 'Rome' (Gotland) as they are one of the 'Roman' factions, but I'm not sure whether the actions of the other two 'Roman' factions bears that out. What happens if Eremos is made the province of 'Rome'?

Baktria does attempt an Indian expansion, but always ends up with one of their armies stuck on the way to Opiana, not doing anything for the remainder of the game. This 'stuck stack' phenomenon happens to all factions, but hurts the small ones the most. However they can expand into AS regions easily as they share Regional MICs.

The AS/Ptolemaioi balance is the most difficult to balance as they share both factional and regional MICs. The slighest change can swing the balance. AS does seem to prefer defending Margiana to Syria which is the reson that Pahlava find it so hard at least 50% of the time. Beefing up Pahlava in v1.1 has meant that they can take on AS in the East but that leaves AS too weakened elsewhere.

[BI only] The other critical point between the two is often Kypros. If the AS take it then most of the time they will go on to dominate. I wonder whether it is too rich?

Actually before I intervened Kypros changed hands several times before the Ptolies began the inexorable squeeze. In BI it seems to be a prime early AS target, when they are more than able of sparing the small stack needed to take it.
I also noticed the Baktrian stuck stack but it finally unstuck and now Baktria is the proud owner of western India. And I never notice the Ptolies using Palmyra to get to Seleukia/Babylon. I always see them go the traditional route through Edessa. And I have noticed the Arveni build ships before, but not the Aedui/Casse/Sweboz/Luso. So I guess it can happen on occasion. And of course take into account which faction you use as the game tends to skew the performance of different factions based on who you are playing as. I am almost always a western power, like Rome. The one time I did a Pahlava campaign (pre-1.0 I think) the AS crushed the Ptolies. Since it was pre-1.0 I have no idea if they would do so again but I wonder if you played as Saka or Sauro if the AS would perform better.

Ravenfeeder

11-03-2008, 11:43

I should add that I'm playing H campaign difficulty. The extra money provided by VH will skew the results differently.

Lovejoy

11-04-2008, 00:57

Finaly Greece is secured:D + reform :DDDD

http://pici.se/pictures/pFhDQSDDk.jpg

Things are getting crazy in the east :dizzy2: Hai has finaly waken, Selue is loosing ground in the east, Pahlava seem strong, Baktria is stuck, Saba is gaining ground, Pontos looked strong but are now loosing against Mac(Pergamon), Saka is CRAZY! and are still goin strong. Maybe they will reach Dacia :D

And just to twist things up even more in the east I am about to mount the biggest invasion ever against Syria. The logistics are going to be troublesome. But oh heck. Thats the fun! :D

EDIT: Anyone have an idea about what to do with KH, Rome and Epieros? I can kill them off if I want too, but I dont like to destroy factions... I was thinking about sending Eprios to India, but I couldnt bribe the towns over there :/

We shall fwee...Wodewick

11-04-2008, 11:40

Send a diplomat to all the eastern factions and buy them some nice real-estate, then watch them bite the ASS up the AS.

Tyrfingr

11-04-2008, 13:21

EDIT: Anyone have an idea about what to do with KH, Rome and Epieros? I can kill them off if I want too, but I dont like to destroy factions... I was thinking about sending Eprios to India, but I couldnt bribe the towns over there :/

Send the Epirotes to Cyrene, and let them be a buffer between you and the ptolies.

The_Brittunculi

11-05-2008, 05:16

https://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7291/khnz3.th.png (https://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=khnz3.png)https://img113.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

It looks like the KH has taken almost all of Anatolia, crushing Pontos, and is now overrunning Hayasdan. I also saw a few of its armies heading east towards AS lands. This will be interesting.

Ignopotens

11-05-2008, 05:41

I take it you're Casse?

The_Brittunculi

11-05-2008, 05:46

Yes, currently blitzing through Germania and Gaul.

Maion Maroneios

11-05-2008, 06:51

Send the Epirotes to Cyrene, and let them be a buffer between you and the ptolies.
Yeah, that's better IMO. Sending them over to India will not do much good with all the penalties they're gonna get.

Maion

Tyrfingr

11-05-2008, 09:12

Ignopotens

11-06-2008, 04:48

232 BC
I am Getai

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1600/getaicopyhm6.jpg

-Makedonia was eliminated in the first ten years by the other Greeks.
-The Arverni were killed off buy the Audei some time ago, prolly like 15-20 years ago.
-KH controlled the southern half of Anatolia almost to Antioch until I took it all from them. KH has 2 cities in Iberia and one in the Bosporous.
-Pontus was wiped out by me and the Seleukids, they only had 3 territories.
-Rome is allied to Audei, and let Epeiros survive in southern Italy. They even lost Capua to Epeiros, but wouldn't attack them, instead they would just throw army after army at mine that is sitting on the bridge outside Patavium. Only after I force-diplomacied peace with Rome have they moved against the Epirotes.
-Seleukids are holding onto the far east pretty well, and they took Palestine and even Alexandria! from the Ptolemies.
-Saba has 2 full stacks near the Sinai but won't move, also 1 over by the Persian Gulf that's been there a while.
-Carthage has Lusotan as a Protectorate, but pretty inactive otherwise, at war with Ptolemies.
-far east has been pretty stable for a while

Blue Death

11-07-2008, 13:37

That's a nice Getai empire you carved for yourself there :yes:

Good Saba expansion as well, and is that the Qarthadastim controlling Ammonion with Ptolemy cotrolling everything around it?

But wait, the climax... the Seleukids took Alexandreia?? :jawdrop: This is Madness!

General Appo

11-07-2008, 13:39

Meh, hardly unseen.

Ignopotens

11-07-2008, 21:11

That's a nice Getai empire you carved for yourself there :yes:

Good Saba expansion as well, and is that the Qarthadastim controlling Ammonion with Ptolemy cotrolling everything around it?

Why thank you, kind sir.

Yeah Carthage and Ptolemies have been fighting the sand war, the Ptolemies must have recaptured everything but Ammonion

Onehandstan

11-08-2008, 15:00

My Casse campaign:
https://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s192/onehandstan/RomeTW2008-11-0621-01-16-55.jpg?t=1226152737

SwissBarbar

11-08-2008, 15:54

232 BC
I am Getai

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1600/getaicopyhm6.jpg

very nice :2thumbsup:

Tartaros

11-10-2008, 10:08

https://i34.tinypic.com/wlq64g.jpg

my current Seleucid game 229bc

i reduced my empire to 8 towns and conquered step by step back. first target was micra asia and syria. after i secured my holdings i go eastward to india and west to the mediteran island. my last conquer was egypt after kyrene rebeled to me. but i lost it two times back to karthadast (very big battle at the moment!!).

i am in war with:

Karthadast - losing iberia to lusotanna, but just conquered Syracousai (war since 245bc)
Ptolemaioi - slowly and painfull dying (war since 272bc)
Sabaean - Attacked Petra (war since 239bc)
Baktria - Take over my abandoned territory´s (in war since 245bc)
Pahlava - Constantly attacking Susa, Gabai and Ekbatana (war since 272bc)
Pontos - first i want that they conquere the rest of micra asia - but they send there stacks against me... (war since 255bc)

neutral:
Saka Rauka - under Baktrian protection
Haiyasdan - slowly pressing north against Sauromatae
Sauromatae - pressed westwards, but a little bit lazy
Koine Hellenon - peace since 242bc after taking rhodos and crete, they managed to hold against the macs and got some oulaying territory´s
Epeiros - finally killed macs off and sending fullstacks north against the alps. Segesta just rebeled a turn befor
Getai - under Epeirotai protection
Roma - fight down all boii territory´s, but struggling against aedui, epeiros, sweboz and Karthadast
Sweboz - slowly pressing south against the alps
Averni - under roman protection
Aedui - first under roman protection, but now they rebeled and fight against them
Casse - as usuall

Alliance:
Lusotannan - my only truth friends (far away...) after Karthadast declared war they managed to drive them out of spain

Gone:
Macedonia - grinded by Epeiros

At the moment i want to take taksashila and probably kophen. i want to wait till the march of time brings new eastern bodygards. After this i strike back!

update 228bc
https://i38.tinypic.com/w2iwjp.jpg

Maion Maroneios

11-10-2008, 13:02

prolly like 15-20 years ago
Wow, never seen that one before!

Maion

Ignopotens

11-10-2008, 23:19

that one of the Gauls killed off the other, or "prolly" instead of "probably"

Siruso

11-11-2008, 05:04

Okay heres my lame attempt to post a picture through imageshack.

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9655/romeinafricayn9.jpg (https://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=romeinafricayn9.jpg)
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/romeinafricayn9.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img266/romeinafricayn9.jpg/1/)

Heres me and my friend's game with Romani. We've been switching off every 5 years (email the save file) and its been pretty fun. If you guys havent tried it it's a good way to stay in touch at college and for the first time ever I havent got bored as Romani yet!

So we took africa blah blah blah...the main reason im posting this is because of the Parthians. Look at that monster! I'm really hoping to have some rome vs parthia action towards the end.

Also, the Hayasdan were getting pretty big but it looks like the parthians have put a stop to that.

siruso

Oh and i forgot to mention that I had absolutely no hand in parthia's rise. No money, no force dip, no nothing. Has anyone seen Parthian expansion like this before?

Ignopotens

11-11-2008, 09:53

I've never seen that, but you also have one of the best AI Getai and Saba expansions I've ever seen

LordCurlyton

11-12-2008, 23:13

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/3025180825_521be7fcd2_o.jpg
Pahlava, 257 BC. H/M.
First notes: Mmmmmm, me lurves the Early Pahlava Bodyguard. My last Pahlava campaign was pre-1.0 so this is enjoyable. While I was mildly worried about the debt I decided that I'd take a page from the Saka gameplay guide and I blitzed the AS hard. While I personally still managed to get 8k in debt, by that point I started having positive income that got me out of debt in 2 years. Less really, since I took and sacked Susa and Ekbatana in that time. There were some tense moments, such as when the AS launched its first real counterattack towards Nisa, Assak, and Hekatomplyos simultaneously. They managed to take both Nisa and Hekatompylos but I crushed the FM-led armies in turn and took back what was mine. Susa has come under Seleukid attack a couple times and has switched hands a few times as I had my dominating FM-army crushing the Baktrians. Now I'm moving it towards Mesopotamia and I'm leaving Marakanda and Alexandreia-Eschate as buffer so that the Saka have someone to fight that isn't named me.
For people other than me:
Here's hoping the Saka go to war with the Sauromatae, keeping them off my back.
The Sauromatae have had decent starting expansion, but losing Pantikopaion to revolt has to hurt them.
The Hai look to be sticking true to form, slowly working on the nearby Eleutheroi and then probably heading up into the steppe.
Even with my evisceration of the AS hinterlands they are still holding strong, even making gains in Mikra Asia.
Ptolemaioi took Crete. Sweet. Other than that it looks pretty standard for them.
KH got gang banged and are left with Rhodos and Pantikopaion. Maks have secured Hellas and are now looking to explode. Epeiros has a strong position but I don't know if they can hold it.
Getai/Sweboz/Arveni/Aedui/Luso/Casse are all pretty standard.
Romani disappoint me, not even securing S. Italy yet. At least they are sporadically fighting Carthage.
Carthage, meanwhile, seems to be expanding mostly standard but they have lost Alalia to the Romani.

Ibn-Khaldun

11-13-2008, 00:00

Romani 246BC
One of my house rules: Autoresolve all battles(I hate those small fights against brigands since I always loose too many men there!).

https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/EB/romani_246.jpg

Some more interesting factions:
Qarthadastim - Made peace with them after 'Second Punic War' where I took those 3 cities in N-Africa. Left them there because they had no real armies there to oppose mine. They do however have a massive army near Gader.
Ptolemaioi - They took Antiocheia and those rebel provinces east of Hierosolyma. They lost Kyrenaia to the Seleukids however(rebellion or peace treaty?:inquisitive:).
Seleucids - Although they lost Antiocheia they seem pretty strong in east. They play 'hide-and-seek' with Pahlava. I think Asaak and Hekatompylos are changing ownership every year. Pahlavan armies are going from one route around the mountains south of Asaak while the Seleucids are using the other one! :inquisitive: Really confusing. Also, they have about 10 of those Thorakitai Agema(or something like that) and other elites(Argyraspides etc) near Seleukeia!
Epeiros - Once hold almost entire Balkan! But then Makedonia and Getai got rid of them and they are reduced to only 2 settlements in their homeland now.
Makedonia - They lost Pella and the city south of it to Epeiros and Corinth to KH but somehow managed to get back on track and reconquered their cities from Epeiros(They were not that lucky with Corinth though). Also they have managed to start a nice campaign in Mikra Asia. They have 2 full stacks there and with pretty good units in it.

About my campaign, I just wanted to know how well I can play just in the strat map. It is M/M but looks like a lot harder! For example I had my elite Double Legion with one of my best generals that time attacking Syrakousai but they were defeated easily! I lost half my army there. So I thought I take two Double Legions against them. Well, it didn't go the way I planned and they also were defeated. So, when I besieged the town, again(with two Double Legions, again), I managed to take it. It took 5 years to conquer Syrakousai(I needed to retrain my troops) while I managed to cripple the Qarthadastei in N-Africa with only 2 years!!
Anyway, it's a nice campaign and I can't wait 'til the Polybian Reforms come!

desert

11-13-2008, 00:30

Really? You autoresolve ALL battles?

Ibn-Khaldun

11-13-2008, 09:35

Really? You autoresolve ALL battles?

Yes. I autoresolve all battles. Those battles against brigands are annoying because I could win without losing any men or just couple of them. But in autoresolve I lose some 30-40 and that's just annoying when I have used my main legion against them!
This is also the reason why it took so many years to conquer Syrakousiai.

PriestLizard

11-13-2008, 12:06

This is my current campaign:
EB 1.1. with Alexander executable. (I really recommend it, its going so smooth - awesome!) I'm not sure if the ALX exe influences the campaign progression..!?

http://teamlizard.net/RTW/Baktria1/cm264.jpg

Not much happened yet... some notes though:
* Saka is expanding rather strong
* AS seems stronger than usual too while Pahlava seems weaker
* Makedonia is doing well vs Epeiros.

About my campaign:

http://teamlizard.net/RTW/Baktria1/sm264.jpg

I'd like to get some hints from you what to do. I really tried to keep peace between me and AS, including tribute of 100mnai for 16 turns total... but 267BC they still declared war. This time I blitzed Kophen because if I do a small pox start I always have the situation of one city vs. a huge empire and I cant do anything but turtle arround.

India is way too strong so I cant expand there. Maybe I'll be able to advance to the south... I won a lot of battles against AS there but I dont know whats coming next from them.

Oh and anyone else out there playing with ALX.exe? What are your experiences?

Cu Priesty

Foot

11-13-2008, 18:59

Its not suprising they declared war on you in 216. 16 turns of tribute would have finished in 268 (16 turns = 4 years) and after that they would have come a knocking.

Foot

Zenith Darksea

11-13-2008, 23:40

No, he said that they declared war in 267BC, not 216.

Ignopotens

11-14-2008, 00:07

Well he doesn't say when he started the tribute, but 16 turns is still only 4 years so it's possible the tribute time-period was already over if he started it in 272 or 271, although we can't say for sure if that's what happened.

Foot probably just had a typo when he said 216.

Lovejoy

11-14-2008, 02:02

PriestLizard: You should probably attack AS. Attack is the best defence. If you go south you will have along, hard to protect border against the AS. The cities directly west is kind of rich too I think. And some of them have mines.

LordCurlyton

11-14-2008, 08:14

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/3029398938_13f96b765b_o.jpg
Pahlava, 236 BC, H/M, BI-exe. Update from my last post.
I got the Late Bodyguards literally the turn right before a major confrontation with the AS where I had planned to shoot-n-crush with the early FMs. Instead I found I had no arrows but nigh-invincible FMs. It turned out to be what I needed as I won a hard-fought battle against roughly 10 times as many men by plowing forward and killing their goes-down-remarkably-easy FM. I never thought I'd see the day a pike line was broken by a frontal attack but that is precisely what I did. marched my FMs in, and over, the phalanxes, at which point they switched off pikes and the domination began. I lost far more to the thousands of heavy arches and peltasts but once I got the FM it was a bunch of rout-n-kill.
Its actually almost 227 BC and the only changes are that I have taken the Indian provinces and the AS took Sulek. Plus they wiped out Pontos and own all of Mikra Asia minus the one Ptolemaic holding.
Speaking of Mellow Yellow they have refused to take advantage of the AS trying to fight me. In fact they signed a peace with them but the the AS resurgence in Mikra Asia it is now a state of constant skirmishing between them (ie War dec, Diplo peace, lather, rinse, repeat). I expect them to get thoroughly owned when the diplomat keeping them alive dies. Every time I check the AS is continually re-sieging at least 3 cities with superior forces. I'm trying to wait until the AS conquers Egypt to continue my war against them, especially as they have not launched a single attack against me in almost ten years.
Pontus is dead by Silver hands. The Hai are going nowhere slowly it seems. Not even able to muster an expedition into the steppe. Saba seem stuck. Getai are slowly gaining ground on the Samartians. Maks/Epeiros are locked in a stalemate. KH is reduced to Pantikopaion (after this pic). Maks took Crete from Ptolies then signed peace. Saka sitting around acknowledging the fact that they can't fight me. Carthage biding its time. Luso being Luso. Same with the Casse. The Arveni better hope the Rome/Aedui war drags on and lets them rebound. Rome had all of Italy then Taras revolted back to Epeiros. They've basically left it alone. Sweboz will probably ruin someone's day soon.
One question though: since it seems that the only proper gov't I can make is Reformed Parthian, why does Pahlava still have Homeland/Subjugation/Outlying markers?

Tristuskhan

11-14-2008, 12:51

Saka sitting around acknowledging the fact that they can't fight me.

Probably they are busy trying to take Alexandria-Eschate. Leaving that province to the Seleucids was a good way to keep Saka at bay in my former Pahlava campaign.

hey, 500 posts

LordCurlyton

11-15-2008, 04:16

I thought as much but usually in my previous (admittedly pre-1.0) Pahlava campaigns if someone took Gava-Mazakata they usually wheel down the next instant towards my lands. Though I don't doubt the AS remnants up there are helping to keep the Saka occupied.

Ravenfeeder

11-15-2008, 20:03

Continuing from #467 and #499 above
Kart Hadast H/M 220bc BI.exe

https://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t31/ravenfeeder21/karthadast200.jpg

Cometh the hour, cometh the Saka.

Saka now in war with Phalava, who are also fighting the Saba. This has weakened the Saba so that the Ptolemaioi have taken Petra and Palmyra. This has given the Ptolemaioi an advantage over Makedon. The only thing slowing up the Ptolemaioi is their occasional forays against Libya - two years bring their armies up, two battles and two more years taking their reserve armies back to Syria. Mind you, Makedon also weaken themselves by forays over the Adriatic - they build lots of fleets which get sunk by the Punic Quinquiremes.

The Persian Cataphract

11-15-2008, 20:19

Absolutely fantastic Pahlavân expansions, lads. Brilliant stuff, now it is firmly established that they will soar through Mesopotamia, and explore the confines of the Greater Iran. But most importantly, that they do focus on two fronts first, the north-east and the Medean area.

Perhaps one flaw is that the expansion occurs a little bit too early, but compared to the problems with Bactrian and Ptolemaïc expansion policies, it's still a huge step towards improvement for a faction which used to be notoriously weak AI-wise.

Keep the rolling, guys :2thumbsup:

^RaGe^

11-15-2008, 20:20

Nice Saka expansion. In my games Saka usually advances westwards.

gamegeek2

11-16-2008, 06:14

penguinking

11-16-2008, 06:32

1.1 seems to have done these things so far -

Nerfed the Sweboz
Severely nerfed Baktria
Slightly nerfed the Ptolemaioi
Stopped Makedonia northern expansion
Sauromatae & Saka expand rapidly early on
Pahlava carves out a consistent "Caspian Empire" and much better than before
Improved Lusotana & Getai expansion, fewer to no factions failing to expand - even Casse gets something.
Improved Romani so they don't get stuck in Italia anymore, instead they rush to Massalia and southwestern Gaul.
Improved Aedui, who always take a 2-1 province lead over the Arverni, with rare exceptions (like AS vs. Ptolemy)
Pontos often is able to carve out a nice empire

Things that need improvement

Hayasadan still always takes to the steppes
Saka/Sauromatae stall after rapid early expansion
Baktria is now very weak compared to before.
Arverni are utterly destroyed by Aedui, the fight used to go on for ages
Casse & Saba still weak, though I suppose this is historical
Carthage never really does anything until 220 BCE

I agree with you on almost all of this, but the Sweboz hardly seem nerfed to me. They nearly always unify Germania before invading Gaul. And also, they're have been plenty of examples of the Makedonian rush north. In my campaign they reached the Baltic Sea. There is very little stopping them once they defeat Epeiros/KH. I think Baktria is much better. Instead of expanding west rapidly, they slowly take surrounding provinces and often go for India.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

11-16-2008, 21:04

I think the overall faction progression is really good now in 1.1. Especially the KH has been fixed. No more Koinon Greece finally! Either Makedonia or Epeiros now come out on top 50/50. :2thumbsup:

The only thing that could need further nerfing is the Ptolemaioi / Seleukides balance and the Armenian urge for the steppe.

The Persian Cataphract

11-16-2008, 23:41

Actually, Bactria doesn't need to get any stronger; currently the problem with the Graeco-Bactrian faction is that it expands into the wrong way. It's not uncommon that they reach Persis proper, and this is not a huge offense but India should be the focus of the matter. The Seleucid-Ptolemaïc struggle should end with a strong Seleucid Syria, and with a weakened Egyptian heart-land; Pontos aptly dominating central Anatolia, and Hayasdan being the major power in the Caucasus and northern Mesopotamia. Saba needs some control, historically within the EB frame of time, they never reached as far as Gerrha or Oman... Or in the few crazy cases Charax.

But then again, these are all idealized situations rigorously following historical course of outcome.

LordCurlyton

11-17-2008, 08:04

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3036749065_f5517abf76_o.jpg
Continuation of my Pahlava campaign. 212 BC.
Well my prediction about who would win in the AS/Ptolie dispute turned out to be worng, mainly because the AS began launching significant assaults against me once more, forcing me to retaliate. So I razed Antiochea, Mazaka, and Amaseia and killed several FM-armies. The Ptolies took advantage and have begun to push up the coast, though the un-razed AS cities are resisting better now that the supply lines are less. Of course, what Hellenistic monarch can resist taking potshots at me? Thus has the Egypto-Parthian War begun. Currently I am busy razing Egypt proper, having already razed Sidon, Hierosylma, Alexandreia, Memphis, Diospis-Megale, and Hibis. I plan on razing Paraitonion then returning home with my spoils, which has provided quite the boom, allowing me to start the advanced mines in many provinces. Conveniently the Ptolies are following behind and retaking the empty shells, thus preventing them from getting a massive influx of Apeleutheroi. Also, both the AS and Ptolies are at war with the Maksplosion and each have seized an island territory from the Maks. Of course, Maksplosion would not have happened had Epeiros not decided to take on one war to many. The Romani, Maks, AS (briefly), and Getai were just too much area for not enough military-economic might. The KH are undergoing a "resurgence" of sorts due to rebellion and took Amaseia after I let it revolt. They'd be crushed by now if the AS was able to focus its efforts.
I'm waiting for the inevitable Saba betrayal now that I share a border with them. Hopefully they'll attempt to pillage the weakened Ptolies.
I had a brief war with the Saka during which time they had Gava-Mazakata revolt to the Sauromatae, thus sparking their war and enabling me to get peace. Sadly I couldn't get to Gava-Mazakata before the Saka retook it, and now that is their capital so I can't buy it off of them. Here's hoping that Faction Heir is cheap to buy...:date:. I've dealt with the Hai so other than that anomaly back East it only a little more westward expansion for me to meet the VC, which means I can relax and play around for a while.
Other than that there have been no major surprises. Carthage and Rome keep meekly attacking the other, while Rome has its hands full with Luso, Aedui, and now Sweboz. The Luso have done what they seem pretty good at doing nowadays, and that is kicking Carthage out of Spain.
Current diplomatic situation for me:
Allies: Saka (they were surprisingly receptive after I got peace), Epeiros, Sweboz, Aedui, Luso, Saba
Neutral: AS, KH, Sauromatae, Getai, Romani, Carthage, Casse, Aedui
War: Ptolies

Tartaros

11-17-2008, 11:30

War: Ptolies

Go for it!!

PriestLizard

11-17-2008, 18:43

http://teamlizard.net/RTW/Baktria1/cm255.jpg
Young Baktria of mine at its climax of power. Around 260BC I found myself in war with all three neighbouring factions (Saka, AS, Pahlava). While the AS seemed to be busy with the Ptolemaioi in the west, the war against Pahlava pushed me into a campaign against their small empire. Using some bold moves (counter-attacking their lands while they siege Baktra), Theodotos managed to conquer their two cities and destroy the whole faction.

It wasnt much of help.

Later in 255BC the AS continued their expedition against Baktria and sent a full stack (almost 4000 men [huge]), conquering Alexandreia-Ariana and Antiocheia-Margiane. As this was not enough, the Saka also attacked with an almost full stack of horse archers and footmen, sieging Baktra several times.

I really dont know how you can prevail as Baktria on VH (campaign map). As you can see on the picture above, I have a fairly good battle record of 25-2... even though I had some hard times against Pahlava and their horse archers. Still, I almost end up in war with all three factions arround me which seems just too much! Maybe I was too risky this time... anyway...

In 251BC there was a full stack of AS near Baktra and a full stack from Saka sieging Baktra. I only had Baktra and Kophen left, no army, no allies, low economy... thats when I surrendered. Thats the result:

http://teamlizard.net/RTW/Baktria1/cm251.jpg

The seleucids had conquered Baktra and the rebels took Kophen. That happened when I moved one FM (Petrokles Marakandaios) from Kophen to Krete... with the help of some cheated money (my RPG goes that he used the private stash of Basileus Theodotos... as Petrokles was a very selfish and disloyal man) and mercenary, I took Krete to stay in the game and moved the capital to that island.

Now I have some kind of Observer campaign where I want to see where the game goes for a while... I will just try to keep my (Petrokles') personal island as long as possible and maybe even conquer some more if its possible...

Anyway, you guys have some advice which (serious) campaign I should start where I have a chance of actually finishing the campaign (means "victory")? I dont know whats my problem, either economy (build-up style) or diplomacy... its not about the battles, I'm doing OK with that. I thought about trying Epeiros again (I had a good campaign going before I switched to ALX.exe) or Seleucids because I really like them... I'm a little bit tired of successor armies though and Seleucids will be as hard as Baktria I guess (because of MANY enemies).

What do you suggest? I'm looking for a decent challenge... but also something where I can actually win the campaign.

Halps... :(

Ignopotens

11-17-2008, 21:40

Try Getai, just take a city or two right away, then disband the army until you can get back in the black. You'll usually end up fighting Epiros, Mak, and/or KH, but usually not for a while.

Cbvani

11-17-2008, 22:17

Try the Lusotann. They have pretty realistic victory conditions that'll provide a constant challenge throughout.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

11-17-2008, 22:21

That's a really cool story, PriestLizard! Take on the KH, and form yourself a Hellenic Empire again! Baktria in Hellas seems extremely funny to me.

XSamatan

11-18-2008, 00:15

My ongoing AS campain, 270 BC, VH/M

https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2453/as270wa5.th.jpg (https://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as270wa5.jpg)https://img411.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

At the first turn, Pahlava betrayed me. Third turn, I lost Sogdiane to the Rebels.

I took my remainig forces in this area and blitzted the Pahlave capital, nearly lost it the next turn against a 100% mercenery army :furious3:

All levies from south gathered for a counter attack to Astauene, as they could not reach the besieged city in time, currently they lay siege (5 turns remaing)

Hayasdan and Baktria keeping peace, but Baktrix seems to be high mobile... they will take Sagdiane the next turns.

In the West, I decided to train as much levy phalangites as my treasure could afford, an marched against the holdings of Ptolemaio in Kilikia, with no bad losses i took them, This Army is currently on way to pontos, and will take this out, his army was 3 times near Mazaka, that is enough!!

To the south Ptolemaios made a serious mistake, he withdrew all tropps (except FM) from Sidon :dizzy2:, so I took this Invitation with pleasure!

so long, Update will follow...

XSamatan

Gaius Scribonius Curio

11-18-2008, 02:42

Things that need improvement

Hayasadan still always takes to the steppes
Saka/Sauromatae stall after rapid early expansion
Baktria is now very weak compared to before.
Arverni are utterly destroyed by Aedui, the fight used to go on for ages
Casse & Saba still weak, though I suppose this is historical
Carthage never really does anything until 220 BCE

Not sure how common this is being my first serious campaign, particularly in light of the above, but by 250ish in my Romani campaign:

Hayasdan have most of the Causcaus and are at war with the AS.
Baktria is holding its own against the AS and expanding into India.
The Arverni own most of southern France, much more than the Aedui anyway.

And this is all without any real interference on my part. Screenshots of map will be forthcoming.

PriestLizard

11-20-2008, 15:37

Good luck with your campaign XSamatan. I plan to play an AS campaign too once my AAR is over. I'm curious though if its possible to succeed with AS on VH/M... and since you play on these settings I will eagerly follow your campaign progression. Make sure to post some updates now and then... :)

XSamatan

11-20-2008, 22:17

An AS-Campaign is not easy, but you can't compare that to something like Hayasdan or Parthya, the difficulty is that you have from beginning on at least two fronts, against the Parhians in the east and against the Ptolemaio to the west and south. If the Hay and Baktrix attack you too, it will be your nightmare.

In my campaign (s. below) I have the luck that I have only two enemies, Parthia and Ptolemaio, so I can concentrate my troops.

UPDATE from my AS campaing 270BC
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7277/as265wu2.th.jpg (https://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as265wu2.jpg)https://img90.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Europe:
Carthies&Lusos: typicall prgression so far, nothing extraordinary
Aedui&Arverni: many small battles between them, but no winner in sight
sweboz:normal expansion
romans: Whoa, they are blitzing through Italy and already have massalia and north dalmatia
Maks&KH&Getia&Epirus: cool Epirote expansion, but nothing far
Sauros:on their way to a local superpower
:egypt::took their kilikian holdings, captured Sidon and Hierosolyma, last turn I took Salamis from them, some fierce and large battles around Hierosolyma
Hay&saka: nothing to see, some saka armies wandering around my exklave, but no attacks
baktrix:damn, they will take the northest indian town the next turns, strong armies, and I have onlx levies in the east
parthia:currently sieging their last city, it will fall the next turn, bye bye, then I will reorganise the east, get a real army against baktria on the move, against saka I will remain in the defense as long I am not abel to recruit good HA

I had some serious trouble with spawning rebel armie, wha attacked my nearly undefended cities in the heartland of my empire, lost two cities and had to recapture them only with levy spearmen.

Treasery is always low, I make around 7-8000 bonus every turn, enough to build up my economy and recruit levy phalangites but not enough to build a miliary recruit centre in the east to begin with my expansion.

Next goals I want to achive is that I plan to raze Alexandria to weaken the Ptolemaio, attac kthe Hai and build up the defense in the east.

My young heir is at the moment in Asia minor, he will capture city after city, maybe i have to attack Byzantium, to get a good stand at my left flank.

I'm truly sorry for all of you who read this text, my english is not that good,

So long,

XSamatan

Maion Maroneios

11-27-2008, 02:00

Makedonia campaign, 255BC. No real FD usage, except moving Epeiros from Taras to Pergamon. I've also been giving the Eleutheroi 120.000 mnai per turn, which is causing more slow AI expansion and aggressive rebels. Also been giving some cash to the Pahlavan, in order to induce them to invade Seleukid land.
https://img114.imageshack.us/img114/852/makedonia255bczu2.png (https://imageshack.us)

Maion

Sir Edward

11-27-2008, 06:31

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1314/266xj9.jpg (https://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=266xj9.jpg)
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9481/252db7.jpg (https://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=252db7.jpg)
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1513/239wk4.jpg (https://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=239wk4.jpg)
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5599/230lg8.jpg (https://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=230lg8.jpg)
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8771/220zu2.jpg (https://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=220zu2.jpg)
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/313/211rb4.jpg (https://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=211rb4.jpg)
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1751/201kx7.jpg (https://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=201kx7.jpg)
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6303/194lr2.jpg (https://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=194lr2.jpg)

Arverni, RTW.exe, M/M, no mods. This has been a really fun campaign so far. Had fun no blitzing, made some mistakes lost a couple good leaders to the romans and a couple to the sea. Assasins only used against diplomats, assasins, and spys. Spys used sparingly.

Things I enjoyed about AI strategy in this game:
1) Not every faction is expanionist from the get go. Casse, Sweboz, Lusotan, and Hai all took several decades to hit their stride. Feels more like a contnueation of history rather than, time started at the beginning of the game
2) Nomdaic Faction pack a punch. Sarmatians, Saka, and Parthia all held their own. I really enjoyed watching Saka expand south.
3) Bactria has been neutered. The Bactrian are no longer guarenteed a huge eastern empire.
4) The balance of Ptoloma and Seleucid. Neither was a decisive winner and ended up in a protracted Syrian War. Egypt only really started to make ground slowly after every other faction starting carving up Seleucid territory. And despite all of their enemies progress the old capital Antioch held out on its own for near 3 decades.
5) Liked how neither Greece and Macedonia won the war for the balkans yet both ended up surpisingly strong factions. Macedonia's Second chance is really impressive seeing how they were the ones that captured Antioch in the end. I enjoyed watching Pontus and Eperius turn from regional powers into runt states.

Things I thought that could use some imrovement.
1) India rebelling to Parthia, hopefully there will be another eastern faction in EBII that would be in a better position so this will stop happening and messing up parthian expansion.
2) Carthage focus on inland territory of N Africa when should be more concern with costal areas. Seem to take inland region way to fast for the historical difficulty these regions would have resisting their governance.
3) Saba controling all arabia. Somehow there needs to be a roadblock for these guys.
4) Hai going for the steppes. However once they were repulsed they seem to go straight.

P.S. will a 1.2 thread be created or has the team stopped because there are no significant plans for tinkering with AI balance now in EB I and have moved on to EBII?

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

11-27-2008, 23:05

262 BC

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2923/makedoniendieweltimjahrsr4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

252 BC

https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/4866/makedoniendieweltimjahrfn7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

242 BC

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9593/makedoniendieweltimjahrhs9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

232 BC

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/355/makedoniendieweltimjahrvf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

222 BC

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2236/makedoniendieweltimjahrsv1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

212 BC

https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2615/makedoniendieweltimjahruo9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

202 BC

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1658/makedoniendieweltimjahrta7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

192 BC

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5079/makedoniendieweltimjahrqw9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Unfortunately, the Hay managed to take Atropatene the very turn before my traditional screenshot turn. I hope I can present a Hayasdan-free map in 182. And perhaps a Seleukid-free.

Ignopotens

11-28-2008, 08:27

I assume you're the Maks and changed the Carthie and Roman colors?

Maion Maroneios

11-28-2008, 11:51

Nope, he's the Casse and just too bored (or scared) to go on the mainland:laugh4:

Maion

PriestLizard

11-28-2008, 15:34

@Centurio: What difficulty on campaign map?

I think its a good idea so switch the faction colors since both the romans and carthage dont represent their old factions anymore. I guess both empires would have been broken without their main capitals.

IrishHitman

11-28-2008, 20:18

Maion Maroneios

11-28-2008, 20:29

If you do some searching on the forums, you'll stumble across it.

Maion

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

11-28-2008, 22:58

Retook Phraaspa yesterday and conquered Segesta and Capua.:smiley:

I assume you're the Maks and changed the Carthie and Roman colors?
Yes. Carthage = Phoinikes, Rome = Imperium Galloromanum.

I think its a good idea so switch the faction colors since both the romans and carthage dont represent their old factions anymore. I guess both empires would have been broken without their main capitals.
Yes. The Phoinikes and the Galloromans are both fled nobility that trys to establish themself again in a conquered territory, with the help of colonists and the like. It's quite nice that the Romans have made Viennos their capital, which they had upgraded to a city of their own culture.

The colours are in Data/descr_sm_factions.txt.

gamegeek2

11-29-2008, 04:08

Baktria is holding its own against the AS and expanding into India.

Baktria does indeed hold its own vs. AS. In 1.0 and earlier it would become a monster that would eat all of Persia and India. The infamous "Baktrian Expansion" would also overwhelm the Saka Rauka.

XSamatan

12-06-2008, 13:33

AS Campaign until 250 BC

https://img79.imageshack.us/img79/673/as265nz0.th.jpg (https://img79.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as265nz0.jpg)
265BC

https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7506/as260uk2.th.jpg (https://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as260uk2.jpg)
260BC

https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5629/as255pk6.th.jpg (https://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as255pk6.jpg)
255BC

https://img79.imageshack.us/img79/7315/as250ts5.th.jpg (https://img79.imageshack.us/my.php?image=as250ts5.jpg)
250BC

Look at Rome vs Epirus, and I'm afraid of Baktria....

XSamatan

gamegeek2

12-06-2008, 21:45

Interesting, you eliminated the smaller factions instead of dealing with the main threat, the Ptollies. Last time I played AS, in 1.0, I guess the Ptollies were more powerful.

PriestLizard

12-06-2008, 23:40

Interesting... Carthage captured Kyrene so they might be actually in war with the ptolies. Maybe thats what slowed them down? I'd love to try AS myself... maybe some day later...

XSamatan

12-07-2008, 11:49

nope, carthies and :egypt: still allied, I did not recognize what was going on there...maybe a short war and then again peace??

I can handle the :egypt: with my levy phalangites stack in Hierosolyma, as this blocks their way north, but their attacking all three turns....annoying

Yeah, i decided to take out my treacherous allies first, the last time I conquered egypt first and then attacked the smaller kingdoms, but this time they brake away with me at first turn with pahlava, so I decided to reestablish my authority on this regions.

XSamatan

Joszen1

12-08-2008, 09:57

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere, but it seems a nice continuation to '1.1x AI FPT'.

Main reason I'm posting is that, playing RTW 1.5x and EB 1.2x vh/vh, I am allied to a crazy empire. I am Lusotannan, taken Iberia, Balearics, Southern Gaul, Ireland and Britain. The year is 220BC. I am approached by a diplomat from Pontus offering Alliance and their world map. 'Why not?' I think.:jawdrop:, Pontus have taken all of western turkey (up to a north-south line through Antioch, and except two Hayasdan regions in Armenia), most of northern greece and north (ie. east of the alps, south of the Carpathians). Anyone else ever seen this happen?

No FD from me, in fact very little diplomacy from me at all, just allied with Sweboz, and, after killing a few legions, Romani against the Aedui and Averni. The Makedons are dead and I killed the Casse.

Anyone ever seen this before?
The only things I can think of is that my early expulsion of the Carthies left them seriously weakened, making Ptolies life much easier, making AS life a misery which equals :2thumbsup: for Pontus.

Unfortunately I have no map to prove it cause my screenshots come out all black, even with anti-aliasing off.

Hopefully this sparks a lively discussion though.

Cbvani

12-08-2008, 16:27

Tartaros

12-08-2008, 21:09

Yeah, i decided to take out my treacherous allies first, the last time I conquered egypt first and then attacked the smaller kingdoms, but this time they brake away with me at first turn with pahlava, so I decided to reestablish my authority on this regions.

mhh, no reformed enemy units/bodyguards to fight ... thats bad, you miss the ironpanzerman :strawman2:
(but baktria got it´s chance!!)

Tartaros

12-08-2008, 21:16

in my hay-game, pontos conquered makedonia, tracia and epiros. the asian holding fall back to makedonia (blitz from mytelene).

XSamatan

12-08-2008, 22:39

mhh, no reformed enemy units/bodyguards to fight

(but baktria got it´s chance!!)

Yes, thats right, I think I will never get the reforms, it is too hard to loose a battle with phalangites against skirmishers and HA's :charge::hmg:

But even without my kats, IMHO AS has a very good recruitment pool to choose of.

XSamatan

LordCurlyton

12-09-2008, 01:26

The problem is that Pontus does not develop the military MICs much in a lot of provinces. It seems that if a province does not produce a new, unique unit as opposed to something that can already be made somewhere else they tend to not upgrade MICs, both factional and regional. that is a problem when they finally fight a power that is either big (Ptolie or AS) or attacks from an unexpected direction (Mak Mytilene blitz) since they are reduced to very few actual recruitment pools and lots of crappy levies which get pile driven. This seems to be the case for many factions too. Until they've owned a territory for a long while and/or are at peace then they lag in MIC development.

Joszen1

12-09-2008, 07:25

Well I've never seen it before, mainly because the factions I usually play squeeze Greece and Macedonia hard. Still Pontus have killed the Maks (no Mytilening there) and are taking land from Ptolies, AS and Epeiros.

On a sad note I am starting to get pile driven by Romani full-stacks (mainly triarii, pedites and principes).

Thanks for the feedback, though, anyone else got some cool 1.2x AI expansions?

Skullheadhq

12-09-2008, 10:38

In my current EB 1.2 campaign the Aedui seems to conquer Gaul faster then before. And the Lusotanians are now kicking Cartie butt in Spain. Saba is on speed and securing Arabia within 30 years. Ptolemaio and Seleucids are relaxing in the mediterrean sun instead of the ptollies bashing AS in turn 1. Anatolia now counts with Pontos. but... Casse is still braindead as ever. Only sissy-fights in Britain for what i have seen.
In my campaign the AS already crushed Pahlava under it's almighty heels.... And it's only 267BC

A balloon 4 the EB team :balloon2:

XSamatan

12-09-2008, 22:34

but baktria got it´s chance!!

https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9863/as240sp6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/as240sp6.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img152/as240sp6.jpg/1/)

without words

XSamatan

gamegeek2

12-10-2008, 02:35

Best AS I've seen since I played as it.

gamegeek2

12-10-2008, 02:38

ZOMG 400 POSTS!

Anyways, I've seen pontus be wiped out on the mainland (by AS) but control Tylis, Dardanoia, and Thraikia Hypertera.

LordCurlyton

12-10-2008, 03:21

Heh he is the AS. 'Nuff said.

machinor

12-10-2008, 19:35

Also, Roman Expansion is fairly unusual. Looks like the Romans want to establish the Austro-Hungarian Empire ca. 2000 years before time. :D

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-10-2008, 20:26

Fairly odd, granted they took out two of the Super-Indies. :inquisitive: :grin:

LordCurlyton

12-10-2008, 21:38

Its actually pretty easy for the AI to do it. After a while enough beaten remnant are floating around that the wandering armies are far away chasing little bits of nothing and inevitably a stack makes it to the now weakened city, sieges, and is victorious.

Victor1234

12-14-2008, 01:42

https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a189/victorspicstorage/Carthage.jpg

247 BC, I'm Carthage.

Rome, Pontus, Macedonia have been wiped out.

As a bit of a sidenote, AI-held settlements seem to revolt alot more than in previous versions.

Olaf Blackeyes

12-14-2008, 05:20

Finally back on topic.
BTW how u get the minimap to be revealed?

EDIT: @ Lord Curly Thnx very much.

LordCurlyton

12-14-2008, 07:43

toggle_fow

SwissBarbar

12-14-2008, 15:04

My new KH campaign, EB 1.2, no mods, 258 BC.

https://img236.imageshack.us/img236/9379/unbenanntrm8.png

Baktria splitted the Saka into Western and Easter Saka

Dayve

12-15-2008, 00:08

RTW.exe
I am Carthage
H/M

262bc
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/5373/262mx2.th.png (https://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=262mx2.png)

252bc
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8265/252bcpi3.th.png (https://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=252bcpi3.png)

242bc
https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8895/242bcax3.th.png (https://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=242bcax3.png)

palmtree

12-15-2008, 20:58

https://i37.tinypic.com/a9oj21.jpg

My Pahlavan game.

https://i34.tinypic.com/xel6jk.jpg

My Lusotannan game.

Marcus Ulpius

12-15-2008, 21:32

https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6190/245mc4.png

My Makedonian campaign at 246 BC. Of the noticeable events - Arverni are on the brink of extinction; Epiros was pushed into Illiria (and is ruled by the king of Illirian origin); AS are fighting bravely against Pahlava and the Ptolies, slowly losing to Ptolies (but made some successful conquests from them earlier), losing at faster rate to Pahlava. I've decided to honor my obligation as an ally and started war against the Ptolemaoi.

It's EB 1.2, RTW.exe.

Onehandstan

12-16-2008, 15:46

SwissBarbar

12-16-2008, 19:40

https://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s192/onehandstan/Bloooom.jpg
My Casse cmapaign (duh) I'm just about to launch a finishing blow on the averni, I have been at peace with them for 70 odd years, it's currently 199BC

nice carthage expansion

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-16-2008, 20:10

Skullheadhq

12-16-2008, 20:46

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/3/12/16/f_Savem_43399a3.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/12/16/f_Savem_43399a3.jpg&srv=img37)

Year is 242BC. Guess my faction xD!
I'm using ALX.exe

SwissBarbar

12-16-2008, 20:51

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/3/12/16/f_Savem_43399a3.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/12/16/f_Savem_43399a3.jpg&srv=img37)

Year is 242BC. Guess my faction xD!
I'm using ALX.exe

casse? *GGG*

@ palmtree: veeeerryyyy nice Pahlavan game, on what difficulty level do you play?

Olaf The Great

12-17-2008, 07:23

https://i37.tinypic.com/a9oj21.jpg

My Pahlavan game.

https://i34.tinypic.com/xel6jk.jpg

My Lusotannan game.

I really like Romes Expansion, seems pretty accurate.

Olaf Blackeyes

12-17-2008, 08:28

R we ever gonna get Haydisan to get off the steppes?

Onehandstan

12-18-2008, 22:13

nice carthage expansion
Not for me, they've been nothing but trouble since I crossed the alps.

SwissBarbar

12-18-2008, 22:20

Not for me, they've been nothing but trouble since I crossed the alps.

of course, because THEY are meant to cross the alps, hihi :laugh4:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-19-2008, 04:25

I split off the discussion about the Ptolemaioi and Kyrene into its own thread. Please continue the discussion here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=110619

Olaf Blackeyes

12-19-2008, 04:47

WE need to sticky teh 1.2 thread naough!!!!!!!!!!

General Appo

12-19-2008, 12:18

Agreed.

General Appo

12-19-2008, 12:24

Seeing they often abandon their steppe-dreams if they're beaten back early by the Sauro's, maybe somehow making the Sauro's more powerful would do the trick. Like...increasing the garrison in Uspe. Though they'd probably just move it west first few turns.
Well, if it can be done somehow I think it might work and stear the Hai south.

Skullheadhq

12-21-2008, 15:05

if 1.2 thread isn't stickied we'll spam the 1.1 thread with 1.2 shit:spammer::spammer::spammer:

Dayve

12-21-2008, 18:40

https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8895/242bcax3.th.png (https://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=242bcax3.png)

There's 242bc.

It was never my intention to go east along the coast of Africa, but the yellows attacked me and refused any kind of diplomacy so it was necessary to take the fight to them.

Rome are still cutting through the Aedui like a hot knife through butter, despite 10-20k donations from me each turn, and sometimes even 40-50k depending on how much i have left over in a turn after doing everything.

Moros

12-21-2008, 18:56

Spamming isn't tolerated as is inspiring people to do it. Also don't use the s word.

Marcus Ulpius

12-21-2008, 21:46

https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3429/233skq6.png

233BC - Makedonian campaign.

KH are destroyed, and my long lasting alliance with the AS came to an abrupt end when they've murdered my governor in Pergamon. Pontos proved to be an incompetent ally in containing the Seleucids despite my generous financial help, so I've decided to get rid of them and handle the situation myself. Getae reminded me that we were actually at war by trying to take Serdike from me and were punished.

Elsewhere:
AS and the Ptolies are at peace.Romans are tolerating Epirote presence in Italy for an unknown reason. Pahlava are very slowly gaining ground against the AS and Aedui starting to look scary:skull: Looks like Romans will be in trouble very soon.

Karo

12-23-2008, 14:01

https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9106/mapgn5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Carthage 241 bc

SwissBarbar

12-23-2008, 14:08

https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9106/mapgn5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Carthage 241 bc

I like your Saka and Pahlavan expansion. And its cool that the Ptolies and the Sauromatae have one border. Epeiros and the Getai, this fight will be interesting too.

But i hate the Ptolemaioi :wall: Kill that yellow fever

Karo

12-23-2008, 17:37

I like your Saka and Pahlavan expansion. And its cool that the Ptolies and the Sauromatae have one border. Epeiros and the Getai, this fight will be interesting too.

But i hate the Ptolemaioi :wall: Kill that yellow fever

I love what most factions are doing, but if I defeat the Ptollies I'll have to fight against Pahlav and maybe Saka too. And don't want that lol they're to strong.

Ignopotens

12-23-2008, 17:50

I really like the Getai expansion you got there.

SwissBarbar

12-23-2008, 23:14

KH Campaign, 225 BC, take a look at the sauromatae

https://img367.imageshack.us/img367/4002/unbenanntze9.png

Skullheadhq

12-24-2008, 14:26

Spamming isn't tolerated as is inspiring people to do it. Also don't use the s word.

Just joking...phew

And how many 1.1 maps do you see on this page! So they are spamming 1.2 here already! So i don't inspire them to do this because they did it way before my message!

:dizzy2::whip:

- Skullheadhq

Tyrfingr

12-24-2008, 20:10

Couldn't we just rename this thread to the "1.X AI faction Progression Thread", since the difference between 1.1 och 1.2 seems to be minimal in terms of AI behaviour?

Dayve

12-25-2008, 06:08

250BC, Pontos, M/M, RTW.exe, 1.2 modpack installed.

https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/8609/250bcyb0.th.png (https://img355.imageshack.us/my.php?image=250bcyb0.png)

Anyone ever seen Kyrene revolt to the grey monster before? :beam:

Ibn-Khaldun

12-25-2008, 12:08

They did that in my Romani campaign. I first noticed it when I got a message that Arche Seleukeia and Qarthadast is at war!

General Appo

12-25-2008, 16:17

Seems like a good enough idea to me.

Dayve

12-25-2008, 16:43

It must be set to revolt to a random Greek faction then is it?

Subotan

12-25-2008, 16:53

No, the Seleukids were always strong allies of Cyrene; I think you start off with a guy called "Of Cyrene".

Skullheadhq

12-25-2008, 20:39

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/12/25/f_Parthiam_f35be5f.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/12/25/f_Parthiam_f35be5f.jpg&srv=img34)

My Pahlava campaign. The year is 232 BC

Points of Interest:

-Seleukid Empire! They share border with Sweboz and they took Ukraine when i pushed them out of the steppes they entered the stepps again at the Sauromatae. I need to destroy them but those Indians are running to Germania :smash:

-Saba! never saw such a good Saba expention

-Aedui! Took Bononia

-Pahlava, They rock

-Romani isn't interested in Rhegion! Why not?

Skullheadhq

12-25-2008, 20:48

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/12/25/f_Parthiam_f35be5f.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/12/25/f_Parthiam_f35be5f.jpg&srv=img34)

Pahlava Campaign, 1.2, 232 BC

Look at the Seleukid Empire, They share border with the Sweboz.! And they took Ukraine!

General Appo

12-26-2008, 11:58

Damn! You can't attack them now and ruin their amazing empire.

Tyrfingr

12-27-2008, 01:01

Damn! You can't attack them now and ruin their amazing empire.
I agree. Now, it's time to conquer India and wipe out those Sakas...

Cbvani

12-27-2008, 18:39

Subotan

12-28-2008, 01:01

I've never seen that Seleukid expansion before. That's just...bizarre.
But what are the Arverni doing in Naissos?

SwissBarbar

12-28-2008, 01:43

Current KH Campaign 217 BC

https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/7205/unbenanntjp5.png

The Koinon Hellenon conquered the lands of the Makedonians and the Epeirotes, they invaded Mikra Asia and possess a client kingdom in Taurike Chersonesos. Wars are fought with the Seleukids, Hayasdan and Pontus, allies are Roma, the Getai and the Ptolemaioi.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- The Lusotannan are not able to take the last bit of Iberia for ages

- Carthage lost the great and bloody war for Sicily against rome, surely because the've lost very much money and many soldiers in Iberia.

- The Averni are history soon, their last town is beeing besieged by the Aedui.

- The Aedui fought several great wars against Roma and the Sweboz, but they seem slowly but surely to run out of resources.

- Roma victrix. Rome spreads over europe like a colony of bakteria. They manage the Gauls and the Germans for now, but time will show if they manage the Lusotannan too.

- The Sauromatae are invading europe for ages, they usurp the Getai and challenge the KH and their client kingdom.

- The Arche Seleukeia lost Mikra Asia but still is the most advanced faction. They fight passionately, and it would seem as if their first priority was the reconquest of Mikra Asia. They also fight the Ptolemaioi and even Carthage since Cyrene is theirs !!

- The Ptolemaioi are pressed by the Sabean Kingdom. At the moment the Sabeans besiege Petra.

- Pahlava, Baktria and Saka Rauka are all more or less in war with each other and the Arche Seleukeia. I think if the KH devolved the AS' power furthermore, Baktria would rise from the ashes and claim those eastern territories, if its not too late....

- The Hay also are in war with the KH. They seem to have developed quite good, since they use late bodyguards and such heavy stuff. I think, when I conquered Pontos, I will leave the Hay unharmed, even if they attack me (they will, they do it all the time). I want to see how they continue.

- Pontos has been an Ally of the KH and would have been left in peace, but they seeked war and so war it was, what was brought upon them.

Olaf Blackeyes

12-28-2008, 02:31

NICE Sauro expansion!!! This is a rare sight to see them still powerful after teh steppe wars, able to hold off Haydisan too eh?
I am also enjoying the consistent Sweboz expansions with 1.2. Between them and teh Casse they are the most historical-to-gameplay consistent factions ive seen in 1.2 and 1.1 for that matter

strategos roma

12-28-2008, 06:49

I'm playing as AS(no screenshots sorry) and the weird thing is Carthage didn't make war with Rome even though they share Sicily and Carthage has armies in Italy! Even stranger is Cathage's largest army is sitting in Libya on the border with the Ptolemies and hasn't moved for at least 10 years. Can anyone give an explanation of this?:help:

Berg-i-dum

12-28-2008, 10:14

Current romani campaign 214 BC H/M

https://i41.tinypic.com/14vu4g6.jpg

Ptolemaic are a dangerous opponent, we are stucked in the swamp of Asia Minor in a long war. Gallia is almost done.

I am in peace with Cartago. Lusitani and Germani are amy allies. Hayasdan are making a good empire with some protectorates. Pahalava are strong too.

May be the more rare thing is that Seleucids are down (or almost, that point white in Crimea must be their last settlement) by Ptolemaic, I hope not to be the next :laugh4:. And those little Getai are doing his own empire since they are my allies too.

Skullheadhq

12-28-2008, 10:40

@ Subotan Rebelled from... the AS! They where celtic so they went arveni

Skullheadhq

12-28-2008, 10:46

braindead?

Karo

12-30-2008, 11:35

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8278/map2az7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
here's Carthage 230 bc
Phalava and Saka are at war and Saka is losing bad they got three cities under siege and most of their cities are weakly defended.
Hayasdan has almost defeated the Sarmatians, they have more soldiers and it seems that Sarmatian don't have any more soldiers walking around.
Romani will be crushed by me.
Makedon is back and has conquerd Byzantium and Pella
Saba hasn't done much.
The Yellow death has stopped conquering and the grey death has stopped shrinking

SwissBarbar

12-30-2008, 11:54

i like the averni and aedui, 50:50

Aemilius Paulus

12-30-2008, 20:21

i like the averni and aedui, 50:50
Yeah, but the Qarthadastim and Romani are soon to upset the balance, taking chunks out of the Arverni. How is Pontos doing? Is it at war with Ptolemaics? I have rarely seen it expand like this, most likely a result of the downfall of AS, who usually squashes them.

Why isn't this thread stickied yet?

SwissBarbar

12-30-2008, 20:47

Yeah, but the Qarthadastim and Romani are soon to upset the balance, taking chunks out of the Arverni.

he's the Qarthadastim himself, he could spare the gauls and kill rome instead ;) maybe interfer sometimes to keep the intergaulish balance :2thumbsup:

Why isn't this thread stickied yet?

a just question

Subotan

12-30-2008, 21:35

Current KH Campaign 217 BC

https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/7205/unbenanntjp5.png

That's good Sauro expansion. I suppose that's because the Baktrians+Pahlavans+Selukids were hammering the Saka. It's interesting the way you can have Domino effects like that, with the strength of the Seleukids indirectly affecting the Getai/Sauro Wars.

But why haven't you taken Galatia/Thrace/Illyria? They look like ripe targets from this perspective.

Current romani campaign 214 BC H/M

https://i41.tinypic.com/14vu4g6.jpg
.
Nice Pahlava. Like Old school Parthia. Although that Getai is quite tasty.

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8278/map2az7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Getai+Epeiros+KH is nice, sticking to their cultural boundaries, but I've never seen the Antigonids fight their way back into Makedon. Also, it looks as if Hayasdan are getting badly pwned by the Sauro, not the other way around.

The Casse seem paralytic for all of them, as usual :laugh4:

SwissBarbar

12-30-2008, 23:44

That's good Sauro expansion. I suppose that's because the Baktrians+Pahlavans+Selukids were hammering the Saka. It's interesting the way you can have Domino effects like that, with the strength of the Seleukids indirectly affecting the Getai/Sauro Wars.

But why haven't you taken Galatia/Thrace/Illyria? They look like ripe targets from this perspective.

Yes, I think too that this is the reason. Why haven't I take

Galatia?: I actually have now, the reason why I did "encircle" it, is that I had sent 2 Armies to push the Arche Seleukeia out of Mikra Asia. This was the "Second Asian Campaign". Pontos was not a part of the plan. Shortly after I captured Mazaka and Amaseia i got attacked by Pontus and now have taken Ankyra too by defeating their main Armies in 2 heroic victories (these were very cool battles!). Now only Sinope is left to Pontos. Furthermore the Hay invaded Kappadokia Pontika with 2 fullstack Armies and conquered Amaseia. The layed siege on Mazaka, but I could drive them back. 3 Months later the Seleukids layed siege on Mazaka, but one of my 2 new Armies of the "Third Asian Campaign" could defeat the 2 Seleukid armies in a great battle. The Second Army of the Third Campaign is heading to Tarsos, which had been recaptured by the Seleukids in a cruel and dearly bought war. These Seleukid and the former Hay attacks were also a reason, why I could not take Galatia earlier.

Trace?: Trace is conquered by either the Sauromatae (Thraikia Hypertera) or by me (Chersonesos Thraikia). Since the Sauromatae do not attack my homeland again and only try to take my two client kingdoms in Taurike Chersonesos and Bosporion Tyrranesis from time to time, i leave them allone to see, if they can eradicate the Getai and if they even would attack the Romanii or the Sweboz.

Illyria?: Illyria Hellenike is mine now. They were my allies (in Roleplay) but the new King of those Eleutheroi was not a friend anymore and attacked Ambrakia several times to build up a new Epeirote Dynasty. I could not let that happen. Dalmatia still is an ally. The Romaioi dare not to go there, because they don't manage to conquer Pannonia Illyrica from the Aedui, who have a fullstack Illyrian Army there.

Karo

12-31-2008, 00:08

Getai+Epeiros+KH is nice, sticking to their cultural boundaries, but I've never seen the Antigonids fight their way back into Makedon. Also, it looks as if Hayasdan are getting badly pwned by the Sauro, not the other way around.

The Casse seem paralytic for all of them, as usual :laugh4:

It looks lie that but it's the opposite right now, Hayasdan has a lot of armies and a couple of full stacks ready, and sauro has very weak defended cities ready to be taken. But it's the AI so you never know what's going to happen.

Subotan

12-31-2008, 00:09

Aweomse. It's starting to look like the Byzantine Empire :2thumbsup:

Except Orange.

Olaf Blackeyes

12-31-2008, 00:25

Honestly i think the EB team needs to revaluate the Casse starting position. I mean as a player u start out with a large town at almost a minor city, with next to no buildings in it, youve only got like 5 bands besides your generals and u r -2000 in the hole every turn???? U also start out at PEACE with the Eulethroi (spelling?). It would take the AI a LONG time to sort out a nation that has no infrustructure and no troops but is magically losing mnai every turn.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-31-2008, 00:38

The two AI expansion threads have been merged. Since the point of these threads were originally to see what the AI does and alter the game balance to correct anything weird, there really isn't a giant need for monitoring the changes for the final version of EB. With that and the fact there was actually little change from v1.1 to v1.2, we'll just combine the threads.

Don't stop posting, though.

Olaf Blackeyes

12-31-2008, 01:40

WOOOT!!!! Finally, was wonderng bout that.

Tyrfingr

12-31-2008, 11:30

Yyrkoon

01-01-2009, 04:27

https://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4238/aifpcf2.png

Guess which faction I am

Chris_

01-01-2009, 06:01

Here's my new Luso campaign. Its 225BC ish. Carthage and I were all chummy until I dared to ask them (my allies) for an exchange of map information.

http://www.secretundergroundbase.com/images/luso225.png

KH got pushed back to Sparta, then held the Maks off. They've been getting other provinces by rebellion mainly, although they have been moving armies around the Crimea, and attacking some Sauro towns.

Getai, Pontos and Hai are looking promising. Maybe this time they'll be able to stop the Ptolies, who managed to eat the AS while I wasn't looking.

Ignopotens

01-01-2009, 07:34

https://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4238/aifpcf2.png

Guess which faction I am

If you aren't Getai it's the best AI expansion I ever saw

Olaf Blackeyes

01-01-2009, 07:42

If you aren't Getai it's the best AI expansion I ever saw

TRUTH!!!!!!

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-01-2009, 20:15

http://www.secretundergroundbase.com/images/luso225.png

A beautiful map Chris.

Ibn-Khaldun

01-02-2009, 20:45

Romani
238 BC
EB v1.1
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani238.jpg

This is my 'Autoresolve all battles' campaign.

SwissBarbar

01-02-2009, 23:40

Greece and Mikra Asia are cool ^^ very colourful

johnhughthom

01-02-2009, 23:59

Romani
238 BC
EB v1.1
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani238.jpg

This is my 'Autoresolve all battles' campaign.

Do you ever do anything other than play EB I-K? With WotB, LotR, your Carthie campaign and this one you must have little time for anything else :dizzy2:

Ibn-Khaldun

01-03-2009, 00:51

Do you ever do anything other than play EB I-K? With WotB, LotR, your Carthie campaign and this one you must have little time for anything else :dizzy2:

Actually I picked this battle up after a month or so(played it in November last time) and played some years.
And to your question - Yes, I do other stuff as well!!! :laugh4:

Ibn-Khaldun

01-03-2009, 00:53

Greece and Mikra Asia are cool ^^ very colourful

It will be more colorful because in 235BC Macedon is kicked out from Greece and I'm fighting with KH.

Olaf Blackeyes

01-03-2009, 04:02

Romani
238 BC
EB v1.1
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani238.jpg

This is my 'Autoresolve all battles' campaign.

Utterly beautiful Sweboz expansion.

desert

01-03-2009, 04:22

Utterly generic Sweboz expansion.

Fixed that for you. :beam:

Olaf The Great

01-03-2009, 07:10

https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8800/casse232bccm7.png
232 BC
I have force diplomacy, but didn't use it.

I Like the expansion of all factions(except maybe Makedonia and Hayasdan)
Romani expansion into Germania is really out of the complicated alliances in Gaul, they recently encroached upon my German Province, sending a full stack full of Extraordinarii and Ligurians, basically the best stuff they had in the area. I somehow managed to scrap up a bunch of mercenaries, low end levies, and some Belgae spearmen.
I pretty much eviscerated the entire roman war machine, scoring multiple heroic victories with sad crappytastic troops.
At the same time a small army of about 4 Gaelich and Slingers took Masilia, and 2 huge armies are going around Iberia to invade them from the sea.

Best Expansion I've seen so far with Pontos, taking all of the coastal rebel cities and building up a great economy
Iberia is in great shape, with 3 Large cities and about 3 full-stack armies, I'm allied with them(when they invaded Gaul and declared war on Aedui it gave me a reason to take the entire northern coast. Not really sure why they haven't taken Baikor...
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9515/casse225bcmq1.png
225 BC
The 3 armies invaded Italy at the same time, overwhelming the romans in about 2 years, would've been much faster if it weren't for their powerful and cheap armies that number in the tens of stacks...

The Lusotana managed to take even more of Gaul, declaring war on the Arverni and..giving me an excuse to eliminate them.
The Aedui managed to hold out a bit longer against The Arverni, Lusotana, roving Roman straglers, and of course me, through a rebellion and a lucky 16 year old sucessor in Tolosa, then of course the 2 main armies of the Luso's destroyed them.

Subotan

01-03-2009, 16:11

Romani
238 BC
EB v1.1
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani238.jpg
This is my 'Autoresolve all battles' campaign.
Woah. Don't be offended, but the Ai expansion is ugly

https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8800/casse232bccm7.png
Getai, Epeiros and Pontos are beautiful. That KH expansion is nice and and irregular too (Just what you'd expect)

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9515/casse225bcmq1.png
225 BC

Baktria's expansion is pretty sweet, if unorthodox.

Olaf The Great

01-03-2009, 18:37

Woah. Don't be offended, but the Ai expansion is ugly

Getai, Epeiros and Pontos are beautiful. That KH expansion is nice and and irregular too (Just what you'd expect)

Baktria's expansion is pretty sweet, if unorthodox.
I wish I could have kept the peace for a bit longer in Europe, but the Romans tend to steamroll everything once they declare war, so I was forced to blitz them.
But yes, perfect Epeiros, Pontos, and Getai, and the Getai are very powerful, full Komatai Epilektoi armies too.

I'm going to sack the hell out of Roma, then give it back to the Romans(I still have the #1 gov for them there) and make them a permanant one-province protectorate until the March of Time.

Min-Update Carthage declared War on me and are sending stack after stack of those badass Loricata and Mail-phracts at Emporion and Lusotana, and in some sheer move of idiocy Lusotana besieged Massalia.

Europes going to change colors again, I'm actually worried about my southern border, I don't have much time to retaliate, Iberia may or may not become white.

Mediolanicus

01-03-2009, 19:08

SPQR 226BC with BI

No FD used

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR226.jpg

SwissBarbar

01-03-2009, 19:10

nice gaul, nice sweboz, very nice pontos and promising makedonian expansion. i hope the Hay, Pontos, Baktria, Pahlava and Saba can withstand the Seleukids and expand furthermore

Mediolanicus

01-03-2009, 19:23

Rome 226 + BI, no FD used (and reposted because of new page [on my - default - settings])

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR226.jpg

nice gaul, nice sweboz, very nice pontos and promising makedonian expansion. i hope the Hay, Pontos, Baktria, Pahlava and Saba can withstand the Seleukids and expand furthermore

Macedon was down to Pella and Lesbos by 245. Epeiros and the Getai had taken all the rest, but then Macedon came back.
Now Epeiros are down to 2 settlements (Demetrios and Athena), although I had a hand in that by taking their Adriatic possesions.
It's a shame that the Getai lost 3 settlements to Macedon... They fell silent now.

Plus, I might put a stop to Macedon now. It's either that or taking Spain that is next on my list.

Pontos is still expanding, so they will hold on. Although the Seleucids and the Ptolies just signed a ceasefire so that the Seleucids might focus on Pontos alone.

Hay are going to the steppes. You just can't keep them away from there...

The Sauros started well but then 2 settlement rebelled to the Sweboz and they went braindead.

Pahlava has been losing some settlement to the Seleucids the last 2 decades.

Baktria is still growing.

LordCurlyton

01-03-2009, 19:58

I'm going to sack the hell out of Roma, then give it back to the Romans(I still have the #1 gov for them there) and make them a permanant one-province protectorate until the March of Time.

Note that Roma itself will not trigger the March of Time upon reaching Huge. Give them Arretium instead.

Mediolanicus

01-03-2009, 20:23

Note that Roma itself will not trigger the March of Time upon reaching Huge. Give them Arretium instead.

Unless you have MAA's city mod installed, that is.

Subotan

01-03-2009, 20:29

More nice Pontos expansion.

LordCurlyton

01-03-2009, 22:45

Unless you have MAA's city mod installed, that is.
I stand corrected but then I never used the city mod.

On other news...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3164520426_063b03e96f_o.jpg

I'm sure I don't need to tell you who I am:smash:.
Most of the progression has been fairly standard with a few notable exceptions, all of which are directly or indirectly related to my actions.
The first is that the Aedui are holding on and gaining ground mainly because I allied with them then allied with the Sweboz, which put them at peace. The Aedui and Sweboz are now allies themselves while I am no longer an ally of the Aedui. Next is the slow Baktrian demise after I gifted them my "at-risk" provinces. It finally came crashing down for them around 234 BC when the Pahlava stormed Baktra, then the Saka in 230 BCE after it revolted back to Baktria. Now they sit as the Saka's protectorate and I eagerly await the coming of the Saka *sarcasm*. After that we have the situation in Greece. I eliminated the KH mainly b/c I had no desire to see them grow by revolution and then had a brief war with the Maks in which we traded Sparta for Mytilene. Now the Maks sit at peace with the world, though I doubt it can lat too much longer as Epeiros blocks their expansion. Speaking of those green buggers....wow. I thought Rome was going to steamroll as by 260 BCE it had taken Corsica, Sardinia, the Balaeric Isles, all of Sicily, all of Italy, and was expanding along the coast into Spain. they had the Arveni as a 3 province protectorate and for a couple decades had Epeiros as a 6 or 7 province protectorate. Then it all started to unravel about 10 years ago. All those cities that normally would have revolted to the KH? Well now the went to Epeiros. Taras, Rhegion, and Syracuse all revolted in under a year to Epeiros, naturally canceling the protectorship. The cutting off of funds and troops from that area proved deadly as the Carthies wasted little time in seizing Corsica and Sardinia back, further crippling Roman income. Once the Carthies marched up the coast of Spain and began assaulting advance Roman positions, it was over. Unable to hold back the quadruple threat of Gauls, Greeks, Germans, and Africans the Romans have just collapsed and been split apart, with Epeiros being the big winner of the pie-grabbing contest.
We'll get to see if the Carthies can survive outside of Africa as I intend to drive them out now that they have begun the Sand Wars with me.
Other than that, fairly expected AI progression.

One question though: are the TAB a post-reform or post-March of Time unit. None of my L5 barracks that I have built will allow me to recruit them.

Ibn-Khaldun

01-03-2009, 22:55

I'm going to sack the hell out of Roma, then give it back to the Romans(I still have the #1 gov for them there) and make them a permanant one-province protectorate until the March of Time.

For some reason Rome doesn't trigger March of Time event. Romans need at least one other Italian settlement for that.

Edit: Gah! Should've read the rest of the posts in here before replying! :wall:

Olaf The Great

01-04-2009, 17:00

For some reason Rome doesn't trigger March of Time event. Romans need at least one other Italian settlement for that.

Edit: Gah! Should've read the rest of the post in here before replying! :wall:
Haha.

Well, thanks for the advice people, I'm probably going to give them capua or arrentium..bummer.

Subotan

01-04-2009, 20:34

I've started a Baktria game, and the Seleukids conquered Galatia, and it revolted Arveni by 269 BC.

Mediolanicus

01-04-2009, 20:45

I stand corrected but then I never used the city mod.

I wasn't trying to correct you or anything, I was just pointing it out. :)

Strange map you've got there. Good Getai expansion. Weird Roman expansion...

I've started a Baktria game, and the Seleukids conquered Galatia, and it revolted Arveni by 269 BC.

Happens quite a lot...

LordCurlyton

01-05-2009, 00:51

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3168730922_01b16b4daf_o.jpg
*insert Star Wars Imperial theme*
Mission Accomplished on driving the Carthies out of Africa. Now the Confederation of the Balaeres must fight for its survival against its many mainland enemies (now including the Arveni!).
The Romans are basically trading exterior territories for consolidation. If things keep going as they have in the next 5-10 years the Romans might mount a comeback. They've already retaken Arretium and with Epeiros engaged by the Maks and me they might yet get back into Roma. Even though the Aedui are not fighting the Sweboz they still seem to be running short of cash. The Saka have begun assaulting the Eleutheroi cities now that they eliminated Baktria. Saka-Sauro war not unexpected and the Sauro are slowly losing ground as usual.

johnhughthom

01-05-2009, 02:25

Love that empire, whats next, across the Hellespont? As for TABs, the AI always seem to throw them at me early in my Pahlav games so I don't think they are a post reform unit.

LordCurlyton

01-05-2009, 06:19

Well I should have mentioned I got my answer: tis a unit you get with Kataphraktoi. Makes sense, considering the description given in-game I guess. Definitely isn't the March of Time, since the Romans never made a Huge City (with the possible exception of Roma).
What's next? Well, I'll be defensive for a bit while I consolidate and develop my new domains, probably take Byzantion and shore things up there. Keep a strong enough garrison and my Getic allies will stay preoccupied with the steppe battles and sending stacks into super-Eleutheroi territory. After that, presuming the Saka have not attacked our extended border. I will conquer Greece and Macedonia and then work on finishing my VCs in the East, which means I'll be the aggressor in the inevitable clash of titans. Even with Catas I'm not looking forward to fighting the Saka.
EDIT: I'm tempted to take the last two Hai settlements (I know I will have to eventually for VC) so I can build up and get some noble HAs.

Ibn-Khaldun

01-05-2009, 12:54

Romani
234BC
EB 1.1
My previously known 'Autoresolve all battles' campaign.
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani238.jpg
Year 238BC for reference.
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/eb-romani234.jpg

There was a battle against Sweboz that I fought. They attacked me in Bagacos(sp?) and if I would've lost that then all my settlements in Gaul would've been easy pickings because my other Army there was fighting against Aedui and all new Legions I recruited I had sent against KH.

Hax

01-05-2009, 14:59

Romani Campaign.
No Forced Diplomacy

262 BCE
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/Elphir/EB/AI%20Progression/Roma-262.jpg

252 BCE
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/Elphir/EB/AI%20Progression/Roma-252.jpg

242 BCE
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/Elphir/EB/AI%20Progression/Roma-242.jpg

232 BCE
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/Elphir/EB/AI%20Progression/Roma-232.jpg

Romani: That's me. Things are going pretty swell, I'm expanding steadily and without any haste (though I had to kick the Sweboz back over the mountains

Kart-Hadast: Have been pretty dormant after I slapped them out of Sicilia.

Arche Seleukeia: Were doing pretty well, until they were being attacked by the Ptolemaioi, Pahlava and Hayasdan(!).

Ptolemaioi: Nothing spectacular, killing Seleucids.

Baktria: Were doing okay against the Sakae, but then lost their capital and most of their provinces.

Sakae: Killing Baktria, and have been attacking Seleucid settlements.

Sauromatae: Nothing really interesting. Usual stuff.

Pahlava: Expanding into Seleucid territory, though not really fast.

Hayasdan: Un-ho-ly crap. When I saw that they and the AS were at war, I found out that the Hay took the first step, and they had conquered Karkathiokerta and Edessa, which is really unusual. They have also taken Seleukeia, but you can see that in the next update.

Pontos: Dormant until about 240, after which they went insane and conquered Mazaka and Sinope shortly after another.

Epeiros: Conquered Pella and Thracian settlements, blah blah.

Makedonia: Got slapped hard by the Koinon Hellenon and Epeiros.

Koinon Hellenon: Regained all of the Peleponessos and Athenai, and Halikarnassos recently rebelled.

Getai: Good expansion, grabbing settlements all around Buridava.

Sweboz: Took the usual route, crossing into the Alps, after which they tried to take Mediolanum. I then sent three legions to deal with these Teutonic invasions and then I gifted the Alpic towns to the Aedui (who are my allies).

Aedui: Engaged with the Arverni, got two settlements as a gift and are gaining the upper hand in this fight.

Arverni: Engaged with the Aedui, are slowly losing to the Aedui.

Casse/Lusotannan: Normal expansion.

johnhughthom

01-05-2009, 23:44

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/map-2.jpg

From my AAR at 229BC.

Ignopotens

01-06-2009, 00:42

so you're Rome?

johnhughthom

01-06-2009, 02:35

so you're Rome?

Yep.

Subotan

01-06-2009, 22:21

I'm loving the Sauro/Qarthadast expansion.

LordCurlyton

01-07-2009, 20:22

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3177601714_6e6591b38d_o.jpg
Time marches on...
Alas, I was not able to stay on my side of the Hellespoint as Epeiros has held its own against all the AI attackers and has vigorously pursued conflict with me, both on land and sea. This has forced me to maintain a lovely income-depleting fleet in Africa and in the Aegean. Coupled with the fact that all my FMs are beginning to die and I am getting no new ones to replace them, or any viable alternatives (sorry, creepy 73 year old, you don't make it), I am suffering a dearth of competency at the moment, which has eaten into my income far more than the fleets. Watching a few k on about 10 major central provinces disappear puts a crimp in the spending. In fact, one could say I am suffering a major recession at the moment. My treasury has been steadily dropping for the last 10 years from around 400k to 40k but has begun to stabilize as I've begun to stop building those expensive mega projects in the well-developed heartlands. But it is going to be touch and go for a while as Africa still requires large garrisons, but at least some of the provinces are beginning to get large enough that i can upgrade the town to my culture, which will help my income by letting me reduce the garrisons. Also, I may just start running festivals in more distant, safe locales and disband some garrison. Surely the cost of bread and circuses is less than the cost of the beefy garrisons needed to keep people happy.
Thankfully for me the AI has been typically dumb in developing MICs and it has only a few centers of production that it gets its decent units from. As you can tell, I'm busy taking out the most dangerous part of Epeiros' MICs, which almost certainly will lead me into conflict with the Maks (again), but then that is my plan anyways. They'll be an easy kill since Epeiros did the legwork and took the Maks well-developed MICs. The only other developed MICs that Epeiros has is Rome, Arretium, Dalminion, and Syracuse. All that Celtic/Thraikian territory the have? Not a single MIC in the whole lot. A shame really. Usually the AI will build MICs where new units are available. Won't complain about removing Chaionian Agema (sp?) out of the equation, though. They love to munch on my units in battle or in auto-calc.
All in all, I'm pleased with the fight Epeiros put (is putting) up since it forced my to send back and replenish my Africa-conquering armies, which took several years on its own, but now they are back and leading the charge. Well, not quite a charge as a slog, as each has suffered roughly 20-25% casualties at the moment and must remain on the defensive while I train some more troops to garrison. Thankfully the war over Pella and Byzantion likely broke the best of the Epeirotes, especially the Byzantion conflict, which saw an exchange of control several times and many high-level Epeirote FMs committed to the cause.
On a different note, the Romani got to the Marians apparently before their big collapse. In fact, it must have happened right at the start of the collapse as the first two cities to revolt to Epeiros don't have the Marian marker but the rest do. Which means Epeiros' conquest is even more amazing since they marched through a bunch of Marian legions to do so (one would imagine). Or, as I think happened, Rome got caught in 5 wars, had all these Camillan troops out there, suddenly got the Polybians, maybe upgraded a MIC or two, then the AI Marian trigger kicked in at the most inopportune time, leaving all these armies without fresh faces. In the rush to resupply, the revolt happened, and Rome just got screwed by bad timing. That, and they started spamming Vigiles everywhere that wasn't a developed MIC instead of developing even the Regional MIC. Thankfully, they are holding on in the area they did develop their MICs. Whether they can fend off the mighty Lusotannan, the Aedui, Epeiros, and the Sweboz is uncertain, but at least they got some turf back via rebellion (Mediolanum and Patavium), which has also conveniently split my enemy in two, meaning I may not have to assume control of Italy and Sicily to end this war.
I feel sorry for the Getai, almost. They didn't start the war with Epeiros and their grand armies have been crushed mostly, but then they may have actually put up a fight if they hadn't kept sending stacks into the meat grinder of Central Europe. Or capitalized on the Sauromatae being occupied by the Saka.
Carthage is holding out, barely. After i kicked them out of Africa they lost their Spanish holdings in swift succession. I've considered attempting to provoke a revolt in Mastia and Gader in an attempt to give them some traction again. Ironically, since they too are at war with Epeiros they have allied with me and made peace with Rome.
The Arveni and Luso are now at war and this will likely draw the Aedui in as well soon, since they are now allies. After getting the Sauro territory by revolt the Sweboz have stalled mainly since they keep trying to send reinforcements to said province over very hostile, and deadly, Eleutheroi territory. The Casse will probably sit on their Isle for the next few centuries wondering what all the hubbub on the mainland is about.

Subotan

01-07-2009, 23:38

Your empire is now the biggest the world has ever seen.
Gratz.
Sounds like an actual war is taking place :D, and I'm loving that Roman remnant in Iberia. But why aren't you taking Arachosia/India?

Ignopotens

01-08-2009, 00:35

I'm wondering more about why he hasn't taken Gerrha, it's so close to the capital and doesn't even add a new border threat.

Tellos Athenaios

01-08-2009, 00:49

Uhh chances are his capital is not Seleukeia but Antiocheia instead. Doesn't harm the Eastern bit too much, most of the troublesome provinces are at the max 80% penalty limit regardless, but sure does help when expanding to the West. Believe you me: upon capture, Halikarnassos can be an absolute pain to control with an in-experienced governor when the capital is in Seleukeia, but it sure is a heck of a lot easier when he gets orders from Antiocheia instead.

Gerrha tends to be troublesome with or without the capital seat in Seleukeia. :shrug: And as you say: it can be captured any time you will, making it probably a low priority in what looks like a 3 front war.

LordCurlyton

01-08-2009, 02:20

That and it adds no new notable troops or mines to my empire. Also the trade I would gain from taking Gerrha would be minimal at best. That area generally underwhelms in terms of trade.
I'm not taking Arachosia/India because: I don't have to yet, generally the Seleukids had decent relations with the Mauryans and invading is hardly friendly, and I want the Saka to actually become true Indo-Saka. They're going to be a pain anyways when the war happens; I'm still amazed they haven't attacked me yet but I guess my large, prominent garrisons and large walls are an effective deterrent. That and I left the Eleutheroi there to entice them to stay away from me. So far, so good.
The reason the Saba are stagnant is that several decades ago, right after finishing off the Prolies I marched down there and made them a Protectorate. It involved besieging all their towns simultaneously plus depleting their armies and a few of their FMs, but being nice and giving their provinces back + money (which you get back anyways) worked. I REALLY didn't want continual thorns in my backside emerging from there, so I dealt with it. I ended up doing the same with the Hai and I gave them back Kotais so they would act as a buffer state.
And my capital is still in Seleukeia, so this unwanted western expansion is troublesome, to say the least. I'll switch back to Antiochea once I upgrade the Pahlava territories. Of course, that is if they aren't already at 80% *makes note to check*, otherwise I'm going to switch over ASAP.
EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm not sure WHERE my capital is. Its either Seleukeia or Antiochea but its been so long I forget whether I switched back to Antiochea or not.

johnhughthom

01-08-2009, 02:55

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/map-3-1.jpg

Eight years on from my last post.

edit: thought I should explain the Arverni, I was trying to keep all three barbarian factions about the same level to keep them occupied with each other so conquered and gave them the two settlements immediately north of the Alps. I bribed a Carthaginian army that was coming toward Massalia and used the three units left to take an Aedui town and give it to the Arverni, then another, then another, then another. Those three units (it was only two Maures and one Iberian light spear) took four Aedui towns before I disbanded them in the last one. So I think I have slightly unbalanced the situation, still it's nice to see lime green dominate for a change. Oh and yes they did betray me, immediately after I gave them two cities, 10000 and 100 a turn for twenty turns. Oh RTW campaign AI, how we love thee.

Mediolanicus

01-08-2009, 13:23

I absolutely love that eastern part of your map johnhughthom! Gallia and Germany are nice too.

Little update from my SPQR campaign in 218BC (just before the invasion of Africa).

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR218.jpg

Arverni are going to die. They still have 3 cities but all are under seige by the Aedui.

The Germans are on steriods!!! They have 10 or so fullstacks, took one of the Alpine regions (and defeated the spawning army), took Mediolanum from the Aedui (which I took from them) and are now going against the Boii and even against the Getai! i manage to chace them back over the alps and I now have ceasefire that seems to last.

The Casse are doing resonably well.

Makedon is exploding and eating the Getai. I am allied with Makedon and Pontos and they are allied too. That explains why Makedon goes north.

KH is losing against Epeiros in Greece.

Pontos... well... just look at them!

Hay: great armies but they keep going into the steppes, conquering and losing the cities again by rebellion...

Ptolies : started slow, but I'm afraid they've started getting a fever lately...

Pahlava and Baktria are holding out well against the Seleucies.

Sagittarius

01-08-2009, 18:33

Playing RTW EB 1.1, since I started crafting Roman empire before the 1.2 patch, I am determined to finish it.
Difficulty level VH/VH.
It all started in 272 BC - will not place the world map since everyone knows how it looks at the very begining...
The expansion of Roman Republic started heavily towards south - the wars were limited to merely sieges of eleuthroi towns plus taras - since the soldiers were too few and too expensive, actually shocking expensive, the Rome and its provinces were totally undeveloped and could field only one full legion.
The conflict with Carthage started pretty much after Roman army entered the Sicily. Carthage did not manage to achieve the Cannae succes despite I thought it will. In this epic battle Carthage used 2 separate armies with elephant units and in general the battle was very chaotic - the initial order of roman ranks disturbed after defeating the first army and then came reinforcements with elephants. Romans barely managed to make 2 separate battle lines of tired troops - first was routed after a long fight, but the other line managed to take out the elephant units and some of carthage cavalry and then again remaining forces clashed. By a mirracle it was the carthage's forces wich routed finally... It was a pyrric victory.. I mean not much left of my legion, but then again... Carthage forces in sicily and as later appeared the carhage - the capital was undefended too.
Romans quickly tried to exploit this, there were few heavy battles in nothern africa, but Carthage was doomed, since its sicilian armies were destroyed, and they lost their homeland because the rest of their armies were commited in conquering the western africa and struggling for spain. The homeland was totally undefended.
But not everything was that easy for Romans - during the war with carthage Romans tried to expand northwards, but brave Aedui nation had some gaisatae in their ranks, so the Roman advance after some heavy losses had to be stopped, but only when Romans finally captured Mediolanum. Gaisatae filled armies proved that expansion northwards is total suicide.
Luckily the peace was signed with Epeiros, so they forgot about their italian holdings, however the Koinon Helenikon decided that Taras is greek city, not roman - and invasion by force of 2 armies started - the romans had to use mercenary armies to initially defend the homeland and later destroy those greek armies, but could not punish greeks for thier actions - simply there was not enought army to make offensive campaign in greece. Greek diplomacy was very treacherous - Romans signed peace with them for 3 times - each time they were breaking it as soon as the garrisons from italy were sent to help fight in north africa. Here is the general view of roman republic and its enemies in 241 BC:

https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/lonewolf9112/241BCprogressRomani.jpg

Sagittarius

01-08-2009, 19:46

So.. the war went on... Romans decided to wipe out the Carthage totally - so the invasion into Iberia was next logical step. It was done from 2 sides - 1 roman legion, mostly heavy infantry with light cavalry support was ferried by sea to the north of iberia, the other army, consisting mostly from veteran legionaries heavily mixed with all kinds of local mercenaries started invasion into iberia from northern africa shore.
The invasion was succesful, the aim to destroy carthage was complete - it was not hard... the hard part was holding those possesions. The enemy was wild lusitanians this time - they were the first to start war. The war became very difficult due to unability to ferry reinforcements - the piracy (eleuthroi) was on the rise.. and romans had no money for good ships.
Romans had initial succes but only till they had some legionaries left in Iberia, but pretty soon the legions were reduced to 4 full roman units, and local iberiant infantry of very bad quality started to be used in this conflict. Bloody victories and terrible losses - that is what romans remember from iberian war. The roman army was not falling apart only because it was led by 3 veteran commanders, who crushed the carthage. The help of legionaries was still badly needed for the offensive operations, so decision was to cut the route through the coastline from italy to iberia. 3 full legions were sent to the iberia to win the war... But only 1 of them managed to get there... Averni did not like the newcommers I guess :) But still, that 1 legion plus freshly conquered coastline towns improved military and financial situation in Iberia, and the balance was destroyed - lusitanians started to retreat towars the northwest till there was no place to retreal. Total victory. And triumphator general was taken to Rome to get the triumph ;)
Fight in iberia was not the only theater of war... the romans expanded their north africa posessions (fighting eleuthroi), but due to lack of troops it was slow. And the most eastern posession - Augila - just south of Kyrene, was quickly soon disputed by Ptolemaic egyptians. Romans did not have strong armies on eastern border, only one army, which was made of local libyan infantry, numudian cavalry, garamantines and mercenaries tried to interrupt the Ptolemaic intentions, 6 times Augila changed the masters, but finally, after agema kleruchoi, kleruchoi galaktikoi, and kleruchoi phalangitai became quite usual units in egyptian armies - Romans had to forget that Augila was their posession, and to accept the shame of defeat. War went on at the east of africa, but from now on - only defensive.
After conquering iberia, there were more money in the treasury of Roman Republic, what is next logic decision? Of course the punishment of some enemy. Ok, this decision was based not on the logic, but purely on the purpose of revange. Greeks. 3 times I asked for peace with them, and each time they were accepting it and then breaking and dragging funds from other theaters of war into the defence of italy. The Naval invasion was made by 4 legions - 1st having best succes and hiring all the mercenaries in greece to hold the posessions, 2nd legion was totally annihilated by 600 greek infantry and 600 mercenary cavalry, 3rd and 4th legions totally overhelmed the greece and sieged last remaining greek town there. Rest of greeks went to live into exile - Krymean penninsula... next to scythians. A right place for a treacherous nation - somewhere next to nomads ;)
After getting the greece with it's rich trading cities - the was became easier. The decision was made to destroy gallic nations - aedui and averni, and also to cut a coastal way into the greece - right throught epirote territory. War with epirotes was not hard, barracks were constantly training troops, the money flow was constant, so epiros was kicked out of their western posessions pretty fast. I guess by kickin the greeks and epirotes I helped macedonians a lot - they were badly beaten by those 2 nations. By the 220 BC the map of the world looked like this:
https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/lonewolf9112/220BCprogressRomani.jpg

Sagittarius

01-08-2009, 20:31

And again.. the war went on...
Averni were destroyed, their arch-enemy Aedui were fighting Sweboz tribes, who were in peace with me I guess only thanx to to my fort system in nothern italy which was garrisoned by a lot of troops.
Main effort was to get control of Gallia, since it was quite easy and not only Aedui, but Sweboz posessions were not heavily defended - the invading legions battled both enemies at same time. Easy at the beginning war versus Sweboz turned out to be difficult and epic - I was sending one legion after another - Sweboz leaders had exelent foot body guards, exellent veteran armies with lots of chevrons, I even tried to pair those legions - send pairs of legions (so they would help each other in case of battle) - with up to 8-10 legions operating at the same time in sweboz territory. There were victories, however there were heavy losses tooo... Enemies had 10 star general which was around 58 years old when I first encountered him, and have huge bonuses to the morale of sweboz armies. I lost 4 battles versus him, I was always outnumbering him, and I was throwing better quality troops at him - nothing helped. Even good roman generals did not help a lot - they watched the armies getting annihilated, tried to charge enemy infantry from behind, but... still had to retreat.
But... the Sweboz ability to raise new troops was lowering, since they stared to loose some territories, Roman legions were coming closer and closer to sweboz capital town - Swebotrastasnaunoz. It was taken. It was taken in the epic battle where 2 legions finally beated 3 drained sweboz armies, and all their leaders died in the battle. Unfortunatelly romans could not revange on that old sweboz general, who annihilated 4 legions. Only after that battle I realised that this general went to his ancestors due to his... old age....
During the hard war versus sweboz one more war - of much less extent, however also very gloriuos took place in asian Minor. Romans sent expeditionary legion with young much promising commander - intellegent, charismatic, vigorous and by they way - he also had a trait good looking or something like that lol... - to the asia Minor. He landed near halikarnassos, took it, then he occupied sardis... only then the Egypt reacted... I never thought it will be sending a full army every season, usually commanded by 1-2 generals who were protected by damn hetairoi. Phalanxes, elite phalanxes, galatikoi were usually included in these armies. The war was very hard - Sardis was sieged by ptolemaioi and relieved by romans many times.. but... Romans soon were simply out of troops - legionaries were too few, all mercenaries were hired - sardis and Halikarnassos produced bad quality troops with halikarnassos going to 400 inhabitants, meaning Romans lost this source tooo. Of course the day came when Sardis could not be relieved, so ptolemaioi took it - and then begain the march towards halikarnassos, Romans managed to hold this tiny land for few more years - only because the defence was made on river, but finally the ptolemaioi came from both sides of the river - the last stand was epic, the general tried to retreat but... Ptolemaioi attacked the remaining 200 soldiers and the fate of brave general was over, this also meant the loss of halicarnassus, which happened in two more seasons.
So... the Germans were beaten at the same time the possesions in minor asia were lost... what could decision be? Romans did not want a full scale war in the east - Europe had to be conquered first.. the plans were to take british isles, to destroy macedonians, getai, epiros, and only then get on egyptians.. however an instul from ptolemaioi was too much - to plans mentioned above was also added a naval invasion into egypt... And so the wars began:
Britain was invaded by 6 armies - no legionaries - mostly iberian infantry, some milites ilergetum neitos and of course birhentin.
Macedonia and getai was invaded by 6-8 legions, they were accompanied by local troops and mercenary cavalry. Hoplites were quite useful in this war.
Naval invasion into egypt was made by 2 fleets ferrying legions constantly.. and by the 202 BC the view of the world was this:
https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/lonewolf9112/202BCprogressRomani-1.jpg

In order to show how strong the roman revenge was there is one more screenshot 2 years later, in 200 BC:
https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/lonewolf9112/200BCprogressRomani.jpg

And finally the info stats on Roman/Egyptian army comparison:

https://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/lonewolf9112/200BCstats.jpg

Romans already have 2 legions of Marian legionaries but.. they were never at battle yet... at the moment - they are on the way to egypt.... :) The expansion was achieved equally by polybian legionaries, mercenaries, and regional troops.

Chris_

01-08-2009, 21:57

http://www.secretundergroundbase.com/images/maps/luso207.png

Previous Image (http://www.secretundergroundbase.com/images/luso225.png)

Luso campaign, 207BC, posted earlier in the thread.

Basically, after taking Spain, and watching as Ptolemaoi destroyed a good Pontos, I decided to intervene in the east (the line must be drawn here) , and have removed the Ptolemaoi from most of Asia Minor, and I'm going to carry on to let the other factions take some land for a change.

Hayasdan have been doing very well for themselves on their own though.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-08-2009, 22:11

Great AI progression there, Chris_.

gamegeek2

01-09-2009, 03:12

Nice, the Bosporan kingdom...

Badfuzzy

01-09-2009, 18:00

Romani Campaign, 238BC. Carthage is expanding like crazy! Too bad I am going to have to put an end to it. :smash:

https://img73.imageshack.us/img73/192/carthsuperexpansionzk8.th.jpg (https://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=carthsuperexpansionzk8.jpg)

SwissBarbar

01-09-2009, 19:03

what happened to the sweboz??

Mediolanicus

01-09-2009, 19:05

Yeah indeed, the Sweboz are swarming the map by 240 in my campaign and here they just sit still :dizzy2:

LordCurlyton

01-09-2009, 20:16

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3183041144_ec040495c6_o.jpg
.............*speechless*.....................
Oh...My.....God! Look at the Luso! They've wiped out the Aedui in a veritable blitz! And (this is a couple years after this shot) they are pummeling the Sweboz, having taken all the eastern settlements and they are now sending troops into Swebic heartlands. Epeiros is finally feeling the pinch as Capua and Lilibeo both revolted. I attacked the Maks before they could betray me and finished off the Maks in a final blitz after 5 years of naval skirmishing using 5 half stacks to simul-siege every province they had. I've started getting some FM births and some decent adoptees so I'm slowly crawling out of my recession. The plunder of Greece didn't hurt either.
The Luso also have Rome as a protectorate. I don't know what is up with the Saka but they seem to have stagnated, even proving unable to hold onto Baktria. I'll be damned if I stick my neck out into that hornet's nest until I'm damn well ready though.
Even with losing their home, Epeiros seems unable/unwilling to build new MICs. I've seen only 1 L1 Regional MIC pop up, and that is in Ak-Ink.

Marcus Ulpius

01-10-2009, 00:15

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9486/252tv1.png

My Casse campaign at 255 - the year I've consolidated the British Islands under my wise rule.

The Romani seem to be unusually aggressive in Gaul, the are at war with Arverni and Arverni are steadily losing.
Aedui are not at war with Arverni and they've managed to take Bononia, but suddenly they've become Roman protectorate.
Nice Getae expansion, Epiros is desperately fighting Maks and got themselves in trouble with Pontos by capturing Bizantium.
KH are nearly wiped out (as usual).
Hai have neglected any AS territories and went solely for the steppes fighting Sauros there.
The Ptolies for a change seem to be losing to the AS. AS have almost kicked them out of Koele-Syria, but both sides have significant military forces moving around, so it's too early to say who'll win there.
Pahlava had probably suffered some serious defeats by the AS and are regrouping.
There's also a very nice Bactrian expansion as they give Saka a very hard time.

Ibn-Khaldun

01-10-2009, 00:39

Lol..
Pahlava looks like an old yelling mans face!
And Baktria looks like a cows head! :laugh4:
I shouldn't be drinking anymore!:shame:

Subotan

01-10-2009, 00:54

Lol..
Pahlava looks like an old yelling mans face!
And Baktria looks like a cows head! :laugh4:
I shouldn't be drinking anymore!:shame:

...
...
O.O
Good God, you're right!

General Appo

01-10-2009, 11:08

The Cow-Head of Baktria is well known. The Grumpy-Old-Man of Parthia, now that's a new one.

Fennoskandian

01-10-2009, 12:17

Totally N00b here, but can you guys tell me how i can reveal the whole map?

XSamatan

01-10-2009, 12:46

open the console with "^" (or wat is left from "1" at your keyboard)

write "toggle_fow" (without " )

ENTER

to save them you have to run EB in window mode (run the Trivial Script) and make a screenshot with GIMP, for example or you press "Print" on you keyboard.

XSamatan

Ibn-Khaldun

01-10-2009, 12:50

Or you can just use Fraps.

Just don't forget to turn it on before you start playing!

Ibn-Khaldun

01-11-2009, 00:05

Romani
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/romani230bc.jpg
My little empire...
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/romani230bc2.jpg
... and the world.

In Winter of 231 I finished off Aedui and Roman Republic is in peace with everyone. After some difficult battles against Sweboz in 233-232 where they constantly sent armies against Bagacos I managed to get peace in the end of 232. In 232 I also conquered the last KH settlements in Greece and they were very happy when I signed peace with them. Aedui however did not want to hear such word as 'peace' and my legions had to destroy them completely. They were destroyed by one of my best generals, Caius Gallicus( formerly known as Caius Africanus). He had conquered Sicily, Sardinia, Carthaginian homelands and most of the Gaul, earned 2 triumphs and is the Heir. He is 62 and I hope that his son will be as good as his father is.
Another great general, Kaeso Iulius Iulus, fought battles against Sweboz and earned triumph before I ended war with the barbarians. I accepted him into the family only because of his name - Iulius. I hope I get some Gaius soon!
I thought that I take it slow now and use the next 5-10 years to fully modernize my armies with proper troops(I still have Camillan troops in Gaul!!).

I am allied to Ptolemaioi, Seleucids, Hayasdan, Makedonia, Lusotanon and I have Carthage as my Protectorate.

I think that my alliance with both Seleucids and Ptolemy have kept them away from each other. Seleucids have Damaskos and it is surrounded by Ptolemaioi territories but yet they don't fight against each other. Can't say that everyone else like AS though. They fight against Pahlava, Pontus, Saka, Baktria and KH but still they have managed to keep a very strong position. They actually are winning the war against Pahlava.

Anyway, what do you think where I should head now??

Subotan

01-11-2009, 00:28

A better name for "Makedon" would be the "Antigonids".
Smash the Arverni + the Iberia.

johnhughthom

01-11-2009, 01:17

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/211-1.jpg

Romani AAR campaign 211 BC.

Cbvani

01-11-2009, 05:08

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/211-1.jpg

Romani AAR campaign 211 BC.

Whoa Pahalva.

Olaf Blackeyes

01-11-2009, 05:29

See if u can guess who i am in this one

EDIT; I Q#$@#%ING HATE PHOTOBUCKET :furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3: :furious3:

Anyway heres the pics shouldnt be too hard to guess who i am now
https://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr133/Maurl/RomeTW2009-01-1022-06-52-95.jpg

Subotan

01-11-2009, 22:36

KH/Ptolemaioi?

General Appo

01-12-2009, 18:15

KH would be my first guess as well, unless of course you are tricking us and are in fact playing as Lusotanna, Getai or some other dormant faction.

Olaf Blackeyes

01-12-2009, 22:27

LOLOLOLOLOL
Mabye i am KH mabye i am a dormant one, but keep guessing

EDIT: Btw the year is 248BC

LordCurlyton

01-12-2009, 22:37

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3192523502_f20502abdc_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3191677611_28ff71a232_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/3192523530_d3e72b8dcf_o.jpg
Triple pic post!
And to the guy polling for which faction to do next as an AAR, I think my progression screens say who I will favor. This is an absolute beast of a Lusotannan empire that has sprouted, thus earning them the coveted "Best AI expansion ever" award. They've even begun to topple the super-eleutheroi through raw force.
I'm working on ending the Epeirote's control of anything non-Italian so i can get a peace with them but they have stubbornly refused to rebel so now I'm going to resort to military force and probably gift the provinces to the Getai, as they are under-developed and would be a pain to control. I'm also trying to get Lilibeo to revolt again and to get Masallia to revolt so the Protectorate status of the Romans can end. Other than the Sauro being slowly worn down nothing outside of the Luso has been terribly exciting expansion-wise.

Olaf Blackeyes

01-12-2009, 22:54

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY POOR SWEBOZ!!!!!!!!!
(Kills self)

Ok seriousness, thats a Hell of a Luso empire allright, but if he dose a Luso AAR everyone is gonna compare it to Churiegon's and he'd have to top the master of AARs, not an easy feat.

SwissBarbar

01-12-2009, 23:21

@ Lord: I'm F****** impressed !!!! :jawdrop:

johnhughthom

01-13-2009, 00:24

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/200-1.jpg

Romani 200BC.

Cbvani

01-13-2009, 04:49

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/200-1.jpg

Romani 200BC.

Are you helping the Pahlava at all? I rarely see expansion of theirs that good. I sometimes help them out because I like them, when I'm playing as Rome. It rarely works.

johnhughthom

01-13-2009, 04:56

Are you helping the Pahlava at all? I rarely see expansion of theirs that good. I sometimes help them out because I like them, when I'm playing as Rome. It rarely works.

Nope, haven't given them a bean, if anything I would have slightly hindered them with the monetary assistance I gave the AS to fight against the Ptolies. I really hope they keep going and take Mesopotamia.

WonkoTheSane

01-15-2009, 21:35

Carthage 249 BC

https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1103/rometw2008121521174717pw2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The light blue guys are the last provinces of the Romani.

Oh...and have a look at Pontus.

Tyrfingr

01-15-2009, 23:11

Damn, haven't you written that you were Carthage, I would have thought you're Pontos...that expansion is simply impressive!

gamegeek2

01-15-2009, 23:50

Awesome progression. Usually I kill the Lusotanaan first, to get those mines rolling early. Still, good job by you and the AI. Basically ideal expansion (given that the AS is bound to collapse), though the Arverni are (as always) weak and the Saka (strangely) haven't taken Gava-Alanna yet..

LordCurlyton

01-17-2009, 02:36

Olaf is gonna hate me.....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3202810514_a022ee8113_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/3202810532_47be0a3e86_o.jpg
I must say, finally playing a "barbarian" faction has been quite refreshing. No micromanaging your army like a HA faction or spamming pikes and auto-calcing the world into submission like a Hellenic one.
Plus the AI expansion has got to be the best I have ever seen with few, if any, exceptions.
Let's start in the east. At first it seemed that the AS was going to steamroll the whole area, taking Nisa in 265 BC and shoving the Ptolies back, even going so far as to take Alexandreia and Paraitonion by 240 BC. That was roughly the height of their power, as they had all the Eleutheroi defeated in Asia Minor and had pushed into India adn Egypt. Then...well who knows but they have been steadily losing ground ever since. My guess is they gained one enemy too many when the KH, Pontus, and the Maks all declared war on the AS. Baktria soon followed suit by besieging AS territory in India. Even then, the beginning wasn't exactly smooth for the coalition as the AS repulsed the KH and Mak attacks and laid siege to both Amaseia and Baktra. Thankfully both sieges were repulsed and the Ptoles began to mount the comeback, retaking Alexandreia a few years before the first screenshot and as you can see, they are in the process of rebounding up the coast. The biggest surprise is the relation of the steppe factions to the civilized neighbors. Baktria and Saka have actually been at peace for almost 40 years since Pahlava got Marakanda and Saka got Alexandreia-Eschate, with the Saka expanding into Sauro territory and Baktria beginning to flex its muscles in India and Arochasia. Pahlava has held steady and is slowly but surely beginning to take AS settlements now that they seem to be collapsing.
Moving to the center of the map, the big surprise is the demise of the Antigonids. They had the KH down to Sparte and Kydonia when the increasing Epeirote and Getic influence drew their attention and the KH have exploited that to the tune of uniting Hellas and Makedonia and attacking Epeiros. But it wasn't the KH who pulled the final blow. That, you see, goes to the Getai, who took Ambrakia from the Maks, also splitting the Epeirotes in half as well. This is possible because amazingly, the Sauro are at peace with the Getai so the AI is not continually trying to take Skythia. Also, the Hai are not trying to expand into the steppe b/c they are allied with the Saka.
In my neck of the woods I found a fun dynamic to set up. After the initial Arveni/Aedui war I managed to get a peace with the Aedui and then, when I was able to afford a new army in 260 BC I marched on Roma. I took Segesta (Segesitcia? the Ligurian province), Arretium, Roma, and Capua, giving Segesta, Arretium, and Roma to the Aedui and Capua to the Epeirotes, leaving the Romans with Arminium and Arpi. In 256 BC I built a small fleet in Capua's facilities, gave away the respective provinces, and my victorious warband did much celebrating. Over the next 30 years Rome kicked out the Epeirotes but began the eternal Punic War after Carthage unified Sicily. The Aedui, after losing Rome, held on nicely against the Romans, developing a nice back and forth where they would occasionally take Arminium, besiege Roma, then the Romans would come back and retake what was lost, sometimes taking Arretium back but inevitably losing it again. Southern Italy became rather lawless as it continually switched between Punic and Italian hands, with the occasional KH siege of Taras. However Carthage, by virtue of really desiring Arretium, has upended the balance and seems to be in danger of taking the whole peninsula, not to mention wiping out my green fellow celts. This will lead to obvious retaliation by me as I really would have liked it all to last another 10 years or so to ensure I could secure the Iberian peninsula. Thankfully I've reduced the Luso to raids as their two largest armies were crushed in mega-battles and they have lost enough FMs that they are not sending merc streams after me, though the fact that they haven't been able to keep Carthage off the peninsula might have something to do with that too.
All in all, a very enjoyable campaign to date.

Olaf Blackeyes

01-17-2009, 05:01

Olaf is gonna hate me.....
Grabs Axe and shields... Ur right I DO!!!!!!!:furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3:
U freaking left the Aedui alive before me the Sweboz!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3202810514_a022ee8113_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/3202810532_47be0a3e86_o.jpg
I must say, finally playing a "barbarian" faction has been quite refreshing. No micromanaging your army like a HA faction or spamming pikes and auto-calcing the world into submission like a Hellenic one.

At least u got teh sense to see y barbarians kick ass.
BTW WOAH at the Saka

Ignopotens

01-17-2009, 05:05

U freaking left the Aedui alive before me the Sweboz!!!

Sweboz is still alive in East Europe

Olaf Blackeyes

01-17-2009, 05:07

Oh.... uhhh yeah srry

We shall fwee...Wodewick

01-17-2009, 06:06

Oh.... uhhh yeah srry

But if it wasn't for a lucky revolt HE WOULD HAVE KILLED YOUUUU!

Subotan

01-18-2009, 23:13

That's a rather spiffing AI expansion on all sides, except the Getai (WTF? How would such a position even be remotely feasable?). Congratulations.

LordCurlyton

01-18-2009, 23:30

B/c getai is allied to kh and not at war with epeiros....yet.

machinor

01-19-2009, 15:29

Some really great AI expansion, I especially like the East. Also good to see Carthage being more expansionistic in Italy. But how come Kyrene belonging to KH? Naval Invasion or what?

LordCurlyton

01-19-2009, 19:42

I wondered that too but since the Ptolies invaded Rhodes a couple times I figured the KH just counter-invaded.

Mediolanicus

01-19-2009, 21:28

previous posts from 226 and 218

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR226.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR218.jpg

SPQR 212 and 202 BC

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR212.jpg

https://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/Miros_G/SPQR202.jpg

I had to force the Sweboz back over the alps and I gave some of the conquered settlements to the Casse and Arverni.
I kept those three Alpine settlements for myself. The Sweboz are almost back to the strenght they were 30 years earlier.
Epeiros was once down to 2 settlements. Now they are seiging the last KH settlement. They are sending stacks to Lesbos too.
Macedon was my ally and was doing well. Then they backstabbed me. Now they are doing not so well anymore.
I once held Hadrumentum, Tingi and Kirta too, but suddenly Carthaginian fullstacks turned up out of the desert... The war has been going up and down since then. I don't where those sacred band and elite pikes keep coming from...
It is only a matter of time before Luso will attack me, I know.

Varam

01-21-2009, 02:10

265BC:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3845/265bcbn9.jpg

250BC:
https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5659/250bczj8.jpg

240BC:
https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8949/240bcgd8.jpg

230BC:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4140/230bchz9.jpg

220BC:
https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8201/220bcmg9.jpg

Notes:

I'm Makedonia.

Rome's lack of expansion after taking Syracuse seems to be because it is completely tied up fighting the Aedui, who have taken Mediolanum three times so far. The Aedui are quite nasty, as they are on a major offensive against Rome while simultaneously holding their own against Lusitania and Sweboz and conquering Rhaetia in their spare time.

Since being kicked out of Sicily, Carthage has been at peace with everyone and it still took them fifteen years to capture Mauretania. Likewise, the Arverni went to peace with everyone once they lost their provinces in Gaul, despite having five or six full stacks sitting in Galatia and having four neighbors, but they've finally woken up and gone to war with Pontus.

The Pahlava were pushing really hard into the Seleucids from the start, but they weren't getting anywhere until the Seleucids suddenly decided to sacrifice everything to try and retake Antioch from Pontus. They basically put five full stacks in Syria while leaving the rest of their empire defenseless... and they still couldn't manage to take Antioch. I ended up conquering it and Tarsos for them (they're my only ally, so I felt obliged) when they were down to two provinces left in the east. Most of the Seleucid empire fell within a span of ten turns.

Baktria was invading India when it suddenly withdrew its armies and went back to war with the Saka, seemingly only because the Baktrian king really wanted his kingdom to resemble a cow's head.

Empedocles

01-21-2009, 02:20

Baktria was invading India when it suddenly withdrew its armies and went back to war with the Saka, seemingly only because the Baktrian king really wanted his kingdom to resemble a cow's head.

jujajajjajajajajjaa LOL!

that's one of the best jokes I have seen around here. keep it up.

btw, that's an amazing pontus/parthian expansions. incredible.

regards

Subotan

01-21-2009, 18:47

Nice comeback! And the Parthian/Baktrian/Pontos/Hayasdan/Sweboz/Aedui (Sweet Zombie Jesus!) expansions are all awesome, and the way the Seleukids have collapsed into just Syria (As in reality) is terrific. A+ expansion, and as a result, you get a balloon. :balloon2:

SwissBarbar

01-21-2009, 21:28

Love Pahlava! But.....:inquisitive: ...... either the last beer was one too many, or Baktria really took the shape of Mickey Mouse :fainting:

Silence Hunter

01-21-2009, 21:43

My Arverni campaign so far:

270BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2008-12-0513-46-58-20.jpg

265BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2008-12-0720-49-11-59.jpg

260BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2008-12-1118-30-06-93.jpg

255BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2008-12-1517-05-40-23.jpg

250BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2008-12-2800-13-42-99.jpg

245BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2009-01-0117-20-19-04.jpg

240BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2009-01-0200-03-23-87.jpg

235BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2009-01-0423-02-16-96.jpg

230BC
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/Artax0214/RomeTW2009-01-2021-13-56-55.jpg

Casse: normal expansion, maybe even better than usually. The fact that they got reforms because of me might have helped. Still have no idea why they don't conquer the last settlement in Ireland having 3 fullstacks there.

Aedui: kicked out of Gaul early in order to unify the place. Left them be in Mediolanum and they were sitting there doing nothing. Only recently, when a settlement of Sweboz rebelled to them after my raid, they started doing something.

Lusotannan: very slow expansion. Got annihilated because of the conflict over Celtiberia (though it was very bloody).

Sweboz: nice expansion. Recently decided to attack me, so I sent an army to raid their settlements and set them half a century back.

Romans: expanded agressively towards me so I organized a raid to raise the Northern Italy. After that they concentrated on Alps and wars with Carthage in Sicily.

Carthage: slowly united their African provinces. Got into war with Massalia (my ally) over Arse and got kicked out of Iberia. Now fighting romans.

Epeiros/Makedonia/KH: I like the stalemate there a lot. None seems to be getting the upper hand which is very nice.

Getai: slow but confident expansion. At war with Sauromatae since the beggining of the time. Thought it seems that war is going at skirmishing level.

Sauromatae: very nice expansion till the Hayasdan decided that they like steppes too much.

Pontus: one of the best expansions I've ever seen! Currently at war with Seleukia.

Ptolemaioi: long stalemate with Seleukia. Later joined Pontus in their strike against the Arche. Now trying to defend Mesopotamia.

Hayasdan: would be nice if not their love for the steppes.

Seleukia: were defending well till Pontos decided to conquer Asia Minor. Still holding in the East and trying to reconquer Mesopotamia.

Pahlava: struggling to expand as Arche is holding her ground.

Bakria/Saka: eternal struggle prohibiting these two factions to expand.

Saba: as usual.

LordCurlyton

01-21-2009, 22:49

I think the Hai problem could be solved by having the two nations start at peace with each other. In my Arveni campaign, once the Saka took over the Hai lost any interest in the steppes and is instead trying to take the much richer Pontic territories. I also think the Getai should be at peace with the Sauro too. Wasn't it primarily Scythians that were raiding both peoples and not the coalition of tribes the Sauro represent?

Olaf Blackeyes

01-22-2009, 00:38

THIS!!! ^^^^
I have always wondered why the hell the Hai start at war with a bunch of steppes peoples. Has the EB team tested this yet?

LordCurlyton

01-22-2009, 03:32

Well if you read a bunch of the Hai descriptions as you encounter them (playing as or conquering) you are informed that raids by steppe people (Scythians) were common. The same can be said of the Getai. I would guess they made they made the decision: A) Long ago, meant to change it, but it was low on the list and got lost in the shuffle, or B) Because its the only steppe faction around and provided some incentive for the Sauromatae to expand south and west.
Personally, since the Sauromatae were driving the Scythians before them I think it is wrong to have them start at war with both the Getai and the Hai. I figure one way or another they will get around to it.

Olaf The Great

01-22-2009, 05:58

https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6276/maphs1.png
Here's my campaign at 215 BC

LordCurlyton

01-22-2009, 06:33

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3217396266_39ab97b365_o.jpg
Well Olaf, you can take comfort in the fact that those smelly not-really-Sweboz half-breeds that revolted from the Sauromatae kept your faction going. They have now officially outlasted the Aedui because apparently they were *green* with envy *nyuk nyuk nyuk*. Once I deal with the Carthage Issue (as you can see, by giving their turf to the Romans) I intend to engage in the final battle against the Casse and become Lord of the Riverdan....err...Gauls. I'll eventually have to head east and tangle with the Getai, freeing my Boii cousins from Getic dominion, plus I'll have to venture into super-Eleutheroi lands for more unique units.
My spy + war campaign against the Carthies is starting to yield fruit. They had gotten thr Romans down to Arminium and were besieging it when I decided to go on the offensive. As you can see, I've taken Rome, this time for good, and have smacked their primary armies around, killing many high-experience FMs. This has allowed me to trigger a revolt in Messana and Syracuse, while the KH's abiding desire for Taras has led them to siege and conquer it. As it stands I'm hoping to get a new dynamic going with Rome vs KH vs Carthage, but I admit that will be hard to do. I also hope to be able to convince the Romans to move their capital onto Africa so i can buy their mainland stuff, then I will conquer and give them Carthie and Ptolie lands until they pass the magic 20 mark and can hopefully get the Marians.
The AS continues to fall slowly, though they hang on in Sidon and actually lost then retook Palmyra, so it seems like they are going to fight until the bitter end as they are steadily losing their more distant settlements. Hai/Pontus continues to be inconclusive, though its been the Hai pressing the assault and Pontus lifting sieges. The Getai and Epeiros are now at war and I'm rooting for the brown dudes. KH is wearing down the Maks, prolly since the Romans managed to get the March of Time off before things went to total pot for them.
On a side note, I edited the EBBS such that Pahlava will now get govparthian in appropriate territories (plus some bonus ones in Baktria and Asia Minor) when they conquer the settlements. Maybe now we'll get to see some real Parthian armies assuming they take another city, which they should. Would be nice to see those beautiful Persian hoplites in action by the AI.

Skullheadhq

01-22-2009, 16:03

https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6276/maphs1.png
Here's my campaign at 215 BC

Early british colonisation of Africa xD. You're just 2000 years early..

Olaf Blackeyes

01-22-2009, 16:05

https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6276/maphs1.png
Here's my campaign at 215 BC

WTF THE AS HAS BECOME HAI?!?!!?

Subotan

01-22-2009, 21:31

Nice Baktria/KH LordKurlyton
Nice Pontos/Getai/Epeiros Olaf
Pahlava looks a mess in Silence Hunter's game xD

Olaf The Great

01-22-2009, 22:40

WTF THE AS HAS BECOME HAI?!?!!?
Hai conquered into the steppes, Pontus and AS conquered them.

Subotan

01-23-2009, 00:18

The Persian Trousers of the Pahlavans must be brown.

LordCurlyton

01-23-2009, 10:53

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3219240751_10a32e79dc_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3220091320_3d44d9bd94_o.jpg
Mission Accomplished as far as replacing Carthage and relocating Rome goes, plus getting them the Marians. I found it to be much easier to just spend liberally and buy up the Ptolemaioi turf piecemeal and then bribe the first few armies that they inevitably sent to reclaim their goods so that Rome could build up in their new territory. Now Rome is going solo and churning out Marian legionnaires from multiple MICs. They may actually be able to beat the Ptolies straight up now as they can send waves of troops towards the Levant while the Ptolies must split their attention but the Romans have annihilated some pretty mean stacks on their own, though. They've tried navally invading a few times but they haven't used their big ships to do so and I wipe out the small stuff each time. The time between attempts is slowly growing so I think the AI is learning.
But apparently Rome is not quite as interested in Ethiopia as they are halfheartedly fighting the Saba, which has let them catch a reprieve and even go on the offensive (note Charax in their possession).
The Getai are starting to win vs Epeiros, though from what I can tell the current situation has perpetual stalemate written all over it. I bribed and tricked my way into Noricum and intend a similar plan for the Lugians. The Boii homeland will be interesting though, with its 5 full stacks wandering around. the Getai made some threatening moves as soon as I took the Noricene super-city but some timely bribery and they haven't been back since.
The Hai have managed to snag Sinope from Pontus but no more. Pontus has failed to develop ANY MICs outside of their starting province:no:. Maks, KH, Ptolies go back and forth, with Ptolies with the advantage so far.
Baktria has become the Big Bloated Blue Behemoth and is in the process of finishing up its Parthian stew, though the last chunks are rather grisly. the still remain at peace with the Saka amazingly.
But the single biggest surprise of the whole campaign happened the turn before the screenshot: the Casse invaded. And no, it wasn't the script, since as you can see they lack the unified British Isles to trigger the script. They computer AI actually invaded me. Ponder that, if you will. THE CASSE AI ACTUALLY FREAKIN' LAUNCHED A NAVAL INVASION AGAINST ME!!!*loves BI-exe*
Now I have my excuse to go whomp some British butt.

EDIT:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3221007614_aa8a2b0ce9_o.jpg
Forget the 202 BC pic, heh.

Tyrfingr

01-23-2009, 16:07

That aught to be the most fascinating AI expansion ever seen...

gamegeek2

01-23-2009, 16:24

A :balloon2: for you, sir.

Marcus Ulpius

01-23-2009, 22:07

Romani campaign, 243 b.c.
https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7118/243us3.png

Surprisingly good Casse expansion. Good Sweboz expansion, Aedui are getting an upper hand against Arverni. Epirotes are doing ok, but Maks and KH are still at stalemate since the start, Maks at least are doing something at Asia Minor, KH are totally passive. AS are doing very good - they've completely kicked the Ptolies out of Asia Minor and Phoenicia, while fighting Hai and Pahlava at the same time. Saba are doing better than usual, they are sending some forces to Egypt proper, but so far without success. The Ptolies on the other hand are in a dangerous position. They are fighting Saba and AS, but recently the Carthagenians attacked them as well, after the Ptolies took Kyrene from them.

Ibn-Khaldun

01-24-2009, 16:29

Romani
Winter, 215 BC
https://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/ibnkhaldun/TW%20games/romani215.jpg

After I kicked some Swebos a** they have been quite reasonable neighbors.
Lusotanan decided that it's fun to accept peace and the next turn to attack me again. I didn't get the joke and reduced them to Tyde only. (Public order in Oxtraca is >> :wall:)
Macedon have been very good ally for a very long time. I think more than 50 years now. They are doing quite well after my brilliantly planned war against Epeiros.
Epeiros.. well.. this happens when sending stacks after stacks against Macedon and Getai and I declare war on them.
Seleucids have held their own for some time. Quite annoying actually! They are starting to recruit stacks with Argyraspides and Hypaspistai and those Agema guys!!
Ptolemaioi will loose Side this season and after that I head towards Antiocheia. In the same time 2 legions with auxiliaries are heading towards Paraitonion and Alexandreia. After I had recruited some Quincuiremes my income dropped I think from 60000mnai per turn to 35000mnai!!! :dizzy2:
Pontos and Hayasdan are.. well.. boring as usual.
Qarthadastimis Numidia now without any armies or money. Kind of like it.
Baktria, Pahlava and Saka are fighting against each other. I think that is one of the reasons why Seleucids have managed to hold most of their settlements.
KH haven't done much. I tried to help them and used 'move_character' to send 2 of their full stacks to Chersonesos hoping they will take some Sauro lands but no. They just sit there and do nothing! :wall:
Sauromatae are doing well against Hayasdan but loosing against Sweboz.
Casse is Casse.
Saba is Saba.

And about that Eleutheroi army. I know that barbarians are poor but please... get some clothes on!!
I don't know what I should do when I fight against that army. Be afraid or laugh! :laugh4:
The First Army of Nudists!