View Full Version : Roma - Fledgling State to Mighty Empire
Hey following the collapse of my 1.0 Romani save I have decided to start a 1.1 AAR. Starting in 272 BC and I plan to play all the way down to 14 AD. (Hopefully this time I can manage it!)
Here are the house rules I have when I play :
- Destroy every building in a settlement when I take it over. This makes expansion much slower and the game lasts much longer and is more challenging.
- Stick roughly to historical expansion. Not exactly to the date though as this ruins the fun of the game IMO.
- I don't micromanage my generals with a set lifestyle for them or anything.
I have also changed the minimap so the Ptolemaioi are a golden colour as I find it hard to differentiate between them and the rebels once they are built up a bit.
POST ONE - THE BEGINNING
I know everyone hates the beginning with the whole expansion into Italy thing, so I won't go into lots of details. I besieged Taras and then assaulted, which resulted in a close battle for the city,
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/2.jpg
I am not a big fan of the Camillan troops, their morale isn't the best. Some of my Principes broke in this battle when the odds were even. The Epirots phalanxes were making short work of them.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/3.jpg
So I sent my cavalry in to take charge their flanks repeatedly.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/4.jpg
Which turned the battle into my favour and I captured the city.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/5.jpg
Once Taras was in my hands I changed the name to Tarentum. I plan to do this with the settlements that have a different name under the Romans when I take them.
Thanks for reading.
Chirurgeon
04-20-2008, 22:43
looks good. Good luck and I hope you can get a Caesar like you did last time. Destroy every building? Does that cause alot of discontent?
QuintusSertorius
04-20-2008, 22:45
Change names? How do you change settlement names?
Tyrfingr
04-20-2008, 22:48
Renaming the cities will interfer with the reforms...or am I wrong?
Reverend Joe
04-20-2008, 22:50
You know that means you will have to change the names in the script too, right?
Edit: sorry, third person to comment on that... :shame:
Yeah, it will interfere with reforms. You can just change the name back to the original once your reforms come around to build the new barracks. You might want to avoid changing names of cities that have hard-to-spell names or names with weird accents. Good luck with your new AAR!
I haven't edited any of the files, You can turn on change settlement names in the preferences file. Then click on the name in the settlement scroll. Will it still effect the reforms?
looks good. Good luck and I hope you can get a Caesar like you did last time. Destroy every building? Does that cause alot of discontent?
Yes, it certainly does later on when they are further away. But it is relatively simple to keep them under control with a governor.
CaesarAugustus
04-20-2008, 23:26
Good luck with this, I will be starting a new Romani campaign 1.1 shortly, it will be interesting to have something to compare it to.
Horst Nordfink
04-21-2008, 09:05
I enjoyed your last Romani AAR, good luck with this one.
ooh, if you play this til the end you may just take the King of AAR's title of MAA's civil war toting makedonian riot.
No offence to any other writers of course.
General Appo
04-21-2008, 16:54
A bit early for that, don´t you think? I mean, he´s made 1 single chapter so far, MAA has done I think 52. But indeed, if he (or anyone for that matter) were to play an detailed AAR from 272 BC to 14 AD as any faction what so ever, I would be greatly impressed.
hrrypttrbst
04-21-2008, 18:16
Good luck with the AAR and the name of this AAR is funny to:clown:
my last AAR went to 44 BC, but unfortunately got beaten by a CTD.
POST TWO - PORRECTIO
The expansion into the Italian peninsula is going well, I had changed the name of Taras to Tarentum, but I have since changed it back incase it messes up with the reforms.
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8831/82625092rx9.jpg
My next time in Italy is the traitors in Rhegion, they had a reasonably large amount of troops there, more than I did but I had slightly better quality troops so I managed to win and capture the city. I like the new options when taking over a city. Much better than the unrealistic exterminate option.
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6805/32088553aa1.jpg
The capture of the two new settlements gave my economy a much needed boost so I could afford some new troops for the invasion of Segesta.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/2305/57809320sh2.jpg
Which took place a couple of years later when I had trained another army of Camillan troops to besiege the city, the rebel army here had a unit of naked fanatics however with some competant cavalry so would pose a bigger threat. Fortunately for me however they had a lot of ligurian infantry which are pretty poor so I managed to break through them and surround the more competant troops.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/7253/80663477ww5.jpg
By 267 BC, I have sent diplomats around to gather map information and also for trade rights and alliances. You can see the change I made to the Ptolemaioi clearly now.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/1170/31512212ru2.jpg
Hope you enjoyed the update, the boring Rebel sieges should be over soon. :laugh4:
POST THREE - THE ROAD TO WAR
263 BC, I have continued the conquest of northern Italy by besieging Bononia, at the same time the Audei are begining to expand themselves. They have besieged Patavium, which will not be good for me if they take it as I will have more of a war on my hands when I come to attack the Audei for control of Cisalpine Gaul. I assualted Bononia the following turn and took the town.
https://img383.imageshack.us/img383/5818/24773808na3.jpg
The Audei assaulted Patavium shortly afterwards, but luckily for me they had lost the battle, whilst destroying half of the rebel stack there aswell, which meant that I leapt to the chance of taking the city before they recovered.
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4803/56643306kg6.jpg
I decided to starve the city out as I was sick of fighting seiges against the rebels. By 261 BC Patavium was mine.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/1105/99102284kt6.jpg
I spent the next two years building up the new land I had conquered, by 259 BC I was ready to invade Sicily. No doubt Kart-Hadast will declare war on we soon. As for Mediolanium I plan to attack it after I have Sicily and Corsica and Sardinia, I would take it sooner but I don't wan't to weaken the Audei before they expand into the rest of Gaul and let the Arverni destroy them. No doubt the upcoming war with Kart-Hadast will keep me occupied until then.
https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8045/45254415eq6.jpg
cheers for reading.
I loved your other rome AAR, and this one is already going pretty well. I like how you keep it simple and we just get to sit back and watch the natural-drama of EB unfold.
This is gonna be another exciting AAR, especially now that the preliminary conquering is almost done with.
If you get another CTD at 44bc im gonna die.
Keep up the good work!
I know that CTD was a real punch in the bollocks :embarassed:
POST FOUR - THE BATTLE FOR SICILIA
255 BC, My lands have expanded over 2 thirds of Sicily. With me owning Messana and Syrakousai, with the other side of the island still in Kart-Hadast's hands. The city had a reasonably small army so I decided to send the troops I had on Sicily there. Kart Hadast had-ended our alliance after I took Messana.
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1228/66202941zc9.jpg
However half way to the city a large stack from main land Africa arrived to meet my invasion. With two generals, both called Hamalcar.
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5355/95738393lq1.jpg
Once I loaded the battle up it was one of those annoying forest fights where you can't really keep up with what is happening very well.
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7538/31729540gi1.jpg
With the Camillan and the Polybian armies I usually line my triarii up in guard mode infront of the principes and the hastati. This is so I can hold the enemy line and give the second line time to throw their pilum and then either flank or support the triarii. The Kart-Hadastim flanked the triarii.
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/8679/82666760sn4.jpg
The still charged the triarii though. My troops were slightly better quality but I was outnumbered so it was evenly balanced.
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1966/97644470ua7.jpg
After a while they engaged the rest of their troops, they concentrated on sending big chunks of troops into either side of my army to avoid getting tangled in my triarii.
https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1152/18113722le8.jpg
You can see here the amount of troops they concentrated on one area.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8968/55083085ev0.jpg
They sent one of their generals round my flank, which turned out to be a big mistake for them, as I managed to encircle him with my unengaged infantry and cavalry. Which resulted in the death of their main general.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2922/52726784ko7.jpg
This caused a good chunk of their army to flee and also for the other Hamalcar to get killed.
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8963/10gz6.jpg
If they hadn't made the blunder of sending their general to a very risky position then they most probably would have one the battle with thier superior numbers as I was starting to get encircled.
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5539/11xm2.jpg
The survivors retreated to Lilibeo which I besieged the following turn with a general I sent over from Messana. The numbers are equal on both sides so the siege itself should be close. I plan to assault soon before more support from Africa arrives.
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4852/12sz9.jpg
QuintusSertorius
04-23-2008, 01:43
Wow, that's a lot of heavies in your armies.
Are you using BI's executable? I notice that there are Sardinian infantry in Lilibeo, something the BI AI often did was ship them and Balaeric infantry across.
Reality=Chaos
04-23-2008, 12:57
I'm really enjoying this AAR. You've set yourself a really epic task. I will be following this closely.
No im using rtw.exe for this one. I reinstalled the whole lot when I installed 1.1, but for some reason it still thinks bi is installed. So I cannot install it. Anybidy knwo how to sort this out?
POST FIVE - END OF THE FIRST PUNIC WAR
Kart-Hadast is really on the back foot now for control of Sicilia, Corsim and Sardinia. I have landed and besieged Alalia and then I assaulted Lilibeo the next turn. What I have been surprised to see is that fact that they are using navies to transport troops around. I didn't think the AI ever did that on rtw.exe
As for the siege itself I had the advantage, with a general and stronger infantry.
The armies engaged just outside the gates of the city.
https://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9379/55175485rr2.jpg
They started to break after a few minutes of fighting with few casualties for me.
https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3497/69372564sj1.jpg
Around half of their army remained, they retreated to the small alleyways near the centre of the town. This turned out to work a lot better for them as they were in a small place and couldn't be flanked.
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1621/50276449ue5.jpg
I still had much greater numbers, by this time it was nto a matter of whether or nit I would win, it was how many troops I would lose.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4578/84526893ty6.jpg
It turned out to be 219 in the end.
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/238/93485060rw7.jpg
252 BC, I have conquered the rest of the Kart-Hadasts territory in Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. This made them come to me begging for peace, again something I have rarely seen before, the AI usually holds a serious grudge to the grave.
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/213/94263224tt8.jpg
The next year in 251 BC, I have decided it is time to build up an army capable of taking Mediolanium from the Audei and to defend it from their inevitable backlash.
https://img128.imageshack.us/img128/471/26716207sv9.jpg
neice begining..I like it. But why not use the skirmishers and accensi the romani have? I mean, they aren't the world's best, but they are actually very usseful in sieges. maybe that's why losses are high.
QuintusSertorius
04-23-2008, 20:33
Get some Accensi with upgraded weapons and a little experience, and they become quite dangerous. Especially useful in sieges in thinning out their skirmishers and even heavies before you create a breach. Or better yet get some Gallic or Balaeric slingers.
hmm true, but I am not a big fan of missile troops and skirmishers. Especially horse archers. I much prefer to fight with lots of infantry and spearmen. It suits my style of play much better.
CaesarAugustus
04-23-2008, 21:47
No im using rtw.exe for this one. I reinstalled the whole lot when I installed 1.1, but for some reason it still thinks bi is installed. So I cannot install it. Anybidy knwo how to sort this out?
Perhaps this (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=43162) would help.
QuintusSertorius
04-24-2008, 00:16
hmm true, but I am not a big fan of missile troops and skirmishers. Especially horse archers. I much prefer to fight with lots of infantry and spearmen. It suits my style of play much better.
I likes my infantry too (have never used horse archers), but lights are every bit as necessary as line/heavies. Plus they're great for chasing down routers. I often have my skirmishers empty their stores, then hide behind the main line where they can turn flanker or chaser, depending on how the battle is going.
POST SIX - THE GAME GETS GOING
With all of the nearby rebel towns taken, the game was starting to liven up. I decided it was time to take Mediolanium around 250 BC, the Audei took most of their troops off to Gaul to fight their constant wars with the Arverni, leaving the city in the hands of around 600 men. A situation which I leapt upon. They sallied forth with a small reinforcing army, leading to a relatively easy battle.
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6143/31574717bj6.jpg
Manius Cornelius Blasio was my faction heir so I wanted to give him some valuable fighting experience as it helps for the senatorial traits.
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2513/31685764cw2.jpg
Once I had the settlement, I decided to play down the years till the Polybian reforms and not to start any more wars until then.
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5240/16402610ro1.jpg
Unfortunately for me however I didn't have a choice when the green giant that is Epiros kept invading Patavium, it appears they have most of Greece and Illyria by now and are sending progressively tougher armies my way.
I have managed to marry one of my generals daughters to Caius Junius Brutus, hopefully this will remain a line in my family for the rest of the game as it will be cool to have a Marcus Junius Brutus later on.
The reforms may be in but I slowly need to upgrade all of my barracks before I can train the new units all over Italy. At the moment only 1 or 2 towns can train them.
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8093/30146396cq0.jpg
This will be the last battle in which the Camillan troops fight on their own, slowly the Polybian troops will take over with the Camillans becoming less and less common. The positioning of the Epirot army here is either an AI masterstroke (as if!) or a good luck. The fact that they had the trees behind them meant that I couldn't use my cavalry to full effect as the trees would mess up their charge and be less powerful, so I kept my cavalry in reserve to guard my own flank.
https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2974/40129939aj2.jpg
thankfully the men of Camillus did me proud, they held their ground mostly and won a very close battle, it looked as if I had lost at one point when a good amount of my army broke. But the braver ones fought out what turned out to be the toughest battle of this save so far.
https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1245/33910367uc5.jpg
Chirurgeon
04-27-2008, 00:51
nice update Lord. You look like you have your hands full with Epirus. Ive never seen them do much more than take the Dalmation coast.
QuintusSertorius
04-27-2008, 13:48
Bloody hell, look at Epeiros!
I have exams coming up (A levels) so I will unfortunatley have to spend less time on EB, I will still be playing it, but just less.
POST SEVEN - EPIROT WAR 242-234 BC
The Epirots were really starting to get on my nerves, sending a stack every other turn to Patavium and they had also started blockading my ports in Italy, which was beginning to do my economy a lot of damage as I was training armies and fleets round the clock to hold off their continuos invasions.
When the war began I mostly had Camillan units, with the Polybians just starting to come through. As it progressed however my barracks were upgraded one by one which led to a newly recruited Polybian army being trained the central Italian cities. Led by two young generals from Rome, I planned to sail across to the Epirots capital at Ambrakia and sack as many settlements as possible, to weaken them and hopefully stop them from attacking me.
Fortunately central Greece was lightly defended with the bulk of the enemy troops up north fighting either me or the Getai, if the other greek states had any sense they would invade but they seem to be busy enough fighting Pontos and Arche Seleucia in the East. I managed to sack 3 settlements in Central Greece then abandoned them to whoever they woudl rebel too, which mostly turned out to be the Koinon Hellenon.
I decided that I would take two towns and keep them aswell in Illyria, Segestica and Dalminion. All of my raiding had caused the Epirots to send what seemed like every army they possessed towards me however, resulting in several large battles for control of Illyria.
https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1204/18077664am1.jpg
Many of the enemy units were either Levies or Mercenaries which both gave me an advantage and also showed that Epirus was struggling in the war.
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9783/90660759wp4.jpg
This war was important as I did not want a huge superpower next door to me and I especially didn't want half of the other Hellenic factions wiped out. (by someone other than me:laugh4: )
https://img113.imageshack.us/img113/1464/66949364pa2.jpg
This was one of those battles which is very difficult to keep things in order and is generally much easier to just charge your units in all over the place. The number of phalanxes incoming was slightly unsettling however. Fortunately I had a lot of cavalry to counter them.
https://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2050/34202240kx8.jpg
Which is why I deliberately kept my cavalry out of combat until they arrived. Once engaged they made the difference for me, without them I most likely would have lost.
https://img73.imageshack.us/img73/3359/44185290oa0.jpg
At the end of the battle the number of dead was over 2000.
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8573/28604673yf2.jpg
This battle was decisive in the Epirot war.
https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8428/71222662xm6.jpg
Soon after that battle in 234 BC, I recieved a plea for a ceasefire from Epirus. Bringing the war that had lasted 8 years to an end. I had clearly dealt them a heavy blow as they lost several cities to Rome, the Koinon Hellenon and Macedon, as well as their capital being sacked along with several other major cities.
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2554/15663276tv7.jpg
I was now free to begin my invasion if the Balearic Isles and western Iberia, I had sent an expedition a few years ago but it was unfortunately sunk by pirates. Killing a 18 year old family member in the process.
hrrypttrbst
05-01-2008, 08:29
very good story!!
argh I have encountered another game breaker, I installed bi and Alex to try and get EB working on alex.exe, but now for some strange reason when I load my rtw.exe save (still on the unmodded 1.1 with no changes) it just loads back to the main menu. Anyone have any ideas whats wrong with it? All I have odn eis install bi and alex which are in different folders to EB...
hrrypttrbst
05-03-2008, 21:14
Did you get EB working with Alex.exe?So yes, you maybe forgot to make it back for Rometw.exe
No I havnt changed any files or anything, All I did was installed bi and alex but before I changed anything I realised that my save would no longer work.
This happened to me a long while ago when I was still playing Vanilla RTW. The only way I could fix it was by copying my save files to a backup folder and then un- and re-installing RTW. You may have to do the same. Everything worked fine after the reinstall, including my old saves.
QuintusSertorius
05-03-2008, 23:01
Yep, when I switched to BI, and back to RTW again, the only thing that worked was a clean uninstall-reinstall. It's safer that way anyway.
:no: I guess I will do it if I get a chance tomorrow.
cheers for the help.
ive totaly reinstalled rtw +eb, still not working. I guess I will start again and play down to 232 BC and continue from there. Thank god it happened early on.
This AAR is likely to return in a couple of weeks.
QuintusSertorius
05-04-2008, 13:55
Before you do that, what I always do when starting again after a reinstallation is make sure I start a new campaign (just start it and activate the script, then quit the game and restart) before trying to load an old save.
I just tried at and it still wont work. I have the worst luck in the world....
QuintusSertorius
05-04-2008, 14:36
I just tried at and it still wont work. I have the worst luck in the world....
Damn. Well you're more than welcome to use my savegame (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1901271&postcount=9) at 250BC if you like, which will give you a head start.
I'm very grateful Quintus, but I cant stand huge unit size with sieges. I will just auto resolve the first few battles or starve the rebels out which should take around 20 odd years so I don't really mind.
My new campaign is under way, I have found out how to import the textures from the Roma Surrectum campaign map to the EB campaign map after some problems at first (the map was bright pink at one stage). I got it working in the end however. Here's a picture :
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6200/97328349hn0.jpg
Chirurgeon
05-05-2008, 03:38
Holy Fecal matter batman that map looks so real. It has such an organic feel to it!!
haha yeh, it was worth the 30 mins it took for me to get it working. :laugh4:
I've had a few hours to play down the turns in the last couple of days, so I'm down to 242 BC, so I should be able to continue this AAR much sooner than expected as I only have 10 years left before I am back to where I was. Only this time with the improvements of the new campaign map textures I put in and the Alex.exe
Thanks for sticking with this long enough for me to get back on track.
um I have a question , are you playing on VH-M difficulty? cause I started mine with H-M but it looks like I'm the only faction moving on... all the others seem to just sit there, and your campaing seems interesting :2thumbsup:
great AAR btw
I play on h/m, the ai gets a shed load of bonuses on vh. It also takes a while for the ai to get going and start expanding into rebel territory.
Vasiliyi
05-09-2008, 23:44
Can't wait till this aar is back! I've enjoyed it so far and I have to say I love reading roman aar's, although I have read a quite a few other good ones. Great aar! Hurry back!
POST EIGHT - THE BALEARIC ISLES
Seems as its been a while since my last post and this is a new campaign game, I thought I would update everyone on the situation in this new game. I have made it as accurate to my previous game as possible without cheating and I control exactly the same land at the same year as before. Which is All of Italy, Cisalpine Gaul, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Ilyyria.
In Gaul the Audei seem to have the upper hand at the moment as they are taking the rebel settlements whilst the Arverni seem content to do nothing. In the east the AS seems to be doing remarkably good for a change, they have most the coast of the holy land and also took Salamis, they have the Ptolemaioi pretty much boxed up in Egypt, further east and the Pahlava are expanding well into AS territory however and Baktria and Saka Rauka are expanding. Most of the other factions are just slowly expanding into rebel territories before they will start fighting each other (or me)
It is 232 BC, I have decided it is time to begin my expansion further ashore, in particular on the east of Iberia, hopefully before the Karthadastim take it. Before I do that however I need a base to retreat too if things go badly and also one to supply it with quicker reinforcements than it would take to ship Italian troops across. The Balearic Isles are a perfect choice for this purpose so I trained a tough stack in Italy and sent them across the Ocean to take the town, which I doubted would be very heavily defended.
https://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9995/48630649kp3.jpg
Upon arriving on the Island in the winter on 232 BC, I discovered that I was right and only one unit was guarding the town, there was however two Karthadastim fleets nearby so I had to sink them in order to prevent reinforcements from Iberia or Africa, luckily I had trained the best ships available to me in Capua.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5192/67820309iq1.jpg
The following turn I took the Isles. I now plan to spend several years building it up to a level upon which it can supply both ships and troops for my invasion of Arse.
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9698/96405732rw9.jpg
Very interesting progression thus far with your expansion - I've never had much success with military expansion in the Balaerics, and the Recruitment Viewer doesn't indicate there are many options there (Celtic Lesser King with a level 5 Native MIC and otherwise post-Marian units, but nothing else), so while it provides a good naval power location, I don't think you'll find it helps you much in building up troops for your Iberian campaign (other than possibly some mercenary slingers?)
With your eastern front calm for the moment, do you plan to withdraw the bulk of that Army to Italy to retrain (and provide a home defense force, just in case the Aedui get aggressive?)? It doesn't appear you have much in the way of garrisons for Italy at the moment?
Good luck!
Yes I usually have a competent army in Italy to defend from invaders or rebels, I am currently retraining most of my troops however because of the reforms.
Bochorris doesn't offer very many levy troops but it is still a shelter and a good supply of ships and also is a good trading outpost once it is built up.
Illian the Mediocre
05-11-2008, 16:58
[QUOTE=thelord]I have found out how to import the textures from the Roma Surrectum campaign map to the EB
Where/How did you find out? I love the look of those textures and i'd like to do the same thing. Is there a thread somewhere explaining how? If not could you start one please, that'd be really cool.
Thanks...Oh and an excellent AAR :yes:
I found out on the .net forums in the sub mods section, I won't start a thread here as I don't want to take credit for someone elses work but I will post how to do it in this thread:
Make sure you back up the files before switching them.
1) Install Roma Surrectum - be careful as it breaks rtw and is not compatible with other mods, what I did was copy all of the vanilla rtw folders and files into a new section and installed Roma Surrectum there so it did not affect EB.
2) Go to RS/Data and copy descr_aerial_map_ground_types.txt
3) Paste it into EB/Data
4) Go to RS/Data/terrain/aerial_map/ground_types and copy every file in there.
5) Delete every file in EB/Data/terrain/aerial_map/ground_types and paste the copied RS files in.
6) Open up the RS descr_aerial_map_ground_types.txt in the EB data folder and infront of every word with .tga on the end paste this in front of it : ../../../../eb/data/terrain/aerial_map/ground_types/ in front of every tga file name in descr_aerial_map_ground_types.txt. Note Do not fill in your drive or the exact direction in ../../../../ because it makes the map right pink!
Hope that works for you.
Illian the Mediocre
05-12-2008, 09:22
Thanks for the quick response. I'll try this out as soon as I can. Seems worth it I was really impressed with those textures.
Thanks again. :verycool:
QuintusSertorius
05-12-2008, 13:16
Very interesting progression thus far with your expansion - I've never had much success with military expansion in the Balaerics, and the Recruitment Viewer doesn't indicate there are many options there (Celtic Lesser King with a level 5 Native MIC and otherwise post-Marian units, but nothing else), so while it provides a good naval power location, I don't think you'll find it helps you much in building up troops for your Iberian campaign (other than possibly some mercenary slingers?)
With your eastern front calm for the moment, do you plan to withdraw the bulk of that Army to Italy to retrain (and provide a home defense force, just in case the Aedui get aggressive?)? It doesn't appear you have much in the way of garrisons for Italy at the moment?
Good luck!
In fairness you don't really need the Balearics from a military perspective; the AI will rarely invade it so it's more about the big boost it gives to your economy. Whatever mercs there are is more than enough garrison-wise. Same goes for Sardinia, which only has it's native troops and mercenary slingers.
There's no need to withdraw armies to Italy if you replace reinforcements by merging detachments. Ship them out and have them sitting in nearby settlements ready to be deployed when you've fought a few battles.
QS - I know it's not historically accurate to do it this way (bringing units back to Italy to 'retrain'), and that your suggestion of bringing new replcements from Italy to "the front" to merge into existing units is the way it was done most likely, but in the "game" world don't you lose experience levels by merging units?
I'm not sure, doesn't bother me to tell you the truth. :beam:
POST NINE - FIRST MACEDONIAN WAR
After my blitzing of the Epirots the Macedonians took most of central Greece pushing them to the north. Unfortunately for me however their expansion didn't end there, they decided to was time to invade Dalminion (wow that was familiar:laugh4: ) Also the first faction was destroyed this turn, the Seleucid's are an eastern superpower and have wiped out Pontos, I don't mind as I would like to fight the AS in the future as I never have before.
https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6033/83764805ov8.jpg
You can just see Macedon's invasion in this picture, fortunately the forts I built held out long enough for me to ship some troops out from Italy to meet the invasion. Once they arrived however the Macedonians decided to withdraw most of their troops to Epidamnos, I did manage to besiege a small force in one of my forts which they captured.
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4528/18045970ts1.jpg
Once I had taken the fort back I sent the stack down to Epidamnos to besiege it and hopefully sack it to teach them a lesson.
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9392/96731864tx6.jpg
However before I could assault a reinforcing army attacked me, the winner of this battle would get the city.
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7236/15098886ok6.jpg
The two armies attempted to attack me on both flanks at the same time, I had a good amount of cavalry, spearmen and infantry, which was bound to give me an advantage.
https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/3397/96289127iy7.jpg
I like the look of the Hyspaspists, their shield design ion particular looks brilliant, they have my principes a tough fight aswell.
https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/2369/97371350xy5.jpg
A good portion of one of the armies was of local levies, which are no match for trained Roman principes.
https://img381.imageshack.us/img381/3139/73644877xn3.jpg
After a long battle which involved chasing a lot of skirmishers I managed to win.
https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9458/96409563ad5.jpg
This victory gave me control of Epidamnos, which I sacked straight away, enslaving the population and destroying every building. Another Macedonian stack was sent at me as I withdrawed to Illyria, which I again defeated. The Greek States will never defeat me in battle when they only send local troops and light phalanxes with only 1 or 2 competant units.
https://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3153/65062166jd2.jpg
By 226 BC I sent a diplomat to Macedon and secured a ceasefire, ending the 5 year long war, there was no clear winner really as no permanent gain in territory occurred for either side and both sides lost considerable amounts of cash and troops.
In the East the AS seems to be getting stronger and stronger, as they have no wiped out the Hayasdan as well! I think I will have to send a diplomat out there to find out exactly what is going on.
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/866/10km7.jpg
CaesarAugustus
05-12-2008, 21:32
What a surprise it would be if you sent a diplomat and found out it was actually the Yellow Death who had eaten up the Seleucids along with Pontos and Hayasdan... actually, I wouldn't be surprised :sweatdrop: ... and regarding QuintusSertorius's comment about the Balearic Isles never being invaded, there was a point in my 1.0 campaign where I was suffering near-yearly invasions of the Isles by Kart-Hadast... strange...:juggle2:
QuintusSertorius
05-12-2008, 22:13
QS - I know it's not historically accurate to do it this way (bringing units back to Italy to 'retrain'), and that your suggestion of bringing new replcements from Italy to "the front" to merge into existing units is the way it was done most likely, but in the "game" world don't you lose experience levels by merging units?
Depends how big your losses are, but often you do.
I don't mind, personally, it's not like the legions of old were permanent standing forces anyway. Even though veterans were often mobilised repeatedly, there wasn't much by way of knowledge transfer, only long service together would turn them into an efficient force.
Back in terms of gameplay, it makes battles a little harder by not slowly being able to build up stacks of many-chevron-ed veterans. Plus it does allow your armies to venture much further from home without having to worry about how you're going to ship an entire army from an active front home.
Illian the Mediocre
05-13-2008, 16:20
Only problem being that you'll have to send your reinforcements well protected or you risk losing them, do you really want to send a whole army everytime you want to reinforce old troops. Actually yes, this would be my preferred way of doing it. If you can afford to have that number of men running around. Still less risk of losing a newly conquered province if you had to send your men home to retrain.
QuintusSertorius
05-13-2008, 17:56
Send them by ship; you don't need a whole army, just a unit for each set depleted. I usually only send replacements for the Roman core, replacing the allied bits with local troops. In Spain I'm slowly replacing the Bruttians and Samnites with Spanish troops, for example.
Why wouldn't you be able to afford it? In my game I've got three full stacks active, plus reinforcements even after losing several provinces (including one homeland, core one in Capua).
POST TEN - ARSE & THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND PUNIC WAR
221 BC, Arse is still controlled by rebels, so I decided that I should expand there sooner rather than later, as it would not start any wars and I could build up on the peninsula before I had to fight any major wars over there. Also I sent a diplomat to the AS to see how much land they controlled, and they are absolutely huge! I'm actually quite glad at this as I am sick of fighting the Ptolemaioi.
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/381/57901019ya1.jpg
Once I had taken the city I decided to build it up for a while before starting any trouble with the Lusotanians and Carthaginians. However my arrival on the Iberian Peninsula aroused a lot of suspision amongst them and they sent an army each several years after I took they city. Luckily I had sent 2 legions over for the invasion with a 3rd on the way.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8743/88237717sv1.jpg
Thankfully it didn't come to having to defend Arse from the other occupants of Iberia, they seemed to be heading for Emporion to the north. However since my arrival Kart-Hadast kept making demands of money and territory of me with threats of war. I kept deciding to call their bluffs and they didn't act on their threats, however I was sending more troops over to begin the second punic war and take Mastia.
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4347/80651982nt2.jpg
Once my latest legion arrived in the region, under the command of a young aristocrat from Roma, I decided to declare war of Kart-Hadast. They had two very large armies in the area so things were reasonably balanced.
https://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1232/89709454yu4.jpg
It was the classic scenario of numbers vs skilled troops. The fact that the first army charged without waiting for the 2000 odd troops behind them was idiotic though.
https://img161.imageshack.us/img161/207/91215377av2.jpg
If my army has some triarii in it then I place them infront of 2 lines of infantry units, I put them in guard mode which makes them extremely tough, almost like a phalanx.
https://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8513/13093436wt3.jpg
As the battle goes on however, I have to engage the supporting infantry to defend the flanks or to attack the enemies rear.
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2549/37084902wo4.jpg
After a while the 1st army pulled back to join the second one, so I advanced forward to face the remainder of the Carthaginian force.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6269/35419789dz8.jpg
They were split up all over the place and the rest of the battle was merely mopping up the remainder of the enemy force, I lost just over 600 troops in the battle, compared to 2000 for Kart-Hadast. A Crushing defeat which earned me a famous battle site on the map and also the opportunity to march south to Mastia.
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8931/11lf9.jpg
hrrypttrbst
05-15-2008, 20:40
Very cool that you destroyed the two carthaginian army's and it truly was a crushing defeat for them.
POST ELEVEN - BATTLE FOR MASTIA
Shortly after the outbreak of the second punic war in Iberia, I sent a stack with a promising 19 year old general in charge south to begin to apply pressure of the Karthadastim by Mastia, which the AI has for some reason made their capital, even though it is towards the edge of the area they control and not in the middle like it usually is. Anyway they had another stack inside the city with some capable troops in, I am particularly impressed with the Iberian Heavy infantry who managed to chop a big chunk out of some principes in a previous battle. I hope to inflict as much damage on them before/in case the elite phalanxes turn up.
My army came into contact with Bisaltes, the Carthaginian faction leader. Alongside his army of over 1500 men. My army had just under 1400 so again things were balanced. Bisaltes also had 8 command stars compared to my junior generals 1. However mine had a perfect record so far. With one battle fought and one heroic victory. His name is Publius Sergius Paulus.
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2830/29335680ux8.jpg
The battle was generally one of those that I really enjoy, with little or no skirmishers or horse archers, it was basically one huge infantry clash of around 3000 soldiers with several cavalry units supporting. The Carthaginians had the advantage here however with two family members with around 100 of their extremely tough bodyguards.
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4161/41707627pt2.jpg
The reinforcing Carthaginian general died fairly early on in the battle, however Bisaltes was proving much stronger and more reluctant to perform the suicidal attack on the front of my entire army that the AI so loves to perform and effectively lose the battle for itself.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/477/75865969lq0.jpg
You can see here how long the infantry had been engaged with the amount of fallen soldiers on the ground beneath the still fighting troops. The Carthaginian troops here are the Iberian Heavy infantry as well which also helps explain why they held for so long, eventually however they broke when there was too few surviving to pose much of a threat. Bisaltes himself escaped sadly, having withdrawn to Mastia. Which I was now able to besiege following this victory.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7759/75430752bd8.jpg
Before I could assault the city however, a last ditch attempt to force me to withdraw to Arse was launched. It was a pretty feeble attempt which merely enabled me to capture the city quicker as Bisaltes was captured and executed in this battle, and the final resistance in Mastia was destroyed.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5262/34061953xd8.jpg
In a few years time I plan to attempt to take Gader and force the Karthadastim off of the Iberian Peninsula. In the meantime however I need to build up my latest conquests so that they can supply me with local levies in order to bolster my fastly depleting ranks.
https://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9066/73101461xo0.jpg
Africanvs
05-16-2008, 01:30
Nice start to the second punic war. What's with that Iberian army in your territory? Surely Roman law cannot tolerate such a force foraging for food and harrying the locals in her lands. :)
General Appo
05-16-2008, 07:47
Nice work. Hopefully you won´t ever have to worry about the Seleukids, the Pahlava might just eat them up before that.
satalexton
05-16-2008, 07:57
I was wondering how did you add that nice looking skin onto the world map =3
I want something like that too.
Illian the Mediocre
05-16-2008, 10:52
He told me how to do it on the second page of this thread near the bottom.
Unless you mean something else
Yes I explained how to several pages back, about the Iberian army Africanvs, I am allied to them so I can allow it, also I don't really fancy a three way war being started. :juggle2:
QuintusSertorius
05-16-2008, 16:38
I'm surprised you make do with so few skirmishers, who do you use to kill routing troops? Do you have to pretty immediately attack in every battle to get to grips with the enemy?
Cavalry to kill routing troops, my infantrys pila more than make up for the skirmishers.
how did u make the map fully visible
QuintusSertorius
05-16-2008, 23:06
Cavalry to kill routing troops, my infantrys pila more than make up for the skirmishers.
Your infantry have two; most skirmisher have three or four times as many javelins (even if not AP ones). They're not fast either and your cavalry can't be everywhere.
Africanvs
05-17-2008, 03:17
Yes I explained how to several pages back, about the Iberian army Africanvs, I am allied to them so I can allow it, also I don't really fancy a three way war being started. :juggle2:
Ah I see, alright then. :)
how did u make the map fully visible
In campaign press ~ to bring up rome shell, then type toggle_fow and hit enter.
Your infantry have two; most skirmisher have three or four times as many javelins (even if not AP ones). They're not fast either and your cavalry can't be everywhere.
True, but they do more than enough IMO. I would rather have 2 extra infantry units than two skirmishers who are next to useless in combat.
As for cavalry, 3 units including the generals bodyguard can usually kill most of a routing army.
POST TWELVE - SECOND MACEDONIAN WAR
203 BC, the republic is growing more and more powerful with the recent conquest of the eastern coast of Iberia, I did plan to take Gader as soon as possible however the Lusotanians beat me too it and took it first. I do not plan to start a war with them just yet, otherwise I will be drawn into two different wars on two fronts, as the Macedonians had just declared war on me again.
The have been expanding at a alarming rate recently, which was surprising as Epiros was the toughest faction in Greece until recently, however they never really recovered from my sacking of several of their major cities which opened the door for the Macedonians. They didn't seem content with kicking Epiros out of Greece however as they pursued them alongside the coast of the black sea and eventually destroyed them.
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6314/31020460eu3.jpg
Their destruction of Epiros didn't seem to satisfy their lust for conquest however as they began a mass invasion of Dalminion straight away. The first Macedonian war was ended rather quickly as they were much weaker, but now they are much stronger and something told me that this would not be a war that would be ended quickly.
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/201/20879016rv3.jpg
Dalminion was overun, there was no chance I could win the battles their as I was vastly outnumbered, so I decided to land an army from Italy next to Epidamnos and besiege it in the hope that it would draw away the armies in Dalminion. It worked, but my army now had to face off against 2000 Macedonian troops.
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8388/74048003jj4.jpg
Unfortunately for Macedon however, it was another pathetic army of levies and it was easily beaten.
https://img371.imageshack.us/img371/7305/29821428ej7.jpg
Following that victory however, Macedon began to throw its full strength at me, with large stacks pouring into my lands, I had besieged Epidamnos the previous turn but before I could assault, a reinforcing army turned up to challenge me. This army possessed better quality troops, but I had the numerical advantage, so I managed to rout the enemy army and capture the city.
https://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2001/50169983tc5.jpg
But still that was not the end of it, by 202 BC, 6 land battles had been fought over Epidamnos, which left me in command of the city, but Macedon would not relent in sending its stacks of progressively stronger troops, coupled with the fact that I was fast running out of troops meant that I was beginning to feel the strain.
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2616/85780196th6.jpg
I was forced to keep up constant recruitment in every Italian city south of Bononia to supply me with enough troops to continue to batter back the invading Macedonians. I was finally seeing some close battles which are so much more fun than the routs I had previously been experiencing. Some of the battles were large 4000 men clashed, while others were smaller skirmishers when reinforcements arrived on the coast and were challenged before they could join up with the bulk of my forces.
https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2192/98754287fo4.jpg
I was still having success in the war, though I did lose Dalminion for a period of a year at one point.
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9577/16082240vq1.jpg
By 201 BC, they showed no signs of giving in and I was still being besieged every other turn by a fresh stack, it became clear that I would have to counter attack Macedon to get anywhere in this war.
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/121/59424522nr0.jpg
Epidamnos was besieged several times, but this was the first time that it had ended up with Macedon assaulting, as my reinforcements usually forced them back, however I had ran out of troops to send over for the time being and had to depend on the army I already in the city to defend it. You can see here the amount of pila that my infantry threw into the gateway as they poured in.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6076/10it0.jpg
Perhaps they would have been better off splitting their force up and attacking me from different angles, but they chose to concentrate all their force at one gateway, which ended up with a very long battle which ended up with a bloodbath at the gateway. It is nearly impossible to win a siege against a large amount of defenders this way, and that was proved again today.
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1092/11rj5.jpg
With their constant invasions that were repeatedly beaten back, Macedon had fallen into the trap of over extending themselves, they had used up most of their troops in attacking me. Before they could retrain their armies and try again I had to move south and try and take Ambrakia, the former capital of Epiros.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2685/12fg7.jpg
The city was defended by a small but elite force of Macedonian homeland troops, who put up a very good fight in what turned out to be a hard fought battle for the city, but it was not enough and Roma was victorious once again.
https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7951/13go5.jpg
This added Ambrakia to the lands I now controlled, Patavium had revolted several turns previously but I took it back relatively easily.
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4091/14zl7.jpg
As a result of the defence of western Greece, my general who had won many battles against Macedon, was awarded a triumph, becoming the 3rd general of this campaign to receive one and also the youngest, at only 19 (previous victors were the general who led the first punic war and the conqueror of eastern Iberia) so I sent him back to Roma to celebrate. I plan to leave him there for a while and gain some management experience. His replacement in Greece is a young 16 year old with a lot of potential, he may well be my future reformer if things go well, he certainly has some of the required traits already.
He fought his first battle against Macedon near Thermon on a very hilly battlefield with eagles flying above the armies whilst they clashed.
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5518/15jg3.jpg
POST THIRTEEN - IBERIAN EXPANSION
191 BC. Following the second punic war I have decided it is time to begin my mass expansion into Iberia, the Lusotani have began invading Southern Gaul with some success which shows that they are increasing in strength, it also means that the bulk of their forces are in Gaul so the time was right for me to strike their cities in southern Iberia.
https://img390.imageshack.us/img390/945/18118660xy1.jpg
The Second Macedonian war cost me nearly 500000 mnai and it pushed my troops to breaking point with the sheer amount of troops coming in. So I had to sue for peace whilst I fight in Iberia, which would be otherwise impossible. It however forced me to pay regular tribute to Macedon of 5000 mnai per turn so they do not start attacking me again.
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1122/27476848kh4.jpg
Once I had begun the war, I managed to take the southern city of Baikor before Lusotana could start recalling their troops in Gaul to deal with my invasion. Unfortunately they soon starting coming south and by 188 BC it was clear that I had one hell of a fight on my hands.
https://img390.imageshack.us/img390/6457/73836822gd2.jpg
I had two very young but talented generals in Iberia, the rest of my family members there are governors. So I split my forces into two sections, in the south my potential reformer would lead his army to besiege and take Iberian cities, whilst in the North my other army also led by a potential reformer would have to defend the land from the mass of enemy troops moving south to try and defend from my sieges and also to stop any armies trying to invade land that was already mine.
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2055/47353058jn0.jpg
There were many land battles between the two armies, both victories and defeats. I had to move newly recruited local levies to the depleted armies quite often as the Italian troops were whittled down, but often they were ambushed before they could join the main forces and defeated.
In 187 BC, I besieged the Iberian capital Sucum-Murgi, and assaulted the turn afterwards with 3 sap points constructed.
https://img390.imageshack.us/img390/1139/18670236cj5.jpg
I employed a tactic I often use in assaulted stone-walled cities, which involves using 3 sap points, I prefer sap points to ladders, towers or rams because ladders and towers often receive huge casualties against strong defenders and if the ram breachers the gates the boiling oil causes huge damage.
https://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9146/38058464px9.jpg
Once the 3 sap points have been used, I use around half of my infantry to attack each of the 3 points, I don't engage all of them as it would tire the entire army out and also the towers and defenders missiles would cause more damage.
https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7746/96700880fx7.jpg
The theory is that the defenders have to stretch their defences and also if at one of the points the defenders rout, my surviving troops can then go and flank the enemy at the other sap points.
https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1376/40330961lg5.jpg
The Lusotani possess some very tough infantry, that in some cases is superior to the Polybian roman troops, at one of the sap points this was shown with my troops taking much more casualties.
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5183/17577264gl2.jpg
Fortunately at one of the sap points the defenders were less able, which caused them to rout and I could then begin to flank.
https://img383.imageshack.us/img383/7010/10uk4.jpg
This contrasted with one of the other sap points, where my troops were clearly beaten and fled.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2966/11vl3.jpg
Once they got wind of my flanking troops they had to engage the remainder of their own troops.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/2503/12vu9.jpg
Once the walls and surrounding area has been cleared, it means that I can send forward the second half of my infantry to assault the centre of the settlement.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9394/13dj1.jpg
Once the fight for the centre begins, I move my cavalry around the defenders and then charge their flanks.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/1476/14ci7.jpg
The city was finally mine after a long battle, there was a large amount of Roman casualties, which unfortunately is unavoidable in a siege against tough defenders.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/8584/15ci0.jpg
By 186 BC, the war was still going on more than ever, all of Lusotani's strength was now focused upon me, I desperately need to ship some more Italian troops out to Iberia before I am overun by the Lusotani. In the meantime I have to rely on mercenaries and local levies to uphold my war effort. I have besieged the former Carthaginian city Gader in the hope of keeping the enemy stacks away from my cities.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/7453/16le7.jpg
this AAR is great
but just a question , where you able to use the alex.exe?
cause I'm not sure If I should try to do it with mine:dizzy2:
I was, but they said it was save compatible but it wasn't for me, so be careful there. I hardly notice any difference between any of the .exes to be honest, I have never had a naval invasion on alex. but I did have several weak ones on bi. The only notable difference on Alex.exe for me is that the battles are smoother.
Thanks for the praise aswell.
how smooth?? cause I only have 1 gb RAM memory so well I'm a little limited whit it so any significant speed upgrade would be sweet
hmmm, it depends sometimes it looks brilliant but others it seems the same.
If you are worried about it messing your game up then I wouldn't bother as it isn't worth it. If your starting a new save then go for it. I have 1280 MB RAM so only a little more than you, the script moderation does wonders for turn time so perhaps try that?
I alredy have the script :2thumbsup: it does do wonders, but not enough , my objective is to be able to play with huge unit sizes and high unit detail and stuff... (perhaps I'll buy more ram they aren very expensive anymore)
just a final question :sweatdrop:
how did you reverted to the original RTW.exe?
in case I dont like alex.
cheers:2thumbsup:
Erm, I think when you change the target line to get alex working just save the rtw one in a notepad or something so you can easily switch them back.
Alex.exe requires lots of file changes however.
QuintusSertorius
05-22-2008, 16:56
Ha! You've overtaken my AAR time-wise. That's what I get having a long break being busy, I'm only up to 208BC in mine.
haha nice, its not a competition ;)
Also the amount of micromanagement and diplomacy must slow you down somewhat. And secondly I play I have been playing EB far more than necessary lately. :laugh4:
POST FOURTEEN - BREAKTHROUGH
186 BC, Iberia has been in a state of constant war for 5 years now, with thousands dead on both sides. Including one of my 3 potential Marian reformers. The other two main generals were continuing the same strategy before, in the North defend, and in the south attack. Tiberius Papirus Paetus is Roma's most talented general, having commanded in around 15 battles to date. He's not far off 'seeing the elephant' and has just started being elected to the lower senatorial offices, so I can see it very likely that he will be my Marius. I know its 70 odd years before the reforms really happened but I love the Marian troops so the sooner the better I reckon.
The Lusotani were beginning to feel the strain of their war with me, and the financial consequences with the amount of troops they have trained recently, they appear to be bankrupt as they are not training any troops whatsoever now and are having to rely on their rapidly depleting armies. They have 5 towns remaining in Iberia and the former Carthaginian colony of Gader was under threat, being cut off from the rest of their lands after the capture of Sucum-Murgi. The defenders were utterly slaughtered in a large battle just outside the city, in which I deployed Cannae style tactics to defeat the enemy and capture the city.
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3119/58371933mh3.jpg
This victory earned another famous battle marker and also gained my general a trait which I have never seen or earned before. It must be a 1.1 addition.
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4283/83213983sz5.jpg
The war was not a straight road to victory however, as the Lusotana retook Sucum-Murgi in winter 186 BC, however I had the troops nearby that it would take to retake the city. Nevertheless it severely slowed down my plans as I was halfway through launching an invasion on their capital, Oxtraca.
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1121/92988467vm5.jpg
I retook Sucum-Murgi in 185 BC, from then on it became clear that I had won the war, Lusotana simply lacked the funds and troops to defend itself from me anymore, as I had shipped out another 40 cohorts (a cohort in this is 1 unit of troops) from Italy. Lusotana was overrun. I planned to use my two armies to besiege both Oxtraca and Velika at the same time. However several desperate attacks were launched on my northern army with the few remaining enemy troops.
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1239/58643840ou9.jpg
These were easily put down however and only really slowed me down by a season or two.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3811/84345941bp0.jpg
This particular victory gave me control of Numantia.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7149/25037842dh0.jpg
With the fall of Numantia in 184 BC I set my plan to attack two cities at once into action.
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1695/72613822mc1.jpg
More desperate attacks were launched, but they were becoming weaker and weaker each time.
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9135/31109470sw0.jpg
By 183 BC, both Oxtraca and Velika had fallen, which had boxed the Lusotana into the north western corner of Iberia, I had utterly crushed them in the war, but it was not an easy victory, I had lost over 50 cohorts in the war and a young general over a total of around 25 land battles, not to mention all the money it cost for all the troops used. Also the Lusotana infantry posed the biggest threat to my armies in this entire campaign, outranking anything the Hellenic powers had thrown at me previously.
After winning the war I made the Lusotana a vassal of Roma, it seems that they would prefer it to utter destruction, and I am happy to let them have their 2 remaining cities for now.
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4006/23980807py9.jpg
I plan to now spend around 10 years building up my treasury and preparing for another war, the conquest of Macedonia and southern Greece. I am still 14 territories away from meeting the requirements of the reforms, (it says 33 here but in fact I have 31, the other 2 are my vassals) so Greece is my next target for expansion and then after that it will be time for the third punic war and the invasion of Africa.
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4107/10uz5.jpg
have you tried to go to start>all programs>EB>configuration and clic on preferences?
there are several options there that if enabled the game looks wonderfull honestly well at least In my opinion :cool4:
I have 2 gigs of ram now , but still when trying to play on huge settings it goes :turtle: I think I need a better graphics card...
QuintusSertorius
05-23-2008, 09:40
Are you not concerned about the negative administrative traits you get from holding such a large treasury? Equally, is there nothing more important you could be doing development-wise with the funds?
I almost always try to spend everything every turn, provided there's something to build in my settlements. When it starts to get too hard to queue things up to soak up money, that's when I decide to recruit another provincial army.
Are you not concerned about the negative administrative traits you get from holding such a large treasury? Equally, is there nothing more important you could be doing development-wise with the funds?
I almost always try to spend everything every turn, provided there's something to build in my settlements. When it starts to get too hard to queue things up to soak up money, that's when I decide to recruit another provincial army.
Nope, not at all. The profits I earn are after all of the construction and recruitment are done. My governors all seem to be getting good traits as well, why would making more money bring in bad traits?
QuintusSertorius
05-23-2008, 11:04
Nope, not at all. The profits I earn are after all of the construction and recruitment are done. My governors all seem to be getting good traits as well, why would making more money bring in bad traits?
In vanilla there were "financial incompetence" traits triggered by having a lot of money lying around. While the triggers have been changed, they're still there in some form, if I'm remembering right. Traits like Wealthy and the financially-irregular ones and Nota Censoria and such appear long before that. They invariably give penalties to Law and cause unrest. Some others cause penalties to Management.
Ancyrean
05-23-2008, 12:01
Awesome AAR! :2thumbsup:
By the way, how do you build up so large a surplus as early as when you have only Italia and Sicily under control? For example, in your post #22, you sport 80k+ mnai!!
I'm guessing you may be building a lot of port and market upgrades and the money keeps adding up by the long building times of higher-tier upgrades?
How about the 500k+ plus surpluses you have later on in the game??
GnaeusCotta
05-23-2008, 14:24
I think it's because he destroys every building in the settlements he conquers
yes the destroying of buildings helps, but I also build all the port upgrades as soon as possible and also mines, which are the biggest money earner in the game.
POST FIFTEEN - THE THIRD PUNIC WAR
My push for the lands required for the Marian reforms continues, I declared war on Macedonia and quickly took both Pella and Demetrias before they could gather any form of resistance, and to be safe of their backlash, I have paid a large amount of money to the Getai to declare war on Macedon and keep them busy for me. Only one battle was fought to capture these two towns, one which I easily won with the high ground I had.
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8609/50812797qu6.jpg
173 BC, the Arche Seluecia continues its obliteration of the other eastern factions with the destruction of Pahlava, I can see myself having to employ some diplomacy to limit their expansion soon before they control all the east, they are now expanding into the steppes...
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3285/72122712kr5.jpg
I am now sending an army to North Africa to begin the third Punic war, I hope to capture Atiqa, Kart-Hadast and Adrumento for the time being. The element of surprise is important as I need to take the cities before any reinforcing armies show up.
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/2581/76534768nd1.jpg
Atiqa was captured very easily, I then quickly moved on to besiege Kart-Hadast, unfortunately before I could assault a large Carthaginian army showed up with some of the best troops they had to offer, with Bush elephants and 6 elite pikemen with around 10 heavy infantry units in reserve, this was not going to be a walkover like Atiqa.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/3974/46926921wa0.jpg
They sent their elephants first, I had brought an army entirely of infantry because Roman cavalry is awful against Carthaginian cavalry and their infantry aswell.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4881/28589195gh4.jpg
The extra infantry would also come in handy against the pikemen that were being sent forward as I will need to do a lot of flanking.
https://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1516/58036263qa7.jpg
The elephants were all killed by pilum before they could cause any damage, however the elite african pikemen were more worrying, as they take one hell of a beating before they are defeated. They were also performing a lot of cavalry flanking, which worked in my favour as I needed to get the cover of their flanks out of the way.
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/3158/45858674wo5.jpg
After a while the cavalry broke and I could then begin to flank the pikemen.
https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6960/12fh0.jpg
Eventually I managed to completely surround the pikemen, but that wasn't the end of it as they still fought on, you pretty much have to fight them to the death as they rarely break.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7971/13ag8.jpg
After another 5 minutes of fighting the pikemen were finally beaten, the enemy general escaped to Ippone unfortunately. However for the time being Kart-Hadast was in Roman hands.
https://img383.imageshack.us/img383/7884/15qh3.jpg
Chirurgeon
05-25-2008, 01:38
wow 320 000 gold. thats awesome. couldnt you just bribe all the cities you want to conquer? I guess that would be pretty boring eh? Anyway your campaign is going well it would seem...but Kart-Hadastim seems to have alot of bite left in them. Were fighting Carthage at the same time!! I wish us both success
haha cheers, bribes are scarily expensive in EB, it costs around 600000k and upwards to bribe one stack. I would much prefer fighting however. :)
I should have another post up this evening as I am very close to getting the Marian reforms.
Aaldaemon
05-25-2008, 12:30
Uhoh, you have so much money you can easily sow the fields of Carthage with gold rather than salt. :yes: Spare some for some poor steppe riders? We'll pay you in blood, honest. :laugh4: I also need to steal those worldmap textures. :yes:
check back a few posts I explained how to somewhere. :egypt:
Lysimachos
05-25-2008, 13:31
haha cheers, bribes are scarily expensive in EB, it costs around 600000k and upwards to bribe one stack. I would much prefer fighting however. :)
I should have another post up this evening as I am very close to getting the Marian reforms.
Doesn't so much cash increase the chance for bad traits? When i'm earning much money i usually queue expensive buildings and train more troops to avoid piling up of cash.
it has things like nota censoria but they dont bother me to be honest. There are much greater benefits from having lots of cash to rely on in a crisis.
Aaldaemon
05-25-2008, 14:06
check back a few posts I explained how to somewhere. :egypt:
Yah, I saw... textures textures on the wall, which textures are the most beautiful of them all? :)
POST SIXTEEN - MASS EXPANSION & REFORMS
This post covers over 20 years where a lot happens, so therefore to go into complete detail would take a good 100 pictures.
166 BC, the Republic is about to embark on a period of mass expansion of its borders into several different factions territory. Following the capture of Kart-Hadast and Atiqa, I took Adrumento shortly afterwards in 170 BC, I then kept the troops there only to defend from the inevitable backlash. Elsewhere I began the invasion of southern Greece, the KH had little power there, and Korinthos was only a large town, which I found odd. As it was over 400 turns into the campaign. I sent 4 generals with the army to become the governors of the new provinces once the conquest was won. The KH is scattered all over the place and the small portion of Greece they owned would be no match for Roma.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3411/94093110mb2.jpg
Predictably, they gathered a rabble together with a backbone of 5 KH generals.
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1097/87025380wn9.jpg
This battle featured almost all of the KH troops in Greece, if I won I had pretty much captured the three provinces. However they put up a tougher fight than I expected. Mostly thanks to their generals bodyguards, who were their only good troops on the battlefield.
https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5825/59282535al4.jpg
But the might of Roma's armies defeated them as they had the Macedonians and Epirots before them. Athens was in Roman hands, I planned to besiege the other two the next year as the war season was over.
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8625/69446826kf4.jpg
In 164BC, the March of Time event occured, I've now started to notice some new units for the eastern factions, including the Macedonian reformed phalanx.
https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8898/18944572fw9.jpg
164BC was also the year that Corinth fell before the Roman armies. You can see here that I turned off the fog of war for a turn to see how the AS was doing, they kept refusing map information. When the time comes for me to fight them it is going to be very tough.
https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/2515/81643233wi5.jpg
In 163BC I launched a new war against Lusotana, I say war but it was more of a conquest as they had around 2 units left so there was no romantic last stand for them. By 162BC they were destroyed and all of the Iberian peninsula was in Roman hands.
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9373/28149335zb5.jpg
Elsewhere Sparte had fallen, as had Lepki in Africa. I had also taken Serdike in Macedonia, however I could not hold it for long as it was retaken several turns later. In Africa the Carthaginians were launching constant attacks on their former capital, including one memorable battle in which 36 elephants caused havoc and very nearly defeated my army.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/89/18967046vq7.jpg
Ippone on the north African coast was taken in 155BC, and Chalkis and Krete fell several years later. I spent the next few years attempting to secure my potential reformers traits that were required. Finally in 149 BC, one of them was elected Consul, the last trait required. However somehow there were 3 Consuls elected!
https://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5929/10go8.jpg
The following turn the Marian reforms kicked in. By this time I was absolutely loaded, with just under 900000 mnai in the treasury. I needed all of this to begin the mass construction of Marian barracks across every province of the republic. What was more, I planned to slow down the expansion of the last 2 decades a lot, I have no plans to invade any new territory for a few years. For now I plan to build up a new defensive system, with a legion assigned to a certain area of land, eg a Western Iberian legion, this is for the defense of the region only. For invading armies I plan to recruit another legion so as not to leave my lands undefended.
https://img396.imageshack.us/img396/7043/12we3.jpg
GnaeusCotta
05-26-2008, 19:56
I once had 4 consuls so 3 isn't that much:laugh4:
QuintusSertorius
05-26-2008, 22:12
I'd call the censors in right away, that's some gross electoral irregularity to get three consuls elected.
I'm going to take a short break from EB as I have been playing it way to much lately and am now experiencing the effects of that, lack of interest etc. I should begin playing regularly again in about a week or so.
General Appo
05-29-2008, 13:21
Great work. Just so you know, the Devotio Iberica was in 1.0 too, I got it at least 3 times.
hrrypttrbst
05-29-2008, 16:38
I'm going to take a short break from EB as I have been playing it way to much lately and am now experiencing the effects of that, lack of interest etc. I should begin playing regularly again in about a week or so.
I had it to and I have taken a break but it realy is going to an end, I'm already a week thinking on playing EB and this time harder then ever.
I apologise for being away for so long, I've had exams and other real life things to devote my time to, but now, as promised I am going to continue my Romani save and should begin posting updates in the next few days.
Awesome! I love this AAR, so glad you're continuing it. Can't wait to see the Gallic and Seleucid wars!
POST SEVENTEEN - EXPANSION INTO REMAINING GREEK TERRITORY
144 BC, I have spent most of my vast treasury sums on the construction on Marian barracks and also in the recruitment on a 10 legions, spread out across my lands to keep the peace and defend against invasions, new legions will be trained when I invade a new territory so my forces don't become stretched.
I have also began to take the remaining lands held by KH and Macedon. Which began with the invasion on Rhodes in 144 BC. The island was defended by a large number of troops but they were all levies and posed little threat to my reformed cohorts.
https://img71.imageshack.us/img71/7056/54045644ax0.jpg
The majority of the defenders were killed in the first battle, the survivors were trapped in the city and all enslaved once the island fell under Roman control.
https://img71.imageshack.us/img71/5812/94585460nq5.jpg
I turned off the fog of war to see how the AS was getting on, and they are completely out of control! They are wiping out every faction they border, they've already destroyed Pontos, Hayasdan & Pahlava single handedly, and now they are invading the Sauromatae and are also invading Egypt, Baktria are also limited to just one remaining province.
https://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1448/99299330fu2.jpg
I decided I had to do something about the AS, otherwise they would end up wiping out every other faction and I would have only them to fight for the next 160 odd years, so I decided to use some brutal force diplomacy, I know it is cheating, but it needed to be done, and I am gaining nothing from what I am doing, as all of the land is either going to Baktria or the Ptolemaioi. Make no mistake, they still have the greatest military in the game and are vastly stronger than I am, I just want to stop them from ruining the game.
Back in Greece, a new legion from Rome has arrived on the eastern border of the Republic's lands, with the orders to declare war on Macedon and push forward to Byzantion. The Macedonians were no longer the pushovers they once were however, as they were finally training strong armies to defend themselves against me.
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5883/39265841pm3.jpg
This was probably the largest battles I've had in this campaign, and also one of the most evenly contested, the Macedonians had a very competant army, with around 14 Phalanxes, including Agemas and reformed pikemen, and also some hoplites to help prevent me from flanking the phalanxes.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3671/47268617vv8.jpg
After I had used my legionnaires pilum, it was time to engage the first line of my infantry, the only cavalry I had was my generals bodyguard, which is partially why I need to take Byzantion, after the reforms I can no longer train cavalry in Italy, so I need new places to train them and Byzantion can train Thracian Auxiliary cavalry.
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/609/83667540wx3.jpg
The enemy supporting troops made it difficult for me to flank the phalanxes, so I had to slowly try and lure them into combat with my engaged first line, but I was having little success.
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5703/97140462uz3.jpg
I sent my Antesegari to nibble at the Macedonian flanks, they are amongst the best supporting infantry in the game that I have encountered, and they did their job well, routing a unit of hoplites and giving me a bit of breathing space on the right flank.
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/438/61652855lg1.jpg
Here's a picture of them in action, they have a scarily high defense which makes them last longer than a legionary cohort in most situations.
https://img371.imageshack.us/img371/7599/12334746xe6.jpg
My front line was taking heavy casualties, so I decided to flank with a few of my reserve cohorts and take on the hoplites guarding the Macedonian rear.
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1741/10oy7.jpg
The battle was completely level, with 26% casualties on each side. I personally really enjoy these close battles.
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4158/11yc4.jpg
Eventually the Macedonians made a fatal error, they engaged the remainder of their hoplites, which combined with my victory on the right flank, allowed me to manoeuvre several cohorts around their army and charge their rear, surrounding them, the battle was far from won however as Agema hardly ever break.
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2306/12cp8.jpg
I avoided engaging my young general, as he would have been speared on a pike almost immediately.
https://img364.imageshack.us/img364/7581/13og6.jpg
Eventually the final resistance was with several phalanxes boxed together, completely surrounded, including the Macedonian general.
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9742/14gq3.jpg
Eventually they routed once the enemy general was killed. Leaving a huge field of corpses.
https://img381.imageshack.us/img381/4648/15zg0.jpg
Victory was secured, but casualties were very high for the Romans, afterwards I had to move some mercenaries from Athens north to reinforce the army as it moved further East towards the Macedonian capital Tylis.
https://img381.imageshack.us/img381/7932/16cn8.jpg
two things....
1- you're alive!!! :laugh4: glad to hear from you again!! your AAR is very entretaining! in fact you were one of the responsible for me doing a romani campaign
2... OUCH!!! that was a close battle
:medievalcheers: cheers for your return "comrade"
Cadwalader
06-25-2008, 20:19
I've been enjoying reading this. I love seeing battles with so many units as the one against Makedonia in the previous update, as I can't have them myself, sadly. A great deal of thanks to you. Represented by balloon::balloon2:
Constantius I
07-11-2008, 00:32
Good AAR!
I spend 1/3 of my budget on diplomacy and constantly have several factions gang up on the strongest faction in the game to not let whats happening in your game occur!
Tiberius Aurelius Cotta
07-12-2008, 09:26
I LOVE this AAR, and it's so epic... makes me want to make an AAR out of my haf-done Romani campaign :D
keep up the great work - this is really excellent.
Chirurgeon
07-12-2008, 20:28
The best Roman AAR out there right now. I love how long it is. Awesome battle there against Macedonia. Keep up the good work!
I hope he continues his AAR , as you can see the last update was 3 weeks ago ...
I'm going to try putting a bit more time into EB soon, I know I keep disapearing which must be really annoying for fans of this AAR, but I just havn't been able to get into EB lately.
Chirurgeon
07-19-2008, 20:28
I'm going to try putting a bit more time into EB soon, I know I keep disapearing which must be really annoying for fans of this AAR, but I just havn't been able to get into EB lately.
no worries. I know the feeling. I took a bit of a break myself :)
POST EIGHTEEN - EXPANSION & REBELLION
140 BC, I am currently in the process of defeating the Macedonian forces still lurkign around Pella and other areas they recently controlled, it is also time for me to begin to take the last of their territory on the Aegean, this will remove the last of my buffer states blocking the Republic from the mighty Arche Seleucia, so no doubt once this latest conquest is complete there will be a long run of Seleucid wars. I sent a legion to Byzantion to take it and effectively chop the remains of Macedon in half.
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2932/16317496vb8.jpg
Of course they threw a half hearted attempt to force me to retreat, but it was highly unlikely that a Marian legion would lose to such levies.
https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4459/27640771jl6.jpg
The city proved quite problematic in subjucating however, with several riots occuring before I could install a Romanised government.
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6241/79608706pp1.jpg
I have recently installed konny's allied legion mod which allows me to number my legions. Using this I have numbered my 6 defensive legions across the republics lands to defend the borders, extra legions trained for invasions will be given their own number. Currently the 6 legions have been stationed in :
Legio I : Cisalpine Gaul
Legio II : North Africa
Legio III : North Iberia
Legio IV : The Balkans
Legio V : Greece
Legio VI : Macedonia
https://img390.imageshack.us/img390/4872/15769665ea1.jpg
137 BC, I have trained a new legion, Legio VII, in Italy to be sent to take Serdike and Tylis, both Macedonian possesions. This legion is under the command of Decimus Papirius Turdus, the son of my reformer. I hope to train him up for a few years against Macedon for when the inevitable war with AS begins as I will no doubt have need of experienced generals when the 3 full stacks a turn start pouring into my lands.
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6381/72068483nf7.jpg
I have also edited the Ptolemaioi to have a more golden colour on the mini map.
In 136 BC, Oxtraca revolted against me, I have always had problems with this city for some reason. They revolted and spawned a large amount of Persian archers for some reason, despite the fact that they couldn't be much further away from Persia.
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2224/79000146ib8.jpg
The city was easily recaptured and Enslaved however, which quickly brought order back to Iberia and showed any other rebels what happens to those who defy Roman rule.
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6562/13640986wi1.jpg
Back in Macedonia, the 7th Legion took Serdike in 136 BC with very little military resistance from Macedon. Tylis appears to be more capable at defending itself when the 7th legion arrives at its gates however.
https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/237/34391254tr3.jpg
The 7th was attacked before it could arrive there however with the garrison from Tylis, a reasonably strong army with reformed phlanxes and hoplites aplenty.
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4655/49448108yj0.jpg
I used some standard tactics here, to have 2 lines of cohorts, with the first in guard mode to hold the enemy and the second to flank.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7070/10tg3.jpg
After a relatively long battle, the Republic was victorious once again, with roughly 3 Macedonians dead for every Roman.
This victory clears the road for the legion to advance towards Tylis. Once fallen I will set it about taking Mytilene.
https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1498/12ss2.jpg
Woot! Thelord is back! Great chapter.
A couple of things:
- in that first battle, the battlefield was a purplish color. If I recall correctly, I think purple/pink battlefields have something to do with your graphics card overheating or something along those lines, so be careful.
- how did you get your unit cards to say "Legio IV" and "Legio VII" and so on?
Theres a mod called ''Allied Legion Mod'' which does it, they can only be trained in Roma though.
Also I think that the purple thing is just the time of day for the battle, will keep my fingers crossed that my comp doesnt blow up though. :dizzy2:
I've just installed the Darth formation mod and Marcus Camillus player formation mod and it makes a HUGE difference. :2thumbsup:
POST NINETEEN - ARRIVAL IN ASIA MINOR
Macedon is proving to be quite a pain to defeat, their land is split into 3 seperate chunks and they only have around 6 cities left, but still they keep on recruiting armies, if it was the other way round I would have been bankrupt long ago. In 135 BC, I besieged Tylis, it was defended by a small but elite band of troops, they were outnumbered 3 to 1 but still took a good chunk out of my legion.
https://img66.imageshack.us/img66/5844/41806192ve6.jpg
Macedon still had a good 4 full stacks left nearby, one of which was heading to retake Tylis, so I was forced to attack before they could besiege it. I have installed the Darth AI Formations mod, and this was the first battle I had with it in, and wow, it made a huge difference! The phalanxes actually kept a straight line, and covered each other when I tryed to flank, using their infantry to guard the rear. So finally I was facing some challenging battles. Luckily in this case I had a superior general, a 19 year old with 4 command stars.
https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4215/48251427wa8.jpg
What followed was a VERY tough battle, most probably the hardest I've played against Macedon, around half of my army was routed at one stage and I had to perform some very risky manouvres with my general. Casualties were high on both sides, and the Legio VII is in need of reinforcements from Greece.
https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8549/98281621de2.jpg
Miraculously around half of my casualties survived, I think my general must have some traits/retinue that increase recovery chances.
https://img71.imageshack.us/img71/3627/71895303ku6.jpg
There was still riots in southern Iberia, so I had to train an 8th legion to raise the public order there, in Italy a 9th and 10th Legio were created for my planned invasion of Macedon's holdings in Asia Minor and also for the inevitable AS wars which are bound to begin as soon as I border them. In 132 BC, I landed 3 legions in Asia Minor (VII, IX & X). I am apprehensive about facing the AS, as they are overunning the Ptolemaioi, Sauromatae and Baktria at the same time, whilst holding most of the eastern land.
https://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3864/48647613sz5.jpg
The first of the Asia Minor battles was at Nikaia, where a large Macedonian stack was situated, I was expecting another tough battle against a hard line of reformed phalanxes...
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3984/39610489dh7.jpg
What I met however was a pathetic rabble of nothing but 1800 levy hoplites and Akontistai, which rout after around 5 seconds of combat with a Marian Legionary Cohort. Even more easily as I had a 1 talent stone projector in the army, which cost a whopping 30,000 mnai to recruit.
https://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1520/73151121sp6.jpg
What followed could not even be described as a battle, basically they broke just after they engaged, the Pilum killed about half of them and the rest were killed by the generals bodyguard.
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/453/96226081ji8.jpg
Mytilene was only defended by 2 units of toxitai, so was captured by the 10th easily, the remaining Macedonian troops are in Pergamon, which I will probably starve out as I need to keep up the numbers in the legions for when I face the AS. As for the remaining Macedonian's in the north, I am happy to leave them there as long as they don't cause me any trouble, the Getae will most probably finish the job soon anyway.
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6803/64047101wp4.jpg
Cadwalader
07-26-2008, 19:11
Thanks for the update. Well done, but you showed the battle results screenshot with your close call with the Maks twice.
ah, whoops, I must have missed a picture out then. :oops:
will edit it now.
I'm going on holiday for a week so I'm afraid there won't be any updates in the next week.
satalexton
07-31-2008, 13:58
oh God....look at that grey-death D=
good luck mate, you'll need it...
Tiberius Aurelius Cotta
08-09-2008, 12:30
my fave unfinished AAR is back! nice, mate... keep it up :).
i wonder what will happen when you face off against the AS
Probably about 3 battles a turn. :idea2:
As you can see I'm back from holiday and as the weather here is as shit as usual, I will most probably be playing lots of EB.
We shall fwee...Wodewick
08-12-2008, 11:50
Probably about 3 battles a turn. :idea2:
As you can see I'm back from holiday and as the weather here is as shit as usual, I will most probably be playing lots of EB.
No place better than England! Also did you say earlier you were doing A-levels?
I think I did at some point, why?
We shall fwee...Wodewick
08-13-2008, 23:56
Nice to know that someone else on here is panicing about results tomorrow.
(I assume your panicing. Thats the reason I can't sleep and am up writing this message)
ahhh, haha yeh im a little nervous, will no doubt be bricking it tomorow. :smash:
Bad news guys, I've hit a CTD, though I should hopefully be able to wriggle around it. :wall:
thelord, what two difficulty settings are you playing the game with?
H/M.
Update about CTD : I've managed to get round it!! Though unfortunately I had to re-install the game, so lost those textures I put in. I could get them again but it would mean installing RS and everything which I don't particularly want to do.
Update about game : The war with Arche Seleucia has begun! :help: I have enough pictures for a new update so should have time to formulate them into a post in the next day or so.
p.s sorry bout the off topic posts here recently, it should be back to normal soon. :yes:
me has solution my lord !! * in an igor voice*
you can get the RS textures without having to install RS itself just clic on the first link in my signature and look for "RS textures" , just download and apply :beam:
Ah, thanks a lot! got it sorted now.
POST TWENTY - START OF THE SELUECID WAR
Macedon still held Pegamon, but with only 2 or 3 units, so it was easily taken by my 5000 strong army. They still hold a few settlements to the north but I doubt they will be much of a problem in the future as the Getai will keep them busy for the time being. As for my 21 year old general, he has been awarded a triumph and is returning with the 7th legion to Rome for a few years. Once the legion is retrained I will send it back under a new general.
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5325/94621309dn5.jpg
What I didn't predict, was the AS attacking me literally the turn after I took Pergamon and our borders touched, they had besieged it with a reasonably strong force, so rather than fight them there I decided to draw them back to Ipsos by besieging it with the garrison from Nikaia under the command of the Proconsul Aulus Cornelius Blasio.
https://img379.imageshack.us/img379/9553/57422846ow7.jpg
As soon as I hit the end turn button the AS started to throw their armies at me.
https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9361/15844426dm0.jpg
They had the high ground, but had 1 big weakness, which was their lack of leadership. This could be exploited with my artillery, which saps enemy morale quite effectively.
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/653/57869554qd2.jpg
For once the AI had sent a strong army, with Elite Phalanxes and Galatian Spearmen prominent in their ranks, with a few medium phalanxes in support. They also only sent half of their phalanxes forward, so that it would make it difficult for me to flank them and not get pinned down by their second line.
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8653/28596422vy8.jpg
Eventually the majority of their second line engaged, giving me more room to flank the phalanxes, I had to be quick in finishing the first army off before the reinforcements arrived, which would probably finish my army off if they were still engaged with the first.
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1562/59529893kz1.jpg
Eventually a few of the weaker enemy units fled, leaving just the Elite Phalanxes left, who of course never flee. It did mean I could totally surround them and slowly finish them off though.
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2425/86856104uf6.jpg
It became clear that I wasn't going to be able to finish them off quick enough however as the second army arrived. So I had to use to 2 unengaged cohorts to hold them off until the bulk of the legion could help.
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9919/14713978af5.jpg
Eventually a victory was won, with around a third of the legion dying however, so reinforcements will have to be on the way, including some of the newly available Thracian Auxiliary cavalry being trained in Byzantion.
https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9485/10co2.jpg
Before the end of the turn the small army besieging Pergamon arrived to attack me aswell, it was defeated, but again with heavy casualties, leaving around 500 men left to defend Ipsos, the situation was made even harder when a AS army besieged the settlement the following year in 130 BC with over 2000 men. Clearly this is what I am up against fighting the AS
POST TWENTY ONE - 129BC
1 year into the Seleucid war, and I was on the back foot already, with army after army of enemy troops pouring into Asia Minor, and with increasingly depleted armies to fight them back. Every city in Greece and Macedonia was constantly training cohorts to replenish the 3 legions stationed on the frontline. In spring of 129BC, the republic suffered its first defeat in the war. I had sent an army to besiege Halicarnassus, but of course an AS stack arrived before I could assault the town. The defeat was made all the more crushing, with the loss of the 7th legions golden eagle. Though luckily my general managed to escape to the fleet nearby with the survivors.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/1.jpg
The remainder of the 7th were sent back to Italy for retraining. I also had to give up ideas of invading by sea. So I tried marching towards their cities by land instead and facing their stacks one at a time, instead of all at once. Just west of Sardis, a smaller AS army was defeated, and cleared the path to the huge city.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/cv1.jpg
Of course they desperately threw a few small armies to force me back.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/cv2.jpg
Eventually after battling through several armies, they emptied the city completely to try and batter me back again, though fortunately I won this time and captured Sardis.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/3.jpg
The AS had completely overstretched itself in their attempt to force me out of Asia Minor. Which has left their cities relatively undefended for my counter attack. The reinforcements from Greece have besieged Halicarnasus and I also have an army on its way to Ankrya. I could use the Galatian troops in this war.
https://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/nickmoult/map129.jpg
I've entered the AAR competition of the month over at the .net forums. So vote for this AAR if you like!
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706
Chirurgeon
08-27-2008, 00:33
woot! Great update. So the great war between East and West has begun. I wish you the best. Good luck in the competition!
strategos roma
08-29-2008, 04:29
Can anyone teach me how to download photos?:help:
DeathEmperor
08-29-2008, 06:58
Can anyone teach me how to download photos?:help:
You mean upload photos for your posts? First you need to sign up at one of those image and video hosting sites such as Photobucket or Imageshack. Once you've signed up and your account is activated you can upload your photos and then copy the image [img] code from the site and paste it in your posts. You can also choose to resize the images when you're uploading them (such as reducing a screenshot from 1024 x 768 resolution to an 800 x 600 one) and get different types of codes for when you post them (such as a direct image like most AARs use or thumbnail which is recommended if it's a big image).
I hope I did well in explaining the basics. If not I'm sure one of the many experienced AAR writers here will do a better job if you ask them.
Sorry for hijacking your AAR for a bit thelord. Awesome update and good luck in the competition!
POST TWENTY TWO - AMBITION & CEASEFIRE
125 BC, Rome has successfully managed to push the Arche Seleucia back slightly, though considering their vast empire it is nothing more than a dent. I had taken 5 cities from them and fought a total of 23 battles, with 17 victories and 5 defeats. Along with 3 triumphs and around 10000 troop casualties for the Republic altogether. In order to prevent myself from falling into the trap of expanding to quickly, I decided it was time to begin to arrange a peace deal. I needed to build up the new territory and also to stabilish the area. Of course the AI doesn't usually accept a ceasefire very well, so I had to construct a long line of forts blocking access into the land, though fortunately there were a lot of rivers and mountain passes I could use to block things.
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6078/78533051bv5.jpg
The peace was secured, I had to pay 50000 mnai in reparations however in order to get them to accept it. Once it was sealed I shipped a governor out for the cities in order to keep the peace and make money from the new regions. Elsewhere, the AS has taken a large chunk of Egypt, The Arverni were reduced to one town, though have begun a reclamation and now have 3. The civil war in Dacia between Macedon and the Getai is still ongoing.
Back in Italy, I noticed a general had recieved the trait 'high ambitions' which, unless I am much mistaken is the Augustan reforms trait, if I make him faction leader the reforms will take place I believe. So I've made him faction heir, he can 'seize' power in Rome when my current faction leader dies, which won't be very long as he is 62. I know it is very early to get the reforms, nearly a century early in fact, but it is so hard to get the reforms (I never managed it in my last game) that if I have the character required already, I may aswell take them now. Rather than struggling later on.
https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1783/46489663yg5.jpg
hrrypttrbst
09-02-2008, 20:35
So early ingame? then you would almost have a indestructible empire exept if it goes wrong with economics but i don't think so
not really, the Augustan legionaires have exactly the same stats so it will be the same difficulty.
NickTheGreek
09-03-2008, 19:45
Thats awesome thelord, i don't think i've ever seen anyone get the imperial reforms without cheating or modding. Extra spice to a brilliant AAR.
maybe your FL should die... you know... complot or something... like Caesar :beam:
Aemilius Paulus
09-04-2008, 05:26
Splendid update! I treasure every Romani AAR!
I am not sure whether I would be looking forward to the Augustan Reforms. I also have my Romani campaign going on and by now I have met all of my victory conditions with the exception of couple of territories in Britain as well as Arabia and I am still playing with Camillian soldiers.
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