View Full Version : Athens: Summer. Harvest. War (R2TW succession game)
Athens: Summer. Harvest. War.
https://imageshack.us/a/img542/5743/719o.jpg
This is a succession game for Rome II: Total War, where we will be playing the full term of a faction leader per player, using Athens on Very Hard. When the FL dies, the current player saves the game.
Then he retrieves it (C: Users>_user name_>AppData>Roaming>The Creative Assembly>Rome 2>save_games
(or type %appdata% in the Run bar and go from there)
He archives it using winrar/winzip/7zip
Then he uploads it online (I suggest you use the .org's very own file upload system (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279) we use for hotseat games)
Then he tags the next player in the list with an @ symbol and gives the link.
We will be using vanilla Rome 2: Total War using the latest patch and with both DLCs installed. Please uninstall or disable any mods you may have to avoid save game corruption and to ensure compatibility!
List of players:
Bramborough
easytarget
Ishmael
Kamakazi
Veho Nex
Amras
MorrowWolf
Myth
Term 1 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=279&id=10492)
Term 2 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279)
Term 3 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279#linkid10497)
Term 4 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279#linkid10500)
Term 5 (http://www.mediafire.com/?60ido8jt8lb11lg)
Term 6 is up. (http://www.filedropper.com/athens149bc) Amras
Athenian Sunrise: Magistracy of Demochares, 276-237 B.C. (39 turns)
(played by Brambrough)
https://imageshack.us/a/img4/1382/kwrv.jpg
Start
Probably common knowledge among most folks, but since Athens is a lesser-played faction, a few highlights about the start situation:
One settlement: Athenai (provincial capital in Hellas)
Troops: Two small armies in Hellas, total of 10 units combined (including bodyguards). 2x cavalry (the bodyguards), 5x hoplites, 3x slinger/javelin
Navy: One very small navy near Hellas. 3x ships
Diplomatic situation: Athens is a client state of Macedon, who is basically neutral. Sparta is very friendly (and also trading). Epirus is quite hostile. As I recall, other nearby factions are either slightly friendly or neutral.
Politics: Player's faction is the Magistrates. Opposing faction is the Oligarchs. Magistrates start with something like 25 or 30% influence.
https://i.imgur.com/XFbyU9k.png
Basic Strategy
So...I want Democharos to leave at least a full province to his successor. Two obvious options:
Hellas: Requires going to war with Sparta. Pro: unifies Athenai's own province, probably improves Macedon to Friendly, only 2 minor settlements to capture. Con: Already have a very hostile neighbor in Epirus...this option adds Sparta as an enemy, not sure starting Athens units can beat starting Sparta units, Sparta is the only Very Friendly state - don't want to throw that away.
Macedonia: Requires war with Epirus and eventually Macedon. Pro: Epirus already hostile anyway, will break Athens' client status when Macedon war starts, further cements Sparta relationship (they start at war with Epirus). Con: Athenai remains single Athenian settlement in Hellas, will take longer (3 cities vice 2), potential for Macedon/Epirus wars at same time, and finally...Epirus starts with elephants (gulp).
I choose Macedonia.
How It Went
I combine the two armies into one; the Brothers of Xenophon, then recruit some more hoplites and cheaper spear units. I want a full-size army to go after Epirus. Also add a few ships to the fleet. Spy goes to look at Larissa...a small army (maybe 5 units) plus garrison. I send the Brothers up there to encircle and capture the place..they're slightly smaller than the combined army+garrison, but have more hoplite units, so I'm comfortable on troop quality. Larissa surrenders without a battle..so far so good.
Sparta and Macedon go to war...so I have to choose since I'm a Macedon client. Pretty easy decision given I had already decided to conquer Macedonia. I decline to enter the war, thereby breaking client status (but don't actually enter into hostilities). So now Sparta is even more friendly, while Macedon is now angry (but they don't declare on me). All of this is just fine.
Spy pokes around up at Apollonia...wow, Epirus is building a big army there (including their starting elephant unit). It's clear I will not be able to attack with numerical superiority...so I bring the fleet around, prepositioning to help. My plan is to encircle/blockade Apollonia at same time, hopefully the Epirus army will not sally. When the Brothers are at 19 units, I head over there (don't want to wait another turn for just one unit). Epirus hands me a gift...their big army (Champions of Nike) goes wandering around the Adriatic for no discernible reason. So I hit Apollonia with army and fleet to take it down before the Champions get back.
The assault goes pretty well. My missiles whittle down the garrison for a while, then hoplites go in to finish them off. A Spartan army supports, but they don't really get involved. The only hitch is that for some reason, I unchecked "Control Large Army"...I honestly don't know why. So my fleet keeps sending ONE ship at a time onto the map...and sometimes I forget to go tell the guy to withdraw, and he gets killed by the 3 Epirus garrison ships. About 80% of my casualties come from this. So I gooned that up. In any case, Apollonia is captured.
https://i.imgur.com/qrZZ9ZO.png
Athenian hoplite column marching towards Apollonia
https://i.imgur.com/kzM9NoE.png
Missile troops open the battle
https://i.imgur.com/psT1HG1.png
Hoplites engage
https://i.imgur.com/9QZQWk5.png
Brothers of Xenophon triumphant: Hoplites celebrate the capture of Apollonia
It turns out that Epirus had just captured Brundisium across the water. They have only one very small fleet there, and no garrison built up yet (must've been the immediately preceding turn). My fleet still has full movement points, so I send 'em over. I hadn't planned to do this, but the opportunity looks too good to pass up. It's an easy capture, and now I have a second walled capital. Also brings me in contact with Rome, who seem to be doing okay in Italia. They're decently friendly; we establish trade. Rome is also buddies with Syracuse; I trade with them too. At some point right around this time, Sparta offers a military alliance; I accept.
The Epirus army comes meandering back down the Adriatic, just within range of both Brundisium and Apollonia. I send both fleet and army after them, reinforcing each other. The enemy army is pretty easily destroyed at sea. Happy to get rid of those elephants. Epirus now has only one lone general with an attrition-dwindling bodyguard. He can't hurt anything, so I'm content to just let him drift around til he attrites away entirely. Except the guy decides to start raiding in Larissa, screwing over my Macedonia public order. So Demochares (who doesn't have an army yet) hires a merc and goes to kill him. Epirus destroyed. War over. Merc disbanded before his ridiculous upkeep trashes my economy.
https://i.imgur.com/AweYRXy.png
"Annoying Raid Guy"
A few words about initial economy/research/construction. I start with a few military techs, to get to the 2nd-level barracks (and workshop/champs)...I haven't played Athens, so not quite sure what they can recruit with these. Turns out the hoplite barracks gives citizen cav and pikemen, while perioriki (sp?) provides archers and peltasts. The pikemen don't look useful at all. I decide to go with the perioriki first (but wind up capturing one before I get around to building it). I eventually want all my ports to be commercial, but Athenai and Brundisium are lone capitals with no support, so I keep fishing ports there for now as their sole source of food. Apollonia/Larissa, while minor, are both resource towns, so I build them to level 2, and go with Temples of Poseidon for the double PO/food buff (I've learned from playing Pontus that the ToP is pretty awesome; all benefit, no cost even at Lvl 4). And then a wheat farm for 3rd slot. ToP/farm is pretty much my "standard" minor Hellenic settlement build. Apollonia's port goes commercial. After the initial military techs, I switch to civil, trying to start getting a bit more money coming in, plus I want a dignitary. This all takes a while, of course, since money is tight.
So with Epirus gone, now time to go after Macedon. They're very hostile to me, but haven't declared war yet...they're busy fighting Tylis instead (to whom Macedon has lost Pulpudeva). Pella is their only remaining city. I start recruiting troops into second army (led by FL Demochares) for the siege. This army (the Heracleidae) is about half-size when my buddy Sparta starts sailing a full army up toward Pella...I don't want them to beat me there. So my 1 1/2 armies march to besiege Pella. Macedon has had a large army there, but like Epirus, they sent it off into the Fog (presumably against Tylis), and I don't have to deal with it. With only a garrison left, my two armies easily assault and capture Pella (no screenies...I AR'd it. Sue me.). Macedonia is unified, I proclaim Bread & Games edict in the province. One small Macedonian fleet remains, but they suicide against Athenai's garrison. Never did see what happened to their big army, I guess Tylis destroyed it. Anyhoo, Macedon is gone.
But...Macedon had allies, who'd also joined in war against me. Ardiaei, Bithynia, and Triballi. Bithynia is no problem, I immediately get them to make peace. The Triballi (also at war with Tylis) won't make peace, but never bother me either. The Ardiaei, however, are different...they march a full 20-unit army across the mountain pass toward Pella. Spy takes a look; some hoplites, but also a bunch of lower-quality melee and spear infantry, many of them with pretty low morale values. 6 slinger units. I feel relatively comfortable against them, and move the Brothers of Xenophon in position to attack next turn.
They decide to attack me instead, and the Heracleidae (inside Pella) are apparently just outside reinforcement range. The Brothers have overall higher-quality troops, I feel okay about it. The balance-of-power meter shows me at a significant disadvantage, maybe 30-35%. I figure it's just out of whack or not accounting for morale values, not too worried. I decide to corner-camp with my hoplites in phalanx. Slingers behind where the Ardiaei can't get to them. I think the Brothers will take some significant casualties, but confident they'll win....
These dudes kick my butt in a bloodbath. It sours early when my general Isidoros is killed by some lucky missile fire, before the melee even starts. So my army takes a morale hit...and it starts snowballing. The hoplites (plus 4 militia hoplites) hold well and fight for a long time. But the dang slingers rout...even though they're not flanked or directly threatened. So I lose my missile fire. Then the militia hoplites crack. The main line keeps fighting, but now with general and slingers gone, it's not going well. And these Ardiaei troops just aren't breaking, whatever the unit cards might say about their lousy morale. Finally my guys just get frittered away, and finally break. It's very close, I think they win a "Costly Victory". Both armies kill about an equal (high) number...but they started with more in the first place. I'm reasonably sure that if my general had lived it may very well have gone my way.
https://i.imgur.com/NTiSCYO.png
My corner-camp position...I thought this was going to work...
https://i.imgur.com/v3nHclW.png
The melee vs Ardiaei. This is pretty close to the end. General long dead, and militia/slingers have headed for the hills already.
In any case, the Ardiaei may have "won"...but so beat up that they're pretty easy prey for the Heracleidae to clean up next turn. Meanwhile a shell of the Brothers lives on, they weren't destroyed entirely. And the Ardiaei have lost their main army. So, tactically embarassing, but not a strategic disaster.
Demochares is just past 60 now, and I kinda want to clean things up in prep for his successor. Now that they've lost a big army, the Ardiaei are willing to make peace...and then the Triballi go along. So no current wars, although obviously these guys remain hostile. I start rebuilding the Brothers of Xenophon, so that there will be two decent-sized armies when Demochares kicks. I also shift some buildings around. For example, I convert Athenai's Sacred Grove to Poseidon, in order to get just enough food where I can convert fishing port to commercial use. A few other changes. Demochares gets to about 68 or 69 yrs old, and then dies of natural causes.
End State
237 B.C - 39 turns
Treasury: 2744
Income: 2383
Food Surplus: 27
New Magistrate Faction Leader: Straton
Magistrate Influence: roughly 40-45% range
Forces:
https://i.imgur.com/uxVmoWc.png
Stationed at Pella
Commanded by Demodocos. 17yrs old. Magistrate faction (same as player).
https://i.imgur.com/iFrzpTE.png
Stationed at Apollonia
Commanded by Straton (new Faction Leader). 31 yrs old. Magistrate faction (obviously).
https://i.imgur.com/789vDkU.png
Stationed at Brundisium
Commanded by Erectheus. 52 yrs old. Oligarch faction.
Provinces/Settlements:
https://i.imgur.com/E3kh9Lq.png
https://i.imgur.com/s0atJsL.png
https://i.imgur.com/O7lbTG0.png
Final Comments
I find myself almost regretting the capture of Brundisium. I had no intention of war with Rome any time soon, which meant I was not going to spread out in Magna Graecia. So Brundisium had no support from minors, and Latin culture remained dominant, trashing public order. Took forever to get order back up past zero...and it's still pretty low now. Even the Sacred Grove isn't helping that much. All of this led to the fleet getting stuck there for public order reasons...it's been welded to the pier in Brundisium's harbor for the last 20 turns. So I couldn't use the fleet...nor did I feel I could afford to reduce its size. So it's been sucking upkeep money. This seemed the "least evil" option, compared to moving one of the armies there or building a new army. I wish now that I'd simply not captured it, or just abandoned it to rebellion. I think Athens' economy might be in better shape right now...I didn't really have a use for the fleet against Macedon or Ardiaei, but I could've sent it looking around the western Med for more factions to trade with.
This was my first time playing VH. The lack of tactical map, restricted battle cam movement, etc took some getting used to. Also put a crimp in getting more screenies, since pausing puts a big fat window in the middle of the screen. Apollonia was the only battle I felt comfortable enough to snap some screenies "on the fly"...(plus, I may or may not have AR'd some of the others). I also noticed that enemy agent activity was pretty heavy for so early in the campaign. Epirus' spy was a total pain in the butt around Larissa.
I was struck by just how much longer melee combat was taking during these battles, even the relatively easy Apollonia fight. In my previous campaigns as Rome and Pontus, I've never seen enemy infantry last this long, even lower-quality units. I don't know if that's because Athenian hoplites just don't kill very fast (i.e., slower than Pontic ones), or if it's because I was playing on VH. I remember seeing a summary somewhere of what changes with difficulty level; I don't recall seeing "AI morale buff" listed.
Minor error: When I recruited first dignitary, I put her on Civil Admin at Athenai, because at the time it was my highest-income province. Later when I had all of Macedonia, I forgot to move her. She's in the wrong place.
https://i.imgur.com/s5MYKx8.png
Magistracy of Straton: 236 – 216 B.C. (20 turns)
(played by easytarget)
https://i.imgur.com/2wXNIsRl.png?1
Start
Five Settlements
Troops: Two partial armies and one partial navy
Diplomatic Status: No wars at the start of his reign
Politics: The magistates and oligarchs are evenly matched in influence
Straton picks up the burden of leadership of Athens with the Macedonian province complete, providing him a base of operations that afforded plentiful trade opportunities. The barbarians are at the gates in every direction however.
The strategy Straton decided to adopt upon taking power was the following (and like all well laid schemes it lasted till the point of first engagement): 1. Establish trade with anyone willing to do so. Expansion requires armies, armies require money. To this end also Straton issued the edict of 15% tax in the Macedonia province. 2. Form alliances or at least non-aggression pacts with neighbors to avoid being run over while building the army. 3. Establish a base of operations in Africa such that down the road the ability to directly confront Libya and their protector Carthage directly. Africa is a long term campaign objective, and Straton, not being a particularly healthy man, fancied all the wide open spaces and clean air might do him some good.
236 BC – Agents sent to scope out Africa, Rome offers non-aggression + money and I accept, I’ve dealt with Rome before and consider them a devious opponent I don’t want to tangle with at the moment. In hindsight this bit of diplomacy was a mistake, Rome proved militarily weak and incapable of handling their encounter with Carthage. Hindsight as they say is 20/20. At the time, I had a depleted military and the Ardiaei are at my border and hostile. I thought I could bind my time in taking Magna Graceia and tabled Italy for the time being. Besides, with Sparta as an ally I’m forced into confrontations not of my choosing closer to home that require my attention. They insist I join them in a war with Ardiaei and I accept because that’s what military allies do, even if perhaps against our better judgment.
Recruited champion with funds from Rome to train army commanded by Demodocus, signed non-aggression w/ Tylis to keep that nearby front calm while engaged w/ war Sparta wants to pursue. Upgraded ships under command by Erechteheus. Improve the city at Pella to provide better defense should Ardiaiei attempt to flank.
235 BC - Sparta mobilizes steaming their army towards the Ardiaei who in response immediately offered us peace, we countered with client state and $2,000 to test their resolve, declined. The Odrysian Kingdom offers non-aggression which I accept since I have no current focus on pushing north. The trusted spy Aido dies while working on the Ardiaei front and a replacement is recruited, but her experience and skill will be missed.
The navy in heading towards Africa and Libya for exploratory purposes encounters the Knossos, they appear at this point to be engaged with no one else but have a robust military presence already developed and stationed on the island, the admiral makes the determination to continue his mission, no further diplomacy at this point with them, but Rhodos was also encountered and trade negotiated.
Admiral Demodocus reports back from Libya Hellenisic rebels are all that control Cyrene (province of Libya neighboring the African province which is the goal), is this the base of operations Straton had in mind? This good news from the Admiral is followed by bad news; the province of Africa is controlled by Libya, which in and of itself would not have proven a problem, but, there’s always a but, they are the client state of Carthage, a sea power prowling the med and one our navy Demodocus assures we are not ready for yet. We will bide our time and work on taking advantage of what has presented itself in the form of neighboring towns ripe for the plucking.
234 BC - Tragedy strikes twice: Straton has been wounded while at the head of his army near the Ardiaei battle front, our spies are in pursuit of the agent that committed this heinous crime, they must be made to pay with their lives. If this was not bad enough, as our armies massed for the blow that would take Ardiaei out, the Spartan forces inexplicably sail off to points unknown, at which point two more entire armies come out of the woods in support of the forces our men have come to engage w/o their commander they make the decision to retreat and live to fight this fight another day when the fates are not so clearly against us.
https://i.imgur.com/FAoMiWZl.png
Looking back, it’s difficult not to see the hand writing on the wall for our beloved Straton, while his wound would not prove fatal, that he would come to his final resting place a mere 16 years hence, it’s this date that must live as the mark of the beginning of the end for his reign, his health it would appear never fully recovered. Small satisfaction then that my trusty spies have done their work and ended the life of the agent who inflicted my wounds.
233BC – Hard conversations are had with Sparta over their desertion from a war they asked us to join. Straton upon recovery demands they attack the Ardiaei to recover some scrap of honor and justify our alliance. They do nothing. The Spartans are clearly a shadow of their former selves.
Being a leader of a people means making hard choices, and the fact is, this is not my battle, at least not right now, I offer peace to the Ardiaei and they accept. My dream is of glory in Africa. And with all my cities in Macedon improved, I feel confident the defenses can hold as my commanders sail w/o me, for alas I will never see it, my recovery from my wounds has come at a price, I now am forced from the field and into politics as a statesman from here on.
232 BC – In anticipation of the wars to come, and based on income from increased trade, the army is enhanced with more hoplites and bows. The great strategic question before us is this: Demodocus reports Africa is undefended, the armies and navies of both Libya and Carthage are at sea. Would Carthage drop Libya or come to her defense? While I pondered this the Romans engaged with an offer of a defensive alliance, I accept thinking at the time this might prove the perfect distraction to Carthage.
231 BC – Well, as a Statesman I’ve started out on the wrong foot and made the wrong bet, I went with Rome and in just one year Carthage nearly destroys them, the remnants of Rome cling to life on a small island and Carthage now controls Italy.
My spies have been working overtime sowing insurrection in Cosentia (controlled by the Etruscan League) and begin building a 3rd army under General Alkmonion (sp?) in Apollonia in anticipation of attacking this Libyan held province and slowing the Carthaginian expansion on the Italian peninsula.
230 BC – General Amphion and Admiral Erechtheus take Cyrene. The first step on the new continent is taken!
https://i.imgur.com/G3io9J0l.png
229 BC - Trade and a military alliance with Knossos (matching the military alliance Sparta also has with them) who has a fairly robust army patrolling off our Greek coasts. And I have signed a non-aggression pact with the Nasamontes, their presence near Egypt is militarily superior to our own at this time and I cannot afford to take them on just yet.
Purchased military access from Egypt in order to pursue expansion of a base of operations through the taking of Hellenisitic rebel controlled Ammonium.
228 BC – Our army in Africa encounters Cryenencion rebels on the way to Ammonium and defeat them
226 BC – Our army lays siege to Ammonium and our agents continue to sow unrest in Cosentia in anticipation of Alkmonion taking his forces there to liberate the town.
https://i.imgur.com/lAxOyIml.png
225 BC – Hypsipyle has come to the end of her days and laid her burden down, such a seasoned diplomat will be sorely missed, improvements in our towns continues and finances are looking up, what I lack in diplomacy I’m working to make up for economically. It should be noted on a similar vein that I have committed most all of my research on economic matters; as a result, I expect my successor to find good reserve funds available for him pursue the glory of Greece.
224 BC – Sparta has the audacity to request our support in a war with Ardiaei again, having been down this road once and been burned, I’m leery of trusting Sparta. But they are “our people”, so I agree against my better judgment, the last thing I wanted was a two front war, so this alliance with Sparta has so far proven nothing but a headache, that said, I also leaving an enemy on our border unattended to lest this turn into a fiasco on two fronts at once, which I fear it most assuredly will. With that I set the orders with Sparta to attack Ardiaei and I command out forces once again to the front.
The siege of Ammonium is victorious, but comes at a bitter price; we lose General Amphinion in battle. Unforeseen reinforcements came in from the desert (not even by road) from a direction the general never anticipated. A close victory, but a victory nonetheless, and as a result we now have a foot hold on this continent from which to base our attack of Africa.
223 BC – The battle w/ the Ardiaei begins tragically as another general dies, this time Herakleitos. But he did not die for nothing, Epidamnos is ours!
https://i.imgur.com/WpsWdFwl.png
This victory has caused Straton to strategically pause and weigh his options. While this was a war not of his making (and once again not joined by Sparta who started it), it does appear from the news from the front we have the advantage here, and could well press our luck in taking additional cities and even perhaps complete the Illyria province North of us, hopefully taking the Daorsi out for good, and securing a buffer to our homeland and additional income to boot.
On the Libyan front I’ve two of the four settlements that would complete a province, admittedly this is not Africa, but it is the basis for staging an attack. One of these settlements is held by Egypt though, and they have been actively seeking alliances, the politics of this adventure are becoming increasingly complicated.
222 BC – Admiral Erechtheus after long years of service goes to meet Poseidon, he served us well. The Nasmones (sp?) attack Paraitonion controlled by Egypt, I stand by watching in the hopes they will succeed. This would un-complicate matters in terms of taking the province.
Agents of the Ardieai are active still and having nearly killed me once, I pull my agents home to deal with them.
And the decision weighed as to the opportunistic war with the Dorsai has led me to push forward, I feel I must strike while the iron his hot here. The war for the Illyria province is on.
https://i.imgur.com/CIMWb5ll.png
https://i.imgur.com/Vt10YuFl.png
https://i.imgur.com/jSevlFFl.png
The siege of Delminium ends in victory, the General Almonium mints his newly created army with their opening victory with support by the Brothers of Xenophan!
To keep the initiative the Brothers push on w/o rest to the outskirts of Iader anticipating being joined shortly by General Almonium to press home the completion of the destruction of the Dorsai and the control of the province Illiaryia.
221 BC – Before reinforcements can arrive the Brothers are ordered to attack regardless and they cover themselves in glory taking the city which the cowardly Dorsai have all but abandoned. Interestingly, scouting parties revealed the Breuci army had been on the outskirts of the city as well, but for the speed with which the Brothers attacked the Brueci would have surely taken the settlement and complicated our drive to complete control of the province.
What had begun as a duty to abide by a troublesome alliance with Sparta ends in Athenian glory and the riches a new complete province can provide. Our revenues continue to expand.
220 BC – The remaining agents of the Dorsai are dispatched to their maker and will trouble us no more. I’m unsure what my predecessor will make of our continued alliance with Sparta, but for my part, inertia is really all that holds us together as far as I’m concerned. This is the 2nd war they’ve requested us to join with the Dorsai only to find them fail to commit troops. I could only surmise they would have done this yet again if not for the fact we’ve utterly destroyed them.
218 BC – Nasmones failed to defeat the Egyptians, which is a shame. I’m left settlements and doubt as to how to proceed. The front on the homeland has cleared up, so perhaps the time has come to bring the remaining armies to bear on this problem. Egypt will prove a tough nut to crack should I decide to complete this province in my continuing dream of Africa, they are allied with Sparta and the Pergamon, the latter are aggressively moving navies and armies south of Greece in and around Sparta. They do not appear to be a faction to be taken lightly. General Aegon heads to Cyrene as the staging for either expansion of operations or the war for Africa.
217 BC – Knossos navy aggressively pursues remnants of Dorsai army and navy destroying them all, they’ve proven a more useful ally than Sparta by a large margin by this action alone. To Spartas credit they did bring units to the defense of Pella when a rag tag ban of Dorsai threatened there. Meager, but better than what they’d done previously. The army there ultimately engaged the raiders and destroyed them.
216 BC – Our agent Althaia stays in Greece to keep an eye over the homeland along with the army of Alkmeion in Delminium. The rest of our army and remaining agents head for Cyrene to stage our African conquest.
The old wound has come back to haunt us, our illustrious leader Straton has been struck down before his time and dies before he could realize his dreams of an African victory.
He will be remembered as a cautious and opportunistic leader who struck where weakness presented itself in his expansion of the Athenian Empire. His diligent work in opening trade routes along with research focused on economic matters has placed the empire on a strong footing for future expansion. Nearly 5,000 per year is coming in and almost 20,000 in the coffers, with three fully developed and trained armies, his unrealized dreams of a new continent will pass to his successor, may he far exceed our endeavors and expand the power and glory of Athens.
https://i.imgur.com/2nbJyrnl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/4mtm8Jnl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/gHpgqbel.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/iTSmnBdl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/c44Sugil.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/HwiI2Ksl.png?1
Magistracy of Aegon (215BC - 176BC) (39 turns)
(played by Ishmael)
https://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2541/k6n5.jpg
Aegon in his early years.
When Aegon became ruler of Athens at age 31, most expected him to be a cautious, bookish ruler, focused on knowledge and the economy. In the first of these they were correct, as he sponsored the establishment of a number of libraries and academies across Athenian territory. But the rest of his funds went towards only one thing – building an army that would restore Athens to the glory of the days of Alexander.
https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4808/2h1l.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/2h1l.jpg/)
Athenian Empire, 215BC.
Aegon took command of the Athenian army stationed in Libya, renaming it the 'Eighth Army' *. He was soon reinforced by Alkmaion's army that had been stationed in Illyria, in preparation for the coming campaigns in North Africa. With Alkmaion guarding his flank, Aegon struck at the unguarded Nasamones town of Augila in a surprise attack. The Nasamones armies, desperately trying to hold their newly acquired city of Lepcis against Libya and their protector Carthage, were in no position to fight back, and a peace treaty was signed the next year. Such strikes against weakened and distracted targets were to prove a trademark of the many campaigns Aegon was to conduct over the years.
https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3450/tti0.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/tti0.jpg/)
Athenian forces assembled for an attack. Aegon is visible as the cavalryman with a shield.
After the confidence-boosting victory against the Nasamones, Athenian forces were moved eastwards to prepare for the invasion of a more challenging foe – Ptolemaic Egypt. Athenian spies had reported that the majority of the Egyptian army was stationed on their eastern frontier, fighting against the dominant Seleucid Empire. Aegon seized the opportunity, offering to join the Seleucids in their war in exchange for a defensive alliance and military access. This gave Athens a justification for invading the formerly friendly Egypt, as well as ensuring its soon to be captured territories would be secure against Seleucid expansion afterwards.
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Athenian troops push into Egypt.
Egpyt collapsed like a house of cards. Seleucid armies hammered their Egyptian counterparts as they rushed to defend their homeland, leaving Athens nothing to do but mop up the occasional remnant and capture the defenceless Egyptian cities. Indeed, the greatest threat to Athens' conquests were the Seleucids' own satrapies, who raced Athens down the length of the Nile in order to try and capture the Egyptian cities for themselves. Fortunately, Athens was able to stay one step ahead, and secured the entirety of the province of Aegyptus.
A sour note did enter the campaign shortly after the capture of Alexandria, however, when assassins targeted Aegon himself, although fortunately only wounding him. Aegon was even more furious to learn that, unlike his predecessor who was also wounded by assassins, these had been sent by political rivals from within his own faction! In retribution Aegon sent a group of thugs to beat the leader of the Oligarchs in Athens to near-death. Aegon thought the Oligarchs cowed after this, but history would show they were simply taking a longer view of events....
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Aegon reacted poorly to the attempt on his life.
Even before the beginning of the Egyptian campaign, plans were being drawn up to deal with the Spartan problem. Whilst Sparta professed itself to be an ally of Athens, Aegon's predecessors had been betrayed on several occasions by Spartan troops abandoning those of Athens on the eve of a battle. It was clear they were trying to undermine Athenian success from within, and that they must therefore be destroyed. Athenian diplomats requested that Knossos break off diplomatic relations with Sparta, but when they refused Athens in turn rescinded all it's treaties with Knossos. Nothing would stop their vengeance, and the final unification of Greece.
'The Spears of Ares,' a newly recruited army centred around pike formations, was marched south to the Spartan border, joining 'The Heros of Xenophon' who were already there. As with Egypt, Aegon was unwilling to invade such a long-standing friendly state without a convincing casus belli, but this came when Sparta signed a defensive alliance with Egypt. Denouncing them as traitors to the people of Greece, Aegon ordered an invasion of Sparta. Athenian forces assaulted the city, whittling down the defenders with missile fire before moving in with hoplites and pikes to finish the job. The newly launched Athenian navy, 'Brizo's Wards,' sank 10 Spartan transports near Pella, thus eliminating Spartan forces. Mainland Greece was once again united.
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Spartan Royal Guard cowering before the Athenian missile fire.
Knossos declared war on Athens in support of their Spartan allies, in a brave but foolish gesture. Even more foolish was their decision to send most of their fleets and armies south, in an apparent bid to threaten Athens' African holdings. 'Brizo's Wards' were able to take Crete in a naval assault against its diminished defences, and this severing of supply lines rendered remaining Knossian forces largely toothless – an annoyance, perhaps, but certainly not a threat.
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The Athenian fleet preparing to assault Crete.
Whilst the war against Knossos was being conducted, Pergamon declared that it had allied with Egypt, and was therefore declaring war on Athens. Aegon was surprised at this news, given that the last Egyptian settlement was currently under siege by Athenian forces, and that all of Pergamon's fleets had been sunk as a result of its conflict with Rhodes. Still, Aegon was more than happy to seize the opportunity to expand into Asia Minor. 'The Heros of Xenophon,' escorted by the Athenian navy, were dispatched to conquer Pergamon's only city of Ephesus, with they did with little difficulty.
Much of western Asia Minor was controlled at this time by Bythinia. Athenian spies reported that their forces were weak as a result of conflict with the barbarian tribes to their north-western border, and so a newly-recruited Athenian army was dispatched to this border in order to catch them in a vice. Bythinia aided their destruction by allying with Egypt and declaring war on Athens (Egypt, it should be noted, consisted of a small fleet in the Mediterranean by this point). The invasion was largely unchallenged until the Bythinian last stand at Pessinus. Whilst their numerical superiority enabled them to nullify the Athenian skirmisher component, the heavily armoured and well disciplined Athenian phalanxes were able to cut through the vastly inferior Bythinian melee troops. Athens had now reclaimed the Greek cities of Asia, and so Aegon turned his attention back to the west.
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Bythinian forces made a desperate last stand at Pessinus.
While the invasion of Bythinia was underway, Athenian troops, consisting of Aegon's Eighth Army, Alkmaion's army, and the greatly expanded fleet 'The Heralds of Glaucus,' had been stationed in the west of the province of Libya. They swept through the single regions held by the Nasamones and Garamantia, who had been weakened by their war with Libya, and without pause conquered Libya in turn. Carthage, reduced to a shadow of its former self by the Turdetani invading from Spain, had rescinded its protection over Libya, but this was not enough to save them. Athenian forces captured their last cities of Thapsus and Syracusae against minimal resistance; Carthago itself had been conquered by the Turdetani the year before.
Athenian forces in the west began preparations to conquer Italy, whilst those in the east were resting after the successful conquest of Bythinia. Aegon was viewed as a conquering hero – but his neglect of affairs at home was about to cause matters to come to a head.
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Uh oh....
Civil war erupted, with a full nine armies and six navies being raised by the Oligarchs in Athens. At first, Aegon was in shock. “How could this happen!” he railed at his advisors. “How could these traitors possibly raise such forces without our knowledge?” Not only did the rebels outnumber his land forces by almost 2:1 and his navies by 3:1, but they had seized Athens itself!
But Aegon was not a man to let events overtake him. After shaking off his initial despair, he ordered an interim capital to be established at Pella. He was determined to contain the rebel forces along a line from Pella to Appolonia, ceding southern Greece but also maintaining the main agricultural areas of the empire. The rebel forces were to be ground down in a war of attrition, with Athenian forces striking at targets of opportunity from their fortified settlements whilst rebel troops deserted or died from hunger. Pella was to be fortified with higher walls and additional siege equipment, whilst Appolonia was to be assisted by the two fleets of the Athenian navy.
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Aegon at the outbreak of civil war.
Aegon's plans came undone almost immediately. Rebel forces quickly seized Sparta and Larissa, as expected, but also moved unexpectedly quickly against Cronos' army 'The Brothers of Xenophon,' which was defending the river crossing leading to Pella. 2500 Athenian troops faced 9500 rebel soldiers, but Cronos had his orders - make them pay for every foot of ground they take.
Before the battle, Cronos split his force in two. The smaller force would defend a small bridge to his left flank, whilst the larger would defend against the expected main body of the enemy assault at a ford. The battle opened with a large force of skirmishers attacking the Athenian positions at the ford. Cronos sent his light cavalry to disperse them, and they succeeded in routing almost all of them. Unfortunately, before they could return to behind friendly lines they were caught by three rebel generals, and their bodyguards of lancers. Two units of Athenian hoplites were sent to try and kill these enemy commanders, but were only able to eliminate one before being forced to retreat by the enemy infantry body. Meanwhile, the force by the bridge defeated a small group of pikemen sent by the rebels in a flanking attempt.
The main clash of troops in the ford was vicious. The water soon ran red with blood. Athenian arrows rained from the sky, and Athenian hoplites held to their phalanxes, but sheer weight of numbers meant they were pushed back, step by step. Eventually, it became clear to Cronos that the battle was lost. He ordered his skirmishers and the force holding the bridge to withdraw back to Pella. The remaining hoplites at the ford held valiantly, and when they broke Cronos himself charged the enemy at the head of his bodyguard, buying time for the retreat. His body was later to be recovered at the foot of a mountain of corpses. He died well.
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Athenian hoplites fight to hold back the tide.
Cronos' force may have been defeated, but they had done their duty – rebel forces were badly bloodied, and were unable to continue their advance on Pella. Indeed, three of the four rebel armies in the battle redeployed to the south-west, in preparation for an assault on Appolonia. This presented a perfect opportunity for Prochoros, leading 'The Spears of Ares,' to counter-attack the one weakened army remaining. The rebels fled, but were caught by Prochoros on a plain just outside Larissa, and battle was joined.
The rebel army was reinforced by levies from the city of Larissa, bringing their total strength to 2000 men – not enough to match the 2500 soldiers in 'The Spears of Ares.' The Athenian skirmishers forced the rebels forward onto the Athenian pikes, and Prochoros, demonstrating his love of cavalry on the battlefield, had his citizen cavalry wheel around and envelop the rebel army, catching their skirmishers by surprise and running 'hammer and anvil' strikes against their engaged infantry. The battle ended quickly, with relatively small Athenian losses and the rebel forces fleeing towards Larissa. Prochoros quickly followed up by capturing Larissa, then razing it as punishment for supporting the rebels and returning north.
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Aftermath of the First Battle of Larissa.
'The Spears of Ares' marched north quickly, eager to return to the safety of Pella. Unfortunately they proved a little too hasty, and the outriders had barely brought word that a large rebel army was over the next hill before they were attacked. The Athenian pike line was able to assemble, but the hoplites supporting the left flank were still disorganised when they were charged by enemy cavalry, followed by their supporting pikemen. Worse still, the rebel commander proved far better than the previous in countering Prochoros' cavalry envelopments through skillful manoeuvring of his hoplites, leaving the battle to be decided by the Athenian infantry.
They won, barely. The hoplites on the Athenian left flank collapsed, and the pikes on that side of the battlefield were involved in a brutal, close-quarters melee for which they were unsuited. Prochoros had to personally involve himself in the melee, running repeated charges against the backs of the rebel troops, until the death of the rebel commander finally shattered the resolve of his army. Prochoros' cavalry finally proved useful in the pursuit of the routing troops, killing or capturing enough that the rebel army had to disband. The captives were executed.
Once again 'The Spears of Ares' moved to retreat back north, and once again they were prevented from doing so. A third rebel army, following hot on the heels of the one they had just defeated, were shadowing them and threatening their supply lines **. Prochoros' troops had fought off two rebel armies in quick succession. They were tired and bloodied, with no means of retreat. There was only one thing to do. Prochoros ordered the attack.
The rebel forces were so surprised by the Athenians turning on them that they could not retreat to Larissa before they were caught. The enemy army had been weakened by desertion and starvation, meaning both forces were roughly equal in number. The rebels had the advantage of being able to hold a hill – however, 'The Spears of Ares' made their attack in the rain, thus reducing the enemy skirmisher advantage. Prochoros was able to outmanoeuvre the inexperienced enemy commander, attacking from the shallowest side of the hill and easily pulling off a double envelopment. The rebels were run down and killed, to the last man. 'The Spears of Ares' had now destroyed three rebel armies, and had achieved a legendary reputation amongst the rest of the Athenian army.
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Prochoros completely outmaneuvered rebel forces at the Third Battle of Larissa.
Meanwhile, at Appolonia, Aegon was faced with a difficult choice. Roughly double the Athenian numbers of troops and ships had been sighted approaching the settlement, and Aegon knew his forces could not hold against such numbers. Reluctantly, he ordered his forces to move north and abandon Appolonia.
Whilst it was not apparent at the time, this was to be a turning point in the war. Athenian successes at Larissa forced the rebels that were preparing to attack Appolonia to return to southern Greece, thus forfeiting any chance of capturing new farmland to feed their troops. The two Athenian fleets caught and destroyed a single, isolated rebel fleet, showing that Athens could still be victorious at sea. Aegon's forces on the west coast of Greece were able to meet up with a newly-recruited army in Illyria, and prepare themselves for a drive south. And perhaps most importantly, the victories of 'The Spears of Ares' showed that even though the enemy was numerically superior, they could be beaten. The spirit of the Athenian army had been restored.
The rebels were now in serious trouble. Their armies and fleets were all greatly feeling the lack of food, and several had lost half or more of their men to attrition. Athenian armies were able to push south, driving the rebels onto their transports in the Aegean. Sparta was retaken, and the honour of liberating Athens was given to 'The Spears of Ares.' Greece was reunited, and whilst the rebels were not yet defeated (one of their fleets slipped around those of Athens and captured Iader, in Illyria), the imminent victory of Athens was ensured.
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'The Spears of Ares' were given the honour of liberating Athens
Aegon had continued to survive in the past few years through sheer strength of will. Now into his seventies, he had been campaigning for most of his life, in Egypt, Libya, Sicily and Greece itself. When he received news of the liberation of Athens he wept tears of joy, and the next morning he did not wake. Aegon had ruled over a turbulent period in the history of Athens, but despite all the challenges he had restored Athens to the title of the greatest nation in the known world. May his successors continue the legacy of Alexander.
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Athenian Empire, 176BC.
* Yes, I realise this is horribly out of character. I'm from the Commonwealth; I can name an army fighting in Libya Eighth Army if I want :beam:.
** This is an 'in-character' explanation for a quirk in the game mechanics, where because an enemy army occupied Larissa and my army was within its zone of control, they couldn't move.
Magistracy of Lysimachus 175-159BC (15 Turns)
(Played by kamakazi)
https://i.imgur.com/DxdQeME.jpg
A young mind awakend an old body. A rough wave awoke Lysimachus from his dreams. Just a year ago his brother Aegon had died. And not a day went past that it hurt any less. His task was to unite the world under a growing Athens banner. Like all those before him he would not fail.
Aegon had died before he could put down the civil war that was dividing the country. Fools, Lysim thought. How could anyone think to throw down our family? Ill finish my forbearers work. Quickly the old admiral sent orders to his generals: Crush this enemy. Destroy his heart, tear out his soul! I want them gone!
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Victories were all that were known while dispatching the rebels. Their navies stood no chance. And likewise their armies fell in quick succession. Though they did not go without a fight. It took Lysimachus and his generals many battles to finally bring them to their end.
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After the quelling of the civil war Lysimachus was at a loss. What to do he wondered.... Where should we go next? It was decided that Triballi, to the north, was an easy target. All it took was but one campaign to bring them to their knees. A single army stormed the castle and won victory.
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Next it was Macedon. A re-emerging country, to weak to make it in the days of old, tried to resurface. "The weak should stay where they belong!" Lysim exclaimed. And so it was. Macedon was crushed beneath Athens hoplite hordes.
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Small meaningless states brought no glory...... Athens needed a challenge. They needed a good fight in order to bring glory and honor the gods.
Pontus.....
Those eastern weaklings had been coddled for far to long. Done is our non aggression. If they cant be our equals, they don't deserve to live. And shortly war was declared on Pontus.
The first battle in the Pontic campaign was fought at the Pontic town of Ancrya. Lysimachus fully expected a long siege, or even a bloody assault. Instead he was greeted with a sally and a glorious fight on the field! Maybe, Lysim thought, just maybe this will be the glorious conquest he envisioned. Between Pontus and their allies Trapezos maybe they had enough to give us a fight. The Athenian generals took to the field. They were ready to test this Pontic foe. Long had they heard of the legendary Pontic swordsman. But what good would that do against the hoplite phalanx?
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The battle was over. Far to soon. Far to easily. Pontic swordsmen.... Bah more like Pontic sheep. Weak and untrained.
Soon after the fall of Ancrya came the combination assault, by naval and ground forces, on Sinope.
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Taking to the waters Lysimachus ordered his fleet into the attack. Strings of the heavy ballista thrummed as bolts arced and met the hulls of the Pontic warships. Several were sunk before they were even reached by the boarding parties. The naval battle culminated in the mass sinking of the enemy navy. The screams of drowning Pontic soldiers was like music to Lysimachus' ears.
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With the enemy navy out of the way the foot units of Athens stormed the beach to the rear of the Pontic army, effectively creating a second front in which they had to defend. With the cavalry creating a soft third front the town was totally surrounded. No one was to come out alive. Alas it was far to much for the Pontic army to handle. They were destroyed by the three pronged assault. Death followed each screaming Pontic soldier.
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The Athenian war machine rolled on. Athens took Amaesia next. It was a simple battle. Yet another route in this pitiful war. Lysimachus was overjoyed at the expansion of his empire. He beamed from ear to ear and was proud of his warriors and generals alike. One battle was all it took to crush Trapezos.
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Lysimachus was 75 years old after the defeat of Trapezos. So he called his brother Prochoros to him. Always it had been thus. The older admiral and his younger brother. The Admiral and the General. They spent a long time talking. "It will soon be my time to die brother" Lysim said " and you must carry on my vision. You must put down this Pontic threat and go on to greater things!" Agreements were made and as the night grew cold Lysimachus went to sleep.
Never again did his brother wake. Prochoros stood in the sun and pondered all that his brother had told him but a night before. He would continue his brothers work. He would throw down Pontus and then he would throw down anyone else who was in his way.
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Ten years younger than his older brother Prochoros became king at age 55. Neigh a stranger to battle. He was a six star general. Beaten and bloodied many times. He had the best army of Athenian brothers that had ever been fielded. He trusted every man., even knew a lot of them by name. Prochoros continued his brothers work. But in his own image. He quickly decided subdue Ardhan. Sending two of his generals to surround and destroy them. After a single bloody battle it was over. Ardhan was gone.
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Prochoros continued to hammer his Pontic foes all the way back to Ektabana. The last hold of the once mighty Pontic empire. An empire once stretching a good chunk of the Middle East. Three Athenian armies stood out side of the gates. Ready to assault it. Prochoros gave the order. It was a beautifully sunny day. To bad it had to be sullied by war.
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The Fighting was both on the walls and through them. Hoplites tore down the gates and breached the walls with ladders. Burning oil poured upon the Athenian attackers but it didn't matter. The walls were mounted by hoplites who then flanked the gate defenders. Athenian archers posted on the walls raining death from the heavens.
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Entering the city more defenders tried to rally. One group of hoplites were cut off and surrounded but were eventually saved. Even the Pontic chariots were no match for the Athenian army. They barely put a dent in a hoplite unit before being routed. After a long battle the enemies finally routed. Fleeing from the very gates they swore to hold only the morning before.
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Magistracy of Prochoros (159 B.C.E. - 149 B.C.E.)
Played by Veho Nex
159 B.C.E.: King Prochoros orders the construction of a massive fleet using the efforts of the entire empire. Emissaries are sent to the far corners of the world to boost trade.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403967337907/C10EBF6D9CA07DABD63EAEA0260B7EE30793BC4E/
In the region of Persis and Media Magna Athenian forces numbering more than 10,000 men gather along the border of Persia and Baktria in preparation for war. In Armenia two armies stationed at the border ready for an invasion of Royal Scythia.
King Prochoros marches back to Athens to lead the fleet on a journey into the setting sun. While the might of Heracles move towards the sea to join in the westward expansion. In 5 years time the invasion forces are set to sail.
158 B.C.E.: Out of all the emissaries sent forth only one returns with a negative reply. King Prochoros has marked that faction for future notice. War is declared on Royal Scythia, Baktria, and Cimmeria, due to alliances Massagate and Arachosia are now enemies of the Athenian state.
A large battle consisting of 5520 Athenian soldiers and 3280 Royal Scythia's finest horsemen takes place south of Mtskheta. It was an Athenian victory tempered only by the fact that both generals died while every single body guard lived. Athenian losses numbered 1041 men while Royal Scythia lost 2856 men. All body guards were executed after the battle for their incompetence. The 370 prisoners were interrogated and forced into slavery for the dead generals families.
The Battle of Mtskheta 158 B.C.E
Generals Gennadius and Aristonymos combined forces to face down the Royal Scythian forces. Gennadius led the vanguard forces into a valley west of large hill while Aristonymos led the main fighting force to the top of the hill to force the Royal Scythians off. The plan was to trap the enemy forces on the side of the hill and close in from the top and bottom making their horses a hindrance rather than an advantage.
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The leaders of the enemy armies were confused as to how they would beat dual pronged attack and so each took command of their own forces thinking their plan was better. What happened was a disorganized mob of elite forces and some town guardsmen. Aristonymos led his forces within arrow range of the extreme flanks of the north-south battle line of the R.S. forces. Peppering enemy cavalry and infantry with flaming arrows as he slowly moved his hoplites into position.
The east-west battle line of the R.S. forces were equally set upon by Gennadius' skirmishers but quick thinking by a mercenary captain stopped the skirmishers and even managed to route a unit before they suffered extreme losses.
The battle soon turned into a massive cluster as things went haywire on the hill. Aristonymos died fighting to break a flanking attack by R.S royal skirmishers on his spear men. While down in the valley Gennadius attacked the rear of an engaged unit and when the excitement of the battle caused his heart to fail. The leading captains then tried to organize as best they could and tried to complete the attack as planned. Only Athenian skill and cohesion kept the army from falling apart.
After the battle was ended the two captains were promoted to the rank of leader and they carried on the city attack with few losses.
With the addition of the new cities Athens is large enough to be considered an Empire and has gained Imperium status. Capable of fielding 12 armies and 9 navies.
Towns gained during the year of 158 B.C.E.: Phasis, Mtskheta, Rhaga, and Zadrakarta
157 B.C.E.: A relatively peaceful year compared to the previous one. The invasion of Baktria continues to push inland but the blitzing forces missed a sizable army of Baktrian soldiers and lost a previously conquered town. The force consisted of several elephant contingents as well as their normally fielded units.
Persia was invaded but due to their previously good relations wasnt annexed but had a puppet government installed instead. They are now a client state to Athens and are helping with the invasion of Baktria.
In the North the region of Caucasia was united with the capture of the lightly defended town of Gabala.
Towns gained during the year of 157 B.C.E.: Gabala, Persepolis, and Hecatompylos.
156 B.C.E.: Another year of relative peace. The grand fleet ordered almost 5 years ago is nearing completion and supplies are now being gathered to make a push to the west. In northern Greece a rebellious army left over from Pontic wars is now the target of a newly raised Home Defense army. In Africa an army is raised to help keep the peace. In the province of Phanagoria an army from Massagate marches on what seemed to be a lightly guarded city. They fell under an Athenian ambush and were cut down in whole sale.
155 B.C.E.: Another year where armies continue to march forth upon Athens enemies. The sunset invasion fleet has gathered and is ready to leave Athen with King Prochoros at its head. They are bound westward to see where the sun takes them. The town of Merv was taken from the Baktrians and already it is apparent they dont have the money to sustain their armies as men desert by the century.
Towns gained during 155 B.C.E: Merv
154 B.C.E.: Athenian armies marched farther into the borders of her enemies cutting entire empires in half or destroying some all together. King Prochoros and his mighty fleet round the heel of Italy and push on towards Syracuse. The Baktrians vie for peace but demand appropriations from Athens which was aggressively denied.
Towns gained during 154 B.C.E.: Samandar, Phanagoria
153 B.C.E.: The Kings fleet continues to sail westward. North of Pella on a mighty river Pontus rebels cower on boats in a makeshift floating city and an Athenian ship was dispatched to remove their presence from the world. In the East armies continue to march on Baktria taking city after city. The whole of its nation crumbling at its feet they asked for peace again. Athens offered to let them live if only they bend knee. They refused. The army stationed in Phanagoria set sail and has set siege to its sister city of Pantecaeum. Towers are being built and the assault is planned to commence as soon as they are finished.
Towns gained during 153 B.C.E.:
152 B.C.E.: A year of advances in technology and warfare. Athens Economic technologies expand as he armies march on major enemy cities. General Caporos takes the port city of Panticapaeum after a long and bloody conflict.
The Siege of Panticapaeum 152 B.C.E.
General Caporos marches his men and their newly constructed towers and ladders march on the high walls of Panticapaeum.
http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085797945/45A2D35B0950DC5A5FA747AF815567DB0264442A/
He ordered his light peltast into a skirmish line ahead of the main equipment to keep the slingers and archers on the walls heads down.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085799061/003A221CDB39BE6AD20CBE54BC8AA99A83EBBF8A/
The ladders and towers approach the walls under heavy fire. The soldiers in the towers hunkered down to make as small a target as possible. Unfortunately flaming javelins and arrows make quick work of one of the towers.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085800076/FF91A7D6A1B9248753A1E47D83368089D69B3671/
The moment the towers and ladders hit the wall cimmerian cavalry made a break for it through the main gate to attack the men trying to climb the walls. They didn't foresee a group of light hoplites braving the oil under the gatehouse and ran straight into onwaiting spears.
http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085800907/4343B1A4D2B763B74B1622921C9AEDEA818BC196/
After a long fought and hard battle the walls are taken. Athenian soldiers take up jeering and taunting the Cimmerian soldiers fleeing the towers and gate.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085801834/BE28A7CEA555E0CF8AB68698E5CFA97F6E75EA89/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085804016/3D0BE91A6EFB440A715A3FA34A0D85FD32884CD4/
The gates belong to Athens and reserve troops begin to move through.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085802869/8C325ED71E1889C87B80FFAB64C251D6A9E8E6CC/
On the far right flank Athenian soldiers stand steady against a numerically superior Cimmerian soldiers. They fight hard and slay many enemy soldiers. Their morale begins to waver though and reinforcements are sent in a hurry to steady their lines.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085805320/E36401E82D029652293081F6CC43AAC39A09ED4F/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085806780/FB93329EDEC5988E7AD2A06393DFFB76D31EEFAD/
With the flanks held the battle turns into a mop up and Athenian soldiers gather their wounded. A final view before the battle is officially called to end shows the soldiers that held the right watch Athenian formations in the street.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085808662/2C88746A0890D55FA4EA7145227DE085D4267A8F/
Cont.... (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?145979-Athens-Summer-Harvest-War-%28R2TW-succession-game%29&p=2053560753&viewfull=1#post2053560753)
Bramborough
10-26-2013, 22:27
Oh...so I'm first, eh? *gulp*....you guys should be aware I've never played as high as VH....gotta be a first time I guess.
No worries, looking forward to it. Just hope the game doesn't end right here.
Will get rolling on this tonight. Watching college football (Tx Tech vs OU) right now.
Oh...so I'm first, eh? *gulp*....you guys should be aware I've never played as high as VH....gotta be a first time I guess.
No worries, looking forward to it. Just hope the game doesn't end right here.
Will get rolling on this tonight. Watching college football (Tx Tech vs OU) right now.
Good luck!
Oh...so I'm first, eh? *gulp*....you guys should be aware I've never played as high as VH....gotta be a first time I guess.
No worries, looking forward to it. Just hope the game doesn't end right here.
Will get rolling on this tonight. Watching college football (Tx Tech vs OU) right now.
You'll do just fine :2thumbsup:
AntiDamascus
10-27-2013, 00:39
Sounds like this will....... succeed!
Kamakazi
10-27-2013, 06:28
im excited for this. ive never played Athens before..... also it will be interesting to see how others run their empire
Bramborough
10-27-2013, 07:16
Um....apparently I need to buy Winzip for $29.95 to do this then?
Edit: Never mind, apparently there's an "Evaluation Version". Just hope there's not a time limit on it...
Hooahguy
10-27-2013, 07:34
Use 7zip I think it's called, it's totally free and much better overall.
Um....apparently I need to buy Winzip for $29.95 to do this then?
Edit: Never mind, apparently there's an "Evaluation Version". Just hope there's not a time limit on it...
There is but it never stopped working for me.
Bramborough
10-27-2013, 14:30
Term 1 Complete
First I'll get the savegame link up...
easytarget
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279
Filename is AthensSHW Term 2 (should be at the top of the list)
And now the AAR...
Athenian Sunrise: Magistracy of Demochares, 276-237 B.C. (39 turns)
Start
Probably common knowledge among most folks, but since Athens is a lesser-played faction, a few highlights about the start situation:
One settlement: Athenai (provincial capital in Hellas)
Troops: Two small armies in Hellas, total of 10 units combined (including bodyguards). 2x cavalry (the bodyguards), 5x hoplites, 3x slinger/javelin
Navy: One very small navy near Hellas. 3x ships
Diplomatic situation: Athens is a client state of Macedon, who is basically neutral. Sparta is very friendly (and also trading). Epirus is quite hostile. As I recall, other nearby factions are either slightly friendly or neutral.
Politics: Player's faction is the Magistrates. Opposing faction is the Oligarchs. Magistrates start with something like 25 or 30% influence.
https://i.imgur.com/XFbyU9k.png
Basic Strategy
So...I want Democharos to leave at least a full province to his successor. Two obvious options:
Hellas: Requires going to war with Sparta. Pro: unifies Athenai's own province, probably improves Macedon to Friendly, only 2 minor settlements to capture. Con: Already have a very hostile neighbor in Epirus...this option adds Sparta as an enemy, not sure starting Athens units can beat starting Sparta units, Sparta is the only Very Friendly state - don't want to throw that away.
Macedonia: Requires war with Epirus and eventually Macedon. Pro: Epirus already hostile anyway, will break Athens' client status when Macedon war starts, further cements Sparta relationship (they start at war with Epirus). Con: Athenai remains single Athenian settlement in Hellas, will take longer (3 cities vice 2), potential for Macedon/Epirus wars at same time, and finally...Epirus starts with elephants (gulp).
I choose Macedonia.
How It Went
I combine the two armies into one; the Brothers of Xenophon, then recruit some more hoplites and cheaper spear units. I want a full-size army to go after Epirus. Also add a few ships to the fleet. Spy goes to look at Larissa...a small army (maybe 5 units) plus garrison. I send the Brothers up there to encircle and capture the place..they're slightly smaller than the combined army+garrison, but have more hoplite units, so I'm comfortable on troop quality. Larissa surrenders without a battle..so far so good.
Sparta and Macedon go to war...so I have to choose since I'm a Macedon client. Pretty easy decision given I had already decided to conquer Macedonia. I decline to enter the war, thereby breaking client status (but don't actually enter into hostilities). So now Sparta is even more friendly, while Macedon is now angry (but they don't declare on me). All of this is just fine.
Spy pokes around up at Apollonia...wow, Epirus is building a big army there (including their starting elephant unit). It's clear I will not be able to attack with numerical superiority...so I bring the fleet around, prepositioning to help. My plan is to encircle/blockade Apollonia at same time, hopefully the Epirus army will not sally. When the Brothers are at 19 units, I head over there (don't want to wait another turn for just one unit). Epirus hands me a gift...their big army (Champions of Nike) goes wandering around the Adriatic for no discernible reason. So I hit Apollonia with army and fleet to take it down before the Champions get back.
The assault goes pretty well. My missiles whittle down the garrison for a while, then hoplites go in to finish them off. A Spartan army supports, but they don't really get involved. The only hitch is that for some reason, I unchecked "Control Large Army"...I honestly don't know why. So my fleet keeps sending ONE ship at a time onto the map...and sometimes I forget to go tell the guy to withdraw, and he gets killed by the 3 Epirus garrison ships. About 80% of my casualties come from this. So I gooned that up. In any case, Apollonia is captured.
https://i.imgur.com/qrZZ9ZO.png
Athenian hoplite column marching towards Apollonia
https://i.imgur.com/kzM9NoE.png
Missile troops open the battle
https://i.imgur.com/psT1HG1.png
Hoplites engage
https://i.imgur.com/9QZQWk5.png
Brothers of Xenophon triumphant: Hoplites celebrate the capture of Apollonia
It turns out that Epirus had just captured Brundisium across the water. They have only one very small fleet there, and no garrison built up yet (must've been the immediately preceding turn). My fleet still has full movement points, so I send 'em over. I hadn't planned to do this, but the opportunity looks too good to pass up. It's an easy capture, and now I have a second walled capital. Also brings me in contact with Rome, who seem to be doing okay in Italia. They're decently friendly; we establish trade. Rome is also buddies with Syracuse; I trade with them too. At some point right around this time, Sparta offers a military alliance; I accept.
The Epirus army comes meandering back down the Adriatic, just within range of both Brundisium and Apollonia. I send both fleet and army after them, reinforcing each other. The enemy army is pretty easily destroyed at sea. Happy to get rid of those elephants. Epirus now has only one lone general with an attrition-dwindling bodyguard. He can't hurt anything, so I'm content to just let him drift around til he attrites away entirely. Except the guy decides to start raiding in Larissa, screwing over my Macedonia public order. So Demochares (who doesn't have an army yet) hires a merc and goes to kill him. Epirus destroyed. War over. Merc disbanded before his ridiculous upkeep trashes my economy.
https://i.imgur.com/AweYRXy.png
"Annoying Raid Guy"
A few words about initial economy/research/construction. I start with a few military techs, to get to the 2nd-level barracks (and workshop/champs)...I haven't played Athens, so not quite sure what they can recruit with these. Turns out the hoplite barracks gives citizen cav and pikemen, while perioriki (sp?) provides archers and peltasts. The pikemen don't look useful at all. I decide to go with the perioriki first (but wind up capturing one before I get around to building it). I eventually want all my ports to be commercial, but Athenai and Brundisium are lone capitals with no support, so I keep fishing ports there for now as their sole source of food. Apollonia/Larissa, while minor, are both resource towns, so I build them to level 2, and go with Temples of Poseidon for the double PO/food buff (I've learned from playing Pontus that the ToP is pretty awesome; all benefit, no cost even at Lvl 4). And then a wheat farm for 3rd slot. ToP/farm is pretty much my "standard" minor Hellenic settlement build. Apollonia's port goes commercial. After the initial military techs, I switch to civil, trying to start getting a bit more money coming in, plus I want a dignitary. This all takes a while, of course, since money is tight.
So with Epirus gone, now time to go after Macedon. They're very hostile to me, but haven't declared war yet...they're busy fighting Tylis instead (to whom Macedon has lost Pulpudeva). Pella is their only remaining city. I start recruiting troops into second army (led by FL Demochares) for the siege. This army (the Heracleidae) is about half-size when my buddy Sparta starts sailing a full army up toward Pella...I don't want them to beat me there. So my 1 1/2 armies march to besiege Pella. Macedon has had a large army there, but like Epirus, they sent it off into the Fog (presumably against Tylis), and I don't have to deal with it. With only a garrison left, my two armies easily assault and capture Pella (no screenies...I AR'd it. Sue me.). Macedonia is unified, I proclaim Bread & Games edict in the province. One small Macedonian fleet remains, but they suicide against Athenai's garrison. Never did see what happened to their big army, I guess Tylis destroyed it. Anyhoo, Macedon is gone.
But...Macedon had allies, who'd also joined in war against me. Ardiaei, Bithynia, and Triballi. Bithynia is no problem, I immediately get them to make peace. The Triballi (also at war with Tylis) won't make peace, but never bother me either. The Ardiaei, however, are different...they march a full 20-unit army across the mountain pass toward Pella. Spy takes a look; some hoplites, but also a bunch of lower-quality melee and spear infantry, many of them with pretty low morale values. 6 slinger units. I feel relatively comfortable against them, and move the Brothers of Xenophon in position to attack next turn.
They decide to attack me instead, and the Heracleidae (inside Pella) are apparently just outside reinforcement range. The Brothers have overall higher-quality troops, I feel okay about it. The balance-of-power meter shows me at a significant disadvantage, maybe 30-35%. I figure it's just out of whack or not accounting for morale values, not too worried. I decide to corner-camp with my hoplites in phalanx. Slingers behind where the Ardiaei can't get to them. I think the Brothers will take some significant casualties, but confident they'll win....
These dudes kick my butt in a bloodbath. It sours early when my general Isidoros is killed by some lucky missile fire, before the melee even starts. So my army takes a morale hit...and it starts snowballing. The hoplites (plus 4 militia hoplites) hold well and fight for a long time. But the dang slingers rout...even though they're not flanked or directly threatened. So I lose my missile fire. Then the militia hoplites crack. The main line keeps fighting, but now with general and slingers gone, it's not going well. And these Ardiaei troops just aren't breaking, whatever the unit cards might say about their lousy morale. Finally my guys just get frittered away, and finally break. It's very close, I think they win a "Costly Victory". Both armies kill about an equal (high) number...but they started with more in the first place. I'm reasonably sure that if my general had lived it may very well have gone my way.
https://i.imgur.com/NTiSCYO.png
My corner-camp position...I thought this was going to work...
https://i.imgur.com/v3nHclW.png
The melee vs Ardiaei. This is pretty close to the end. General long dead, and militia/slingers have headed for the hills already.
In any case, the Ardiaei may have "won"...but so beat up that they're pretty easy prey for the Heracleidae to clean up next turn. Meanwhile a shell of the Brothers lives on, they weren't destroyed entirely. And the Ardiaei have lost their main army. So, tactically embarassing, but not a strategic disaster.
Demochares is just past 60 now, and I kinda want to clean things up in prep for his successor. Now that they've lost a big army, the Ardiaei are willing to make peace...and then the Triballi go along. So no current wars, although obviously these guys remain hostile. I start rebuilding the Brothers of Xenophon, so that there will be two decent-sized armies when Demochares kicks. I also shift some buildings around. For example, I convert Athenai's Sacred Grove to Poseidon, in order to get just enough food where I can convert fishing port to commercial use. A few other changes. Demochares gets to about 68 or 69 yrs old, and then dies of natural causes.
End State
237 B.C - 39 turns
Treasury: 2744
Income: 2383
Food Surplus: 27
New Magistrate Faction Leader: Straton
Magistrate Influence: roughly 40-45% range
Forces:
https://i.imgur.com/uxVmoWc.png
Stationed at Pella
Commanded by Demodocos. 17yrs old. Magistrate faction (same as player).
https://i.imgur.com/iFrzpTE.png
Stationed at Apollonia
Commanded by Straton (new Faction Leader). 31 yrs old. Magistrate faction (obviously).
https://i.imgur.com/789vDkU.png
Stationed at Brundisium
Commanded by Erectheus. 52 yrs old. Oligarch faction.
Provinces/Settlements:
https://i.imgur.com/E3kh9Lq.png
https://i.imgur.com/s0atJsL.png
https://i.imgur.com/O7lbTG0.png
Final Comments
I find myself almost regretting the capture of Brundisium. I had no intention of war with Rome any time soon, which meant I was not going to spread out in Magna Graecia. So Brundisium had no support from minors, and Latin culture remained dominant, trashing public order. Took forever to get order back up past zero...and it's still pretty low now. Even the Sacred Grove isn't helping that much. All of this led to the fleet getting stuck there for public order reasons...it's been welded to the pier in Brundisium's harbor for the last 20 turns. So I couldn't use the fleet...nor did I feel I could afford to reduce its size. So it's been sucking upkeep money. This seemed the "least evil" option, compared to moving one of the armies there or building a new army. I wish now that I'd simply not captured it, or just abandoned it to rebellion. I think Athens' economy might be in better shape right now...I didn't really have a use for the fleet against Macedon or Ardiaei, but I could've sent it looking around the western Med for more factions to trade with.
This was my first time playing VH. The lack of tactical map, restricted battle cam movement, etc took some getting used to. Also put a crimp in getting more screenies, since pausing puts a big fat window in the middle of the screen. Apollonia was the only battle I felt comfortable enough to snap some screenies "on the fly"...(plus, I may or may not have AR'd some of the others). I also noticed that enemy agent activity was pretty heavy for so early in the campaign. Epirus' spy was a total pain in the butt around Larissa.
I was struck by just how much longer melee combat was taking during these battles, even the relatively easy Apollonia fight. In my previous campaigns as Rome and Pontus, I've never seen enemy infantry last this long, even lower-quality units. I don't know if that's because Athenian hoplites just don't kill very fast (i.e., slower than Pontic ones), or if it's because I was playing on VH. I remember seeing a summary somewhere of what changes with difficulty level; I don't recall seeing "AI morale buff" listed.
Minor error: When I recruited first dignitary, I put her on Civil Admin at Athenai, because at the time it was my highest-income province. Later when I had all of Macedonia, I forgot to move her. She's in the wrong place.
https://i.imgur.com/s5MYKx8.png
Hooahguy
10-27-2013, 15:22
Well that went fast.
We're supposed to AAR this ourselves? ^^
fallen851
10-27-2013, 15:40
Well that went fast.
Sure was. He did say he never played on VH before, maybe his faction leader died in the first battle?
Looking forward to the AAR.
Hooahguy
10-27-2013, 15:46
Yup. Writing an AAR is pretty easy though. Just take photos of what happened during the reign, and write a story of the events. Just look at my or Bramborough's AARs as a guide.
Hooahguy
10-27-2013, 16:48
Dont worry, its not as hard as it looks. :2thumbsup:
Bramborough
10-27-2013, 17:22
Hmm, didn't expect so many comments since I first posted the savegame link...usually slow around that time. I probably should've posted the AAR separately here.
If you haven't noticed by scrolling back up, the first-term AAR is up now. I just edited my earlier post.
Hooahguy
10-27-2013, 17:38
Excellent! You really set the bar for this!
easytarget
10-27-2013, 19:09
Haha, didn't know I'd signed up for this, I just commented I thought it was an interesting idea.
Someone will need to walk me through how to post pictures, I've no idea.
And Bramborough, you set the bar high, I fully intend to lower it a couple notches.
Have fun! :)
I found this thread at "Mead Hall" subforum:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?122795-How-does-one-AAR
A good guide to make a AAR and how to post pictures
Great job Bramborough! I think the save got passed down with battle realism from my game settings, that's why you didn't get the radar map etc. It's a separate setting from the campaign map difficulty. So you've already had "Legendary" level battles! Good job!
easytarget take a screenshot of your faction leader (for the sake of a family tree), that's what is really important. To take screenshots, the best thing to do is to download and install fraps.
Uploading pictures is easy. I use imageshack (though it has become worse and worse recently) but any image hosting service will do - tinypic, picasa, imugr etc. Once you upload your picture, you grab the direct link (the one ending with .jpg or whatever your file extension is) and you come to the .org You click the little framed picture of a tree (icon on the top, third one from the right) and you select "From URL" and uncheck "Retrieve remote file and reference locally"
To use spoilers you just do [spoiler] and then [/ spoiler] (without the space). Good luck!
Also, I think that pikemen are always useful early game, when all the enemy units are below 50 morale. Later on, the lack of high quality pikes like Foot Companions or Silver Shield Pikemen will hurt (because at that point the enemy will throw tir 3 and tier 4 units at you who can break through the sarissa wall of a levy tier pike block), but right now pikemen are the best way to ensure land supremacy!
In my Seleucid campaign I destroyed an almost fullstack of hoplites, fielded by Pergamon, with my levy pikemen pike block and a horde of eastern slingers with below 200 casualites.
Bramborough
10-28-2013, 10:39
Great job Bramborough! I think the save got passed down with battle realism from my game settings, that's why you didn't get the radar map etc. It's a separate setting from the campaign map difficulty. So you've already had "Legendary" level battles! Good job!
easytarget take a screenshot of your faction leader (for the sake of a family tree), that's what is really important. To take screenshots, the best thing to do is to download and install fraps.
Uploading pictures is easy. I use imageshack (though it has become worse and worse recently) but any image hosting service will do - tinypic, picasa, imugr etc. Once you upload your picture, you grab the direct link (the one ending with .jpg or whatever your file extension is) and you come to the .org You click the little framed picture of a tree (icon on the top, third one from the right) and you select "From URL" and uncheck "Retrieve remote file and reference locally"
To use spoilers you just do [spoiler] and then [/ spoiler] (without the space). Good luck!
Also, I think that pikemen are always useful early game, when all the enemy units are below 50 morale. Later on, the lack of high quality pikes like Foot Companions or Silver Shield Pikemen will hurt (because at that point the enemy will throw tir 3 and tier 4 units at you who can break through the sarissa wall of a levy tier pike block), but right now pikemen are the best way to ensure land supremacy!
In my Seleucid campaign I destroyed an almost fullstack of hoplites, fielded by Pergamon, with my levy pikemen pike block and a horde of eastern slingers with below 200 casualites.
1. Well I thought that might be the case (about Realism). I went to my Options, the box was unchecked, so I couldn't change it. I guess that, like difficulty level, once it's set for a campaign, it's permanent? The additional difficulty is not the issue...just that it's hard to take screenshots of interesting moments in battle. I think that's a valid consideration for an AAR campaign like this.
2. WRT pikemen...yeah, the troops aren't horrible, but they don't have any stats better than the lower-tier hoplites. When I said "not useful", what I meant is that I didn't see a role for them in armies already built around the hoplites (there may be an economic role in just making the army upkeep a little cheaper). That said...I've noticed the same issue with the Pontic Level IV Bronze Shield Pikes....they're great troops, but in many categories are equal or below Level I hoplites as well. I understand the difference between the hoplites' "standard" spear and the long sarissae...but tactically I think I'm still missing a fundamental difference in strengths/weaknesses of the two types and how to employ them.
Well, I wrote a response to your question about pikes but it became so lengthly and detailed that I turned it into this mini-guide (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?146002-Mini-guide-for-Rome-2-Total-War-Pikemen-vs-Hoplites&p=2053557731#post2053557731) :laugh4:
Kamakazi
10-28-2013, 18:15
Ive always used battle realism mode..... never knew it was a legendary specific thing....
Ive always used battle realism mode..... never knew it was a legendary specific thing....
Well you can't play Legendary and not have it enabled. It's the highest tier of difficulty setting for battles.
It's annoying. It takes half the fun out of the battles. I like watching them! >_>
IMO the game speed on regular (not fast forward) is slow enough for one to go and press F10 and grab a screen in Fraps. I find that I speed much of my battles up once I've deployed and the killing starts. I use normal speed only for immersion purposes, if there are too many units on screen or if I need to intensively micro two or more blocks of troops.
Kamakazi
10-29-2013, 00:39
well I guess ive got a head start then. After my pontus campaign wraps up im going on to legendary.... any comments on a good faction to play for legendary? Anything but: Sparta, Parthia or Pontus as ive played all of them thus far
nearchos
10-29-2013, 08:29
well I guess ive got a head start then. After my pontus campaign wraps up im going on to legendary.... any comments on a good faction to play for legendary? Anything but: Sparta, Parthia or Pontus as ive played all of them thus far
Seleucids perhaps? I love playing them on legendary, not sure if it would be that interesting on lower levels.
well I guess ive got a head start then. After my pontus campaign wraps up im going on to legendary.... any comments on a good faction to play for legendary? Anything but: Sparta, Parthia or Pontus as ive played all of them thus far
Seleucids I second. I'd also recommend you try one of the new horse archer factions from the DLC, they offer a radically different experience.
Kamakazi
10-29-2013, 14:00
I went all horse archer with Parthia so I know how that bit works. Ill probably to royal Scythia on VH or something. I was thinking maybe Egypt for Legendary? Ive never been a fan of Seleucid
I dislike Egypt myself, though their starting region is probably the best one in the game (3 resources of which 2 are grain, 2 wonders, 2 ports).
I'd suggest you go with Macedon. They have the best pike phalanx around, as well as very formidable Hoplites, great special ops type of infantry in Royal Peltasts (devastating melee and also javelin attack), really good cavalry, and a good starting position as well.
Kamakazi
10-29-2013, 14:36
It is indeed an interesting choice..... Ill have to give it a lot of thought.... My Pontus campaign has shifted drastically to cleanup. Half of the medieval world is mine now. So soon ill need another campaign.
It is indeed an interesting choice..... Ill have to give it a lot of thought.... My Pontus campaign has shifted drastically to cleanup. Half of the medieval world is mine now. So soon ill need another campaign.
You mean antique world, of course.
Kamakazi
10-29-2013, 20:44
lol old world, medieval, antique..... whatever makes you happy =)
Bramborough
10-29-2013, 23:16
I'd suggest you go with Macedon. They have the best pike phalanx around, as well as very formidable Hoplites, great special ops type of infantry in Royal Peltasts (devastating melee and also javelin attack), really good cavalry, and a good starting position as well.
I find the strength of Macedon's start is that they have only two cities...but both are provincial capitals. One can consolidate two pretty good provinces without having to assault a walled city. It's like a Rome start without Neapolis/Cosentia.
I too am in the later stages of current campaign. I might give Macedon a go, if only because I don't think I have this pike thing down just yet.
I'm currently rocking a Legenedary Sparta game and I consolidated Makedon and then Hellas. Sure I had to break it off with Athens, but with two full provinces I went and pounded Roma into the dust. Rome and Magna Graecia... now there's some juicy provinces! I also had 800 kills on a unit of citizen cav after a glorious corner defence sally.
nearchos
10-30-2013, 08:29
I find the strength of Macedon's start is that they have only two cities...but both are provincial capitals. One can consolidate two pretty good provinces without having to assault a walled city. It's like a Rome start without Neapolis/Cosentia.
I too am in the later stages of current campaign. I might give Macedon a go, if only because I don't think I have this pike thing down just yet.
My first campaign was with Macedon, unfortunately, before the latest patches.
I decided to go first against the barbarian factions of Thrace, so Athens, a CS of Macedon and Sparta a DA, assaulted Epirus and destoyed them, so at the begining i controled Thrace but couldnt unify Macedonia, not at least without break the CS status, ( i did that eventualy but later in the game).
So this is a desision you have to make, in the begining.
They have a powerful roster, especialy later when you have access to foot companion pikes, royal peltasts, shield bearers hoplites, and all the powerful Macedonian cav.
Pikewall with well protected flanks, they just never fail you, even when you are heavily outnumbered, leave the enemy break wave after wave on the pike points and decide when and how you make the real killing with cav.
As a side note, even if they lack the Seleucid cataphracts and silver shield swordsmen (it's very good to have shock infantry), the Macedonians have a horse corral in place of the (rather lame) cow pens. At level 4 that baby provides 20% cavalry speed. Do it x3 and you can have a killer province dedicated to cav recruitment!
Kamakazi
10-30-2013, 15:09
Not to get back on topic ;) but when is it my turn to rule Athens!?!?!?! im getting anxious!
easytarget is working on it, but he has a day job so he can't do it quickly :yes:
You can see the line of succession in the OP.
Kamakazi
10-30-2013, 16:53
I know ive got a while im just excited to make some mark on the empire ;)
As a side note, even if they lack the Seleucid cataphracts and silver shield swordsmen (it's very good to have shock infantry), the Macedonians have a horse corral in place of the (rather lame) cow pens. At level 4 that baby provides 20% cavalry speed. Do it x3 and you can have a killer province dedicated to cav recruitment!
So they do really stack? I was always wondering about that. It seems a little op =X
Everything stacks according to CA.
easytarget
10-30-2013, 23:14
This text will be hidden
This does not appear to work for me, little help please?
I'll post up what happened once I figure this out and sort through some screenshots.
My bad. The code on the .org uses "spoil" instead of "spoiler". See your message (i edited it to test and show you).
easytarget
10-30-2013, 23:34
ah, thx, btw, if i leave a window open for awhile typing, will it time out on me and wipe it all?
Hooahguy
10-30-2013, 23:49
I dont think so, but just in case I type everything on Microsoft Word and just copy-paste it here.
easytarget
10-31-2013, 00:38
Magistracy of Straton: 236 – 216 BC
Start with Five Settlements
Troops: Two partial armies and one partial navy
Diplomatic Status: No wars at the start of his reign
Politics: The magistates and oligarchs are evenly matched in influence
*Apologies in advance for spelling, it should be mostly correct, but at some point I just gave up on it.
Straton picks up the burden of leadership of Athens with the Macedonian province complete, providing him a base of operations that afforded plentiful trade opportunities. The barbarians are at the gates in every direction however.
The strategy Straton decided to adopt upon taking power was the following (and like all well laid schemes it lasted till the point of first engagement): 1. Establish trade with anyone willing to do so. Expansion requires armies, armies require money. To this end also Straton issued the edict of 15% tax in the Macedonia province. 2. Form alliances or at least non-aggression pacts with neighbors to avoid being run over while building the army. 3. Establish a base of operations in Africa such that down the road the ability to directly confront Libya and their protector Carthage directly. Africa is a long term campaign objective, and Straton, not being a particularly healthy man, fancied all the wide open spaces and clean air might do him some good.
https://i.imgur.com/2wXNIsRl.png?1
236 BC – Agents sent to scope out Africa, Rome offers non-aggression + money and I accept, I’ve dealt with Rome before and consider them a devious opponent I don’t want to tangle with at the moment. In hindsight this bit of diplomacy was a mistake, Rome proved militarily weak and incapable of handling their encounter with Carthage. Hindsight as they say is 20/20. At the time, I had a depleted military and the Ardiaei are at my border and hostile. I thought I could bind my time in taking Magna Graceia and tabled Italy for the time being. Besides, with Sparta as an ally I’m forced into confrontations not of my choosing closer to home that require my attention. They insist I join them in a war with Ardiaei and I accept because that’s what military allies do, even if perhaps against our better judgment.
Recruited champion with funds from Rome to train army commanded by Demodocus, signed non-aggression w/ Tylis to keep that nearby front calm while engaged w/ war Sparta wants to pursue. Upgraded ships under command by Erechteheus. Improve the city at Pella to provide better defense should Ardiaiei attempt to flank.
235 BC - Sparta mobilizes steaming their army towards the Ardiaei who in response immediately offered us peace, we countered with client state and $2,000 to test their resolve, declined. The Odrysian Kingdom offers non-aggression which I accept since I have no current focus on pushing north. The trusted spy Aido dies while working on the Ardiaei front and a replacement is recruited, but her experience and skill will be missed.
The navy in heading towards Africa and Libya for exploratory purposes encounters the Knossos, they appear at this point to be engaged with no one else but have a robust military presence already developed and stationed on the island, the admiral makes the determination to continue his mission, no further diplomacy at this point with them, but Rhodos was also encountered and trade negotiated.
Admiral Demodocus reports back from Libya Hellenisic rebels are all that control Cyrene (province of Libya neighboring the African province which is the goal), is this the base of operations Straton had in mind? This good news from the Admiral is followed by bad news; the province of Africa is controlled by Libya, which in and of itself would not have proven a problem, but, there’s always a but, they are the client state of Carthage, a sea power prowling the med and one our navy Demodocus assures we are not ready for yet. We will bide our time and work on taking advantage of what has presented itself in the form of neighboring towns ripe for the plucking.
234 BC - Tragedy strikes twice: Straton has been wounded while at the head of his army near the Ardiaei battle front, our spies are in pursuit of the agent that committed this heinous crime, they must be made to pay with their lives. If this was not bad enough, as our armies massed for the blow that would take Ardiaei out, the Spartan forces inexplicably sail off to points unknown, at which point two more entire armies come out of the woods in support of the forces our men have come to engage w/o their commander they make the decision to retreat and live to fight this fight another day when the fates are not so clearly against us.
https://i.imgur.com/FAoMiWZl.png
Looking back, it’s difficult not to see the hand writing on the wall for our beloved Straton, while his wound would not prove fatal, that he would come to his final resting place a mere 16 years hence, it’s this date that must live as the mark of the beginning of the end for his reign, his health it would appear never fully recovered. Small satisfaction then that my trusty spies have done their work and ended the life of the agent who inflicted my wounds.
233BC – Hard conversations are had with Sparta over their desertion from a war they asked us to join. Straton upon recovery demands they attack the Ardiaei to recover some scrap of honor and justify our alliance. They do nothing. The Spartans are clearly a shadow of their former selves.
Being a leader of a people means making hard choices, and the fact is, this is not my battle, at least not right now, I offer peace to the Ardiaei and they accept. My dream is of glory in Africa. And with all my cities in Macedon improved, I feel confident the defenses can hold as my commanders sail w/o me, for alas I will never see it, my recovery from my wounds has come at a price, I now am forced from the field and into politics as a statesman from here on.
232 BC – In anticipation of the wars to come, and based on income from increased trade, the army is enhanced with more hoplites and bows. The great strategic question before us is this: Demodocus reports Africa is undefended, the armies and navies of both Libya and Carthage are at sea. Would Carthage drop Libya or come to her defense? While I pondered this the Romans engaged with an offer of a defensive alliance, I accept thinking at the time this might prove the perfect distraction to Carthage.
231 BC – Well, as a Statesman I’ve started out on the wrong foot and made the wrong bet, I went with Rome and in just one year Carthage nearly destroys them, the remnants of Rome cling to life on a small island and Carthage now controls Italy.
My spies have been working overtime sowing insurrection in Cosentia (controlled by the Etruscan League) and begin building a 3rd army under General Alkmonion (sp?) in Apollonia in anticipation of attacking this Libyan held province and slowing the Carthaginian expansion on the Italian peninsula.
230 BC – General Amphion and Admiral Erechtheus take Cyrene. The first step on the new continent is taken!
https://i.imgur.com/G3io9J0l.png
229 BC - Trade and a military alliance with Knossos (matching the military alliance Sparta also has with them) who has a fairly robust army patrolling off our Greek coasts. And I have signed a non-aggression pact with the Nasamontes, their presence near Egypt is militarily superior to our own at this time and I cannot afford to take them on just yet.
Purchased military access from Egypt in order to pursue expansion of a base of operations through the taking of Hellenisitic rebel controlled Ammonium.
228 BC – Our army in Africa encounters Cryenencion rebels on the way to Ammonium and defeat them
226 BC – Our army lays siege to Ammonium and our agents continue to sow unrest in Cosentia in anticipation of Alkmonion taking his forces there to liberate the town.
https://i.imgur.com/lAxOyIml.png
225 BC – Hypsipyle has come to the end of her days and laid her burden down, such a seasoned diplomat will be sorely missed, improvements in our towns continues and finances are looking up, what I lack in diplomacy I’m working to make up for economically. It should be noted on a similar vein that I have committed most all of my research on economic matters; as a result, I expect my successor to find good reserve funds available for him pursue the glory of Greece.
224 BC – Sparta has the audacity to request our support in a war with Ardiaei again, having been down this road once and been burned, I’m leery of trusting Sparta. But they are “our people”, so I agree against my better judgment, the last thing I wanted was a two front war, so this alliance with Sparta has so far proven nothing but a headache, that said, I also leaving an enemy on our border unattended to lest this turn into a fiasco on two fronts at once, which I fear it most assuredly will. With that I set the orders with Sparta to attack Ardiaei and I command out forces once again to the front.
The siege of Ammonium is victorious, but comes at a bitter price; we lose General Amphinion in battle. Unforeseen reinforcements came in from the desert (not even by road) from a direction the general never anticipated. A close victory, but a victory nonetheless, and as a result we now have a foot hold on this continent from which to base our attack of Africa.
223 BC – The battle w/ the Ardiaei begins tragically as another general dies, this time Herakleitos. But he did not die for nothing, Epidamnos is ours!
https://i.imgur.com/WpsWdFwl.png
This victory has caused Straton to strategically pause and weigh his options. While this was a war not of his making (and once again not joined by Sparta who started it), it does appear from the news from the front we have the advantage here, and could well press our luck in taking additional cities and even perhaps complete the Illyria province North of us, hopefully taking the Daorsi out for good, and securing a buffer to our homeland and additional income to boot.
On the Libyan front I’ve two of the four settlements that would complete a province, admittedly this is not Africa, but it is the basis for staging an attack. One of these settlements is held by Egypt though, and they have been actively seeking alliances, the politics of this adventure are becoming increasingly complicated.
222 BC – Admiral Erechtheus after long years of service goes to meet Poseidon, he served us well. The Nasmones (sp?) attack Paraitonion controlled by Egypt, I stand by watching in the hopes they will succeed. This would un-complicate matters in terms of taking the province.
Agents of the Ardieai are active still and having nearly killed me once, I pull my agents home to deal with them.
And the decision weighed as to the opportunistic war with the Dorsai has led me to push forward, I feel I must strike while the iron his hot here. The war for the Illyria province is on.
https://i.imgur.com/CIMWb5ll.png
https://i.imgur.com/Vt10YuFl.png
https://i.imgur.com/jSevlFFl.png
The siege of Delminium ends in victory, the General Almonium mints his newly created army with their opening victory with support by the Brothers of Xenophan!
To keep the initiative the Brothers push on w/o rest to the outskirts of Iader anticipating being joined shortly by General Almonium to press home the completion of the destruction of the Dorsai and the control of the province Illiaryia.
221 BC – Before reinforcements can arrive the Brothers are ordered to attack regardless and they cover themselves in glory taking the city which the cowardly Dorsai have all but abandoned. Interestingly, scouting parties revealed the Breuci army had been on the outskirts of the city as well, but for the speed with which the Brothers attacked the Brueci would have surely taken the settlement and complicated our drive to complete control of the province.
What had begun as a duty to abide by a troublesome alliance with Sparta ends in Athenian glory and the riches a new complete province can provide. Our revenues continue to expand.
220 BC – The remaining agents of the Dorsai are dispatched to their maker and will trouble us no more. I’m unsure what my predecessor will make of our continued alliance with Sparta, but for my part, inertia is really all that holds us together as far as I’m concerned. This is the 2nd war they’ve requested us to join with the Dorsai only to find them fail to commit troops. I could only surmise they would have done this yet again if not for the fact we’ve utterly destroyed them.
218 BC – Nasmones failed to defeat the Egyptians, which is a shame. I’m left settlements and doubt as to how to proceed. The front on the homeland has cleared up, so perhaps the time has come to bring the remaining armies to bear on this problem. Egypt will prove a tough nut to crack should I decide to complete this province in my continuing dream of Africa, they are allied with Sparta and the Pergamon, the latter are aggressively moving navies and armies south of Greece in and around Sparta. They do not appear to be a faction to be taken lightly. General Aegon heads to Cyrene as the staging for either expansion of operations or the war for Africa.
217 BC – Knossos navy aggressively pursues remnants of Dorsai army and navy destroying them all, they’ve proven a more useful ally than Sparta by a large margin by this action alone. To Spartas credit they did bring units to the defense of Pella when a rag tag ban of Dorsai threatened there. Meager, but better than what they’d done previously. The army there ultimately engaged the raiders and destroyed them.
216 BC – Our agent Althaia stays in Greece to keep an eye over the homeland along with the army of Alkmeion in Delminium. The rest of our army and remaining agents head for Cyrene to stage our African conquest.
The old wound has come back to haunt us, our illustrious leader Straton has been struck down before his time and dies before he could realize his dreams of an African victory.
He will be remembered as a cautious and opportunistic leader who struck where weakness presented itself in his expansion of the Athenian Empire. His diligent work in opening trade routes along with research focused on economic matters has placed the empire on a strong footing for future expansion. Nearly 5,000 per year is coming in and almost 20,000 in the coffers, with three fully developed and trained armies, his unrealized dreams of a new continent will pass to his successor, may he far exceed our endeavors and expand the power and glory of Athens.
https://i.imgur.com/2nbJyrnl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/4mtm8Jnl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/gHpgqbel.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/iTSmnBdl.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/c44Sugil.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/HwiI2Ksl.png?1
Conclusion: I had a great time with this, I doubt I've done a particularly great job writing it up, but I tried to stay in the spirit of the thing. I was quite sad when Straton died so young, it seemed like we were just getting into a roll for his grand designs if expansion, but alas it was not to be.
easytarget
10-31-2013, 00:41
Here btw are all the screenshots I took in full size, many are fairly unremarkable, but since the link is available, why not post it.
http://3asytarg3t.imgur.com/all/
And now I also need to figure out how to upload the saved turn...
figured it out: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279#linkid10497
Hooahguy
10-31-2013, 00:42
Great job!
Just going to mention Sp4 here so he knows his time is here. Also I think you forgot to upload the savegame file so Sp4 can continue it. Try Mediafire. Seems to be a favorite in the TW community.
Got it. I might wait for your AAR before checking out what's what and then I'll be forced to AAR myself =p
Hooahguy
10-31-2013, 01:55
I think he already posted his AAR?
Oops, yeah didn't see it. Stupid spoilers =p
Bramborough
10-31-2013, 02:06
Nice job and writeup! Pretty cool how the rebel regions opened a foothold in Libya. And the Ardiaei thing worked out nicely...looks like once they cracked, Straton could run the table. Illyria is a pretty decent province.
As far as Sparta, yeah, those guys suck. Didn't make its way into the summary of Demochares' administration, but Sparta pulled those same kind of "not show up" stunts. It doesn't matter what Demochares thinks any more, the guy's dead. But I think he would say that the Sparta alliance has outlived its usefulness.
easytarget
10-31-2013, 02:18
Thanks man, tried to tell what happened in as much detail as I could, I was a bit shocked when the guy died on me, I felt like it was right at the point where things could take off in Africa, but who knows, challenges arise unseen from everywhere, that's the fun part about it.
I did end up being mostly opportunistic in my choices of settlements to tackle, when I went to Libya to start a base of operations for the Africa campaign I ran across Hellenistic rebels, so they were just begging to be taken since once taken they are instantly pretty happy with the situation. And the Illyria just fell into my lap thanks to the no good Spartans leading me into, guess I have them to thank for that, but sure is funny how they bug out when the real fighting starts. The glory days of Sparta are clearly past.
I look forward to seeing how the story continues to unfold.
Ituralde
10-31-2013, 10:19
Good to see this coming along so well. Unfortunately my gaming rig is barely managing it on the lowest settings with small unit sizes, so it wouldn't be any fun to see terrible screenshots of tiny armies. Maybe I'll be along for the next one. In the meantime I'm enjoying the updates!
Great job easytarget! I'm pleased with how this succssion game is going!
I also found out that I am a much more aggressive leader than what seems to be the normal playstyle. I fear no Rome or Carthage or Egypt. In fact, my first job is usually eating up one of those three to get their rich lands. The Adriaei and Pergamon are actually scarier (and Rhodos if it expands) since they spam a lot of armies and tend to keep them packed together.
Carthage has been doing much better after patch 5. Twice now I've seen it wipe the floor with incompetent Rome. I myself would probably dissolve the alliance with Sparta and Knossos, wait for a turn or three and end them in short succession. Outfit my armies, get at least 4 stacks and send 2 to capture Magna Graecia and 2 more to complete Lybia and go for Carthage's throat in Africa.
I would also use a lot more pikes and peltasts (since peltasts are better than other jav skirmishers early on, except for Sparta's Perioikoi Peltasts)
Good to see this coming along so well. Unfortunately my gaming rig is barely managing it on the lowest settings with small unit sizes, so it wouldn't be any fun to see terrible screenshots of tiny armies. Maybe I'll be along for the next one. In the meantime I'm enjoying the updates!
Nonsense, I think nobody here is so shallow as to complain about screenshot quality. I mean, we've been playing Rome 1 for a decade now, and the feet of the troops there look like stalactites. So go ahead and don't worry about it. Actually reading the AAR is the best part IMO, the screenshots are just a visual aid.
Bramborough
10-31-2013, 11:15
Nonsense, I think nobody here is so shallow as to complain about screenshot quality. I mean, we've been playing Rome 1 for a decade now, and the feet of the troops there look like stalactites. So go ahead and don't worry about it. Actually reading the AAR is the best part IMO, the screenshots are just a visual aid.
Agreed! Jump on in, Ituralde!
Bramborough
10-31-2013, 11:44
I also found out that I am a much more aggressive leader than what seems to be the normal playstyle.
This is an interesting comment to me. First, because it's true, at least in my case. But second, because I think there's some peculiar idiosyncracies which come into play for a succession game.
I am indeed a fairly cautious player, especially early on. I think a glance through the first few Pontus AAR chapters will show that. That said, there were a couple of factors at work here that, for me, would not have been in play in any other campaign.
First, it's public. If I goon it up, I don't just say "oh well" and start over...I have to write and post about it, and then turn over a potential bag of worms (if there's anything left) to my successor. This is NOT a complaint at all, in fact I think it's part of what makes this succession structure fun. Adds a little bit of pressure, knowing there will be a "public report" to the Council or Senate or whatever.
Second, a curious dynamic is how the FL's uncertain reign length plays into planning and decisionmaking. Demochares wanted to leave a larger, stable nation for his successor, without an ongoing war. That way Straton would have the most options available at the start of his own reign. So, when Demochares hit 60 yrs old, he wound things up and wouldn't start any more wars during his remaining years.
Maybe with many others, one or both of these factors wouldn't come into play at all. But they certainly did for me.
A third factor for me was playing VH with Battle Realism...but that's not a succession-specific factor.
Ituralde
10-31-2013, 13:37
Looks like I have been shanghaied into joining. My main concern comes from the unit size setting. Do any of you know how this affects save game compatability. It probably shouldn't have any effect, but just asking now to make sure.
Also I'll be moving some time late this year, early next year. Depending on when I'm up, this could complicate things, but I guess we'll see how that goes when we get there.
Hooahguy
10-31-2013, 13:41
Thats a good point, did anyone mention what unit size were playing on?
Biggest. If someone else loads up the save, they will have to play on that too.
Kamakazi
10-31-2013, 14:17
Im a very aggressive player... While looking at the campaign map posted up I thought already about attacking Bithynia to the east
I wouldn't go there yet myself. Asia Minor is a rattled up beehive of aggressive minor states. And the provinces are not that great (not bad either). I'd much rather cripple Rome, Carthage, Lybia and Egypt to get the best 4 settlement provinces in the game than set foot in Asia Minor and have to fight 1.5 stacks for each settlement conquered.
Kamakazi
10-31-2013, 14:41
idk I always seem to do a clockwise rotation of taking the map.
Maybe Asia Minor is not geat but this have two nice wonders. Specific the Colossus of Rhodes is great for a naval focus faction like Athens.
Myself want to capture Rhodes
Kamakazi
10-31-2013, 15:36
Ya know.. in all 3 of my campaigns ive never even touched rhodes
I touch them most of the time out of necessity because they are very aggressive and prone to capturing freshly rebelled or otherwise "safe" to grab coastal provinces within their reach... and a lot of things are (greece, asia minor, the holy lands, cyprus, crete, egypt...)
Ituralde
10-31-2013, 16:34
Biggest. If someone else loads up the save, they will have to play on that too.
I'm out then. Large battles get laggy even on small unit size for me, so they would be close to unplayable on Biggest.
No worries though, I'll still follow with interest!
easytarget
10-31-2013, 23:18
I wouldn't go there yet myself. Asia Minor is a rattled up beehive of aggressive minor states. And the provinces are not that great (not bad either). I'd much rather cripple Rome, Carthage, Lybia and Egypt to get the best 4 settlement provinces in the game than set foot in Asia Minor and have to fight 1.5 stacks for each settlement conquered.
I've tended towards the same approach, just my guy kicking off so early prevented me from moving forward with the plan (but I am pushing forward with it myself, I'm continuing to play the campaign myself).
Both times I've played Rome I've cleared out Italy and then headed south to deal with Africa, Libya and Carthage as the set of provinces that allow me to expand the base, then I head clockwise and only jump into the mess of barbarians north of my starting position once I've got the provinces I currently control developed and a decent military ready to tackle the next phase.
The more conservative start I tend to follow with Rome 2 for me at least is due to the fact I don't have a clock staring at me like I did with Shogun 2. As a result I tend to be a bit more conservative at the early stages of the campaign, but later in the mid section once I've got a serious military and naval presence going, the pace picks up and I become more aggressive, just because I can.
If you want, you can skip me. Something came up and I am not at home between tomorrow night and Wednesday.
Kamakazi
11-01-2013, 05:12
If this is going to be a long running thing we should prolly sticky it
If you want, you can skip me. Something came up and I am not at home between tomorrow night and Wednesday.
If it's fine by everybody else I can just swap my turn with Sp4 - I should be done by Wednesday. The downside of this, though, is that he might not have much of an empire to rule by then....
A question for you guys: is there a penalty for not converting buildings of a foreign culture to your own? I've got a tier 3 government building in a captured region which I don't have the tech level to convert, and I'm not sure if I should be tearing it down.
If that tier 3 is in a capital province, tear it down ASAP. If it's a minor settlement... tear it down and rebuild it to level 2. The penalty is a PO hit which won't go away.
easytarget
11-01-2013, 13:28
All hail Ishmael who will now lead the Athens to further glory.
If that tier 3 is in a capital province, tear it down ASAP. If it's a minor settlement... tear it down and rebuild it to level 2. The penalty is a PO hit which won't go away.
Why tear it down asap? Does it actually spread another faction's influence?
Bramborough
11-01-2013, 20:48
I was wondering same. I always immediately tear down any structure with an explicitly stated "Spreads +X [faction] influence" attribute. Otherwise, sometimes I'll let a structure stand for a while if it's contributing something worthwhile and I'm short of money.
I've been thinking that the main penalty of a non-faction building (other than the few which spread faction-specific culture) was that it cannot be upgraded.
If there's an unstated or global penalty for non-faction buildings other than that, I haven't been aware of it (where documented?). I'd need to rethink some of my new-province assimilation practices.
I would have thought it would say that, if it's any culture other than your own. It says owning faction's.. so if you own it.. yours? Right?
easytarget
11-02-2013, 16:27
Any news from the front lines?
Any news from the front lines?
So far so good (*knock on wood*). Very Hard difficulty isn't quite the nightmare that I'd envisaged - I'd heard reports in Rome 1 that cavalry could often smash pike phalanxes from the front on that difficulty, but it seems in Rome 2 that superior troop quality, if managed passably well, usually wins the day. I estimate I'm about two thirds of the way through my reign, so expect an AAR today or tomorrow.
easytarget
11-03-2013, 00:27
Cool, look forward to seeing what twist and turns developed!!!
I continued on from where I left off and pressed through in completing the take over of Africa and the beginnings of the expansion into the Italian peninsula.
Always fascinating to see the ebb and flow of faction power, sometimes to your advantage, sometimes not. In my case, Carthage after expanding aggressively has now started to come a bit undone.
As for difficulty, I still maintain adamantly that Rome 2 is not nearly as challenging as Shogun 2. There are clans in Shogun 2 that you can play on H and VH that if you make just one wrong decision early on your dead. Or long term if you allow the wrong clan to gain too much control you have a fight on your hands to finish the victory conditions before time runs out. Here in Rome 2, any time I feel pressed, I just sit back and consolidate, no one attacks me. In Shogun 2 I'm lucky on H and VH if I can go 4 turns w/o multiple clans attacking me from multiple directions at once or successively before you can recover. In Rome 2 I can count on one finger in 150 hours the number of times I've been declared on, it finally just happened in the current campaign I'm continuing on with while waiting for your AAR.
Kamakazi
11-03-2013, 01:55
Im doing my legendary campaign right now and im a freakin punching bag for the world. Ive been declared on at least 6 times lost 4 provinces and only gained 1 back after that.... fun fun lol im loving it and hating my life at the same time
easytarget
11-03-2013, 04:51
That's actually encouraging to hear. So, which faction are you playing?
The Reign of Aegon Targaryen (215BC - 176BC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2DuyYIgIp4
When Aegon became ruler of Athens at age 31, most expected him to be a cautious, bookish ruler, focused on knowledge and the economy. In the first of these they were correct, as he sponsored the establishment of a number of libraries and academies across Athenian territory. But the rest of his funds went towards only one thing – building an army that would restore Athens to the glory of the days of Alexander.
https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4808/2h1l.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/2h1l.jpg/)
Athenian Empire, 215BC.
https://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2541/k6n5.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/k6n5.jpg/)
Aegon in his early years.
Aegon took command of the Athenian army stationed in Libya, renaming it the 'Eighth Army' *. He was soon reinforced by Alkmaion's army that had been stationed in Illyria, in preparation for the coming campaigns in North Africa. With Alkmaion guarding his flank, Aegon struck at the unguarded Nasamones town of Augila in a surprise attack. The Nasamones armies, desperately trying to hold their newly acquired city of Lepcis against Libya and their protector Carthage, were in no position to fight back, and a peace treaty was signed the next year. Such strikes against weakened and distracted targets were to prove a trademark of the many campaigns Aegon was to conduct over the years.
https://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3450/tti0.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/tti0.jpg/)
Athenian forces assembled for an attack. Aegon is visible as the cavalryman with a shield.
After the confidence-boosting victory against the Nasamones, Athenian forces were moved eastwards to prepare for the invasion of a more challenging foe – Ptolemaic Egypt. Athenian spies had reported that the majority of the Egyptian army was stationed on their eastern frontier, fighting against the dominant Seleucid Empire. Aegon seized the opportunity, offering to join the Seleucids in their war in exchange for a defensive alliance and military access. This gave Athens a justification for invading the formerly friendly Egypt, as well as ensuring its soon to be captured territories would be secure against Seleucid expansion afterwards.
https://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4989/dl6z.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/191/dl6z.jpg/)
Athenian troops push into Egypt.
Egpyt collapsed like a house of cards. Seleucid armies hammered their Egyptian counterparts as they rushed to defend their homeland, leaving Athens nothing to do but mop up the occasional remnant and capture the defenceless Egyptian cities. Indeed, the greatest threat to Athens' conquests were the Seleucids' own satrapies, who raced Athens down the length of the Nile in order to try and capture the Egyptian cities for themselves. Fortunately, Athens was able to stay one step ahead, and secured the entirety of the province of Aegyptus.
A sour note did enter the campaign shortly after the capture of Alexandria, however, when assassins targeted Aegon himself, although fortunately only wounding him. Aegon was even more furious to learn that, unlike his predecessor who was also wounded by assassins, these had been sent by political rivals from within his own faction! In retribution Aegon sent a group of thugs to beat the leader of the Oligarchs in Athens to near-death. Aegon thought the Oligarchs cowed after this, but history would show they were simply taking a longer view of events....
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Aegon reacted poorly to the attempt on his life.
Even before the beginning of the Egyptian campaign, plans were being drawn up to deal with the Spartan problem. Whilst Sparta professed itself to be an ally of Athens, Aegon's predecessors had been betrayed on several occasions by Spartan troops abandoning those of Athens on the eve of a battle. It was clear they were trying to undermine Athenian success from within, and that they must therefore be destroyed. Athenian diplomats requested that Knossos break off diplomatic relations with Sparta, but when they refused Athens in turn rescinded all it's treaties with Knossos. Nothing would stop their vengeance, and the final unification of Greece.
'The Spears of Ares,' a newly recruited army centred around pike formations, was marched south to the Spartan border, joining 'The Heros of Xenophon' who were already there. As with Egypt, Aegon was unwilling to invade such a long-standing friendly state without a convincing casus belli, but this came when Sparta signed a defensive alliance with Egypt. Denouncing them as traitors to the people of Greece, Aegon ordered an invasion of Sparta. Athenian forces assaulted the city, whittling down the defenders with missile fire before moving in with hoplites and pikes to finish the job. The newly launched Athenian navy, 'Brizo's Wards,' sank 10 Spartan transports near Pella, thus eliminating Spartan forces. Mainland Greece was once again united.
https://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5002/nfwk.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/546/nfwk.jpg/)
Spartan Royal Guard cowering before the Athenian missile fire.
Knossos declared war on Athens in support of their Spartan allies, in a brave but foolish gesture. Even more foolish was their decision to send most of their fleets and armies south, in an apparent bid to threaten Athens' African holdings. 'Brizo's Wards' were able to take Crete in a naval assault against its diminished defences, and this severing of supply lines rendered remaining Knossian forces largely toothless – an annoyance, perhaps, but certainly not a threat.
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The Athenian fleet preparing to assault Crete.
Whilst the war against Knossos was being conducted, Pergamon declared that it had allied with Egypt, and was therefore declaring war on Athens. Aegon was surprised at this news, given that the last Egyptian settlement was currently under siege by Athenian forces, and that all of Pergamon's fleets had been sunk as a result of its conflict with Rhodes. Still, Aegon was more than happy to seize the opportunity to expand into Asia Minor. 'The Heros of Xenophon,' escorted by the Athenian navy, were dispatched to conquer Pergamon's only city of Ephesus, with they did with little difficulty.
Much of western Asia Minor was controlled at this time by Bythinia. Athenian spies reported that their forces were weak as a result of conflict with the barbarian tribes to their north-western border, and so a newly-recruited Athenian army was dispatched to this border in order to catch them in a vice. Bythinia aided their destruction by allying with Egypt and declaring war on Athens (Egypt, it should be noted, consisted of a small fleet in the Mediterranean by this point). The invasion was largely unchallenged until the Bythinian last stand at Pessinus. Whilst their numerical superiority enabled them to nullify the Athenian skirmisher component, the heavily armoured and well disciplined Athenian phalanxes were able to cut through the vastly inferior Bythinian melee troops. Athens had now reclaimed the Greek cities of Asia, and so Aegon turned his attention back to the west.
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Bythinian forces made a desperate last stand at Pessinus.
While the invasion of Bythinia was underway, Athenian troops, consisting of Aegon's Eighth Army, Alkmaion's army, and the greatly expanded fleet 'The Heralds of Glaucus,' had been stationed in the west of the province of Libya. They swept through the single regions held by the Nasamones and Garamantia, who had been weakened by their war with Libya, and without pause conquered Libya in turn. Carthage, reduced to a shadow of its former self by the Turdetani invading from Spain, had rescinded its protection over Libya, but this was not enough to save them. Athenian forces captured their last cities of Thapsus and Syracusae against minimal resistance; Carthago itself had been conquered by the Turdetani the year before.
Athenian forces in the west began preparations to conquer Italy, whilst those in the east were resting after the successful conquest of Bythinia. Aegon was viewed as a conquering hero – but his neglect of affairs at home was about to cause matters to come to a head.
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Uh oh....
Civil war erupted, with a full nine armies and six navies being raised by the Oligarchs in Athens. At first, Aegon was in shock. “How could this happen!” he railed at his advisors. “How could these traitors possibly raise such forces without our knowledge?” Not only did the rebels outnumber his land forces by almost 2:1 and his navies by 3:1, but they had seized Athens itself!
But Aegon was not a man to let events overtake him. After shaking off his initial despair, he ordered an interim capital to be established at Pella. He was determined to contain the rebel forces along a line from Pella to Appolonia, ceding southern Greece but also maintaining the main agricultural areas of the empire. The rebel forces were to be ground down in a war of attrition, with Athenian forces striking at targets of opportunity from their fortified settlements whilst rebel troops deserted or died from hunger. Pella was to be fortified with higher walls and additional siege equipment, whilst Appolonia was to be assisted by the two fleets of the Athenian navy.
https://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9736/7nfx.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/7nfx.jpg/)
Aegon at the outbreak of civil war.
Aegon's plans came undone almost immediately. Rebel forces quickly seized Sparta and Larissa, as expected, but also moved unexpectedly quickly against Cronos' army 'The Brothers of Xenophon,' which was defending the river crossing leading to Pella. 2500 Athenian troops faced 9500 rebel soldiers, but Cronos had his orders - make them pay for every foot of ground they take.
Before the battle, Cronos split his force in two. The smaller force would defend a small bridge to his left flank, whilst the larger would defend against the expected main body of the enemy assault at a ford. The battle opened with a large force of skirmishers attacking the Athenian positions at the ford. Cronos sent his light cavalry to disperse them, and they succeeded in routing almost all of them. Unfortunately, before they could return to behind friendly lines they were caught by three rebel generals, and their bodyguards of lancers. Two units of Athenian hoplites were sent to try and kill these enemy commanders, but were only able to eliminate one before being forced to retreat by the enemy infantry body. Meanwhile, the force by the bridge defeated a small group of pikemen sent by the rebels in a flanking attempt.
The main clash of troops in the ford was vicious. The water soon ran red with blood. Athenian arrows rained from the sky, and Athenian hoplites held to their phalanxes, but sheer weight of numbers meant they were pushed back, step by step. Eventually, it became clear to Cronos that the battle was lost. He ordered his skirmishers and the force holding the bridge to withdraw back to Pella. The remaining hoplites at the ford held valiantly, and when they broke Cronos himself charged the enemy at the head of his bodyguard, buying time for the retreat. His body was later to be recovered at the foot of a mountain of corpses. He died well.
https://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7969/kqao.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/kqao.jpg/)
Athenian hoplites fight to hold back the tide.
Cronos' force may have been defeated, but they had done their duty – rebel forces were badly bloodied, and were unable to continue their advance on Pella. Indeed, three of the four rebel armies in the battle redeployed to the south-west, in preparation for an assault on Appolonia. This presented a perfect opportunity for Prochoros, leading 'The Spears of Ares,' to counter-attack the one weakened army remaining. The rebels fled, but were caught by Prochoros on a plain just outside Larissa, and battle was joined.
The rebel army was reinforced by levies from the city of Larissa, bringing their total strength to 2000 men – not enough to match the 2500 soldiers in 'The Spears of Ares.' The Athenian skirmishers forced the rebels forward onto the Athenian pikes, and Prochoros, demonstrating his love of cavalry on the battlefield, had his citizen cavalry wheel around and envelop the rebel army, catching their skirmishers by surprise and running 'hammer and anvil' strikes against their engaged infantry. The battle ended quickly, with relatively small Athenian losses and the rebel forces fleeing towards Larissa. Prochoros quickly followed up by capturing Larissa, then razing it as punishment for supporting the rebels and returning north.
https://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8215/avx7.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/avx7.jpg/)
Aftermath of the First Battle of Larissa.
'The Spears of Ares' marched north quickly, eager to return to the safety of Pella. Unfortunately they proved a little too hasty, and the outriders had barely brought word that a large rebel army was over the next hill before they were attacked. The Athenian pike line was able to assemble, but the hoplites supporting the left flank were still disorganised when they were charged by enemy cavalry, followed by their supporting pikemen. Worse still, the rebel commander proved far better than the previous in countering Prochoros' cavalry envelopments through skillful manoeuvring of his hoplites, leaving the battle to be decided by the Athenian infantry.
They won, barely. The hoplites on the Athenian left flank collapsed, and the pikes on that side of the battlefield were involved in a brutal, close-quarters melee for which they were unsuited. Prochoros had to personally involve himself in the melee, running repeated charges against the backs of the rebel troops, until the death of the rebel commander finally shattered the resolve of his army. Prochoros' cavalry finally proved useful in the pursuit of the routing troops, killing or capturing enough that the rebel army had to disband. The captives were executed.
Once again 'The Spears of Ares' moved to retreat back north, and once again they were prevented from doing so. A third rebel army, following hot on the heels of the one they had just defeated, were shadowing them and threatening their supply lines **. Prochoros' troops had fought off two rebel armies in quick succession. They were tired and bloodied, with no means of retreat. There was only one thing to do. Prochoros ordered the attack.
The rebel forces were so surprised by the Athenians turning on them that they could not retreat to Larissa before they were caught. The enemy army had been weakened by desertion and starvation, meaning both forces were roughly equal in number. The rebels had the advantage of being able to hold a hill – however, 'The Spears of Ares' made their attack in the rain, thus reducing the enemy skirmisher advantage. Prochoros was able to outmanoeuvre the inexperienced enemy commander, attacking from the shallowest side of the hill and easily pulling off a double envelopment. The rebels were run down and killed, to the last man. 'The Spears of Ares' had now destroyed three rebel armies, and had achieved a legendary reputation amongst the rest of the Athenian army.
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Prochoros completely outmaneuvered rebel forces at the Third Battle of Larissa.
Meanwhile, at Appolonia, Aegon was faced with a difficult choice. Roughly double the Athenian numbers of troops and ships had been sighted approaching the settlement, and Aegon knew his forces could not hold against such numbers. Reluctantly, he ordered his forces to move north and abandon Appolonia.
Whilst it was not apparent at the time, this was to be a turning point in the war. Athenian successes at Larissa forced the rebels that were preparing to attack Appolonia to return to southern Greece, thus forfeiting any chance of capturing new farmland to feed their troops. The two Athenian fleets caught and destroyed a single, isolated rebel fleet, showing that Athens could still be victorious at sea. Aegon's forces on the west coast of Greece were able to meet up with a newly-recruited army in Illyria, and prepare themselves for a drive south. And perhaps most importantly, the victories of 'The Spears of Ares' showed that even though the enemy was numerically superior, they could be beaten. The spirit of the Athenian army had been restored.
The rebels were now in serious trouble. Their armies and fleets were all greatly feeling the lack of food, and several had lost half or more of their men to attrition. Athenian armies were able to push south, driving the rebels onto their transports in the Aegean. Sparta was retaken, and the honour of liberating Athens was given to 'The Spears of Ares.' Greece was reunited, and whilst the rebels were not yet defeated (one of their fleets slipped around those of Athens and captured Iader, in Illyria), the imminent victory of Athens was ensured.
https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9166/1txl.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/34/1txl.jpg/)
'The Spears of Ares' were given the honour of liberating Athens
Aegon had continued to survive in the past few years through sheer strength of will. Now into his seventies, he had been campaigning for most of his life, in Egypt, Libya, Sicily and Greece itself. When he received news of the liberation of Athens he wept tears of joy, and the next morning he did not wake. Aegon had ruled over a turbulent period in the history of Athens, but despite all the challenges he had restored Athens to the title of the greatest nation in the known world. May his successors continue the legacy of Alexander.
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8693/qkj4.jpg (https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/138/qkj4.jpg/)
Athenian Empire, 176BC.
* Yes, I realise this is horribly out of character. I'm from the Commonwealth; I can name an army fighting in Libya Eighth Army if I want :beam:.
** This is an 'in-character' explanation for a quirk in the game mechanics, where because an enemy army occupied Larissa and my army was within its zone of control, they couldn't move.
Notes, Comments and Observations:
Well, that was a roller coaster ride. Needless to say, the civil war erupted pretty much immediately after I commented to easytarget that things were going well :laugh4:. I think the civil war is all but beaten - our land armies are about equal in number to those of the rebels but not half-dead from attrition, and their navy doesn't have much of a chance if they don't have any land provinces to supply them. Some other stuff that my successor should probably know:
-Your character, Admiral Lysimachus, is 65. Sorry. I managed to get Cronos killed off (who was the original heir, and a year older than Aegon), but admirals are hard to kill whilst preserving the fleet, especially as I auto-resolve naval battles. I was very fortunate myself to get such a young ruler.
-Once the civil war is over, look to the frontiers. There are consistently about 3 stacks loitering near the Ethiopian border, but at least you have friendly relations and NAPs with most of the factions there. More worrying are the barbarians to the north, who have even more troops but without the friendly relations. I think only their infighting has prevented an invasion so far.
-The economy is...not poor, exactly, but rather hopelessly inefficient. I tend to run an 'economy by conquest,' whereby as long as a province is not actively rebelling I'll ignore it. Thus there are a lot of unconverted buildings of foreign cultures, unupgraded temples and ports, and a fair amount of redundant surplus public order in some provinces. Fortunately a cash infusion came in just before Aegon died as the result of completing a mission, so you've got $20 000 in the bank to deal with that sort of thing.
Anyway, I had great fun doing this, and I'm eagerly awaiting the future installments of this saga. Good luck to all!
Save file (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279#linkid10500)
Either Sp4 or Kamakazi.
Bramborough
11-03-2013, 15:10
Awesome job, Ishmael, on both the campaign and the AAR chapter. Great stuff. Athens kinda "exploded" here...territory roughly doubled? Some great battles...nearly 4000 kills at Pessinus, and I'm sure that Cronos' defeat was a bloodbath as well. Kudos to Spears of Ares.
Seems to me the Civil War erupted rather early, even if we'd basically been ignoring politics. Had we hit 3rd Imperium? Also surprised to see 9/6 armies/fleets. Is that difficulty level related, or did I perhaps miss one of the Patch 5 notes (my last CW occurred during Patch 4, on Normal difficulty).
Myth, a proposal for "on the fly" rule change: How about a player who inherits a 60+ yr old FL has the option (not obligation) to play the following FL as well? "60" might be a tad early, maybe 62-63ish? I understand part of the concept is that some players will have shorter reigns than others...but I'd like to see each guy in rotation have opportunity to play at least 10-15 turns. Lysimachus is already on borrowed time; next player might have less than 5 turns. Sometimes a character will go into early 70s...but I've also had natural causes kill an FL in early 60s...youngest outlier I've noticed was about 58.
Kamakazi
11-03-2013, 15:25
That's actually encouraging to hear. So, which faction are you playing?
Royal Scythia.
Also idk if it is me or SP4 as he was supposed to be before me. If it is me that really sucks cuz ill get a dead ruler lol
Bramborough
11-03-2013, 15:34
Also idk if it is me or SP4 as he was supposed to be before me. If it is me that really sucks cuz ill get a dead ruler lol
Well, Sp4 posted not to expect him back til Wednesday (6 Nov, I assume). I'm not running this thing, but my suggestion would be to keep going with the rotation, and then Sp4 gets re-inserted into the order whenever he returns.
I concur about the nearly-dead Faction Leader. Hence my proposal above.
Kamakazi
11-03-2013, 15:40
well I guess well wait to see what myth says
easytarget
11-03-2013, 16:34
Great Job Ishmael!!! Very satisfying to see the expansion continue, and Straton dies a happy man knowing that even though he was cut down in his prime right at the kick off point of pursuing his dream, his successor more than pushed forward on Africa but additionally created a firm foothold of multiple provinces on that continent!
The Civil War did come quite early, that's quite interesting. I played on from the end of my turns and took Africa as well in my campaign but kept the politics balanced between the Oligarchs and myself and I don't foresee it coming soon (that said, it's probably just as well to get it knocked out early, it'll only get worse down the road).
As for how long someone's rule is, mine was only 20 years, so they do sometimes come at you quite short. Perhaps if someone goes below 20 they should go back into the rotation for another turn, for example if the next guy does actually get only about 5 years rule they should be back in the list for another go.
I would have thought it would say that, if it's any culture other than your own. It says owning faction's.. so if you own it.. yours? Right?
The culture bonuses are labeled "Latin” or “Hellenic”, etc. As Rome, I get rid of any non-Latin culture exponents.
I have allowed a temple of Poseidon to remain standing on Rhodes, however. It gives 6 food, +2 PO and “level 2 ship hulls (+10% health) upon recruitment”. Despite saying “upon recruitment” upgrading is possible for any fleet in port. No downsides that I can see. I never plan to knock it down. We know he’s Neptune!
I also have an inn at Massalia that gives me 12 food and +2 experience for all new agents. This one stays, too.
p.s. Alien cultures do deny you any garrison forces you might otherwise get from your own replacement.
Well, Sp4 posted not to expect him back til Wednesday (6 Nov, I assume). I'm not running this thing, but my suggestion would be to keep going with the rotation, and then Sp4 gets re-inserted into the order whenever he returns.
I concur about the nearly-dead Faction Leader. Hence my proposal above.
I will be back home/available on Thursday, 7th November. If the game is still going by then and if everyone is okay with it, I'd like to get back in then. If not, I'd like to take part in the next one :D
Thanks for your responses guys!
Awesome job, Ishmael, on both the campaign and the AAR chapter. Great stuff. Athens kinda "exploded" here...territory roughly doubled? Some great battles...nearly 4000 kills at Pessinus, and I'm sure that Cronos' defeat was a bloodbath as well. Kudos to Spears of Ares.
Seems to me the Civil War erupted rather early, even if we'd basically been ignoring politics. Had we hit 3rd Imperium? Also surprised to see 9/6 armies/fleets. Is that difficulty level related, or did I perhaps miss one of the Patch 5 notes (my last CW occurred during Patch 4, on Normal difficulty).
10 regions to 28 regions - territory nearly tripled! I'm pretty proud of that. As for the civil war, I tend to completely ignore politics (I don't quite 'get' it yet), which probably contributed to its earlier triggering. If I recall correctly we were not yet at third imperium, and the balance of political power was about 50/50. I think the number of armies and fleets must also be difficulty based - since my only previous long game has been as Parthia on Normal, I was used to dealing with six armies and no fleets. The latter took a little getting used to in this game!
As for succession of old characters...I don't know. It probably wouldn't be fair of my to weigh in anyway, given that I've already had a very substantive turn. I do feel that people who have their ruler die early should have some means of playing this a bit more, whether it be continuing straight on or going back in the queue for another go.
Kamakazi
11-04-2013, 01:20
well I haven't picked up the game save. I want to get a for sure answer on what were doing here
Why tear it down asap? Does it actually spread another faction's influence?
There's no need to have a main settlement upgraded higher than tier 1 as it only brings in expenses and a PO hit at higher levels but it produces nothing of value in the long term. You can upgrade it only if you really need upgraded roads in that province or if you have food and PO to spare and want more growth and gold.
So far so good (*knock on wood*). Very Hard difficulty isn't quite the nightmare that I'd envisaged - I'd heard reports in Rome 1 that cavalry could often smash pike phalanxes from the front on that difficulty, but it seems in Rome 2 that superior troop quality, if managed passably well, usually wins the day. I estimate I'm about two thirds of the way through my reign, so expect an AAR today or tomorrow.
You are mixing up campaign difficulty and battle difficulty in Rome 1. For campaign difficulty, anything below normal made the AI gradually like you more. Normal was neutral. On H and VH it gradually hated you more, and it got a flat bonus of gold per turn (I think around 3000 but it might vary by faction). Battle difficulty gave your troops extra morale, attack and defence below Normal, it was even at Normal level, on H the AI got 3attack/3defence and some extra morale. On VH it racked up to 7 Att/Def and a lot more morale. So you can see how with the Rome 1 values (where units had between 5 and 20 attack and defence total) a flat increase of 7 to both would make a huge difference. You would see peasants routing Hastati for example. In Rome 2 the difficulty slider adds Ai bonuses but they are not hard stats and nothing as insane as in Rome 1. It must be noted also, that this gamey +7 att/def bonus was only a problem early on. Once you got to your elite troops you could still win handily, plus routing enemies with a good rear charge still worked despite the morale bonus, and the AI was much more prone to suiciding its general, thus breaking morale was usually the most cost-effective way to win.
Cool, look forward to seeing what twist and turns developed!!!
I continued on from where I left off and pressed through in completing the take over of Africa and the beginnings of the expansion into the Italian peninsula.
Always fascinating to see the ebb and flow of faction power, sometimes to your advantage, sometimes not. In my case, Carthage after expanding aggressively has now started to come a bit undone.
As for difficulty, I still maintain adamantly that Rome 2 is not nearly as challenging as Shogun 2. There are clans in Shogun 2 that you can play on H and VH that if you make just one wrong decision early on your dead. Or long term if you allow the wrong clan to gain too much control you have a fight on your hands to finish the victory conditions before time runs out. Here in Rome 2, any time I feel pressed, I just sit back and consolidate, no one attacks me. In Shogun 2 I'm lucky on H and VH if I can go 4 turns w/o multiple clans attacking me from multiple directions at once or successively before you can recover. In Rome 2 I can count on one finger in 150 hours the number of times I've been declared on, it finally just happened in the current campaign I'm continuing on with while waiting for your AAR.
I agree that some starts in Shogun II legendary felt nigh on impossible. However, several factions in Rome II when played on Legendary will also have quite a tough start, and one that would vary depending on your choices. Especially diplomacy and troop recruitment/disbandment.
I agree that inheriting a very old FL will be underwhelming. I propose a simple rule: each player must play out the full term of their original faction leader, but if said term is smaller than 15 turns, then they can play up to the difference (to get at least 15 turns) from the next FL's lifespan and then pass him over. This will prevent someone getting a 60 year old guy, play him for 5 turns and then getting a 20 year old who lives until 60, because a lot will change in 45 turns.
BTW Ishmael great job on such rapid expansion and effectively crippling the civil war armies! Though I must note that upon fresh conquests I always restructure the infrastructure there. There is little gain in conquering new lands if they are not optimized to fit into one's empire and to supply its needs.
Kamakazi
11-04-2013, 16:07
So myth who is next up in this rotation? is it me or are we waiting on sp4 ?
Bramborough
11-04-2013, 17:38
I agree that inheriting a very old FL will be underwhelming. I propose a simple rule: each player must play out the full term of their original faction leader, but if said term is smaller than 15 turns, then they can play up to the difference (to get at least 15 turns) from the next FL's lifespan and then pass him over. This will prevent someone getting a 60 year old guy, play him for 5 turns and then getting a 20 year old who lives until 60, because a lot will change in 45 turns.
That sounds reasonable. Athens has already reached a point where 15 turns is a pretty decent chunk of play....it's a good minimum.
Veho Nex
11-04-2013, 17:52
Kamakazi
Check page 1 its your turn.
Kamakazi
11-04-2013, 18:09
Ill pick it up tomorrow.... gotta go to my gfs before she murders me....
easytarget
11-05-2013, 01:21
There's no need to have a main settlement upgraded higher than tier 1 as it only brings in expenses and a PO hit at higher levels but it produces nothing of value in the long term. You can upgrade it only if you really need upgraded roads in that province or if you have food and PO to spare and want more growth and gold.
I upgrade because I can. I want to see the full assortment of things in the game, and by mid game with my focus almost exclusively on economy, I've had income running at 15-20k a turn, after awhile, money simply isn't an issue any more. The only thing that slows me down from maxing every settlement on the map is food and squalor, not money.
Hooahguy
11-05-2013, 01:51
I tend to upgrade to level 3 on walled settlements because that gives more settlement defenses, which makes it easier to defend against large number of enemies. That really is the main reason I guess. Also because at that level the squalor and food consumption, provided you managed the other villages correctly, isnt bad enough for me to not do it.
easytarget
11-05-2013, 02:14
Yeah, same here, I can't ever really get'em past 3 in most of the provinces, not because of money as I said, but just because squalor or food get in the way.
It's really a bit strange, at least to me, that CA has in effect with these two restrictions on build out made it so I miss out on 1/4th of everything they put into the game in the way of settlement development, because where the rubber meets the road in an actual campaign, I'm either on the edge on squalor or food.
But you know what, while I'm thinking about it, in my current campaign I'll get up say a million in the bank and instead of just collecting more money I'll crank down taxes which will ease the strain on the settlements and give me the ability to max'em out a bit more. Should of thought of that sooner.
Again, for no reason other than I like to see what's in the game.
Oh, and yeah, I get 3's on settlements for defense so the army can wander off w/o worrying too much about being forced to hang around.
Bramborough
11-05-2013, 03:11
Level IV cities/towns are quite viable...but only if they're the last thing upgraded in the province. Can't support them on level III farms/temples/theaters, etc. Maybe one, but not all the towns in a province.
By the time all the necessary techs are researched, however, it's usually pretty late in the game. The empire is large enough that money probably isn't an issue. So yeah, there's probably no need to build them. By the same token, at that stage of the game, what else is there to spend the money on? Army and agent caps are maxed out.
And anyway, it's fun. Got Africa cranking out 10K/turn on normal taxes during Pontus AAR game, and then later went on to meet the 80K/turn eco-victory condition on low tax rate. Mainly due to having Level IV capitals and resource towns. Even the regular market towns were at least Level III, and many of them were Level IV as well.
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 00:10
ok uhh who can tell me how to upload the save file? My turn is done
easytarget
11-06-2013, 00:20
So, was it natural causes or war that got him?
ok uhh who can tell me how to upload the save file? My turn is done
Just zip/rar the file, go here (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local_links.php?catid=279), and click 'upload file' (top left).
Looking forward to the AAR!
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 01:53
The Reign of Lysimachus 175-159BC (15 Turns)
https://i.imgur.com/DxdQeME.jpg
A young mind awakend an old body. A rough wave awoke Lysimachus from his dreams. Just a year ago his brother Aegon had died. And not a day went past that it hurt any less. His task was to unite the world under a growing Athens banner. Like all those before him he would not fail.
Aegon had died before he could put down the civil war that was dividing the country. Fools, Lysim thought. How could anyone think to throw down our family? Ill finish my forbearers work. Quickly the old admiral sent orders to his generals: Crush this enemy. Destroy his heart, tear out his soul! I want them gone!
https://i.imgur.com/mYIP0XK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eInEj5C.jpg
Victories were all that were known while dispatching the rebels. Their navies stood no chance. And likewise their armies fell in quick succession. Though they did not go without a fight. It took Lysimachus and his generals many battles to finally bring them to their end.
https://i.imgur.com/PfKsDUi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aKmbqO7.jpg
After the quelling of the civil war Lysimachus was at a loss. What to do he wondered.... Where should we go next? It was decided that Triballi, to the north, was an easy target. All it took was but one campaign to bring them to their knees. A single army stormed the castle and won victory.
https://i.imgur.com/7H1VTmn.jpg
Next it was Macedon. A re-emerging country, to weak to make it in the days of old, tried to resurface. "The weak should stay where they belong!" Lysim exclaimed. And so it was. Macedon was crushed beneath Athens hoplite hordes.
https://i.imgur.com/4amTv2k.jpg
Small meaningless states brought no glory...... Athens needed a challenge. They needed a good fight in order to bring glory and honor the gods.
Pontus.....
Those eastern weaklings had been coddled for far to long. Done is our non aggression. If they cant be our equals, they don't deserve to live. And shortly war was declared on Pontus.
The first battle in the Pontic campaign was fought at the Pontic town of Ancrya. Lysimachus fully expected a long siege, or even a bloody assault. Instead he was greeted with a sally and a glorious fight on the field! Maybe, Lysim thought, just maybe this will be the glorious conquest he envisioned. Between Pontus and their allies Trapezos maybe they had enough to give us a fight. The Athenian generals took to the field. They were ready to test this Pontic foe. Long had they heard of the legendary Pontic swordsman. But what good would that do against the hoplite phalanx?
https://i.imgur.com/DZPl7fS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KilVjJh.jpg
The battle was over. Far to soon. Far to easily. Pontic swordsmen.... Bah more like Pontic sheep. Weak and untrained.
Soon after the fall of Ancrya came the combination assault, by naval and ground forces, on Sinope.
https://i.imgur.com/lT0OiGf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5dVuw4I.jpg
Taking to the waters Lysimachus ordered his fleet into the attack. Strings of the heavy ballista thrummed as bolts arced and met the hulls of the Pontic warships. Several were sunk before they were even reached by the boarding parties. The naval battle culminated in the mass sinking of the enemy navy. The screams of drowning Pontic soldiers was like music to Lysimachus' ears.
https://i.imgur.com/hmbUU78.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GObGFAE.jpg
With the enemy navy out of the way the foot units of Athens stormed the beach to the rear of the Pontic army, effectively creating a second front in which they had to defend. With the cavalry creating a soft third front the town was totally surrounded. No one was to come out alive. Alas it was far to much for the Pontic army to handle. They were destroyed by the three pronged assault. Death followed each screaming Pontic soldier.
https://i.imgur.com/vjTgt9X.jpg
The Athenian war machine rolled on. Athens took Amaesia next. It was a simple battle. Yet another route in this pitiful war. Lysimachus was overjoyed at the expansion of his empire. He beamed from ear to ear and was proud of his warriors and generals alike. One battle was all it took to crush Trapezos.
https://i.imgur.com/qKAzkHu.jpg
Lysimachus was 75 years old after the defeat of Trapezos. So he called his brother Prochoros to him. Always it had been thus. The older admiral and his younger brother. The Admiral and the General. They spent a long time talking. "It will soon be my time to die brother" Lysim said " and you must carry on my vision. You must put down this Pontic threat and go on to greater things!" Agreements were made and as the night grew cold Lysimachus went to sleep.
Never again did his brother wake. Prochoros stood in the sun and pondered all that his brother had told him but a night before. He would continue his brothers work. He would throw down Pontus and then he would throw down anyone else who was in his way.
https://i.imgur.com/pdqHMud.jpg
Ten years younger than his older brother Prochoros became king at age 55. Neigh a stranger to battle. He was a six star general. Beaten and bloodied many times. He had the best army of Athenian brothers that had ever been fielded. He trusted every man., even knew a lot of them by name. Prochoros continued his brothers work. But in his own image. He quickly decided subdue Ardhan. Sending two of his generals to surround and destroy them. After a single bloody battle it was over. Ardhan was gone.
https://i.imgur.com/hjQ3Dp9.jpg
Prochoros continued to hammer his Pontic foes all the way back to Ektabana. The last hold of the once mighty Pontic empire. An empire once stretching a good chunk of the Middle East. Three Athenian armies stood out side of the gates. Ready to assault it. Prochoros gave the order. It was a beautifully sunny day. To bad it had to be sullied by war.
https://i.imgur.com/NMiTscy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/J5cfGcm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5CEIxPN.jpg
The Fighting was both on the walls and through them. Hoplites tore down the gates and breached the walls with ladders. Burning oil poured upon the Athenian attackers but it didn't matter. The walls were mounted by hoplites who then flanked the gate defenders. Athenian archers posted on the walls raining death from the heavens.
https://i.imgur.com/mz3IG1K.jpg
Entering the city more defenders tried to rally. One group of hoplites were cut off and surrounded but were eventually saved. Even the Pontic chariots were no match for the Athenian army. They barely put a dent in a hoplite unit before being routed. After a long battle the enemies finally routed. Fleeing from the very gates they swore to hold only the morning before.
https://i.imgur.com/NQ2kk9L.jpg
*I took 15 Turns no more.
*I doubled the income of the empire
*I created 2 new armies and came very close to the next stage of imperium
*IMO strike north towards the horde
*Oh btw I unnamed the eighth army. It was killing my immersion, sorry.
* This was great fun I hope to get a longer turn next time though =/
*Ill post up the link for the save as soon as I figure out how the hell it works.
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 01:56
yea I tried going to that area you linked but it doesn't give me any option to upload a file only download those already there
Hooahguy
11-06-2013, 02:01
I believe if you go to the advanced post option you can add an attachment. Should be on the top row, next to the smilies.
Also I believe that Veho Nex is next?
easytarget
11-06-2013, 02:03
Nice job Kamakazi.
"The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. And you have burned so very, very brightly.."
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 02:05
Tried that as well... wont let me upload all it does is give the icon but never actually uploads it
BTW ty easy =)
Hooahguy
11-06-2013, 02:09
So try this: http://www.mediafire.com/
Nice work Kamakazi! I'm glad to see Prochoros became faction leader, he's just an all-round badass. I'm also glad to see the Athenian Empire spreading to the east, recreating the glory of Alexander. Good stuff.
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 02:13
attempting that now... do the pics on my aar look messed up to anyone else but me?
http://www.mediafire.com/?60ido8jt8lb11lg
@VehoNex
Hooahguy
11-06-2013, 02:15
Nah they look fine. Great job by the way, Athens really got large, cant wait for my turn!
Kamakazi
11-06-2013, 02:19
Ok good.. cuz they are like half cut off when I look at them.... Im really mad though.... Pontus has no territories left but they have 1 army hiding somewhere and I couldn't kill it before my turn was up ='(
Veho Nex
11-06-2013, 03:30
I just want to state early. Forgive my story telling abilities. I will try my best to make it a good AAR.
Bramborough
11-06-2013, 11:16
Awesome job. Looks like we got some good mileage out of Lysimachus after all; I don't think I've ever had a FL hit 75. A couple have made it to 73-74ish.
Had to laugh at Pontus still fielding Eastern spears at this stage. I get the impression that once AI builds a unit, it never replaces until killed in battle, regardless of barracks development. In current Egypt campaign, I've defeated Meroe/Blemmyes armies of starter troops...then take their settlements to find that these guys had access to Thorax pikes/swords.
Im really mad though.... Pontus has no territories left but they have 1 army hiding somewhere and I couldn't kill it before my turn was up ='(
Hate it when that happens, mainly because it means their agents stay alive and keep poisoning, burning, inciting, etc.
I like the "15-turn" rule, at least at this stage of the campaign. Athens is big enough now that even just 15 turns is a pretty solid chunk of gameplay. Although with Prochoros at 60 (right?), likely that Veho Nex may have the option to use it as well. What are the odds that two FL's in a row will make 75?
Will post the update in the first page, I'm figuring some technical stuff out.
Veho Nex
11-08-2013, 00:42
Just to get my ball rolling because I've been holding off posting an AAR due to my crappy writing skills Im going text book time line on you suckers! Get ready for dates and events gentle-leaders for Athens marches to the slaughter.
159 B.C.E.: King Prochoros orders the construction of a massive fleet using the efforts of the entire empire. Emissaries are sent to the far corners of the world to boost trade.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403967337907/C10EBF6D9CA07DABD63EAEA0260B7EE30793BC4E/
In the region of Persis and Media Magna Athenian forces numbering more than 10,000 men gather along the border of Persia and Baktria in preparation for war. In Armenia two armies stationed at the border ready for an invasion of Royal Scythia.
King Prochoros marches back to Athens to lead the fleet on a journey into the setting sun. While the might of Heracles move towards the sea to join in the westward expansion. In 5 years time the invasion forces are set to sail.
158 B.C.E.: Out of all the emissaries sent forth only one returns with a negative reply. King Prochoros has marked that faction for future notice. War is declared on Royal Scythia, Baktria, and Cimmeria, due to alliances Massagate and Arachosia are now enemies of the Athenian state.
A large battle consisting of 5520 Athenian soldiers and 3280 Royal Scythia's finest horsemen takes place south of Mtskheta. It was an Athenian victory tempered only by the fact that both generals died while every single body guard lived. Athenian losses numbered 1041 men while Royal Scythia lost 2856 men. All body guards were executed after the battle for their incompetence. The 370 prisoners were interrogated and forced into slavery for the dead generals families.
The Battle of Mtskheta 158 B.C.E
Generals Gennadius and Aristonymos combined forces to face down the Royal Scythian forces. Gennadius led the vanguard forces into a valley west of large hill while Aristonymos led the main fighting force to the top of the hill to force the Royal Scythians off. The plan was to trap the enemy forces on the side of the hill and close in from the top and bottom making their horses a hindrance rather than an advantage.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403969001253/37A7642EE6FECB357DB1DAFD3B6628B8F7E3D516/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403969002684/F9B470797874782DB2F91E23087772E94C075DE0/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403969004042/69F01F09E0D1A2D41B320EB49EC8F3EE18703E56/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854403969005408/B38D257778518155A31B23BE7BF346DAAD7E22FC/
The leaders of the enemy armies were confused as to how they would beat dual pronged attack and so each took command of their own forces thinking their plan was better. What happened was a disorganized mob of elite forces and some town guardsmen. Aristonymos led his forces within arrow range of the extreme flanks of the north-south battle line of the R.S. forces. Peppering enemy cavalry and infantry with flaming arrows as he slowly moved his hoplites into position.
The east-west battle line of the R.S. forces were equally set upon by Gennadius' skirmishers but quick thinking by a mercenary captain stopped the skirmishers and even managed to route a unit before they suffered extreme losses.
The battle soon turned into a massive cluster as things went haywire on the hill. Aristonymos died fighting to break a flanking attack by R.S royal skirmishers on his spear men. While down in the valley Gennadius attacked the rear of an engaged unit and when the excitement of the battle caused his heart to fail. The leading captains then tried to organize as best they could and tried to complete the attack as planned. Only Athenian skill and cohesion kept the army from falling apart.
After the battle was ended the two captains were promoted to the rank of leader and they carried on the city attack with few losses.
With the addition of the new cities Athens is large enough to be considered an Empire and has gained Imperium status. Capable of fielding 12 armies and 9 navies.
Towns gained during the year of 158 B.C.E.: Phasis, Mtskheta, Rhaga, and Zadrakarta
157 B.C.E.: A relatively peaceful year compared to the previous one. The invasion of Baktria continues to push inland but the blitzing forces missed a sizable army of Baktrian soldiers and lost a previously conquered town. The force consisted of several elephant contingents as well as their normally fielded units.
Persia was invaded but due to their previously good relations wasnt annexed but had a puppet government installed instead. They are now a client state to Athens and are helping with the invasion of Baktria.
In the North the region of Caucasia was united with the capture of the lightly defended town of Gabala.
Towns gained during the year of 157 B.C.E.: Gabala, Persepolis, and Hecatompylos.
156 B.C.E.: Another year of relative peace. The grand fleet ordered almost 5 years ago is nearing completion and supplies are now being gathered to make a push to the west. In northern Greece a rebellious army left over from Pontic wars is now the target of a newly raised Home Defense army. In Africa an army is raised to help keep the peace. In the province of Phanagoria an army from Massagate marches on what seemed to be a lightly guarded city. They fell under an Athenian ambush and were cut down in whole sale.
155 B.C.E.: Another year where armies continue to march forth upon Athens enemies. The sunset invasion fleet has gathered and is ready to leave Athen with King Prochoros at its head. They are bound westward to see where the sun takes them. The town of Merv was taken from the Baktrians and already it is apparent they dont have the money to sustain their armies as men desert by the century.
Towns gained during 155 B.C.E: Merv
154 B.C.E.: Athenian armies marched farther into the borders of her enemies cutting entire empires in half or destroying some all together. King Prochoros and his mighty fleet round the heel of Italy and push on towards Syracuse. The Baktrians vie for peace but demand appropriations from Athens which was aggressively denied.
Towns gained during 154 B.C.E.: Samandar, Phanagoria
153 B.C.E.: The Kings fleet continues to sail westward. North of Pella on a mighty river Pontus rebels cower on boats in a makeshift floating city and an Athenian ship was dispatched to remove their presence from the world. In the East armies continue to march on Baktria taking city after city. The whole of its nation crumbling at its feet they asked for peace again. Athens offered to let them live if only they bend knee. They refused. The army stationed in Phanagoria set sail and has set siege to its sister city of Pantecaeum. Towers are being built and the assault is planned to commence as soon as they are finished.
Towns gained during 153 B.C.E.:
152 B.C.E.: A year of advances in technology and warfare. Athens Economic technologies expand as he armies march on major enemy cities. General Caporos takes the port city of Panticapaeum after a long and bloody conflict.
The Siege of Panticapaeum 152 B.C.E.
General Caporos marches his men and their newly constructed towers and ladders march on the high walls of Panticapaeum.
http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085797945/45A2D35B0950DC5A5FA747AF815567DB0264442A/
He ordered his light peltast into a skirmish line ahead of the main equipment to keep the slingers and archers on the walls heads down.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085799061/003A221CDB39BE6AD20CBE54BC8AA99A83EBBF8A/
The ladders and towers approach the walls under heavy fire. The soldiers in the towers hunkered down to make as small a target as possible. Unfortunately flaming javelins and arrows make quick work of one of the towers.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085800076/FF91A7D6A1B9248753A1E47D83368089D69B3671/
The moment the towers and ladders hit the wall cimmerian cavalry made a break for it through the main gate to attack the men trying to climb the walls. They didn't foresee a group of light hoplites braving the oil under the gatehouse and ran straight into onwaiting spears.
http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085800907/4343B1A4D2B763B74B1622921C9AEDEA818BC196/
After a long fought and hard battle the walls are taken. Athenian soldiers take up jeering and taunting the Cimmerian soldiers fleeing the towers and gate.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085801834/BE28A7CEA555E0CF8AB68698E5CFA97F6E75EA89/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085804016/3D0BE91A6EFB440A715A3FA34A0D85FD32884CD4/
The gates belong to Athens and reserve troops begin to move through.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085802869/8C325ED71E1889C87B80FFAB64C251D6A9E8E6CC/
On the far right flank Athenian soldiers stand steady against a numerically superior Cimmerian soldiers. They fight hard and slay many enemy soldiers. Their morale begins to waver though and reinforcements are sent in a hurry to steady their lines.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085805320/E36401E82D029652293081F6CC43AAC39A09ED4F/
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085806780/FB93329EDEC5988E7AD2A06393DFFB76D31EEFAD/
With the flanks held the battle turns into a mop up and Athenian soldiers gather their wounded. A final view before the battle is officially called to end shows the soldiers that held the right watch Athenian formations in the street.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/702854404085808662/2C88746A0890D55FA4EA7145227DE085D4267A8F/
Cont.... (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?145979-Athens-Summer-Harvest-War-%28R2TW-succession-game%29&p=2053560753&viewfull=1#post2053560753)
A large battle consisting of 5520 Athenian soldiers and 3280 Royal Scythia's finest horsemen takes place south of Mtskheta. It was an Athenian victory tempered only by the fact that both generals died while every single body guard lived.
I just love it when this happens :laugh4:.
easytarget
11-08-2013, 01:15
Yeah, there's been threads popping up pretty much daily making fun of CA for this debacle at the main forum.
You have to hand it to them, they were consistent in their game design in this regard, not only do they kill off your generals in battle with regularity, when not successful there they make them die of old age half a dozen times per campaign as well (if you're lucky). Can't think of a way I would have designed it any better if my goal was to suck every last bit of RPG element out of the game. No, hang on, I can, and they did this too, create a entire page of traits you can pick from till you become so bored by the mechanic itself you just click on them randomly. :wall:
Keep it up Veho Nex, you're doing us proud!!!
easytarget
11-10-2013, 18:13
Any news from the front lines?
Veho Nex
11-10-2013, 18:26
sorry for taking so long, I'll have this done by tonight. I had to go outta in a hurry on friday morning and I dont have access to my desktop. Ill be home tonight and ill crank it out. For some news as to where I left off my flotilla is off the coast of Spain with a target either of Britannia or Denmark.
Hooahguy
11-10-2013, 19:41
It doesnt seem like Ill be able to participate in this anymore. Things are cracking down at school and I cant devote as much time to this as would be required. Perhaps if in two or so weeks if this is still going on I will rejoin.
easytarget
11-10-2013, 20:30
sorry for taking so long, I'll have this done by tonight. I had to go outta in a hurry on friday morning and I dont have access to my desktop. Ill be home tonight and ill crank it out. For some news as to where I left off my flotilla is off the coast of Spain with a target either of Britannia or Denmark.
No rush at all, wasn't meaning it that way, was just wondering how it was going is all. And I like the sound of where you've headed, north!
Veho Nex
11-12-2013, 06:02
New post to get attention. If you havent read it I have added more to the post above/\ (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?145979-Athens-Summer-Harvest-War-%28R2TW-succession-game%29&p=2053560049&viewfull=1#post2053560049)
Here is the save for whomever is next: http://www.filedropper.com/athens149bc
Onto the AAR:
Bramborough
11-12-2013, 06:37
Nice screenie series on the siege of Panticipaeum! :2thumbsup:
Is it mine or Sp4 turn to play the succesion game?
Erm 159 to 152 mans only 7 turns. Do we have more or did your FL die then? You can play up until 15 turns total with the next guy Veho Nex
I'm at work so I can't check when the save is at currently.
Veho Nex
11-12-2013, 16:45
its at 149bc so is 10 turns and i just wanted to play the years of my guy. Im good with a short turn
Amras go ahead and play your turn.
Due to no response from either Amras or Sp4 I think MorrowWolf should take this turn to keep the game moving.
Due to no response from either Amras or Sp4 I think MorrowWolf should take this turn to keep the game moving.
Sorry for the missing response
I am ongoing with the game and have now played 8 turn since 13th Nov but i have also busy with my RL
Amras please have the save ready by tomorrow or we are skipping your turn regardless.
Also Sp4 please confirm you are still in this game or I will remove you from the list as you fail to post here or respond to my PM.
The other players did a great job so far and It is unfair to them to let this get bogged down for such an extended period of time.
I came back like 3 weeks ago and told you. I considered myself eh... taken out? Already.
If you get other missing players, I can pitch in. I have not touched Athens yet in the game. Could give it a shot for the length of a ruler, LOL. However, if this campaign was started before patch 7, wouldn't the campaign be buggy now?
I came back like 3 weeks ago and told you. I considered myself eh... taken out? Already.
Sorry I must have missed this. Apologies.
Slaists welcome aboard! Hm... Not sure if it will be buggy. Why don't you give the save a try and see how it performs for you. However I believe the game goes now to MorrowWolf who is next in line, and you can succeed him after.
MorrowWolf
11-27-2013, 09:40
I don't know if I'm missing something or what but the file dropper link is not working for me.
Veho Nex can you upload the save again please? It seems it has expired.
Veho Nex
11-27-2013, 17:45
Uh, Im with family for Thanksgiving I can try and get home to upload it tonight. If I can't I wont be home till Monday.
Alright. And I'll re-up it here on the .org so we have it permanently.
easytarget
12-08-2013, 18:46
Veho,
What's the news from the front?
Veho Nex
12-08-2013, 20:33
Gosh darnit, sorry guys. I got side tracked and forgot about re-uploading.
I feel horrible for being the person this stalled at.
Here is the save link again:
http://www.filedropper.com/athens149bc
MorrowWolf do give it a try now, please.
easytarget
12-09-2013, 14:07
Gosh darnit, sorry guys. I got side tracked and forgot about re-uploading.
I feel horrible for being the person this stalled at.
Here is the save link again:
http://www.filedropper.com/athens149bc
No worries, just occurred to me on Sunday I'd like to check in again and see how the Greek empire is doing, so how big has it gotten?
Veho Nex
12-10-2013, 01:02
I added about 12 town/cities to it over my ten year reign. If whoever was next wanted to continue it there's about 6,000 men on their way to conquer Brittania and England.
easytarget
12-11-2013, 01:29
Ah, excellent work, nice to hear we're heading up to cooler climates! I did the same thing when I just kept playing from where I handed off.
To keep the game moving let's pass it on to Slaists and wolf can come up after him. The floor is yours bud!
Myth, so, I just grab the last one from the top of this thread? Term-6 is it?
Myth, so, I just grab the last one from the top of this thread? Term-6 is it?
Slaists get it from Veho's link:
Gosh darnit, sorry guys. I got side tracked and forgot about re-uploading.
I feel horrible for being the person this stalled at.
Here is the save link again:
http://www.filedropper.com/athens149bc
Ok, will do later tonight.
Ok, got the file alright. Will report on progress over the weekend.
p.s. something is out whack though (I suspect because the game was started before the latest patches). The faction overview shows that I am on the last imperium bar, yet army count shows 12/8 (as in, my max is supposed to be 8)
Yes, the patches have done that.
The Reign of Carpus 149 - [to be determined]
149 BCE All hail new king Carpos!
http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/488936743770988314/FF310020EF28652B5FDBA8D8D200454631A61D9E/
King orders boosting of food production all across the vast Athenian empire. Through conquest of Tanais, the province of Bosphorus gets united under Greek rule.
148 BCE Restoration of Greek glory in the Iberian peninsula begins as black sails fold near Tarraco, king's army occupies the city. Defenders get put to sword.
http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/488936743771103234/6A4BAD528C56729569E9477A874E933584512B98/
Meanwhile, treacherous armies of Cimmeria attack Trapezos and get utterly destroyed by Athenian mercenaries. Our ally Rhodos grabs the last remaining Cimmeria region nearby. This could turn out to be a problem for our state's economy later.
147 BCE - Hellenization of the Iberian peninsula continues. King's army destroys Cesetani forces at Arse and occupies the settlement. On the other side of the map, the last remaining forces of Cimmeria get sunk at sea by brave Athenian sailors. In the East, a great Baktrian host gets ambushed as it hastily pushes its way towards Baktra.
146 BCE - A great host of Baktrian elephant herders gets ambushed in the woods near Baktra. Not a single elephant survives.
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/488936861532044453/9A6D518491E0C97528FCFDB124552A4584994418/
King's armies are busy pacifying the newly obtained territories in Spain.
145 BCE - Egyptian rebels wrestle the region of Jerusalem from our allies, Seleucids. Carpos himself leads Athenians to the rescue. Jerusalem is safe from rebels (and Seleucids).
144 BCE - delegations from Baktria and Arachosia arrive in Athens. They beg for peace. There can be no peace between us and these people... Armies of Carpos encounter 3 hostile hosts in Northern Spain. A battle is to ensue. In the Eastern part of the world, Baktrian Marakanda comes under Athenian siege. The general is considering a full-out assault.
Myth, ahem, getting a bit frustrated with this one. Need help, if possible. The game is crashing in the middle of my assault on an Esetani city. I tried to replay the battle, but two times in a row got into the lagged-rain situation and, it seems, the radar map (+ the tactical map) is disabled (even though the game is in VH, not legendary mode). I have successfully used the tactical map in the past to get past the 0-fps rain-bug. As the tactical map is disabled, I cannot.
I am not sure I understand why the tactical map is disabled though. The difficulty is set on VH and the 'battle realism' is not checked. Has anyone been playing this with some mods enabled?
Bramborough
12-15-2013, 10:43
The difficulty is set on VH and the 'battle realism' is not checked. Has anyone been playing this with some mods enabled?
I had same observation about BR during the first reign. I didn't have BR checked either, but Myth did start the game with BR. If I understand correctly, once a campaign is started with BR, apparently it cannot be toggled on/off.
Luckily I was still in areas of the world where rain isn't quite as common.
Ok, got it to work, had to autoresolve the Tarraco battle in the end, was crashing in the middle constantly. Posted further updates to the storyline.
Great work Slaists! I'm glad this game is able to continue. I laughed at the 145 BCE comment :laugh4:
Yeah, I did start it with BR and that was a bit inconsiderate of me since a lot of people like the new overhead map feature. But I wanted us to be challenged to the maximum to get a great story going. Since we're owning half the known world by now I'd say the might of Athens cannot be contained by mere checkboxes and lack of radar maps.
Rain however, seems to put a dent in our mighty bronze armour...
Great work Slaists! I'm glad this game is able to continue. I laughed at the 145 BCE comment :laugh4:
Yeah, I did start it with BR and that was a bit inconsiderate of me since a lot of people like the new overhead map feature. But I wanted us to be challenged to the maximum to get a great story going. Since we're owning half the known world by now I'd say the might of Athens cannot be contained by mere checkboxes and lack of radar maps.
Rain however, seems to put a dent in our mighty bronze armour...
Yeah, rain and flaming missiles during sieges. Weird, I no longer seem to get that lag during my own battles but it does kick in during the Athenian campaign. Whenever, the AI starts using massed flaming missiles the battle kicks into "slow motion". Curiously enough, the frame rate does not drop (stays in the 60-30 range): just every move takes 6x time. So, the bottleneck must be CPU related. I used to be able to migrate past these flukes using the tactical map overview.
Otherwise, things look peachy for Athens. There might be a little Baktrian related hickup. They just captured a Persian region right in the middle of our holdings and all our armies have moved on (deeper into Baktrian lands), LOL.
Um, what do you guys do for screenshots with the battle "realism" enabled? Without it, I would pause the battle when I felt the moment was right for a screenshot. I would position my camera in the angle I want and take the shot. With battle realism enabled, for pausing, I can only press "ESC" to bring up the menu, but that does not allow me to adjust the camera. If I do it real time, by the time I get the right angle, the moment is gone.
Usually my battles are played on 3x battle speed. When I slow them down to normal they are so slow i have no issue hitting the F10 screen on Fraps.
Usually my battles are played on 3x battle speed. When I slow them down to normal they are so slow i have no issue hitting the F10 screen on Fraps.
That explains why you hate the early armies ;)
3x speed though is not that different from normal in RTW 2. Shogun 2 3x speed is much faster.
Not that I hate them but I find them terribly low on the cost-efficiency scale. Their upkeep is marginally better over that of more professional troops, but their abysmal morale and defensive stats means they will rout at the whisper of the wind.
By the way, I had taken a *long* break from Rome II. I hadn't played since the inclusion of the steppe factions. The recent combat changes made combat much more enjoyable for me.
Indeed pike units got reduced in efficiency. Spartan pikes with chevrons now give about double the amount of casualties to melee troops of comparable quality. Skirmishers demolish pike blocks (which lack a shield). Literally several volleys from your run of the mill javelin troops can evaporate a pike unit.
I now have a newfound respect for Perioikoi Peltasts for example.
Battle speed and performance saw an increase on my system.
Light cavalry are now actual cavalry that behaves like I want them to. They can waltz right past enemy spear units and they ignore them, even if one guy gets clipped by the tip of a spear.
My generals have a much higher life expectancy now.
The AI is a bit nuts with agents on the campaign map. I got stalled for several turns (various armies) due to being poisoned, assault patrolled, assassinated and so on.
The AI builds more top tier units. Cyrenica attacked my elite Spartan army (still 1 stack though) with 5,600 men, out of which we had about 10 or so thorax pikes and at least 8 elephant units.
I got a nasty CTD while playing my Sparta campaign so I'm tempted to just delete the save and start over come patch 8.1
Yes, changes introduces by patches are significant both on campaign and battle level. Skirmish phase is distinct and enjoyable now (unless one brings ballista to the field, which triggers AI rushing).
I am not sure I agree with the new loose pike formation though. Swords should not be able to push through pike formations frontally, even if those are elite swords.
I am on the road until Jan 9th and, unfortunately, won't have access to RTW 2 until then. I can continue updating the athens campaign only after Jan 9th. If that is a problem, I can post the current save game for someone else to continue.
No way man. We'll wait for your return. Plus, I suspect most of us are having a holiday anyway.
Kamakazi
01-09-2014, 23:22
So is this dead? or?
Just got back from my travels. Will update this weekend :)
So, loaded it up with 8.1 this weekend, but ran into some persistent crashes... Will investigate further. Hopefully, some driver issue in my system. Since I was away for 3 weeks and my rig was offline, things were not updating as usual.
Sure thing. I suspect we may need to just start a new game (probably with a new faction) as this was started back on patch 4 or 5 and now we're a lot further down into patch-land. Any suggestions on the new faction? I'd try Carthage or the Massagetae.
Kamakazi
01-23-2014, 16:37
Hmm...... I vote.... Royal Scythia
The Massagetae are Royal Scythia sans the jav-cav but with added cataphracts and companion cavalry with slightly lower stats.
Kamakazi
01-26-2014, 05:40
But their standard is so.... horrid
Finally, got Rome 2 to work again last night. So, what's the consensus, should we continue with this one or switch? Like Myth said, patches have advanced quite far since this campaign started with significant implications for the game-play. Steam-rolling as was common several patches ago, is not likely to be possible in campaigns started fresh (on highest difficulties at least).
Ironically, the patches make most of the "let's play" youtube videos obsolete. Whatever those original posters were doing 6 months ago would not work at this point...
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