The Antigonids : A Makedonian AAR [Archive] - Page 2

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-11-2007, 05:30

Chapter 23 : The Romani War (Part I)

The "Romani - Arche Makedonia War" finally started in full force. In Silikia, Demetrios guards the straits against Romani attack as Syrakousai build up a military system, in the Makedonian style, so that they might soon defend themselves. In Syria, his son, Aristotelis, manages the empire and guards against the chance of reoccuring Hayasdan or Assyrian aggression. In Krete, Chrysoloras establishes government control of the island. While in Hellas, his brother, Perseus, moves to Korinthos with an army and prepares to subjugate Sparte.

The family of Nepos Argeades were the ones leading the war effort against the Romani, however. In Illyria, Pyrrhos Argeades boards his Illyrian army on to the Ambrakian fleet and prepares to cross the Adriatic. To the north, Neikolaos Argeades, first born son of Nepos, takes control of the Celtic army and moves along the base of the mountains, heading west. Finally, Nepos and his son, Gelon, take the main force of Makedones and attack the Romani territories directly.

While besieging the Romani city of Patavium, Nepos and Gelon are confronted by an army of the Romani under the command of Marcus Aurelius Cotta, who had been campaigning north of the mountains:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2791/maa992ii5.png

Cotta moves his army just within range of the Makedone forces then halts. To the south the Makedones could see the forces arriving from the city, which was apparently what Cotta was waiting for. Facing forces from two sides, Nepos orders his battle line to reform:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5239/maa995om7.png

With both armies in possition, the Romani charge the reformed line of pikemen:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8898/maa996ry6.png

Maneuvering behind the battle line, Gelon, leading the cavalry, is confronted by Marcus Aurelius Cotta and his cavalry. The two cavalry devisions charged eachother, but the superiority of the Makedone cavalry is soon quite apparent:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3555/maa997sn5.png

Dumbstruck, Cotta falls dead as his cavalry is easily outmatched. Returning to the battle line, Gelon attempts to secure the flanks, but is confronted by elite Romani Hoplitai:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6332/maa999uy8.png

Suffering losses, Gelon defeats the Hoplitai and moves on to the main battle. With the loss of their general and suffering cavalry charges, the Romani brake and flee. Both Gelon and Nepos chase down the fleeing units while the Makedone phalangites finish off the last Romani still fighting:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9206/maa1000st0.png

Unprepared to fight a well trained, disciplined, 'civilized' force, the Romani suffer a humiliating defeat:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3418/maa1001wc0.jpg

With great defeats suffered against the Qarthadastism and the Romani, the Makedonian Empire is once again the clearly superior nation in all the known world:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3776/maa1003rw0.jpg

To the south, the main fleet of Makedonia win victories against the fleets of Kart-Hadast, but they are costly. The Kart-Hadast seem to have had much more experience with ships contruction. The old ships built in Makedonia can't continue to stand against the Kart-Hadast:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9106/maa1006dl7.jpg

As the Makedone main fleet falls back back to Hellas for repairs, the Ambrakian fleet (built in the Rhodian style) is able to moves Pyrrhos across the Adriatic to attack the Romani behind their lines. The landing force is quickly countered by a force of Romani and their allies, however:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6632/maa1007os5.png

With the fleet off the coast, the Illyrian line up on the beach and await the Romani:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2126/maa1008ht3.png

Charging from a distance, the first to arrive are the elite Italian cavalry, who crash into the middle of the Illyrian line:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/979/maa1010zg8.png

The Italian cavalry brakes quickly, but soon is replaced by the entire Romani army, who charge the Illyrian line:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7535/maa1011wc5.png

Moving around both sides of the battle, the Illyrian cavalry charge in to the Romani infantry who are engaged on the flanks:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3872/maa1012ki6.png

As the Romani flanks break and flee, the Illyrian infantry along the flanks move to encircle the center of the Romani:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8300/maa1013tn1.png

Soon, the few remaining Romani find themselves completely surround and panic:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8810/maa1015re6.png

The Romani once again suffer greatly due to their overconfidence. Not only did they loose two armies and a key city, but two senators die as well, including First Consul [Faction Leader] Spurius Cornelius Blasio:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8008/maa1018eh9.jpg

Once inside the city, Pyrrhos allows his men to loot the city, during which much of the population is killed and chased from the city:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1653/maa1025pz1.jpg

In an attempt to appeal to the locals after the looting, Pyrrhos orders that the Romani agricultural system be torn down and the land be opened to small, local farmers instead of giant industrial farms using masses of slave labor:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2248/maa1037da0.jpg

Around this time, the king of Iuodaia establishes a series of moutain fortresses east of Hierosolyma in order to garrison Makedone troops and as a refugue in times of trouble:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7207/maa1026wa0.jpg

Almost on the same day as the battle at Ariminum, Pyrrhos' eldest brother, Neikolaos, is attacked by another army of the Romani, to the north:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1316/maa1019mq6.png

Neikolas is forced to rush his men into possition, as the Romani charge across the bridge as soon as they arrive. As the Romani begin to cross onto the Makedone-held side, the Celtic infantry throw their javelin in...
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/324/maa1020tk8.png

...then charge at the Romani, encircling half their army:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1675/maa1021iv7.png

The encircled Romani are quickly wiped out, but the other half of the army takes up possition on the bridge, refusing to cross, and uses the tight space to their advantage. Forming a wall of shields, the Italian infantry use their superior equiptment, training, and experience to best the numerically superior Celtic force:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6052/maa1022ni3.png

Almost out of desperation, Neikolaos orders his cavalry to charge through the battle in an attempt to break the stalemate. Before the cavalry can even reach the Romani, however, they break and flee back across the bridge. In prime possition and seeing their advantage, the Celtic cavalry charge across the bridge and chase down the fleeing Romani:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4511/maa1023ny1.png

Faced with a superior force, and leading disorganized allies and mercenaries, Neikolaos' command skill is the only thing that wins the day:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6842/maa1024zt3.jpg

With his victory, Neikolaos marches west to besiege the Romani city of Mediolanium. At the same time, his father and brother march south to unite the supply lines between Patavium and Ariminum. Before reaching the city of Bononia, where Consul Tiberius Aurelius Cotta [new Faction Leader] is garrisoned, Nepos and Gelon encounter Romani forces, encamped in the thick forests:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6518/maa1027ig9.png

The battlefield has two clearings with a line of trees in between them, with the Romani assembled in one clearing and the Makedones assembled in the other. The Romani take the initiative and march forward, moving skirmishers to attack the Makedone flank. Countering the skirmishers, Gelon charges them with the cavalry, chasing them into the forest:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/1030/maa1029cd2.png

With Gelon off fighting on the right flank, the rest of the Romani force moves forward and attacks the Makedone phalangites:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3871/maa1030zr7.png

Without cavalry support, Nepos is forced to use his one bodyguard to counter the Romani general, Kaeso Cornelius Blasio. Circling around the left flank, he charges the Romani cavalry:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8861/maa1031lu4.png

General Blasio soon retreats, just in time to avoid Gelon and cavalry returning, who charge the rear of the Romani:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5933/maa1032xh6.png

Seeing the rout, the remaining Romani turn and flee. Both senators manage to survive the battle, this time:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5673/maa1034ar0.jpg
[I learned that the battle timer can go into negative numbers, in this battle...]

Fleeing back to the city of Bononia, Nepos corners the Romani forces inside the city. As winter hits, two major cities in northern Italia are besieged by the Makedonian Empire:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8211/maa1035lz9.png

To the south, Demetrios crosses the straights and attacks the city of Rhegion, seeking to deprive the Romani of this mineral rich province:
https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3765/maa1036hb5.png

And to the east, Chrysoloras lands in Rhodos, seeking to secure the city before it too can rebel against Makedonia:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2651/maa1038gn8.png

The known world in the autumn of 212BC:
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2272/hxmak212afb9.png

Next: Chapter 24 : The Romani War (Part II)

Callicles

12-11-2007, 05:58

I love that picture of the cavalry in the wintery pine forest.

Mordrorru

12-11-2007, 08:32

Nice, as always.

Demetrios not dead yet. I'm waiting. :book:

The General

12-11-2007, 21:31

Uhhyess.

A long- (well, relatively!) waited update! \o/

And, as per usual, very nice again. You're putting good pressure on the Romani, 'tseems, considering that Gallia Cisalpina is falling under your control, and even the Italian Ariminum is under Makedonian rule, and, on top of that, the invasion of Brettia... Very nice.

Oh, and, yeah, that pic does look cool.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/1030/maa1029cd2.png

Chaotix

12-11-2007, 22:39

Chapter 23 : The Romani War (Part I)

The Romani once again suffer greatly due to their overconfidence. Not only did they loose two armies and a key city, but two senators die as well, including First Consul [Faction Leader] Spurius Cornelius Blasio:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8008/maa1018eh9.jpg

Once inside the city, Pyrrhos allows his men to loot the city, during which much of the population is killed and chased from the city:
https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1653/maa1025pz1.jpg

In an attempt to appeal to the locals after the looting, Pyrrhos orders that the Romani agricultural system be torn down and the land be opened to small, local farmers instead of giant industrial farms using masses of slave labor:

How did you get Pyrhhos to fight on your side? I don't think you can bribe Faction Leaders... unless this is a different Pyrhhos? Awesome AAR as usual, but I can't figure out what's going on here...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-11-2007, 23:35

Thanks.

I liked that picture too. It didn't really add to the story of that battle, but I added it just because I liked it. Too bad the shield on the striking guy is acting a little weird.

Demetrios isn't even 70 yet, so based on other leaders like the original Diadochi, he still has a lot of time left. Though, I have sent one of his grandsons to meet up with him and help him with his campaigns. (And to take over the army when the inevitable comes.)

It is a different Pyrrhos, Pyrrhos Argeades the Crippled, son of Nepos Argeades. It was kind of funny. I had Nepos preparing to invade Italia, then I got the message that his son Pyrrhos came of age. It is almost as if the decades of preparing for an invasion of Italia made Nepos study and idolize Pyrrhos, and then name his youngest son after him. Pyrrhos Argeades isn't that bad of a general, either. Too bad he's crippled from birth.

Chirurgeon

12-12-2007, 00:57

Awesome update. Some impressive battles and coordination going on there. Looks like your going to have to drive through Gaul to completely wipe out the Romans. Unless you are content to deprive them of their homeland. Keep it up. Great work.

White_eyes:D

12-12-2007, 01:10

Just a thought but what are you going to do after this?? I wanna see you finish off romans but then what?

BTW Love the forest shot:2thumbsup:

Gaivs

12-12-2007, 01:35

This is the AAR that inspire me to do a Makedonia campaign, and its the most fun i've had with any faction yet!

Callicles

12-12-2007, 04:23

It is a different Pyrrhos, Pyrrhos Argeades the Crippled, son of Nepos Argeades. It was kind of funny. I had Nepos preparing to invade Italia, then I got the message that his son Pyrrhos came of age. It is almost as if the decades of preparing for an invasion of Italia made Nepos study and idolize Pyrrhos, and then name his youngest son after him. Pyrrhos Argeades isn't that bad of a general, either. Too bad he's crippled from birth.

Most of the truly great leaders had some sort of personal flaw that caused them to excel. I think it's actually rather accurate.

Along the same lines, I once had a sharp, uncharismatic, languorous guy marry the faction leader's first born daughter. The guy got the "evil-mother-in-law" ancillary right away. The guy became my greatest general because "mommy" kept yelling at him to excel. What made it better was how he got the "Subject of rumours trait." I actually felt bad for the guy... all he wanted to do was read (he had the "cultured" and "bookish" traits). Instead he was off in some dark corner of the world fighting barbarians, while his wife was at home "living it up."

White_eyes:D

12-12-2007, 05:55

Most of the truly great leaders had some sort of personal flaw that caused them to excel. I think it's actually rather accurate.

Along the same lines, I once had a sharp, uncharismatic, languorous guy marry the faction leader's first born daughter. The guy got the "evil-mother-in-law" ancillary right away. The guy became my greatest general because "mommy" kept yelling at him to excel. What made it better was how he got the "Subject of rumours trait." I actually felt bad for the guy... all he wanted to do was read (he had the "cultured" and "bookish" traits). Instead he was off in some dark corner of the world fighting barbarians, while his wife was at home "living it up."
:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
That would suck I would mess around all the time if I were him:beam: get the Bladite adulterer

BTW Marcus love those moves you made with the phalangites, like flys to sand paper:smash:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-12-2007, 08:19

Thanks for the comments and compliments, everyone.

With a little incouragement, the Aedui have been helping defeat the Romani in Gaul. Though they could be doing a whole lot more, I think they are going half ***ed because the AI is programmed to team up against the player and never fight an enemy of the player.

In my next update I allude to what comes next. As one could predict, the Ptolemaioi aren't content to just sit in Assyria.

More power to Makedonia, Gaivs! The Makedonians would have the perfect unit roster if only they had the Thorakitai. I sure miss those guys with Makedonia.

There are several historical leaders that were crippled in some way. Like that Viking leader who supposedly had no bones in his legs, or Santa Anna who had a false leg. Hopefully Pyrrhos the Crippled will turn out ok, though thus far all he has done is defended Ariminum. Since I plan on taking the Romani Gallic territories first, I have a feeling that both Nepos and Demetrios will be dead by the time it comes to sack Roma. In that case, I'll give that honor to Pyrrhos, to complete the wishes of his namesake.

BTW, the Romani finally hit the Polybian Reform. A few turns later I used process_cq on all the Romani Italia towns and they were all upgrading their MICs. So hopefully, I'll see some Polybian units in battle before the Romani are no more.

Hooahguy

12-12-2007, 16:32

IMO, this AAR has officially achieved immortality.
great job MAA!

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-13-2007, 02:54

Thanks, hooahguy14.

Here comes the Romani War - Part II of (what is beginning to look like) V or VI.
...\/...

EDIT: Huh? That's weird...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-13-2007, 03:02

Chapter 24 : The Romani War (Part II)

With three successful Makedone invasions, the war began to heat up. In the northern most regions of Italia, Neikolaos besieged the city of Mediolanium. Having crushed the region's army a month earlier, Neikolaos faced only a small Romani force as they countered:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5200/maa1039la8.png

Neikolaos possitions himself along a gentle slope and awaits. The Romani march forward, where they recieve arrow fire:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9861/maa1041np8.png

They continue forward, where they are pelted by javelin:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3420/maa1042ho1.png

Finally, the Romani charge in. Fighting in the center, the flanks of the Celtic line wrap around the sides and surround the Romani elites:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8374/maa1043bc7.png

Soon, the Romani reinforcements arrive. General Quintus Aurelius Cotta charges his cavalry into the Celts on the flank, who turn and face him. The Celtic infantry deal great losses against the light Romani cavalry, who are finished as the Celtic cavalry charge in, killing Quintus:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4166/maa1045lx9.png

As the last army of elite Romani approach, they find themselves too late and alone. Outnumbered, the are easy to defeat:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1867/maa1049fi9.jpg

As Neikolaos enters the city, he received word that this father and brother have taken Bononia as well, killing the Romani Consul. The population of both cities was displaced and enslaved as the Makedones make their presence known:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9137/maa1050ff1.jpg

Word also goes across the empire that Perseus has died:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8643/maa1051is1.jpg

Perseus, son of Alkyoneus, who had almost become king, dies in Korinthos while planning an attack on Sparte. Rumors go around that it was the Spartans, themselves, who had poisoned him, and if they had they had succeeded, for the campaign was cancelled. Perseus' wife had given him no sons, and now Chrysoloras was the last of the Alkyoneus line.

As Makedonia grieves, a great tremor hits Epieros, killing more than a third of the population of the northern territories:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7084/maa1052ym2.jpg

Arriving too late to save the city of Mediolanium, an army of Hellene conscripts marches against Neikolaos. Neikolaos offeres them their lives if they surrender, but they are too tainted by Romani lies and decide to fight:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1595/maa1053be0.png

With the great mountains looming in the distance, the two armies meet:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6795/maa1055zm6.png

Neikolaos orders his cavalry to chase off the skirmishers who are attempting to flank the battle. Chasing them into the forests, the Romani infantry forces loose all support:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6050/maa1056ns7.png

The Hellene levies stand no chance against Neikolaos and his veteren army of Celtic allies. A great many Hellenes die needlessly that day:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3106/maa1058ev9.jpg

Back in Thrakia, the Kingdom of Tylis had finally run low on food and supplies, suffering a siege that lasted almost two years. With the Metropolites being sent to govern Hellas, the seige is continued by the Thebaios family. Now, they are confronted by the city defenders as they sally forth in one last, doomed, attempt to lift the Makedone siege:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/543/maa1059cd5.png

The Tylisians sally out of the city and attempt to attack the flanks of the defending pike line, but are countered by loyal Thrakians:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9922/maa1061vm0.png

Meanwhile others attack the center of the Makedone line:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5352/maa1062aj7.png

The army of Tylis can't stand for long and soon flee back into the city. A surrender follows. No civilians are harmed:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6185/maa1065gq7.jpg

With little activity since Demetrios had sailed for Sikilia, the African front once again comes to life. Marching across the desert, an army of Kart-Hadast besiege the garrison at Kyrene:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/506/maa1066im0.png

Sharing a hatred of the Makedonian Empire, Kart-Hadast also ally with Hayasdan around the same time. Suffering defeats in India, the Seleukids turned their attension to expanding in Armenia, declaring war on Hayasdan:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5924/maa1067wz8.jpg

With the act of agression by the Seleukids, the Ptolemaioi brake the conditions of their surrender and once again declared themselves allies of Hayasdan. It seems that the Seleukids had started something that was going to escalate:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6113/maa1090al3.jpg

With Mediolanium secure, Neikolaos marches his Celtic forces north, over the mountains, to attack Romani holdings in Gaul. Once over the mountains, Neikolaos confronts an army of Romani and their allies near the source of the two great rivers of the continent:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9804/maa1069uu4.png

As Neikolaos marched his forces forward, the Romani decide that they do not wish to fight. Fleeing from the battle, Celts chase the Romani down:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7094/maa1071so8.png

The remaining Romani then garrison themselves in the city of Aventicos, as Neikolaos besieged it:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/999/maa1073jn9.jpg

As Neikolaos besieges the city of Aventicos, Demetrios fights his own battle on the far side of Romani territory:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9470/maa1074zc4.png

Lining up his men in a clearing between two patches of trees, Demetrios prepares his men for the battle:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9262/maa1075ry5.png

The first Romani army charges the center of the Makedone line, supported by Peltastai:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5601/maa1076gq6.png

Circling around the flanks, the Basilikon Agema charge in at the side of the engaged Romani:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6252/maa1079cg2.png

Meanwhile, the cavalry devisions of both armies engage eachother off to the side of the battle:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1430/maa1080vg9.png

Before too long, the Romani cavalry are once again bested and two Romani senators fall dead. With the death of their generals, the Romani army turns and starts to flee. Demetrios has his cavalry wipe out many of the fleeing Romani but is forced to fall back as the second Romani force approaches:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4995/maa1084qx7.png

The second Romani army to engage the phalangites don't stand for long, and as they flee the Makedone phalangites give chase:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7833/maa1085cj2.png

During the chase, one group of Pezhetairoi are soon confronted by Romani elites hiding in the forest:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8372/maa1086bj8.png

The Romani elites are soon joined by others, as an entire Romani army charged from hiding and attacks the disorganized Pezhetairoi:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5493/maa1087hq7.png

Although, the ambush was well planned, the Romani lacked the quality and quantity of manpower to pull it off. Before long, all the ambushers lay dead and Demetrios marches into the city of Rhegion:
https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6577/maa1089uf1.jpg

The known world in 210BC, two years into the Romani War:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8553/hxmak210pd4.png

Next: Chapter 25 : The Romani War (Part III)

Hooahguy

12-13-2007, 03:08

wow- im surprised you only conquered that much of italy. with all the victories youve had, it seems as if the romani were completely destroyed!
great job!

Stuperman

12-13-2007, 03:13

Sweet, Great update

Mordrorru

12-13-2007, 03:27

In the history of EB, has anyone ever conquered every city on the map?

White_eyes:D

12-13-2007, 06:23

In the history of EB, has anyone ever conquered every city on the map?

Without cheats? I doubt it:clown:
im on my Romani campaign and I have to close about......108 citys I think....but
still its close to 56BC and I have about two in a half stacks running around putting down revolts everywhere, the unrest is killer:wall: holding Syria is becoming a problem:sweatdrop:
BTW GO MARCUS GO finish those Romani:smash:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-13-2007, 07:17

Thanks for the comments.

wow- im surprised you only conquered that much of italy. with all the victories youve had, it seems as if the romani were completely destroyed!
great job!
The Romani don't go quietly into the night. They put up a huge fight, just ask Hannibal. I think I've broken their military, though. From about this chapter onwords, it is only a matter of taking their cities.

In the history of EB, has anyone ever conquered every city on the map?
I don't think I've ever seen or heard of anyone doing so. For one thing, you can't take the desert territory without cheating.
This is the most I've ever conquered:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9026/120ci2.jpg
(My v0.80 Romani campaign and subject of my last AAR.)
(The Year 120BC.)

Mordrorru

12-13-2007, 07:24

(My v0.80 Romani campaign and subject of my last AAR.)

You had a Roman ARR? Link? :laugh4:

For one thing, you can't take the desert territory without cheating.

Who put a city in the game that you can't capture?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-13-2007, 07:32

My Romani AAR (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=82798) wasn't that good. I didn't have many pictures, so all it was was my bad writting. I ended up giving up on it before I got past the second story point.

Every territory needs a town and the EB team wanted some territories to be unconquerable, so the town in the Sahara is inaccessable. It also stores some nonsensical buildings that will track the script progress.

mrtwisties

12-13-2007, 08:13

This is the most I've ever conquered:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9026/120ci2.jpg
(My v0.80 Romani campaign and subject of my last AAR.)

"And MAA wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer".

:laugh4:

Mordrorru

12-13-2007, 08:44

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-13-2007, 09:01

"And MAA wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer".

:laugh4:
That's the main reason that I quit, that and internal pre1.0 versions needed testing. I still had Persia to conquer, but you can only fight so many stacks of archer cataphracts before going insane. Though I had five full stack legions, including a preatorian legion under the command of my emperor, in possition to take all of Persia. I never quite got to that invasion...

Think you'll get farther here than you did in your Roman Campaign?
I don't know. My original plan was just to retake all of Alexander's empire until the Romans and Carthaginians got in my way. I'll probably end up quitting due to another version release of EB.

Mordrorru

12-13-2007, 09:50

I don't know. My original plan was just to retake all of Alexander's empire until the Romans and Carthaginians got in my way. I'll probably end up quitting due to another version release of EB.

You've probably got time...

You'd have to conquer all the suicids and maybe some parthians. That's alot of pikes and horse archers...

Callicles

12-13-2007, 10:01

I'll probably end up quitting due to another version release of EB.

I hope it's not too soon. I'm a hundred years into a campaign I really enjoy, and I won't want to deal with the temptation to update.

Gaivs

12-13-2007, 13:18

Man the Romani sure do field crap armies dont they.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-14-2007, 02:02

Man the Romani sure do field crap armies dont they.
Indeed.

I was considering taking a couple of mercenaries and using auto_win to wipe out the entire Romani military then use the create_unit cheat to make them a couple realistic Polybian legions. But I've tried that before in a different campaign and they'll do stupid things like send all of their hastati after you unassisted, garrison their towns with princepes, and combine their Triarii with newly made Lugoae stacks.

White_eyes:D

12-14-2007, 05:26

Thanks for the comments.

The Romani don't go quietly into the night. They put up a huge fight, just ask Hannibal. I think I've broken their military, though. From about this chapter onwords, it is only a matter of taking their cities.

I don't think I've ever seen or heard of anyone doing so. For one thing, you can't take the desert territory without cheating.
This is the most I've ever conquered:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9026/120ci2.jpg
(My v0.80 Romani campaign and subject of my last AAR.)
(The Year 120BC.)

WOW you got close to mine but I got ALL of AFRICA:egypt:
but wow marcus you got England?? I skip that for last all the time.
BTW you killed a horse-archer faction??? man I would have went nuts:sweatdrop:

Hooahguy

12-14-2007, 16:22

I'll probably end up quitting due to another version release of EB.

and when will that be?????
i hope its very far away, for my and your AAR's sakes......

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-14-2007, 21:10

WOW you got close to mine but I got ALL of AFRICA:egypt:
but wow marcus you got England?? I skip that for last all the time.
BTW you killed a horse-archer faction??? man I would have went nuts:sweatdrop:
I tried to expand historically, then once I had all of Trajan's conquests I went for Germania and Persia. The Casse can be quite difficult since they'll have like four stacks waiting for you on the coast, but I found that hiring Sarmatians and sending them to Britain was a good way of dealling with the celtic swarms. Armenia fell pretty quickly but cost me two legions, good thing I had four invading. I played that campaign for about six months and it was the platform for both the 080 CTD fix I made and the City Mod's development. But controlling AI expansion was quite the headache.

and when will that be?????
i hope its very far away, for my and your AAR's sakes......
I honestly don't know when the next release will be. Honestly...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-15-2007, 00:13

Chapter 25 : The Romani War (Part III)

With northern Italia secured, Neikolaos moved north to conquer Romani holdings in Gaul and return them to Makedonia's Gallic allies. Neikolaos had not considered the number of Gauls that were willing to fight for the Romani, though. Soon Neikoalaos finds himself under attack by huge numbers of Romani allies:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/74/maa1091uu0.png

At first it seems that the Romani city garrison is unable to arrive and Neikolaos only has to fend off one army. As the battle begins, the Romani immediately rush their cavalry to the Makedone left flank:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3275/maa1094dj6.png

The main battle line is unable to counter any flanking, however, as the main Romani army follows soon after:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7017/maa1095gr1.png

The two lines charge eachother, and the fighting erupts. Just then, the Romani reinforcements appear on a distant ridge and appoach the battle:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5074/maa1096tl5.png

Completely outnumbered, Neikolaos' Celtic forces begin to waver. Just then, the Romani cavalry charge in at the undefended archers in the rear:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8070/maa1097uq1.png

Completely outnumbered and surrounded, Neikolaos orders a retreat. His men run for a wheat field and attempt to disappear into the forests:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5290/maa1098vq0.png

Even though the Romani took more losses, they win the day and Neikolaos retreats back to Italia:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2350/maa1100ny5.png

With Neikolaos falling back to defend northern Italia, Nepos and Gelon move south to cut Romani territories in half and put pressure on the Romani capital:
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4371/maa1119cn3.png

With a loss on the Romani front, the Makedonian Empire faced with another tight spot. The city of Kyrene has been besieged by the forces of Kart-Hadast and Antisthenes Gortynios, son-in-law of Demetrios is forced to protect the city without reinforcements. Now, the the forces of Kart-Hadast march forward to attack the city:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1771/maa1102hn0.png

As the battle begins, the Qarthadastism move their ladders and a ram for the western wall while they move a ram and a tower to the north and a lone tower to the south. Under fire from flaming arrows and the ballista in the towers, the ram to the north soon collapses:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/8327/maa1103un2.png

To the south, the tower is set on fire and is abandonned:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6762/maa1105cj6.png

Charging from the northern gate, Antisthenes Gortynios, leads a charge against the final tower and breaks the Kart-Hadast infantry:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5751/maa1106db8.png

To the west, however, both the ladders and ram reach the walls of Kyrene:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5205/maa1104fr4.png

On the walls, archers and levied phalangitai are forced to fend off the Qarthadastism:
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/155/maa1107fi9.png

Soon the gate breaks open and the elite enemies march through the gateway:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6016/maa1109th0.png

Followed by the Kart-Hadast general, the elites engage the Makedone gateway defenders. Unprepared [and for some reason deciding to point their spears the opposite direction] one unit breaks formation and attacks with their swords:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7154/maa1111ud6.png

As the wall defenders to the north of the gateway finish off the Kart-Hadast assualting them, Anitsthenes charges his cavalry through the gateway and attacks the rear of the Kart-Hadast general:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5898/maa1112ct2.png

The enemy general soon dies and before long only a few Kart-Hadast elites remain, unable to get back to their ladders and flee from the walls:
https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7189/maa1115jh2.png

The levied garrison bravely defends the city from the elite forces of Kart-Hadast and win a great victory:
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6816/maa1116td2.jpg

To the north, Rhodian tyrant Damasos dies peacefully, allowing Chyroloras to complete the transition of Rhodos into the Makedonian Empire. With Rhodos seccured, Chrysoloras sails his army north to Mytilene on Lesbos to complete the final integration of the Hellenes:
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7547/maa1117ex4.jpg

And in Sparte, Neokles and Bykoli, sons of Aristotelis complete their warrior training with the Spartans:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2008/maa1122rg7.jpghttps://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9051/maa1121tk2.jpg

Upon the completion of their training, their father orders them to Athenai to train at the newly rebuild school and library. After a year of studying, Neokles is to join his grandfather Demetrios, and Bykoli is to return to Syria to rejoin his father:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5395/maa1004yc6.jpg

Back in Italia, Nepos and Gelon find themselves under attack by three armies of the Romani:
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2021/maa1123ww9.png

Moving the cavalry and skirmishers to to counter the Gallic reinforcements, Nepos prepares his main battle line to confront the first of the Romani armies:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5425/maa1124ez8.png

Charging forward, the Romani Hoplitai make breaking through the sarrisa pike line look easy. They start dueling with the Pezhetairoi forced to resort to swords:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1134/maa1125ti9.png

Moving the flanks of the pike line to encircle the Romani, Nepos orders Gelon to devert the cavalry to the rear and completely encircle the Romani, including the newly arrived second army:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7462/maa1126bt7.png

Charging from the rear, Gelon manages to break the Romani elites:
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/183/maa1128nb1.png

With the Romani fleeing, the pike line breaks formation and charges after them:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1380/maa1129qm9.png

The majority of the dishonored Romani fall before the can flee the field. As the Gelon chases down the remaining routers, Nepos orders the phalangitai to regroup and face the last remaining Romani army, the Gallic allies:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6244/maa1131gh9.png

Moving slowly forward, the phalangitai pin in the Gallic soldiers:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3204/maa1132rs6.png

Returning from their chase, the cavalry charges in and breaks the last army. All men give chase, but many Gallic allies escape:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/117/maa1133ij7.jpg

Taking the city, Nepos' men loot the city while killing or selling much of the population into slavery:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2456/maa1134wb3.jpg

Failing at warfare, the Romani send many agents, spies, and assassins to fight a hidden battle against the Makedonian Empire. Unable to honorably counter the threat, Demetrios sends for two veteran assassins of the Aigyptos war. Lead by Paramonos, the two teams begin first eliminate the Romani spy network then cause trouble for the Romani:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9200/maa1068lt9.jpg

Among one of the great achievements is the sabatage of the aquaducts of Roma, causing panic within the city:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2848/maa1165xz7.jpg

With all the underground achievements of the Makedonian Empire, Demetrios begins to become known well for his usage of assassins:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2198/maa1136bm3.jpg

But even with his military skills and spying exploits, Demetrios is mostly known as a kind and generous ruler. Even in his old age, he never forgets to assist those in need in his empire, even if it is harmful economically:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9695/maa1137cx8.png

The kind old man's mind turns back to war, however. Knowing that the strength of Kart-Hadast lies in her trade and knowing that the Romani can hold out forever as long as they continue to receive Kart-Hadast grain imports, Demetrios sets out to devide the trade lanes. Knowing that the islands to the west are vital to the trade route, especially with Makedone fleets partrolling around Sikilia, Demetrios sets out for Sardon. Leaving an army of Syrakousians and mercenaries in Rhegion, Demetrios boards his army onto the Ambrakian fleet and sails west:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7417/maa1138zy1.png

Meanwhile, to the north, Neikolaos moves his newly reinforced Gallic army south to conquer the last Romani stonghold in norther Italia:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3237/maa1139qf6.png

The known world in 209BC, three years into the Romani War:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7918/hxmak209sj8.png

Next: Chapter 26 : The Romani War (Part IV) (aka When Gauls Have Your Back)

Skandaz.Imperator

12-15-2007, 11:43

Great update MarcusAureliusAntoninus, I bet the rest of the romans in Italy will be of no concern.

Btw, when are you to disperse the remainders of the pathetic Ptolemaios? I miss the eastern front.

The General

12-15-2007, 15:01

https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7918/hxmak209sj8.png
*Evil laughter, and hollow cackle*

:evilgrin:

Now, take the rest of Italy, and conquer the Qarthadastim, and you've got yourself a pretty neat, little empire. :yes:

Gaivs

12-15-2007, 17:12

Thats really strange for both the Audei AND the Arverni to conquer Germania as they did. How awesome!

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-15-2007, 20:46

The Ptolemaioi are a completley harmless buffer state. If I wanted to, I could conquer them at any time. However, beyond them the Seleukids are very violent and would certainly betray me if I bordered them.

I don't know what to do about Carthage either. There is no way of invading that doesn't open up a huge front with the desert...

The Audei would be in the Ukraine by now if the Romans hadn't invaded them, and the Arverni would be dead. The only reason the Arverni lived as long as they did is because I allied with both Gallic nations causing a ceasefire between them. Arverni built up a military, betrayed the Aedui and seem to be back with a vengence.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-15-2007, 20:59

Your Romaioi war is awesome! Very good updates. I only wonder how Demetrios can get so old. I said that a hundred times or so but all my generals always die with 62.~:0

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-15-2007, 21:08

Your Romaioi war is awesome! Very good updates. I only wonder how Demetrios can get so old. I said that a hundred times or so but all my generals always die with 62.~:0
He died once. When I was marching to Kyrene after taking Ammonion, but I quit and reloaded the previous turn. I just wasn't ready for him to die. (I know, shame on me, that's bad for role-playing. I justified it by saying that the game engine doesn't recognize 4tpy and kills off people twice as fast as it intends to.) Besides that he's been quite healthy. He's definately my new Alexander. He has been in the army or lead 95% of all non-Hellas conquests.

Mordrorru

12-15-2007, 21:15

He died once. When I was marching to Kyrene after taking Ammonion, but I quit and reloaded the previous turn. I just wasn't ready for him to die. (I know, shame on me, that's bad for role-playing. I justified it by saying that the game engine doesn't recognize 4tpy and kills off people twice as fast as it intends to.) Besides that he's been quite healthy. He's definately my new Alexander. He has been in the army or lead 95% of all non-Hellas conquests.

So...he only died that one time, eh? No, er, other times?

paullus

12-15-2007, 21:32

those shots from the battle you eventually lost, those are the sorta shots that make me say "this is why TW games are great"

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-16-2007, 04:41

So...he only died that one time, eh? No, er, other times?
Well, he died about five times that year. I kept reloading but he kept dying. Finally he survived and I haven't had to cheat the same way since.

those shots from the battle you eventually lost, those are the sorta shots that make me say "this is why TW games are great"
I didn't expect the Romans to have those numbers in the area. At least I made them pay for that victory.

Teleklos Archelaou

12-16-2007, 05:48

I've enjoyed this very much MAA!

Mordrorru

12-16-2007, 06:51

Well, he died about five times that year. I kept reloading but he kept dying. Finally he survived and I haven't had to cheat the same way since.

Not the same way? ;)

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-16-2007, 08:47

I've enjoyed this very much MAA!
Thanks, Teleklos.

Which reminds me... For anyone who is knowledgeable on the subjects, please bear with the historical inaccuracies, bad conjugations, and random usage of English, Latin, and Greek in my AAR. :sweatdrop:

Not the same way? ;)
I meant that I have cheated in other ways, like using the move_character or character_reset to herd the AI or roleplay things that require quick movement. Then there is the toggle_fow cheat I obviously use. Then during the time I had Ptolemai as a protectorate my money went crazy and I used add_money 40000 (followed by add_money -40000 before ending turn so as not to completely cheat).

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-16-2007, 09:49

Chapter 26 : The Romani War (Part IV)

On a warm spring day, Demetrios lands his army on the beaches of Sardon. Marching westward, Demetrios besieges the city of Karali, the administrative center of the island. After a very short rest, Demetrios attacks the unwalled city:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7143/maa1140ro9.png

Kart-Hadast had long ago stopped fearing the Romani and had long since moved the garrisons of her island colonies into Iberia. Now, the city of Karali was garrisoned by only two squads of medium infantry. With such a small force defending the island, Demetrios was sure to win a quick victory and take large amounts of vital Kart-Hadast territory.

Patrolling near the edge of town, one Kart-Hadast squad makes the fateful choice of charging Demetrios' army as they move forward. Countering them, the Basilikon Agema move in:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2231/maa1141bc9.png

With them pinned, Demetrios personally leads a charge at their rear, breaking them:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9484/maa1142go2.png

With half the garrison wiped out, Demetrios marches his forces into the city and surrounds the remaining Kart-Hadast infantry:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3760/maa1143ov1.png

As their Phoenician gods watch on from their great spired temple, the Kart-Hadast die. Demetrios secures the strangly empty town relatively peacefully:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6056/maa1145xp2.jpg

Almost directly north of there, Neikolaos is attacked by a Romani force attempting to relieve Segesta:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/425/maa1147ts1.png

This region had held out against the Romani for decades and only relatively recently lost its autonomy. Amoung Neikolaos' mercenaries are locals who wish to see anyone other than the Romani in control of their homeland:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9451/maa1149te8.png

Marching forward in three lines, the Romani engage Neikolaos' mercenary army:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7563/maa1150fz8.png

As the infantry engage eachother, Neikolaos orders his cavalry to move around the flanks and counters the Romani cavalry before they can out manuveur him:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6595/maa1151ps0.png

The cavalry soon break and leave their infantry defenseless. With opened flanks the Romani infantry are easy targets and fall quickly. As the cavalry chase down the routing Romani, the mercenary infantry moves to counter the city garrison who arrive too late to assist the first Romani force:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/353/maa1153tu2.png

After a short clash, the garrison of Segesta breaks and attempts to flee back to the city:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5008/maa1154iw4.png

With the cavarly in chase, too few reach the city to secure it and it soon surrenders to Neikolaos. Due to the low amount of population and the anti-Romani sentiment, Neikolaos peacefully takes control of the city:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2852/maa1155uv7.jpg

With a renewed hatred of Kart-Hadast going about the Makedonian Empire, Demetrios orders his envoys to Iberia in an attempt to find any sort of friends amoungst the locals. Not only do the envoyes ensure the Hellenic colony of Emporion rebels, but they achieve an alliance with the Lusotani, who lead an confederation of Iberians against the forces of Kart-Hadast in the region:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1309/maa1156pd1.jpg

Accepting the risk, Demetrios leaves Sardon in the hands of mercenaries, and he and his army board the fleet once more as soon as a reasonable amount of control is established in Karali. This time they sail north to Kyrnos where the island has an even lighter defense than Sardon. After a short seige, Demetrios attacks the city:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9927/maa1157vs7.png

After the lengthy process of taking the town, Demetrios sets up his men around the town square. Enticing the Kart-Hadast levies to throw themselves agains the Pezhetairoi spears, Demetrios circles his Basilikon Agema around their rear and surround them:
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6462/maa1160wh2.png

Once again, a Kart-Hadast island is taken with relative ease:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5876/maa1162ic4.jpg

Demetrios sets up military control of the region as quickly as possible, and leaves the island in the hands of Hellene mercenaries, setting sail once again. This time he heads north, to the Hellenic colony of Massalia, to begin his invasion of Romani Gaul.

With so much going on in the west, it is almost easy to forget about the eastern parts of the empire. Aristotelis does not forget, though, as he rules from Antiocheia. Around this time, tragety strikes. In Memphis, local Aigyptians encouraged by Ptolemai-friendly Hellenes and Makedones riot in the streets. Seeking to end the riots, Epikrates Herakleotikos, head of the Herakleotikos family and governor of Memphis, attempts to calm the crowds. Goaded on by yells of Ptolemai supporters, the angry crowd kills the man who brought them sanitation, education, and infrastructure:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1607/maa1164it4.png

The Herakleotikos family doesn't punish anyone, though. They only tighten the military grip on the town.

In Damaskos, an inland trade route is finally established to increase trade between Syria and Aigyptos:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6600/maa1166gd7.jpg

But the worst problem in the east is the continuing Kart-Hadast invasions. The garrison of Kyrene and its governor, Antisthenes Gortynios, son-in-law of Demetrios, find themselves attacked by the besieging Kart-Hadast army:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2617/maa1167ii5.png

This time the Kart-Hadast rush their attack. As a result, they field only one ram, one tower, and a few ladders. The ram doesn't last long, as the archers on the walls set their arrows on fire and concentrate all fire on it:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5607/maa1169ig7.png

Without their only ram, the Qarthadastism forces are forced to make an attempt on the walls. With the tower and ladders coming against the walls, the Kart-Hadast infantry climb up and charge over to the waiting Makedone levy pikemen:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8137/maa1170jc5.png

With the ram out of service and the infantry climbing the walls, the Qarthadastism move their elephants forward. Taking a risk, Antisthenes moves his cavlary around the enemy flank and orders his horsemen to throw their spears:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1808/maa1171ah6.png
[Can elephants knock down stonewall gates?]

It takes a while, but as the great beasts begin to fall as their hides fill with spears. Under great stress, the remaining elephants panic. Seeing a good oppertunity, Antisthemenes moves his cavlary away and allows the beast to take out their anger on their own men:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4467/maa1172cc7.png

Meanwhile, a great many Kart-Hadast soldiers make their way onto the walls and begin to take control, even at a great cost to themselves:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9967/maa1173ux9.png

Fearing loosing the walls, the captain off the southern walls orders the slingers to open fire on the fighting. Though the attack costs Makedone lives, the skill and accuracy of the slingers ensure that many more Kart-Hadast soldiers fall there:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1196/maa1175mo4.png

As the last of the Kart-Hadast soldiers climb onto the walls, Antisthenes moves his cavalry in to harrass them from behind:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1551/maa1176ee7.png

And to the south, a unit of Makedones exit the gate and circle around to the unguarded base of the Kart-Hadast tower. With more than half a unit of elite Kart-Hadast pikemen on it, the Makedones weaken the structure and force to come crubbling down:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/7051/maa1177dj6.png

With almost two thirds of his garrison as casualties, Aristhenes manages to once again fend off a siege:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/359/maa1179iw8.jpg

Far from Kyrenaia, Antisthenes' father-in-law, Basileus Demetrios, confronts the Romani in southern Gaul:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8238/maa1180xl4.png

Lining up his men on the elevated land near the river's mouth, Demetrios fights several small Romani forces:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/7259/maa1181rf1.png

The Romani slowly march forward, then charge in at the center of the Makedone line:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/452/maa1182ra8.png

Most Romani are halted by the of sarrisa pikes, but the elite Italian cavalry manage to break through. Seeing the line in need, the newly recruited Samnite mercenaries charge in to assist the Makedones:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/818/maa1183cv4.png

Meanwhile, on the flanks, Demetrios leads his cavalry in an attack against the Romani light cavalry:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6536/maa1184le7.png

Once again the Romani cavarly pose no challenge to the Hetairoi, and Demetrios is able to turn his attension back to the line. Charging in from the rear, Demetrios corners the Romani general, killing him:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/369/maa1185xf3.png

Defeating both units of cavalry engaged on the line, Demetrios leaves the remaining Romani to the Pezhetairoi and pulls away from the fight once again. With only a short rest, Demetrios is confronted by the last Romani general, who foolishly charges his small cavalry force into Demetrios and his Hetairoi:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1189/maa1186ka4.png

With both Romani generals dead, the battle line breaks and the fight turns into a couple small pockets of fighting:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7492/maa1187ok7.png

The eventual result is the Romani defeat:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5162/maa1188an9.jpg

Demetrios is suprised to find that the city of Massalia greets him with open arms. The city had been controlled by the Romani for decades, but the city still remains distinctively Hellenic. The Hellenes in Massalia had grown tired of the Romani and greatly welcomed an empire of similar backrounds to themselves, even if it was the Makedonian Empire. Demetrios quickly goes about setting up control of the region and establishing a military system.

As he stays in the city, Demetrios gathers information on Gaul and the Romani power there. One thing he learns is that the Aedui Confederation has managed to use the weakening of Romani power to retake great parts of Gaul. Since Demetrios had no interest in control Gaul for the Makedonian Empire, this was quite good new. As Demetrios listens to various stories, one particular story catches his ear. It is said, that to the west there was a lake, a lake of gold. It is said that the Gauls have thrown great quantities of their gold into this lake and that there now lies a fortune there. The story is interesting, but the most interesting part is where the gold came from. It was said that great hordes of Galatian raiders had come from the east, bearing the trophies of a raided Makedonia and the treasuries of Delphi. Even more recently mercenaries who had been in the service of Pyrrhos of Epieros had placed gold in the lake. These mercenaries must have been none other than the mercenaries Pyrrhos had let loot the tombs of Aigai. Demetrios realized that to the west is the gold of Aigai, the treasures of the Demetrios' ancestors...

To the east, Pyrrhos defends Ariminum from Romani counter attacks, which have finally been assembled in Italia:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1039/maa1190up7.png

Pyrrhos marches his men in order from the city and confronts the Romani in the fields near the city. Pinning down the Romani with the infantry, Pyrrhos uses the superior Illyrian cavalry to finish off the foolish Romani:
https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3291/maa1192kt3.png

Only one Romani soldier escapes the battlfield with his life:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4248/maa1193vq7.jpg

Also around this time, an earthquake hits Sikilia, but does little harm:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/896/maa1194nr7.jpg

And in Roma, the Makedonian spy network cripples the Romani military by burning down their main armory:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3750/maa1189aq8.jpg

The known world in 207BC, five years into the Romani War:
https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1680/hxmak207tu5.png

Next: Chapter 27 : The Romani War (Part V)

Kuningaz

12-16-2007, 13:42

Wow!I've just read the whole AAR in one and it is just one thing: epic!
Please go on and conquer the whole world

Gaivs

12-16-2007, 13:42

Amazing stuff! This AAR is so good. Hopefully my campaign is so successful!

Chirurgeon

12-16-2007, 14:17

Excellent job MAA! Keep it up

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-16-2007, 20:01

Again a very enjoyable update. How did you manage to destroy the siege tower? I thought that was only possible with flaming arrows?

As he stays in the city, Demetrios gathers information on Gaul and the Romani power there. One thing he learns is that the Aedui Confederation has managed to use the weakening of Romani power to retake great parts of Gaul. Since Demetrios had no interest in control Gaul for the Makedonian Empire, this was quite good new. As Demetrios listens to various stories, one particular story catches his ear. It is said, that to the east there was a lake, a lake of gold. It is said that the Gauls have thrown great quantities of their gold into this lake and that there now lies a fortune there. The story is interesting, but the most interesting part is where the gold came from. It was said that great hordes of Galatian raiders had come from the east, bearing the trophies of a raided Makedonia and the treasuries of Delphi. Even more recently mercenaries who had been in the service of Pyrrhos of Epieros had placed gold in the lake. These mercenaries must have been none other than the mercenaries Pyrrhos had let loot the tombs of Aigai. Demetrios realized that to the west is the gold of Aigai, the treasures of the Demetrios' ancestors...

...................... What lake are you talking of? To the west or to the east? Stories like this add so much life to a campaign.:2thumbsup:

Mordrorru

12-16-2007, 20:55

It seems like, with the help of the gauls, you're conquering the west alot quicker than you did the east.

Maybe because in the east war you only had 1 army conquering places, that being Demetrios's army. You didn't mobilize your other armies into the Levent until practically the end of the war.

But in the west war you've got 3 armies conquering Italy. And like I said earlier, you've got the gauls taking large amounts of Roman territory.

Also Italy is smaller.

I mean even now, with their empire in ruins, the Ptolemaioi have more territory than Rome.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-16-2007, 21:52

Thanks for the comments everyone, and thanks for following.
I don't have enough to make another chapter so I'm going to have find time to play the game for a while now, which may take a while. Which means it will probably be a couple of days before the next update.

Again a very enjoyable update. How did you manage to destroy the siege tower? I thought that was only possible with flaming arrows?

...................... What lake are you talking of? To the west or to the east? Stories like this add so much life to a campaign.:2thumbsup:
That's the first time I've ever been able to do that to a tower. You are supposed to be able to destroy siege equiptment with infantry, but they often get confused and don't do as you are told. Before, I've only been able to destroy abandoned ballistae.

This might be a bit of a spoiler, but is a minor wonder that is planned. I thought it was already in v1.0 when I wrote an eariler part of the AAR, but it turns out it didn't make it. It's a lake in Gaul where they hid gold and after the Romans took southern Gaul, they drained the lake and took the gold. I hope I didn't leak anything critical, but my story wouldn't make since without that minor wonder...

It seems like, with the help of the gauls, you're conquering the west alot quicker than you did the east.

Maybe because in the east war you only had 1 army conquering places, that being Demetrios's army. You didn't mobilize your other armies into the Levent until practically the end of the war.

But in the west war you've got 3 armies conquering Italy. And like I said earlier, you've got the gauls taking large amounts of Roman territory.

Also Italy is smaller.

I mean even now, with their empire in ruins, the Ptolemaioi have more territory than Rome.
Yeah, in the east, I had to defend against the Armenians, the Carthaginians, and worry about the Romani attacking me. With all of my defensive forces, I couldn't afford to invade with more force. But with the conquest of Aigyptos I got more money and the armies defending against the Romani easily became invading forces.

Hooahguy

12-16-2007, 22:21

I mean even now, with their empire in ruins, the Ptolemaioi have more territory than Rome.

im not so sure about this- the romani have 4 territories in italy and another 4 in gaul, IIRC from my old romani campaign. that makes 8. the ptolies have 1 in africa and i would say about 3-4 in asia. that makes 4-5.
so now the roamni have 8 and the ptolies have 5, if they have 4 in asia.

Callicles

12-16-2007, 23:10

im not so sure about this-

I disagree. Looking at that map, because Marcus has cut through Roman Cisalpina, I don't think the Roman controlled settlements on the far side of the Alps are part of the same system as the Italian cities. For role-playing purposes, I would consider the Italian cities to be Rome and the allied cites of Capua and Arpi, all under the administration of the SPQR. Conversely, the regions in Transalpine Gaul are likely under the administration of some military generals turned warlords. If Marcus defeats the Italians before he defeats the Romans in Gaul, I would no longer consider the Romans in Gaul to be the Romans.

But then if you compare that with the Ptolemaic holdings in Mesopotamia, it is a different arrangement. There we have a continuous border. Moreover, the governmental system of the Ptolemies is far more subject to being a Monarchy ruled by a King - can't really call him pharaoh at this point. The Republican government of Rome is not.

My two cents.

Mordrorru

12-16-2007, 23:57

I don't have enough to make another chapter so I'm going to have find time to play the game for a while now, which may take a while. Which means it will probably be a couple of days before the next update.

Ah, so you've caught up to the present! Wait, so if you've caught up to the present and Demetrios isn't dead yet then how can you predict he'll have a peaceful death?

Unless of course the predictions you made on page 7 were complete frabrications.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-17-2007, 01:42

Ah, so you've caught up to the present! Wait, so if you've caught up to the present and Demetrios isn't dead yet then how can you predict he'll have a peaceful death?

Unless of course the predictions you made on page 7 were complete frabrications.
That's the great thing about oracles, their meaning might not be what you originally thought. The oracle only said a great warrior dies peacefully. He may have been refering to Antigonos who died peacefully in Sardis. But most likely Demetrios will die peacefully as well. He always travels with a huge army and I'm not willing to risk his life in tough places and get him killed like I stupidly did with Alkyoneus.

As for divided Roman territories, I plan to take Gaul from the Romani next and the city of Roma very last. I hate seeing the Romani without Roma.

I tried playing the campaign just now, had some trouble. First of all, it seemed that the difficultly went up or something. A couple turns in, the Carthaginians send two full stacks of elites after Kyrene, the Romani send two stacks to Ariminum and Arretium and Ptolemai attacks Antiocheia while Aristotelis is away. Then I take a full stack of mercenaries against an army of 4 rebel units. Since it is an easy win, I autocalc. Turns out to be a "Crushing Defeat" and my general dies. I got angry and quit. Trying again, I check my save games and it turns out I hadn't saved for several turns meaning I lost about an hour and half of battles against those annoying stacks. So, I've given up for the day. [/RANT]

Hooahguy

12-17-2007, 01:48

so the ptolies made war with you again?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-17-2007, 01:51

so the ptolies made war with you again?
Yeah, but I lost all of that time. My last savegame was before that and they may not do the same thing next time, especially now that I know what they're going to do...

Hooahguy

12-17-2007, 02:06

to make up for it, why dont you just use the auto_win cheat for the battles you know you already won? did you take screen shots of the battles?

EDIT: man, those ptolies are stupid..... dont know when to quit, do they?

Mordrorru

12-17-2007, 05:12

That's the great thing about oracles, their meaning might not be what you originally thought. The oracle only said a great warrior dies peacefully. He may have been refering to Antigonos who died peacefully in Sardis.

Ah, so it was just babbling. Yeah...that's really all these fortune tellers are. The customers find meaning in the words to fit a situation.

But most likely Demetrios will die peacefully as well. He always travels with a huge army and I'm not willing to risk his life in tough places and get him killed like I stupidly did with Alkyoneus.

That, and you won't let him die. :sweatdrop: (joke)

I tried playing the campaign just now, had some trouble. First of all, it seemed that the difficultly went up or something. A couple turns in, the Carthaginians send two full stacks of elites after Kyrene, the Romani send two stacks to Ariminum and Arretium and Ptolemai attacks Antiocheia while Aristotelis is away. Then I take a full stack of mercenaries against an army of 4 rebel units. Since it is an easy win, I autocalc. Turns out to be a "Crushing Defeat" and my general dies. I got angry and quit. Trying again, I check my save games and it turns out I hadn't saved for several turns meaning I lost about an hour and half of battles against those annoying stacks. So, I've given up for the day.

Oh good, while I was reading that I thought you punked out because you actually lost more than 70 men in a battle. Heh.

Basileus Seleukeia

12-17-2007, 20:16

Again, great update Marcus:2thumbsup: I want to see these romans utterly defeated! I just destroyed them in my Epeiros campaign, and now I want them to be crushed by you:laugh4:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-17-2007, 23:40

Hey!
You all want to hear something funny?
I was playing EB and started to smell this funny smell. Kind of like the smell of vaporized carcinogens. Next thing I knew, the screen went black. A couple weeks ago the heatsink on my videocard stopped working, and today I found out it is quite necessary. My videocard overheated and melted. I can't seem to fix it. It is completely dead, and with it dies my computer and my AAR. I was thinking of buying a new computer, and I guess the decision was made for me.

Wolfman

12-17-2007, 23:52

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Does this mean that The Antigonids is dead?

Mordrorru

12-18-2007, 00:21

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Does this mean that The Antigonids is dead?

Looks like it.

Wait, I never got to see Demetrios die, that long lived bastard! :furious3:

Hey!
You all want to hear something funny?
I was playing EB and started to smell this funny smell. Kind of like the smell of vaporized carcinogens. Next thing I knew, the screen went black. A couple weeks ago the heatsink on my videocard stopped working, and today I found out it is quite necessary. My videocard overheated and melted. I can't seem to fix it. It is completely dead, and with it dies my computer and my AAR. I was thinking of buying a new computer, and I guess the decision was made for me.

That is funny. :laugh4: (joke)

So, melted eh?

This kinda stuff always seems to happen, doesn't it? Karma's gonna get me next and fry my compu-

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-18-2007, 00:39

Hooahguy

12-18-2007, 02:47

whos the maker of your video card? and which one did you have anyway?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Does this mean that The Antigonids is dead?

no, all he has to do is replace his video card- then it should be working again. unless the video card fused with the computer, which then it means yes, the AAR is over.

Mordrorru

12-18-2007, 03:46

whos the maker of your video card? and which one did you have anyway?

no, all he has to do is replace his video card- then it should be working again. unless the video card fused with the computer, which then it means yes, the AAR is over.

My videocard overheated and melted. I can't seem to fix it. It is completely dead, and with it dies my computer...

Hooahguy

12-18-2007, 03:50

oh, in that case, it is dead..... we should make a memorial for one of the greatest AAR's in EB 1.0's history......

Wolfman

12-18-2007, 04:11

Best prepare the ship for the journey to Valhalla :viking:

Reverend Joe

12-18-2007, 04:24

We'll need timber, too... and a video card sans heatsink to ignite it with.

I must salute you, MAA... one of the greatest AAR's ever. It isn't a total loss, though; at this point, the road to victory was likely a mopup operation unworthy of the rest of the story.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-18-2007, 09:47

I've got some good news!

It turns out the rest of my computer is fine. I honestly believe this particular computer is possessed and immortal. It has nearly died at least three times now, including one time the harddrive became corrupted and I lost everything.

After spending a bunch of time trying to find out what was wrong with the graphics card, I gave up. Something must have just melted or shorted out. But I remembered that I had the graphics card that came with the computer, so I dug it out and put it in. Downgraded from a Radeon X850 to a Radeon 9550. Nothing else seems damaged. I guess I was being overly pessimistic when I thought it was completely dead.

I loaded up EB and it seemed to be running at about the same speed. I guess my 1.5GB of RAM is my limiting reactant in the EB speedup. In battles it will lag and make units into sprites a whole lot sooner than it used to. If I look at a Germania on the campaign map or a city in a battle map I get serious lag, too. I played a while and ended up getting a crash when loading a battle, though I don't know if that is related. I guess I can keep playing EB, though other games on my system (HL2, Oblivion, M2TW) are now unplayable.

With my immortal computer coming back to life, I guess I'll try and continue this AAR, unless the picture quality suffers or those crashes become common.

Hooahguy

12-18-2007, 13:39

Hooray! long live the Antigonids!

BerkeleyBoi

12-18-2007, 14:39

I think your computer wants you to continue your AAR!

O'ETAIPOS

12-18-2007, 15:03

Just a hint - I ued to play EB on PC with 512 RAM and R 9000, 800*600 in battles though. :grin:

Kuningaz

12-18-2007, 15:33

I thank the gods your AAR isn't dead!^^

Respenus

12-18-2007, 15:52

This is more than good news. You seem to be keeping everyone alive with your AAR.

Just a word of advice. Next time something fails in your computer, like something really important as the cooling element, try fixing it. Trust me things can get worse (got a friend who managed to fry EVERYTHING because he didn't clean up the dust from his CPU vent).

Basileus Seleukeia

12-18-2007, 15:59

Rejoice! The AAR is saved! Now, with your downgraded video cards, you'll feel the wrath of ultimate lagging that I have been through too! Equal sharing of misery!:laugh4:

Reverend Joe

12-18-2007, 17:15

Hallelujah! Praise [insert relevant computer-related deity here]!

I've got some good news!

It turns out the rest of my computer is fine. I honestly believe this particular computer is possessed and immortal. It has nearly died at least three times now, including one time the harddrive became corrupted and I lost everything.

After spending a bunch of time trying to find out what was wrong with the graphics card, I gave up. Something must have just melted or shorted out. But I remembered that I had the graphics card that came with the computer, so I dug it out and put it in. Downgraded from a Radeon X850 to a Radeon 9550. Nothing else seems damaged. I guess I was being overly pessimistic when I thought it was completely dead.

I loaded up EB and it seemed to be running at about the same speed. I guess my 1.5GB of RAM is my limiting reactant in the EB speedup. In battles it will lag and make units into sprites a whole lot sooner than it used to. If I look at a Germania on the campaign map or a city in a battle map I get serious lag, too. I played a while and ended up getting a crash when loading a battle, though I don't know if that is related. I guess I can keep playing EB, though other games on my system (HL2, Oblivion, M2TW) are now unplayable.

With my immortal computer coming back to life, I guess I'll try and continue this AAR, unless the picture quality suffers or those crashes become common.

Turn off the shadows if you haven't already. My home computer (the one I play EB on) is three years old, but it runs EB fine with all the shadows off. [/obvious mode]

I don't think anyone will really notice the difference in your screenshots if you make a few key sacrifices here and there. Just make them a little further away, or turn up the detail for the duration of the shot. Anything to keep the AAR moving. :2thumbsup:

If all else fails, try sacrificing a live goat. Don't do it conservative style, either; leave all the meat and fat on the carcass. Make them gods happy as hell.

Mordrorru

12-18-2007, 20:20

Turn off the shadows if you haven't already. My home computer (the one I play EB on) is three years old, but it runs EB fine with all the shadows off. [/obvious mode]

How do you turn all the shadows off? I've disabled every shadow option I can find, but the units still have little black circles on the ground next to 'em.

Wolfman

12-18-2007, 20:21

Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-18-2007, 20:33

Thanks for the support, everyone. Sorry for all the drama. :drama2:
Hopefully I won't have to sacrifice anything big and can continue the quality of pictures I've been trying for. If everything works as it should, I'll try to get an update posted before the end of the week...

Mordrorru

12-18-2007, 21:04

Thanks for the support, everyone. Sorry for all the drama. :drama2:

What drama? You call that drama? That was nothing.

Hooahguy

12-18-2007, 22:21

maybe you should start backing up ur savegames (making a copy of it and putting it onto a flash drive or an external hard drive)?

Chirurgeon

12-18-2007, 22:55

Whew! I know your pain MAA. I had a hard drive crash one time that completely destroyed my RTR campaign. I had to abandon the AAR for that game and it was just terrible. Its funny how you become so attached to something like this

Gaivs

12-19-2007, 02:57

If your copping the lag on the campaign map, try taking the shadows off on the campaign map, just lower all the details i spose.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-19-2007, 03:54

The problem is that I can't just save my save file. The version I'm playing isn't v1.0 and isn't savegame compatible with v1.0, and there is no way to download this particular version anywhere. I do save savegames, anyways though. I even have a savegame from my v0.80 Romani savegame, even though it is probably impossible to recreate the heavily modded 080 version I played on.

I played a while and turning off shadows (especially on the campaign map) makes the game run as fast as it would with my old graphics card. I keep shadows on most of the time and deal with the lag, though. I prefer lag over poor graphics. :shrug:

I was looking into getting a new videocard, but my motherboard is so old that I can't even get any new card that is top of the line (I have AGP interface). I was thinking of building myself a new computer, but have never built one before and am a bit hesitant...

Spoofa

12-19-2007, 04:06

Mordrorru

12-19-2007, 06:59

what are you hesitant about? I recently built one so if you have any Questions you can ask me.

If he's never built one before, then you're asking for alot of questions.

How did you get the knowledge to make your own computer?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-19-2007, 07:32

Indeed.
For instance, I was looking at processors. I have never thought about anything more than the GHz on a processor, yet there is so much variation in other categories and stats.

Sakkura

12-20-2007, 02:23

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-21-2007, 23:37

Sorry for the delay. I've been busy trying to figure out what to do with building myself a computer. Here's some stuff I'm wondering... What is the best Intel processors, Core 2 Duo or something else (Pentium D, Xeon)? Should I go with a motherboard designed for DDR3 or just stick with DDR2, since I get get twice as much for a tenth the price? Besides that, I thinking of getting a GeForce 8800 (of some variety) and a 1TB harddrive...

But, on topic...
I have written the next chapter and I'm going to go over it once more, then post it...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-22-2007, 00:34

Chapter 27 : The Romani War (Part V)
Problems In the East

In the eastern parts of the Makedonian Empire, the city of Antiocheia (named for a Seleukid ruler) had long been the center of administration. It is where Aristotelis, hier to the throne, has run the empire from while Demetrios is off fighting the wars. The city has been the headquarters of the eastern army, which has a core of old soldiers who had been in Antigonos' original army, the one he taken across the Hellespontos to begin the war with Ptolemai.

Ever since the surrender of the Ptolemaioi, Aristotelis' attension had been on establishing firm control of the newly conquered regions in the east. Even though Aigyptos has its share of rebellions, the truely difficult regions had been those south of Syria. To counter unrest, Aristotelis had taken his army south to Nabataia. The region of Nabataia is too far from the core territories, and too poorly suited for agriculture, to settle Makedones in the region. The only way to subjugate them was with a show of force.

While Aristotelis is away in Nabataia with his army, the Ptolemaic Assyrians take the weakened state of Antiocheia's defenders as an oppertunity to betray the Treaty of Zuegma. Marching a small army west, the Ptolemaioi besiege the Syrian garrison of untrained levies:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7958/maa1202co5.png

Rather than tire his army and march them north, Aristotelis decidea to force the Ptolemaioi into spreading their forces out across a wide front:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1961/maa1203ba8.png

Back on the Romani front, the Romani are finally capible of launching a counter attack against the Makedonike holdings in northern Italia. In Ariminum, where a large number of Hellenic levies besiege the city, Pyrrhos sallies out to confront them:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3063/maa1206gb5.png

The Hellenes are disorganized and undiciplined. As a result, the Illyrians have a large advantage over them, and easily outmatch them:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4665/maa1208yp4.png

Killing general Scipio in the fight, Pyrrhos is quick to spread word of his victory against greater numbers, even though the Romani stood no chance, dispite their numbers. The remaining Hellenes disbanded and flee into the hills:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7702/maa1210qs7.jpg

In Arretium, Gelon is left in command of the garrison. His father, Nepos, had gone north to Bononia to set up a center of government for the newly conquered regions. Now, Arretium is besieged. The army besieging the city is stronger than that which attacked Ariminum, but is mostly comprised of Gallic allies that have been cut off from their homeland:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9588/maa1212cz8.png

As Gelon prepares his men, he soon finds out that the city gates had been sabataged. It seems that the locals will require more proof of who is truely in charge of them, after the battle. To counter the chance of the Romani taking advantage of this weakness, Gelon orders his Pezhetairoi to defend the gates:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6913/maa1213jl4.png

When Gelon marches his army out of the city, the Romani become frightened and turn to flee. Gelon leads his cavalry after them, killing many:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9619/maa1214hh9.png

Killing half the Romani forces in a rout, Gelon wins the day:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4325/maa1215jv5.jpg

In Kyrenaia, Antisthenes decides to lift the siege there as well:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3729/maa1216ax5.png

Taking many losses, Antisthenes manages to force the Qarthadastism to flee:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/1172/maa1217zo4.jpg

Starting before the Ptolemaic betrayal, Aristotelis had been implemented a new system of land grants. Rather than granting lands to soldiers, Aristotelis authorized an Empire-wide grant of land to locals in order to increase happiness amoungst the common man. In Makedonia, the system is taken further, to develop large, highly productive farming estates, but in most parts of the empire only a simple grant of land to locals is implemented:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9616/maa1218gy4.jpg

Along the Danube, Herakontides, nephew of Nepos, marches an army west. Taking advantage of the fact that the local army is away, Herakontides attacks the city of Iuvavoaeta in a suprise attack:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6132/maa1219lu1.jpg

The town is completely suprised by the attack and the fact that the gateways are damaged. Successful infitration by the Makedonike spy network has guaranteed the gates will be open. Herakontides orderes the untrained Celtic peasants forward to attack the gate:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7271/maa1221tc3.png

Once the peasants have tired the gate defenders, Herakontides ordered them to withdraw and moves in his Celtic mercenaries to finish them off:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8491/maa1222ku1.png

With the walls taken, taking the town is only a matter of getting to the center of the town and holding it long enough to encourage the remaining defenders to surrender:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9955/maa1223qh0.jpg

To the east, the Ptolemaic siege of Antiocheia continued, but the Ptolemaioi manage to gather enough men to attempt to lift the siege of Palmyra. Chares, first born son of Ptolemai V and heir to the throne, leads the counter attack:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/968/maa1224lc0.png

As soon as the battle begins, Chares moves his cavalry in at Aristotelis' flank. Countering him, Aristotelis charges his entire cavalry force in at the enemy heir:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/356/maa1225tw2.png

Two heirs of two of Makedonia's great dynasties fight it out on the parched desert battlefield:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9366/maa1226aj7.png

The battle doesn't last long and Chares turns and flees the battlefield. Aristotelis moves his cavalry back to the battle line, but Euphron Theadelpheus, governor of Palmyra, attempts to flank the line:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/548/maa1228ld4.png

The Thrakians counter Euphron while Euphron's army attack the Makidonike phalangitai line. The Thakians quickly cut through the Ptolemaic cavalry and kill Euphron Theadelpheus. Their general dead and taking losses, the Ptolemaic force turns to flee. Aristotelis quickly wipes them out before they could join forces with the last approaching Ptolemaic army:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6990/maa1231tt2.png

Once in possition in front of the Makedonike line, the last Ptolemaic army decides to hold their possition and not attack the Makedonike pikemen. Aristotelis takes advantage of the situation to rest his men. After a sufficient rest, Aristotelis leads his cavalry in a charge of the Ptolemaic rear:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/765/maa1232ra5.png

As the cavalry repeat charges against the Ptolemaic rear, the Thrakians move in and attacked both flanks:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4580/maa1234rx8.png

The enemy is soon weak and beginning to faulter. Seeing the weakness, the Makedonikie phalangitai line brakes formation and charged the few remaining Ptolemaioi:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/518/maa1235tq1.png

Though the Ptolemaic king's son has escaped, few other Ptolemaioi manage to join him:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9162/maa1238fb9.jpg

After the fall of Palmyra, Ptolemai V Dyskolos marches out of Edessa with an army of his own and prepares to counter Aristotelis. The Battle of Palmyra has cost the Ptolemaioi about a third of their military, but the foolish king decides to risk more in an offensive attack:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6009/maa1239dc1.jpg

Back on the Gallic front, the city of Aventicos and the Romani general Numerius Cornelius Blasio has finally run out of food, supplies, and time. Rather than surrender and save their lives, the Romani opted to fight to their death:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4391/maa1240dy9.png

Sallying out of the city, north of the great mountains, many Romani die under a rain of sling shot:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6363/maa1241op6.png

With no options left to him, the Romani general charges Neikolaos' Celtic mercenaries and has his men fight to the death:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6597/maa1243xi0.png

The poor Romani general quickly falls and Neikolaos moves his men on to take the walls of the city:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1843/maa1245fc9.png

As the Makedonike army takes the wall, the remaining Romani and their allies retreat back to take shelter at the temple in the center of the town:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5822/maa1247bp8.png

Killing all who resist, Neikolaos takes the town, greatly reducing the Romani forces in Gaul:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8676/maa1248bi5.jpg

To the south, Pyrrhos fights off another Romani siege:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9885/maa1250yc6.png

Using the superior skills of the Illyrian cavalry...
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4439/maa1251dj7.png

...Pyrrhos wins the day once more:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3925/maa1252os6.jpg

Tired of the Romani counter attacks, Pyrrhos requests that he be permitted to invade the remaining Romani core territories of Italia. With Nepos too old and Pyrrhos' elder brothers busy elsewhere, Demetrios grants Pyrrhos permission to invade. Pyrrhos sends word to Epieros and Makedonia to build an army, but wishes to invade as soon as possible, before the Romani can rebuilt their military. Sending word the the Syrakousian nobles, who rule Sikilia for the time being, Pyrrhos arranges for all excess men to be sent into Italia to retake the territories in Kalabria. Pyrrhos plans to join them, but the Sikilians and mercenaries start the renewed invasion ahead of him, by besieging the Romani garrison at Tarentum:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/966/maa1253wd8.png

The known world in the autumn of 206BC:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3268/hxmak206acy9.png

Next: Chapter 28 : The Romani War (Part VI)

Spoofa

12-22-2007, 01:10

how did I? it seems like your saying I seem like an inferior person to have the knowledge of computer building... :smash:

Anyway, I did it on my own, its pretty straightforward if your good with your hands and have a semi-decent head on your shoulders, usually with your mobo theres instructions so just follow them.

(or at least mine did. :laugh4: )

Mordrorru

12-22-2007, 02:46

how did I? it seems like your saying I seem like an inferior person to have the knowledge of computer building... :smash:

Uh, no. I was just asking how you learned how to make a computer.

Anyway, I did it on my own, its pretty straightforward if your good with your hands and have a semi-decent head on your shoulders, usually with your mobo theres instructions so just follow them.

(or at least mine did. :laugh4: )

So you built a working, gaming computer with no prior computer experience? You build it from scratch?

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-22-2007, 03:57

Glad you're back again.:2thumbsup:

https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5822/maa1247bp8.png
Very good picture for my taste.~:)

Basileus Seleukeia

12-22-2007, 11:46

Another amazing chapter, MarcusAureliusAntoninus! The Romani shurely do put up a decent fight:laugh4:

BerkeleyBoi

12-22-2007, 15:50

Ah, nice update! I do have a question though...

...how is it that you fight so many large field battles? The majority of the battles I have are sieges and sallies with tiny armies that randomly wander around in the fields. Do you just sit your armies in enemy territory until they join together and attack you? Is there some personal modification that you did? Whatever it is you did, I would like to try it too since sieges aren't too interesting...

...but anyways, keep up the good work! So what's next? The Romans seem to be running out of steam. Will you turn north against the barbarians or head back to the eastern front or something entirely different?

The General

12-22-2007, 16:06

https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3063/maa1206gb5.png
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9588/maa1212cz8.png
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4391/maa1240dy9.png
I just hate the Romani AI recruitment.

*Dreams on about fighting proper, hastati-principes-triarii-style armies*

But yeah, nice update.

That empire o' yours seems to be getting quite big, bit by bit.

Andronikos

12-22-2007, 17:04

I just hate the Romani AI recruitment.

*Dreams on about fighting proper, hastati-principes-triarii-style armies*

100% true

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-22-2007, 22:26

Thanks for reading, everyone. And thanks for the comments.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus; I took that picture in the way my father always said. "When taking a picture of distant things, try to have a something close to 'frame' the picture." I was suprised at the detail visible in the close building.

BerkeleyBoi; I usually end up besieging a town, then wait a few turns. The AI will usually send a reinforcement army that causes the battle to occur in the open field. It is hard to draw them into a try field battle unless you counter an invading enemy or happen to run into the enemy while invading, yourself.

The Romans are almost gone, but they still have a little fight left in them. The Romani recruitment sure is a mess, but I just call all those swarms of foreign levies, 'allies'. After I killed that Gallic and Hellenic army in Italia, and now that they are cut off from Gaul and Taras, their last army in Italia is at least Roman. Mostly Polybian Pricepes and Pedites Extraordinarii with some Polybian Triarii.

Hooahguy

12-23-2007, 01:34

wow MAA, you can that inferior graphics? its alot better then mine- im running an integrated card w/ only 64 mb. but im getting an GeForce FX5500 (256 mb, w/ heatsink and fan) and more RAM very soon....

i hope you kill off those romani and ptolies very soon... then start on the AS..... ill be rooting for you!

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-23-2007, 03:56

EB seems to be all about the RAM. I thought I would loose a lot more with the downgrade, but the only thing I've noticed is reduced frame rate. Though, my downgrade wasn't that bad, the card I'm using right now is probably about a middle quality card, not a low quality one.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-23-2007, 04:20

Chapter 28 : Kalabria
The Romani War (Part VI)

Ever since Pyrrhos of Epieros had lost Taras to the Romani, it had suffered neglect and disdane from the Romani. Even though the region's value to the Romani had simply become a source for poorly trained Hellenic levies, the Romani weren't about to let it go. Sending an army to counter the invasion before Pyrrhos Argeades could join up with them, the Romani engage the Italian mercenaries in the fields outside of Taras:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5146/maa1254nh9.png

The mercenaries line up with the Italians in the center, the Baleric slingers in the rear, and the Hellenistic Peltastai on the wings. As the Romani approach, the Italians open fire with their javelin:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5228/maa1255pr0.png

While the majority of the mercenary army fight off the Romani levies, the elite Samnite mercenaries go up against the elite Romani Italian infantry:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7407/maa1256ci4.png

Completely outnumbered, the Romani army soon brake. As the garrison of Taras approaches, the mercenary army charges in at them:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9022/maa1257bc1.png

The Taras garrison brakes quite easily as well and flees back to the city. With the enemy defeated, the Italian mercenaries quietly return to the siege of the city:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2996/maa1258tt2.jpg

As the winter of 206BC hits, the Ptolemaic forces in Syria became desperate. Having looted the land, they seek to take the city before the winter hits its hardest:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8734/maa1259ar9.png

Polykratis Mekybernaios, son of the governor or Kilikia, was put in temperary command of the Syrian garrison when Aristotelis had travelled south. Now, Polykratis is to fight his first real battle and the stake of the battle is the province of Syria. With a force of mostly levies, the only real soldiers Polykratis has available to him is two units of Pezhetairoi and a few Thakian elites.

As soon as the enemy siege equiptment comes into range, Polykratis orders his archers to set the towers on fire:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9527/maa1260tq3.png

One tower catches fire and burns to the ground, but soon the enemy ladders and ram reach the walls:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4258/maa1261pk1.png

Moving down the wall, the archers open fire on the second tower. With the sides exposed, it quickly catches fire:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9336/maa1262at6.png

On the western side of the gateway, the Thrakian elites slaughter all who came over the wall without much effort:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9319/maa1263hi5.png

But on the eastern side, many Galatians pore over the walls and begin to wipe out the defenders of the walls:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/811/maa1264il3.png

Soon the gateway breaks, but by this time all of the enemy infantry is on the walls. With the gate opened and the eastern wall looking like it is going to fall to the enemy, the Pezhetairoi retreat back into the town to take up a more defendable possition.

With the west secured, the Thrakians move across the walls and begin to confront the Galatians:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7581/maa1265bw8.png

On the far eastern side of the fight, the Makedonike defenders have nearly all fallen. Soon, only two brave men hold the wall:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9187/maa1266xk3.png

When those two men fall, the Galatians turn all of their attension toward the Thrakians. Loosing more than three quarters their numbers, the Thrakians fought forward and continue to slaughter Galatians. Down to a handful, themselves, the Thrakians wipe out ever last enemy soldier on that wall:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2104/maa1267uw4.png
[80 Thracians killed about 300 Galatians. When I was done I had 29 Thracians left. It almost felt like cheating.]

Their infantry is gone, but the Ptolemaic generals hope that the garrison city is too weak to defend the city any longer and charge in through the open gates:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5869/maa1269rr0.png

Polykratis, who had circled his cavalry around the outside of the city, follows the Ptolemaioi in the gateway and confronts General Idalieus Anemurionios, just inside the city:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2743/maa1270yw9.png

The Thrakian elites, who were strangely unfatigued from thier fighting, rush from the walls and join the fight:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1343/maa1272ve2.png

Idalieus soon falls to the Makedonike cavalry and Thrakian blades, but in the center of the town General Marathos Philates moves against the town center. Fully prepared for this move, the Pezhetairoi set up a trap, blocking off en entire roadway:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/875/maa1271rp6.png

Rather than going across the city to go around, Marathos charges the Pezhetairoi. Reinforced by archers and skirmishers, the Pezhetairoi hold off the enemy cavalry long enough for Polykratis to charge in from behind:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6430/maa1274hx7.png

Marathos falls dead in the streets of Antiocheia. Polykratis has won his first true battle and ensured Syria remains in the Makedonian Empire:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1329/maa1276tz5.jpg

After the battle, Polykratis disbands the few remaining mercenaries and levies and starts to train a professional army to defend the town and reinforce Aristotelis. The Thrakians, too, are releases from service. Polykratis makes sure they are given large land grants in Syria in appreciataion of what they have done.

While Syria rebuilds and repairs after the partial occupation, Kart-Hadast land troops in Kyrenaia and besiege the garrison of Kyrene yet again:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9933/maa1277qy5.png

And to the north, the Athenai port is upgraded, an upgrade that would have been impossible without direct Makedonike influence:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5696/maa1278by2.jpg

With Syria safe, Aristotelis opts to avoid the armies of Ptolemai V and his son. Aristotelis, instead, moves north to attack the Ptolemaic capital while their king is away:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3241/maa1279ch5.png

Back in Kalabria, Pyrrhos and his Illyrian cavalry have arrived by ship and combine with the Sikilian force of Italian mercenaries. Soon after joining up with the army, Pyrrhos is attacked by an army of the Romani under command of General Numerius Aurelius Cotta:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4716/maa1282yl3.png

The Italians march forward to confront the Romani:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2237/maa1283of1.png

As the Romani approach, Pyrrhos orders his army to hold possition and throw their javelin:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8049/maa1284gz8.png

As the two armies enter combat, Pyrrhos flanks his cavalry around both sides...
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6590/maa1285wg9.png

...and charges them into the Romani rear:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5274/maa1286up2.png

General Cotta dies and the Romani break. While Pyrrhos leads the cavalry against the fleeing Romani, the garrison of Taras arrives but is greatly outnumbered:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6246/maa1288rs0.png

Wiping out both armies, Pyrrhos marches into Taras:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4585/maa1289je7.jpg

The citizens of Kalabria welcome in the hero, Pyrrhos. The city has suffered greatly since the expelsion of the Epierote garrison nearly a century earlier. Pyrrhos Argeades promises them peace and prosperity, telling them that the Romani will be destroyed. Back in Makedonia, the army assembled for Pyrrhos begins its trek westward.

Handing over all territorial gains north of the mountains to the Gauls, Neikolaos marches his Celtic army south to attack the remaining Romani in Gaul. Coming to a bridge, Neikolaos finds it blocked by the Romani general Marcus Aurelius Cotta. Knowing that the opposite side must be gained in order to attack Romani holdings, Neikolaos prepares his army to attack:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6141/maa1290np0.png

To ensure a foothold on the other side, Neikolaos orders his Massalian Hoplitai across first:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/710/maa1291zi1.png

Marcus Aurelius Cotta attempts to hold back the Hoplitai. As always, the Romani cavalry are too weak to accomplish their goal. The rest of the Celtic army crosses the river as the hoplitai push back Cotta:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3510/maa1292nx3.png

After his men kill Marcus Aurelius Cotta, Neikoloas crosses the rest of his army and prepares to confront the local garrison, who had sallied out to assist the defense of the bridge. The two armies clash, but the only ones that can hold their ground are the elite Gallic troops and Numerius Aurelius Cotta, father of Marcus:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9203/maa1294ja1.png

In the end, anger over the death of his son isn't even enough for him to hold his ground, and Numerius flees back to the city defenses as his army is wiped out:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7164/maa1295ep7.jpg

With no Romani garrison left, Cotta defends the city alone. To counter Cotta, Neikolaos dispatches an assassin, who sneaks into the town. Word soon reaches Neikolaos that Numerius Aurelius Cotta is dead, and the region falls to the Makedonian Empire:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8656/maa1296go1.jpg
[I only had a 20% success rate!]

With the defeat of the majority of the Romani in Gaul, old Basileus Demetrios makes plans to head west and see if the stories of Makedonike treasure were true:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4897/maa1281rm0.png

Also occuring around this time, Aristion, king of Pergamon, dies. Chrysoloras takes the opertunity to move his army in from Lesbos and integrate the last Hellenistic client state into the Makedonian Empire. After this, only Galatia and Sophene will remain as client / puppet states:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5155/maa1317ym7.jpg

The known world in the summer of 205BC, seven years into the Romani War:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3732/hxmak205syo9.png

Next: Chapter 29 : How the Mighty Fall

Hooahguy

12-23-2007, 04:21

Sakkura

12-23-2007, 04:44

unfortunatly the computer which im playing EB on is low grade (it only has a PCI slot!), and ive upgraded most everything. all thats left is the video card. (i was going to get the Geforce 6200, but it didnt have a heatsink and fan, so im getting the FX5500.

btw, great update!

EDIT: oooh- whos the one that falls? the ptolies? the romani? or you?......
has me on the edge of my chair!

PS- this really should be made into a book.....
Where does one find an FX5500 card these days? :inquisitive:

While the majority of the mercenary army fight off the Romani levies, the elite Sarmatian mercenaries go up against the elite Romani Italian infantry:
Sarmatians? Unless you got some very active allies in the steppes (willing to travel), I think you mean Samnites :idea2:

Great update though. I love those grizzled old generals that are just loaded with traits. Filthy minded and reverent, hmm...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-23-2007, 05:46

Thanks guys.

I bet you could find just about anything if you looked long enough on the internet. The first place I always check is www.newegg.com

I like the next chapter, it was fun to play. I did some more midcampaign editting too, to add to the roleplaying.

I fixed the "sarmatian" typo. Thanks.

Good old 'Megas Demetrios'...
Almost half his traits are 'Periegesis...' traits. He has personally conquered the majority of all Makedonike territory.

Mouzafphaerre

12-23-2007, 06:17

.

Where does one find an FX5500 card these days? :inquisitive:
On my motherboard. :wall:
.

Hooahguy

12-23-2007, 16:10

Where does one find an FX5500 card these days? :inquisitive:

on newegg.com ! :laugh4:

dont laugh too much. its the best i can get..... :embarassed:

The General

12-23-2007, 22:17

btw, great update!

EDIT: oooh- whos the one that falls? the ptolies? the romani? or you?......
has me on the edge of my chair!

PS- this really should be made into a book.....
*Nods approvingly at this direction*

Sakkura

12-24-2007, 00:38

on newegg.com ! :laugh4:

dont laugh too much. its the best i can get..... :embarassed:
I won't laugh, I loved my old FX5700 Ultra, and it served me well for a long time.

I replaced it when the local museum announced they were giving rewards for neolithic finds. *suppresses giggle*

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-24-2007, 21:12

Sorry I haven't updated. Even though it has only been a couple days, it's slow updating, for me. I haven't had much time to play the game or write the chapters, with Christmas approaching and trying to build myself a computer.

I've gotten a priliminary list together here:
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=6613411
If there are any experts out there, or people who have built themselves a rig recently, who can tell me where I've gone horribly wrong, I would be in their debt. Some of the things I've put a lot of thought into, while others, like the case and power supply, I just sort of added. I already have some stuff, like another DVD-ROM I bought a while back that I plan to add to this later.

Well, back to the AAR. I'll probably have the next chapter up by this evening...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-25-2007, 01:34

Chapter 29 : How the Mighty Fall
The Romani War (Part VII)

After the Battle of Antiocheia and the Battle of Palmyra, the Ptolemaioi are once again broken. Ptolemai V Dyskolos and his two sons, Chares and Stasikrates, have ended up being all that is left of the once mighty Ptolemaic Dynasty. Of all the mighty generals that once fought under them, only one remain loyal. Of all the vast armies that had once marched under the Ptolemaic Eagle, only a hand full of farmers and Galatians remain. In Aigyptos, they have even begun to forget that the Ptolemaioi had even exsisted there.

Years earlier, Demetrios and Aristotelis had promised the Ptolemaioi peace and given them large gifts of land in Assyria. The only thing Makedonia had wanted in return was peace and trust, but the Ptolemaioi could not even give them this. Aristotelis decides that he would not make the same mistake twice. This time he will wage total war and put an end to the Ptolemaic Dynasty, once and for all.

To achieve his goals, Aristotelis marches into Assyria and besieges the Ptolemaic capital of Edessa. Returning to relieve his capital, Ptolemai V is only able to gather a handful of peasants to lift the siege. Against the professional, veteran soldiers of Makedonia, the Ptolemaioi fight their last battle:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9936/maa1298zc2.png

Aristotelis lines up his phalangites across a plain, flanked by forests, so that the Ptolemaioi may not go around the edges of his army. Charging straight into the lines of sarrisas, the Ptolemaic Hetairoi attempt to break through:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3829/maa1299fv9.png

As Ptolemai V pushes his cavalry through the line, the Thrakians, on the left flank of the Makedonike line, manage to circle around his rear:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2058/maa1300ii4.png

Surrounded and cut to pieces by Thrakian blades, Ptolemai V's Hetairoi cannot stand. As they turn to flee, Ptolemai has the horse cut out from underneath him. Falling to the ground, a Thrakian blade ends the life of Ptolemai V:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1136/maa1301zv3.jpg

Seeing their king fall, the Ptolemaic army turns and runs. As they flee, Demetrios orders his Thessalians to give chase:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2466/maa1302ev9.png

Exhausted, the Ptolemaic Hetairoi cannot escape. First, the last Ptolemaic general falls...
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5166/maa1303gj9.jpg

...then Chares, first born son of Ptolemai V and the man who would have been Ptolemai VI, is thrown from his horse, dead:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6167/maa1304mz0.jpg

As the cavalry chase down the enemy, the Pezhetairoi reform the line and prepare to fend off the reinforcements of the garrison of Edessa:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/959/maa1305wh2.png

While Ptolemaioi hold back, their Galatian mercenaries charge forward, not fearing their immenent death:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5596/maa1306lx6.png

On the left flank, the Thrakians confront a unit of Peltastai, attempting to flank the Makedones. Not that a single unit of Peltastai could have changed the course of the battle, anyways:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6610/maa1307hb7.png

Returning from the chase, the cavalry charge the rear of the Galatians, wiping them out:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/466/maa1308ve9.png

After resting his men, Aristotelis circles his cavalry around the left flank of the waiting Ptolemaic army. With only phalangites left, Stasikrates is unable to counter any flanking. Aristotelis easily takes advantage of the open flank and charges the Thessalian cavalry at Stasikrates, himself:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6430/maa1309tv3.png

With a successful charge, Aristotelis kills the last man who could have been "Ptolemai" The dynasty dies there, on that field:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5583/maa1310re3.jpg

With the death of the enemy general, the Makedonike Pezhetairoi move in to finish off the last of the enemy army:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4844/maa1312ao2.png

Surrounding the enemy, the Pezhetairoi attack from all sides:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5759/maa1313rl2.png

Pushing the enemy into an ever smaller circle, the Makedonike Pezhetairoi kill all enemy soldiers remaining on the field:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8205/maa1315oo3.jpg

With the death of Ptolemai V and his sons, the Makedones bring an end to one of the great dynasties of Alexandros' generals:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/2343/maa1318rw4.png
[Finally...]

Sending the bodies to Aigyptos, Aristotelis grants the last of a worthy enemy a last honor. Cared for in the Aigytian manner, the man who called himself Pharaoh, even when in Assyria, is sent to Alexandreia to be buried along side Ptolemai I. Though the dynasty ends, legend holds that one of Ptolemai V's nephews was sent into Nubia for hiding, during Demetrios' invasion of Aigyptos. They say that the dynasty lives on and will one day return to reclaim Aigyptos. But there are many myths of great heros and villians in these days, and none deserve much attention.

With the defeat of the Ptolemaioi, all their Assyrian holdings fall to the Makedonian Empire, while their trade colonies in Africa fall into the hands of the Kingdom or Meroe. With control of Assyria, though, an old plan turns against Makedonia. In the Treaty of Zuegma, the border between Assyria and Babylonia had not been defined. Makedonia did not care before, but now that border was their border, a shared border with only other great Hellenistic power. Things are made even worse when spies report that that other power is considered even more powerful than the Makedonian Empire:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4917/maa1316xe7.jpg

With Ptolemaioi defeated, the Romani crippled, and the war between Arche Seleukeia and Hayasdan, the Makedonian Empire looks safe on nearly all fronts. Only in one place, was there still an undecided war. Kyrenaia once again is forced to repel a siege from the forces of the city of Kart-Hadast:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2786/maa1319an1.png

With the settling of veteran soldiers in the area to boost defense, things were easier for Antisthenes Gortynios. It seems to Antisthenes that ever attack has less qualified Kart-Hadast troops than the previous, and with every battle his own men become more skilled:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2343/maa1320jl9.jpg

As Aristotelis established Makedonike control across Assyria, the war with the Romani continues. On the exact opposite side of the Makedonian Empire, Neikolaos and his Celtic army are once again engaged by the Gallic Romani forces:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3475/maa1323ae4.png

Deploying his men in a forest, Neikoloas quickly rushes his men into a field to meet the first of the Romani armies:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3349/maa1325gu0.png

The Romani see the disorganization, though, and take advantage of it. Before Neikolaos can completely deploy his men, the Romani charge forward:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2977/maa1326nn3.png

With the Romani cavalry pinned, Neikolaos charges his Gallic horsemen in and attacks:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1575/maa1327mh6.png

To the west, the Massalian Hoplites fend off the other flank of Romani cavalry:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1509/maa1328mx4.png

Before too long, both generals brake and flee with their cavalry. Seeing them fleeing, Neikolaos orders his slingers to focus all their fire on the fleeing horses. Although it isn't entirely a glorious defeat, both Romani general fall as they are bombarded with lead shot. Both Quintus Cornelius Blasio and Kaeso Cornelius Blasio fall dead on the field. With their generals dead, the Romani and their allies turn and flee.

With the cavalry chase them down, the infantry regroups and prepares to face the second Romani force. Confronted by cavalry, the Massalian Hoplites become cut off, but the right flank of the battle line is unable to come to their assistance as General Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio charges in to pin them down:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3971/maa1331ux1.png

Relieving the right flank, Neikolaos personally leads the Gallic cavalry in against the enemy general:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5296/maa1332tr8.png

As the cavalry fight, the Celtic mercenaries go up against Gallic levies, killing eachother under the banners of two foreign nations:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9614/maa1333es5.png

Fighting to his death, General Scipio falls. With his death, his army folds and begins to flee, as expected.

As Neikolaos' army gives chase, expecting the battle to be over, a line of Romani troops emerge from the forest:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9826/maa1335vi1.png

The Celtic mercenaries charge forward to confront the Romani elites, but soon they are reinforced by another hidden unit of elites:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4336/maa1336bb1.png

Fighting two separate groups of elite Romani Hoplitai, the Celts look up to see yet another group of elites emerging from the woods:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9822/maa1337gz4.png

Circling around their rear, one small group of Celts manages to to hit the Romani in a pincer attack:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7117/maa1338mr6.png

To the surprise of all there, the Romani fold up and flee back into the woods.

Dark clouds build in the sky as the battle comes to a close. Soon a great rain will begin, washing the blood into the soil:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/635/maa1339rf6.png

The battle ends Romani power in Gaul, leaving only one stronghold left, with barely enough men to call men army. Neikolaos takes the town and rests his men:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3157/maa1340kk1.jpg

Arriving by ship, a combined force of Makedones, Illyrians, and Gallic allies is assemble in Taras. Leading it north, Pyrrhos begins his true invasion of Roman Italia. Only one Romani Legion stands between him and Roma:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3903/maa1321jf3.png

With Aristotelis deverted to Assyria to defeat the Ptolemaioi, the levant renews its rebellions. In Judaia, the Hellenized puppet king, Asphalion, deals with yet another riot in Hierosolyma:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7636/maa1341xw5.jpg

Back near the center of the Makedonian Empire, in Mysia, the territory is integrating completely into the Makedonian Empire. With this, Chrysoloras completes his task and disbands his remaining army:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5995/maa1342zl5.jpg

Fearing war in the east, Aristotelis opens up talks with the Seleukid Dynasty. Offering part of Assyria and some other gifts peace is assured. Aristotelis is happy that he avoids war. But how long will such a peace last? The Seleukids still claim Syria...
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5682/maa1322ob0.jpg

The known world in 204BC:
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5810/hxmak204sr8.png

Next: Chapter 30 : The End of an Era

BerkeleyBoi

12-25-2007, 03:37

Sweet update... but what's that yellow blob in Ethiopia?

EDIT: And what's that green blob in India?

Chaotix

12-25-2007, 05:27

Well... it looks like he recolored the map to suit the AAR (like he did with the unclear territory in the Hai war). The green part of India is probably that Pahlavan territory that is now the Mauryan Empire. I assume the yellow territory is the rumored Ptolemaic heir... am I right, Marcus? Anyway, great AAR! Now you have to destroy the Romani, too!

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-25-2007, 05:38

Those colors are 'new' factions. The gold is the Kingdom of Meroe, and the green is the Mauryan Satrapy of Gandhara.

Skandaz.Imperator

12-25-2007, 09:02

"End of an era", either it's time for good old Demetrios to walk the green mile or it's the Romani era that's ending. Either way, great update.

Sakkura

12-25-2007, 16:36

Bye-bye yellow death :2thumbsup:

Moosemanmoo

12-25-2007, 17:20

Watching you butcher those gallatians was beautiful~:mecry:

Basileus Seleukeia

12-25-2007, 17:33

You have made me very happy with this chapter. Can you guess why? (big hint: my name!):laugh4:

IndianPrince

12-25-2007, 18:42

WOOT WOOT ... This is such a kick ass AAR. Amazing maan !!! Good job

P.S - Nice job with the Mauryan satrapy. Made me happy :)

Prince

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-26-2007, 05:15

Thanks, everyone who had commented. :bow:
I'll probably start working on the next chapter tommorrow.

Sakkura

12-26-2007, 05:53

This AAR is getting so big, it could really be turned into a book by now, and a really cool allohistorical one too. :book:
It's only missing some pictures... :clown:

The General

12-26-2007, 11:36

Another nicey update, thumbs up, etc, etc. 8p

Oh, and those 'fake' factions, I like 'em, and they look nice on the map. They also add to the AAR, imho.

Gaivs

12-26-2007, 15:36

This is so awesome. I said it before, but when i read this and decided to start a Makedonian campaign myself. Wow how fun are they. Just scored myself Silver Shields in Demetrias and I have two full stacks wandering around Asia Minor waging war on the Ptolemaics. I love it!! And its all cos of this AAR!

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-27-2007, 01:40

Very sweet updates. When did you conquer Arbela? I ask because I saw you gave it to the Seleukids.

Hooahguy

12-27-2007, 01:45

my good ole' ancestors stiring up trouble for you lately, eh MAA?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-27-2007, 03:14

Thanks, again.

I cheated to take Arbela. When I took Edessa, I killed the last Ptolemai. For ruleplaying reasons, I didn't want to keep fighting a kingdom that didn't even have a dynasty. So, I cheated to quickly take Arbela and P. Theron. Arbela only had two kleurchoi, a galatian, and a unit of Pantodapoi. PTheron only had a general (default faction leader), a unit of Nubian spearmen, and three units of elephants. My plan was to keep Arbela (I see it as part of "Assyria"), but the Seleukids started gathering forces just outside the city. I gave it away and have been giving them little gifts since then.

When I took Jerusalem I enslaved the town. It wasn't enough, though. It keeps rioting. Since the Ptolemaioi didn't bother building education (or sanitation, etc for that matter) my client ruler kind of sucks, too. It is kind of annoying, but fun for roleplaying since the area was hard for the Diadochi to hold, historically. A couple of times they were on the verge of a Maccabean rebellion...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-27-2007, 08:10

Chapter 30 : The End of an Era
The Romani War (Part VIII)

Is it possible for the whole world to weap? In the winter of 204BC, nearly the entire world mourns at the passing of a great man. Demetrios, son of Antigonos, Basileus of Arche Makedonia, conquer of Aigyptos, dies peacefully in bed. While in Massalia, amid planning for an expedition westward, the old ruler finally passes from this world. The barbarians mourn him, for during his reign Makedonia had befriended the Getic Federation, negotiated the removal of the Haikakan from the steppes, negotiated the removal of the Gauls from Germania, and forcefully removed the Romani from Gaul. The Hellenes morned him, for he had always been the voice of reason amoungst those in the Makedonike court who disliked the Hellenes. The Makedonians and Hellenized peoples mourn him, for most of them had found peace and prosperity under his rule. The Seleukids mourned him, for he had been their ally his entire life (and Demetrios had never been interested in eastward expansion). It is rumored that even his enemies mourn him, for they had found a worthy enemy in Demetrios:
https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3092/maa1343fv7.jpg

After a short ceremony in Massalia, Neokles sails back to Makedonia with his granfather's remains. With a great gathering of the royal family, Demetrios is layed to rest in a great tomb at Aigai, like his father and brother before him. Sealed in a tomb, even grander than the tomb of Philipos II, Demetrios finally rests. When he was born, his father barely controlled Makedonia. As he came of age, his father was struggling to unite Hellas. With his father's death, he came to share the throne of Makedonia, but struggled to control Anatolia. When his brother died and he became the lone Basileus, he controlled Makedonia, Hellas, Thrakia, Illyria, Anatolia, Kappadokia, and Syria. During his reign, Arche Makedonia nearly tripled in size, gaining Aigyptos, the Levant, and Italia. The only man who had ever exceeded Demetrios was Alexandros himself. Though, Alexandros only defeated one great empire, Demetrios defeated several and established firm control over the regions he conquered. The world will always remember Megas Demetrios (Demetry the Great)!

After the death of Demetrios, Arche Makedonia had the first stable transition of power since before anyone could remember. Demetrios had long ago named his only son, Aristotelis, as the heir, and now he was the only man who could assume power. Chrysoloras, son of Alkyoneus was old, tired, and had never shown interest in ruling. Euboulides, last living son of Antigonos, wasn't interested in power either. Euboulides sat in Armenia, planning future invasions of Hayasdan and Bosphoria, not caring for supreme power. Naming his first born son, Neokles, as the heir, Aristotelis assumes the title of Basileus:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1355/maa1344zf5.jpg

Quite old himself, Aristotelis is quick to anger but a just man. Raised in Antiocheia, Aristotelis had interests in the east and foresaw a future where he could reunite all of Alexandros' empire under one ruler:
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4646/maa1364ex4.png
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/944/maa1365er9.png

Of all the royal family, very few were absent from Aigai for the funerary festivals of Demetrios. One man who did not attend was Pyrrhos. Rather than withdraw his forces as happened everywhere else, Pyrrhos pushed forward and challenged the Romani to open combat. Terrorizing the Apulia countryside, Pyrrhos finally drew out the last great army of the Romani. Facing eachother in open combat south of the city of Arpi, the two armies meet:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8630/maa1345mm9.png

The enemy was broken into two forces. The main Romani legion, under the command of General Manius Cornelius Blasio, and the two regional garrisons approaching from the north under the command of Consul Titus Cornelius Scipio. Pyrrhos lines up his main battle line to counter the Romani legion and places his Gallic allies on the left flank to counter the reinforcements. Taking possition on flat ground on the top of a small hill, Pyrrhos waits for the Romani to come to him:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5530/maa1346cw6.png

The Romani slowly march up the hill in four lines, light infantry in the front, followed by their Princepes, then the Triarii, and finally the cavalry:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2585/maa1347ex4.png
[This is the first time I've felt I was fighting a Roman Legion.]

With a forest on the Makedonike right flanks and Gauls guarding the left flank, the Romani decide to throw themselves in full force against the center of the phalangitai line. The Romani manuveurablity looses all of its advantage, though, against the strong, well desciplined, single line of pikemen:
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3586/maa1348tv7.png
[You may have noticed that I role play some forests as impassible. This is my roleplaying excuse to, "Why doesn't the AI just go around the flanks in large number?"]

In his standard style, Pyrrhos orders the cavalry into two groups to circle around each flank. On the Makedonike right flank, the Illyrian cavalry charges in at Italian allied infantry:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/6262/maa1349tk4.png

And on the left flank, they charge the allied cavalry:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8870/maa1350yf4.png

The battle is becoming a stalemate, with some Romani breaking throw the line but with most held in place by the sarrisas. Before Pyrrhos can even consider his options, he is informed that the delayed Romani reinforcements have arrived. Threatened to be encircled, the left flank of cavalry withdraw behind the Pezhetairoi line, while the Gauls hold down the newly arrived Romani:
https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7297/maa1351zz1.png

Regrouping the newly reformed left flank cavalry, Pyrrhos personally leads a charge in at the Romani engaged by the Gauls:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/774/maa1353ne9.png

Pyrrhos and his cavalry are incapible of sustained combat and are forced to withdraw, exhausted. With no loyalty to Arche Makedonia, the Gauls turn and flee. Without cavalry and meduim infantry support, the left edge of the Makedonike phalangitai line is exposed and surrounded. As the right flank cavalry break the last of the Romani fighting in the center, the whole Makedonike army becomes aware the fight has now shifted 90 degrees to the left.

Pyrrhos knows that it would be impossible to reform the pike line. Any attempt would take too much time and he knew that the Romani were specially trained to take advantage of situations like that. Taking a risk, Pyrrhos orders his men to drop their pikes and engage the enemy with their swords:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5082/maa1354df8.png

These Pezhetairoi are not the same men who had fallen to the Thorakitai in the eastern campaigns. These men were specially equiped and trained to fight at close range if necessary. Swarming in without order, the Pezhetairoi quickly cut through the enemy and save those Makedones who were on the left flank and who had become encircled:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7100/maa1355nk0.png

As the Pezhetairoi fight with their swords, Pyrrhos attempts to rest his cavalry. It was a short rest, though. Consul Titus Cornelius Scipio takes advantage of the complete lack of flanks or battle lines and charged in at Pyrrhos unapposed. With all of the Illyrian cavalry charging in, the cavarly of both sides begin to fight eachother. The Romani have skill and numbers but they lack the equiptment and the training to equal the Hetairoi and Illyrians. Soon Consul Scipio brakes from the fight to flees down the hill. As the Consul flees, under pursute by the Illyrians, a group of Romani spearmen regroups and turns to face the Illyrian cavlary. They all perish, but they held the Illyrians long enough for their Consul to escape:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7697/maa1356rl7.png

Returning to the battle, Pyrrhos orders his cavalry to charge the Romani infantry engaged with the Pezhetairoi. After several charges, the exhausted Illyrian cavalry brakes the last Romani. As the Illyrians and Makedones fight, however, the Gauls flee into the hills. As the Pyrrhos and half the cavalry chased down the fleeing enemy, the Pezhetairoi and a cavalry devision reform their line and prepare to confront the Romani returning from routing the Gauls:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1825/maa1359zw2.png

Faced with a regrouped enemy, the Romani don't last long. All remaining forces chase the Romani from the field:
https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4499/maa1360zg8.png

Crushing the last powerful legion of Roma, Pyrrhos is finally in possiyion to march west and take Roma herself:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9066/maa1361kp1.jpg

Pyrrhos is delayed though. As Pyrrhos surveyes the battlefield and builds siege fortifications around the city of Arpi, where Consul Titus Cornelius Scipio hides, he recievs a message. To the north, Nepos, father of Neikolaos, Gelon, and Pyrrhos, has died. The death of Demetrios had not phased Pyrrhos, but hearing of his own father's death, Pyrrhos retreats into depression. It seems the gods have given the Romani a little extra time:
https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2492/maa1363cc2.jpg

Returning from Aigai, Neokles, son of Aristotelis, heir to the throne, decides to fulfill his grandfather's last wish. Taking command of Demetrios' army, Neokles marches westward to find those lost treasures of Makedonia which Demetrios had sought:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3213/maa1362kq4.png

The know world in 203BC, just after the death of Makedonike Basileus Megas Demetrios:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9585/hxmak203mz1.png

Next: Chapter 31 : A New Basileus

IndianPrince

12-27-2007, 12:43

SWEET !!! That was epic !!! I for a moment thought u were gonna loose the Battle against the romani. Nice maneuvering there.

Prince

Thrond

12-27-2007, 14:09

Excellent AAR (I've been lurking since your first post)

I thought perhaps you'd force the Romani into the status of protectorate with only Roma rather than wipe them out... no chance of that? :p

Hax

12-27-2007, 16:37

No mercy for the Romaioi, don't even think about it, MAA! :/

Awesome update! ;D

Andronikos

12-27-2007, 19:49

Waiting for this was thrilling, I expected victory screen or Roani defeat screen.

Hooahguy

12-27-2007, 20:06

AMAZING!

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-27-2007, 20:49

Yes, amazing, a highlight! Not only the moving death of Demetrios, but the battle was also great! Did you cheat to get so much real Romans onto the battlefield? A very nice battlefield (with a good view) I might add.:2thumbsup:

Wolfman

12-27-2007, 21:00

I agree with Hax. Give those Romani Traitors no Quarter!! Excellent Update MAA. So Demetrios is finally dead. what plans do you have for the Arche now?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-27-2007, 22:40

Thanks everyone...

I was originally planning on leaving the Romani Roma and Capua. Though with all the trouble they've been and the fact the Ptolemaioi didn't stick with a similar peace, I'm thinking I'll just wipe them out. Though, they may run out of family members first. I think they have 3 Scipii and a Blasii left.

That Romani army is just what the AI trained. I'm much happier with Polybian AI selection than Camilian AI selection. They don't like the P Hastati, but they seem to spam the P Pricepes and P Triarii. Though, after that battle I think they have about 4 units of Triarii and 4 generals left in their entire army.

As for what comes next...
The Romani must fall, or surrender. I did allude to some plans Euboulides, in Armenia, has. And Basileus Aristotelis has strong ties to the east. I may end up forced to fight a battle with Kart-Hadast soon, though. Their constant sieges of Kyrene are growing monotonous.

IndianPrince

12-27-2007, 22:47

MAA ... Do u use the force diplomacy mod ? U could use 2 it make the romani ur "protectorate" u know :)

Prince

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-27-2007, 22:53

Yeah, I use the forced-diplomacy minimod. I tried making the Ptolemaioi my protectorate for a while, but had to put an end to that. The protectorate bug really screws things up. During the protectorate time, most turns I made 10,000mnai and once I mad 75,000mnai. After I broke the protectorate and made them a normal ally, I made the 20-30,000mnai a turn that I was making before the deal. Stupid protectorate bug nearly bankrupted my empire.

Moosemanmoo

12-28-2007, 00:33

:idea3: I have an idea.... Kill everyone!

good luck pyrrhus:2thumbsup:

Mordrorru

12-28-2007, 02:33

Wait, so Demetrios' last wish was, "...get the gold...blegh..."

Heh heh heh.

Basileus Seleukeia

12-28-2007, 16:26

Holy Moly, I thought that battle would result in a humiliating defeat ~:shock:
And Demetrios death was staged very good :drama1:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-28-2007, 23:44

He descendants will remember it as, "Fulfill the destiny the oracle told me of," but yeah, recoving the 'treasures of his ancestors' was one of Demetrios last thoughts.

It looks like Pyrrhos came up with a new type of Pyrric Victory, more like a Hannibal victory. I only won that battle due to the Illyrian Cavalry. Every single one of Pyrrhos' victories has been due to the skill of those cavalry. Strongest medium cavalry I've ever used.

BTW, I'm changing the title of the next chapter since it doesn't actually contain any content about the new Basileus...

Next: Chapter 31 : Loose Ends on the Western Front

Gaivs

12-29-2007, 10:22

Im looking forward to it already!

The General

12-29-2007, 12:06

Im looking forward to it already!
I'll sign that.

Mordrorru

12-31-2007, 05:01

Hey, something funny happened.

Remember when I said, in response to your graphics card melting,

"That is funny. (joke)

So, melted eh?

This kinda stuff always seems to happen, doesn't it? Karma's gonna get me next and fry my compu-"

Remember when I said?

Perturabo

12-31-2007, 11:49

I usually just lurk and read the AAR's, but had to say this is brilliant! Really good writing and one of my favourite factions :2thumbsup: The last battle against the Romans was indeed epic. Nice to see the Romans training Roman troops for a change.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

12-31-2007, 21:48

Again, thanks to everyone who is commenting...
I've been busy lately and the next chapter has stalled half way. Right now, I'm defragmenting that computer and it has been at it for about 16 hours...

Your computer melted as well, Mordrorru?

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

12-31-2007, 23:03

I've been busy lately and the next chapter has stalled half way. Right now, I'm defragmenting that computer and it has been at it for about 16 hours...
I hope you don't use the windows-default-defrag, because you could have that running for three days without coming even near to an end.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-01-2008, 04:43

Chapter 31 : Loose Ends on the Western Front
The Romani War (Part IX)

Returning from being crowned Basileus of Arche Makedonia, Aristotelis sets up once more in Syria. Antiocheia, the capital of the region had been named for Antiochos of the Arche Seleukeia. With the decline of Arche Seleukeia, it is beginning to seem as though Seleukos, Antiochos, and their dynasty will become just historical footnote, hardly worth mention. Seeing as they are unworthy of such a great city, in a foreign nation, with their name, Aristotelis decides to rename the city. He chooses to renames the city after the man who liberated it years earlier and built it up to its present state. With orders from Aristotelis, the capital of Syria is renamed and refounded as the city Demetreia.

In Gaul, Neokles, son of Aristotelis and heir to the throne, besieges the city of Tolosa, where the last Romani in Gaul hide:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5814/maa1366rf5.png

The phalangitai hold their ground while the Basilikon Agema move forward to break down the walls:
https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6274/maa1367af2.png

The gate is easily broken and the Hypaspitai rush in to meet the Hellenes defending the walls:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1280/maa1369bm9.png

After breaking another hole through the wall, the rest of the Basilikon Agema rush in and surround the Hellenes:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3203/maa1370vo3.png

The Hellenes quickly fall and Makedones assume control of the city. Hiding near the palace, however, the Romani defenders refuse to surrender. Slowly marching the phalangitai into the town, Neokles takes his time and prepares to attack the city center from multiple sides. As the phalangitai possition themselves to assualt the Romani, the Romani general gives one final charge and attacks the Pezhetairoi:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1174/maa1372qc7.png

The Romani get bogged down and the Neokles has enough time to move his men to surround them. Attacking from the rear, the Basilikon Agema finish off the last of them:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1907/maa1373ur2.png

With that, Neokles takes the Gallic city of Tolosa and the Romani port of Narbo, as well as deprive the Romani of their last foreign territory:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7618/maa1374qn6.jpg

Gathering locals for questioning, Neokles learns that the Gallic people of the region, known as the Nektosages, had participated in the Gallic raid of Makedonia and Hellas. Afterwards they had gathered treasures and brought them home with them, where some of that treasure had been hidden at the bottom of a lake. Years later, the mercenaries of Pyrrhos of Epieros had also come to this region. They too had hidden gold in the lake, and amoungst that gold was the treasures they had looted from the tombs at Aigai. Neokles quickly makes plans to excavate a canal to empty the lake.

With the fall of the Romani in Gaul, and with a great Makedonike army in the vicinity, the Hellenic trade city of Emporion leaves the Iberian confederation and joins the Arche Makedonia. [I paid 14000 for it.] With new territories in southern Gaul and northern Iberia, Neokles considers whether to pull out of the area as he had planned or to take this chance to open a new front with Kart-Hadast. For now, the regions are not consider part of the Arche.

Pyrrhos of Makedonia, still stricken with sadness, has yet to besiege the ill defended city of Arpi. With is delay, the Romani gather another small legion and attack once more. This time the Romani devide their forces and attack from all sides:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9413/maa1376ay9.png

Placing his phalangitai along a road to counter the bulk of the Romani forces, Pyrrhos has his Illyrian cavalry move to counter those attacking from th rear:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1789/maa1377wg2.png

Purposly allowing his left flank to look weak, Pyrrhos hides his Samnites and Gauls just over a hill to suprise anyone who takes the bait of the weak flank:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2315/maa1378et5.png

The Illyrians repeatingly charge the Romani approaching from the rear, but the Romani hold their ground. The Romani stand no chance of success against the Illyrians, but they stall the cavalry long enough for the other Romani to engage the Makedonike army without having to worry about cavalry support:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7031/maa1379bz0.png

On the left flank, the Romani take the bait and attack. Quickly, the Samnites and Gauls counter:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9971/maa1380qg7.png

One group of Romani attack the flank, but the main forces of the Romani attack the center of the line:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7939/maa1381qg0.png

After finally defeating the Romani to the rear, the Illyrians rush in and releave the left flank. With the left flank secured, the main battle line moves to surround the Roman Consul:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5444/maa1382tc3.png

The Illyrians chase the fleeing Romani, but the Samnites and Gauls are forced to confront those Romani which manage to regroup:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6466/maa1383tk9.png

The Makedonike Pezhetairoi manage to completely surround Consul Titus Cornelius Scipio, but he opts to avoid conflict and stands his cavalry in the center of the square. The Pezhetairoi hold their ground, but one officer moves forward to challenge the Roman Consul:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7513/maa1385ir7.png
[The Consul died seconds after I took this picture.]

The Makedonike officer somehow manages to kill the Consul and as he falls to the ground the entire Makedonike army charges in to eliminate the last of his bodyguards:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2796/maa1387me5.png

Some of the Romani flee to Capua, but most fall dead. With the victory, Pyrrhos takes the city of Arpi:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7074/maa1388se3.jpg

The goal of Arche Makedonia, since the time of Alkyoneus, has been to establish a northern border along the Istros [River Danube]. Alkyoneus and Perseus had negotiated for much of the territory and Nepos had conquered Pannonia. Now, Herakontides, cousin to Pyrrhos, leads the attack along the Istros. Having conquered the fortress of Iuvavoaeta years earlier, Herakontides heads west to take the fort-city of Veldideno, near the source of the Istros. With the conquest of this region, Arche Makedonia will control all territories south of the Istros, from its source to the Pontos Euxinos.

With an army of local Celtic mercenaries, Herakontides attacks the city quickly, before reinforcements can arrived from their allies, the Boii:
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5246/maa1389il9.png

With a bribe to some locals, the gates are left open. Charging in, the mercenaries attack the local garrison troops, who had been taught to fight in the Makedonike style:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7926/maa1391mf4.png

The defenders manage to push the bulk of the mercenary force back to the gate, but it is too late, as they are already surrounded. The men attacking from behind them wear them down and they break:
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3392/maa1393wd0.png

Taking the walls, the mercenaries march on the city center. On their way in, they are confronted by the defending cavalry and garrison captain:
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/984/maa1394ae7.png

Defending the rear, Herakontides' mercenary Celtic phalangitai are confronted by a unit of defending phalangitai:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5774/maa1395uy1.png

The defenders are more experienced and have the upper hand, but when attacked from two sides the defenders loose their advantage:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1448/maa1396ew6.png

As the phalangitai wipe out the forces attacking the rear, the bulk of the mercenary force fights off the last wave of enemies before the city center:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9315/maa1397po7.png

The mercenaries line up and rest just out of the range of those in the city center. They hardly get any rest, though, as the defender charge out to confront them. The mercenaries throw their remaining javelin and brace for the fight:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9770/maa1398wl3.png

Many of Herakontides' mercenaries fall, but their sheer numbers ensure victory. As the fight continues, they start to surround the defending axemen:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8888/maa1399dp3.png

Soon all that remains is one group of defending phalangitai. Charging in from all sides, the mercenaries attack:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7452/maa1400sr0.png

The phalangitai hold their ground and suffer very few losses until Herakontides orders a cavalry charge from the rear:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4351/maa1401xo1.png

Finally, the defenders succome to the Makedonike mercenaries and the city falls:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9210/maa1402ri0.jpg

The city of Veldideno marks the western most point of Makedonike territory and Herakonties quickly establishes defensive forts along the river and western edge to discourage Gallic incursion. Now, from the source of the Istros south then following the mountain ridge to the sea, with the inclusion of Massalia, marks the edge of Arche Makedonia's western border. Now, all that remains is seccuring Italia and dealing with the Kart-Hadast problem to ensure a peaceful western front.

After securring all of the eastern coast of Italia, Pyrrhos moves his army westward to besiege the city of Capua and defeat the last of the Italian allies of Roma:
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9317/maa1405ti5.png

The known world in 202BC, a decade into the Romani War:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4350/hxmak202editoh8.png

Next: Chapter 32 : The World's Wars

Mordrorru

01-01-2008, 05:48

Yes, my computer melted too.

Sorta, I got a nv4_disp error and some device is quote, 'stuck in an infinite loop'. The screen is really staticy and blocky. The static is so bad I can barely see. Also things that look disturbingly like smiley faces show up when I DO turn the computer on...though this definately seems more like a hardware problem and than a virus. Probably something with my video card.

Overall the thing's unusable, and it'll be a few days before someone can get here and fix it. If they CAN fix it.

Basileus Seleukeia

01-01-2008, 15:14

Wow, another great chapter. :2thumbsup:
Although I'm quite angered about a specific decision of yours:furious3: (I think you can guess why:laugh4:)

Moosemanmoo

01-01-2008, 17:54

Thats quite a tasty empire you got urself, great AAR btw

I'm still wondering what the hell the sweboz are doing? Very little it seems

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-01-2008, 20:08

That sucks, Mordrorru.
I'm currently waiting for the components to build myself a computer to arrive...

The Seleukids couldn't even hold Antiocheia, they don't deserve it to be named after them. :clown:

The Sweboz have indeed been disapointing in this campaign. They have taken two towns on their own. One rebelled and the rest I gave them. Besides that, I have to give then about 200,000 ever decade through cheats and they keep going broke and doing nothing. Now that they've taken Denmark, though, I hope things turn around for them.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-01-2008, 20:36

Great empire, indeed. In my Mak campaign the Sweboz were giant and deprived me of my Rhaetian holdings...

I thought it would mess up the script or the traits to rename a city?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-01-2008, 21:35

Yeah, renaming cities can cause problems, but since Antiocheia is easily renamed back to its original name (unlike some of the Germanic cities) I took the chance. The three big things renaming a city does is 1- completely screws up the city for the AI (I don't plan on loosing the city ever again), 2- messes up reform code (Makedonia doesn't have reforms), and 3- messes up victory conditions (I'll change the name back for one turn, once I have all the other requirements so that I might get the victory screen). I don't think there are any traits for Makedonia that require Antiocheia either.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-02-2008, 21:28

~:) That's nice to hear.

Chirurgeon

01-02-2008, 21:54

Great job my man great job. Your empire continues to swell along with my own. Kinda nice seeing the parallels

Chaotix

01-02-2008, 23:38

Awesome job, Marcus. This may be a little late, but here's a baloon :balloon3: as congratulations on your 30th chapter! 30 chapters (and counting, now you're up to 32!) of awesome AAR.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-03-2008, 03:43

Thanks. :bow:

I've gotten the next chapter ready, but I have caught up to where I last played. Since I haven't had a bunch of time to play recently, there may be a short break after this chapter...

Hooahguy

01-03-2008, 03:44

and when will this chapter be?......

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-03-2008, 04:01

Chapter 32 : The World's Wars
The Romani War (Part X)

For years the Arche Makedonia had suffered one major weakness in its military. The Antigonid military was basically the same military system that Philipos and Alexandros had used more than a hundred years prior. The near by Celts and Galatians use heavy mailed infantry who are trained to throw javelin before charging. The Seleukids, Ptolemaioi, and even the Kingdom of Pontos had adapted this equiptment and fighting style in the form of the Thorakitai. Over the years of the Aigyptos Wars, the Thorakitai, in the hands of the Ptolemaioi, had evolved from flank guard into a heavy line infantry. Demetrios was hesitant to change, but realized the advantages of the mailed infantry. Merging the equiptment with Makedonike fighting styles, Demetrios re-equiped the Pezhetairoi. The newly equiped Pezhetairoi were proving successful, but the Romani War proved it was not enough.

Even with the new equiptment, Pyrrhos has suffered far more losses then he should have due to the Romani fighting style. The non-pike heavy infantry line is proving to be more manuvuerable and more successful than expected. Aristotelis knew about this weakness, for he had also suffered against the Ptolemaic Thorakitai and their Galatians mercenaries. His father had been reluctant to change, but Basileus Aristotelis is more willing to learn and adapt. Adopting a new form of unit and fighting style, Aristotelis orders some of his men to be equiped and trained in the Diadochi Thorakitai style:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7672/maa1404gb0.jpg

With mail armor, a spear, and several javelin, the Makedonike Thorakitai are trained across the Arche Makedonia to replace the Thureophoroi, Thrakians, and allies currently guarding the flanks of the Makedonike Pezhetairoi:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1755/maa1441sa8.png

In Demetreia, a new army is trained, completely in the new style of fighting and equipment:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6210/maa1440uz2.png

With a new Basileus, newly acquired peace in the west, a new military system, and finally recovering from the war debt, Arche Makedonia is once again the undisputed lead power in all of the known world:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4131/maa1407we5.jpg

With a general sense of peace within the Arche Makedonia, its citizens needed only to fear the wraith of the gods:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7259/maa1406vx8.jpg

The only war left to Arche Makedonai is in Italia. There, the Romani some how manage to gather another army. This time, they bring large amounts of cavalry, hoping to counter the Illyrian cavalry under Pyrrhos. With the battlefield on a field outside of Capua, the region's garrison and their reinforcements confront Pyrrhos:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5808/maa1417br6.png

Overcofindent of their ability to break the Pezhetairoi line, the Romani don't even attempt to flank:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5122/maa1419lc7.png

As the Pezhetairoi hold down the first of the Romani attackers, the Illyrian cavalry circles around the rear to attack the men the Romani are holding in reserve. The Illyrians attempt to quickly break them so that they might have a clear shot at the rear of the engaged Romani:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8457/maa1420mi9.png

The Romani reserves hold the Illyrians long enough for the Romani reinforcements from Capua to arrive, but as the reinforcements approach, General Quintus Cornelius Blasio panics and flees:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9201/maa1421tu5.png

The Illyrians are in just the right place and manage to surround the general, killing him. On the battle line, however, the other Romani general, Publius Cornelius Blasio, forces his cavalry through the phalangitai line:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7452/maa1423bm5.png

Charging in from the rear, the Illyrians manage to break the last of the Romani cavalry and relieve the phalangitai. In the fight General Publius Cornelius Blasio falls. With the defeat of the Romani cavalry, the only Romani remaining are one large group of infantry attempting to push through on the Makedonike left flank:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8128/maa1424xx7.png

As Pyrrhos manuveurs his men to surround the group, the Romani panic and flee. Pyrrhos orders all of this infantry to give chase:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8339/maa1426uv1.png

As they chase them down, the Romani once again suprise the Makedones with a late arriving unit of elite spearmen.
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3571/maa1427wg0.png

The Roman spearmen attempt to buy some time for their routing friends...
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3246/maa1428ed7.png

...but they panic when confronted with so many of Pyrrhos' soldiers. With that, the last of the Romani flee and Pyrrhos moves on to Capua:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2372/maa1430ei0.jpg

As Pyrrhos marches into the city, he notices that it is vastly over populated. The people of the city are on verge of rioting due to their poor conditions under the Romani. Under the Makedones they are sure to riot. With his distaste for the Romani and his desire to stablize the city, Pyrrhos permits his men to loot and kill. After the looting is over, Pyrrhos gathers nearly half the population of the region and sells them into slavery on the far side of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4953/maa1434rn5.jpg

While Arche Makedonia fights the Romani, other wars wage across the known world. To the east, the Mauryan Satrapy of Gandhara had repelled several invasions of the Seleukids and had finally decides to launch an invasion of the Iran and Persia. To the north, the rebel Seleukid Satrapy of Baktria had invaded Gandhara territory in the mountains between India and Baktria. After wiping out the Baktrian main force, marching into India itself, the Gandhara forces attempt to retake the region known as Paropamisadai:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9526/maa1408yp9.png

To the south, in Karmania and all across the Iranian Plataeu, the forces of Gandhara push across Seleukid territory up to the edges of Persis itself. The Seleukids have the forces to counter the invasion, but they lack the leadership to coordinate and gather their forces in a successful defense:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8831/maa1409ri2.png

To the north, in Baktria, land of rivers, the rebel Hellenistic kingdom there is doing much better. With plenty of money, soldiers, and a huge population base, the Baktrians have defeated all the Steppe nations they have fought and now challenge Gandhara. The Baktrians lack the nerves to openly invade the weakened Seleukids, though the Seleukids lack the same courage. More than half a century earlier the Baktrians betrayed the Seleukids and yet Arche Seleukeia did nothing about the open rebellion:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4736/maa1410uk1.png

In Media and Hykania, Seleukid territories openly rebelled, declaring themselves free. The regions had originally been supported by the Kingdom of Hayasdan, but recently they had been separated from Hai support and now exsist independantly of the Armenian monachy:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1317/maa1411ey0.png

Years earlier, the Seleukids had started a war with the Kingdom of Hayasdan. At first the Hai were winning, but the Seleukids quickly turned all of their attension to this front, forsaking others. Now, Seleukid forces occupy the Hai capital and are prepared to completely defeat the small nation. The Seleukids quickly move to occupy all of Armenia, knowing clearly that the Antigonids had long ago made claims on parts of this region:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9867/maa1412yx0.png

The Seleukids not only faced war to the north and the east, but from the south. South of Babylonia, the Kingdom of Sabyn had established a military outpost at the oasis of Gerrha. From there, they are planning to launch in invasion of Babylonia. Though failing on other fronts, the Seleukids are prepared on this one and the initial invasion results in a failure for Sabyn:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2082/maa1415nq5.png

Far from there, in Gaul, another great war is being fought. Many years ago the Arverni Kingdom had betrayed the Aedui Confederation and a great 'civil war' had been fought. Originally, the Aedui had won and in following years united all of Gaul. There was peace in Gaul, but then the Romani ended the Aedui hegemony, completely destroying the Gallic military. When the region was liberated from the Romani, territories were restored to their original owners, resulting in a rebalancing of power between the Aedui Confederation and the Kingdom of the Arverni. Having rebuilt over the years, the Arverni Kingdom invade Confederation lands in an attempt to conquer the whole region:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2003/maa1413uv9.png

South of there, the Iberian Confederation, lead by the Arevaci and Lusotana peoples, defend their lands from the forces of Kart-Hadast. When Kart-Hadast had started their invasion of the area, the tribes were all devided and at war with eachother. Now all the natives are united against their common foe. Originally the Lusotana had lead the alliance of tribes, but with the temperary occupation of Lusotannan territory, the Arevaci gained power in the confederation. Now, the penninsula is devided between the Confederation and the Qarthadastism, with the Qarthadastism controlled inland territories under violent dispute:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3784/maa1414tj7.png

Back to the east, in Aithiopia, the Kingdom of Meroe considers an invasion but does little else besides trading down the Neilos:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7773/maa1416wj5.png

In Makedonia, Chrysoloras, son of Alkyoneus dies. With Perseus dead already, Chrysoloras' death marks the end of Alkyoneus' line, for Chrysoloras has no sons, no nephews, and no living brothers:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6900/maa1439ow2.jpg

In Anatolia, uncle of both Chrysoloras and Aristotelis, Euboulides, manages to gather an army. Taking all of his sons with him, Euboulides responds to the pleas from the Bosphorian Hellenes, who have found themselves under siege by the Steppe tribes. Although Arche Makedonia has an alliances with the western Steppe tribes, Euboulides rushes in to garrison the region before he is forced to openly oppose any tribe. Landing near Chersonesos, Euboulides garrisons the town with a couple Pontic Spearmen:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5546/maa1433jk0.jpg
[There was a single unit of Hoplitai guarding the town so I just used auto_win.]

Leaving his two eldest sons in charge of the city, Euboulides and his youngest (and most skilled) son march their army north to secure the rest of the penninsula:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8950/maa1435au6.png

To the south, the armies of Kart-Hadast march against Kyrenaia again:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3644/maa1437ek8.png

This time, however, the Kart-Hadast forces are extremely underpowered and Antisthenes wins a quick and easy victory:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7987/maa1438jg7.jpg

With less and less of a challenge being issued by the city of Kart-Hadast, the only remaining war for Arche Makedonia is the Romani War. But in Italia, Pyrrhos rests in Capua and waits to see if the city of Roma will surrender on their own:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8056/maa1436vj8.png

The known world in 200BC:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7094/hxmak200ka6.png

Next: Chapter 33
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Post 3500...

Gaivs

01-03-2008, 05:06

Do you have an overall strategy? Recreate the Roman empire with Makedones in their place? Head East and reconquer Alexanders Empire?

Mouzafphaerre

01-03-2008, 05:23

.

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9526/maa1408yp9.png
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8831/maa1409ri2.png
Have you added a faction for the story :shocked: or is it just masterful photoshopping? :inquisitive:
.

Chaotix

01-03-2008, 05:38

Yeah, you're pretty good with recoloring those Eleutheroi provinces! But how did you get the Ptolemaioi banner on the "Kingdom of Meroe's" armies? I thought you destroyed them...

Chirurgeon

01-03-2008, 06:30

Excellent job MAA! I particulary like how you mentioned the Ptolemai had reformed their military with the main battle line being made of Theorkikai. That has a familiar sound to it...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-03-2008, 08:45

Do you have an overall strategy? Recreate the Roman empire with Makedones in their place? Head East and reconquer Alexanders Empire?
My original plan was to recreate Alexander's Empire, but war with the Romani and peace with the Seleukids delayed that. With the fall of Armenia to AS, I fear war in the east is all but inevitable. I might invade Afrika if nothing happens on the eastern front, though. I don't really have any plans for any northern expansion.

.

Have you added a faction for the story :shocked: or is it just masterful photoshopping? :inquisitive:
.

Yeah, you're pretty good with recoloring those Eleutheroi provinces! But how did you get the Ptolemaioi banner on the "Kingdom of Meroe's" armies? I thought you destroyed them...
I actually went into the files and changed the colors and names for Pahlav and Ptolemaioi. Callicles actually gave me the idea, so thanks to him.
I don't know if you can change the symbols, but I didn't even try, that's why they still have their old faction's symbols. (Yes, technically the Ptolemaioi are still alive. I killed them, took a picture of their defeat screen, then reloaded and made them into the Kingdom of Meroe.)

Excellent job MAA! I particulary like how you mentioned the Ptolemai had reformed their military with the main battle line being made of Theorkikai. That has a familiar sound to it...
Thanks. It was actually when I read your AAR that I decided to try and mod in Thorakitai for the Makedonians. Due to a fortunate oversight in EB, it was quite easy to get them into the game.

Hooahguy

01-03-2008, 16:18

whoa. so the Ghandaharans are actually the phalavans, and the meroeans are the ptoleis?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-03-2008, 19:18

Yep. It is quite fun for role-playing too.
Though, I consider the death of all the Ptolemaios family to be the end of the Ptolemaioi. All they have left is two generals with some random names.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-04-2008, 02:29

Good update, as always... Would you mind to tell me how to mod in Thorakitai? I'd love to see them for the Makedones.~:) ~:) ~:) I feel it's absolutely natural for them to adopt the Thorakitai type if they had evolved into an empire like yours.

CaesarAugustus

01-04-2008, 04:27

An amazing AAR you have going here MAA, it took me the better part of an hour to get up-to-date! You've already exceeded the size of the Eastern Roman Empire, and are well on your way to recreating the whole thing (you traitorous conqueror of Italia!:clown: ) One small thing, why do you call the (formerly Phalava) faction the Satrapy of Ghandahara, wouldn't they just have formed an Indo-Parthian kingdom? Something similar is happening in my current campaign, with the Pahlava forming a crescent-shaped kingdom from India to the steppes.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-04-2008, 06:49

Pahlav territory in India was completely cut off from their steppe territories and they were training armies of Indian units. Since they were Indian in all areas except their family members and bodyguards, and since I wanted to roleplay an Indian faction in, I decided to make them Gandhara.

Good update, as always... Would you mind to tell me how to mod in Thorakitai? I'd love to see them for the Makedones.~:) ~:) ~:) I feel it's absolutely natural for them to adopt the Thorakitai type if they had evolved into an empire like yours.
Yeah, I figured that after facing so many Thorakitai, Galatians, and Romani, that the Makedones would finally adopt the unit type.

Usually, adding a unit to a faction that doesn't normally is not savegame compatible. I knew that, but I was going to try it anyways. When I went into the DMB, I found that 'macedon' already had a skin assigned to the Thorakitai model. I don't know why, but they had the KH Thorakitai skins/sprite in their slot. So, I first went into the EDU and added 'macedon' to the ownership line of the Throkitai. Then I copied the UI pictures from the 'greek_cities' folders to the 'macedon' folders. After that I had to add recruitment. Since Baktria (who has Thorakitai) shares the MIC with Makedonia, all I had to do is add 'macedon' to all of the Thorakitai entries for 'romans_brutii'. Besides the recruitment part, it was pretty easy to do since I knew what I was doing.

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-04-2008, 21:30

Thank you.~:) I have a Carthaginian campaign in the moment but will remember this for my Makedonian campaign which will follow.:2thumbsup:

Tellos Athenaios

01-06-2008, 00:38

Do not forget to delete map.rwm afterwards, though. ~;)

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-07-2008, 05:31

Chapter 33 : The Era of Peace

From the death of Demetrios in 202BC until Aristotelis' mobilization in 198BC, Arche Makedonia sees an era of peace. Roma is all but defeated, Hayasdan is being crushed by Arche Seleukeia, the Ptolemaioi are gone, and the northern and southern (Nubian) borders are so well defended that nobody dares cross them. Other than the isolated actions of Pyrrhos in Italia, only one front remains active. In Kyrenaia, the forces of Kart-Hadast attack once more, though Kart-Hadast has been so weakened by their economic losses it hardly worth considering a war:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1839/maa1442cz3.png

To the west, they had violently subjugated the Numidian tribes years earlier and assembled several large armies, but they don't dare march their armies through the deserts to Kyrenaia, lest the Sikilians take advantage of their weakness and attack the great city of Kart-Hadast itself:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9531/maa1443da2.png

On the far side of Hellenistic influence, the Seleukid Dynasty continues to loose battles to the Mauryan armies marching in from India:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3473/maa1444az4.png

Dispite their losses, Makedonike spies indicate that the Arche Seleukeia military and economic systems rival that of Arche Makedonia. Only through corruption and poor leadership do the Seleukids continue to fail on all fronts. As their kingdom crumbles all around them, their corruption increases:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4617/maa1445wx0.jpg

After a siege that lasts a year, the forces of Kart-Hadast attempt to take the garrison at Kyrene by force:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3881/maa1446so7.png

With every battle, the garrison of Kyrene gains more experience and learns exactly how to repel a siege. As soon as the Qarthadastism ram comes into range, the archers on the wall light it on fire:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8467/maa1447nz8.png

And to the south, their second ram catches on fire, halting the advance of one of their towers:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9504/maa1448gg8.png

To the north, the city cavalry pelt the Africans pushing the other tower:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3013/maa1449bh9.png

Soon, both towers are worthless, but the enemy ladders are at the walls. With the walls defended by veterans or sons of veterans, who had been granted land in the region, the Qarthadastism soldiers now face a tougher apponent then they are used to:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1635/maa1450jy8.png

The Makedones kill all who come over the wall, but the enemies just keep coming:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4191/maa1453zb7.png

To the south, the Makedonia's Hellene levies break and the Qarthadastism soldiers gain a foothold on the wall. Though it is too late. The rest of the Qarthadastism forces have already been slain and the entire garrison can now focus on this one part of the wall. Circling reinforcements around their rear, the Makedones push the enemy to the corner of the wall:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/879/maa1455rx4.png

With the city safe, Antisthenes turns his cavlary against the Numidian cavalry and the Qarthadastism commander:
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5759/maa1456vy6.png

Chasing them into the forests, the Hellenic cavalry cut the enemy to pieces, killing the enemy commander:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3143/maa1457rt1.png

Once again, Antisthenes defends the city of Kyrene, gateway to Aigyptos:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5865/maa1459jt9.jpg

Ever since the Antigonids had saved the Seleukids from being destroyed in the Syrian Wars, Arche Seleukeia had grown stagnant. Years ago, they had attempted to invade India, but failed to hold any territory there. A few years ago they had invaded the Kingdom of Hayasdan. At first they suffered defeat, but then recovered and conquered nearly all of Armenia. Though, with secret Antigonid funding, Hayasdan has rebelled and begun to defeat all Seleukid armies in the region. To the east, the Mauryans now invade Iran and push the Seleukid armies into ever smaller territory. Even in the south, the Kingdom of Sab'yn has won victories against the Seleukids, pushing them back into Babylonia. Even in the center of their kingdom, the Seleukids suffer defeats. Rebel armies, originally funded by the Kingdom of Hayasdan, push through the Hyrkanian mountians and defeat several Seleukid armies on their was south and west.

With Arche Seleukeia crumbling, Aristotelis begins to mobilize his military in the east. Though he isn't ready to betray his long time ally, Aristotelis is ready to 'rescue' the Hellenistic peoples of Babylonia. Whether it be from foreign invaders or the corruption of their own government, the Makedone settlers and Hellenistic Babylonians to the east are in trouble. In the spring of 198BC, Aristotelis moves his armies to the border. In Babylonia, Aristotelis lead the veteran army, while his second son Bykoli lead the newly assembled Syrian army, equiped in the new fashion. In southern Armenia, the aging Captain Aristokles once again leads his Thrakian army, preparing to march back into the Lake Van basin:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1808/maa1460dy2.png

In northern Armenia, Lysippos, son-in-law of Euboulides, leads Euboulides' old army. And in western Armenia, an army of Kappadokians and an army of Pontic Hellenes prepare to invade from the west:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9189/maa1461xb1.png

As this happens, on the far side of Arche Makedonia, an Iberian army from Lacetania attempts to liberate the city of Seguntum. Though they have Makedonike money, they lack any official military backing from the Arche:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3746/maa1464qu4.png

Also, in Italia, the Romani attempt a counter attack. Rather than leaving Capua exposed, Pyrrhos does not counter the attack. Instead, Pyrrhos orders the Sikilian army to march north and rescue the city:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4844/maa1466cw6.png

During this time of peace and prosperity, great building projects are commenced. In Athenai, the largest theater ever build in Arche Makedonia is completed:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4641/maa1462cx4.jpg

As Arche Seleukeia crumbles, Arche Makedonia's prosperity once again makes them the sole super-power in the known world:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3149/maa1463uq0.jpg

During this time, Aristokritos, Hellenized king of the Galatians dies:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4043/maa1465pq9.jpg

With the death of their king, the Galatian fear that they will meet the same fate as the Hellenes and loose their autonomy. The Galatians begin to riot, but their fear is soon relieved. Rather than integrate the region into Arche Makedonia, the Galatians retain their freedom and are permitted to elect a new king:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/83/maa1467ld1.jpg

To complicate things in the area, Theodoros, son of Kalos and leader of the Anatolia provinces, dies in Sardis:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9876/maa1468mu2.jpg

This time of peace finally comes to an end when Aristotelis orders Lysippos, the Thrakians, the Kappadokians, and the Pontic Hellenes to invade Armenia:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/170/maa1469zj1.png

Aristotelis tells the Seleukids that he is assisting in their war effort to defeat the Hai. He tells the people of Armenia that he is invading to save them from being slaughtered by Seleukids. And he tells the people of Arche Makedonia that he is going to take the region to avenge those the Hai killed in the previous war and to add the rich territory to their great kingdom. His advisors, however, know that his is only the first step in the war that Aristotelis had been planning since he was a child:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3265/maa1470bf6.jpg

As the era of peace draws to a close, the allied Iberian army besieges the city of Seguntum:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4272/maa1471rg7.png

Four towers are pushed to the walls. Those that flank the gates manage to make it to the walls with only a few losses...
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2021/maa1472jt4.png

...but those to the west were both destroyed an those manning them take heavy losses:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2595/maa1473gy5.png

After the lengthy task of securring the walls, the Iberians march into the city and make their way to the town center, where the Qarthadastism general hides. Reaching the city temple, the Iberians stop to rest:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5931/maa1475us1.png

Completely refreshed, the Iberians storm the city square. As they approach the Qarthadastism soldiers, the are peppered with javelin:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9012/maa1476gg6.png

Before the Iberians could get off a volley of their own javelin, though, they are charged by the enemy:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9330/maa1477zy7.png

As the bulk of the Iberian forces hold down the enemy, a few units of Iberians circle around the rear to surround the enemy:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9779/maa1478ps6.png

Surrounded by spearmen, the enemy general, Adonibal Ilerda, falls quickly. Before too long, only a small group of axemen remain, who fight to the death:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3289/maa1479ax3.png

With the enemy defeated, the allied Iberian army seccures the town. The region soon applies to become part of Arche Makedonia, and the people are overjoyed to be free from the city of Kart-Hadast and joining the most powerful Hellenic nation ever known:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8808/maa1481pa4.jpg

As the era draws to a close and Aristotelis begins his own war, several things occure around Arche Makedonia. In Bosphoria, Euboulides consolidates the entire pennisula under Makedonike power and startes to garrison it against steppe raider incursion. The Illyrian Argeades family starts to establish forts along the Istros River and through the Italian mountain passes to prevent barbarian invasion. And in Iberia, with the successful invasion into Qarthadastism territory, the allied Hellenes and Iberians in the region petition for a fleet so that they might invade the Baleric Islands.

The known world in 198BC:
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2567/hxmak198kz1.png

Next: Chapter 34 : Eastern Expansion

Hax

01-07-2008, 09:46

Woohooo!

Another update, awesomeness. I have very little to remark on the AAR itself, only that I crave for another update :D

Tellos Athenaios

01-07-2008, 13:51

I'd like to add thouhg, that next chapter will be no 34. :wink:

The General

01-07-2008, 15:19

Another nice update. *Thumbsup*, an'stuff.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-08-2008, 06:50

Thanks for the comments.
I change the next chapter number, thanks.

I just received the parts to build my new computer ("3 day delivery" that took 11 days), so I've been working on that. Since I haven't played since just after this next update, I'll hopefully be running the next chapter off of my next system. Although, I'm basically on top graphic settings already so there probably won't be any noticable difference in the pictures. (I just hope my plan to transfer everything over, for the version I'm playing from, works without a problem.)

Gaivs

01-08-2008, 11:52

Good luck with that! I look forward to the next installment! :D

Basileus Seleukeia

01-08-2008, 17:16

Well, then go on and reunite Alexander's realm! If the Seleucid King has failed his honourable father Seleukos Nikator, than they deserve nothing else!
Don't keep me waiting for the next chapter for long:whip: :laugh4:

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-08-2008, 21:14

Seeing Roma still alive leaves me a bit puzzled. Otherwise... :2thumbsup:

CaesarAugustus

01-09-2008, 01:33

MAA knows that to sack Rome is to bring on the wrath of the gods and his own eventual destruction.

Good luck with the new PC Marcus, waiting for the next addition! :2thumbsup:

Hax

01-09-2008, 01:46

Bring it on, Roman freak! =P

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-09-2008, 05:36

I haven't taken Roma yet for two reasons. First, I wanted the fall of Rome to be epic. Right after I took Capua, they had two generals and two Pedites Extraordinarii (a battle hardly worth mentioning). And secondly, Capua is quite rebellious and I need a large army to garrison it.

I doubt it will work this way, but my plan in the east is this: The 'eastern Hai' are trying to take Media. So, my plan is to take Armenia, ally with the 'eastern Hai' and when they take Media and close the AS northern route, I'll strike Babylonia. It looks like I'm going to have to be t he betrayer this time... :skull:

I've finished assembling my computer. It was the first time I've ever build a computer, and it was surprisingly easy. I got RTW and EB on and got my AAR version of EB (v0.97 as I call it) to run. It crashed when I tried to load a battle, though. I haven't given up, but I'm tired and will work on it tommorrow.

The cool thing is that the initial loading which used to take about 5+ minutes takes about 30 seconds, and the framerate on the strat map never changes from 30fps.

Maksimus

01-09-2008, 10:32

Ha! Very nice Marcus! And you are using NEW DMS units! I WE WNAT's IT :yes:

That means that new Macedonian generals are in EB 11!

I cant wait for EB 11 anymore! :hourglass: (or are those DMS your own?:thinking2: )

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-09-2008, 22:18

The strat map models?
Those are actually v0.80 strat models. The version I'm playing this AAR on was made about a week before the release, and I believe the strat models were the last change made before the release.

Maksimus

01-10-2008, 07:59

Really...? :whip: :(
OK, anyways I am a bit -over my head- because I cant mod-up the DMB generals for DMS. . . That is why I am starting a new WinVistax86 so I can use 3Dmax.:wall:

Thrond

01-10-2008, 10:36

Any chance you could post a picture of your family tree to show the make up of the royal line in the post Demetrias era?

I've been wondering what it might look like after such an extended game.

Moosemanmoo

01-10-2008, 18:16

Chapter 33!!!
Thanks for showing everyone that Makedonia is full of win:jester:

And what Thrond said:eyebrows:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-11-2008, 04:30

I managed to get the game working on my new computer. It didn't want to work along side EBv1.0, but I renamed folders and finally got it to work. I've played about a chapter's worth and will try to make another update soon...

I was thinking of taking a picture of the family tree every now and again, back when I started this AAR. The problem is remembering and labelling everyone's names. I'll take some pictures of the family tree next time I play the game and see what I can make.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-11-2008, 06:42

Just a preview:

When I first got RTW to work on my new rig, I turned grass all the way up (since it was the only graphic detail I could think of that wasn't already maxed out). It's max range (500) wasn't very good (I couldn't see much if I zoomed the camera all the way out) and it caused a little lag. In the end I turned it down to 100 (default=75). But here is an example of what EB looks like with the highest detail levels I could get out of the engine:
https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6668/maa2002ex4.png
P.S. I took pictures of my family tree and am working on editing them.
P.P.S. I'm spamming a bit, so that when I finish my next chapter it will be on the next page of this thread. (Though, there is no rush, I'll finish it late tommorrow at the soonest.)

Hax

01-11-2008, 08:51

Marcus...where do you live...

I am going to steal your computer...

So...pretty...

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-11-2008, 17:43

It's so dark I can hardly see anything.:(

Tellos Athenaios

01-11-2008, 19:40

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-11-2008, 21:02

I put together the family tree and decided to label a few guys. I put a little
too much info for some guys, but here is the Antigonid family tree in the year
197BC. I've numbered a few important guys that I've
mentioned throughout the AAR and will describe them a bit.
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4826/familytree197edityi6.png
I'll start with the most important family then go to the side families:
In the center we have Antigonos Gonatas (1) and his family. Grandson of Antigonos
Monophthalmus, Antigonos Gonatas united the Hellenes and began the campaigns against the
Ptolemaioi. His first born son, Alkyoneus (2) shared the throne with his brother after the
death of Antigonos, but died himself in the Pontic War. Perseus (3) and Chrysoloras (4)
did not inheret the throne, but instead dedicated their lives administering Makedonia and
working the Hellenes into Arche Makedonia. With no sons, Perseus and Chrysoloras are the end
of Alkyoneus' line.

Antigonos' second son, Demetrios (5) was a great general when he first came to share the
throne. When his brother died, he came to the throne and lead Arche Makedonia to glory. Almost
single-handedly defeating the Ptolemaioi, Demetrios shifted his attension to Kart-Hadast and
Roma. Still planning more conquests, Demetrios died in Massalia and passes the throne to his
son. Named for the instructor of Alexandros, Aristotelis (6) came to be a great general,
conquering the Levant at the end of the Aigyptos Wars. When his father dies, he comes to
inheirit the throne of Makedonia. With troubles in the east, Aristotelis prepares to realize his dream
of reuniting Alexandros' Empire.

Aristotelis is the only son of Demetrios and has but two sons himself. Neokles (7) witness
to Demetrios' death leads the western army, while Bykoli (8) leads the new Syrian army at
his father's orders.

Finally, there is the last son of Antigonos, Euboulides (9). Euboulides spent his early life
administering Makedonia and Epieros while his father and brothers did greater things. When his
eldest brother, Alkyoneus died in the Pontic War, Euboulides took command of his army and
defeated the last of the Pontic kings. When the First Armenian War started, Euboulides lead the
main attacks against the Hai and took several territories from them. Recently, Euboulides
acquired Bosphoria for Arche Makedonia. His son-in-law, Lysippos, now leads the war in the
Second Armenian War. Due to Euboulides' brothers' families inability to have sons, Euboulides'
line may someday rule the Arche...

To the left we have Krateros (10), elder brother of Antigonos. His son, Alexandros (11)
, conqueror of Illyria. Most of his family administered Illyria, but Nepos (12) leads the
invasion of northern Italia with his sons. First born son, Neikolaos (13) led a Celtic army to
victories in Gaul against the Romani. Second son, Gelon (14) takes control of northern
Italia. And third son, Pyrrhos the Crippled (15) conquers most of Italia and continues to
defeat the Romani.

To the far right, there is Kalos (16), younger brother of Antigonos. After Kalos' failed attempt
to take Pergamon, his family has not had very much military activity. His descendants now
administer Anatolia, while his in-laws are sent wherever they are needed across the Arche.

Chirurgeon

01-11-2008, 22:09

wow nicely done MAA! I want to do that for my campaign. How did you get the whole family tree in one picture where you can view without scrolling back and forth?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-11-2008, 23:04

It's actually 14 or 15 pictures that I stuck together (thus all the stupid, repeating "Family Tree"s across the top).

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-12-2008, 00:25

Adjust your monitor settings Centurio! (I take it you have a CRT monitor? My LCD one shows the picture just fine: nice metallic reflections and glints, grass etc. Looks like I might have taken that shot. :beam:)
Yes I have a CRT monitor. I made the settings indeed quite dark. But I'm quite content with it, I chose lightning file number 3 instead of adjusting the monitor settings.~:)

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-12-2008, 02:50

Chapter 34 : Eastern Expansion
The Fall of Hayasdan

As the winter of 198BC hits, the Romani end their campaigning season and withdraw back to Latium:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3443/maa2004my5.png

With fresh Sikilian reinforcements to garrison the huge city of Capua, Pyrrhos takes the initiative the next spring. Gathering his entire army, Pyrrhos marches into Latium, raiding any Romani allies he finds along the way, and besieges the city of Roma itself:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6619/maa2005wh0.png

The spring of 197BC also sees the Makedonike campaign in Armenia. Having campaigned in Iberia, Lysippos manages to corner Bagrat Yervanduni, king of Hayasdan in the small city of Mtskheta, along the Kyros River. Bagrat is well prepared, though, and can stand a lengthy siege. Rather than risk Hai reinforcement from their allies to the east, Lysippos decides to attack the city:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5950/maa2006ab4.png

Only Bagrat Yervanduni, his elite cataphracts, and a few elite infantry hold the city. With minor defenses, it is an easy task for the Peltastai to break down the walls:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/843/maa2007ld5.png

At first, the Hai infantry move to defend the walls, but Lysippos moves his archers near the walls. The archers hold their fire at first, but at Lysippos' command they open fire. The Hai elites attempt to flee, but all those who moved to defend the breach end the day in Hades:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2205/maa2008og2.png

With the walls taken, Lysippos moves his phalangitai into the city. Taking their time, they slowly march down the streets, eventually surrounding the city center. Rather than let the noose tighten around his neck, King Bagrat charges out to confront the phalangitai on his own terms:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2510/maa2009xa7.png

The heavy Haikakan cataphracts are only halted for a moment. Soon, King Bagrat leads his men in breaking through the pikes and attack the phalangitai directly:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7626/maa2010kc4.png

As the phalangitai slowly get out-matched, more phalangitai units move to surround the Haikakan king and attack him from multiple sides:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3258/maa2011rr4.png

As the rest of the Makedonike army moves against the last of the infantry, King Bagrat manages to completely disrupt the phalangitai formation and break through them. Seeing the distress, a third unit of phalangitai move in to assist on the critical right flank:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9223/maa2012qh4.png

Eventually, the formations of the phalangitai completely break down and Lysippos, who is leading from just behind the battle, orders his men to switch to their swords:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2185/maa2013no5.png

Even though King Bagrat and his men killed many Makedones, the noose around his neck is finally tightened when his men begin to panic and try to flee. With nowhere to flee to, the surrounded cataphracts are slaughtered and Bagrat Yervanduni, King of Hayasdan falls dead in the streets of Mtskheta.

With their king dead, the last of the Hai choose to stand to the last at the city center. Lysippos blocks all exits and has his archers, who are deployed all around the city, open fire on the city center:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6384/maa2016dv6.png

The last of the Hai eventually fall, dead or injured, and the city is taken, but with greater causualties than Lysippos had first assumed:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4946/maa2017sw7.jpg

With the fall of Iberia and the Lake Van region, only the capital city of Armavir remains loyal to the dying Kingdom of Hayasdan. With many groups of spies and sabateurs in the city, the infrastructure and gateways of the city are already destroyed. Unable to attack the city himself, Lysippos orders the Kappadokians and Pontics to besiege the city:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5558/maa2019fb4.png

The first to march forward are the Peltastai, who slowly move forward then charge as soon as the towers and wall defenders open fire on them. With most or the Haikakan soldiers on the walls, only a small unit of cavalry defend the gateway. After a short fight, the cavalry break and the the Peltastai take the gateway:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6790/maa2020cn5.png

Haikakan reinforcements soon arrive from the walls and elsewhere in the city. As the Peltastai hold down the enemy, the phalangitai rush through the gateway and make their way into the city, past all the defenders.

To the north, the Kappadokian army charges another gateway:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3909/maa2021lb5.png

This gateway, however is well defended and the Kappadokians are halted at the gate:
https://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7821/maa2022sg0.png

Eventually the Peltastai panic and flee from the city. By this time, however, the phalangitai have made their way deep into the city and have taken up a defensive possition. The wall defenders rush in to defend the city center, but are meet by a wall of spears:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6667/maa2023vp6.png

As one flank holds down the infantry from the walls, the left flank turns to meet cavalry from the city center:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2678/maa2024wz9.png

To the north, however, the Kappadocians continue to take losses and fail to take the gateway. They do, however, manage to tie down half the the defending force and prevent them from assisting their comrades with the phalangitai.

With the western gate undefended, the Pontic slingers take the oppertunity to take control of the walls. From their high possition, they open fire on any Haikakan soldiers that are stupid enough to get near them:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4864/maa2026ye2.png

With the bulk of the phalangitai holding down the Haikakan infantry still, the left flank moves toward the city center to get into a better possition. Eventually, the Haikakan cavalry archers run out of arrows and charge their possition, but the phalangitai hold their ground:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6103/maa2027wx3.png

Eventually, the Kappadokian army breaks and flees. Without support, the phalangitai and slingers withdraw as well and leave the Hai in control of the city. Though an official failure, the remaining Hai forces are reduced to a quarter of their strength:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7306/maa2028mr9.jpg

A month later, the old veteran, Captain Aristokles, who had retaking the Van Lake region the previous autumn, marches his Thrakian army against the city of Armavir:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1046/maa2029fu1.png

Once again, the gateway is easily taken, as the Thrakians cut the horses out from under the Hai:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8571/maa2030pe1.png

The Thrakians then take the walls and kill the few men left defending them:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9429/maa2031ra7.png

To the south, the steppe cavalry manages to take up possition on a hill that gives them the range to attack the wall defenders, on the far side of the city:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6682/maa2032sm4.png

With the walls taken, Captain Aristokles marches his men to the city center, where the Getic spearmen pin down the Haikakan infantry:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6409/maa2033mo3.png

The Haikakan cavalry attempt to attack the flank of the spearmen, but are quickly outmanuevered by the Thrakians:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3506/maa2034hg0.png

With the Thrakians in possition, most of the Getic soldiers break formation and surround the enemy cavalry:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/350/maa2035po1.png

The Thrakians cut through the enemy as if it were nothing, and soon only a few elites remain fighting:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4792/maa2036uf4.png

Finally, the last enemy falls and Captain Aristokles and the Thrakians take the city:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7955/maa2037on0.png
[Captain Aristokles, himself, on the right.]

Captain Aristokles takes many losses amoungst the Thrakians, but the Getic spearmen, and various cavalry get through the battle with very few losses:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3159/maa2038wn5.jpg

As the battle comes to a close, the people of the city, themselves, begin to take up arms against the Thrakians. Before anything can be done, another battle begins. In the end many Hai civilians die and Captain Aristokles orders many more gathered to be sold as slaves elsewhere in Arche Makedonia:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/794/maa2039sb7.jpg

With the fall of Iberia and Armavir, the last of those loyal to the Kingdom of Hayasdan are brought into Arche Makedonia. Aristotelis is happy to hear that the kingdom that had caused so much trouble has finally passed from this world and joined those like the Ptolemaioi and the Kingdom of Pontos:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9435/maa2044mi7.png

As for Captain Aristokles and his men, Aristotelis grants them land near Lake Van, where they had spent most of their military career. This region, to the south, is on much friendlier terms with Arche Makedonia due to the prior occupation and due to their relationship with the King of Sophene. Taking a wife from the city of Tushpa, the Thrakian commander, Aristokles ends his career with Arche Makedonia and settles down for his old age:
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8841/maa2040ot2.jpg

Far south of their, Makedonike intel finds that the Sab'yn Kingdom has mobilized their entire military in an attempt to invade Seleukid Babylonia:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3839/maa2041rj6.png

With a core of elite Arabs, Aristotelis estimates they have more than enough to defeat the weakened Seleukids. For now, Aristotelis continues the peace with the Seleukids and waits to see how this war will develop:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6415/maa2042jj4.jpg

Other ominous news reaches Aristotelis this year, as spies report that a Hellenic man in Nubia claims to be descendant from the Ptolemaic line and claims rights to all the lands once in his ancestor's hands. For now, Arche Makedonia simply calls the man a fake and ignores the problem:
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3738/maa2043li4.jpg

The known world in 197BC:
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2482/hxmak197qo2.png

Next: Chapter 35 : The Fall of Roma

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-12-2008, 03:54

I thought all the Ptolemies were extincted, only in-laws left? A bit much battle this time, but still great. I love it how you give "leftovers" a new colour and declare them a different faction. But how did you manage to get the "Hay destroyed" pop-up when they are still alive in Iran?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-12-2008, 08:33

Yeah, there were only distant in-laws left. But there was bound to be a Ptolemaios child that would come of age and spawn in their new capital. To cover this eventuallity, I did some foreshadowing in a previous chapter about a Ptolemaios child who was taken into hiding in Nubia.

I actually saved, cheated in various ways to quickly kill Hayasdan, took the picture, reloaded before they died, and continued from there.

Frodge

01-12-2008, 13:39

Lovely :yes:

Moosemanmoo

01-12-2008, 15:47

Nice one with the family line and yet another great chapter + nice little spin with the ptolemoi guy

I'm wondering if a superpower is going to emerge from the east or the steppes?

Chaotix

01-12-2008, 16:28

Great AAR, MAA, keep it up! So what's the name of our new purple faction, then?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-12-2008, 20:56

Thanks.

I'm not exactly sure what is going to happen in the east. Saka is a protectorate under Baktria. Since AI-AI protectorates are one of the few things the diplomacy engine seems to keep, it looks like Baktria won't be heading north like they stupidly will some times. I've been trying to get AS and Baktria to fight for a long time, but they just don't want to. If I don't get there first, it looks like the Baktrians are either going to become an Indo-Greek superpower or Gandhara(Pahlav) is going to become an Indo-Iranian superpower.

What the new faction is, I'll answer with a preview from my next chapter:
https://img161.imageshack.us/img161/2571/maa2045na4.jpg

Chaotix

01-12-2008, 23:13

You changed their in-game name, too, huh? Did you do the same for Gandhara and Meroe?

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-12-2008, 23:54

You can change the in-game name in-game? I never get an alliance with somebody I have been at war with, not even a ceasefire.:no:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-13-2008, 00:50

I had to change a text file to change the names, "expanded_bi.txt" IIRC.

I used forced diplomacy to get that alliance, :shame: but we don't share a border anymore so they might have given it to me anyways, eventually. :sweatdrop:

Hooahguy

01-13-2008, 20:55

Wolfman

01-14-2008, 02:29

Were are you planning on going after the fall of rome?

Mouzafphaerre

01-14-2008, 14:34

.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2482/hxmak197qo2.png

I'm more impressed than anything with how logical the world looks, as far as a Total War game is concerned. :stunned: (Ignore the Swêbôz in Novgorod and assume Pahlava are really Gandhara.)
.

Kuningaz

01-14-2008, 15:30

Great as always, looking forward to the next chapter

Tellos Athenaios

01-14-2008, 17:12

.

I'm more impressed than anything with how logical the world looks, as far as a Total War game is concerned. :stunned: (Ignore the Swêbôz in Novgorod and assume Pahlava are really Gandhara.)
.

That's probably because MAA wiped the Romans out... (The SPQR always spoils the reason and sense to expansion.)

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-14-2008, 22:48

nice update! cant wait for the fall of Roma!
what are you going to do about the getai in the north? they look big.....
also, is the model for the romani generals in the campaign the old ones from RTW?
The Getai have been my friends since the very beginning. Currently they show no signs of betrayal (they'll heavily garrison the towns they share with you just before betraying you), so I'll leave them for now. The spawned armies of Lugia have wandered to all of those rebel territories in the Poland/Belarus area, so I don't think they'll be expanding northward, either.

The strat models are whatever was in the game in v0.8x.

Were are you planning on going after the fall of rome?
With Getai friendly and between the fact that I don't want Gaul and that the 'civil war' has heated up again, I don't think I'll be heading north. Which leaves Carthage and the Seleukids as candidates for expansion. I was planning on taking Babylonia, but I'm going to wait a while to see if the Ache Seleukiea - Sab'yn War will weaken both of them. I also plan on kicking Carthage out of Iberia, but the Luso's are finally starting to win that war too.

.I'm more impressed than anything with how logical the world looks, as far as a Total War game is concerned. :stunned: (Ignore the Swêbôz in Novgorod and assume Pahlava are really Gandhara.)
.
There's three main reasons that my AI expansion isn't crazy. 1- I kept Hai out of the steppes. 2- I took towns in Germania from Aedui and gave them to Sweboz through forced diplomacy. And 3- Baktria got Saka to be their protectorate, stopping Baktria from striking northward. (And of course, stopped the Romans and their awkward expansion.)

White_eyes:D

01-16-2008, 06:00

Hey Marcus your Empire is starting to look like a Greceo-Roman Empire kinda like
Alexandros and the East and West put together in a nice lovely Black ball of death :skull: . BTW it's been awhile since I've been on and now I see ALOT more Macedonian AARs, Nice one Marcus:applause:

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-17-2008, 01:12

I never even planned to head westward, but the Romans and Carthaginians just wouldn't leave me alone. (Plus, I had to stop the crazy Romani expansion problems.)

It's good to see more Makedonian fans out there. Unfortunately, for me, most of the new AAR are better written than mine.

I've finally gotten around to working the next chapter and will have it up today.

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-17-2008, 01:58

Chapter 35 : The Fall of Roma

Spring 197BC, Pyrrhos of Makedonia is attacked by a small Romani legion under the command of Tiberius Aurelius Cotta. As the battle begins, Consul Manius Cornelius Blasio marches the only remaining full legion of Roma from the city to join in the fight. Having learned their lesson about their lack of cavalry, the Romani field huge amounts of horsemen to counter Pyrrhos' veteran Illyrian cavalry:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/5821/maa2047kc6.png

On the fields of Latium, just south of the city of Roma, the two armies march toward eachother. If the Romani loose this battle, everything they have every had is lost. If Pyrrhos looses this battle, he will call upon his brother's army in Arretium, the Illyrian army in Ariminum, or the Sikilian army in Capua. Win or loose, Pyrrhos is dedicated to taking the city sooner or later:
https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/2672/maa2048do4.png

The Romani make the first move, as they charge their cavalry into the Makedonike left flank. To counter, Pyrrhos moves both his cavalry and his reserve Samnites to that flank:
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5860/maa2049ok1.png

Arriving on that flank, the Illyrian cavalry charges a unit of Romani horsemen who are attempting to move around to the Makedonike rear:
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9485/maa2050dt7.png

Soon, the entire Romani legion charges at the Pezhetairoi line and attempts to break through it:
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9122/maa2051nm0.png

The line holds, but the trouble on the left flank continues:
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5030/maa2052ek3.png

On the right flank, the second devision of Illyrians charges the Romani general:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3871/maa2053xx6.png

General Tiberius Aurelius Cotta escapes, but on the second charge, Servius Cornelius Scipio is cornered:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6141/maa2054yu5.png

With nowhere to go, Scipio dies on a Makedonike pike.

With their generals dead, the forces from the city begin to faulter and some begin to flee. Seeing the fleeing enemy, the Illyrian right flank takes the oppertunity to wipe out the Romani before they can regroup:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6822/maa2058jg2.png

Pyrrhos finally moves to the left flank, himself, and personally takes command of the cavalry there. Charging in on the Romani Consul, Pyrrhos and his men surround him and fight with their swords:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7958/maa2057sg0.png

The left flank continues to suffer, as Pyrrhos fights the Romani Consul. With the right flank secured, the Samnites charged with guarding the right flank charge across the battle line and rush to assist their fellow Samnites, fighting on the left flank:
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9400/maa2059jw9.png

Soon, the Romani Consul is alone, as the last of his men die. Breaking from the fight, he attempts to flee, but runs right into Balearic swords:
https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/4787/maa2061wu0.png

When Pyrrhos and his cavalry charge after the Consul from behind, Consul Blasio is cornered by the Balearic Slingers and is slain:
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7134/maa2062mi8.jpg

With their Consul dead, many of the Romani think of their families back in Roma and turn to run back to the city. Only a few Romani soldiers remain behind to fight. Namely, the Romani elite spearmen and their elite allied swordsmen. One unit of Romani allies attempts to circle around the rear of the right flank (undefended because the Samnites who were guarding it had moved to the left flank), but the Pezhetairoi break formation and charge them:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/713/maa2063ym6.png

On the left flank, the elite Romani spearmen charge the exhausted Samnites, who hold them down while Pyrrhos rests his horses:
https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6379/maa2064zc4.png

Seeing their betters still fighting, several units of Romani return to the battle and the Pezhetairoi attempt to reform and meet them, though they are quite exhausted:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9254/maa2065us6.png

Finally, with a little rest, Pyrrhos charges his cavalry into the rear of the elite enemy:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/50/maa2066cd5.png

With that, the Romani once again break and flee back to Roma. As Pyrrhos and the entire cavalry force gives chase, the Pezhetairoi form a defensive possition and rest for a short while:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7529/maa2068px1.png

The resting comes to an end when the old elite men of Roma arrive and attack from several sides. Unable to hold them off in formation, the Pezhetairoi drop their sarrisas and charge the enemy with their swords:
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8916/maa2070kj4.png

The Pezhetairoi surround the old men, but these elite men hold their formation and continue to fight:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6861/maa2071tk3.png

Only when charged by Pyrrhos and the cavalry are these elite old men defeated. Pyrrhos gives chase to the city, but the remaining Romani barricade themselves in the city:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2673/maa2072ha5.png

Pyrrhos wins a great victory against a numerically superior army of elites, but the day is not entirely his:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/438/maa2073df1.jpg

The city is too large and well fortified to take by force, and they have enough supplies to wait Pyrrhos out. Seeking an alternative, Pyrrhos attempts to negotiate. The diplomats make good ground, but in the end the Romani refuse to surrender and Pyrrhos is forced to besiege the city and wait out the Romani.

Over the next two years, Pyrrhos defeats all of Roma's allies in Latium and raids those who refuse to surrender. By the time Roma's supplies are running low, they have no more allies to turn to outside their walls:
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4823/maa2074lw9.jpg

Finally, the Romani send out a envoy to discuss the terms of their surrender. Even after seventeen year of war, Pyrrhos does not take advantage of the situation. Promising that he will not loot the town, kill the people, or destroy their holy places, Pyrrhos arranges a surrender. Pyrrhos marches his army through the gates of Roma and takes control of the city:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5341/maa2099ti8.jpg

With that, the Romani and their Italian alliance comes to an end:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7459/maa2100wg0.png

As Pyrrhos secures the city, he is amazed at what he sees. The only city in the world that can even compete with the size and amount of people in Roma is Selekeia, but Romani technology for a town of such size surpasses what Hellenes and Makedones had ever done before.

To provide water to so many people (34,000+ in game), the Romani devise an advanced water delivery systems to bring water from the hills down to every part of the city. The parts of the system outside of the city had been damaged, but Pyrrhos, the very man who damaged them, funds their rebuilding:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7674/maa2102uo2.jpg

The Romani are quite religious people and have great temple complexes in their city. Pyrrhos and his men are impressed, though it is nothing as grand as the Parthenon in Athenai:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8603/maa2105ig6.jpg

The Romani are so superstitious in fact, that they even have state sponsered divination rituals to predict the future:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4176/maa2103fc4.jpg

The very center of Roma is based upon their great forum at the very center, where their religion, their government, and their trading is all preformed:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/311/maa2104sk9.jpg

One of the most unique things about Romani life, is their entertainment. Huge, government funded arenas are built where they have men fight to the death for the entertainment of the lower classes. Armed combat for sport is not alien to Pyrrhos, but the scale on which the Romani perform it is quite unique:
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1329/maa2106jc2.jpg

More to Pyrrhos' liking are the government sponsered chariot races:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4704/maa2107om6.jpg

As Pyrrhos takes control of the city, he makes sure that very few Romani are actually killed. Keeping his promise, the population is neither slaughtered nor sold into slavery. Only a few disagreable Senators are killed, though not all. One Senator, a man who fought against Pyrrhos two years earlier, even joins Arche Makedonia and is given command of the regional military, which is basically nonexsistant:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/131/maa2108jj0.jpg

After receiving gifts from many rich families in Roma, Pyrrhos reestablishes the Romani Senate with Makedonia-friendly men and begins to return the town to their control. [I set up a Type4 and am going to role-play that the client ruler is actually the Senate.] Pyrrhos, not a man of peace and administration, plans to move his army from the city in a few years and return the whole of central Italia to the new Senate, as soon as he believes they can be trusted...

Next: Chapter 36 : As Roma Fell (aka What else was going on at this time)

Hooahguy

01-17-2008, 13:19

YAHOOO!!!!!! very nice update!

Respenus

01-17-2008, 14:27

Very, very nice MAA. Other may write better, yet the way you describe your battles and the way you role-play more that make up for what you say you lack at writing skills. I have just looked back. The Romani war has been going on for quite some time (from page 8/9 up too now).

What do you intend to do now? Make a new faction and force it to become protectorate like all the other "fake" faction you have created or what? And how long did it take to take Rome? Crazy! I know you role-play but you could have attacked Rome any time any day. One final question. You did battle for the city, right? In order to get the message. Did you reload after that and force-diplomacy or did you really attack them? If so, what were the losses?

Once again, great AAR MAA!

Wolfman

01-17-2008, 23:11

another epic update MAA!

@ Respenus
If you are beseiging a settlement and you command a force that is numerically superior to the enemy's sometimes the settlement will surrender to your forces without a fight.

Chirurgeon

01-17-2008, 23:29

MAA your contribution to the world of AARs is truly epic. You don't give yourself enough credit. The descriptions of your battles and your roleplaying are awesome. What I like is the fact that you are continuously offering us surprises and you play as if this is the real world. You have seamlessly blended many aspects of gameplay that makes for a thoughly enjoyable read
:book: Keep up the good work. You are dedicated to your task at hand and I commend you.
However your empire has grown so large you are the new Rome. You will have to deal with the many challenges of a huge expansive empire. Would you mind showing a screenshot of how much corruption you have from your end of turn report? Thanks,

Chirurgeon :egypt:

Centurio Nixalsverdrus

01-17-2008, 23:43

As much as I appreciate your AAR, I have to say that this was quite not what I had expected.~;) As Carthage I conquered Roma a few days ago and I got some 80.000 mnai out of it. They had 35,000 inhabitants, now they have 9,000. I made them a provincial backwater. I accidentaly made them a client kingdom afterwards though. I had planned a New Colony to destroy them completely...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-18-2008, 02:24

Thank you for the kind words, everyone.

After the first battle, the Romani had almost no money and 200 men left. After 9 turns of siege they just died without a fight. But they are dead. I was considering making a protectorate out of them, but the protectorate system is bugged and ends up destroying your economy. If they were simply forced into an alliance, they would betray it sooner or later. In the end, I destroyed the faction (completely).

Even after Roma surrendered, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I looked at the occupy/enslave/exterminate screen for a while and ended up pushing occupy. If I exterminated I probably would have ended up killing more people than the entire war with Egypt cost. I didn't want my empire to be that evil, so that and my love of the Romans kept me from killing them off.

CaesarAugustus

01-18-2008, 02:26

A truly epic update, MAA!! I like the civility that you showed towards the Romani, totally befitting a cultured Hellenic civilization overawed by the glorious achievement of their Roman superiors. :clown: It was kind of annoying to see a mix of Camillan and Polybian units though, but thats the AI for you...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-18-2008, 09:42

They may have better urban planning, but Pyrrhos showed who had the superior military. :clown:

Those two units of Triarii had been garrisoning Roma for decades. Though, I just role-played for the AAR that they were the very old veterans who didn't adopt new equiptment and fighting style. The Polybian Reforms only hit the Romani about a decade prior, anyways.

O'ETAIPOS

01-18-2008, 09:57

Very nice update! Congratulations on taking Rome!

What is the problem with Protectorates? Do they give too much money or take money from you?

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-18-2008, 10:03

The protectorate system in RTW is designed to give all money in the protectorate's treasure, at the end of the turn, to the protector. If the protectorate is in debt, it seems to take away from the protector. So, in EB, when you have a protectorate, your yearly income will jump in huge amounts. For the short time I had Ptolemaioi as a protectorate, I was getting anywhere from 5,000 to 80,000 mnai a turn. Before and after the protectorate I was getting about 25,000 mnai every turn.

Mouzafphaerre

01-18-2008, 11:43

.
:wall: That's -partly- why I gave up on my Lusotannan campaign before raiding the Carthaginian targets. :gah2:

*plans to take up Lusotana again*
.

Basileus Seleukeia

01-18-2008, 21:46

Wow, that one was epic, in the homeric kind of way! I must admit to my shame that I would have put the romans to the sword, but you have shown that you are capable of more civilized options, befitting a hellenistic ruler! But be aware of the Romans, as their treachery and national pride is bigger than any mercy you could give to them(damn, this forum needs a "maniac laughter" smilie:laugh4:)

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

01-18-2008, 22:30

Chapter 36 : As Roma Fell

In Italia, Pyrrhos besieges the city of Roma. In Armenia, the Kingdom of Hayasdan falls to Lysippos, son-in-law of Euboulides. With the north completely securred, Aristotelis turns his eyes eastwards. Though the Arche Makedonia destroyed their Haikakan allies, Aristotelis arranges an alliance with the Median rebels to the east, who are causing such troubles for the Seleukid dynasty:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2576/maa2045of0.jpg

Included in the treaty, Aristotelis requires the Medians to cut any and all ties they had with the city of Kart-Hadast, as part of a campaign to completely isolate the Afrikan city:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7974/maa2046wc0.jpg

In Assyria, Bykoli, son of Aristotelis, marries his daughter to his good friend Pefkolaos Idomeneus. This Thrakian man is the same age as Bykoli and marries a thirteen year old, but the marriage is mostly an arrangement to get Pefkolaos recognition as a general. A year after the marriage, Pefkolaos joins Bykoli and his Syrian army in the forts along the Babylonian border:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6124/maa2085dv5.jpg

To the north, Lysippos decides to extend Makedonike control all the way to the Hyrkanian Sea. In the areas to the east is a mix of Armenian and steppe peoples, though the population, like much of Armenia, has been depleted for over two generation by the constant wars in the region. Now, only one small tribe in the region needs to be crushed to take the whole area. Deploying the steppe horsemen, who were once attached to the now disolved Dacio-Thrakian army, Lysippos orders the tribe defeated:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1315/maa2077oo2.png

The horsemen slowly approach the undefended village, just north of the mountainous divide:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2079/maa2078dn7.png

Those who dare come out to meet the cavalry quickly fall dead at the edge of the town:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/223/maa2079ak0.png

The remaining enemies take shelter in the village center and the steppe cavalry slowly take their time to completely surround the city. As the steppe cavalry move in to tighten their grip around the village, the enemy charges out to meet them:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6449/maa2080mo1.png

Before they can even get near the cavalry, the enemy spearmen are completely devastated by arrow fire and the few survivors retreat back into the village:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5712/maa2081jk0.png

Without even breaking a sweat, the village is taken and all the remaining local peoples surrender to the Arche Makedonia:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5074/maa2082fb2.jpg

Though the northern borders are securred, a new flank opens up to the south. Perhaps encouraged by the young Ptolemai, the Nubian Kingdom of Meroe sails down the Neilos and betrays the long standing alliance. All across the Arche Makedonia, people are outraged, for the Arche Makedonia saved Meroe from falling to the Ptolemaioi, and now, this is how they repay that debt:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6223/maa2075jb9.jpg

In northeast Armenia, there is rioting in the newly conquered regions:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7154/maa2083qr6.jpg

The fertile lands of Armenia can support many people, but the wars have depleted much of the population base. Seeing an oppertunity, and fearing the local uprisings, Aristotelis orders Lysippos to begin setting up colonies all across the region and soon Makedones and Hellenes are flocking to the region.

With Armenia conquered, the Nubians repelled [I didn't take any pictures of that short battle], and Aristotelis awaiting to see the results of the Media-Arche Seleukeia and Sab'yn-Arche Seleukeia wars, the eastern front of the Arche Makedonia quiets down a bit. To the southwest, however, Kart-Hadast is on the move again. With defeats of Kart-Hadast at Seguntum, the Iberian Confederation begins to get the upper hand against the foreign invaders and finally starts to push them back to the sea. The war wages all across the subcontinent, and battles between the two powers are even fought near Seguntum itself:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/484/maa2084ln2.png

In Libye, the forces of Kart-Hadast once again march against Kyrene:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2599/maa2087fv2.png

The invasion is soon followed by a similar one in Iberia:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5259/maa2088gm9.png

To counter Kart-Hadast agression, Neokles, heir to the throne, joins the Emporion army at the last minute, bringing with him Celtic mercenaries. The army sets sail for the Balearic Islands to finally take the last island holdings of Kart-Hadast:
https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3997/maa2086ly8.png

After a very short siege, the Qarthadastism army attacks the garrison in the city of Kyrene, under command of Antisthenes Gortynios. Although, Antisthenes has made many adjustments to his garrison in recent years to ensure the city stands firm:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3087/maa2109ui3.png

As the battle begins, the veteran archers quickly set the enemy ram on fire and the men on the walls prepare for the ladders:
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3623/maa2110kf2.png

To the north of the gateway, a tower and the second ram are burned to the ground, leaving only ladders for the African soldiers to climb the walls with:
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/262/maa2113yy6.png

To the south of the gateway, the Thrakian elites, who were especially sent to the city to defend the walls, cut through all who come over it:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6677/maa2111lc9.png

Nearby, the last tower manages to make it to the walls and the landed-soldiers are forced to repel an attack:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8287/maa2114uw6.png

As the battle draws to a close, the archers accidentally open the main gateway, but those enemies that do manage to charge through only find death at the end of a pike:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1999/maa2115ea1.png

As the sun sets, Antisthenes chases the last enemies away from the city:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6910/maa2116iz4.png

In one of his most successful defenses of the city yet, Antisthenes once again wins a victory. Though his greatest victory yet, very few make note of it, as Roma fall the very same season as this battle was fought:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6278/maa2117qv3.jpg

The known world in 195BC, the year Roma fell:
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4268/hxmak195fq2.png

Next: Chapter 37 : The Iberian War