Spear and Shield: A Saba AAR [Archive]

BerkeleyBoi

11-19-2007, 17:27

Chapter One: Lucky to be Alive

My name is Dawit, son of Desta born in the spring of the year 286. I tilled the land with my father and brothers in the lands of Diamat. My mother passed away when I was born, perhaps that is why my father has been cold to me since I can remember. The light-skinned men came to our village a year ago. They told the village leader that men were needed to fight, as the great king will reclaim the land that was once his ancestors. I was sent by my father, alongside my elder brother Dahnay, to serve this man. His name was Yazil Il Watar, the great king of Saba.

When we arrived in Maryab, my brother and I were separated. He was much stronger and larger than I was, perhaps they had better use for him. Training began soon afterwards. The light-skinned men yelled at us, all Ethiopians, in a language we could not understand. But it was simple enough. We ran through the sand under the desert sun until we collapsed. We thrust sticks at each other until we were covered in bruises. After a few months, they gave us a helmet, a shield, and a spear.

In the spring of 272, the great king arrived and led us out of the shelter of the city and into the sand. I could understand some of their language now. For example: march, stop, turn, kill, eat, and sleep. That was pretty much all that was required. We marched through the sand day after day until a small city appeared out of nowhere. I heard the name Tamane and assumed it was its name. After a season, we attacked.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/enemyfirstbattle.jpg

We were outnumbered, but the great king told us that the gods were smiling on us that day. The unit I was assigned to followed closely behind some skirmishers manning the ram. As we marched forward, some arrows flew in. The man to my left, I did not know his name, fell to the ground with an arrow through his neck. I panicked, but I was stuck in the middle and had nowhere to run. More arrows, a couple more fell, but I did not see them.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/standingbyramsfirstbattle.jpg

The rams hammered against the wall in front of us and soon, it fell. Our commander shouted something and charged forward, so we followed.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/fighting.jpg

We entered the city and killed four Ethiopians who survived the stones from our slings and hurriedly gathered into our lines. I was in the second row and I saw a large number of the enemy march towards us. None of the skirmishes moved to help. The king and his son’s bodyguards stood apathetically in the distance. The enemy charged into us and four men in front of me died instantly so suddenly I was facing the enemy. It was like looking into the mirror, his eyes showing just as much fear as I’m sure my own did. I wanted to run, but instead I stabbed. I stabbed at anything that moved. We were inexperienced, we didn’t know how to fight, but we stabbed and stabbed and stabbed. Finally, the skirmishers leveled their spears and charged into the flank and rear of the enemy, relieving some attention from us.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/skirmishersjoinedin.jpg

We were bloodied and exhausted, but at last the enemy, surrounded on all sides, broke and tried to run. We followed them and killed them to the last man.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/rout.jpg

The king called it a heroic victory. We killed three for every one of us lost. He called us valiant heroes fit for legends. I call myself lucky to be alive.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/victory.jpg

Poulp'

11-19-2007, 17:34

"they gave me a helmet, a spear and a shield and told me I was a soldier now..."
I like it

The war from a footman's point of view, an old trick in the book but it is still effective

keep it up

Teleklos Archelaou

11-19-2007, 17:54

schlappi

11-19-2007, 17:57

Thanks for sharing. I'll keep checking this story.

Xehh II

11-20-2007, 02:07

Great AAR BerkeleyBoi, very good, keep it up.

BerkeleyBoi

11-20-2007, 14:33

I like it! I once tried a single unit AAR, but it didn't last long. The catch was that it was played (on the battlemap) by giving the other units AI control, and just controlling my one unit - following them, trying to keep up with the AI's plans. Sometimes it was awesome, sometimes the AI did things my unit (i.e., me) didn't understand. Still it's a great way to play a campaign and focusing like you do on this one guy is really cool - some good screenshots (edited with PS or something?) could make this a really awesome one. I look forward to seeing what else happens and I like the writing style already!

Thanks for the comments, I actually got the inspiration from your AAR with the mercenary greek hoplites, though I thought the AI control would be too difficult for me. And the screenshots are actually unedited, that's just how good EB looks naturally!

And thanks everyone else for the comments!

BerkeleyBoi

11-20-2007, 15:58

Chapter Two: A Reason to Live

The king wasted no time and led us to straight to Sabata. He did not try diplomacy and immediately laid siege to the city. I began to believe that this man was completely insane.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/11.jpg

He led us into battle against a foe twice our numbers with experience, better arms, and dare I say, better general.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/12.jpg

The enemy sallied forth and our great king ordered us to run, not for our lives, but for a hill. We barely made it to the top, our lines in complete chaos, but the enemy even more so. Our archers have killed their general and the enemy, completely confused, attacked us one by one only to be surrounded and slaughtered in droves. I was not scared this time and I stood my ground with my brothers.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/13.jpg

We chased the enemy into the town square where they put up a last stand. None of them survived. The king once again called us heroes and how we were invincible, but I have my doubts. If that arrow did not slay their general… well, perhaps the gods really were on our side.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/15.jpg

The king gave us a great feast the following night. It was the first time I had eaten meat since my eldest brother was married four years before and it was just as delicious as I had remembered. The light-skinned noblemen laughed at us as we licked every morsel off our fingers, but we didn’t care. Chances were good that this would be the last meat we would ever taste. The king entered the hall and we all cheered. The noblemen in the front raised their goblets of wine for him while we in the back just shouted and hooted. He began to talk, but I don’t remember about what. My attention was captured by a girl standing behind the great king.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/17.jpg

She was completely covered in the finest fabrics with bracelets, anklets, and all manners of golden finery hanging from her head to toe. Her eyes were dark green. I have never seen such eyes before. I stared at her as long as I could, tattooing her beauty into my memory so that when the time comes that I am dying, I can conjure up her image and die in peace.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/18.jpg

We were soon on the move again to capture a city named Ubar, a long march through the desert to the east. We arrived at the town exhausted and short on supplies, but this time the advantage in numbers was ours as two units of Guisum Aravim ‘im Garzenim boosted our numbers. They carried axes instead of spears. Maybe that’s why they looked down on us. The boasted about how many men they will slay, how many trophies they will take, and how they can cleave an elephant in half with a single swing. I remained silent, for they have not seen battle as I have. They will soon learn the horrors.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/19.jpg

The king assigned us with two bands of light-skinned archers with a detachment of cavalry to make sure we don’t run. The king and his son, as well as two full units of slingers and axe men, stood ready at the western entrance to the city. The archers immediately began to fire into the enemy and tricked the enemy into charging straight into our spears while the archers swung around behind and shot them in the back.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/20.jpg

They broke instantly and we left a trail of bodies into the city.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/21.jpg

The axe men who boasted of their courage were apparently not lying, as when we entered the city square, we saw them locked in pitch battle with a seemingly endless number of spearmen while stones and arrows rained upon them. Almost half of them lay dead by the time we engaged the enemy slingers, but they still fought on. The general and his bodyguards were nowhere in sight.

With the axe men breaking through the blockade to the east, the enemy’s noblemen tried to plug the gap but instead ran right into our spears while arrows pierced through their armor from behind.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/24.jpg

With the battle already won, the king and his son finally committed to the battle, slaughtering the exhausted and weakened foe with their swords while we moved out of their way and watched.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/26.jpg

Once again, we were victorious. I was still alive, perhaps by the will of the gods or perhaps, it was because I now have the will to live. I have something to fight for, if only for just another chance to see those eyes.

Treverer

11-20-2007, 16:20

A great AAR. Both because of your choice of picking Sa'aba and your writing style. Keep it on, dear sir.

Yours,
Treverer

P.S. English/American is not my first language too.

Hax

11-21-2007, 00:09

I completely second Treverer.

This is incredible. You make it sound really awesome. Short lines of text, followed by awesome screenshots. You make it sound personal, great stuff!

Really keep going! ^^

Justiciar

11-21-2007, 04:27

This is by far the best AAR I've encountered in a long time. Keep it up, sah!

Xehh II

11-21-2007, 07:49

Great AAR.

schlappi

11-21-2007, 08:25

I really hope it doesnt end when your unit is worn out! :skull:

BerkeleyBoi

11-21-2007, 09:24

I really hope it doesnt end when your unit is worn out! :skull:

Hehe, well I guess I'll have to retrain my unit some time soon. As of right now, there are only 6 of them left with two gold chevrons...

And thanks to everyone for the kind comments! I will definitely try my best to meet your expectations!

BerkeleyBoi

11-21-2007, 12:09

Chapter Three: A New Leader

We spent several seasons within the city of Ubar while nearly five hundred men were conscripted and trained. Once deemed fit to fight, the king and his son gathered nearly 1500 strong and marched out into the desert heat for a town far north named Homna.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/27.jpg

We suffered greatly during that two year march with sandstorms blasting us, scorpions crawling over our bodies as we slept, bandits raiding our supplies, starvation, and desertion. We were losing confidence in our king as while we had nothing to eat and only our sweat to drink, he and his son dined lavishly in his camp, fanned by slave women and entertained by dancers he hired by selling his own men as slaves.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/28.jpg

Finally, we arrived. The town had no walls and we charged right in, not for the king or his son who urged us forward, but for the hope of food and water that we can wrest from the hands of these residents. My unit was greatly depleted with no reinforcements from my homeland, but we were ordered to stand guard while the light-skinned archers showered the enemy with arrows.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/32.jpg

The cavalry took the bait and charged at us, impaling themselves on our spears.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/34.jpg

We chased them as they fled into the city and with the freshly recruited spearmen charging in from the eastern entrance, we quickly surrounded and dispatched of the remainders.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/37.jpg

The prince showed up in the end to throw a few javelins, most of which ended up hitting our own men.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/39.jpg

I was not alone in my lack of confidence in the king and his son. While they have brought us many victories, it was our blood that was constantly being shed while the noblemen held back until their safety could be assured. With the northern province in the king’s control, we were sent with the prince back home. However, upon arrival in Ubar, the prince retired into the governors mansion and refused to come out, citing exhaustion as his reason. Instead, a young man by the name of Ab Karab Il Zarih led us the rest of the way.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/41.jpg

He marched alongside his soldiers and talked to us as if we were his equals. He asked me my profession. I said I was a soldier. He laughed and asked me what I did before I became a killer of men. I told him I was a farmer. He showed me his hands with dirt deep in his fingernails. He said he was a farmer too. I liked him instantly.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/43.jpg

I expected to return to Maryab and resume my duties there, but the farmer-general ordered us south and our army boarded a fleet of ships. He told us we were going to Axum for the glory of the gods and our king. I was returning home to conquer it.

Poulp'

11-21-2007, 13:38

She was completely covered in the finest fabrics with bracelets, anklets, and all manners of golden finery hanging from her head to toe. Her eyes were dark green. I have never seen such eyes before. I stared at her as long as I could, tattooing her beauty into my memory so that when the time comes that I am dying, I can conjure up her image and die in peace.

Once again, we were victorious. I was still alive, perhaps by the will of the gods or perhaps, it was because I now have the will to live. I have something to fight for, if only for just another chance to see those eyes.

Finally, we arrived. The town had no walls and we charged right in, not for the king or his son who urged us forward, but for the hope of food and water that we can wrest from the hands of these residents. My unit was greatly depleted with no reinforcements from my homeland, but we were ordered to stand guard while the light-skinned archers showered the enemy with arrows.

He marched alongside his soldiers and talked to us as if we were his equals. He asked me my profession. I said I was a soldier. He laughed and asked me what I did before I became a killer of men. I told him I was a farmer. He showed me his hands with dirt deep in his fingernails. He said he was a farmer too. I liked him instantly.

Just nice.
Just a few simple lines and it evokes a whole lots of images.

I've bookmarked this AAR

Jurdagat

11-22-2007, 00:34

Another lovely AAR.

I'll be lurking around on this thread! :)

BerkeleyBoi

11-22-2007, 06:29

Chapter Four: Promotion

In the past, I have been to this city only once, as my father usually brought my brother to the market while I stayed at home. That day my brother was ill. My father, with no choice, took me along to help pull the cart of wheat to sell. I was very young at the time and I remember very little except that the crowds of people were so large, it was almost suffocating.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/45.jpg

That day we laid siege to the city, all was quiet within except for the whistling of our stones, arrows, and javelins in the air.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/46.jpg

Screams followed. Our battering rams soon breached their thin gates and my unit was the first inside. No enemy met us.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/47.jpg

Huge elephants laid on the ground mortally wounded, blinking as we marched by.

When the projectiles finally stopped flying, the enemy slowly inched down the street to meet us in combat. They numbered at least two hundred while less than forty of us remained. We readied our spears and waited.

There were footsteps behind us, growing closer with each second. I thought the enemy had gotten around us and quickly turned to catch a glimpse of glittering bronze blow by.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/48.jpg

The farmer-general and his bodyguards flowed through us and slammed into the enemy, flattening two lines of the levies in a single charge. Emboldened by the bravery of our leader, we screamed our native warcries and joined in the battle.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/50.jpg

Peasant soldiers and noblemen fought side by side that day. United as one spirit, we slaughtered the enemy.

I returned to my village after the battle, a two day walk alone through the desert. I saw my father and greeted him. He acknowledged and welcomed me into his home. Over ten years have passed since I stepped foot in that room. Nothing had changed. The small mud hut had escaped the ravages of weather and war. The fields were starting to show sprouts of wheat. My father told me to sit and I did as I was told.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/52.jpg

I learned that the light-skinned men came again yesterday, demanding women instead of men. My brother-in-law’s sister was taken away.

I stayed in my village for a year and used the wealth I accumulated to raise my family’s standing. My father found a pretty girl to be my wife and she was with child before a messenger arrived to call me back to service. I threw a feast and invited all the villagers to join. I smiled when I saw the boys savor meat for the first time.

We marched west, deep into the heart of Ethiopia. We laid siege to a towering city surrounded by stone walls.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/54.jpg

I stared in awe at the towers and ramparts, but I have seen many battles now. I no longer feared death. The farmer-general was impatient and we assaulted the city with only ladders.

I stood far in the distance with my unit, now numbering only thirty, but we were hardened and experienced soldiers. One of us was equal to ten of the levies that reinforced us. The farmer-general manned the ladders himself, but my unit and the axe men were ordered to stand our ground until the gates were taken. We will be used to crush the defenders making their final stand.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/58.jpg

The fighting was ferocious as the noblemen climbed onto the wall and the light-skinned archers shot down an entire band of spearmen who tried to engage them.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/57.jpg

The gates were opened to us and we stormed the town center. The enemy soldiers were turned to dust.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/56.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/59.jpg

The farmer-general approached my unit as we rested in the shade under a banana tree. There were only six of us left. He asked which of us was the strongest. My brothers pointed at me. He asked which of us was the smartest. My brothers nodded at me. He asked which of us should lead an army to strike fear into the Ptolemaioi to the north. My eyes widened as my brothers bowed to me.

Ab Karab Il Zarih left the next day, traveling back to the coast to relieve a besieged city. I later learned that the great king had died and passed the crown to our general.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/63.jpg

Our general has become our king. I, a spearman and farmer, have become a general.

Below: Pictures of the Ab Karab Il Zarih relieving the city. (Since the spearmen unit was not involved, this battle would not have been posted, but some of the screenshots were just too nice to be wasted)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/65.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/66.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/67.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/68.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/69.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/71.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/73.jpg

Xehh II

11-22-2007, 09:28

Awesome, keep it up.

Meothar

11-23-2007, 00:49

Best AAR since the legendary Parthians (we all know what I'm talking about).

BerkeleyBoi

11-23-2007, 05:55

Chapter 5: Untested Leader

I recruited the strongest, most capable men to refill the ranks of my unit, training them day and night for a year until their skill matched my own. Four bands each of Nubian spearmen and Ethiopian archers joined me before we marched up north to capture the Ptolemaioi city of Pselkis.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/74.jpg

I knew nothing of leadership, but I have followed the great Ab Karab Il Zarih into battle. I would treat my men as equals. Their lives would be as valuable as my own. I marched alongside them and shared my water when no oasis could be found. I wore only the simplest of armors and my own elite spearmen were armed in the same fashion as I was as a levy. However, I could sense something displaced in the spirits of my men. They did not trust my abilities. I must prove them wrong. The great king had entrusted me on this mission. I must succeed.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/76.jpg

Our first challenge took place in the desert a short march from Pselkis. They were Galatians, large light-skinned men from far north of here, recruited by the Ptolemaioi as mercenaries. From our spy’s report, I learned they were heavily armored shock troops able to smash our small shields with a single swipe. If we were to be victorious, we needed to win quickly.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/77.jpg

I organized the Nubians in a long, jagged line as I had seen our great king do so in the past with bowmen at both ends. I gave the orders to each unit’s captain the night before. The Nubians will pin the Galatians while the archers will sweep around and fire into their backs. My elites will smash into the left flank of the Galatians and sweep the Galatians off the field.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/80.jpg

Once the battle began, I was no longer in control, but my orders were followed exactly and the result was just as I had planned.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/81.jpg

The Galatians, pinned, surrounded, and surprised by the effectiveness of my unit, panicked and ran. We gave chase but without a proper cavalry unit, many of them escaped. Still, it was a great victory.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/82.jpg

However, when I spoke to congratulate them, there was still something wrong. From their eyes, I could tell. They did not look at me as I looked upon Ab Karab Il Zarih, the great farmer-general turned king.

schlappi

11-23-2007, 09:48

How nice to wake up in the morning and read a chapter of my favourite AAR before leaving to work!

BerkeleyBoi

11-23-2007, 14:40

I will be gone this weekend since I am playing at a teacher's football tournament in Guangzhou city, so I will post two chapters tonight. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

BerkeleyBoi

11-23-2007, 14:57

Chapter 6: The Long-Spears

I wasted no time. After looting the corpses, we marched straight for the city, but was once again intercepted by a Ptolemaioi army.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/83.jpg

I gave the same orders to my captains and expected the same results. I thought there could be little they can throw at me more fearful than the Galatians, but I was wrong.

As the enemy marched towards us, I saw row upon row of long spears pointing straight up into the sky.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/84.jpg

I have never seen such an army before. Arrows began to rain on us and my archers, disregarding my orders, rushed forward to reply. The Nubians engaged the light-skinned men with long spears, but they were decimated almost immediately without even touching the enemy. I panicked. I charged into the flanks of the enemy, but skirmishers protected the ranks of their long-spear men.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/85.jpg

The archers were caught by Galatians. The Nubians were down to single digits. My brothers failed to penetrate the long-spears. They all ran. I chased after them. I tried to rally them, invoking the will of the gods as the old king once did. They did not hear me. Or they did not care.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/88.jpg

The Ptolemaioi allowed me to escape. I vowed to make them regret that decision.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/89.jpg

The march back to Meroe was a long one. We limped back, our army shattered. The wounded were left to feed the vultures. By the time we returned to the city, less than ten percent of my army remained.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/90.jpg

In the barracks, news soon reached me that my wife gave birth to twins. A son and a daughter. The news also came that she, the one with the green eyes, had finally wed at the age of 39.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/91.jpg

I had not seen her for twenty five years. I have not forgotten.

The great king did not speak to me. He regarded me with coldness that reminded me of my father. My unit was reinforced and we soon set sail back across the Red Sea. I was no longer a general, nor was I a captain. Once again, I was simply a man with a helmet, a spear, and a shield.

BerkeleyBoi

11-23-2007, 15:13

Chapter 7: Redemption

The city of Carna remained semi-independent for many years as they paid tribute to the old king each year in many taels of gold of silver. With Ab Karab Il Zarih campaigning in Africa, the king of Carna declared his allegiance to the Ptolemaioi. The former farmer-general has returned to exact punishment for his crimes.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/93.jpg

We besieged the city as storm clouds rolled over us. A good omen, for rain is always a good omen. The gates were soon breached but no one moved. The king looked in my direction and pointed at the enemy. Redeem yourselves. That was his order.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/94.jpg

We marched into the city alone and positioned ourselves in the narrow streets. Skirmishers attacked us, but we held our ground and pushed them back. Medium cavalry charged us but were impaled on our spears.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/95.jpg

They came and we killed. They ran and we rested. Finally, they cowered in the city center, unwilling to move.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/96.jpg

We were tired, but barely scratched. We marched into the town square and engaged their spearmen. Our axemen somehow circled around the enemy and smashed into their backs.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/97.jpg

Those who tried to flee were caught by our levies and slaughtered without mercy. The king entered the square and surveyed the damage. On his face I saw a hint of a smile.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/98.jpg

The king has had enough of the Ptolemaioi, especially after the meddling with our former allies. He ordered ships built and the training of a large army. It will be a raid into the heart of Egypt.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/100.jpg

Our goal will be to burn and sack their largest cities, rendering them helpless and destroying their wealth. My unit will be the key to the operation for it is we who will be tasked with facing their famed heavy cavalry.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/101.jpg

We will be the killer of generals. The killer of princes. The killer of kings.

Folgore

11-23-2007, 15:50

Great AAR! :2thumbsup:

I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

Chirurgeon

11-23-2007, 16:09

wow man your on a tear. Keep it up. I love that shot of the fired arrows falling on the troops in the middle of the square in the city. Good stuff. Defeat however only makes you stronger :)

BerkeleyBoi

11-25-2007, 14:09

Chapter 8: Extermination and Restless Sleep

We arrived in Egypt. The air was moist and the land dotted with beautiful palm trees. We met almost no resistance upon landing as we were able to defeat a small force with only one casualty. We marched straight for Memphis and laid siege to the massive city.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/104.jpg

The garrison was tiny and the walls were quickly taken by the Greek mercenaries hired for that sole purpose. Our slingers were able to rain stones from the walls on the deadly long-spear men that slaughtered my forces before.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/106.jpg

With their main force weakened, we stormed the city and attacked the long-spear men head on.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/108.jpg

The great king charged his noblemen into the backs of the enemy and they fell in droves. Victory was soon ours.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/109.jpg

Extermination was the order. I was in shock as I exited the city. Bodies were everywhere. Men, women, children… they were all piled in the streets like refuse waiting to be picked up. The city was burning. The stench was unbearable. I saw one of my brothers dragging a woman from her house. She was screaming for help, but no one moved. He turned and saw me staring at him. I turned and walked away.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/111.jpg

The killing continued for five days. Screams could be heard day and night, moans came from the wounded and dying. Finally, we were ordered to dispose the bodies for fear the plague would arrive. A fire was built in a ditch dug in the town square and we threw in the bloated corpses. They burned for another five days.

BerkeleyBoi

11-25-2007, 14:23

Chapter 9: Reaching the Climax

I was given command again. The king looked tired when I was facing him. He said he could not sleep. He said he could still hear them screaming. He told me not to make the same mistake he did. Do not let greed overcome your humanity. No gold was worth that.

I was ordered to take half the army, reinforced with mercenaries, to capture the city of Alexandria, the heart of the Ptolemaioi. The king said that I must succeed, for once that city was taken, the enemy will be crippled and lose their will to fight. I swore that I would not fail him. I must not. Not again.

Alexandria. The walls of the city seem to reach into the heavens. How man could build such things, I would never know. We laid siege and immediately began to construct huge towers as no ladders could reach the top of those battlements.

A laughable force tried to relieve the city.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/113.jpg

We laid in ambush in a palm forest and sprung out with arrows and javelins flying into their faces. They broke instantly and we chased them into the city. I led my veterans straight for the general. I saw the light-skinned man’s face. He seemed to be laughing. He charged his greatly ornamented soldiers into our ranks, hoping to break us, but we held.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/115.jpg

They thought they were pushing us back, but in fact we were surrounding them. We pulled them from their horses and stabbed them where their armor did not cover. The general tried to flee, but he was caught. We drained blood from his neck as if we were slaughtering a pig.

The elite long-spear men posed a larger problem. We had no heavy infantry that could break them, no noblemen who could cut through their armor. But we did outnumber them.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/116.jpg

Skirmishers surrounded the slow thorny tortoise of a unit. Javelins and stones battered them from all sides. Still they stood. Finally, we brought fire and ignited them from behind.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/118.jpg

When they broke, we followed and cut them down as they ran. It was a great victory.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/119.jpg

But I could not control my soldiers. Led by the example of the Greek mercenaries, my army ravaged the city. Men were lined up against the walls and put to the sword. Babies were taken from their mothers and buried alive. Women were raped repeated before being thrown off the walls. Temples were burned and looted. The tomb of Alexander was desecrated. The city was in total chaos.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/121.jpg

My own men began to fight each other for women and gold. Finally, the king sent a young prince to relieve me of my governorship and I was sent with an army of mercenaries to capture Paraitonoin to the west.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/122.jpg

It looked as if the empire of the Saba could grow forever. We seemed to be invincible. We crushed army after army and sacked the largest cities in the world. I was now a true general, honored by the king and feared by my enemies. But it is from this height that everything will fall.

Chirurgeon

11-25-2007, 21:28

Holy shit...you captured Alexandriea

Hax

11-25-2007, 23:51

This is scary dude, plain scary.

I love the way how you go into detail, and how you seem to really catch that spirit of war. Awesome stuff, way to go! =D

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

11-26-2007, 03:01

Wow, I can't keep up reading this...

Nice to see a successful Sabyn Empire.

BerkeleyBoi

11-26-2007, 09:14

Nice to see a successful Sabyn Empire.

Haha, well I guess I shouldn't spoil anything, but the next chapter will be titled "Collapse"...

EDIT: I changed my mind... maybe it won't be called "Collapse"...

Empedocles

11-26-2007, 13:07

great AAR!
I just loved the scene when you stormed a town in arabia and described that men didn't fought for glory of their king but for taking water and food from the village conquered.

BerkeleyBoi

11-26-2007, 16:41

Well, thanks to everyone for the comments, I really enjoyed writing this AAR, but I am sad to announce that there will be only two chapters left... maybe three. Maybe I will start another single-unit AAR in the future, but once again, thanks to everyone for reading!

Oh, and I will try to post the next chapter tomorrow.

Hooahguy

11-26-2007, 16:45

why only 2 or 3!?!?!
oh, now i know....
man, i loved this AAR.... ill be sad to see it go!

Basileus Seleukeia

11-26-2007, 16:59

So our poor Ethiopean chap is going to be slain by villainous Ptolemies? I knew the are good for nothing but evil deeds *glances at chirurgeon*:laugh4:

Chirurgeon

11-26-2007, 17:46

ha ha Seleukeia. I only have to look as far as my own family for my wife...how convienent

BerkeleyBoi

11-26-2007, 18:08

Haha, yeah the Ptolemies are surprisingly strong despite the genetic defects they all have from incestuous relationships... sigh...

Empedocles

11-26-2007, 18:40

I'm sure that even in defeat the end of this AAR will be awesome!

cheers!

PS: BTW, I'm bored of all those AAR where the player always win

Hooahguy

11-26-2007, 19:47

anyhow, i cant wait for the next chapter, which will be annyoning, b/c i have a match tommorow and i wont be able to read it until a while!

Sarkiss

11-26-2007, 20:35

subscribed:beam:
good luck fighting Ptolies. buggers can be nastier than infamous gray death.

BerkeleyBoi

11-27-2007, 06:42

Chapter 10: Ptolemaioi Retribution

We laid siege to Paraitonion as a cool winter settled over northern Africa. My army consisted entirely of Greek mercenaries. I had difficulties communicating with them ever since my translator died of a snake bite. Messengers began to arrive once a week, bringing more news and orders.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/125.jpg

The first runner came, bearing news that the Ptolemaioi have concluded peace with another empire to the north and have brought their full forces down upon us. Alexandreia and Memphis were both under siege, but my orders were unchanged.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/123.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/126.jpg

The second man arrived a week later, looking more ragged than the one before. He had arrived from the south, reporting that my homeland of Ethiopia was under attack. Galatians and elite long-spear men filled their ranks. The king had ordered the south to be evacuated and all defenses concentrated on holding Egypt. My orders were unchanged.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/124.jpg

The third messenger was bloodied and rested two full days before he was able to deliver his message. The Arabian peninsula was under attack. Carna itself was sacked and its inhabitants slaughtered while the governors desperately raised taxes and levies to defend the capital. I received no new orders.

There was no news for several weeks until our scouts found a man in the desert. By the time he was brought to me, the vultures had picked his corpse clean. Nothing remained but his clothing, which marked him as a royal messenger, and a note.

The farmer-general turned king, Ab Karab Il Zarih, was killed. The garrison fought their way out of Memphis and attempted to return to Maryab, but the Greek mercenaries deserted his after failing to receive pay and in the ensuing chaos, the king was separated from his army.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/155.jpg

Two thousand Ptolemaioi surrounded his unit, yet he refused to retreat. Perhaps he knew that all was doomed anyways.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/156.jpg

They charged into battle as if they alone could turn the mighty Ptolemaioi war machine. They were surrounded.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/158.jpg

Slaves pelted them with rocks.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/159.jpg

Galatians slashed their bodies with swords.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/157.jpg

Hetaroi lances pierced their armor. Still they fought on, refusing to run. In the end, they died.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/160.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/161.jpg

The enemy cheered. Our empire, after rising to such great heights, has collapsed.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied8.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied7.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied6.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied5.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied4.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied3.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied2.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/occupied1.jpg

There was a single line scratched hastily on the bottom of the parchment: King Dawit of the Saba, lead your people to salvation.

BerkeleyBoi

11-27-2007, 06:50

Note: There were actually quite a few large battles that were fought in the south and in the Arabian Peninsula (all of which were very bloody and led to my defeat) but my screenshots were corrupted... so sadly I am unable to show what really led to the Saba's total collapse...

But the next and final chapter will come soon. Maybe even tonight. The title: Visions at the End

Xehh II

11-27-2007, 06:57

Interesting turn of events, very interesting.

Empedocles

11-27-2007, 12:56

amazing....

Basileus Seleukeia

11-27-2007, 14:37

Wow, I really love it when EB does this kind of stuff, it makes it more realistic, but why now? This AAR is so excellent it is a shame to see it die.:no:

BerkeleyBoi

11-27-2007, 14:51

Wow, I really love it when EB does this kind of stuff, it makes it more realistic, but why now? This AAR is so excellent it is a shame to see it die.:no:

Yeah, I thought it would be smooth sailing after sacking those too big cities. My coffers were bursting after extermination and I started building new barracks in my capital. Then, the yellow banners popped up all over the place.

I actually blame Seleukeia for settling peace with them and freeing up their northern border. :beam: As Saba, I had huge difficulties fighting phalanxes as I was used to playing factions with horse-archers who could whittle down their troops and retreating with no casualties. As Saba, my levy units suffered extensively after each battle, even after victories, and I just couldn't match the Ptolomies in production power.

Ah well, one more chapter. Maybe I'll post it tomorrow instead of tonight... unless enough people demand it before I go to sleep that is...

MarcusAureliusAntoninus

11-27-2007, 19:15

No! ~:mecry:
I hate it when AS and Ptolemai conspire against you...

Hooahguy

11-27-2007, 19:35

wow- i had no idea the AI could do this..... i better prepare well......

BerkeleyBoi

11-28-2007, 03:19

Chapter 11: Visions at the End

Final Chapter

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/128.jpg

I did not even know whether our capital still stood or was burnt to the ground. Ab Karab Il Zarih has named me his successor, but I did not even know if there was still a village in this world under the Saba banner.

My king has died. He gave me everything that I had. It was because of him that my life had meaning. I was no longer a farmer. I was a soldier. I was a general. Now, I am a king.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/127.jpg

I stared up at the walls that stood before me. The garrison sat silently, waiting for a relief force to arrive and destroy us. They knew my army would be incapable of assaulting them. I commanded a rag tag band of Greek mercenaries who knew no loyalties. There were no reinforcements coming. I ruled only the patch of sand I stood on, nothing more. So I ordered my men to attack. For the honor of the late king, I will fulfill his last orders.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/129.jpg

The Greek mercenaries marched forward with the ladders under a hail of arrows, decimating their ranks until they reached the base of the wall.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/130.jpg

I sent all of them up the walls even as casualties mounted.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/131.jpg

Eventually, the defenders were overrun and the gates were opened to my Hanatim Kushim.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/132.jpg

I rushed into the city and quickly organized the survivors into two groups.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/134.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/133.jpg

We would attack their long-spear men from both sides, charging them at the same time. We would eliminate the final defenders and gain one last triumph for the late king.

But the Greeks knew nothing of honor, they knew only of plunder. They disregarded my orders and charged through the city, looting and raping as they went.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/136.jpg

They stumbled into the town square where the enemy waited for them and without any support, they were quickly cut down. I rushed to assist them, cursing them as I ran, but we were too late.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/138.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/140.jpg

By the time we entered the square, the enemy had already routed the mercenaries, their general running down the survivors while the Galatians and long-spear men turned their attention on us.

Overwhelmed, I tried to pull my men out, trying to save the men who have loyally fought for me all these years. We disengaged from the enemy, leaving the mercenaries to fend for themselves, but as we tried to escape, we found ourselves facing a full unit of the general’s bodyguards charging down on us.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/142.jpg

We had no choice. We were surrounded. So we fought.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/143.jpg

The heavy cavalry pinned us against the wall, but were unable to break us.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/144.jpg

We held our ground and hacked away at the enemy, waiting for the long-spear men to charge in and finish us off. But they never came.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/146.jpg

The long-spear men stood silently, spears up in the air, watching us as we fought. They were not of the same people as the cavalrymen. They were levies. Farmers and workers dragged from their homes to fight for a king and god they did not believe in. They watched as we did battle. It was not in their interest to join in the fight.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/145.jpg

The general thought he would crush us under the hooves of their horses, but he underestimated us. We have fought more battles and killed more kings than he could possibly have imagined.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/147.jpg

We dodged their lances, stepping around and pulling them off before stabbing them in the face. The general’s confidence began to fade as he saw his men fall one by one. Soon, he was alone, surrounded by my men. He cursed the long-spear men, calling for their help, but none would come.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/148.jpg

We killed his fine horse and pulled the richly decorated man off his mount. He begged for mercy, saying that he would make us a part of his court, give us power, money, and women. I stared at him and declined. I was a king, I said to him as his eyes widened in disbelief, there was only one man in this world I would serve and he has already left this world. With that, I kicked him into the dirt and thrust my sword through his neck.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/149.jpg

The few of us who survived walked calmly towards the square. The long-spear men stood confused, calling for us to leave the city. They would not chase us, they said, they have no quarrel with us. I did not listen. I leveled my sword and pointed at the enemy.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/150.jpg

We charged. There were about three hundred of them remaining while only about 30 of us stood.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/151.jpg

We were surrounded, yet we fought on. We killed five for every one of us lost, but we were overwhelmed. I was knocked to the ground. A young man stood above me, his eyes quivering with fear as he raised his axe for the finishing blow.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/152.jpg

Time slowed and then froze. I remembered the face of my mother as she held me in her arms while drawing in her last breaths. I remembered my father smiling as I sprinted across the finish line to win first place at our village festival. I remembered climbing trees with my brothers to steal coconuts from our neighbor. I remembered being taken away from home and the long ride on that crowded ship. I remembered the first man I killed and the way his body shuddered before he collapsed. I remembered her green eyes and the way she flowed across the room to bring wine to the noblemen. I remembered my wife and the children I never met. I remembered the farmer-general turned king, his kindness to his men, his bravery in battle, and his sadness as his enemies were put to the sword. The fifty years of my life flew by in an instant.

Time moved again. The axe came down. My helmet split and blood ran down my face. My head tilted back and I saw white clouds moving slowly across the vast blue sky. One of them looked like a rabbit. Another looked like India. This is the end. Goodbye.

Hooahguy

11-28-2007, 03:25

AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sniff*
im so sad...... ~:mecry:
what a great ending to a great AAR.....

Justiciar

11-28-2007, 03:40

Epic. Short, sweet, and dramatic. Bravo, truly!

Chirurgeon

11-28-2007, 03:59

Wow that was incredible! Sad but very good nonetheless. I loved your screenshots. Those were epic in themselves! I loved the part "With that, I kicked him into the dirt and thrust my sword through his neck" Amazing stuff man I hope to see more of your work

Xehh II

11-28-2007, 04:12

That was awesome, you definitely have to do another AAR.

BerkeleyBoi

11-28-2007, 05:30

To everyone who has read and commented, thank you very much! I never thought my first AAR would get such a positive response and as a result, I plan on writing another soon.

But before a new AAR can being, this one must be finished. Since some people were wondering what happened to my campaign, I will post an epilogue some time soon.

Empedocles

11-28-2007, 11:45

great work! congratulations!

Hax

11-28-2007, 15:29

@Chirurgeon: Thanks man. I really enjoy your own AAR as well. I tried to create something in between of Berkeleyboi's "soldier point-of-view" and your own "king point-of-view."

So I chose the Somatophylakes Strategou, de Royal bodyguard of the Epeirote family members.

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

Okay, guys. There's been some problems. I just conquered Kallatis, but when I went back to view and edit my screenshots, I found I had forgot to turn on Fraps. So I'll try to RP why 6 years have passed without any screenshots.

Oh, yeah. And something else. When I had conquered Tylis, and tried to go back to my screen, the game CTD without an error message. Same thing happened with Kallatis, so I'll just auto_win next time I play the game, though you'll notice some inconsistencies with unit numbers.

Edit: LOL! Totally confused, I thought I was posting in my own thread. Hahaa!

Basileus Seleukeia

11-28-2007, 17:10

Sad, very sad, but truly homeric! Thou shalt honour us again with thine tales of far-off lands! I shall await thee when thou beginst thine new story, which shall surely have a more cheering end than this!*Shakespeareramblingend*
Can't wait for another AAR of yours!:2thumbsup:

Mouzafphaerre

11-28-2007, 21:09

.
This is the BEST AAR. Ever! Please repost it at the Throne Room (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=38). Please do, I beg you! When the time comes, this will be nominated and elected the best write up for Hall of Fame 2007. :yes:

The following screenshots and subtitles, I nominate for the best screenshot of the month. Please also care to repost them at the sticky:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/88.jpg

The Ptolemaioi allowed me to escape. I vowed to make them regret that decision.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/145.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/148.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/152.jpg

I was knocked to the ground. A young man stood above me, his eyes quivering with fear as he raised his axe for the finishing blow.
.

Wolfman

11-28-2007, 22:48

This was beautiful! :mecry: This is the first AAR i've ever read were the player loses. you've achieved an epic feat.

BerkeleyBoi

11-29-2007, 13:57

.
This is the BEST AAR. Ever! Please repost it at the Throne Room (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=38). Please do, I beg you! When the time comes, this will be nominated and elected the best write up for Hall of Fame 2007. :yes:
[/I]
.

Haha, thanks for the kind words, but my AAR seems like it would be a little out of place there since it's an RTW:EB AAR while most of those in the Throne Room seems to be for M2TW.

But as for the screenshots, maybe I will enter the next competition for December. It seems like good fun and I won't have to leave the EB forums to post!

BerkeleyBoi

11-29-2007, 13:58

This was beautiful! :mecry: This is the first AAR i've ever read were the player loses. you've achieved an epic feat.

This just proves that I'm not a very good player! But thanks for your comment!

BerkeleyBoi

11-29-2007, 15:05

Epilogue

India? The cloud looks like India? What is India?

I look around me. I see nothing. Am I dead? Is this the afterlife?

I feel no pain. In fact, I feel nothing at all. I cannot see my body. I try to turn my head or to roll my eyes, but it seems as if those parts do not exist. Where am I? What is happening?

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/theendmap.jpg

The world appears beneath me. Or is it above me or in front or behind? I can’t tell, but it is there. I see people moving. Yellow banners with birds fly above all of Africa. I see Arabia. An old man, the son of the first Great King that I hated, was standing on a wall. I saw his brothers, each in a different city commanding different armies under different flags. They are fighting each other! I can see their hatred towards their own blood. How? I don’t know, but it is the truth.

The farmer-general returns! He stands tall in his armor with a brilliant sword in one hand and a strong shield in the other. No… no… he is too young. There were two others who looked like him. They were older, but not enough. Blood! Masked men enter the home, the two young men were killed. Fire was burning in the royal palace. But the boy lives. He grows up. A year seemed to pass each second as I watched, but I can’t feel time. The sun does not rise. Nor does it set.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/factionleader.jpg

The boy is now a man. He marches in the desert. He raises his sword and entire armies follow him. He points his sword and a city falls. One by one he takes them. Nothing could stand in his way. He boards a ship.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/map.jpg

India? What is it?

I’m forgetting something. Yes, I can’t remember something important. My name? I don’t remember. Did I ever have a name? I must have. All people have names. But am I a person? I can’t see myself. Perhaps I am… what can I be? What is this? What is anything?

Darkness.

Blinding light. Pain. I twist and turn but I am captured. Something hits me. My eyes open and I cry out. I hear something. Sounds of joy. I see something. It makes me happy. I reach out to it and it holds me. I hear noise. It turns my head and points at something. It is very big, but I like it too. It takes me from the other one and holds me. More sounds of joy.

Mother. Father.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/1.jpg

India.

Basileus Seleukeia

11-29-2007, 15:14

He reincarnated as an Indian?:inquisitive: Weird, but nice:laugh4:
Now that's an interesting approach to Saba, going for India! I hope you can fend off the Yellow-fevered-incestive freaks of Egypt:2thumbsup:

Mouzafphaerre

11-29-2007, 20:11

.

Haha, thanks for the kind words, but my AAR seems like it would be a little out of place there since it's an RTW:EB AAR while most of those in the Throne Room seems to be for M2TW.
No mate, it's for everything from STW on! The MiNO invasion is because it's the most recent of the series.

This story should see the sunlight over there too. :cheerleader:
.

Karo

11-29-2007, 20:13

I hope you now make an AAr about the Indian unit that would be very cool to read. And please kill those yellow bastards. I hate hem !!!!!!!!!!!:furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3:

But I love the AAR to bad he died

BerkeleyBoi

11-30-2007, 08:16

keravnos

11-30-2007, 10:51

This is AAR-T.

First off, Let me thank you for the amazing journey.
I forgot I was watching a game I know, I thought I was reading a book with great pics, a comic or something.

I was just swept away.

Now, I understand that you want to do another AAR, but please bear one thing in mind...

Sreni Pattya Yoddaha have a Sab'Yn skin... sort of an incentive to get them into your army. :beam:

Poulp'

11-30-2007, 13:56

Ok... so at 196 BCE, my saved game disappeared and the new AAR I was working on now must be canceled... sorry, I just don't really know what I can do to continue the Saba campaign.

A few people expressed interest in my AAR, so I guess I can start a new one from scratch. However, I need to choose a new unit and faction. So if there are any units that you think would be good for my next AAR, please post here and tell me why you think they would be good for a story!

let's see...

The life of a roman professional soldier hating long strides, the food, his commanding officer and the armies he faces altogether.

A macedonian gradually seeing the difference between the tales of Alexander he's been brought up with and the reality.

A barbarian convinced that the civilized nations are plotting the downfall of their glorious [insert faction] nation.

Hax

11-30-2007, 13:58

Somatophylakes Strategou for Epeiros!

....

Wait, someone already did that. Can't recall his name, though.

I dunno, maybe a completely different faction, something like Casse, and one of the Satoroas, Celtic Archers.

gosam

11-30-2007, 14:17

A lowly baktrian soldier who will be promoted to the agema for exceptional prowess!

Mouzafphaerre

11-30-2007, 16:26

.
A Baktrian Agema who will be demoted to the sewers for courting the general's wife? :hide:
.

BerkeleyBoi

11-30-2007, 17:03

.
A Baktrian Agema who will be demoted to the sewers for courting the general's wife? :hide:
.

Haha, I've never written a comedy before... hmm... thanks for the ideas. I'm currently leaning towards:

An Indian or Indo-Greek unit under either Saka or Bactria (though I really want to see the Saba skin for the Indian Guild warriors, it would probably be too redundant if I played Saba again...)

A Goidilic unit under the Lusotannan

The Garamantine infantry unit under Carthage

A Persian unit under Hayasdan

I actually prefer a unit that is not part of the culture that he's fighting for. The reason for this is because I have a lack of knowledge in the history of this time period in this part of the world, so having my unit be detached from the empire gives me more freedom as he would be an outsider looking in, kind of like myself.

But yes, hopefully I'll decide soon. I need to start and finish this before the end of December since I got a new job in Beijing and might be too busy and too cold.

BerkeleyBoi

11-30-2007, 17:07

Justiciar

12-01-2007, 01:12

I love the way you made his death and reincarnation merge seemlessly. Masterfully done.

The Garamantine sounds perfect. Though focused on much the same neck of the woods, a Galatian in Ptolemaic employ would work wonders too.

O'ETAIPOS

12-01-2007, 08:29

BerkeleyBoi

12-01-2007, 10:15

I think that a defeat and later lost save showes something.

It show clear signs of the wrath of te Gods. You surely enraged both egyptian and greek Gods by slaughtering theyre followers and desacrating temples. There can't be differnt explanation :beam:

Haha... just for that, maybe I'll roleplay a devout Buddhist Indian unit brooding under his heathen Bactrian commanders...

CirdanDharix

12-02-2007, 16:51

If you're going for a Carthaginian unit, I'd recommend taking an Iberian one. It would be perfect to recapture the sense of "they came to my village, and then they took me and made me a soldier". Well, unless you take an uber-elite Iberian unit; but most of them were levies who hadn't set foot outside of thier native regions, felt little attachment to Carthage and probably had little understanding of the war going on.

keravnos

12-02-2007, 22:11

Haha... just for that, maybe I'll roleplay a devout Buddhist Indian unit brooding under his heathen Bactrian commanders...

Sorry to interfere but the Sreni unit would be a hindu unit. The Buddhists would be the Baktrians. :yes:

BerkeleyBoi

12-03-2007, 06:19

Sorry to interfere but the Sreni unit would be a hindu unit. The Buddhists would be the Baktrians. :yes:

Ah... I never knew the Baktrians were Buddhists. So if you build a Buddhist stupa in town, will the family members get worshippers of Buddha trait and govern best in towns devoted to Buddhism? I always thought the Buddhist buildings were seperate from the temple line.

Oh, and I might not be able to get a new AAR out... I am currently addicted to The Witcher after receiving it as a gift from a Polish friend. Until I finish this RPG a few times, I'll be unable to start a new campaign... sorry to all! :shame:

Hax

12-03-2007, 13:08

Treachery!

Hereby, I condemn thee, BerkeleyBoi, to 2 years restriction of playing the Witcher!

gamegeek2

12-09-2007, 23:16

This is an awesome AAR. Keep up the amazing work!

keravnos

12-09-2007, 23:30

Ah... I never knew the Baktrians were Buddhists. So if you build a Buddhist stupa in town, will the family members get worshippers of Buddha trait and govern best in towns devoted to Buddhism? I always thought the Buddhist buildings were seperate from the temple line.

Oh, and I might not be able to get a new AAR out... I am currently addicted to The Witcher after receiving it as a gift from a Polish friend. Until I finish this RPG a few times, I'll be unable to start a new campaign... sorry to all! :shame:

Baktrians were worshipping their Hellenic gods, but a big part of them had become Buddhists, and they took active role in turning Sri Lanka into a buddhist island. Up to day buddhist prayers in Sri Lanka give praise to the "yavana".

Buddhist buildings are separate from the line because historically Buddhist did have nothing to do with Baktrians and Hellenic beliefs. It wasn't even iconic. You couldn't paint a picture, let alone Buddah. Gradually though, through synthesis, it was a reality.

All the statues you see now of Buddah in various countries have their roots on those Hellenes who believed in Buddah and portrayed him as they did their Hellenic gods (ofcourse within the confines of their new faith).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco_Buddhism

Treverer

12-10-2007, 16:58

Dear Sir,

your AAR was just amazing. Please start a new one as soon as possible. Baktria would be a nice choice IMHO.

Yours,
Treverer

Basileus Seleukeia

12-10-2007, 17:12

You could try to be a Kinsman or Jewish Spearman of the AS, that would be interesting for sure:2thumbsup:

Disciple of Tacitus

12-10-2007, 21:02

BerkeleyBoi

12-11-2007, 02:04

This was a most impressive AAR. And your kingdom crumbled?? What such a well-told tale - more amazing for that fact. I am truly impressed . Did you say you were not a native English speaker? My next campaign will be Saban - inspired by your AAR!

Thanks for your comments! My kingdom crumbled but then I rebuilt it, but my save game disappeared so I couldn't continue with my AAR. And I'm not a native English speaker (I'm Chinese) but I studied in America before coming back to China.

Treachery!

Hereby, I condemn thee, BerkeleyBoi, to 2 years restriction of playing the Witcher!

Well, the load times for The Witcher have been driving me insane, so I'm back to EB until the next patch comes out...

Baktrians were worshipping their Hellenic gods, but a big part of them had become Buddhists, and they took active role in turning Sri Lanka into a buddhist island. Up to day buddhist prayers in Sri Lanka give praise to the "yavana".

Buddhist buildings are separate from the line because historically Buddhist did have nothing to do with Baktrians and Hellenic beliefs. It wasn't even iconic. You couldn't paint a picture, let alone Buddah. Gradually though, through synthesis, it was a reality.

All the statues you see now of Buddah in various countries have their roots on those Hellenes who believed in Buddah and portrayed him as they did their Hellenic gods (ofcourse within the confines of their new faith).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco_Buddhism

Ah, very interesting... sadly, I can't see the link since wikipedia is counter-revolutionary...

Dear Sir,

your AAR was just amazing. Please start a new one as soon as possible. Baktria would be a nice choice IMHO.

Yours,
Treverer

I actually played as Baktria for a little while, but after building mines, I was able to support full stacks with armored elephants while still making a profit. Conquering half of Seleukia with relative ease just wasn't very fun for me...

You could try to be a Kinsman or Jewish Spearman of the AS, that would be interesting for sure:2thumbsup:

Well, someone just started an AS AAR while another person has an AAR on a Jewish unit, so I'll probably not do those.

I've started a few campaigns now (Casse, Getei, Baktria) but I didn't really get a feel for any of the units. Maybe I'll try Hayasdan next...