The Parthian Shot: A Pahlava AAR

[Horst Nordfink]

My promised Pahlava AAR is imminent! The ground work has been laid and I am currently fine tuning the intro.

[White_eyes:D]

hmmm.....good I want to see a Pahlava AAR:2thumbsup:

[d'Arthez]

Want to see what happens.

[Horst Nordfink]

This AAR is played as VH/M and with MAA's City Mod and Jarado's Force Diplomacy Mod. The Pahlava MIC has not been added because it is not comatable with the City Mod.

The house rules for this AAR are:-


Never attack a neutral faction without provocation. A reason must also be had to take an Eleutheroi settlement.

Reasonable expansion must be maintained. Follow the factions victory conditions.

The crown of Pahlava passes to the eldest son on the death of the King. If the King dies without a male heir the throne passes to the nearest eligable direct male heir of the original King. If no direct male heir of the orignal King, the highest birthed indirect heir is King. (I hope that makes sense!)

Allies are immune from aggresion (unless it's plainly obvious they're up to no good).

Campaigning in winter is prohibited, unless attacked.

A campaigning army must winter in a fort if possible.

Campaigning armies must be lead by Family Members.

Force Diplomacy must not be taken advantage of! A faction with one settlement cannot make a faction of 20-30 a client kingdom!

Toggle_fow is the only "cheat" allowed, and only out of curiosity!

Expansion should only be possible when there is a spare Family Member to lead the Campaign. There should always be a Family Member as a governor.


I will try to add more as/if I think of any! Suggestions welcome!

[kambiz]

Pahlava player usually need to Strike fast on one of his(her) neighboring factions (Mostely Selukids or bakterians). So I suggest you to not use these rules untill you're empire reach a stable situation.

As a fan of Pahlavian ,am looking forward to your AAR :smiley:

Good luck !

[d'Arthez]

Is it not possible to copy the relevant code from the Pahlava bug fix into the altered file for the City Mod? that way you can have both.

[Horst Nordfink]

I have no idea! I have learned my lesson about playing with things I don't understand, so I'm not prepared to fiddle! If someone was kind enough to combine the Mods and the fix then I would be more than happy to install it.

At the minute, my game is running smoothly and I'm content to stay as I am.

[d'Arthez]

As I don't have the code for the City Mod, I am not 100% certain. But it should be possible. PM MAA and you will know. But until you are actually considering upgrading to a MIC of lvl 5 it should not be an issue anyway.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I haven't looked at the code change for the Parthian MIC fix, but I believe it is simply a change to the building requirements line. Coping the fixed line onto a CityMod EDB should give you the fix. If I have time tommorrow I'll see if I can't combine the two things and update a new version of the minimod.

[MerlinusCDXX]

I haven't looked at the code change for the Parthian MIC fix, but I believe it is simply a change to the building requirements line. Coping the fixed line onto a CityMod EDB should give you the fix. If I have time tommorrow I'll see if I can't combine the two things and update a new version of the minimod.

it's a pretty easy fix to do. i know next to nothing about modding and was able to do this without messing anything up. it takes about 5 min to do, follow this link for instructions

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1742890&postcount=16

it is savegame compatible

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Actually, I already combined the two. v3.2 of the citymod is now available.

[Andronikos]

You are making fun of us! Nearly two weeks of this thread and still nothing! do not take this as insult, I am only joking
Since you wrote that you would make a Pahlavan AAR, I have been anxious. Starting this AAR would be a nice Christmas present. ~:santa:

[Hooahguy]

agreed

[Hax]

Or he got massacred by the AS and Baktria on E/E and he's too ashamed to admit it

I actually did this *cry*. Well, actually it was on H/M, but still

[Horst Nordfink]

Well gents......... I did actually get my arse handed to me by AS and Baktria and I had to start again. Also, I've been caning it a little too and haven't really had time to play my Pahlava AAR.

But..........

[Horst Nordfink]

In 272BC Pahlava was an emerging nation. The peoples who roam the steppes of Pahlava, the Parni and the Dahae have been here for centuries.

Pahlava has few neighbours on the steppe. The Sauromatae to the west, the Saka to the north and the Bactrians, a rebellious offshoot of the Seleukids, to the east. The most important neighbour lie to the south, these are the Seleukids. The Seleukids are heirs of Iksander the Makedonian. The empire of the Greeks, stolen from Darius the Persian decades ago, is huge and if the situation arises, rich for the picking. These lands are where the Shahrdar of Pahlava must concentrate, these are the lands that will make him the new King of Kings.

This new Persian Empire will not come easy! The heirs of Iksander will not relieve their grip on their empire without a fight. They fight in the style of Iksander, and their huge phalanx armies will crush the Pahlavans if not fought correctly. The native Persians, as much as they hate their Greek masters, may not look too keenly on having Dahae or "Robbers" from the north as overlords. Although more in common than the effeminate, child-loving Greeks, it will take more than a shared belief in Ahura-Mazda to bring them to the Pahlavan fold.

The sons of Phrapates e Dahaen will reign supreme in the east, it is just a matter of time.

[Horst Nordfink]

Phrapates I

Phrapates e Dahaen is king of all he surveys. He has managed to bring together all the peoples of the Daha underneath him. Phrapates is an old man for a nomad, 56 summers and winters have passed him by. He has wandered these steppes quelling rebellion to his rule and fighting of outsiders for more years than he cares to remember. He longs to settle down and finally lay some permanent roots. A nomadic lifestyle is no way to run a kingdom. Phrapates is a learned man, and has been taught by scholars and captured Greeks how to administor a permanent settlement.


https://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff147/chrisbutler83/familytree.jpg

Phrapates has one son, Arshak, who has been learning to lead his peoples since birth. He is the heir to the Pahlavan throne, and like his father, wants to develop the Pahlavan peoples into a settled nation. Arshak has sired a son, also named Arshak, and has set in place a solid foundation for a strong ruling dynasty to lead Pahlava for generations.

In the summer of 272BC, strong anti-Seleukid sentiment was developing in the eastern city of Antiocheia-Margiane. The population of this city is almost wholely comprised of Parni. These peoples, seperate from the Persians of the rest of their empire are persecuted and looked down upon by their Greek masters. Phrapates, Shahrdar of Pahlava, had been informed of the plight of his brothers and sisters in Antiocheia and had resolved to help them rid the shackles of Seleukid oppresion. If he acquired some territory in the process, then all the better.

Spies from the city of Nisa, the capitol city of Pahlava, had been stirring rebellion amongst the populace of Antiocheia-Margiane for many months. The spies had promised the leading dignitaries of the city that Phrapates himself would ensure the freedom of the people should they decide to rebel from Seleukid rule. Finally, after much procrastination amongst the leaders of the Parni in Antiocheia, the Seleukid governor and his garrison was ousted by the populace. This rebellion was led by a hot-headed Parni chieftain named Mazugmash.

Mazugmash had intended that once the Seleukids had been ousted, they would not be dictated to by their powerful northern neighbour Pahlava, and would run their own affairs as an independent city. Unfortunately for Mazugmash, Phrapates had decided differently. To Phrapates, the peoples of Antiocheia-Margiane had owed Pahlava for their independance. Had it not been Pahlava who had supplied weapons to arm the locals, supplied money to hire mercenaries and promised military assistance should the Seleukids try to forcibly put down the rebellion. Phrapates had seen this aggressive stance by the leaders of the rebellion to be an insult, he expected to be declared a hero and a saviour by the peoples of Antiocheia. Instead they looked upon him with suspicion, they regarded him more of an overbearing mother, always wanting to be involved in their affairs.

Phrapates headed towards the newly independant city, at the head of an army, intent on putting these upstarts in their place. Phrapates was King, these peoples were only free to make these insulting decisions because of him! Phrapates had had enough, Antiocheia-Margiane would be incorparated into the kingdom of Pahlava, and would be directly ruled by himself. In the spring of 271BC, the people of Antiocheia-Margiane were brought into the kingdom of Pahlava at the point of a sword. The hot-headed Mazugmash died fighting bravely with his mercenary troops.


https://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff147/chrisbutler83/Antiocheia_victory.jpg

After the brief Battle of Antiocheia-Margiane, all was quiet in Pahlava. Phrapates and his son-in-law Harasp settled in Antiocheia-Margiane to oversee the transition to a Pahlavan city. Phrapates could not allow another Mazugmash to come to power in Antiocheia-Margiane, the people are free now and should be pleased with their lot. In the spring of 267BC, Phrapates lay dying in the Royal Palace he had built in Antiocheia-Margiane. Content that he had led the people of Pahlava in a manner the Gods would approve and that he had expanded Pahlavan rule. On his deathbed he named his eldest son Arshak as his successor. Phrapates went to the Gods aged 61. Much feasting and celebration was had in his honour.

https://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff147/chrisbutler83/phrapates_dies.jpg

Time would tell whether the newly crowned Arshak I would follow in the footsteps of his father, and how the surrounding nations would see the death of Phrapates. Perhaps the kings of surrounding nations would try to take advantage of the inevitable confusion of a royal transition.

The world at the time of Phrapates death:-
https://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff147/chrisbutler83/world267bc.jpg

[Imperator]

Great AAR! I like the way you really role-play with characters and (just as importantly) events! The balance of screenshots and text is perfect. Keep up the good work :2thumbsup:

[Horst Nordfink]

Cheers pal. I'm really unsure about my writing style, basically I'm just winging it and seeing what happens. Nice to see you're appreciating it.

[Wolfman]

Beautifully Put together Nordfink. I especially like what you did with Antiochea-Margiane. I would Have never thought of that.

[Horst Nordfink]

Cheers pal :2thumbsup:

[d'Arthez]

Great start, and I love the writing style. Keep it going!

[Horst Nordfink]

The Greek War

Arshak I was 41 years old when he became Shahrdar. When told of his fathers death he was governing the northern province of Khwarazm from his palace in Khiva with his son Tirdad.

Arshak I had been taught by Greek slaves and was an extremely intelligent man, particulalry adept at mathematics. Arshak had inherited a rather poor kingdom, and would take all his mathematical skill to administor his kingdom.

Unlike his father, Phrapates, Arshak considered himself to be king of all the Parni and Dahae peoples, regardless of where they live. The peoples of the north-eastern provinces of the Seleukid empire were mostly Parni. Arshak had decided that these peoples should be brought into the Pahlavan kingdom.

The nearby Seleukid town of Asaak was a poorly garrisoned, with only a Seleukid general and his pathetic Greek bodyguard. Arshak could not afford to incur the wrath of the Greeks just yet, so could not directly attack this Seleukid town. The town must be seen to rebel on their own. Arshak learned from his father, and knew how a rabble of angry people could be manipulated to serve the purposes of a clever Shahrdar.

The representatives of the Shahrdar met with important people of Asaak, people who could be controlled and seen to be leading the proposed rebellion. Like the rebellion in Antiocheia-Margiane in 271BC, the common people of the town would be fighting the Seleukids. In spring of 264BC, the rebellion easily overthrew Seleukid rule and the governor was killed in the confusion.

Worringly, Bactrian armies were massing on the borders of Pahlava. Time would tell what the treachorous Greeks were planning.

In his youth Arshak was a renowned warrior and a capable cavalry warrior. Many years has passed since Arshak last carried a sword in anger, he was rusty and far too valuable to risk in campaigning. Arshak had left this task to his young nephew Darman. Darman was green, he had never commanded troops, this would be a good test of his character.

An army had been raised with Darman at its head. In the summer of 264BC the army set off to bring the people of Asaak into Pahlava. On the way the Greeks of Bactria finally ended the speculation and attacked the settlements of Khiva and Antiocheia-Margiane. The Greek War begins.

[d'Arthez]

I am surpried noone commented since your last update. These Greek wars should prove to be extremely interesting (if you don't get destroyed by a Baktro-AS allince)

[Horst Nordfink]

I reckon it's only a matter of time really. I have at least 3 or 4 massive battles per turn. I really can't keep up this kind of war for much longer. I wouldn't be suprised if this AAR went belly up sooner rather than later.

It's a shame because I was really enjoying it.

[Hooahguy]

yay Baktria!
jk. well, kinda.....
still, this is going to be interesting......
nice job!

[Horst Nordfink]

Yes, those Greek bastards have really put a spanner in the works.

[gamegeek2]

As the Saka Rauka, I'm finding it really easy to kick Baktria in the balls - it's like turn 6 or so and I have 2 of their towns; they start out with enough for a halfstack or so but are fairly poorly garrisoned in the north; only a bunch of crappy Persians (who are cost-efficient, but are murdered by my shiny nobles :)) and Pantodapoi are there, along with any family members in the area. The Pahlava always seem to take Chach pretty quickly, as I can't afford to garrison it well, so I blitz the Blue and cross my fingers...

[Hax]

Craving...for...update..

*twitch*

*rolls over*