Satres?? What's his malfunction??

[Come in Nighthawk]

Satres?? Huh??

I decided to do something a 'tad different this campaign 'round. I had taken Segestica(sp?) in "Illyria," but as the Epirotes had taken Dalmion(?) I decided not to confront them (right now). So, I assembled two "armies" (or "stacks" if you prefer), and marched them north up an Alpine valley from Patavium. My spies on the ground had identified a large barbarian army under a commander called "Satres" and another large force in that town up there in the province of Noricae (Romani Expansion), so I thought I was prepared.

Before I got to the town, this Satres-character counter-attacked my dual-army. It didn't help that my AI-controlled army was the one under a rather impetuous commander.... fortunately while his bodyguard routed, he wasn't killed (I think it was "fortunately," anyway). I lost over 1000 men, but, at least my two armies managed between them to utterly annihilate Satres and his army. So, licking my wounds, I summoned the short-stack of reinforcements I had planned ahead for and they promptly marched up the pass and the weakest surviving units were cycled out and sent south down the pass (all but one unit survived, IIRC).

The next turn, this Satres comes back at me with a SECOND 18/1900-man "stack!" Where the hell did THAT come from? Is the AI cheating (yeah, yeah, I know, the AI can't "cheat")? So, fine, I sucked it up, and fought it out again. Got "lucky" in that, this time, "I" commanded the impetuous general and the AI had to contend with my more "sober" commander. I still lost nearly 1000 men, but this time I not only destroyed Satres' army, I killed him! Good, I thought.

Whoops! Next turn there "he" was again (albeit my spy checked him out and it was a different "face"). I was in dire straights now, so I had to break my "rule" that I only recruit a few "colorful" mercenary units to "flavor" my armies. I recruited as carefully as I could, especially 100-man or larger formations of Alpine native troops. Fought the THIRD battle, and beat the "energizer bunny" again at the cost of another 1000-odd men, but next turn there he was there AGAIN! However, each battle I had succeeded in pushing a little further down the pass (i.e. north), and this time I was able to maneuver my two armies onto the town and took it by storm (at the cost of another 1200 men!!) next turn, and for whatever reason, Satres left me alone this time...

I am now holding the town, and developing it. I'm keeping one full "stack" in the town, and the second just outside. Mean-when, "Satres" is still there just across the river in Rhaetia (is that the Aure?), "glaring" at me. :wall:

What's his malfunction?? Is this some kind of Helvetian legend, like "Arthur" who will rise from Avalon to save Britain??? :whip:

:book:

[Thaatu]

I don't think he has a malfunction. His function is to represent the Alpine tribes and make the area not worth conquering. I'd suggest leaving them alone.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Satres has friends too. So really, don't go into the woods unless you really, really, haven't got anything better to do. And you are feeling somewhat masochistic today; or expect to outsmart him. Oh and they demonstrate the price of failure with a vengeance. :skull:

[KhaziOfKalabara]

What's his malfunction?? Is this some kind of Helvetian legend, like "Arthur" who will rise from Avalon to save Britain??? :whip:



Satres is one of the few Hindu characters in EB - he is regularly reincarnated on account of his karma. Indeed, Satres is the P-celtic equivalent, through a common Indo-European root word, of the Sanskrit samsara (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara).

Seriously - this is scripting to represent the Boii confederation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boii), a Celtic faction that (rumour has it) almost but not quite made the faction list, and may make it into EB2. It stops the AI Romani and Sweboz from occupying the whole of central Europe, as they used to in previous builds within a few short years.:yes:

[Come in Nighthawk]

Thanks all!

Well, "Satres" and his ilk are certainly making my life... "interesting." :furious3: Nonetheless I have kept that town and am developing it, and I am even getting ready to try for town #2, but I just realized I was trying to march up the wrong pass (it funnels back into the one I already used -- and so straight to Satres and his waiting mountain cherubs!!). I am realizing I am going to have to attack the Aedui and seize Mediolanum despite not wishing to just at this juncture. Once I take it and restore neutral relations, I can rebuild my army and then try to march north again for Alpine town #2!! :idea2:

We'll see!!!!! :book:

[Vexillari]

I fought him and his brother to the NW in Eburonum. To kill Satres (and his brothers) I entered his province and took a defensive position on a steep mountain while positioning another legion just outside the province within striking distance. He attacked my defensive legion and I defeated him (with plenty of casualties on my side) I used my other legion to seige the city for one turn. He didn't respawn immediately and on the following turn I assaulted the city. He didn't respawn after that...:yes:

[Bacchus]

I fought him once..experienced difficulties and saw his army size being formidable.
I held the north keeping an eye on him and hoped the Sweboz would take care of him for me.
And they did but he never disappeared fully indeed.
Strange it was observing the Sweboz fighting him, weaken his army and the Sweboz army growing with every fight! Parasite-like things going on in the dark woods of Sweboz and its neighbours.
I kept clear of the area for a very very(!) long time!
Conquered that area late in the game (past 150bc) with my "full legion-method".
See the thread about "what is a legion".

[Come in Nighthawk]

I fought him and his brother to the NW in Eburonum. To kill Satres (and his brothers) I entered his province and took a defensive position on a steep mountain while positioning another legion just outside the province within striking distance. He attacked my defensive legion and I defeated him (with plenty of casualties on my side) I used my other legion to seige the city for one turn. He didn't respawn immediately and on the following turn I assaulted the city. He didn't respawn after that...:yes:
Hmmm, maybe he re-spawned because I could not take down the town fast enough. He had one turn... Its been a dozen turns or more now, or about three game-years, and he has just been sitting there, guarding the ford over the river to keep me from launching due west --- guess his spies aren't good enough to tell him what's brewing for him down in the Po valley!! :juggle2: :laugh4:

:book: