[Romani AAR] For the Glory of the Senate and People of Rome

Started a new Romani game, still with rtw.exe, but this time on H/M. At 262BC things look thus:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../262BChard.jpg

Of particular interest to me is the captured; it looks like Makedonia are actually struggling for once, rather than wiping everyone else out. Be interesting to see how the next few turns go, whether or not I'll be needing to rescue them for a change.

I'm going to leave Syracusai rebel for a very long time, and won't try to take Lilibeo until 241BC (only just took Messana). Segesta is proving a tough cookie, big army and usual rebel multi-star general. I think with a force half their size I should be able to manage it, though.

256BC with my H/M Romani game:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../256BChard.jpg

Of particular note is that Makedonia is persisting, although Epeiros are doing much better than in my previous game.

I'm not conquering Karthadast, I raided Atiqa and Adrumento is next. Then I'll head back to Sicily with the army featured.

Money is definitely tighter in Hard than in Medium campaign difficulty.

And just a few years later, Karthadast have their settlements back, but Atiqa and Adrumento were thoroughly pillaged of all useful buildings. Note I've created Galatia with a bit of creative bribing:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../254BChard.jpg

Just a little further along, 251BC still at war with Carthage although it's gone a bit cold since they never venture out of Lilibeo and I don't want to take it yet. What you can see is the full extent of my "empire", kept to historical progression:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../251BChard.jpg

I'm going to leave Syrakousai for a goodly long while yet, still another ten years before I can close my first Punic Wars and grab Lilibeo and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.

Galatia persists! Makedonia is really struggling, Epeiros is pushing them hard and KH took Demetrias from them.

248BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../248BChard.jpg

About to raid Carthage again, this time they might take me seriously. Makedonia looks like it's slowly being worn down; I might have to intervene, possibly taking Dalmanion from Epeiros and letting it rebel. That should probably do some harm to their economy. Or I could give it to the Aedui in preparation for attacking them in 20 years time.

242BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../242BChard.jpg

Chances of me signing a peace with Carthage giving me Lilibeo are nil with the diplomacy AI, I'm slow-besieging it. They landed reinforcements which I allowed access to the city. I might break off and wander away after a few turns, we'll see.

Might send a diplomat over to the islands to try to bribe them. My economy has really taken off now, starting to have big surpluses. Might recruit a third legion to soak it up. Currently giving lots of money to the Arverni, who only have two provinces in the hopes they'll slow the Aedui down (who now have about six, including Ankrya which I gave them; should have given it to the Arverni on reflection).

Makedonia seem to have rebounded, they're heading east and south, though worryingly a bit north too. For a brief time I thought I'd have to tame Epeiros but it's good old Makedonia who are the threat again. Maybe they'll be sucked into a maelstrom of hurt in Asia Minor...

239BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../239BChard.jpg

I've taken Lilibeo and am now proceeding to the islands. Once that's done, it'll be a Force Diplomacy jobbie to get peace and trade with Carthage.

Elsewhere in the world, the Arverni continue to struggle against the Aedui - I'll give them some money again in a bit. Makedonia continue their inexorable march north; I may have to do something about that soon, perhaps a disposable family member with a mercenary stack. I certainly have family members to spare now since I need few governors outside of central Italy. Doesn't look like the Getae will stop them.

That said Taras has just been moved up from type IV to type III and Rhegion and Bononia can't be far behind with their client rulers ailing. Thus they'll need proper governors. Bit annoying that you have to use military pacification for a turn when changing your government type.

Anyway Pontos is a surprise winner in Asia Minor, although we'll see if Galatia slows them down, or the Seleukids wake up. They've allied themselves with the Ptolemies, so perhaps a pincer movement will yield results. Not sure what Makedonia are doing in Asia minor besides holding territory.

No one seems interested in Crete, which is bizarre.

237BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../237BChard.jpg

Pictured at the bottom is the "renegage" family member and his mercenary army. He's taken it into his head that he could do better on his own and has set off east. I've sent him to stop Makedonia expanding any further northwards, they've already crept past the Getae and that won't do. I'd rather drive them into Asia Minor where they and the Seleukids and Ptolemies can grind each other to a stand-still.

I've now taken Sardinia and Corsica, and have peace and trade with the Karthadastim. How long it will last, time will tell. My First Punic War is now over. In the final battle for Karali, I killed three of their family members, bringing the toll to five of their worthies dead in this war and none of mine.

Mostly, apart from Makedonia who've hared off up north and into Asia Minor. A few turns on and the Getae are in Asia Minor and there's a real shuffling of ownership going on between them, Makedonia, Epeiros and KH. I've got my mercenary stack, which is taking a very long time about getting there, heading across Getae lands to take that finger up north. Then perhaps to restore Pella to Makedonia since they just lost it to KH.

231BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../231BChard.jpg

Eastern Europe is a mess, as you can see. In the top corner Makedonia are trying for Olbia. They lost their capital a few years ago. That's my stack of "troublemakers" with their disposable mercenary army, who will hopefully reshape the area a bit (I plan to reduce Makedonia first, then help them). That said I'm already running into the supply problem the moment they got off the boats, but I can't risk losing them all to a single pirate attack.

Offscreen I've just loaded a more usual consular army, with a consular general even, to start my Illyrian campaign. May end up with a war with Epeiros since they're headed for Segestica and already hold Dalmanion. I'll grab both before that campaign is up. Also preparing my second army for Cisalpine Gaul, both Patavium and Mediolanium are held by the Aedui, but war with them shouldn't be a problem. Might spur the Arverni to do something.

225BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../225BChard.jpg

I've done what I can to fix eastern Europe, my expedient mainly involved supplanting the Makedonians and restoring the Getai. I think it's about time I had peace with Makedon, now I need to restore Pella and maybe Demetrius to them. Which means war with KH, but that's not an issue, they've been getting rather powerful in the meantime.

Asia Minor is an even bigger mess, the Seleukids have been driven right out and the Ptolemies are running riot. Maybe once I've restored the Makedonians to some semblance of survivability they'll drive out the Ptolemies? Or perhaps Pontus will finally come to blows with them, and then the Seleukids can come into the vacuum.

The Sauromatae look worrying like they're going to be wiped out. Arverni seem allergic to expansion, they've finally taken a province and it took them long enough. Need them to keep the Aedui busy, especially once I've taken Patavium and Mediolanium from them. That might quiet them down some...

...no screenshot, but winter of 224BC and I've taken Patavium after a pitched battle not far from the settlement. The AI quite cleverly turned my flank by sneaking through the woods, but they didn't have any Gaesatae so after a hard slog they were driven off. Give it a year or so to settle things and install a client ruler than Mediolanium is next!

223BC and the consul of the year, Publius Atilius Regulus is about to lead his consular army on Mediolanium.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ts/Regvlvs.jpg

I'm especially impressed because I've nurtured this family member since he came of age, and in spite of him being a plebian I decided he was going to be somebody. First as a tribune, when he aided one of the old consuls in battle, and later. He's done a lot of rebel-killing before he started these campaigns in Cisalpine Gaul. I also made him faction heir.

Why are almost all my family members drunks?

As to the world, there's been some interesting happenings. Karthadast took Tolosa, which I couldn't allow (don't want them in Gaul, and it's one for their reform which I don't want to happen). They've swept up a lot of Hispania while I wasn't looking - my spy there died a few years ago and it was a while before I sent a replacement.

Diplomat couldn't bribe the army besieging Tolosa. I was at a loss, then I remembered I had spies in the region. Two spies in recently taken province and there's a revolt. Unfortunately to the Aedui, not Arverni, but you can't have everything. That's another enemy for the Aedui, who are at war with Roma, Karthadast, Arverni, Sweboz and Pontos (courtesy of Galatia). Hopefully the Arverni will step up as the Aedui are worn down...

I've been restoring cities to Makedon to try to restore the balance of power in eastern Europe. They've had Pella and Demetrius returned to them, Thermon is next. Then I think I'm done meddling there for a while, I need the trade with Greece to recruit my new Polybian armies.

Because once Mediolanium is taken, I'll start demobilising my old armies (I'll disband outside a settlement, I really don't need the extra people in any of them). Though I'll send one "old" stack back to Sicily, I figure a backwater province would get the leftovers.

Then one for Rome/Capua, one for Illyria, one for Italian Gaul, and a new one for Spain.

I'm sending a diplomat out to the wastes of modern Russia to rescue the Sauromatae. They've only got two provinces left, the Hai are wiping them out. I can't have that, not after going so long without any faction being threatened with extinction.

I may need to do something about Pontos and the Ptolemies too. As you can see, the Ptolemies have the Seleukids in full retreat. Their only saving grace is that the Pahlav are between them and Baktria.


222BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../222BChard.jpg

I'm really not impressed with Makedonia. They've lost Thermon and Demetrius already. All that effort I made, and they've blown it. They lost Mytilene as well, so now they're just a mainland concern. May have to launch another rescue effort, possibly with the Illyrian legions.

Started recruiting my first Polybian legion, the last few battles of the Gallic campaign really ground up my men. Had to merge in reinforcements from the Sicilian legions to make up the losses. So I currently have two full-strength Camillian armies and nearly one full-strength Polybian one. I still plan to send a surviving Camillian legion back to Sicily when I've replaced the others.

220BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../220BChard.jpg

I'm doubly annoyed here. Firstly, I got yet another inexplicable, non-replicable CTD right after a heroic victory with the stack shown. Lost 40% of my force but destroyed a larger one. I've taken to saving every turn as a matter of habit.

Secondly, it's the campaign AI (not EB's fault, I know). Having just stopped Makedonia going north, and lamenting them losing two settlements I took for them, what do they do? Go for Getic lands again and ignore the KH armies besieging one of their major cities!

And a minor annoyance, why does the AI send out these blizzards of single units, instead of combining it's forces into a few half and full stacks? How is that effective or useful?

Naissos you can see there I restored to the Getai, indeed I'm at war with Epeiros right now to prevent anyone gaining ascendancy in the region. Looks like I'll have to go to war with KH again to save Makedon, possibly having to stop them taking Getic lands too. It's tiring work keeping the power balance in the region, especially when some factions seem totally incompetent.

I can't even ignore Makedonia for a while now, because they lost Mytilene and have no unassailable base like KH do with Rhodos. Not a lot I can do to stop KH's expansion around the Euxine, too far away. I can only hope the Hai will stop them.

Been giving the Sauromatae a lot of cash lately, along with the Arverni and Getai. The Arverni might finally take a fourth province, they're painfully slow at expanding.

218BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../218BChard.jpg

I just discovered Satres and his super-stack. I spotted them a few turns ago, and decided to send my best general with a consular army out to trounce them. Only not only did they outnumber me about 3:2 (my 2500 to their 4000), but I discovered afterwards they're all super-veterans. Which would explain why every single unit fought to the last man. Still my green troops gave a good account of themselves, took a long time for them to rout, and they killed a good 55% of the enemy.

Works well for a Hannibal-style string of defeats. I've just recruited another consular army, which I'll send up immediately. My only concern with beating that stack is that it'll mean no buffer between my northern border and the expanding Sweboz.

I'm going to have to attack the Makedonians again, they've taken two settlements off the Getai and I can't have that. Even while doing little to protect Pella, which they seem to have just about retained.

A whole bunch of settlements on the Euxine recently rebelled to KH. Fortunately the Hai are attacking those on the northern shore, which should stop them racing northwards. The Getai are similarly heading north, I can only hope the Sweboz will stop them.

I've been using the cheat to give the Sauromatae 10,000 extra mnai every turn, although doing it through my diplomat which is a bit clumsy. Also giving money to the Arverni who still aren't doing well against the Aedui. I wonder if the root of all this was in giving the Aedui Galatia in the first place, where they now have almost two full stacks of troops kicking around.

Getting close to time to sack Syrakousai (which is still rebel) and invade Spain. I just took Singidunum in my second Illyrian War, though I had to take it from Epeiros. No more expansion in that direction for a while, it does give me a nice platform to attack Makedonia later.

Only a little bit along from last time, 217BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../217BChard.jpg

Makedonia seem to have scraped along, retaining Pella and now they're at war with Epeiros (who themselves are now at war with Koinon Hellenon), so perhaps they'll all wear each other out. I'm going to take Buridava and Naissos off Makedonia to restore to the Getai. I may take Byzantion and give that to Makedonia, which will hopefully anchor them here and stop them trying to head northwards.

KH are losing their revolted settlements in the Bosphorous, which is good. Aedui and Sweboz march ever onward, and the Arverni are still really slow about expanding.

There's a bizarre scene outside Tolosa, a Karthadastim army has been sitting on the bridge, year after year, whittling down the Aedui armies that attack it, but never moving themselves. It was courtesy of a couple of my spies that the settlement revolted to the Aedui shortly after they took it that they are in that mess.

All that money I've been gifting the Sauromatae still hasn't borne results, the Hai have gone all the way north.

215BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../215BChard.jpg

As promised the scene outside Tolosa, there's a Karthadastim army still lurking around the bridge.

Not sure what's going on, but since switching to my Polybian armies, I seem to be having a harder time in battles. Lost an entire army fighting the Makedonians outside Buridava. They lost most of theirs too, it was all down to two units of theirs: damned hypaspistai and those Thracian elites. Couldn't break either without losing lots of men.

I recently failed in one of my goals to keep every faction alive, Pahlav just died. I think it was the Saka who got them. Still the Sauromatae are actually taking another settlement, and the Hai and KH are grinding each other down out on the Bosphorous.

I'm toying over whether I need to take Epidamnos from Epeiros or not, given it's part of the Illyrian coast. That might irreparably weaken them, though.

214BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../214BChard.jpg

If you're noticing a lot of change in the space of a year, I discovered just what you can do with Force Diplomacy. As in I've done some "re-balancing" of factions in a crude manner. It's cheating, but I'm more interested in trying to preserve historical accuracy than I am playing the game "fairly".

To the Arverni I've given them about three provinces to kick-start them into giving the Aedui some trouble. They're now at war with Qarthadast, and will likely be so with the Lusotanii soon as well now they share a border.

To the Sauromatae I've taken four provinces off the Hayasdan to push them back to where they were. It might not hold for long, but it should hopefully get them going.

I gave Makedonia Demetrius and Thermon, though I doubt they'll be able to keep them long.

I gave the Getai Buridava back, although the Makedonians have besieged it again.

Either way it's more elegant than using the cheats to keep giving the weaker factions money, or using my armies to take provinces then gift them away. I only wish I'd thought of it soon enough to save the Pahlava.

My next project will be to rebuild the Seleukids, so I can have a proper war with them at the turn of the century. And reduce the Ptolemies a lot since they've taken over the east.

212BC and my little Forced Diplomacy project is complete:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../212BChard.jpg

Ptolemies pushed back into Egypt, Seleukids restored and taken out of Baktrian lands, Pontus shrunk a little. Just a shame I didn't think of this earlier and save the Pahlava.

I have to revise my pessimism about Polybian armies not being any better than Camillian ones, I fought a massive Epirote force in a defensive battle, and they endured very well indeed. My hastati got mauled again, but they always do. The only unit who routed were my velites, who rushed off after routing troops from the main enemy force, and got hit by the arriving reinforcements.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...oteBattle1.jpg

That big rock is where I anchored the right flank of my line, which prevented them trying to turn it. I also had a lot more cavalry, even if little of it was heavy.

209BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../209BChard.jpg

I just landed an army under a Scipio (though actually managed by his legate Aemilius Scarus) in Spain, their "extras" are going to besiege Emporion while the main force engages the first of the three full stacks the Qarthadastim have in that part of Spain. Arse is the main target, to rescue all those good Roman allies.

Most of my appropriations a few turns ago have held, although not in Asia Minor where Pontos seem to be very strong. I think rather of having a war with the Seleukids when Spain is settled, it might have to be with Pontos instead. Similarly another campaign against Koinon Hellenon, rather than Makedonia might calm things in eastern Europe.

208BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../208BChard.jpg

After a hard battle outside Emporion, the city was taken without a siege by the reinforcements waiting on the boats.

However, it wasn't until the battle took place that I realised I forgot the flank-covering units. Meanwhile the nephew of Manius Cornelius Scipio, also with the same name has taken it upon himself to march reinforcement overland to help his hard-pressed uncle. Flankers, more cavalry and some replacements for heavies. If the navy learn of their existence then they might pick them up and speed the journey.

205BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../205BChard.jpg

After resupplying and getting reinforcements, my army of Spain is finally ready to continue the war. They've now destroyed three out of the four full-stack Qarthadastim armies in the region, you can see the last one at the bottom of the capture.

On board the flotilla at the top is some more reinforcements, both for the army and the garrison (moving some unneeded mercs from garrisons in Cisalpine Gaul). For some reason there are no mercenaries to be hired in Spain, and haven't been for the entire campaign there. I wonder if the enemy keep hiring them on their turn before I get a chance to?

The Seleukids are finally on the rebound, they're actually taking a province back from Pontos. All those gifts of settlements and massive amounts of money must finally be paying off. Maybe in a decade or so they'll be a worthy foe again?

Koinon Hellenon are still wiping the floor with Makedonia, I've had to take Pella and Demetrius off them again. Doesn't seem to be wearing them out any.

Epeiros don't know when to give up, now they are just sending three or four units at me without combining them. The legate over there took some levies with him and easily disposed of a larger force of Epirotes. I've beseiged Epidamnos, though I've no intention of taking it. Might Force Diplomacy a ceasefire and trade to let them take a breath.

I think the Karthadastim have tapped Spain out when it comes to mercs. Either them or the Lusotanii. Been years without any available. I was hoping to use them as "local levies" for garrisons. Instead I'm having to drag old mercs across from Italy and deplete Emporion by raising genuine local troops.

202BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../202BChard.jpg

Spain is progressing rather slowly; I've got another consular army en-route. Though I've just realised I forgot to send a tribune with it, so someone is going the land route.

Been doing more Force Diplomacy to keep the Sauromatae around, and also restore the Seleukids to some kind of power so I can attack them in a bit. Difficult though, Pontos is very strong. Added the Saka to my conservation list recently, Baktria are kicking them around.

Keeping Makedonia alive is a full-time job. I finally took Koinon Hellenon's Chersonesus provinces off them, I think they must have been giving them shed-loads of money. They don't seem to be slowing any in repeatedly taking Demetrius and Pella.

Epeiros are still throwing little armies at me. I'm going to raid Epidamnos and then see if they'll take it back for peace. Otherwise I'll Force Diplomacy it, getting a bit bored of beating them repeatedly.

That rebel super-stack is very successfully keeping the Sweboz off my northern border. I think the vaccuum created by the Aedui and Arverni kicking seven bells out of each other has let them grow strong. But I really don't want to fight them.

201BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../201BChard.jpg

I've fallen behind the times a little with my Second Punic War; still haven't had a decisive battle in Africa, nor indeed secured all of Spain. Not long now, though. My second army finally arrived and is on it's way to take Gader. All three other settlements now have their client rulers and local garrisons.

Although the lack of mercenaries in Spain is proving troublesome for raising troops to look after my client cities.

Segestica and Dalmanion now have upgraded mines and churn out silly amounts of money. I'm guessing once Spain's mines are also online, they'll be adding lots of funds. I think I'll station two consular armies in Spain permanently. Which means I'll need to raise my sixth one soon.

Oh, and I'm temporarily holding Epidamnos, but will give it back again soon. Got another fifty years or so before I can destroy Epeiros for good.

198BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../198BChard.jpg

Spain that was Qarthadastim is now mine. I've had their reform markers appear in all their original settlements, though just the one in each so the spam side isn't coming out. Had to use Force Diplomacy to get peace.

Been doing more of the gifting of settlements with diplomats too. The Saka were nearly wiped out by Baktria, had to hot-foot it over there to stop it happening. They were down to two settlements, with one of those under siege. Fixed now. I'll have to go rescue the Sauromatae again; in spite of the huge amounts of money they've been getting they're hopeless.

Something interesting has happened the past few turns - settlements have gone rebel over in the far east of the map. Possibly because they've changed hands so many times.

Most interesting of all though is Galatia - for reasons that are beyond me, the Aedui are trying to move their two full stacks over there back to Europe. Which meant no one was around to stop the province going back to the Eleutheroi.

Massilia is still free. The Seleukids are still incompetent. Same with the Makedonians. I recently took Serdike, destroyed the military buildings, and gave it back to Epeiros. Did the same to Athenai, Korinthos and Spartae to try to stop KH constantly taking Thermon and Demetrius off Makedonia. Getting a little tiresome re-gifting those settlements. Hopefully that should slow them down a bit.

196BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../196BChard.jpg

Been doing more to help the Seleukids be an actual force to fight against when my Syrian Wars start in four years time.

Since the Aedui abandoned Galatia, I gifted it to the Arverni. Should have done that in the first place. Conveniently, they're now allied to the Seleukids, so perhaps Pontus will suffer some setbacks. I managed to give Makedonia Mytilene back again as well.

Also been aiding the Saba in the hopes it will do something to contain the Ptolemies.

There are no longer any rebel provinces in Spain. Got about ten years before my wars there start.

195BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../195BChard.jpg

And the award for most ungrateful bastards goes to: the Arverni. Turn after turn of giving them cash in their struggle against the Aedui, gifting them Galatia recently, and what do I get? Treachery!

Worst thing is, my northern frontier isn't exactly weak. Mediolanium has a 3/4 stack sitting in it, Bononia, Segesta and Patavium nearby all have half-stacks. More importantly, the consular army for Cisalpine Gaul was even closer, in one turn they're mobilised and next turn will be able to attack.

Annoyingly they took Massilia a few turns ago while I wasn't looking. Chances are now it'll rebel to Koinon Hellenon if my spies do their work. Which might leave just Massilia and Rhodos as KH in a half-century when Greece is annexed.

Seleukids are persisting thus far, although I'm having to do a lot of Force Diplomacy to prevent the Ptolemies expanding back up into them again. I'm half-tempted to make them give me some of their important nearby provinces, destroy their war-making capacity, then give them back again. Did that to KH recently to slow them down.

Another ten or so turns before my Syrian Wars start, though I may be forced instead to fight Pontus. I won't take and hold, just destroy some armies, maybe take and destroy barracks in a few settlements to calm them down.

I'm still considering reducing Epeiros down to two provinces; it might stop me having to fight them every time they get it into their heads to attack the Getai. Then I'd give Serdike to Makedonia, who might be a viable threat again in 25 years time.

Saka and Sauromatae are still struggling in spite of each receiving 20,000 mnai a turn (I don't have it, I cheat for it).

193BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../193BChard.jpg

Pictured is the army for Syria which I'm recruiting, although a lot of it comes from existing troops rather than new ones. Just waiting for the pedites extraordinarii to return from Spain, who are with Roma's new governor. Might bring back some Samnites as well and keep those Illyrians as third row backup. Looking like it'll be a war with Pontus, though, rather than the Seleukids, though that might happen after.

Also besieging Massilia, though mainly to annoy the Arverni than any serious attempt to take it. Destroyed a couple of their full stacks recently and they're licking their wounds.

191BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../191BChard.jpg

Evidently losing a couple of full stacks and having two settlements besieged was enough to cow the Arverni;they accepted a ceasefire without even using Force Diplomacy.

Just had to rescue the Saka from Baktria with Force Diplomacy, though they're losing those settlements again already. Seleukids finally seem to be benefitting from the massive cash injection they've been receiving, they're actually taking the fight to Pontus and the Ptolemies.

And my Syrian War is about to begin. I have my army in Asia Minor, I think I'll attack Pontus first, reduce their armies some, then move on to the Seleukids. This time when they lose Asia Minor, I won't be helping them any more. Pergamon, then Sardis, perhaps with a field battle in between. My only worry is that Pontus have a lot of skirmisher cavalry in their armies. Any tips for dealing with them?

Epeiros seem to have quietened down, but they might just be rebuilding their warmaking capacity.

Using the console to give money to various factions is much quicker and easier than via diplomats. Plus it doesn't make them more favourable to me either.

190BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../190BChard.jpg

Took Pergamon and Sardis with trivial losses, but they were only garrisoned with a single family member. It's been two turns and still Pontus has refused battle. I thought besieging their settlements would bring at least one of the three stacks hanging around out to fight. Now I'm positioned provocatively on a river crossing hoping they'll play. Their faction leader is even there, just watching as I ravage their countryside.

Not bothered if those two revolt, I've done what I wanted to there - destroyed barracks and smithies so they won't be churning out troops for a while. I've also cheekily put in some Roman sanitation for a little culture penalty for whomever takes it over. Pergamon has a nominal mercenary garrison to slow them down a bit - archers and phalangites basically. I'm hoping I can get a little siege there before it revolts and kicks them out.

Saka are useless, they lost everything I gave them already, had to give them back again.

189BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../189BChard.jpg

After a "cold" start my Pontic War is flying along. My warmonger (now finally a Sated Warmonger...) destroyed three full or near-full stack Pontic armies, and now they seem to be throwing the kitchen sink at me. Perhaps being within besieging distance of their capital has stiffened their resolve? Most of those armies were light skirmisher cavalry, though, which wears out my cavalry but isn't much of a threat to my line.

They don't seem to have a lot more. When I take Ipsos I'm going to destroy all the barracks which should slow them down.

I lost Sardis to a revolt - it went Seleukid. I'll have to do something about that, or perhaps just beat back some Seleukid stacks and let their neighbours do the rest. They're an actual credible threat now, all those turns of giving them money finally paid off.

Same goes with Makedonia who are finally taking the fight to Koinon Hellenon. Hopefully not too quickly, so I can intervene to rescue the Greeks in about twenty years.

Surprised to see the Ptolemies suddenly kicked the Sabaen out of Africa, going to have to do some naughty Force Diplomacy to put them back on the map. I can't have an Egyptian superpower, it just won't do.

188BC (note the name of the captain):

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../188BChard.jpg

A lot of change on the map, courtesy of my Force Diplomacy. I'm trying to pull the Hai out of the steppes and get them to war with the Seleukids. Same with Baktria, who I don't want trying to exterminate the Saka. So they've both gained Seleukid territory and lost some of theirs again to Sauromatae and Saka respectively.

I've given the Ptolemies back some of the Syrian lands they had, but taken Saharan terrirtory off them and given it to the Saba. Saba are starting to build up some big armies with all that money I'm gifting them through the console.

Makedonia unfortunately are off northwards again, they've got a full stack outside Olbia. I may have to take Tylis off them to stop that.

Epeiros and Koinon Hellenon are wearing each other down, I can only hope Makedonia will step into the vaccuum so I can fight them in fifteen years.

Gearing up for my first war with the Lusotanii, although I think since I hold Emporion already I don't have a target for my "Ligurian War".

186BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../186BChard.jpg

My Syrian War is over, fought both Pontos and the Seleukids in the end. A fair few settlements have had their warmaking capacity reduced. The commander in charge finished having commanded more than twenty battles, he's got "Seen the Elephant". Shipping them home, the remnants can be resupplies for Spain.

Getting a bit annoyed at having to constantly use Force Diplomacy to stop the Sauromatae and Saka being annihilated by Hai and Baktria. Even more annoyed that taking Seleukid land and giving it to the latter two hasn't caused them to go to war. They just seem to ignore each other.

Makedonia nearly did that whole northward march thing again, but for some reason the full stack turned around and is headed back. They're still doing a poor job of protecting their capital.

In Spain they're gearing up for war with the Lusotanii.

Very good:smash:

fantastic i like this idea of histhorical acc

When I start a new game with 1.1 and my mini-mod, I'll be paying special attention to keeping factions alive. I really didn't start early enough in my game, Pahlava disappeared before I realised what was happening. Now I can't send a legion or eight into Parthia to get mauled a few times in 1st century BC.

Then bump up the Saka, so they are the next persian empire.

Give Baktria land in india and map it ceasefire with the Saka.

Give the Saka many provinces from eastern selculids and Baktria. Destroy the population in the provinces you have over, and make garissons for them.

I did that to palhava to kickstart the parthian empire.

Interesting. But, honestly, it looks more like hard work than a fun game...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alatar

Then bump up the Saka, so they are the next persian empire.

Give Baktria land in india and map it ceasefire with the Saka.

Give the Saka many provinces from eastern selculids and Baktria. Destroy the population in the provinces you have over, and make garissons for them.

I did that to palhava to kickstart the parthian empire.

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Annoying thing is, Saka had nearly wiped out Baktria in the early game, until Baktria and the Seleukids wiped out Pahlava. That seems to have been the point when it all went wrong, Baktria were able to focus on the Saka.

So if I pushed Baktria southwards into old Seleukid territories, and put the Saka into that vaccuum, could I get something like a horse-archer-focused enemy there? Or is this a better plan for my next game?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by I of the Storm

Interesting. But, honestly, it looks more like hard work than a fun game...?

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Depends on what's fun for you. Getting a close historical simulation, within the confines of what's possible with the RTW engine is what interests me. Which is why I'm so concerned to preserve as many AI factions as I can. Besides which, keeping them numerous and at each other's throats makes life easier for me. That's why I want the Aedui and Arverni roughly equal for as long as possible.

It was for this game.

You can actually bring factions back.

If you add a spawn army section into the script you can spawn a army for parhtia, then you can use force diplomacy to give them land. But I am almost 100% certain that the AI for that faction is damaged.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alatar

It was for this game.

You can actually bring factions back.

If you add a spawn army section into the script you can spawn a army for parhtia, then you can use force diplomacy to give them land. But I am almost 100% certain that the AI for that faction is damaged.

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According to someone else (MAA in fact), that'll just mean rebels with Parthian units, not the proper Parthian faction back from the dead.

Your AAR has been very interesting to watch, buy you interfered to much with the flow of game. I use the force diplomacy mod, and only make sure that small factions dont go extinct. In fact I let the Selucid empire collapse and the Ptolemaic empire replaced it. Bactria too had its share, as Pahlava. Wright now I am only making sure that the Ptolemies dont conquer all and destroy every think.
As mine second punic war is underway, I plan to conquer the north coast of Africa, and to give the inner provinces to the Saba. They are the other only semitic faction in EB, and when time comes they are a good substitute to Numidia. I also plan to leave Carthage intact, I only want to reduce its power.

Try to play alternative history with EB, 'the if what might have happened if ', its more fun. And as a Warhammer player, I very much like my dice. So I write down options available, like where to conquer next, or if and how to respond to any other faction expansion, when to go to war, and where to invade next. Then I write the names of all my Senatores in Italy, and throw a dice for each one, of course writing down beforehand, the meaning of each number or numbers. And I am having some surprise decisions with my Senate and Fun.

Cheers.

To be honest, I'm not even remotely interested in "what would happened if", nor in playing randomly. Lots of factions, great and small are much more interesting to me than a game that within 100 turns has turned into a race between just five factions. Besides a slower game where some new superpower isn't throwing stacks at me is more fun for me.

If you add in a family member and give them the horde funtion they are back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alatar

If you add in a family member and give them the horde funtion they are back.

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Don't you need to be running on BI for that? I ask because I don't have BI.

BI or Alexander ( I think), or a 1.5 patched RTW (If you look at the text files it says expanded_BI, and such, I believe 1.5 has many of BI's features)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alatar

BI or Alexander ( I think), or a 1.5 patched RTW (If you look at the text files it says expanded_BI, and such, I believe 1.5 has many of BI's features)

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But doesn't the fact that the faction died do something fundamental that's irreversible?

182BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../182BChard.jpg

I didn't start the war in Spain in the end, I already held the only "Ligurian" area of Spain so it seemed kind of pointless. But I am going to attack the full stack sitting outside Numantia (though I won't attack the settlement itself). There's also another one hanging around near Baikor for my other army to fight. Reduce the Lusotanii army a bit, then force a peace by 179BC.

Been a fair bit of settlement-swapping the last couple of turns. The Saka are singularly incapable of keeping hold of their settlements, which is starting to get annoying. Same goes the Sauromatae. They're both getting about 50k a turn now through the console, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I'm trying to pull Baktria down towards India, and also using them to stop any eastward Seleukid expansion as well. But they never go to war. Ideally I need the Hai and Baktria both to start draining Seleukid resources through war.

Otherwise Epeiros have suddenly gone aggressive and taken Thermon off KH, which at least slows their destruction of Makedonia down. Talking of whom, they finally seem to have found some direction and actually kept hold of Pella. They've looking like straying out north a few times, but never persisted, so far.

The Sabaen are something of a success story. They actually re-took Ptolemais-Theron and held Meroe. Then grabbed Bostra while the Ptolemies and Seleukids were keeping each other busy. Which kind of gives me a solution as to who should take those southern Seleukid holdings.

Pontos seem to have recovered from my rough treatment, and and re-taking Asia Minor. Pergamon re-asserted it's independence and is proving a tough nut to crack.

181BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../181BChard.jpg

Really, I am just about to start my first Celtiberian War. Next turn now the armies are in position and ready to begin. I might pillage Numantia if the army survives relatively intact.

Pergamon is about to fall, seems Pontos wore down their defenses a lot, and now the Seleukids swept in to take the prize.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

But doesn't the fact that the faction died do something fundamental that's irreversible?

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I've bought factions back from the dead before, they weren't to aggressive, but they seemed to do stuff.

keep an eye on the Ptolemaioi Quintus! They can take over the entire east in several years if your not careful.

They will if you let them, I regulary empty the ptolmies tressury which sets them back a bit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alatar

I've bought factions back from the dead before, they weren't to aggressive, but they seemed to do stuff.

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So there is a way around death then? I don't need them to be terribly aggressive, just alive. I can always use Force Diplomacy to start restoring territories to them.

How do I script the return of one of their family members? Will they actually be Parthian, or just a rebel in Parthian style?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thelord

keep an eye on the Ptolemaioi Quintus! They can take over the entire east in several years if your not careful.

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They seem to really be struggling against the Seleukids and Saba after I repeatedly took settlements off them. If you remember right back in 215BC they'd driven the Seleukids right out of Asia Minor and Syria. Now they can't hold on to those same settlements when I gift them back.

Is there any way to make two factions go to war? I really want Armenia going southwards at the Seleukids and Baktria halting their eastward progress. Seems they won't attack.

you can get them to attack another faction in the diplomacy scroll, but I find that they never do....

For forcing war, you can script it (like the script that makes rome attack kart-hadast).

1. What you do is give the faction the horde ability in descr_sm_factions.txt
2. Then you may have to add the horde funtion to there units (but I am not sure).
3. Them make a script spawning an army of parthia with a partian faction leader.
4. Activate the script and you have them.


This does work but it might affect the AI of said faction, but it may not.

179BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../179BChard.jpg

My first Celtiberian War just ended, I defeated two full Lusotanii stacks, sacked Numantia (then allowed it to revolt back to them), then forced a peace on them.

Sauromatae and Saka are still useless, even with me giving them 50k a turn, and taking 50k a turn off the Hai and Baktria through the console.

Ptolemies still seem to be struggling. They took Pselkis back off the Sabaen, but lost Kyrene to the Karthadastim. I might have to gift them some Seleukid provinces next turn.

Seleukids have pulled out of Asia Minor after I gave their settlement away. I was expecting them to fight, but they just left.

It's in Greece that strange things have happened. Epeiros have suddenly turned into conquerors, driving Koinon Hellenon out of Thermon, and besieging Korinthos. I may have to act to save them for once. I might do it with an army, which would give the Illyrian stack something to do (though they did deal with a massive rebel army recently).

Taras, Bononia and Rhegion are now full Roman provinces with type I governments. Only took 90+ years to get there. I've got a likely candidate to be my reformator, but he's only 22 at present. Which gives me enough time to build up my faction barracks in Italy to level four or so before any possibility of Marian Reforms. Which I won't then enact for decades.

Actually the holdings will be a bigger issue than getting him to the consulship. I won't have 45 provinces until 133BC or so.

Oh, and something else that happened recently - the Aedui and Arverni declared a ceasefire, which was worrying for me given they're both on my border. Turns out the Sweboz have given up on trying to defeat the two rebel super-stacks in Noricum and turned their attentions across the Rhine. The Aedui have suffered especially badly. I may have to send some diplomats up there for some regular FD tinkering. I don't want to launch a Gallic campaign up there for a very long time, and don't want a German superpower on my northern and western border. Time for some regular tributes and console-aided treasury boosting.

178BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../178BChard.jpg

Only a year later, but lots of change, courtesy of some Force Diplomacy. The Aedui and Arverni have been rescued, and the German threat averted for now. We'll see how long it takes before they need help again. The Lusotanii seem to be nosing around to see if they can take me in Spain.

The Saka lose settlements I give them time and again. Sauromatae only seem able to keep them for a turn or two. Both are on 50k-a-turn income support, and their aggressors losing the same amount every turn.

I'm a little worried that Pontos will return to their conquering ways, now they have the run of Asia Minor. Tempted to grab Pergamon (and maybe Sardis) then attempt to get it to rebel.

Three-way war in Greece is still uncertain. Long as it's a stalemate, I don't have to get involved. I'm currently raising another army for Illyria, so it will have two. Bringing my total number of armies to seven; two in Italy, one in Sicily, two in Spain and two in Illyria. Largely just to absorb cash. Even building those pointless port upgrades to tie up money.

176BC:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../176BChard.jpg

The Ptolemies are really having a hard time of late. At war with the Seleukids, Karthadast and Saba, and losing ground on all three fronts. Had to do some hasty Force Diplomacy to restore them to their holdings at around this time. Strangely, once I gave Saba a desert province in north Africa, Karthadast declared a ceasefire with the Ptolemies. They haven't immediately gone to war with the Sabaen, although they immediately left the settlement to head into the Sahara. Bizarre.

Pontos have returned to their conquering ways already, taking Tarsos from the Seleukids. I'm wondering if I should take Mazaka off them and give it to the Aedui. Also considering taking Pergamon off them and giving it to Koinon Hellenon. Later on I might keep them alive in all those random Greek colonies around the place, rather than eradicate them.

Speaking of whom, they've in a three-way war with Makedonia and Epeiros, no one seems to be gaining the upper hand there. Good thing is it seems to have ended any Makedonian expansion northwards. Not sure what the Getai are brewing up, though, with all their enemies occupied.

I like the idea behind this AAR. Your soon gonna fight the Third Macedonian War right? I´d recomened taking Pella and making it a L4 Gov to represent the puppet republics set up, and if I rememeber correctly it somewhere around 165 that the Romans sacked Epirus. Then there´s the annexation of the rest of Greece around 150 BC, and by then the Third Punic War will just be starting up, so you´ll have plenty to do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by General Appo

I like the idea behind this AAR. Your soon gonna fight the Third Macedonian War right? I´d recomened taking Pella and making it a L4 Gov to represent the puppet republics set up, and if I rememeber correctly it somewhere around 165 that the Romans sacked Epirus. Then there´s the annexation of the rest of Greece around 150 BC, and by then the Third Punic War will just be starting up, so you´ll have plenty to do.

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Indeed, my 3rd Makedonian War is not far off, I've raised another army and stationed it in Illyria for exactly that purpose. There's now two full stacks kicking their heels there. Epeiros is due for a plundering when it's done, and I'll make Makedonia my protectorate.

Funnily enough, as Saka myself I ate the three Baktrian cities on turn four (and Chach too!), and continued to roll Pahlava by 260 or so, then Kophen and Taksashila (Level 2 mines, Indians, and all the Indo-Greek troops, though a grueling fight against a fullstack that ate the whole 45 minutes of time). By 255 I had former Parthia, Baktria, parts of Seleukeia, and the steppe right to the north (Maszakata, Alanna, Yuezhi, Saka, Dayuan).

AAR that covered that expansion: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...ht=Of+Mail+Men