Currently at war with the yellow death and the Luso's. I vanquished the QH in 115 B.C. and as I expected, I was immediately set upon by the Luso full stacks at two different settlements in Iberia. But of course I've had years and years to prepare for them, and their six full stacks are now down to two. :laugh4:
I've booted the Ptoly's out of Africa without much trouble, gifting Augila to the Saba. I also took and gifted them Petra, but it quickly rebeled back to the Ptoly's, and they've been staunchly defending that area ever since, with wave after wave of stacks. I'm trying to keep a Roman core with a historical composition to my two legions there , so it's been constant ferrying reinforcements from Italy.
They've also been knocked back to Asia Minor, as I took Serdike and the KH took Byzantinum. I had something funny happen outside of Pella, when I marched my legion just shy of the gates and ran out of movement points. I was the attacked by a Ptoly relief army during the AI turn, and after wiping them out along with the Pella garrison, I thought I could just march right into my new settlement. But alas, the KH swooped in during their turn and took it without a drop of blood! :laugh4: Not wanting to go to war with my new allies just yet, I've let them have it.
I've still stayed out of northern Gaul, and after gifting two settlements to the Casse I was hoping they would do something, but they've done nothing but march their full stacks around Brittania (Do they ever build a ship and sail across the channel?) . The Sweboz finally got around to taking Viennos from the Casse, so I'm expecting to be attacked by them soon now that our common border has grown larger.
After rushing to get the Marion reforms as quick as possible in my previous Romani campaigns, I decided to try and time them in this one to 107 B.C.. Of course with so much money, most of family members are fat and lazy, and the ones that are S/C/V are almost all Optimas, so I've failed miserably in that department. I don't see them coming for quite a while, which is fine because I think I prefer the Polybians anyway.
In this screen from my last campaign (which I stopped at the same year I'm at now), I've already had the Augustan reforms. I must say, going slower has been much more enjoyable. Of course I've also gotten very lucky with AI passivity so I've pretty much been able to move at my own pace with few surprises.
I started a new H/M Hayasdan campaign using the cities mod, which limits the growth of most cities and removes roads from the steppes. Here's the situation in 201 BC:
The Seleukids, who for a long time have sent armies from Syria seeking in vain to retake their heartlands: the river between the Seleukid city of Antiocheia and the Hai city of Edessa runs red most years. They recently switched strategy and started besieging Trapezous, so my faction heir came down out of the mountains to take the old Pontic lands from them. Now that he's started he'll probably keep pushing into Asia Minor.
Pahlava, who attacked me as soon as we shared a border, and have sent a constant stream of armies to besiege Gabai. They're still allied with Baktria and have declared a ceasefire with the Seleukids, in order to give me their full and undivided attention. When my faction leader tried to move beyond Gabai, his royal army was utterly defeated by a stack of Pahlavan cataphracts. He therefore stopped eastward expansion until the first set of Persian reforms are done. Meanwhile my armies huddle behind stone walls and rely on slingshot and arrows for their defense.
Currently allied with:
Epeiros, who couldn't quite finish off either Makedonia or the Koinon Hellenon and are still regretting it.
The Romans, who are doing quite nicely and have Marian troops to play with. The Lusos have just started exploding, which will probably let the Romans grab some weakened Gallic towns before they too have to face the Iberian flood.
The Ptolemaioi, who are stuck in desert wars with Saba and Carthage. I'm carefully avoiding a shared border, and will leave Antiocheia in Seleukid hands for as long as possible, just to reduce the chance of the Ptolemaioi war machine turning its attention to the north. My biggest worry is that one of the Seleukid border towns will rebel to the Saba and then be conquered by the Ptolemaioi, leaving me with a shared border.
The Sauro, who are really hampered by the cities mod (small towns and no roads).
I'm also neutral with and bordering Pontos, who are concentrating on walking an army all the way round the Black Sea to the Bosphoros, and the Saba, who are busy trying to reinforce towns that rebel from the Seleukids and Ptolemaioi. Neither Pontos nor the Saba will ally with me because they're both at war with my Ptolemaioi allies, but I pay them regular tribute just in case it helps.
Having been dirt-poor for most of the game, I've taken most of these lands on the cheap. A typical early Hayasdan army had levy phalangites for the main line, Caucasian archers to thin down skirmishers, Scythian horse-archers to harass and chase routers, and whatever local troops I could find as flankers. Mercenary Babylonian heavy spearmen are my current favorite, since they can slaughter cavalry with their spears, and smash elite phalangites with their armor-piercing maces. They'll be first on my list to recruit when I complete the next set of Persian reforms in Babylon and Seleukia. And I'm just beginning to experiment with Armenian cataphracts and armored horse-archers, which I'll probably need to take the offensive to Pahlava.
This one actually works fairly straight, since in reality Pyrrhos was the ruler of Syracuse for a bit before he got bored and went elsewhere. I reason this as him leaving his sons in charge, and they managed to hold on to power. I killed him off immediately on taking Syrakousai at the beginning, and also offed Helenos at the start.
I've just completed a little war with the Karthadastim, the first Punic War in which Rome did very little (they were also at war with them, but after a half-arsed attempt to take Messana seem to have given up on Sicily). They started it, having taken Messana in about 251, they came for me in 247. Four years of war (including three proper battles in the field and two sieges) and Sicily is now mine. Now things are consolidated, I plan to interfere in Hellas and Asia, sending armies by boat to enforce my vision of how things should look there. Building up my economy to support that army right now.
Rome are my allies, and I'm giving them 200 mnai a turn to hopefully leave me alone. Their garrisons in the south are pretty thin, and they've not sent anything my way in a long time. Bar agents - a diplomat and assassin arrive every other turn and I kill them all with my crack squad of cutthroats. I have been using the cheats to constrain their northward expansion; repeatedly adding troops to the garrisons of Segesta and Bononia. They're currently at peace with both Gallic factions, though once they eventually take Cisalpine Gaul that will all change.
I have a navy now, spent the better part of fifteen turns hunting down all the pirates (and there were a lot of them, they'd driven all the other navies out of the sea).
Pahlava are a surprise, back in about 265 they were down to two provinces and facing extinction. Then I started feeding them money via the console, and they've turned it around. Baktria were in a similar place about 20 turns ago, I spawned a full stack in Baktra which was under siege to a tiny Saka army and now they've splurged.
Longer-term I'm going to take the Karthadastim islands, maybe Emporion and draw Rome into Hellas by fair means or foul.
A lot of the map is still rebel, but that's because I regularly give them several hundred thousand mnai via the console.
12-20-2010, 01:47
The_Blacksmith
Re: Post your EB empires!
Im sorry to break in to your lovely campaign Quintus, but i have to ask... who owns Ankyra?
and, just a little idear i got? how about taking some greek city states like Kyrene and Aetolia? (presuming they are not KH or Ptolymaric now)
12-20-2010, 02:17
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blacksmith
Im sorry to break in to your lovely campaign Quintus, but i have to ask... who owns Ankyra?
The Aedui have Galatia. I think that was some Force Diplomacy in the 260s after it kept hovering on rebellion but not quite tipping over.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blacksmith
and, just a little idear i got? how about taking some greek city states like Kyrene and Aetolia? (presuming they are not KH or Ptolymaric now)
I'm tempted by Kyrene, but I've taken it in so many migration campaigns (and played with it as my starting point) that it might seem too familiar. Both Kyrene and Thermon have massive garrisons, so are pretty safe for a while.
Aitolia might be an interesting break from the usual routine, I'd be holding the ring against both Makedonia and Koinon Hellenon. Perhaps I could reason an invitation of assistance? I do want to intervene in Hellas at some point, though I think I'll wait for someone to take it first, rather than displacing some rebels.
12-20-2010, 09:13
Jebivjetar
Re: Post your EB empires!
Jebs' Parthian empire, 153BC
My recent activities in this campaign:
-destroyed AS by taking their capital-city Maracanda
-invaded Asia Minor, captured Ancyra and gave it to my allies, Aedui
-sent two stacks onto Egypt for purpose of capturing Alexandreia and Memphis
at war with Baktria, Makedonia, Ptolemaioi and Saba
allied to Aedui and Saka
12-20-2010, 16:08
Lazy O
Re: Post your EB empires!
You and wolf swapped avatars? Seriously people I cant recognize without the avatar....:dizzy2:
Nice empire btw. Why are the sister lovers still alive?
12-20-2010, 22:26
Jebivjetar
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy O
Nice empire btw. Why are the sister lovers still alive?
Thanx, Lazy O :)
Against the sisterophiloi (^^) i fought for years now, but i haven't invade their homelands because i was very busy fighting AS, Pontos and Makedonia respectively. Now i finally have meet the requirements for a brand new major engagement and the Yellow Fellows suffer already. I've just beaten them around Alexandreia twice and the gates to Egypt stand open before my mighty Pahlavans. ^^
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
You and wolf swapped avatars? Seriously people I cant recognize without the avatar....:dizzy2:
Nope, i am Cute Wolf. Can't you recognize me? :clown:
12-22-2010, 03:32
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Back to Pergamon, and it's good to be back. This is definitely the migration that works the best. 262BC and we've just surprised the Seleukids, after breaking off the alliance the previous year.
I have spies and assassins at work in Mytilene and Ipsos, but I doubt they'll come to much even though neither has a governor. Having taken Sardis, I'm done with expansion for a while. I'm avoiding the exploit of taking the islands (Krete, Rhodos, Kypros), at the very least until I can actually build a navy. That means taking Mytilene, since I think it's the only naval port nearby.
There's been actual movement in Gaul, both factions have taken stuff despite my pumping money into the rebels. I've found that giving Galatia to one of them tends to paralyse them, so this time around when the time comes I'm going to give it to the Casse, since they never do anything anyway. Might still give them the Belgae lands, especially if they'll do nothing once they have them.
The Lusotannan are more active than I've seen them, and the Romans are chomping at the bit to get into Gaul. Successfully dragging them into Sicily, right now they have an FM besieging Messana which should kick off a war with Qart-hadast.
12-22-2010, 17:11
Valion
Re: Post your EB empires!
I love all your empires!
specially love your role-play QuintusSertorius :)
I'm gonna post here too when my Spartan Led KH Campaign becomes big enough to be considered an empire.
Cheers!!
12-24-2010, 03:33
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Cheers, Valion. I'm half-tempted to start writing an AAR again, though not sure whether that would increase or decrease my enjoyment of the game. Might also be a lot of time where I'm just building up my economy, or meddling with the nearby powers. Some of the latter might be interesting, I guess.
12-25-2010, 16:54
Valion
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius
Cheers, Valion. I'm half-tempted to start writing an AAR again, though not sure whether that would increase or decrease my enjoyment of the game. Might also be a lot of time where I'm just building up my economy, or meddling with the nearby powers. Some of the latter might be interesting, I guess.
If you ever write a AAR again do inform us :)
I also spend a good amount of time building up my economy, and so far here is the result of my game.
12 Years into the game all of southern Greece is mine and 2 terretories in Asia Minor and also my far western territory Massilia. Honestly this was the hardest campaign i played in EB, I'm at war all my neighbors except the Romani but i fear that war is also on its way since Massilia is in the way of their expansion. Makedonia constantly attacks me(which is fun :D) and as you can see in the pic Pyrrhus is a serious pain in the arse since when i fight him his soldiers are like rocks and dont route.
Most of the action happens in the mainland and Asia, the Seleukai weren't happy when i took a city of theirs. thankfully the Averni arent in the mood to attack Massilia.
Curiously my Faction Leader still lives and even bore another son 2 years earlier while being Flaccid lol, although why is it that its so hard to get him command stars? He's already seen the elephant with all the time he spent dancing with the Makedonians but he's nothing compared to the 10 Star walking death of Epirote.
Well thats about it i'l probably annoy the Romani soon so that i can have more fun fighting battles.
The war with the Seleukids was concluded (without FD!) in a ceasefire whereby Pergamon kept Lydia. Feeling the need to posess a navy, yet lacking any ports deep enough, Pergamon intrigued with an independence faction on the isle of Lesbos, and moved to support an insurrection there.
It's now a client state of Pergamon, ruled by one of their own worthy oligarchs.
Pictured is the army of Pergamon, largely mercenary, and stationed outside the city.
Makedonia have suddenly switched with KH. For a time it looked like they were going to be steamrollered, then in the last two or three years they've been energised. Possibly by losing Mytilene.
Way out east, the Saka are splurging. For some reason Baktria don't seem capable of holding them back. Pahlava seem to have gone to sleep. Pontos are still doing nothing.
The First Punic War rumbles on really slowly in Sicily. Qart-hadast have more than a full stack there, but haven't tried to do anything with it.
The Arverni have suddenly kicked up a notch in Gaul. I've dispatched a mercenary army to help the Aedui out a little.
Pontos empire, H/M using BI.exe with the cities mod - but I'm posting it mainly for the scary Carthaginian naval invasions. They've wanted Tolosa in southern France forever, with a couple of family members wandering up there from Iberia in the early game. Then they switched focus to Italy, sending two full stacks who conquered as far north as Rome before being pushed back to Sicily (and who received no reinforcements, just like in real life!). Now they're busy squashing Gaul via naval invasion - the first wave took Tolosa and Burdigala from the Arverni, and Massalia from Rome. This is their second wave of troops arriving in three fleets.
Also scary: Pahlava just wiped out Baktria (the only faction to die so far), and took Saka Rauka as a protectorate. Rome was doing ok - I was impressed that they managed to push the Carthaginians out of Italy - but I think they'll have problems against these full stacks. As Pontos, I'm fending off weak attacks from the two Ptolemaioi remnants (which I've carefully maintained as border states with Pahlava and Carthage), still allied with the Hai, in a cold war with the Sauro, and am now invading Hellas after the treacherous Epeirotes broke our alliance and attacked. Makedonia still holds out on Chalkis, but I'll probably have to declare war and wipe them out soon, just to protect the flank of Athenai. The Koinon Hellenon have carved out a little empire in Iberia, using just three local light troop types: velites, milites, and caetrati. They field full stacks of those led by veteran family members, and carve up the Luso heavy infantry. The Seleukids are clinging on by the skin of their teeth. The big question is who Pahlava chooses to squash next.
This is the Hellenic world, Greece and Ionia. Makedon are starting to dominate the scene, though the Getai are on the march too and challenging them. I'm wondering if its time to set foot in Hellas and even things up. Perhaps free the cradle of Greek civilisation from Makedonian dominion?
I'm also recruiting a "marine" force to soak up money, maximum 8 units to stay on board my fleet and strike at places at will. Any ideas for what it should contain? So far I've recruited a unit of Thureophoroi, and planning one of Asiatic Light Cavalry.
The First Punic War ended with a fizzle. No one has been able to take Messana and the Romans have given up. Pontos and Baktria started to get their act together, as did Hayasdan. The Arverni steam-train rolls on.
I didn't keep Galatia, I just took it from the rebels and gave it to the Casse. Who have already rewarded me with this cunning little move - ambushes set on the approach road from Ipsos. So hopefully they'll be embroiled in a fight with someone soon. They've already done more than I've ever seen Aedui or Arverni do when Galatia rebels to them. Besides which I think they're earning shed-loads of money in Britain (where they've picked up pace recently), so won't be idle.
There was a brief war with the Seleukids when I marched for Galatia - straight across Phrygia. They attacked me, in one turn I repelled the three full stacks lurking around Ipsos. A couple of turns later, they accepted a ceasefire without any Force Diplomacy! It'll be a few years yet before I want to take Ipsos off them.
In the meantime I want to cause Kappadokia to revolt, or install a client kingdom there. Or both. Or maybe that should wait til after I've taken Ipsos, so at least they have a chance to reinforce.
The war rages on in Sicily. The Romans have finally taken the war to the enemy, and might even kick the Karthadastim off the island. They're also besieging Bononia, and so might start down the Illyrian coast in time.
For my part, my family is getting a little thin. I've got five FMs, the youngest is my new FL who's 40. I've resorted to hiring mercenary generals out of the client kingdom of Mytilene for the time being. I also have a load of female children (five to be precise), and just the one male who was born this year (to the FL).
No one seems able to resist the Saka. Baktria have lost their capital, though they did try to retake it recently (and have dithered with several armies around that Seleukid city encircled by their land, but not attacked). Pahlava are doing bugger all. Pontos are doing nothing. Hayasdan keep trying for Kabalaka, I might have to FD them Karkathiokerta to start them warring with the Seleukids.
The Aedui have turned the corner and are now driving the Arverni out of Gaul. The Casse are working out nicely in Galatia. They now have an FM there, who is gathering a full stack to go alongside the full stack in Ankyra.
Reinforcement battle, but I waited for them to combine. Mine wasn't exactly an elite army, neither was theirs. My slight superiority in cavalry was telling (two FMs plus two lights v their two FMs plus one heavy and several depleted lights).
The second FM is actually a recruited general, rather than an Epirote/Pergamene FM.
I swear the rebellion stuff is bugged. I had a swarm of assassins around Mazaka constantly destroying barracks, temples and baths, but it never stayed low enough to cause unrest. Having the same with Salamis, despite the lack of a proper garrison and dropping order as low as 20%, there's never any unrest.
The Seleukid AI seems to be cutting its losses in Asia Minor; second time I got a ceasefire with regular diplomacy and offering nothing in return.
I looks on there like I've got a long slice of Anatolia, but I don't hold Galatia, the Casse do. Unfortunately their blue faction colour is similar to mine.
The Romans finally took Sicily and Bononia, but they're now at peace with the Karthadastim. Baktria retook their old capital (Saka appear to have been halted). Pahlava and Pontos are still idle.
01-03-2011, 09:44
vollorix
Re: Post your EB empires!
I remember terrorizing Taras held by Romans while playing Carthage where public order dropped down to zero, but no rioting or rebellion, and the AI must have had taxes at least at "high" due to no growth. Same was happening to Bononia. But when playing Aedui i always used to manage Bononia to revolt to me.... really strange.
Btw: it must be kind of hidden trait since it´s getting more and more difficult to infiltrate a settlement with a family member after several turns, especially those of Eleutheroi. And Assasins have a 1% chance to kill a careless general ( up to -5 security ) with almost no influence - how comes? There is a limit of 10 "stars" for the killers, and if one even can´t get rid of some "trusting fools" with "expert assassins", what are they good for, except for sabotaging the poor AI? ^^
@QS: nice victory, and what was the enemy army composition, if i might ask?
01-03-2011, 17:42
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by vollorix
I remember terrorizing Taras held by Romans while playing Carthage where public order dropped down to zero, but no rioting or rebellion, and the AI must have had taxes at least at "high" due to no growth. Same was happening to Bononia. But when playing Aedui i always used to manage Bononia to revolt to me.... really strange.
Btw: it must be kind of hidden trait since it´s getting more and more difficult to infiltrate a settlement with a family member after several turns, especially those of Eleutheroi. And Assasins have a 1% chance to kill a careless general ( up to -5 security ) with almost no influence - how comes? There is a limit of 10 "stars" for the killers, and if one even can´t get rid of some "trusting fools" with "expert assassins", what are they good for, except for sabotaging the poor AI? ^^
I know there's a bug whereby multiple spies actually adds to order (making rebellion less likely). But sabotage rarely seems to work, even when you've got five or six assassins at work destroying stuff.
Which as you say begs the question as to what the point of assassins is, since they're usually useless against all but the most unimportant of enemy FMs (and never while they're in a settlement).
I don't want them to rebel to me, just to the Eleutheroi. Which I think will only happen if they're being held by their original owner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vollorix
@QS: nice victory, and what was the enemy army composition, if i might ask?
They were relatively similar in composition. Both had experienced FMs with large bodyguards (which they used badly). First stack was something like: four full-strength phalangites (mix of kleruchoi and pantodapoi), two or three depleted phalanxes, two full-strength units of Hyrkanian hillmen, a full unit of eastern slingers, a full unit of peltastai, a full unit of Anatolian hillmen, a full unit of pantodapoi (maybe two), then assorted depleted units of some light and medium cavalry and other randomness.
Second stack was: again four units of phalangites (all kleruchoi this time), a unit of toxotai, another of peltastai, two Anatolian hillmen, one of pantodapoi, a unit of Lonchophoroi, and again random depleted bits.
Needless to say, I haven't been as busy conquering as you, and most of my conquered areas are still only allies or (as in Athenai, and even more so Sparta) just recently "upgraded" to a garrisoned allied state. I'm officially at war with Pontos, Ptolemaioi, Epeiros and the remnants of the Koinon Hellenon, with AS and Saba as my only fully* AI allies. However, the Koinon Hellenon are content with just keeping Rhodos and Halikarnassos (edit: plus Olbia, apparently - didn't even notice that 'till now), and aren't doing a lot. Pontos has acted much the same until about two turns ago when they besieged my Galatian allies. I see only sporadic raids from Epeiros, so there's no real threat from the west.
Other than that, I'm only really fighting to restore the balance in the east, taking Seleukeia and Edessa to give back to the Seleukids. I don't want the yellow death. :skull:
* My type 4 settlements with client rulers get "local autonomy", i.e. the AI controls them.
01-03-2011, 23:48
Paltmull
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus
Looking good! You got the reformed phalanx too I presume?
~Fluvius
Thanks! Actually no. From what I understand the City Mod prevents the March of Time reforms to take place, since no Italian city other than Rome can grow to huge size. I haven't really bothered changning the availiability in some other way, since I think the standard Pezhetairoi look a lot better :P
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Celtic Viking
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Compare that to my Makedonian kingdom that's 10 years older than yours (208 BCE for the mathematically illiterate ~;)):
Needless to say, I haven't been as busy conquering as you, and most of my conquered areas are still only allies or (as in Athenai, and even more so Sparta) just recently "upgraded" to a garrisoned allied state. I'm officially at war with Pontos, Ptolemaioi, Epeiros and the remnants of the Koinon Hellenon, with AS and Saba as my only fully* AI allies. However, the Koinon Hellenon are content with just keeping Rhodos and Halikarnassos (edit: plus Olbia, apparently - didn't even notice that 'till now), and aren't doing a lot. Pontos has acted much the same until about two turns ago when they besieged my Galatian allies. I see only sporadic raids from Epeiros, so there's no real threat from the west.
Other than that, I'm only really fighting to restore the balance in the east, taking Seleukeia and Edessa to give back to the Seleukids. I don't want the yellow death. :skull:
* My type 4 settlements with client rulers get "local autonomy", i.e. the AI controls them.
Damn, you're patient. :O I probably wouldn't manage ten turns playing in that manner, before starting to conquer everything around me.
01-04-2011, 01:01
Fluvius Camillus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paltmull
Thanks! Actually no. From what I understand the City Mod prevents the March of Time reforms to take place, since no Italian city other than Rome can grow to huge size. I haven't really bothered changning the availiability in some other way, since I think the standard Pezhetairoi look a lot better :P
Damn, you're patient. :O I probably wouldn't manage ten turns playing in that manner, before starting to conquer everything around me.
I hear ye...~D I'll post my Arche Seleukeia soon!
That looks like a big side-effect of the city mod, this probably can by fixed by making Capua available for huge city, for gameplay's sake.
~Fluvius
01-04-2011, 06:53
moonburn
Re: Post your EB empires!
fluvius i keep hearing about the city submod could you point me in the right direction and does it make cdtc more frequent ? i already have alot of problems with vista and eb being almost incompatible ...
01-04-2011, 07:36
Drag0nUL
Re: Post your EB empires!
Slightly on topic: how do you make screenshots? Tried Print Screen+copy to paint, but all I get is a completely black screen.
01-04-2011, 10:14
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by moonburn
fluvius i keep hearing about the city submod could you point me in the right direction and does it make cdtc more frequent ? i already have alot of problems with vista and eb being almost incompatible ...
City Mod. Comes in two variants, one which just generally reduces growth rates, and one which also caps the size that "barbarian" factions can grow settlements to.
I my own experience, it doesn't make any difference to CTDs. I haven't noticed any more and I've been using it a while. Not even when I hadn't properly installed it (requires a refresh of your map.rwm to work fully).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drag0nUL
Slightly on topic: how do you make screenshots? Tried Print Screen+copy to paint, but all I get is a completely black screen.
I use PrntScrn and paste to Paint.
01-04-2011, 12:27
Ludens
Re: Post your EB empires!
There is a problem with the anti-aliasing setting that turns screenshots black. If you switch AA off (or on) it should work properly. Personally, I use a freeware screenshot program like FRAPS.
01-04-2011, 21:36
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
A trio of disasters have sparked a crisis in Pergamon. First Ipsos fell to the Seleukids, while the army was off chasing another Seleukid army in the mountains of Kappodokia. The governor and the citizens held out as best they could, but we no match for the overwhelming numbers (I chose not to reinforce the garrison or break the siege, thus dooming them to their fate).
The Seleukids came for me again, so I figured it was a good time to start losing some. Since the garrison of Ipsos was a couple of units of levy hoplites and a couple of units of akontistai, they were never going to resist the numbers thrown at them, even with stone walls. I also threw away my army by auto-calc'ing the battle, the opposing general's five stars against my zero stars doing the work for me. That was the veteran army I used before, now savaged. I finished the job the following turn, a bare few hundred survived, to be merged into the reinforcements sitting in Pergamon.
I do have another army (who were acting as a cash-soak), but I've put them beyond reach. I'm hoping to engineer the loss of Sardis as well, to retake in a few years.
That horrid colour is Casse's new one so it doesn't disappear against my own. It's the faction colour of vanilla "Armenia".
01-04-2011, 22:15
The Celtic Viking
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paltmull
Damn, you're patient. :O I probably wouldn't manage ten turns playing in that manner, before starting to conquer everything around me.
Well, to be honest it's not so much patience at all. If it was it'd be totally out of character of me. No, what's allowing me to do this is mostly that I play with windowed mode on, while watching/listening to various youtube clips or debates, studying or whatever on the side. Honestly, EB has sometimes been a thing I've done on the side while I've been doing any of those other things.
Hmm. Do I sound like an EB junkie to you? :laugh4:
The former king, Alkyoneus, was the one who carved out most of the eastern part of the empire.
After Alkyoneus' death, eastern expansion stopped for a while at Seleukeia and Babylon, since there simply didn't seem to be any general of the same skill to continue after him. His son and the new king, Aristoxenos, was more administrativiely minded and preferred to stay in Pella; governing from there.
However, Alkyoneus' cousin, Kallistratos - who had accompanied the king on his campaign, and then remained governing the eastern provinces from Seleukeia - soon stepped forward and began expanding even further into Seleukid territory. After many great victories against several Seleukid armies, he managed to capture Phraaspa, Ekbatana, Susa and Charax. He now governs much of the eastern parts of the empire, something that will surely be passed on to his sons when they come of age. https://i571.photobucket.com/albums/...llistratos.jpg
The crown prince, Theodas, does despite his good education not seem to be very bright when it comes to administration and governing. To compensate for this and prove his worth he has left for a campaign to sudue the Arabs that have been harrasing the south eastern borders for way too long. Theodas is cruel, scrooge and selfish and it remains to be seen if his subjects will discover this or if he will manage to remain popular, perhaps through military victories. Those Romans have become increasingly disturbing in the west. If Theodas' Arabian campaign is sucessful, possibilities are that the next one will be in Italy... https://i571.photobucket.com/albums/...nceTheodas.jpg
01-05-2011, 00:16
Rahl
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by vollorix
Btw: it must be kind of hidden trait since it´s getting more and more difficult to infiltrate a settlement with a family member after several turns, especially those of Eleutheroi.
IIRC the hidden AI-Governor-trait includes a personal security bonus maybe also a public one. I recently saw an enemy FM coming of age and had a chance of 95% to kill him with my elite-assasine and when you begin a campaign most eleutheroi settlements are easily to infiltrate but become way harder to after some turns, so it only can be the ai-governor-trait.
I tried to take it slow and avoid a multifront war so I stayed put in Sicily while conquering North Africa and then pushing into Spain.
Rome however went on a westward expansion on the Mediterranean shore, got to Emprion before me, conquered it, and then attacked my possessions. So I assembled a new army at Carthage under Xanthippos(which you can see at Rhegion in the screenshot) which started making it's way across Sicily and now Italy. That roman fullstack above Rhegion startetis there since like 270 BC when they took Taras (which rebelled back to Epeiros, with some help from me).
The Lusotani are a non issue atm: we attacked romans in Spain together, but then started expanding northward, along the atlantic shore and are currently at war with Aedui (which just eliminated the Arvenii).
01-05-2011, 18:10
Africanus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Not too far off the win objectives now. I finally got the reforms around 84 BC, but I still have only one Marian army. I figured I'd wait until my Polybian armies got whittled down and then replace them with the Marians.
The KH finally attacked me by besieging Serdike, but it came at a most suicidal time for them as I had strong armies in the area to easily repel their attacks, and as they left Greece unprotected, I was able to march down and take all their settlements with little resistance. They've got four full stacks milling around on Crete, but like the Casse, they refuse to build a fleet and send troops to the mainland, even with the bi exe.
Not too far off the win objectives now. I finally got the reforms around 84 BC, but I still have only one Marian army. I figured I'd wait until my Polybian armies got whittled down and then replace them with the Marians.
Or you could do it in the historical way, and lose them in a catastrophic defeat (as Caepio did at Arausio).
01-05-2011, 21:25
Rahl
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanus
They've got four full stacks milling around on Crete, but like the Casse, they refuse to build a fleet and send troops to the mainland, even with the bi exe.
This part of the AI is bugged, like many other parts of it, but it works even on vanilla. I halved the costs of all ships and now the AI builds many fleets. In my current Casse campaign the Qarthadastim sended reinforcements to sicily and iberia, they only stopped after they captured all of Italy up to the po valley, lost it all to rebellion (with some help of mine) except Lilybeo and now again sended many fullstacks to Sicily and recaptured the island. The KH also has 2 fleets and brought 3 stacks to Sicily to help Syracuse, now they sail 2 half stacks back to anatolia after they have lost Sicily and Rhegion. Sometimes the AI works very well...
The war has gone badly, I've lost Sardis and now the capital itself is under siege. Though I do have an army immediately available to break it. Time to retake Sardis too, and slow the Seleukids recent good fortune (they retook Tarsos, and seem to be winning in the Levant).
They took Karia, but then it revolted to KH pretty much immediately (not my doing!).
As a result of losing Ipsos and Sardis, I'm bleeding funds badly. I'll go negative next turn, even after relieving the siege of the capital. Though I do have a massive building queue there, probably 70k in committed funds.
Been doing a bit of FD to liven things up, gave the Romans the islands and Emporion in the hopes of sparking off another war with Qart-hadast. Took Sala and Garama off them to stop their part of the world turning boring. They're doing really well in Spain, the Lusotannan are looking threatened.
Aitolia finally fell to one of the two warring factions. KH seem to be getting the upper hand.
01-06-2011, 07:16
Africanus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius
Or you could do it in the historical way, and lose them in a catastrophic defeat (as Caepio did at Arausio).
Blasphemy! :laugh4:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahl
This part of the AI is bugged, like many other parts of it, but it works even on vanilla. I halved the costs of all ships and now the AI builds many fleets. In my current Casse campaign the Qarthadastim sended reinforcements to sicily and iberia, they only stopped after they captured all of Italy up to the po valley, lost it all to rebellion (with some help of mine) except Lilybeo and now again sended many fullstacks to Sicily and recaptured the island. The KH also has 2 fleets and brought 3 stacks to Sicily to help Syracuse, now they sail 2 half stacks back to anatolia after they have lost Sicily and Rhegion. Sometimes the AI works very well...
How far along are you? I was getting lots of naval invasions early in the campaign, and the KH even had remnants of two fleets fairly late, but they just sat parked outside of Antioch before I suppose pirates took them out. At least I should get a good battle when I get around to taking Crete!
More frustrating is the Casse doing absolutely nothing the whole game, even after I gifted them some settlements in Gaul.
01-06-2011, 07:27
Africanus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius
As a result of losing Ipsos and Sardis, I'm bleeding funds badly. I'll go negative next turn, even after relieving the siege of the capital. Though I do have a massive building queue there, probably 70k in committed funds.
You're a man of great patience Quintus. I can't let my armies lose on purpose (or not give my best effort anyway), even if it makes the game more of a challenge. I think my next campaign I'm going to go from VH/M to VH/H to make the battles more difficult.
01-06-2011, 11:55
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanus
How far along are you? I was getting lots of naval invasions early in the campaign, and the KH even had remnants of two fleets fairly late, but they just sat parked outside of Antioch before I suppose pirates took them out. At least I should get a good battle when I get around to taking Crete!
With rtw.exe, the AI seems incapable of understanding islands. I've seen KH have ships, and not use them with any sort of consistency to move armies around, particularly off Rhodes and Krete. I gave them the latter in my game, but I constantly have to move their armies from there to the mainland for them via console. Same was true of Makedonia when they had Mytilene. Which besides securing a naval port was one of the other reasons I took it from them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanus
More frustrating is the Casse doing absolutely nothing the whole game, even after I gifted them some settlements in Gaul.
I gave them Bratosporios in my game, and they took the other Belgae settlement themselves. They've also built up a full garrison and full stack under an FM in Galatia, though they haven't done anything but patrol for the moment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Africanus
You're a man of great patience Quintus. I can't let my armies lose on purpose (or not give my best effort anyway), even if it makes the game more of a challenge. I think my next campaign I'm going to go from VH/M to VH/H to make the battles more difficult.
I can only lose on purpose by auto-calc'ing; it's quicker and I can't be tempted to win it. But this is a game that is going to run for a while, so I figure why not. If I'm trying to keep the AI factions within rough historical limits, then I should really apply the same rule to myself.
Statistical bonuses to the AI doesn't appeal to me (which is what you get with higher battle difficulties), same goes increased aggression (and bonus money to all - I prefer being able to give it via console to the factions I consider need it) with higher campaign difficulties. Especially when the increased aggression doesn't come with any improvement in intelligence.
Sardis' garrison was rubbish, about eight units of freed slaves making up the numbers. The other army, on the other hand, had two FMs (father and son) and some decent units in it. Needless to say, they're both food for crows. But Doesstos got his revenge on Medikes for the battle in Kappadokia five years earlier.
Not much has changed as a result, just Lydia rejoining the fold. Once I smack down that stack there, I'll declare for peace.
Pergamon is at peace, but the rest of Asia Minor is all over the place. The Seleukids conquered Bithynia, only for a native revolt to unseat them (my spies and assassins helped). Sort of spoiled their recent ascendancy, look at how much they've pushed the Ptolemies in Syria. The Makedonians were more successful on the other side of the Hellespont.
As you can see, the Casse "Galatians" have laid siege to the Pontic capital. While a Pontic army makes for Ankyra. Double treachery, but the barbarians got there first! Pontus took Trapezous recently, finally getting off their arses.
Can't see it on here, but the Romans just landed a full stack at Emporion. Maybe they're about to start a war in Spain with the Karthadastim?
Saba took Tuat all by themselves. Looks like the Karthadastim might have some competition in their backyard for a change.
01-20-2011, 03:12
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
I've got a new computer (one on which I can play M2:TW so ready for EBII), and started a new migration campaign. This time, Saba as Palmyra, though I'm keeping the Arabian provinces so I have something resembling an economy. There will be no support from the south, Palmyra stands alone.
Unbelievably, the Ptolemies and Seleukids are now at peace. We'll see how long that lasts, I don't fancy being caught between the two of them.
01-20-2011, 13:33
Lazy O
Re: Post your EB empires!
Hmmm, wont the names be a bit innacurate?
01-20-2011, 14:47
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy O
Hmmm, wont the names be a bit innacurate?
They will, but Saba were the closest fit I could manage really. At least they have some recruitables in the region, rather than relying entirely on mercs.
Turns out the Arabian light infantry are better than Pantodapoi. Though virtually everyone is better than Pantodapoi, so not that surprising.
01-20-2011, 22:55
The_Blacksmith
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius
They will, but Saba were the closest fit I could manage really. At least they have some recruitables in the region, rather than relying entirely on mercs.
Turns out the Arabian light infantry are better than Pantodapoi. Though virtually everyone is better than Pantodapoi, so not that surprising.
i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...
01-20-2011, 23:07
Fluvius Camillus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blacksmith
i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...
Not to forget they fight with spears in melee, which makes them even more useful!
~Fluvius
01-21-2011, 01:43
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blacksmith
i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...
They're a neat alternative sort of "heavy skirmisher" to peltastai. Better against cavalry, due to the spears.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus
Not to forget they fight with spears in melee, which makes them even more useful!
~Fluvius
Indeed. I'm planning to splash out on a range of mercs when things have stabilised with my economy; some merc hoplites, some Jewish spearmen (as thureophoroi-a-likes) and some Parthian horse-archers if I can find them. The rest I'll fill out with my regionals (Arabian light infantry and cavalry, Arabian slingers, Syrian archers).
01-21-2011, 03:26
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Not long later, here's the sort of crap the AI has started throwing my way:
Don't let the dip fool you, I disbanded all my garrisons for internal settlements and disbanded a few units that took too long to retrain. I lost the equivalent of a fullstack and a half of troops at least.
My goals right now are take out the Romans, give the Aedui the western coast of Italy + Sicily, take Iberia and perhaps divide it among the factions I want to see survive, then I'll cripple the Epirotes and give some land to the Getai just for fun.
What's happened so far:
My first action was to remove the Aedui from Gaul proper and unite it under the banner of the Verrix. The Aedui, with just Mediolanum, took all of Northern Italy and I allied with them against the Romans. However, the inevitable happened and the Romans pushed them back to Segesta and that's when I invaded Italy the first time. I sacked my way down to Rome and nearly lost my king in the process, but a series of Heroic victories kept his army from disappearing. I let Rome and Arretium rebel back to the Romans and kept Northern Italy safe from Roman aggression. By the time I managed that I had begun wars with the Sweboz and Lusos since I bordered them. The lusos continually besiege Emporion and Burdigala, but continually fail to take them. Once my king died, his successor (who still lives at age 63) declared a personal war between him and the Sweboz which ended just a few years ago. Early in my game Galatia rebelled against the Arche and went to me. I tried to hold onto it as best I could, but the neverending swarms of grey eventually defeated the local king. It was this event that spurred the AS into action, culminating into two invasions of the Ptolemaic homeland. The first invasion was beaten back for a time even though the Ptolies lost Alexandria and Memphis, and I thought for a few turns that they would actually be able to turn the tide, but the AS was on too much of a roll. They just lost their last African settlement, leaving them with Salamis on Kypros. Which brings us to the present turn. After dealing with constant rebellions Epeiros decided to attack at Segestica and to invade Asia Minor. They currently have only one enemy: me. I resumed my invasion of Italy once my Verrix destroyed the Sweboz and so far I've been dealing with the mini stacks of Hoplitai Haploi and various samnite soldiers.
02-02-2011, 03:47
Molinaargh
Re: Post your EB empires!
Currently playing Koinon Hellenon (M/M) for this AAR.
Those are tiny looking units, what size are you playing on?
02-02-2011, 15:49
Lazy O
Re: Post your EB empires!
Normal. Allows for quicker battles
02-02-2011, 15:53
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy O
Normal. Allows for quicker battles
Meh, I much prefer bigger battles to merely quick ones. That's pretty much my only technical requirement, I'll happily play with little detail to get a neat 1:10 scale on the field.
How does a a Roman FM have a "barbarian" portrait?
02-04-2011, 16:35
Brave Brave Sir Robin
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by GenosseGeneral
How does a a Roman FM have a "barbarian" portrait?
From the name, I take it he is a bribed Saka general. At that point, money should be no problem.
02-05-2011, 03:40
durnaug
Re: Post your EB empires!
This is my KH empire. The Getai were my staunch allies for almost 80 years but an independent Greek revolt has ended all that :/ Now the stacks I had built up for an attack on the Ptolemys will have to go defend that sprawling balkan border.
The Ptolemys are huge so I have been conducting pirate raids on their coastal cities to soften them up. But now that the invasion is postponed I am going to finally take all of Anatolia. I put it off for ages because it means finishing off the Macedons, which means I will not be able to make peace with any of her allies.
My Empire is falling apart because of the rioting and rebellions.
02-18-2011, 04:56
Arjos
Re: Post your EB empires!
255 BC lol! Sorry had to post this XD
02-18-2011, 05:05
Ferdiad
Re: Post your EB empires!
It's 0 turn with big movement...
02-18-2011, 06:50
Brave Brave Sir Robin
Re: Post your EB empires!
Good lord. Do you fight like 25 battles a turn?
02-18-2011, 09:51
Fluvius Camillus
Re: Post your EB empires!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brave Brave Sir Robin
Good lord. Do you fight like 25 battles a turn?
If you blitz you will end up better, an oversized AI monster which grew too big is far worse. I'd rather blitz too than face countless Seleukid fullstacks.
~Fluvius
02-18-2011, 11:52
QuintusSertorius
Re: Post your EB empires!
This is precisely why I don't play on VH campaign difficulty. Fighting ten identikit battles every single turn is more like a chore than fun.
The empire is growing. After Carthage attacked me, i quickly sent a small elite force to capture Sicily. Anyway, I've been using a tiny bit of diplomacy cheating; making the Ptolemaioi my protectorate and making ceasefire with Carthage. I've given Kyrene to the Ptolemaioi to use them as a buffer.
My Empire is falling apart because of the rioting and rebellions.
Even without any modifications it might be just doable, if a player is willing to exploit AI stupidity to the max (especially Arcade battles, spies, missile attacks and atrocious defending while sallying). No cheats, (money, move_char or auto_win) have been used.
This is how far I have come. The sole purpose of the game is to see how easy it is to conquer the whole world, allowing the use of every exploit possible to achieve said goal. Not sure if I'll allow moving of capitals to minimise civil disorder problems.
Still need to get Ak-Ink, before the turn is completed. Next turn I will add at least Athens and Chalkis to my empire.
