Likely to be taking pergamon from the macedones? That looks like a worthwhile front to open up. Otherwise not sure, doubt you would have expanded into greece just yet. Only other options would be bosporus or more wars against the Hai.
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Likely to be taking pergamon from the macedones? That looks like a worthwhile front to open up. Otherwise not sure, doubt you would have expanded into greece just yet. Only other options would be bosporus or more wars against the Hai.
Great pictures, really like how you described the Syrian wars and the ultimate defeat of the Ptolemai.
It probably is a war against Makedonia, because he allied with the KH.
In fact if he wants to role play the revival of the persian empire he may choose to attack hayasdan.
So many options, but I'm not at any of those yet. All I meant was the other front against the Ptolemaioi - sorry guys :) One more update tonight, and then I'll catch up on Sunday.
Chapter 20: The Gauls of the Nile
While the new king Hystaspis Kianos was campaigning against the Ptolemaioi in Syria, he sent word to Arses Kianos in the south. Arses and his Gallo-Thracian army still held the great cities of Alexandreia and Memphis that they had taken from the Ptolemaioi, and after several years had now begun to train some of the local people to fight for Pontos. Meanwhile, the Ptolemaioi still had only weak garrisons in their surrounding heartlands, and were sending almost all of their resources towards the fighting in Syria. Hystaspis therefore sent word that Arses was to take his army on a march of conquest around the Nile delta, to never allow the Gauls to settle in one place, and to use whatever loyal troops he could raise from Alexandreia and Memphis to garrison captured towns and cities.
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I've just noticed that when I put pictures inside spoiler tags, they're automatically reduced in size. That only happens here on forums.totalwar.org - in my crossposted copy of this AAR at twcenter.net the pictures show up full-size inside spoiler tags.
Anyone know how I can fix this?
In my experience all screenshots above 800px wide (or so) are resized here, regardless of spoiler tags. It was probably a limit made when people still used 1024x768 resolution or so. If there is a workaround I don't know it, sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriendlyFire
It annoyed me a little bit too.
Ah well, thanks for confirming it's not just me :) If anyone wants to see the pictures in their full 1024-wide glory, you can read the thread at twcenter instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by Molinaargh
Chapter 21: The Two Sons
After the seemingly never-ending battles of the Syrian and Nile wars, the next few years saw relative peace for the kingdom of Pontos. Of course, the Ptolemaioi refused to give up quite so easily, and a few of their armies tried to take back the newly-conquered towns of Palmyra and Paraitonion, but since they sent neither a sufficient quality nor quantity of troops, the result was always the same.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The world in 209 BC:
The Lusos have swept over Gaul like a great tidal wave, reducing the Aedui and Arverni to just a single region each. The Romans have been spared only because they were the first to ally with the Lusos, and have been left fighting the Sweboz and central European rebels. In Hellas, the Epeirotes still hold out in the old Makedonian capital, and the Koinon Hellenon and Getai have both rebounded. In the east, the Arche Seleukeia are fighting the Ptolemaioi and Saba, while still having enough forces left over to crush Pahlava, and leaving Baktria and Saka to fight a bitter little war of their own.
A close-up of the Mediterranean and Black Sea:
Note how I'm still insulated from Rome (by chance), Carthage (by planning), and Arche Seleukeia (mostly by planning). The top four powers are Rome, Pontos, Arche Seleukeia, and Lusotanna.
Chapter 22: The Death of Three Kings, 209 - 200 BC
During the great Syrian wars, Hystaspis Kianos had torn the heart out of the old Ptolemaioi empire, and left the remains in three relatively independent pieces. The first piece was centered around the coastal town of Kyrene, across the Libyan desert to the west of the Nile. The second clung to a few lands in the Kush, far up the great Nile itself, but this was the weakest of the three pieces, since it was mostly preoccupied with fighting rebellious tribes who had pledged their allegiance to the Sab'yn. The third and strongest piece still held the old Seleukid cities in the heart of Babylonia, and it was the taxes from these great cities that funded continued war-making by all three pieces of Ptolemaioi territory against Pontos.
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good luck to you for your full scale war.
I mostly never attack more than one front. I like divide and conquer style.
Plus do not worry about about romani they should be busy with their nemesis Lusos, ın my campaigns I have never seen them successful in their struggle against lusos.
Trouble is, I want to worry about the Romans :) I want them to beat the Lusos and take over Europe so the whole thing can end in a climactic Rome/Pontos war. I've given the legions an extra secondary hitpoint, and that seems to helping - it's enabled the Romans to crush the remaining central European rebels, and combine with the Lusos to finish off the Sweboz:Quote:
Originally Posted by Atraphoenix
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...22/16World.jpg
@FF: if 2 HP won´t work properly, though i guess they should, try to give romans "ap" for their gladius. I suspect that is the actual reason for the Lusotanians to steamroll anyone in Europe, but i´d gladly see the result of long term observation, and since you do not interfear in their affairs, you only will have to worry about uber legions which once would knock on your door ^^
Really awsome AAR. Please contiue.
May i ask how to use chariots effectively? In my Casse and Pontus game, they are useless except when they run amok.Thanks in advance.
@vollorix: So far the secondary hitpoint seems to be working - when I look at combat-depleted Roman stacks after they've fought Sweboz and rebels, there are a lot more survivors in legion units than in the regional auxilia. Remains to be seen how 2HP-legionaries face against AP-Lusotana, of course. Not sure I want to give them AP swords, because that'll make them really hard for me to kill too :)
@kidpacific: I only use the scythed chariots against enemy units which are already engaged, and are already having a hard time (e.g. tired, shaken, unhappy about casualties). I typically send them on a big sweeping arc around one flank once the lines are fully engaged, then let them sit FAR behind the enemy till the opportunity arises. You want them a long way back because they seem to need a long runup for a good charge. They also make excellent general-killers: if the enemy general is doing his usual "charge at your infantry line, fight for a bit, pull back, then charge again" trick, then slamming chariots into his back while he's engaged is often an instant kill. If you time things right, they only have to make ONE charge in a battle, because they'll trigger a mass rout. And then they are absolutely devastating against routing enemies - just click on the enemy unit furthest away, and they will plough through all the nearer enemies as well. Almost painful to watch. Baby them for a couple of battles, and they'll get enough experience to increase their defense stat and do much better in melee - then you can risk using them for two charges in a battle instead of just one :) But really they're my "prestige" unit for Pontos - it's not clear they're the *best* unit for the money, but they sure are fun.
Thanks for ur detailed reply. I'll try ur tactic.
Seems that you will have to FD the brown death back to Hispania, maybe restore some provinces to Carthage...
Carthage has no chance against lusos, nearly all of my campaigns end with 3 powers my empire, lusos in celtic lands, getai in the middle, ı am in the east....
Chapter 23: The Sons of Ba'al
As the new king of Pontos came to power, some old constants remained. The eastern Ptolemaioi in the provinces of Babylonia were forever trying to reunite their fragmented empire, and between the years 200 BC and 192 BC they besieged the mountain city of Karkathioketa no fewer than 17 times, and the city of Edessa in the plains below 8 times. Every single one of these assaults was thrown back, thanks to the high stone walls that surrounded both fortress cities, and the slingers and arches who stood on those walls. Steppe riders from the mountains of Armenia were now attached to the garrisons, and they harried the Ptolemaioi as they fled the field after each unsuccessful attack.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Nice!
I've given up on Carthage doing anything much - they still haven't even finished off western Africa! Plus if I take them out of the equation then Rome can grow that little bit bigger. Generally try to avoid force diplomacy, although I've moved AI armies occasionally to give smaller powers a chance (e.g. I moved the starting Koinon Hellenon stack on Krete to Sparte, and later I saved Pahlava by moving a couple of encroaching Seleukid stacks to India).Quote:
Originally Posted by Atraphoenix
Chapter 24: Beset on Every Side
Zenon Kianos now saw his chance to leave a legacy - from being a king without a cause, he would turn himself into the man who would rid the world of the sons of Ba'al. First he had to rest and replenish his army, battered after their previous battles for Kyrene, but by 193 BC they were ready. Leaving a strong garrison in Kyrene, he sailed along the coast to the next Carthaginian stronghold, landed, and took the city of Lepki under siege.
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another superb update!
Personally I leave cyprus alone for Ptolemies, and conquer Rodos for seleucids and let them enjoy their family members womanizing and under the humiliation I have made to them.
Thanks :) I hadn't thought of taking Rhodos and then giving it away - that would certainly avoid the problem of every other faction launching naval invasions as soon as I conquer it. Cunning!Quote:
Originally Posted by Atraphoenix
Chapter 25: 191-188 BC
The most fearsome part of the Seleukid force that laid siege to Ani-Kamah in 191 BC were the Kataphractoi, armored behemoths that had never been seen before by the armies of Pontos. Accompanying them were regular phalangites, but they were easily outnumbered by the levy garrison that held the town.
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This could be the best aftermath-picture I've seen!
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...0Aftermath.jpg
Good stuff, FF! I´ve injoyed the writing, your naration is getting even better, imho :)
:yes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaertecken
When Carthage attack me, I know that they do not stop until you conquer whole african lands.
It will be a long, a very very long campaign.
Good luck :yes:
Chapter 26: 187-185 BC
[There's a lot more happening in each year as the global conflict heats up, so I'll try to make the fronts a bit clearer]
Carthaginian Campaign: While Zenon Kianos rebuilt his army in Lepki, his Roman allies continued to land small expeditionary forces near Kart-Hadast. Zenon could not stand the thought that Rome would seize this great prize before he could get there, and so he left Lepki in the hands of his son Megabazos and set sail again along the coast, landing and besieging the next Carthaginian city of Adrumeto. Carthage's nearest army was out of reach to the south, having been outpaced by the Pontic fleet as it raced up the coast, and Zenon had time to orchestrate a set-piece assault of the city in 187 BC.
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I hope the Romani survive. But it is looking doubtful. Excellent update, as usual!
If all else fails, I'll mount an invasion of Iberia :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Populus Romanus
very nice AAR! Keep up FF! :thumbsup:
Chapter 27: A Brief Family Interlude
Thankfully the Kianos line has been blessed with an abundance of sons, and the royal Pontic family is in no danger of dying out anytime soon. Since they're starting to spread all over the map, I thought it would be helpful to do a quick summary of who's who, as of 185 BC.
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Interesting.
You mind posting a family tree?
The full family tree is too damn big at this point :) But here are the three current branches of the royal Kianos line.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaertecken
The center branch is the "Hystaspic" line, descended from Hystaspis Kianos, who was blessed with four sons:
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...h27/Middle.jpg
The left branch is the "Mithridatic" line, descended from Mithridates Kianos. This is in danger of dying out unless Gobryas or Antipatros have a son:
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/.../Ch27/Left.jpg
The right branch is the nearly extinct "Arsamic" line, descended from Arsames Kianos. His grandson (also Arsames) is almost certainly the last, since he's infertile. (The middle unnamed dead guy was adopted, not a true Kianos)
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...Ch27/Right.jpg
Chapter 28: Carthago Delenda Est
And… we're back!
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Chapter 29: The Carthaginian Campaign - Into Numidia, 183 - 180 BC
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Chapter 30: The Carthaginian Campaign - The Desert, 183-180 BC
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Bravo! You're inspiring me to make good on my Pontos campaign (which only consists of Mikra Asia and the Bosphores).
That's the perfect opening position - defensible and rich enough to support an offensive in any direction. Or all of them, if you're crazy enough :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Basileus_ton_Basileon
Chapter 31: The Armenian Campaign, 183 - 180 BC
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I'm really enjoying this AAR :). Although I'm only at chapter 7 now, I really want to see how this story unfolds. Especially after seeing that this is one of the very few commited AAR's that go past the year 265, I'm very eager to read on.
Good job!
Chapter 32: The Mesopotamian Campaign, 183-180 BC
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Here's the world in 180 BC, with red arrows showing my advances over the past three years: west into Africa (both along the coast and into the desert), and east into the Armenian mountains and the Mesopotamian plains.
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...h32/00-Map.jpg
Compare to my last snapshot from 194 BC (I made this one larger so the arrows were easier to draw)
https://i873.photobucket.com/albums/...Ch23/32Map.jpg
Note that the Aedui and Casse are still hanging on to their little corners of Gaul (go go Asterix!). Rome is still fighting furiously against both the Lusotanna and the Getai. Hellas is still a crazy three-way battle between Epeiros, Makedonia, and the Koinon Hellenon. The Hai are on their last legs, and in the east the Arche Seleukeia are forcing back Pahlava and the Saba, pushing into India and the Arabian Peninsula.
Go Romani! It looks like your rear in Aigyptos may be exposed to a Ptolemaioi attack.