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- I get confused very often. First you say, "Zenon died in Demetrias", then showing to other FMs have died. Then in the next lines you mention the fall of Athenai, but forget that you magically reconquered Demetrias. I think you could take more care for the continuity.
Oh, crap. I meant Korinthos. My apologies.
Good chapter:2thumbsup:!And what is the problem with the romans, they attack for no reason:thumbsdown:. In my campaing they attacked Segestica and after they being defeated with huge losses they came with a diplomat asking if I please would not attack or they will attack:inquisitive:.Why begging me not to attack if they otherwise just could attack me?Oh and give tose damn spartans a kick under their but!!!!:whip:
I'm afraid that's a RTW thing, nothing to do with EB whatsoever. Same goes with diplomacy, plus the fact that it's not tied to the actual campaign as many might think:yes:
Maion
I really think this is the best AAR I have come across for telling, and showing, the story of a battle. Great stuff Hax.
Your Battle-Screenshots are just AWESOME :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
great update, i like how you describe battles, the screenshot were the romani crash into your lines is great because it looks as thought the romani general is spurring his men on
How big is the Arche at the moment?
All of Sicily + Sardinia + Greece + Rhegion
Thanks for all of your replies. I'll write another chapter tomorrow!
@johnhughthom: Thank you very much!
@SwissBarbar: Thanks to you too!
@Roka: Well yeah, the AI usually tends to throw his general directly at my phalanxes, so I had a limited time in which I could make those screenshots.
@Subotan: There'll be a map in this chapter.
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Chapter V - Taras Regained
Now, as Brettia had been secured, Ptolemaios first sent word to the tyrant of Syrakousai and requested that he sent a small force to serve as a garrison in the city. Not only he [Archinnys Prochtheios, son of Neikodamos] but also Neikodamos responded from Messana; together the new garrison consisted out of 5,000 phalangites and 1,200 peltasts.
Ptolemaios then decided to take his own army and march north again. He followed the route to Kroton, before moving north past the shoreline. They reached the city in the 537th year after the first Olympiad, and surrounded the city immediately.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...9-27-29bmp.jpg
At around the same time came the news that Seambys, son of Helenos, had been most successful in his campaign against the Spartans, and had regained both Athenai and Korinthos and had now laid siege to Sparta herself.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...1-00-61bmp.jpg
Also [via Kroton] came word from Archinnys in Syrakousai. They had built several bathing houses throughout the city, greatly increasing its popularity and hygiene. In Karali had the cult of Sarapis and Isis grown, as Antipatros [son of Pergamos] had built a shrine dedicated to the Gods. And finally, in Epidamnos had the outer walls been extended and fortified, to handle any attacks from Illyria and beyond, if the Romans chose to go that way.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...7-48-21bmp.jpg
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The relief force sent by Roma came no later than three months after Ptolemaios had commenced the siege of Taras. This army was led by a Roman of the Kornelian family, known in the Greek style as ΣΕΡΥΙΟΣ ΚΟΡΝΕΛΙΟΣ ΣΚΙΠΙΟ ΑΣΙΝΑ
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-07-52bmp.jpg
Here however, Ptolemaios knew fairly little concerning the garrison of Taras, and thus he positioned his phalangites in a single line, which bended to the south, so they could see in all directions.
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Frustrated by his cousin's death, Servios threw himself in the lines of the thorakitai without heeding any warning or opinion.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-57-34bmp.jpg
Then however, came the reinforcements. Ptolemaios ordered his Agrianian shock troops to engage the oncoming Roman principes [as they were called in Latin].
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...7-49-30bmp.jpg
At that time, Ptolemaios ordered his prodromoi to circle around the flanks, while at the same time breaking his pezhetairoi up. Now the excellency of his plan became known. The prodromoi crashed into Servius' flanks, while the Elephants from the far Indus valley rushed through the now-open lines.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-43-11bmp.jpg
The elephants crashed into the line of the Roman heavy infantry, who were engaged with the Agrianians of the left flank, causing panic to spread like a wildfire.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...9-48-27bmp.jpg
By then, the prodromoi had already killed Servius himself, resulting in a rout on the left side. The Tarantine guard still stood on the right flank though, and were engaged with the elite Epirote phalangites.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...0-35-99bmp.jpg
The Agrianians, though wearied, fought bravely on against the Romans and managed to hold their ground.
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Now Ptolemaios sent his personal guard to relieve the Agrianians. The heavy Molossion cavalry circled around the principes and then crashed into their rear, killing many and routing what remained.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...1-34-43bmp.jpg
Knowing that the leader of the northern relief force still had not been killed, Ptolemaios decided to lead his cavalry around the flanks to engage this man [known later to be ΓΝΑΙΟΣ ΑΥΡΕΛΙΟΣ ΚΟΤΤΑ] and crashed into his rear.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...2-09-66bmp.jpg
Gnaios himself was thrown from his horse and was then impaled on a Chaonian sarissa.
By that time the Elephants had pushed on and were now running through the guard of Gaios, leader of the Tarentine garrison.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...2-33-99bmp.jpg
By now, Ptolemaios' bodyguard had killed an unkown Roman general, who had served as a "Legatus" under Servios.
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Knowing that most of the Roman soldiers would now have lost their resolve to fight, he ordered his Molossian heavy cavalry to ride on and chase down the routers.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...4-05-20bmp.jpg
However, at that time came another army from the north, mostly consisting out of Gallioi and semi-barbarian Ligurians. They were led by Gnaios' brother, Gaios.
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At that moment did the Agrianians prove their worth. Even though they had lost more than a quarter of their original force, they engaged the Gallike infantry, who numbered more than thrice the Agrianian force.
[IMG][/IMG]
After they routed the poorly-disciplined Gallike force, they were once again attacked, now in the rear by a group of Samnites and Roman hastati.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-17-55bmp.jpg
Once again did the elephants turned around and stormed through the Roman lines, crushing soldiers and throwing them in the air like a child playing with toys.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-37-84bmp.jpg
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-11-55bmp.jpg
Soon afterwards, the Elephants now crashed into the Ligurian infantry, who were among the last that still stood.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-29-99bmp.jpg
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The thorakitai, placed some two stadia from the elephants had pushed on and were now dealing with the last of the Keltoi infantry standing on the field. They were soon joined by the Elephants, whose very sight caused the Keltoi to break and rout.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-53-04bmp.jpg
Shortly therafter, Gaios, commander of the Tarentine garrison was killed, too.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...9-09-92bmp.jpg
Taras was one of the worst days for the Roman Republic. They had lost four of their finest generals and lost their important naval city of Taras [Tarentum in Latin]. In total, over 20,000 Romans were killed that day.
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And the road to Taras was paved with corpses.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...5-40-84bmp.jpg
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-18-71bmp.jpg
As in Rhegion, the Roman population was expelled from the city, though those with Hellenic blood were left in peace and were allowed to continue their own lives as they pleased.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-31-66bmp.jpg
So was the battle of Taras. With the news that Taras had been conquered, Archimedes put together another map in Syrakousai.
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Next: Chapter VI - On the Spartans
Another excellent chapter, Strategos Haxos:bow:
Maion
Great job! Been following this for a while, Hax. The pics are particularly awesome.
Best screen. I presume you're using general cam?
Nice. I'm liking that KH expansion, but who's that south of Qarthadast?Quote:
That's the Saba, the other Semitic culture faction, though they most likely got that territory through rebellion, because they are located in S. Arabia. That's just too far away for their army to get to, and they will most likely lose it to rebellion themselves (where it will revert to eleutheroi).Quote:
originally posted by Subotan Nice. I'm liking that KH expansion, but who's that south of Qarthadast?
I thought so, but I've never seen that before. Still, they look like they're doing pretty decent, considering they hav two territories.
Actually, when I saw that Karthage was losing Kirtan to rebellion (perfect spy), I decided to give it to the Saba, together with those other desert provinces.
Great update Hax!~:thumb:
Your going quite well - I even get a feeling to start an epeirote campaign:dizzy2: (although I just put Phyrros to rest while playing as the makedones:charge: - thoughest battle ever:skull:)
Epeiros is a sweet campaign, but the start can easily go wrong. You have to act fast and decisively, making sure that neither Hellas, nor the Romani grow too powerful, or there is no chance of taking either of them down.
Just read the latest update. Great job.
Thanks to everyone for your great replies. It really helps me going on!
@Subotan: Actually, I'm not using General cam. I find it way too unhandy ;-;
=============================================================================
Chapter VI - On the Spartans
As Ptolemaios seated in the palace at Taras, multiple messengers from Hellas and Makedonia came to his court. First were those sent by the various rulers of the great cities, bringing news of the increased welfare throughout the Epirote kingdom.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...4-42-02bmp.jpg
In Korinthos, all of the Epirote order was restored and all of the Peleponessos was now a part of the Kingdom. Karalis was now honoured with a shrine dedicated to Sarapis and Isis, spreading their religion throughout the Hellenic world.
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Three months passed, and as the summer sun scorched the fertile earth of Kalabria, news arrived from the windy Kimmerikon, as well as from Sikilia.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-13-11bmp.jpg
In both Chersonesos and Messana were now fully enclosed sewers running underneath the city, which made a deep impact on overall health. Large tracts of land had been given out throughout the island as well to soldiers, especially near the recently razed city of Akragas (which was slowly being rebuilt).
Also came the news that the Epirote fleet under command of a certain Horaikides had cut off trade to and from the Karkhedonian mainland.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...3-41-92bmp.jpg
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Finally, in the 540th year after the first Olympiad, the son of Pyrrhos received news from Seambys. He had taken both Athenai and Korinthos with fairly little resistance, as the Spartan force had taken many casualties when taking those cities. It was during the march on Sparta herself that the King's nephew was met in the field.
He was attacked by Nikanor of the Aithalidai, a grandson of Chremonides, and a small contingent that had been sent to the Aitolians to discuss an alliance.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...8-36-05bmp.jpg
As his father and grandfather had been killed during the siege of Athenai, Nikanor's mother and sisters fled to Rhodos where they were met by Eugenios Rhodios, a friend of the Athenian Archon. He spent most of his youth in Rhodos, studying under several teachers, amongst them Apollonios of Pergaios.
As he completed his tutelage at the Akademia at Rhodos, he set sail for Megalopolis (who was then still under Achaian control) and drew his personal bodyguard from there. From there he rode to Sparte, where he urged the Spartan King (Areios II) to attack the Epirote holdings in the Peleponessos and to reconquer Athenai himself. After a long and heated discussion, the Areios complied and struck while Ptolemaios was pre-occupied fighting the Karkhedonians and Romans in Sikilia and Megale Hellas.
During that time, Nikanor was forced to return to Rhodos, due to his mother's death, and it took several months before he could return to Sparte. In that time, Seambys had already reconquered both Athenai and Korinthos. Enraged, Nikanor demanded that the Spartan King lended him his forces, to which the old Areios complied again.
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With several thousand men under his command, Nikanor marched north to confront Seambys somewhat south of Korinthos.
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The battle commenced on a cold autumn morning. Before Seambys himself was fit enough to command his forces, the Spartan heavy infantry had already crashed upon the lines of the pezhetairoi.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...2-33-46bmp.jpg
From the north-east came the small contingent that was sent to Thermon, and they were steadily marching towards the battle. It was then that Seambys ordered the Agrianian shock troops that had benefited Ptolemaios in his campaigns, to confront the hoplites.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...5-13-17bmp.jpg
At that time Nikanor grew more and more frustrated due to the lack of progress in the battle. He then marched forwards with his 100-men strong Megalopolian bodyguard and crashed unto the phalanx line. It was this moment that Seambys had been waiting for. In his youth in Pella, he had closely studied the way that Megás Alexandros fought with his hetairoi and had crushed the Hellene resistance at Chaeronea, as well as the Persian defeat at Gau Gamela.
In resemblance to the immortal conqueror, Seambys rode around the flanks with his lonchophoroi, and crashed into Nikanor's rear.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-00-84bmp.jpg
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Nikanor, realizing he had left no rear guard to deal with attacks from behind, was crushed into the ground by the hooves of the broad Chaonion horses, breaking his legs. His skull was then crushed multiple times with the butt-spikes of the Agrianian axes, and the sound of his voice was never to be heard through the Akademia in Rhodos again.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...6-16-82bmp.jpg
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At around the same time, the Agrianians had broken through the hoplite lines of Molon, the leader of the Thermonian assembly, and he too, was cut down.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...7-15-61bmp.jpg
The loss of the two generals, as well as the multiple charges by the prodromoi and lonchophoroi caused the entire army to rout and break off.
https://i187.photobucket.com/albums/...7-38-31bmp.jpg
In total, no more than three men returned to Sparta, carrying with them the broken body of Nikanor. When the remaining city-states heard of Nikanor's death, Megalopolis and Elis immediately surrendered, and the surrender of Messene [on the Peleponessos] came soon afterwards.
The only city that remained was Sparta.
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Next: Chapter VII - On the Roman Campaign
A bit of a short chapter, but I though the Koinon Hellenon deserved this much attention.
Wow u sure tore the KH a new !#!!@##. GJ Hax
Personally, if I was Messene, I would have sided with the Epeirotes to get back at those Spartans. But EB isn't detailed enough for that, is it? :no:
Great update though, but do blockades actually do anything to the AI?
It decreases their trade capabilities.
And for roleplaying purpose.Also good AAR:2thumbsup:!Good you gave the spartans a kick under their but :whip: and that you did let them see that they are not the best warriors in Greece:laugh4:
wow, some pictures are really beautiful, wide-screen type, great clean aar so far!
Blasfemy!:whip:Quote:
Originally Posted by hrrypttrbst
And a nice AAR:2thumbsup:.
Though conquering Sparta would be a tactical mistake, think of how you army would suffer and meet defeat! :whip:
Set up some Thermopylai thing!
This AAR is a great read. :2thumbsup:
That's a very interesting composition for a Roman army.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hax
A relly great AAR:2thumbsup: Now go for Roma!
Could it also be possible to let show a screenshot of the map so we can see the AI progression Hax???? Still good AAR :2thumbsup: