Indeed, there are many good AARs at this time. I'm finding it hard to keep up on them all. Keep up the good work, Mjolnir.
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Indeed, there are many good AARs at this time. I'm finding it hard to keep up on them all. Keep up the good work, Mjolnir.
Well thank you. I don't have your talent of drawing things out in beautiful narrative so I use action to compensate. :clown: :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Glad you're enjoying it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Good job man! I'm looking forward to the next chapter! :smash::smash::smash::smash::smash: Edit: btw i have some ?'s
1. Why is your territory display color purple?
2. What version of eb is this?
Thank you, I should have the next chapter out some time this weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
1) I changed the colour when I modded the KH. I wanted a different to signal that this is a "different" faction.
2) I'm playing with EB 1.2 with all the fixes plus the 1.2 mini-mod pack, the phalanx mod, naval mod, and RS textures.
Whats the naval mod, and can't wait for the next chapter!!!
It doesn't effect gameplay, but it makes all the ships look a lot better. Check it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Antinous
That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Where can I find that mod?
There's a link to the download near the bottom of the post I linked to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Antinous
Some more ?'s
1.Did you mod it so you started as the hellenes in Bosphorous?
2.What's the phalanx mod?
3.What's that 1.2 mini mod pack thing?
4.In my Koinon kampaign(i spelled it that way on purpose)I took sinope. What gov't should I install there?
Again good job.
1) No, I used the "move_character" cheat to move my army and agents north and then Force Diplomacy to give Sparts and Athenai to Makedonia. Rhodios revolted to neutral on it's own once I had taken Pantikapaion.Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
2) It keeps your phalanxs in tighter formations and allows them to hold a line when they charge, there's a link to it in the 1.2 mini-mod pack thread.
3) https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=105242
4) I'm installing type 3 governments in every city I take for roleplaying purposes, however in a normal campaign I would recommend a type 2 government.
Thx man. Keep up the good work! Do I have 2 start all my games over for the minimod 2 work?
Wait, so you didn't use my mod in any way?Quote:
1) No, I used the "move_character" cheat to move my army and agents north and then Force Diplomacy to give Sparts and Athenai to Makedonia. Rhodios revolted to neutral on it's own once I had taken Pantikapaion.
I'm not sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
I used some character names and ethnicities from your mod, but there were a number of files missing from your 0.7 version so I was unable to use more of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hax
Achso. Of course, I was a bit confused.
Been enjoying it, good luck with your next chapters!
Wait is the boat mod in the mini mod pack for 1.2?
No, these are included in the mini-mod pack:Quote:
Originally Posted by Antinous
The City mod, Phalanx mod, RS Textures, and Naval strat map add on have to be installed individually if you want them.Quote:
* ALEXANDER.exe; thanks to maksimus for the wonderful instructions on how to make the swap between exes.
* AI Battle Formation Mods* ; by --Sinhuet and special thanks to Lysander13 for the compilation
* Spoils of Victory; by V.T. Marvin
* Some trait changes (command stars & cursus honorum) by konny.
* Win Conditions; originally by JRMC and special thanks to konny for making a new 1.2 version
* Roman Allied Legions; by konny
* Aquilifer unit; by lt1956, creator of the SPQR mod
* Force Diplomacy Minimod; by DimeBagHo , update byJarardo
* Darth Stalin's 1.1 Romani Fix with "corrected" Gallic Helm
* MP Swapper; by ||Lz3||
Ok thanks. Where can I find the naval and city mod?
Actually, they are in the Mini-mod pack.
Sort of.
If you go to the Mini-mod thread, you can get the Phalanx Mod, City Mod, and Naval Strat Map mod individually.
Thanks.
Great AAR man! I love these Greek relocation AARs that seem to be popping up. someone should do one for Syracuse...
Chapter 6: An Old Feud
Spring, 265 BC
Taking ships as soon as the winter storms have pasted, we sail north to Pantikapaion. We arrive at the port in good time and after unloading begin our triumphant march through the town. Cheering crowds greet us, but there is something wrong. A tension fills the air, averted eyes, silent stares. The square at the center of the city has been cleared for our arrival and my troops draw up in perfect military order. I give a short speech praising their bravery and thanking them for their service and then dismiss them to their homes. Entering the palace gardens with Lysandros and my bodyguard in tow and I can fill the air of tension even more here.
Synedros Brentisinos is waiting for me in the entrance hall, “Greetings Basileus, thank the gods for your safe and speedy return”
I nod, “Greetings Synedros, what is going on? My wife only wrote in general terms of trouble, but I can feel the tension all across the city. And where is my father-in-law, Synedros Oionios?”
Synedros Brentisinos’ face creases with worry, “He has not yet recovered from his wounds and is resting at his house. Come, we have urgent matters to discuss”
We make our way to one of the large meeting rooms, motioning for my bodyguards to stay outside but Lysandros to follow me, I follow Synedros Brentisinos inside and close the door. Sitting and standing around a large table sipping on cups of wine and talking quietly are Synedros Sosipatros, Synedros Gonnios, Synedros Petelinos, a half dozen high ranking officers of the city guard and military, and a young man I have never seen before.
Those who are seated rise and murmurs of, “Greetings Basileus” fill the room.
“Greetings, and please be seated” I reply and take the chair at the head of the table, “Now who will tell me what’s going on?”
Synedros Sosipatros clears his throat, “Just over a year ago when your father came down with his sickness he knew that he did not have long to live. He charged Synedros Brentisinos and Synedros Oionios in particular and the whole of the Synedrion in general with the care of Pantikapaion and the Basileion until you had completed the campaign in the south and could return to claim the throne.”
Synedros Sosipatros glances at Synedros Brentisinos who then takes up the story, “This of course did not sit well with Synedros Archilochos or Synedros Poikas. They viewed this as their opportunity to take down the Spartocids and regain the throne for the Archaeanactids. It was subtle at first, hints that perhaps the Basileion would be better off in more “experienced” hands or little criticisms of this or that policy and how “another” government might run things better. We believed it was simply Synedros Archilochos up to his same old tricks, but then his political opponents’ houses and trade stalls started getting vandalized and attacked and Synedros Archilochos and his supporters became more and more open with their verbal attacks on the Spartocids and their “puppets”. We noticed that Synedros Poikas’ had been sending and receiving an enormous amount of massages from both Pantikapaion and other cities in the Basileion and we managed to intercept several of them. They contained nothing overly treasonous, just the asking from political support and the like, but there were hints of deeper things. We just didn’t know how deep until eight days ago when Synedros Archilochos attempted to seize the city when he heard that you were returning.”
“What?!?!” I can hear the shock in my voice, “Surely that is further than even Synedros Archilochos would be willing to go!”
Synedros Petelinos answers me, “Unfortunately it is true, my lord. Eight days ago he tried to have all of us on the Synrdrion who opposed him assassinated. Two of the attempts were successful; Synedros Timogenes got his throat cut and Synedros Lindios’ wine was poisoned. Myself-“
Synedros Gonnios interrupts his face pale, “He tried to have me poisoned too. It was only the luck of my cook catching one of the serving boys putting something in my wine that I escaped. I have lost my appetite for wine of late” his voice trails off.
Synedros Petelinos nods in sympathy and continues, “Myself, Synedros Sosipatros, and Synedros Brentisinos were all targets of assassins’ blades as well, but our guards were able to foil the attempts. Unfortunately Synedros Oionios was stabbed in the chest before his guards could respond, thankfully the doctors say he will live, but it was a near thing”
“Synedros Archilochos had bribed almost half of the city guard” Synedros Brentisinos takes up the story, “and they attempted to seize the palace, the barracks, the walls and gates, and the port. It was a close thing, the fighting was very fierce and taken by surprise as we were it did not turn in our favor until Mytilenaios led a force of the ex-military Hoplitai from Athenai to drive Archilochos’ forces from the market square where they were about to take the palace.”
“Wait” I cut in, “Who’s Mytilenaios?”
“Ah, that’s right you have not met my adopted son yet have you?” turning to the young man I did not recognize, “Basileus, this is Mytilenaios. He came here as a boy with his aunt and uncle after his parents died in the Makedonian conquest and is now one of the most influential men amongst the Athenaios community in Pantikapaion”
The young man bows, “It is an honor Basileus, we from Athenai owe your father a great debt for giving us sanctuary”
“It is a pleasure, any friend of Synedros Brentisinos is a friend of mine” turning back to Synedros Brentisinos, “where is Synedros Archilochos now?”
“He fled the city with Synedros Poikas, Synedros Tenedios, Synedros Eleios, and many of his supporters to Chersonesos after his attempt failed. The city has declared support for him and he has proclaimed himself Basileus. He is currently raising an army”
“And what of the Scythians? And Synedros Koios and Synedros Imbrios?” I ask.
“The Scythians remember well the beating they took 5 years ago from you and your father and do not wish a repeat. And with your brother-in-law Therapnaios firmly on your side in Tanais, the Scythian tribes either support you or are neutral” contempt fills Synedros Brentisinos’ voice, “Synedros Koios and Synedros Imbrios have retired to their country houses and are not responding to any messages. Doubtless they hope to wait until one side is clearly winning before declaring support.”
Standing and adding all the confidence and firmness I can muster, “Well then my friends, we prepare for war”
**********
Summer, 265 BC
The next couple months are a flurry of activity. Veteran units from the Trapevous-Sinope campaign are re-organized and their ranks replenished, armor and weapons are repaired, and supplies gathered and stockpiled. By the time I set out west at the head of 21,000 men summer has fully come. I have all the units I commanded during my recent southern campaign except I have exchanged the light Pontic levy spearmen for 3,000 classical hoplites recruited from the Athenaios population and commanded by Mytilenaios.
We march through the woods and hills in the middle of our peninsula and reached the road running south to Chersonesos. A couple days march from the city, my scouts reported that a large army is marching to meet us. As night falls we camp less than 3 hours march from our enemies, there will be bloodshed tomorrow. We break camp and continue south in the morning. Soon off in the distance we can see the enemy’s banners and hear their horns. I call a halt and array my battleline. A small group of riders break off from the enemy’s formation and ride slowly towards us, one of the riders waving an olive branch above his head.
“Lysandros, Mytilenaios, looks like they want to talk. Come with me” I walk towards the approaching horsemen with the two men and half dozen bodyguards.
The riders pull their mounts to a halt and Archilochos addresses me, “Spartokos, I’m glad you came personally. I was afraid you might send one of your puppets instead”
“Archilochos, it doesn’t have to come to blows. If you lay down you arms I will accept your exile to Hellas”
“Exile? No, I am the true Basileus. However I would accept your surrender of Pantikapaion to me in exchange for your leaving for Sinope and never returning”
“Then I fear it must come down to the sword then for I will never surrender my father’s throne to an impostor”
Archilochos snorts, “I will look for you on the battlefield”
Turning his horse he gallops back towards his army the rest of his retinue following. We begin the walk back to our own forces.
“Did you get a good look that his troops?” I ask.
“Yes” Lysandros replies, “mostly green troops with some mercenaries thrown in, but he must have over 30,000 of them. It will be a hard fight”
https://img25.imageshack.us/img25/97...army265ms4.jpg
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9189...sos2651wn4.jpg
Archilochos had arrayed his battleline with his mercenaries on his right and his green troops on his left. I put the Athenaios hoplites facing the mercenaries and my veterans facing his green troops with my elites on the very right end on my line. Battle horns echo up and down the line and across the field as both sides order a charge.
Our lines smash into each other in the middle of the field while archers and slingers send volley after volley into the melee. The entire melee quickly becomes a mess with both battlelines losing all cohesion and hundreds of individual fights emerging across the battlefield.
In the end, the experience my soldiers gained in the southern campaign won the day. One by one Archilochos’ green units begin to rout under the pressure of my battle-harden vets. Archilochos leads his cavalry in a desperate charge against my center hoping to turn the tide. However it is much too late and I am able to move my elites around behind him trapping and slaughtering him and his cavalry in a sea of spears.
https://img161.imageshack.us/img161/...sos2654vb7.jpgSeeing that the battle is lost the rest of his army takes to flight leaving the field to us.
https://img17.imageshack.us/img17/39...hosfallko1.jpg
I lose 4,000 men, but Synedros Archilochos is dead and his army gone. I enter the city of Chersonesos unhindered and agree to spare the city leaders if they accept Mytilenaios as my ruler there and pay much higher taxes for the next 5 years. They agree. Synedros Tenedios and Synedros Eleios are not so lucky. I order them put to the sword after they are found cowering in a wine cellar. Treason and murder will not be tolerated.
I am informed that Synedros Poikas and his son along with Synedros Archilochos’ wife and infant son had left Chersonesos some time ago for Kallatis to hire more mercenaries for Synedros Archilochos’ cause. I cannot leave a sore to fester. Replenishing my army’s numbers and leaving Mytilenaios in charge of Chersonesos I set sail for Kallatis.
**********
Kallatis is the major Hellenic port on the western shore of the Pontos Euxeinos. One of the major arms of the Amber Route ends in Kallatis and much trade flows in and out of its port. There are many barbarians in the area most of them of powerful Getai tribe to the west of the Istros (Danube) River.
We land a couple days march north of the town and begin making our way south down the coast.
About a half days march north of the city a scout rides up, “My lord Basileus, we found several thousand people camped in some rocky hills an hour west of the road. We are bringing the leader to speak with you”
I order a halt and a man is led to me. I recognize him at once, “I know you, you’re Boiskos, Synedros Poikas’ son”
The man looks at me his face dirty from many nights under the stars and his clothes torn, “I am, or was, my father is dead” He said his voice a bit hollow, but with anger burning is his eyes.
“How?”
“We were hiring mercenaries for Synedros Archilochos’ service. It was going well, we had almost 10,000 barbarian tribesmen many of them from the Getai tribe sworn to us when a trade convoy arrived in Kallatis. It was led by one of the Getai’s tribal leaders a man named Oroles per Drobeta. He apparently didn’t like the fact that Getai were going to be fighting for Hellenes and convinced most of the mercenaries that simply sacking Kallatis would be easier, less dangerous, and more profitable than fighting for us. He personally led the band that killed my father and Governor Sinis. I was able to get several hundred of my soldiers and a couple thousand civilians out of the town and into the countryside. They have been too busy looting and burning to search for us”
I lean back against the tree and close my eyes, it is a lot to take in. I look at the young Poikas, “Synedros Archilochos is dead and his army scattered. The rebellion is over. If you agree to lay down your weapons and accept me as your rightful Basileus, I will take you and your men under my protection”
He nods, “I will do so”
“And what of Synedros Archilochos’ wife and infant son?”
He shakes his head, “I do not know more than that they left for Byzantion a week before the attack”
We spend the rest of the day bringing the survivors of the Kallatis into our camp and feeding them. The next day we reach Kallatis. All the gates stand wide open and the smell of smoke hangs in the air. Most of the Getai have already left the area, but I send soldiers to drive off those who haven’t as I enter the town with Lysandros, Poikas, and several hundred soldiers. Oroles per Drobeta did his job with brutal efficiency.
Most of the buildings show signs of looting, at least those that have not been burned to the ground. Furniture and broken piece of pottery lie scattered in the street. The shrine to Demeter is blackened and the walls bear ugly writing in a strange tongue. The stench of rotting death is heavy in the air and we see the corpses of those Hellenes unlucky enough to be unable to flee the town. We reach the center of the town to find several dozen spears stuck into the ground each with a head atop it. One of them is Synedros Poikas and another is Governor Sinis, the rest appear to have belonged to Hellenic military officers. Brutal indeed. I order the bodies gathered and buried outside the walls and the buildings either repaired or torn down. I resolve to make this town habitable again before I consider my next course of action. Autumn and winter have come and gone before I deem that we have restored the town to its former self.
Such an act of barbarism against Hellenes cannot be left unanswered. I decide to track down Oroles per Drobeta and put a spear in his gut.
**********
Spring, 264 BC
We march west for several days and cross the Istros River into the heavily forested territory of the Getai. Poikas has proven himself to be good to his word and I have given him and his men their weapons back. He is eager for revenge.
Our journey west soon becomes a nightmare. Ambushes become an almost daily occurrence, every tree, every rock, every clump of tall grass could be a hiding place from which an arrow or javelin may fly. Scouting and foraging parties simply don’t return.
The most frustrating thing about the situation is that there is nothing solid to grab on to. Our attackers simply fade back into the forest when we get too close or outnumber them and every village we come upon is disserted. Finally after several weeks of marching and 3,000 of my men dead or missing we reach the Getai town of Buridava. It is the major trade hub of the entire region and is ruled by none other than Oroles per Drobeta.
**********
Summer, 264 BC
My men are eager to finally face a tangible enemy and 3 huge rams are quickly constructed. I order the assault.
The three rams do their work and we pour through the wall into the town. My right column swings around in a flanking maneuver while my left column and center column are immediately engaged by Getai soldiers as they try to push us back.
The fighting is sharp but we quickly cut through the minimally armored light infantry and push deeper into the town. Meanwhile my right column commanded by Poikas has engaged Getai soldiers near the north gate of the town. Seeing part of my force isolated from the rest of my army Oroles per Drobeta leads his cavalry in a charge against the light hoplites.
The column begins to lose ground. Seeing the situation I lead the rest of my soldiers charging into his right flank turning the tide. In the end it is Poikas’ spear which brings Oroles per Drobeta to the ground; I feel it is fitting.
Still the Getai fight on, they rally their forces on the hill in the town center and await our advance. Amongst them are men welding long sickle shaped swords the like of which I have never seen before.
As we clash with them I soon find that these swords cut right through shield and armor with ease. Thank the gods that these warriors are unarmored or our casualties would have been very great. Their warriors are finally dispersed at the cost of 4,000 dead Hellenes.
We round up any young fit Getai we can find and put them in chains to be sold as slaves. The rest of the inhabitants are turned out of the town, the town is looted of valuables, and all the buildings are set on fire. We camp there for three days to make sure the fires continue to burn and then set off back to Kallatis. The return journey is relatively quiet. I do not think the Getai will be troubling us any time in the near future.
**********
Winter, 264 BC
We arrive back in Kallatis as the snows begin to come. We winter outside the town and in the Spring set sail for Pantikapaion. I leave Poikas as my governor in Kallatis, I know he is a much different and better man than his father. Trade is flourishing now that we have over half of the Pontos Euxeinos ports under our direct control and Pantikapaion is growing ever larger. Using the revenue from the trade and the funds gained from the looting of Buridava I begin the task of enlarging the palace. The gardens are expanded, another wing is added, and a separate structure is built for city administration purposes.
For the first time in 4 years I am able to rest.
**********
The Known World in 264 BC
https://img4.imageshack.us/img4/228/...ldin264ft4.jpg
Ah, nasty Civil war. Great! Show every ursurper who's boss.
Ah, come on... you've never seen a falx before? Tsh!
Kidding, kidding. You know... just a few more regions and you could call the Black Sea "Mare Nostrum".
Not to be the nitprick... it seems you've put a lot of effort into this. It'd be a whole lot better if you'd disable the banners and maybe deselect the units when you're taking a screenshot... the transparent arrow really ruins it, you know.
Keep up the good work!
HOORAH HOORAH!!!
nice update. Some good screenies in there. Although I have to agree removing the banners would help alot. Then it would look totally real
Thanks; and I would definitely read a Syracuse AAR.Quote:
Originally Posted by Potocello
lol, well I'm trying to write through Spartokos eyes and with the knowledge he would have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burebista
Quote:
Originally Posted by Burebista
Thanks for reading. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Wouldn't have armies back then used banners though? I like the banners since they help me keep track of what's going on, but I will delete them if that's the consensus. Also, I try to delselect untis when I'm screenshooting them, but that means selecting a unit across the map and those the arrow. I guess I could start cropping it out...
:bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Antinous
And now a couple questions for my readers:
1) Am I using too many character? I'm trying to involve and make reference to a lot of different characters to give a more realistic sense of a kingdom rather than just one man running the whole show. But I don't want it to be so that y'all start having problems remembering who's who. Less characters, more characters, just right?
2) My chapters have been getting longer as the story becomes more involved. Do y'all want the chapters shorter or should I continue just writing until I reach natural stops? Which chapter so far was the "best" length?
1) No, you aren't. That's what makes it interesting. You don't need to write a background story about every Hoplite, but a few Synedroi and usurpers like just now are perfect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mjolnir
2) That's a quite interesting questions, because the chapters in my AAR are as long as your last one.... *shock*
1. You need all those characters. All the rebellion makes the story even better, especially with the many diferent evil characters.
2. The length of the chapters are fine.
I did a game (note: not an AAR) where i went and took Syaracuse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Potocello
For ur ?'s
1.You have a good number of characters.
2.Same as Antinous.
Remember your the author, not us.
Thanks for y'alls input, I hope to have the next chapter out soon.