Heh, your own archers killed more of your guys than the enemy did.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Can't wait to see the next chapter of this excellent AAR. :pirate2:
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Heh, your own archers killed more of your guys than the enemy did.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Can't wait to see the next chapter of this excellent AAR. :pirate2:
Ha, your right. I think it was because I lined up my pikemen right at the top of the hill. I should have moved them slightly down the slope with the archers at the top. :wall:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakkura
...writing the next chapter right now... (50 pics :sweatdrop: )
Great update, Marcus! (although if that's calm, I wonder what you perceive a "storm" to be!) So, will you go to war with the Romani too in the next chapter? How much longer do you think it'll take to beat the Ptolemaioi?
Yeah, I came up with the title before I decided to add the last few battles with the Hai. Also, the title kind of refers to territorial progression.
The Romanoi are always unpredictable...
As for the Ptolemaioi, it depends on your definition of 'defeated'. If you mean the defeat screen, then I haven't even gotten that yet and I'm playing about three chapters ahead of what I've written.
Chapter 16 : Land of Ancient Wonder
Demetrios had decided to risk all of Makedonia's African territories and send his army east, into Egypt. Resupplied by the Makedonian navy, Demetrios crossed the desert and attacked the city of Alexandreia. Alexandreia, the capital of the Ptolemaic Empire, had been founded by Megas Alexandros upon his conquest of Egypt. Since then, the Ptolemai Pharoahs had built up the city around the great harbour to become a great city of learning, culture, and trade. The city housed the body of Megas Alexandros, himself. Murdered by Ptolemai (or so the Antigonids told everyone), the body of Alexandros had been sent to Aigai, Makedonia to be buried, but the traitorous Ptolemai had attacked the funerary procession and stolen the body of the great king. Demetrios knew that if he could take the city he would not only take the enemy capital, a city of learning and knowledge, a critical trade hub, as well as cut the Ptolemaic empire in half, but he would also take the body of Alexandros, proving to the world that the Antigonids were the undisputed true hiers to his empire.
Demetrios set up his forces and prepared for a long seige, but it was not necessary. Reinforcements came up from the south, sailing down the Nile, attacking Demetrios and his army:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2169/maa691tm9.png
[Stupid bug again.]
Demetrios set up his phalangites in a line and awaited the Ptolemaic forces. The Egyptian levies slowly marched forward and confronted the Makedonian elites:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/769/maa692vz0.png
After a short fight, the Ptolemaic left flank was quick to break and flee. The Hetairoi gave chase and wiped them,making sure they couldn't regroup. Circling around the rear of the engaged Egyptians, Demetrios crashed his cavalry into them:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2631/maa693xz2.png
As the reinforcements from the city arrived, a group of Pezhetairoi turned to face them. As they held down the Ptolemaic elites, Demetrios' Basilikon Agema flanked them and charged from the side:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7999/maa694go9.png
After the army from the south was wiped out, the Makedonian line turned to face the forces of Alexandreia. Meanwhile, the Hetairoi moved into possition to cut off their retreat:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1102/maa696aq0.png
Surrounded, the Ptolemaic remaining forced paniced and attmepted to flee. Before they could get back to the city, though, Demetrios chased them down and wiped them out:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/623/maa697hv9.png
Demetrios marched his army into the city of Alexandreia and quickly made sure the population knew who was now in control. The city of Alexandreia was the largest city any Makedonian had ever seen, far larger than Pella, Athenai, or Antiocheia. The population was deverse, consisting of Egyptians, Hellenes, and Makedonians. There were also some from far further, who had come trading wares, goods, or knowledge. Seeing such a vast population, many of whom did not want Makedonia there, Demetrios decided to gather slaves from the population of the city and the Nile Delta region, to be sold elsewhere. Now, well aware of what the Makedonians were willing to do, the locals quieted down and piece was established in the delta
Touring the city, Demetrios made a visited the tomb of Alexandros. Demetrios stood quietly for some time, only commenting that he wished his father and older brother could have been there with him that day. Demetrios realized that not since Megas Alexandros had anyone accomplished quite what he himself had done. After only a short stay, Demetrios left the tomb and prepared to continue his quest against the Ptolemaioi.
As soon as military control was established, Demetrios hired local mercenaries to defead the city (mostly from those within) and marched south to continue the war before the Ptolemaioi could regroup:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2482/maa698jm9.png
Far from Alexandreia, Captain Aristokles once again defended the river crossing into the Lake Van basin:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3884/maa709fz0.png
The Hai forces quickly rushed across the bridge, backed up by a small reserve of cavalry archers:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9457/maa710cb9.png
This time, the Dacio-Thracians didn't bother trying to hold the crossing with their spears and instead charged in with their blades as soon as aproximately a quarter of the Hai army was across:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3779/maa711iq8.png
It soon became clear that the Hai infantry would be wiped out. Attempting to relieve his men, the Hai general charged his heavy cataphracts across the bridge in an attempt to break through the Dacio-Thracian line:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7441/maa714sb1.png
Meanwhile, the Thracian cavalry had once again crossed the river and attempted to attack Hai cataphracts on the opposite side:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1315/maa713no4.png
The Thracian cavarly soon took heavy losses and began to panic, but unexpectedly the cataphracts broke and fled from the very battle they were winning. Though, it may have been due to the fact that their general fell dead on the bridge. Captain Aristokles once again maintained control of Lake Van:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3514/maa716hs1.jpg
Around the same date, a small Ptolemaic army attempted to lift Demetrios' siege of Memphis, putting all their hope, not in numbers but in the command skill of Hermon Ptolemaios, son of the Pharoah:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1255/maa699fh9.png
The Ptolemaic forces chose to take shelter in the shade of great megaliths of the long gone past. As they waited, Demetrios marched in to attacked, not caring if the ground may be sacred:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3619/maa700mn0.png
The Ptolemaic reinforcements at the pyramids stalled, giving time for Hermon Ptolemaios to move his army in from Memphis. Realizing that he would have to fight off an army on both sides, Demetrios ordered both flanks of his battle line to break formation and form a second line, protecting the rear:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6263/maa701ao7.png
With the line greatly shortened, Galatians quickly moved to exploit the flanks. They were, however, counted by Demetrios' Basilikon Agema a then outflanked by the Hetairoi:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6446/maa703tm9.png
With the Ptolemaic reinforcements fleeing, the entire Makedonian battle line moved to counter the forces coming from Memphis just as Hermon Ptolemaios charged the edge of the Makedonian phalangite line:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3762/maa704xh4.png
Along the flank, the Basilikon Agema quickly moved to counter the cavalry and prevent the flank from being surrounded:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2377/maa705me7.png
Just as the Ptolemaic cavalry were begining to falter, Ptolemaic Thorakitai rushed in, surrounding the Makedonian Basilikon Agema. Meanwhile, the second row of Pezhetairoi charged in from behind the engaged Pezhetairoi to prevent the Ptolemaic cavalry from pushing through the line:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7632/maa706mx8.png
Faced with the Thorakitai, the Basilikon Agema turned to face the enemy infantry. Although managing to wipe out the Thorakitai, this act allowed Pharoah's son to escape and return to Memphis:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/8490/maa708bp5.jpg
Demetrios immediately followed the battle with an attack on the ungarrisoned city:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4240/maa718fk1.png
Only the Pharoah's son, his cavalry, and a few townfolk manning the towers guarded the city. As soon as the Pezhetairoi ran from the siege towers, the wall defenders surrendered, though. With the walls taken, Demetrios slowly marched his army to the town square where Hermon Ptolemaios sat, donned in his best armour and with his best sword. With pikemen on one side and the Basilikon Agema on the other, the Makedonians surrounded and attacked the enemy cavalry. Fighting bravely to the death...
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9344/maa723lr6.png
[Spot the bugs...]
...the heir to the throne of Egypt fell dead in the streets of Memphis:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3845/maa724ka3.jpg
Demetrios quickly assumed that throne, informing the the Egyptian people that the Antigonid Dynasty now ruled all of Egypt. After enslaving just enough people to ensure the local's fear and setting up military control, Demetrios once again left the town in the hands of mercenaries as he sailed his army up the great river once again.
Over the decades, the Antigonids had faced many enemies with many different types of fighting styles and many times of equipment. However, ever since the celtic invasion and the settling of the Galations, a new type of equipment began to become common in the area. The Galatian chainmail had proved to be a superior form of armor and it had quickly become popular amoungst Alexandros' successors. After fighting waves of Galatians and various Hellenized form of the armor, Demetrios decided it was time to adopt something similar. He sent word back to Pella, where Perseus and Chrysoloras made contact with Makedonia's Galatian allies. With Galatian and defecting Romanoi smiths, they set forth a plan to refit the entire Makedonian military with new armor. As part of the plan, Perseus and Chrysoloras also decided to increase the base from which the Pezhetairoi could be recruited:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7712/maa717bgq3.jpg
In Hayasdan, Captain Aristokles once again fought off an army of the Hai:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5590/maa725sq8.png
After exchanging arrow volleys, the Hai charged all but a detachment of cataphracts across the bridge. Loosing everything they sent, the Hai captain retreated with the few remaining cataphracts:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1777/maa726vc8.jpg
To the south, Egypt was falling to the Makedonian Empire. The only remaining forces of the Ptolemaioi now lay in the Levant. It was only a matter of time, however before the Ptolemaic King (no longer could he be called "Pharaoh") moved his forces south to retake the poorly defended cities of lower Egypt. To prevent Ptolemaic reinforcements from reaching Egypt and to further weaken the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Aristotelis moved against the armies of the Ptolemaioi in Syria and Phoinike.
Moving south from Antiocheia, Aristotelis confronted a Ptolemaic force on the plains of Syria:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4470/maa727op4.png
The Ptolemaic forces took up possition on a rocky hill and awaited the Makedonians. Aristotelis moved his army forward, taking up possition at the base of the hill, where he ordered his archers and slingers to open fire. Faced with missile fire, the Ptolemaioi rushed down off the hill:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9807/maa728dw7.png
The Ptolemaioi charged into the Makedonian left flank, attempting to wrap around it, but the Thracians were prepared. With the flank threatened, the Thracians moved in and started pushing the enemy back:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8746/maa729vm6.png
The Ptolemaic infantry along the flank eventually broken and fled, with the Thessalian cavalry in pursuit. That fight was hardly over when a flanking division of the Ptolemaic army made its move and hit the flank of the Pezhetairoi phalangite line:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1748/maa730sg3.png
The Thracians quickly rushed in to relieve the Pezhetairoi, allowing them to fall back and regroup. While the Thracians held down the Ptolemaioi, Aristotelis outflanked the flankers, charging in and breaking the whole group:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5905/maa732xv6.png
Surrounded, that entire division of the Ptolemaic army was wiped out, including their general, Chairas Larnakaios.
With only a small group of Ptolemaioi left, the Makedonian line reformed and confronted the enemy:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5573/maa734fu7.png
Once again, under missile fire, the Ptolemaioi charged forward:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7882/maa735uk5.png
The fight didn't last, though. Before long, the entire Ptolemaic army was retreating. Only a hand full of Ptolemaioi got away, including the secondary general:
https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1930/maa736io3.jpg
Before heading north, Aristotelis hired an army of mercenaries and ordered them to head south and pester the Ptolemaioi. The mercenaries were promised more money for every man that the Ptolemaioi were forced to devert to the region to fight them off. After ravaging the countryside, the mercenaries moved south and besieged the city of Sidon. It wasn't long, however, before the Ptolemaioi sent in reinforcements to lift the siege:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7010/maa738yj4.png
The widely varied range of mercenaries lined up to face the Ptolemaioi, who nearly equalled them, in number of men:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/423/maa739on2.png
The Ptolemaioi charged in and soon the entire length of both lines were fighting:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/619/maa741fm4.png
The Ptolemaic right flank didn't hold long and soon the Karians were able to break free and circle around the rear of the Ptolemaic center:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4862/maa742cz4.png
The battle began to turn in the favor of the Makedonian mercenaries, but soon the reinforcement from Sidon arrived. The two personal guards of the Ptolemaic generals charged into the Makedonian right flank, and even though the Makedonian mercenaries still held the upper hand, the Galatians began to brake and flee:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9276/maa743zn3.png
The rout soon rolled across the line, as the entire mercenary army broke and fled northward:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3682/maa744nf1.jpg
In Egypt, Demetrios continued to conquer his way up the Nile. Upon reaching the ancient city of Thebes, he became bogged down. A small garrison under a relative of the Ptolemaic king held the city and prevented Demetrios from heading further south. Besieging the city, Demetrios was soon attacked by several groups of reinforcements assembled in the countryside:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/126/maa745to0.png
As the first Ptolemaic army approached, they were torn apart by arrow fire. Seeing no threat from the front, Demetrios once again moved his flanks to defend the rear:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6424/maa746mo0.png
The Ptolemaic phalangites to the rear delayed their attack, but a group of Nubians attempted to flank the newly formed Pezhetairoi line. Seeing the flankers with ample time to counter them, Demetrios and the Hetairoi chased them from the field:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/57/maa747gx7.png
As the rear line faced the Ptolemaic phalangites, who were now moving forward, the front line moved to counter the third Ptolemaic army approaching from the city of Thebes:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4476/maa748rh8.png
The frontal line engaged the third Ptolemaic army, as the second Ptolemaic army broke and started to flee. With the enemy in disorder, the rear line broke formation and gave chase:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3133/maa749pd4.png
Demetrios was busy dealling with the routing enemy, but to the southwest his army needed leadership; Terpnos Ptolemaios and his cavalry managed to push their way through the pikemen and breach the Makedonian line:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1613/maa750nu4.png
After defeating the other Ptolemaic forces, the Basilikon Agema and Hetairoi moved to flank the remaining Ptolemaioi army. The Basilikon Agema flanked the Galatians, surrounded them:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/789/maa751up0.png
The Hetairoi then charged Terpnos from behind, killing him. Demetrios had once again taken a major Egyptian city:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7028/maa753uh2.jpg
Demetrios quickly established control of the region, as he had the north, and headed up the Nile once more. Demetrios was reaching the end of Ptolemaic control and would soon be coming to the lands of Nubia...
The known world in 218BC:
https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/...mak218bdz0.png
Next: Chapter 17 : Egyptians and Hellenes
Another great chapter for a great story!:2thumbsup:
I didn't know the Aithiopikon Agema are still in the game, I thought they were deleted.:dizzy2:
such a nice, well written AAR, i can't wait for the next chapter
Marvellous update. :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Can't wait when you will cut down those damn Romaioi! Romaioi always need punishment.:yes:
Very nice, I like your army composition.
However this AAR takes eternity to load. But this is a tax which I pay with pleasure to see taht beautiful pictures (just a idiom common in our language, I think it shoul be said differently in English, but you culd understand it).
One more advise: take more pictures of Armenian cataphracts.
Thanks, everyone. :bow:
I think Ptolemai starts with one or two Aithiopikon Agema but can't recruit any new ones, or something like that.
I already have a battle plan for the Romanoi, but I have been attempting to keep the from attacking as long as possible. It is almost impossible to fight three wars at once and I think a fourth would break the Empire, especially if it was against the Romans.
I had some more pictures of the cataphracts but bridge battles are just so boring so I didn't include them. I'll see if I can find any good shots for my next update.
Excellent update Marcus!
:Edit:So they really were cut out of the game to bad:no: they and those german axe nobles that you also cut were 2 of my favourite units in the game. Lets hope those two units are replaced with a good unit and not another levy:inquisitive:
Yeah, the Aithiopikon Agema did exsist as Cleopatra's bodyguard, for example. And IIRC they were added to EB because someone found proof that they exsisted earlier (at the start date). But it turns out that that proof wasn't true and it was thus decided they would be removed from EB because they now lacked proof in this time period. :dizzy2:
So if they existed during Cleopatra's time why wouldn't they have existed a couple of hundred years before that time period as part of another family members bodyguard?
IIRC, because they still had some Makedonian elites available and they weren't on great terms with the locals (Egyptian and Nubian). Cleopatra was one of the first Ptolemai who actually reached out to the locals and got their acceptance.
I hate to pry again or sound rude and unappreciative but couldn't you just make another reform like with the selucids and their cataphracts? Or make a set of smaller reforms like the hayasdan to represent the population warming up to you? (I just really like this unit i'm having nostalgic memories of sending them into the rear and flanks of enemys and watching them cut through them like butter. like i said before i hope i don't sound rude or unappreciative.)
Well, first of all, I'm just repeating what I heard internally. I personally don't have a relatively vast knowledge of Ptolemaic Egypt. M2TW does open the way for many new reforms and you may someday see some sort of reform for the Ptolemaioi.
The problem with leaving the unit it in some sort of delaying fashion is that it would open a huge doorway. For example, there are tons of things that were removed from Sweboz or could be added to Sweboz, but the only proof for them comes from Caesar's time. If the Eithiopians are allowed they should be too. Again, wait for EB2...
As for the AAR, I just finished writing the chapter, which is somewhat short, and I'll be uploading it tommorrow after I have time to proofread it for the tons of errors I always make...
Chapter 17 : Egyptians and Hellenes
With Thebes in Antigonid control, Demetrios once again sailed up the Neilos, making Makedonian dominance known to the locals, as he went. Though Demetrios was once again halted. This time by the garrison of the city of Pselkis. The large city was the southernmost large urban center within the control of the Ptolemaioi and the city had long been the defensive location against Nubia. Demetrios disembarked south of the city and besieged the town, awaiting their surrender:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3227/maa758ub0.png
Although the focus of all in the Hellenistic world was on the events in Aigyptos, the rest of the Makedonian Empire and the rest of the world continued on. In Pannonia, Nepos began establishing military colonies and estates for his soldiers. With such a hostile population, it would be necessay to move in a loyal noble class to control the region once the garrison was moved:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3294/maa754ic5.png
With all of the combat in Hayasdan being over the Lake Van region, Euboulides had managed to secure Egrisi and build up the infrastructure and economy. Though, the act of managing cities no long interested Euboulides. Even though he had spent the majority of his life as a governor, he found much more satisfaction in commanding men in battle. Not even the tremors in the earth and smoke from the north could sate his boredom:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2278/maa755bb1.png
In Kyrenaia, the armies of Kart-Hadast had returned. Rather than attack the garrison of Kyrene, though, they simply set up camp along the desert lakes. It was as if they were simply setting up a challenge for Demetrios and waiting for him:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8097/maa756vr2.png
In Babylonia and Persia, the Seleukids had basicallygiven up on fighting the Ptolemiaoi. After retaking Babylonia and Media, they switched to a defensive front. Letting the Antigonids take the entire weight of the war, they instead turned their attension eastward. Making several attempts to cross the Indus and go beyond Alexandros' conquests, the Seleukids had managed to make many great mistakes. Rather than gaining new land, they simply caused a war. Now, Indians invaded Persia and took territory there:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3363/maa759bn2.png
Being repelled from Phoinike and later reinforced with Hellenists living in Syria, Aristotelis' mercenaries attempted to attack Damaskos:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1445/maa757tw9.png
After a short time, the seige of Damaskos was lifted when the mercenaries were forced to flee back to Syria. Attempting to disrupt the Ptolemaioi once more, the mercenary army headed to Palmyra. After a short battle there, they fled back to Syria, nearly completely wiped out.
Realizing that he had to take things into his own hands, Aristotelis marched his army south, leaving Antiocheia in the garrison that was previously stationed in Tarsos. Heading down the coastal trade road, Aristotelis besieged the port cities of Sidon and Tyre:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7824/maa773lc4.png
Back in Hayasdan, the earth had calmed down, but the war continued. Suffering losses and yet still needing to hold a strategic possition, new men had arrived to reinforce the Dacio-Thracian army. Dispite the increase in forces, though, Captain Aristokles once again lead the Dacio-Thracians against the forces of Hai:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4482/maa760ve0.png
Completely outnumbered, the Hai charged across the bridge to their death:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4084/maa761qn4.jpg
Along the Neilos, reinforcements arrived to relieve the garrison at Pselkis and attack Demetrios:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6551/maa762ez2.png
Backing up the Ptolemaic army were several elephants from Nubia:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/5462/maa763nt1.png
Demetrios had seen the creatures before, during his negotiations with the Seleukids to acquire some for himself, but his men had never seen such beasts. Knowing that the creatures were all about the fear factor and lacked any real threat, Demetrios prepared his men and ordered that they hold their ground. As the great beasts came into range, Demetrios had his slingers and archers concentrate all their fire on them. As they approached the line, they began to fall, filled with arrows and hit by lead shot. The Makedonian line held its ground:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3734/maa764as5.png
Before long, the creatures paniced and ran, but all fell to the arrows before they could escape or run wild on the Makedonian line. Meanwhile, the Ptolemaic infantry charged the Makedonian phalangites:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4163/maa765cb9.png
Some Ptolemaioi attempted to push through the line, but overall they were too light and too inexperienced to succeed:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/230/maa766qe4.png
"The Ptolemaioi : An Equal Opportunity Employer"
Soon the reinforcements arrived from Pselkis, but they were not enought to break through the line. Trying their best, the Ptolemaioi soon found themselves between pikes and cavalry:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1598/maa768ap5.jpg
Almost like one could predict the rising of the sun, the Hai attacked Captain Aristokles again:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2521/maa769og3.png
Neither side risking the bridge crossing, the battle ended when the steppe cavalry ran out of arrows:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3751/maa770sb5.jpg
In Hellas, Kallistratos, tyrant of Chalkis died peacefully, leaving the town leaderless. With a new found hatred going between the Hellenes and Makedonians, Perseus and Chrysoloras knew that Chalkis would not remain loyal for long. Fearing open revolt, the brothers knew it was time to make their move and gathered their armies:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3426/maa771wf3.jpg
While Hellas was threatening rebellion, to the direct south the Hellenic colony of Kyrene found itself finally under siege by the armies of Kart-Hadast. With Demetrios in Nubia, the secondary Hellenic army defending Alexandreia and Libye, and the reserve army wiped out years earlier in Ammonion, the Kyrene garrison was forced to defend the city on their own:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7986/maa772ze9.png
As the west crumbled, Aristotelis was moving to increase territory in the east. Deverting Ptolemaic reinforcements for Aigyptos, Aristotelis had moved against the ancient cities of Sidon and Tyre in Phoinike. After a short siege, Ptolemaic forces, who had been deverted from Assyria, attacked to relieve the Phoinike garrison and lift the seige:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8537/maa774ht8.png
The battle took place in a field crossed by the trade road, where Aristotelis possitioned his army to counter the enemy:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6726/maa775qv1.png
Unprepared for the speed of Sidon's garrison, Aristotelis soon found himself forced to fight a battle on two sides:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5986/maa776ci5.png
With the Thracians possitioned to counter the garrison, who were commanded by Ptolemaic general Timonaktos Thraikikos, the battle commenced on both sides:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8942/maa777df5.png
Reinforcing the Thracians, Aristotelis charged in cavalry in to crush the Galatians. Meanwhile the phalangites held the line against the main Ptolemaic force:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1620/maa778hf1.png
The main battle didn't last long, though. After a short fight, the Ptolemaic right flank broke and fled. Without their general keeping them in line, the Makedonian Pezhetairoi were quick to break formation and give chase. Meanwhile, Aristotelis charged his cavalry into the Ptolemaic phalangites from Sidon, who were held down by the Thracians:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6176/maa779sb9.png
As the sun set, the battle was clearing in the hads of Aristotelis. Even though a Makedonian victory, Timonaktos Thraikikos had survived and fled back to Sidon, where he hid behind the walls:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4487/maa780gy4.jpg
In the north, the Dacio-Thracians were actually growing tired from killing so many Hai, but once again they had the chance:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9412/maa781gu4.png
Giving them just enough space to think they could get across to the other side, the Dacio-Thracian charged in and surrounded the Hai:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7839/maa783kn6.png
Once again, the Hai lost an entire army to Captain Aristokles:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1985/maa784er5.jpg
In Pselkis, Demetrios decided to take a short break. As he sat back and enjoyed the Neilos for a while, he set up a message system down to the ocean, so that he could control his empire. Once set up, one of the first things he did was send word to Makedonia that he would be needing reinforcements once again, especially the Basilikon Agema and Hetairoi.
With the Ptolemaic elites dead or fleeing and much of the local population enslave or displaced, the Neilos valley was full of available land for the taking. Demetrios was quick to set up military land grants to his men and to veterans of old wars. Like in Pannonia, Demetrios wanted to ensure a loyal population in Aigyptos:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6166/maa787rx7.png
The ancient people of Aigyptos had been the least changed by the conquest of Alexandros. Across the rest of the world, peoples were learning to gain from the achievements of the Hellenes and Makedonians. Here, however, the people still worshipped their ancient gods, worked vast numbers of slaves to death, and continued a life of farming that had exsisted for centuries. Not sure what to do with the peoples of Aigyptos, Demetrios decided to simply leave things as the Ptolemaioi had set them up. For the time, the strange blend of Hellenic and Aigyptian religion would remain and the people would be allowed to do as they pleased, as long as they remained loyal.
As Demetrios relaxed in Upper Aigyptos, he made sure to have his men search out any locals who knew the desert. For the next leg of the war, it would be critical that he know each and every watering hole, well, camp site, and oasis on the entire continent. Those guides his men did find, he made sure to pay well, for loyalty was something he had to ensure.
Demetrios sat enjoying the calm water of the Neilos, when a messenger came up to him. "Your son has taken Phoinike and taken the last naval ports available to the Ptolemaioi," he said, handing Demetrios the message:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6369/maa785kd7.jpg
With Aigyptos controlled, Demetrios shifted his attension back to Makedonia and Hellas. It was clear that the Ptolemaioi were going to fall and Demetrios had to consider what was next for the Makedonian Empire. Considering the future, Demetrios ordered rebuilding of the military port in Ambrakia:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8453/maa786au2.jpg
Also, with the pushing of Perseus and Chyrsoloras, Demetrios ordered the official consolidation of lower Hellas into the Makedonian Empire:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/319/maa789ip2.jpg
As soon as the order was given, the Hellenic garrisons dispersed and the city states began to rebel. Only in the Peloponnisos, were there any remaining Makedonian-friendly tyrants, but even those with living tyrants were ordered to give up sovereignty. The acception to the order was the city of Sparte, where the ruler was neither removed from power nor replaced with military control.
In order to ensure a smooth transfer of power, both Perseus and Chrysoloras took an army south. The military occupation would ensure the integration of Aitolia and the city of Athenai, at least:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6700/maa790sl7.png
With the Empire's affairs in order (all by the Kyrene problem) and Pselkis secured, Demetrios headed into the desert to weed out the last Ptolemaic strongholds and holdouts:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5739/maa788bd7.png
And to the north, Aristotelis moved against Ioudaia, to finally remove all Ptolemaic access to the sea:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9708/maa791ns9.png
The known world in the winter of 217BC:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/...ak217wwdv9.png
Next: Chapter 18 : Defeat Amongst Victory
Great, I like it like this, more strategy and not so much battles... You moved your forces voluntarily out of the Greek towns? Do you want to provoke a rebellion? I did this one time in Galatia, and the result was that the Galatians broke out of the empire. I could have kept them by simply lowering the taxes. I had a Client Kingdom there, and wanted to change it "naturally", you know.~;)
Do you treat the Parthians as Indians now?
Awesome! You've smashed the Ptolemaioi into 3 pieces and destroyed their resistance in Syria! What are your plans for after you've destroyed them (or severely crippled and left them to only one or two cities)? Is there any chance we'll see a Seleucid-Antigonid war?
Hahaha, but opportunity for what? :skull:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Brilliant :2thumbsup:
Marcus your my HERO:2thumbsup: you killed the Ptolemaioi. In almost every EB game the Ptolemaioi roll over AS and Pontos I HATE that faction so much:furious3: .
P.S. Keep going want to see that Faction Destroyed message and your VICTORY
GO MACEDON!!!!!:2thumbsup:
I was actually getting tired of writing about only battles, but this is 'Total War'...Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
The garrisons of Hellas were all raised in the towns, so I figured if I removed their sovereignty, they would turn on me. Since the game can't do that, I disbanded them. I also raised taxes to full to represent the city's anger. My plan was to try and hold them, but if they rebel then I'll have to deal with that.
I'm treating Pahlav as two different nations now. The Parthians still have an army of 20 cataphracts in Khiva that the Saka and Baktrians take turns throwing themselves against. And then there are the Indian territories, which I role play are a different nation.
Well, I got to the point where Ptolemai was defeated and had Demetrios take a little time to consider whether to recreate Gaugamela or make his own path. The decision ended up being made for him. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaotix27
Throwing themselves against my sarrisas? When I looked at the picture I though, "Nobody else throw so many foreign troops at me as Ptolemai. They'll recruit anyone!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakkura
Yeah, my decision to take out Ptolemai was in part due to the fact I wanted more than one faction east of me. If I hadn't attacked them after they took Anatolia, they would be fighting Baktria over India by now.Quote:
Originally Posted by White_eyes:D
I'd love to see Makedonia go west, out of Egypt through Kart-Hadast. That would be pretty awesome. Maybe keep some kind of buffer of Ptolemaioi between yourself and the Seleukids.
Don't listen to him. Wipe them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elphir
All of them.
:laugh4: Haha, great first post Mordrorru, welcome to the Org. :ave:
MAA - Another great update. Keep 'em coming. :2thumbsup:
Hahahaha! That was great.
No! KART HADAST MUST DIE!!!111eleven1
Thanks for the comments everyone, and welcome to the ORG, Mordrorru.
I've written the next update and will upload it later today. Even though the Antigonid-Ptolemai war doesn't end in it, I try to allude to the fate of the Ptolemai and the future of Makedonia.
Chapter 18: Defeat Amongst Victory
Aristotelis spent only about a month besieging the territory of Iuodaia before the Ptolemaioi showed up. He couldn't even set up a line of defense before Ptolemaic reinforcements arrived from the south and north to releave the area:
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8633/maa792kz9.png
Among the Ptolemaic reinforcements was the Ptolemaic king himself, Ptolemaios IV. There had been non-Ptolemaic kings before Ptolemaios IV, but the title had finally returned to a descendant of Alexandros' general. The young king was not a very good general, but he was very headstrong, as evidenced by the fact he was willing to attack Aristotelis without greater forces.
Aristotelis set up his men along a ridge and waited for the Ptolemaic levies, approaching from the south, to come to him:
https://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7291/maa794ro8.png
Those levies barely arrived before they were fleeing back down the hill. Under a rain of arrows, the poor men fell dead before they could reach the base.
Aristotelis then ordered the line to reform and prepare to engage the reinforcements for Hierosolyma, while he personally lead the cavlary and prepared to face Ptolemaios IV and his Hetairoi:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6645/maa795gy9.png
As the Pezhetairoi reformed their line, Aristotelis rushed up to face Ptolemaios IV who had just crested the top of the ridge:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1633/maa796ob4.png
The two lines of cavalry charged at oneanother and clashed with great speed. The fighting soon turned into prolonged melee, and the Thrakians on the left flank of the battle line rushed in to assist:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4959/maa797al2.png
As Aristotelis pulled away from the fight and prepared to charge again, he noticed that the Ptolemaic reinforcements were just getting ready to charge his phalangite battle line:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7126/maa798hw6.png
With enemies on both sides Ptolemaios IV stood his ground, bracing for the charge by Thessalians and Thrakians:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7529/maa799as0.png
His bodyguard wiped out, Ptolemaios IV soon found himself alone. Honorably sparing the enemy king, whose kingdom no longer threatened Makedonia, Aristotelis had his forces pull back. The king just slowly walked away, perhaps in a daze:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5632/maa800rp4.png
Maybe he was injured, maybe he was confused, or maybe he just realized that his empire was gone and wished to die with honor in battle. Whatever the reason, alone, Ptolemaios IV charged into the Kretan archers. Seeing his men in trouble, Aristotelis gave Ptolemaios IV what he wanted, charging in and killing him:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9100/maa801yf5.jpg
Later, word would reach Assyria, where Ptolemaios IV's brother heard the news, thus becoming Ptolemaios V. With Ptolemaios IV's death, Aristotelis shifts his attension back to the infantry battle and his Pezhetairoi.
With all of the fighting in the center of the line, Aristotelis orders his flanks to wrap around the sides. Meanwhile the Thrakians complete the square, circling around the rear:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8264/maa802xw1.png
Once in possition, the Thrakians let loose with their javelin on the enemy rear...
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7760/maa803of6.png
...then charge in and cut through the engaged enemy, from behind:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1823/maa804ar8.png
The Ptolemaioi panic and attempt to flee, but they soon realize they are surrounded and have nowhere left to flee.
With the infantry wiped out, Aristotelis moves his cavalry to counter the enemy general, Aristomenes Krokodilopolites (Aristomenes of the crocodile city):
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/606/maa805bh5.png
Charging down the hill, the general is killed and Iuodaia falls into the hands of the Antigonids:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9348/maa807gg5.jpg
Aristotelis entered the city to find people who were overjoyed that the Ptolemaioi were removed by angered by the presence of the Antigonids. Holding the territory through military might, Aristotelis sent word for Syrian reinforcements. In the mean time, he quickly set up a local ruler to oversee the area as a allied state rather than a territory, hoping to appease the locals. Even the selection of the ruler (a Hellenized Phoenician) upset the people, though. Leaving the territory in the hads of some levies and the local king, Aristotelis once again moved his army against the Ptolemaioi.
To the west, the one problem Demetrios hadn't been able to solve the prior year, finally caught up with the Makedonian Empire. With the garrison of Hellenes hiding behind the walls, the armies of Kart-Hadast began their attack on Kyrene:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9963/maa808rm8.png
Ready for what ever may come their way, the Hellenic Hoplitai lined up to counter the enemy rams:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5649/maa809gx2.png
[Yeah, I know, where are the stone walls I was supposed to have?]
With a crash, the great wooden beams that made up the wall come crashing down. And before the dust can even settle, the Punic warriors come rushing in. The Hoplitai try their best but are gradually pushed back:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5279/maa810jl6.png
The defenders continue to get pushed back and soon the armies of Kart-Hadast are gaining ground within the walls at both breaches:
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5640/maa811ip0.png
Reinforcing those already engaged, the Hoplitai levies rush in, but it is not enough:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7104/maa813zv8.png
The battle line can't hold and before too long the entire Hellenic army is falling back into the city. With the walls taken, the Qarthadastim army parades through the streets:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5930/maa814uo3.png
Thinking the town is theirs, the Qarthadastim pikemen are suprised to find Hellenic forces waiting for them in the town square. Regrouped and ready to fight, the Hellenes charge in to stand to the last man:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7799/maa815gw8.png
Knowing the evil deeds that the Kart-Hadast peoples will do to their own healthy children, the Hellenes can only imagine the horrors that will unleash on the enemies of Kart-Hadast. Fearing their unknown fate, the Hellenes stand to the last man. As Apollo watches on [lets just say that is Apollo], the proove their honor and die, every last man:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7456/maa816gk8.png
Starting with nearly equal numbers, in the end the Hellenes are not even able to defeat half the forces of Kart-Hadast:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7315/maa817sf0.jpg
For the first time since the death of Pyrrhos, the Antigonids loose complete control of an entire region:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6164/maa818fb0.jpg
When word reaches Demetrios of the fall of Kyrenaia, he is quick to order that nobody do anything. All forces are to stay where they are and defend their garrison. The defeat had not only lost a city, though, it had once again cost the honor of Hellene allies. Other than garrison duty, the Hellene allies had failed at every task given to them. Seeking to restore their honor, the last Hellas in Africa ignore Demetrios' order and march westward from Libye:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8784/maa830hq8.png
The task ahead of them is a great one, though, as the city of Kart-Hadast is becoming known as one of the greatest powers in the known world:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2370/maa819md3.jpg
In Hellas itself, though, things where turning bleak. In Korinthos, Karpos, Makedonian-friendly tyrant dies:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2755/maa820cb7.jpg
Without a leader to calm their rage, and now facing the complete loss of autonomy, the people of Korinthos devolve into anarchy:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4881/maa824rv2.jpg
In Euboia things are even worse, though. Setting fire to the home of the old tyrant, the citizens of Chalkis declare themselves independant of Makedonian rule:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7492/maa823xq9.jpg
In the midst of trying to hold Hellas together, Perseus and Chrysoloras recieve word from the west that is more than troubling. The two great powers to the west, neither of which are friends of Makedonia, have signed an alliance:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1566/maa825rv8.jpg
Around the same time, Aristotelis managed to gain an alliance for Makedonia. Sharing an enemy in the Ptolemaioi, Aristotelis arranges for an alliance with the people beyond the desert, to the south:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7115/maa822iz5.jpg
With new friends to the south, Aristotelis moves against the Ptolemaioi once more, attempting to once again devide their territories:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8120/maa826sj1.png
With mostly heavy cavalry defending the city, Aristotelis sends in the Thrakians to cut through them:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2864/maa827pd6.png
With two dead enemy generals, the town is taken:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3549/maa829ze1.jpg
Just west of the Neilos, Demetrios continues to war against the Ptolemaioi. Reinforced by the last remaining Ptolemaic army in Africa, the garrison of the great oasis city of Hibis sallies forth to confront Demetrios and his elite army:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/659/maa831eb3.png
Marching slowly forward, the Ptolemaic phalangites clash with the Makedonian phalangites, while Galatians fill their gaps:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3678/maa833dv9.png
When a small portions of the Ptolemaic army begin to flee, Demetrios moves his Hetairoi around the flank. While Demetrios and the veteran Hetairoi chase off the routing enemy, the newer Hetairoi charge the Ptolemaic rear:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6684/maa835iv6.png
As the rest of the army flees, one group of desert levies stands their ground. Confronted by the Basilikon Agema, they choose to fight. Only with a charge of the Hetairoi do the break and run for the hills:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8715/maa838go3.png
And with that, the last Ptolemaic city on the continent falls to Demetrios:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4018/maa839jj6.jpg
Demetrios is quick to establish military control of the town and set up a garrison. In fact, a garrison force had already been on the way to the oasis when the battle was fought. Hibis under control, Demetrios heads westward. In the hands of his well paid guides, he takes his army to the oracle of Zeus-Amun at Ammonion. Like Alexandros before him, Demetrios heads into the desert to hear of his future and what is fated for him:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9277/maa841ne6.png
[I hate just marching across the desert and really try to put restrictions on myself when doing it. Like when I made my fleet follow my forces along the coastline for 'resupply'. With the problems in Kyrene, I really wanted to just rush across the desert this time, though. So, I'm saying that there are hired guides who know the region.]
To the north, the Ptolemaic Empire continues to crumble. With the great loss of power, territory, and men, their own cities begin to call out for independance. Aristotelis continues his efforts ot continue that crumbling, as he besieges the city of Damaskos. Once a city fought over by the Ptolemaioi and Seleukids, the town was never cared for or built up by the Ptolemaioi and now welcomed the Antigonids, seeing how they had turned Antiocheia around:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4051/maa842os7.png
Perhaps due to the vast amount of trade passing through the region or maybe by enemy sceming, the land of Phoinike suffers a plague. Blaming the Ptolemaioi for the plague, Aristotelis manages to sneak some infected spies and merchants into Edessa, the new Ptolemaic capital, to return the favor:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5364/maa840mp9.png
And in Hellas, Perseus secures Aitolia as Chrysoloras secures Attica. The rest of Hellas, however, falls into anarchy:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8218/maa844xq6.png
The known world in the autumn of 216BC:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/...mak216wdi6.png
Next: Chapter 19 : Restoration and Consolidation
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Amazingly the Hai front was quiet for a while...
Looking a little patchy there.
Where to after the Ptolemaioi are all dead? East or West or North?
in the middle of this picture, right under Demetrias, theres something which looks like a face which is sticking its tongue out, with long hair!Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
was it intentional?
btw, great update- i was on the edge of my seat!
Perhaps due to the vast amount of trade passing through the region or maybe by enemy sceming, the land of Phoinike suffers a plague. Blaming the Ptolemaioi for the plague, Aristotelis manages to sneak some infected spies and merchants into Edessa, the new Ptolemaic capital, to return the favor:
Marcus your the man:2thumbsup: using the Plague on those accursed Ptolemaioi
Kept going because those Kast-Hadast are pushovers when compared to Ptolemaioi.
P.S. weird how your walls were wood guess Bug??:oops:
The weird face is the rebel banner over Korinthos. I'd never seen that one before, a gorgon or something. I believe Teleklos made all of the rebel banners. It is nice to add variety amoungst the rebels.
I managed to take that plague to Edessa, Seleukeia, Susa, and Ekbatana. I had three spies in the town at the time the plague started and wanted to use the oppertunity to decrease the population of my neighbors. :skull:
It seems that all stone walls that are built by Western Greeks factions (or maybe only Makedonia) are not actually upgrading in the battle map. This must just be in my game and was something that was fixed at the last minute before the release or I would have heard of it before now. Large stone walls show up, so I may have to upgrade the walls in all of my border towns just to keep them from being easy to take.
As to where to go next, Demetrios takes a couple years off before that decision is made for him...
*breaths a sigh of relief*Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
ok. startled me too see that at first! :laugh4:
Awesome! Finish them off, Marcus, they're down to 4 territories! Hehe... wonder what Chirurgeon will say after you've destroyed them. Maybe he'll wipe out Makedonia in his campaign just to spite you. :laugh4:
looking good, I remember now what made me stop playing my Mak campaign, it was because after eevery few battles it would crash to the desktop, it would only happen once but i would have to play the entire battle again, which really pisses me off, especially if i was in your place playing these big battles.
Yes. :beam: :sweatdrop:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordrorru
Looks cool MAA. The revolt in Hellas is a neat piece of roleplaying, I might do that sometime too.
Chirurgeon can kill off the Makedonians if he wants. The Makedonian throne in the hands of an idiot (the AI) deserves to fall!
I had something similar happen. The battles I fought before taking Paraitonion crashed as I was loading out of the last battle. I ending up not playing for a week and when I did, I "auto_win"'d those battles. Since I already won them and I took more losses with auto_win, i didn't consider it cheating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoofa
It really sucks to CTD after those huge battles. If it happened to me a few times, I'd end up giving up. :wall:
I just wish I could kill off the client rulers or have the switch to rebels. The guy in Sparte refused to kick the can.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakkura
Why not just switch the Gov. to lvl 1 or 4 again? I do.
CTD's kill my games Once back in 81.0 ver I won HUGE battle against the romans toke rome KILLED three stacks whole of italy ripe for the taking:laugh4: but then CTD.:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:played again but this time they seemed to go the safe route and bring ONE more stack..... :sweatdrop:
*Thumbs up* again.
Nice job at beating the Ptolemaioi, but what's up with the rebellious homeland provinces? Time to put them back into order with the use of proper Roman ste- err, Makedonian steel!
Oh, and about expanding, definitely west.
Go go Byzantine Empire-esque empires! 8D
Wow, that's an intriguing update! Very nice with the forced rebellion in Hellas, and very realistic as well. I must say I'm a bit worrying for your empire, you have mighty enemies indeed!:rifle:
Maybe you could try using the give_trait "Client Ruler" 0 where "Client Ruler" is the client ruler trait. Hypothetically, you would be able to move them then, right? (I haven't tried this, but I'm thinking about it for the sake of role-play).
Thanks for the comments, everyone. :bow:
Carthage is the only real threat I've got, but they are wasting the most of their money loosing to the Lusotannii in Iberia, so they aren't that worrisome.
As for Hellas, it would be cool if reemerging factions worked in RTW, the rebels don't really have a chance, but going up against Kionon Hellenon again would have been fun.
Chapter 19 : Restoration and Consolidation
Demetrios was crossing the deserts of Libye, heading for the oracle of Zeus-Amun, seeking that which may be revealed to him, just as Alexandros had done a century earlier. In Syria, however, his son, Aristotelis, continued the war against the Ptolemaioi. There, he was besieging the city of Damaskos, whose sizable Makedonian and Hellene population welcomed a change after the many years of horrible administration they had suffered under the Ptolemaioi. The area had once been part of the Seleukid Empire, but had fallen to the Ptolemaioi in the Syrian Wars preceeding the war between Demetrios and Ptolemai, and had come to hate their Ptolemaic overlords.
Coming down from Assyria, General Boutrys Andriakeios moved to attack Aristotelis in the desert east of the town:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2241/maa845nv0.png
At first, Boutrys takes his time and slowly marches forward, but once in range of the Makedonian archers, he charges:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5739/maa847om8.png
It seemed like a suicidal move, to charge the line of sarrisas, but it someone succeeded. Boutrys pushed his way through the line, completely disorganizing the Pezhetairoi:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8075/maa848em8.png
His success didn't last, though. Failing to pull out in time, Boutrys Andriakeios fell dead on that field. His remaining pikemen stood their ground as they moved to engage the Pezhetairoi. Meanwhile, the reinforcements from Damaskos arrive under a rain of arrows:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9286/maa849qm9.png
Once again, the Pezhetairoi faced off against units of well armored Ptolemaic Thorakitai:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/3397/maa851hg1.png
Circling around the rear, in their customary style, the Thrakians flank the enemy and open fire on them from behind with their javelin...
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5940/maa850dm4.png
...then charge in and cut the Thorakitai to pieces:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4926/maa852ep3.png
With that, the Ptolemaioi broke and fled. Although, most fell dead under the rain of Kretan arrows:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2996/maa855fr8.jpg
Far off to the west, the 'rebel' army of Hellene allies (mast from Lesbos and Pergamon, territories that were still semi-autonomous portions of the Makedonian Empire) finally arrived at the city of Kyrene. Seeking to restore the honor of Hellenes and Ionions, they attack the city start off. The gates of which are sabataged by the residents, allowing easy entrance:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8668/maa857lv7.png
The Hellenic Hoplitai march through the streets, proudly reclaiming the town for Makedonia:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/412/maa859qh2.png
Though proud, the Hoplitai are soon countered, by the Qarthadastim elite pikemen:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4347/maa860xv7.png
Forming up in a phalanx, the Hoplitai show the Africans only a wall of shields and spears:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8120/maa861kc7.png
Circling around the rear of the Africans, Captain Marsias leads the cavalry in a pincer attack:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1452/maa862yo6.png
The battle lasts for what seemed like hours, as the Hoplitai slowly wear down the Africans:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5938/maa863jm8.png
Finally, as the last African dies, the Hoplitai regroup and take note of their losses. Killing the Africans cost them many men, including Captain Marsias, but at least the Qarthadastim Captain Chaeremon fell, as well.
As the Hoplitai had fought, the levy Hoplitai had managed to circle around the town and flank the rest of the Kart-Hadast forces in the center of the town. After a short rest, both the Hoplitai and the levy Hoplitai charge the center of the town and surround the remain elite Africans:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8286/maa866ku9.png
Costing the lives of many Hellenes, the Africans are finally pushed into a small area and begin the fall:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/950/maa867fm8.png
As the sun sets, the Hellenes are forced to withdraw [stupid battle timer]:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4089/maa868ew0.jpg
However, the next day they attack the city once again and retake the region for Makedonia [a little bit of cheating there]:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8666/maa869ds9.jpg
After a nice period of rest lasting more than a year, the Hai once again attack Captain Aristokles and attempt to retake the Lake Van region:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7975/maa870jo7.png
The Dacio-Thrakians and steppe horsemen launch their standard attack of allowing half the enemy across before charging in and surrounding them:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6561/maa871tg4.png
Fighting more agressively than normal, the Dacio-Thrakians push their way across the bridge and kill the Hai before they can even cross:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1377/maa872ho2.png
Word once again goes across the Makedonian Empire about the bravery of Captain Aristokles and the Dacio-Thrakians:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9618/maa873bo9.jpg
Word also reaches Pella of the completion of new mine shafts in several locations from Ionia to Kappadokia. Seeking money to fund the Aigyptos War, Demetrios had ordered these mines upgraded years earlier. Now, as the war winded down, they were finally opened for use. Though late, the increased income is greatly welcomed in the Makedonian treasury:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5906/maa875ro8.jpg
To the south, Neokles, son of Aristotelis comes of age. The child had long worried Demetrios. He worried what the fate of his Empire would be in the hands of such a man. After coming of age, Neokles still seemed less than the perfect leader. His only talent was his way with the people, perhaps that would suit him well. Seeking to increase his son's skills, Aristotelis ordered Neokles to continue his training and education in Antiocheia:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4266/maa874bn6.jpg
Around this time, the plague in Phoinike spreads to Damaskos (though it may have spread from Phoinike to Edessa to Damaskos):
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5848/maa856ro4.png
Fortunately Aristotelis and his army had left the city a few seasons earlier, heading south to finish off one remaining Ptolemaic stronghold in Sinai:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5931/maa876dl8.png
And in Hellas, Perseus and Chrysoloras had managed to establish control of Aitolia and Attike, officially integrating them into the Makedonian Empire. With those regions controlled, they headed toward rebelling City States in the rest of Hellas. After defeating the army of Elis, Perseus besieges the city of Korinthos. Chrysoloras then moved his army from Athenai to Eubolia:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1/maa877ee7.png
Before leaving Athenai, however, Chrysoloras orders the restoration of the great festivals of Athenai. The city of Athenai had suffered greatly since the time of Alexandros and only minor state monitored festivals had been permitted under Makedonian-friendly tyrants, but Chrysoloras promised the people of Athenai a new age of peace and prosperity under Makedonian rule. He also planned for the expansion of the Athenai library:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1231/maa887tb2.png
To the south, in Libye, Demetrios had finally arrived at Ammonion only to find the remnants of dozens of Ptolemaic armies taking up refuge there:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2637/maa878yu8.png
It seemed that every army that had not been wiped out in the entire Aigyptos conquest had eventually found its way to Ammonion. Promising quarter to all Ptolemaic soldiers, Demetrios offers to not fight on this sacred ground. The Ptolemaioi refuse. It seems that the Ptolemaic soldiers, who had suffered so much against the army of Demetrios were willing to fight one last time for their dead Pharaoh.
Demetrios besieged the city, and thankfully the Ptolemaioi ran out of food before Demetrios ran out of water.
Coming out for the city, the Ptolemaioi march toward the Makedonian line and attempted to find a way through:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7963/maa880ry3.png
Focussing their effort on the center, the Ptolemaioi soon make that hole:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4402/maa882kv5.png
Demetrios' Basilikon Agema, however manages to move around the flanks and prepared to encircle the Ptolemaioi:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1536/maa881wt2.png
Fighting bravely to the death, very few Ptolemaioi are left when they finally brake and flee back towards the town. Many those who remain fall to arrow and sling until just one man remains. The last Aigyptian Ptolemai proudly carries his banner back to the town, falling just outside the city:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2439/maa883vk7.png
Seeing this act, Demetrios orders the banner taken to the city shrine and placed not only as a trophy but as a reminder of the bravery of all the Ptolemaic brothers who had died in this long war.
And so, Demetrios wins his last battle in this long Aigyptos War:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4153/maa885jh2.jpg
The elderly Demetrios then entered the town:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/633/maa886ms0.png
After looking to his men and greeting the locals that lived at the oasis, Demetrios headed to the oracle...
To the east, Aristotelis fights his own battle with an isolated group of Ptolemaioi, ruled by the Anemurionios family:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4482/maa888ec5.png
Aristotelis set his men up along the top of a hill and prepares. As the first force of Ptolemaioi approached, the slingers and Kretan archers kill a large majority. This, however, draws all fire from the forces approaching from the town, who approach mostly unharmed:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5913/maa890gt6.png
As Anemurionios the Younger fights his way to the Pezhetairoi, Aristotelis moved his cavalry around his rear:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1128/maa891zk0.png
As soon as Anemurionios falls dead, the Thessalian cavalry withdraw to avoid the infantry battle. As the forces from the city attack the Makedonian right flank, the left flank moves around to face the enemy from the side. The Thrakians also move around to the rear of the Ptolemaioi:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1900/maa893no4.png
Encircled, the Ptolemaioi fight to the death.
Heading down to met Anemurionios the Elder, Aristotelis personally leads his cavalry in a charge:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/476/maa894cr9.png
Injured from the fight, Anemurionios ultimately falls when a lead bullet hits him in the back of the neck. Aristotelis then marchs into the city of Petra and declared the last Ptolemaic stronghold outside of Assyria as part of the Makedonian Empire:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3050/maa896qz0.jpg
The war approaches its end, but Demetrios is unaware. When he had first entered the deserts, Ptolemai were still in control of most of the Levant. Now, however, he didn't think much of current events, instead he focused on the future and his fate, as he planned to met with the oracle of Zeus-Amun at Ammonion:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4049/maa884sb6.png
Although Demetrios had met with many other oracles, this particular oracle was particularly famous because of a past visitor. Though Demetrios didn't expect the same news Alexandros had gotten, he prepared himself for anything.
The oracle's message of the future is relayed to Demetrios,
"I saw a world where and eagle sits upon the throne of Makedonian, and and great stone lines encircle the Mediterranean."
The oracle then shifted to the more complex and several messages were relayed to Demetrios,
"Friends will be enemies and enemies, friends."
"An enemy fears the dull blade in the hands of a sharp man more than the sharp blade in the hands of a dull man."
"When forced into a corner, the serpent's venom strikes the hardest."
"The man without a city makes a poor neighbor."
"The greater the warrior, the quieter the death."
"Fear that, which strikes a friend in the back."
"One battle will decide the fate of the entire world."
When Demetrios asked about his future and what he should do, the oracle responded,
"Water."
"Follow the treasures of your ancestors..."
"...but remember, to achieve the impossible, it takes more than one lifetime."
With that, Demetrios left to ponder what he had heard. Some referred to the past, some was obvious, other things would require much more thinking. Whatever the distant future held, for now, Demetrios decided to head north and back to the Libye coast.
Next: Chapter 20 : Negotiations and Reconciliation
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I couldn't fit everything I wanted into that update, so I'm going to do a half chapter (20) to finish up what I planned to include.
Wow.
Another great update, MAA, especially the last part, concerning the Oracle, it all sounds very foreboding and you have intertwined gameplay and roleplay to a perfect balance.
After lurking for so long in this thread, I think that now is the time for me to say "VERY WELL DONE" to Marcus, and return to the shade...
:2thumbsup:
priceless. Gotta love the Oracle at times like this. It always speaks the truth! :laugh4:Quote:
The oracle then shifted to the more complex and several messages were relayed to Demetrios,
"An enemy fears the dull blade in the hands of a sharp man more than the sharp blade in the hands of a dull man."
"When forced into a corner, the serpents venom strikes the hardest."
"The man without a city makes a poor neighbor."
"The greater the warrior, the quieter the death."
"Fear that, which strikes a friend in the back."
"One battle will decide the fate of the entire world."
Good Update Marcus! I like that part with the Oracle. Can all these clues hint at a war with Rome in the near future? Or does a Ptolemy end up on the macedonian throne?
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Impressive heap of militia cadavers you left there in Kyrene! That with the banner set up in the Ammonion is very beautiful. And the best is the part with the Oracle, of course. I get the impression you want to conquer both the whole Mediterranean and the old empire of Alexandros. :yes: :yes: :yes:
Btw, is the "Return-Alexander-to-Pella-thing" working? Sorry I can't remember it right out of my head if you described that in your AAR or not... ~:0
Thanks, everyone. :bow:
I wasn't sure what to do about the oracle part, but last night, half asleep and a little drunk I wrote that stuff down. It turned out pretty good.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I think the returnining Alexander thing was deactivated, but even if it isn't, I don't want to risk it. :sweatdrop:
'Fighting bravely to the death, very few Ptolemaioi were left when they finally brake and flee back towards the town. Many who remain fall to arrow and sling until just one man remains. The last Aigyptian Ptolemai proudly carries his banner back to the town, falling just outside the city':
Ahhhhh........like seeing MY oracle tell my fate:yes:
Great AAR keep going marcus:whip:
I've got it! Friends are enemies refers to the Seleukids and the snake in the corner is the Getai. Otherwise, I dunno.
I guess they all do have meaning. I had some that were nonesense, but I didn't end up adding any of those. Example, "It is easy to hate that which reminds you of yourself." A couple of those have already happened, a couple have happened in what I have played but not yet posted in the AAR, and some are just predictions.
PS
I've finished the next chapter, which includes a little story. Sorry, I'm not too good at writting but decided to write a little story since the next update is so short. I'll post it tonight or tommorrow.
EDIT: Wow, page 8.
When do we get to see the, "Faction Destroyed: Ptolemaioi" sign?
Not quite yet. See next chapter... \/ ...for the why. :egypt:
Chapter 20 : Negotiations and Reconciliation
The road stretched out in front of three men. They crossed the arid land heading west. To one side, walked
an old man wearing the padded vest he had been given decades earlier when Greek men came to his home
and told him he would fight for Pharoah. At the time, he was clean shaven and dressed as any Aigyptian
would, now he was dressed as a soldier of a Greek nation and had a slight beard, partly due to the fact the
Greeks accepted it and partly due to the fact he had stopped caring about his appearance. He began to
was long from his homeland, as he walked down that old road. Looking to the ground, he kicked a stone
from its place, revealling the damaged second layer of the road. Everywhere around him, the stones were
loose and falling from their original spots. The great cost of a war had made repairing or maintaining such
roads impossible.
The old man thought back on his life. He had missed almost thirty harvests in his village. He wondered if
his village even still exsisted. The tales from Aigyptos said that the dreaded enemy had been killing or
enslaving the entire population to sell them off to barbarians in the north. He figured his mother was now
dead, but he worried for his sister. His sister had been there to see him off at the river. From there he had
sailed down the Neilos to the great city of Memphis, where he was trained. With a basic understanding of
how to fight with a pike, he and his fellow Aigyptians had been sent across to the sea, to the land of Syria.
There, he had charged across a bridge, following the orders of an idiot general. The only survivor of his unit,
he was assigned to another, only to suffer defeat after defeat. With access to Aigyptos cut off, he found
himself one of the few remaining Aigyptian soldiers in the land of Assyria. There, he eventually joined the
bodyguard of a Ptolemaic envoy.
Ahead of him he saw the river Euphrates at its westernmost point. He could see a camp, just on the other
side of the bridge. He knew that within that camp were enemy soldiers, ready to ride west and warn of any
attack. The old man almost smiled. Little did those men know that there was no attack possible and they
simply wasted their time guarding that bridge.
Tripping on another loose stone, he caught himself on one of the two donkeys that walked with them. One
carried their supplies, the other an assortment of gifts, including fruit from Armenia. The gifts were nothing
that would impress a king, but enough to ensure they were not killed by scouts, patrols, and border guards.
It would be a sight to those men on the far side of the river that they came in peace.
As they finally approached the low lands near the river, the old man could see commotion on the far side, for
they were unaccustomed to visitors. Not even merchants travelled this road any more. The only people
who walked this road any more were soldiers marching to their death on the western side.
Signalling his bodyguard to stay where they were, the Ptolemaic envoy moved just onto the bridge and
yelled something across in Greek. Though he understood Greek, the old man couldn't make it out.
Ignoring what was before him, the old man thought to himself. First sighing, the old man began to speak,
mostly for his own benefit, "To the north, our friends in the mountains continue to fight off the horror, that is
our enemy..."
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5275/maa897rn7.png
"...but they fail, as they always have and will do for all time."
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2331/maa898tv0.jpg
"To the south my people of Aigyptos pay the ultimate price for betraying the enemy."
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6204/maa899lv9.jpg
"And here I am approaching the enemy who has caused great horrors, massacres, and injustices against
not only my people, but the men we once knew as our Pharaohs. I wish than I could charge forward and kill
as many of these men as the gods permitted. Inevitably falling to my death, feeling their sword pierce me.
No! I am here to send the message of our king, the son of Pharoah. The message being the lowest form
possible. The message: 'We fall at the mercy of our hated enemy and beg forgiveness for the what they
have done to us.' I do not have to understand the message, only deliver it." The other man, most likely a
local to Assyria, remained silent.
Noticing a rider mounting and riding west from the enemy encampment, the old man looked once more to
the envoy. Signalling once again, the envoy ordered his two bodyguards to bring the donkeys forward.
Crossing the bridge, the three men soon found themselves surrouned by enemy soldiers. As the envoy
spoke, the old man opened the chests which were tied to the donkey, and started to present the gifts that
were inside. As he stood there, the old man realized that this was the first time he had ever seen one of the
enemy who had not been trying to kill him. They looked much like the elite soldiers of Pharoah. They wore
linen armor and had a helm similar to the one he had been issued, and he had since lost. Being told that
they would stay in the enemy camp for the night, the old man sat near a fire, which had just been built. As
the envoy spoke continued to speak with the enemy captain and the other bodyguard tended to the donkeys
and supplies, a couple of young enemy soldiers came up to the old man. At first he wanted to jump up and
run in fear, but it soon became clear that the men were only offering him some food. He took the food
offered but remained silent, listened to the enemy soldiers talk to oneanother. Had he not seen the horrors
such men where capible of on the battlefield, he would have thought these were normal good men.
In the morning, several riders arrived, who spoke with the Ptolemaic envoy. Before too long, the envoy
returned and ordered his men to make ready to head back.
Several hours of silent travel later, they made the turn north and started heading for Edessa. Feeling
something hit his crooked old nose, the old man looked up to see a few small white particles drifting down
from the heavens. This was something he had grown used to in northern Assyria, something he had never
seen back in his homeland.
As his thoughts once started to shift to his homeland, the envoy spoke, "That certainly was quick. It seems
they were ready for Ptolemaios V's message and had a counter proposition ready. Next month the four
warring parties will gather and determine whether this war can end."
The old man once again looked up at the falling white flakes. He wondered if his sister would believe such a
thing as them could exsist in this world.
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In the winter of 215BC, the three families of the Antigonids, the Seleukids, and the Ptolemai met, along with the Kingdom of Hayasdan, to discuss an end to the war. Demetrios had travelled from Kyrene to Syria, where he, his son, and his grandson negotiated for Makedonia. After weeks of negotiations, the terms were decided:
-The Ptolemaic dynasty would be allowed to exsist in Assyria, with an increased territory monetary compinsation.
- - -The Antigonids would pay the old owners for any territories gained by Ptolemai
- - -The western border of Assyria would follow the Euphrates river, then head directly south where the river turned east
- - -The northern border would be the exsisting border with the Kingdom of Sophene
- - -The southern border would be the desert
- - -The eastern border was not defined by the treaty, though.
- - - - - - (The Seleukids assumed it would remain as it was and the Antigonids did not bring it up. The Ptolemaioi, however, assumed it would be a direct straight border between the areas they controlled, encompassing northern Babylonia.)
-The Ptolemaioi would also break their alliance with the Hai, sign a peace peace treaty with the Seleukids, and become a protectorate of the Antigonids:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6050/maa902xk7.jpg
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9848/maa901wc9.jpg
-The Ptolemai would recongnized the Antigonid claims on Syria, Iuodaia, and Aigyptos
-The Antigonids, would however, allow the Ptolemaioi to maintain their trade colonies on the Red Sea, allowing the trade to pass through Aigyptos
-To the north, the Hai would give up all claims on Pontos and Egrisi while Makedonia would give up claims on the Lake Van basin
-And finally, the Hai and the Antigonids would sign a peace treaty, ending that war as well:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5854/maa903do0.jpg
With that, peace was assured in the east, and the well defined treaty would hopefully ensure peace between the Antigonids and Ptolemai. The failure of the Seleukid ambassadors and the (perhaps purposeful) ignoring of the issue by the Antigonids had left the situation between the Ptolemai and Arche Seleukeia less secure.
The borders as defined in the Treaty of Zuegma (with northern Babylonia borders undefined):
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8229/maa904bmo5.png
As the treaty was signed in the east, the sons of Alkyoneus secured Hellas once more:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1/maa877ee7.png
On Eubolia, Chrysoloras retakes the rebel city of Chalkis:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4118/maa905ek0.jpg
And Perseus retakes the last rebel city in the south, securring Korinthos for Makedonia:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/7097/maa906wo8.jpg
[Thus completing the 'restoration' part of the last chapter.]
And in Aigyptos, the Herakleotikos family arrives from Makedonia to govern the new territory. With government established and military settlements being set up along the Neilos, the Herakleotikos family turns to their attension to infrastructure and bettering the way of life for the common Aigyptians. Most areas of Aigyptos lacked the simplest forms of waste control. Seeking to improve public health and happiness, the Herakleotikos family order the contruction of basic drainage systems across Aigyptos...
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4495/maa908jj9.jpg
...and public sewers in the cities:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/620/maa909jt5.jpg
The Herakleotikos family also lift the ban on local festivals all across Aigyptos:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6576/maa907wq7.jpg
As the area begins to settle down, the people of the region begin to remember that the Ptolemaioi were foreign conquers, just as the Makedonians are now. The difference being, that the Makedonians seek to improve their way of life, while the Ptolemaioi simply dominated them as they ruled from far off Alexandreia.
As spring approaches, spies in Babylonia, watching for possible outbreak of war, make note of a new Seleukid battle unit being trained in Seleukeia. No nation at peace needs such a soldier:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3104/maa910fr0.jpg
The known world in the winter of 215BC, at the end of the Aigyptos War:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/...mak215wwt1.png
Next: Chapter 21 : May Fate Guide You
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I can't believe I haven't gotten tired of this campaign yet. Usually I'm 'running out of steam' at this date in a campaign. But there is still more fun to come. And I did some more 'cheat' editting, like I did with the recruitment in Syria.
You're as good as a traitor making peace with the Ptolemaioi! :furious3:
(Did you cheat to make the alliance? Normally at this point the AI would ask for all its cities back and 100,000 money.)
I wanted to destroy them, but I didn't want Assyria (and Ptolemaios Theron, for that matter) or a war with the Seleukids quite yet. Though, they are no longer 'the Egyptians', they are now the 'Assyrian Ptolemaioi' with new rulers, which I'm going to consider is a completely different group.
Yeah, :shame: I used forced diplomacy for that treaty. Though I had to pay for Palmyra and Arbela prior, then I offered them triple the territory and 15,000 dnai in exchange for only peace (well, protectorate). Since they had about 10 units left, I amagined that they would have realistically accepted the offer.
When's Demetrios gonna die? He's been here since page 1. :dizzy2:
:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
QFT.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Waiting eagerly to see where you'll take the game next!
very cool, demonstrates that diplomacy can be as interesting as war :2thumbsup:
Demetrios will die eventually, though he's only in his 60's so he could have another 10 or so years ahead of him. Though, the oracle did kind of mention a few things about the subject...
Demetrios had kind of ended up my Alexandros. Antigonos was Philipos, uniting Greece and making a plan to invade the east, and Demetrios fulfilled that plan. The difference is that Demetrios took about ten times as long and has only achieved half of what Alexandros did.
I tried to add some role-playing and story into the end of the war. And I knew that it wouldn't be too long before the Seleukids started something, so added a little bit about that.
'The Ptolemaic dynasty would be allowed to exsist in Assyria, with an increased territory monetary compinsation.'
WHAT you made peace??? lol thats ok at least your the new Pharoah:egypt:
GO Marcus kill everyone make sure no faction goes without losing one CITY:smash: Love the AAR cause your one of the first to play to the point of beating macedon and having a AAR :yes:
Now get to it:whip:
I think the AS are upset because you did not give them their territory in Syria back, which is rightfully theirs. Shame on you, you Antigonid pretender:furious3: ! At least you bet the Ptolemaioi to a bloody pulp:egypt::smash::skull: :laugh4:
Anxiously awaiting the next update:2thumbsup:
I have a feeling that the Ptolemaioi won't be around for much longer, anyways. They are right in the middle of everything and someone is going to march through them getting to the other, eventually. I think Hayasdan is even heading south.
Alexandros' Empire belongs 'to the strongest' and the Seleukids are clearly not that. They are having so many troubles in the east that I don't think they care about Syria, anyways. Their invasion of India really backfired, Baktria is gaining power and conquering ever province that rebels from the Seleukids, and I wouldn't be too surprised if the Ptolemaioi tried to invade Babylonia.
I haven't worked on the next update yet. For one thing, the gameplay has gotten a bit monotinous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
it appears the Alexander syndrome is working its magic.
(where ppl set out to recreate alexander's empire and get bored after awhile like me :laugh4: )
Maybe its about time I go to Babylon, have a party, get drunk, and get assassinated. :laugh4:
I've started working on the next chapter. The monotimous parts don't start for a chapter or two.
Sorry Wrong Thread.
P.S. Yeah It probably would be a good idea to go to babylon.
More Ptolemy bashing I see :( Anyway great job MAA. 8 pages! thats awesome. Keep it up :)
The Ptolemaioi are now my friendly neighbors. Nothing to fear from them any more, so they are no longer hated.
Chapter 21 : May Fate Guide You
With Aigyptos conquered and the Ptolemaioi defeated, a new age began for the Makedonian Empire. To the east, the Kingdom of Hayasdan and the Assyrian Ptolemaioi opened their countries to trade with the Antigonids for the first time in many years. To the north, the Getic Confederation continued its peaceful alliance with the Makedonian Empire and gave no sign of wishing to change that. To the south, Makedonian envoys visited the city of Meroe, offering gifts and promising that, unlike the Ptolemaioi, the Makedonian Empire did not wish to exand into their territory. Only to the west, was there anything to be concerned about.
In the core of the Makedonian Empire, the sons of Alkyoneus, Perseus and Chrysoloras, continue their quest to assimilation of the Hellenes. With Hellas seccured and Perseus heading back to Pella, Chrysoloras announced that the islands of the Aegean would also be added to the Empire and this would result in a reduction of their autonomy. Hearing this, the garrisons of the major cities dissolve, forcing the ex-tyrants to hold things together in their regions on their own:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1421/maa911gv4.png
In Syria, Demetrios says goodbye to his family and heads back to Kyrene. Demetrios left somewhat disappointed, though. Aristotelis' second son, Bykoli, had come of age, but he was prooving to be even more of a disappointment than his elder brother, Neokles:
https://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4295/maa912qy5.jpg
In order to toughen both men up, Demetrios orders that they both be sent to Sparte for military training. This would be the first time a member of the Antigonid family, or any Makedonians for that matter, had attended training in Sparte since Aristotelis had completed the training decades earlier. This move also attempted to improve standings with Sparte, which was neither a client state, nor a Makedonian province, nor an enemy.
Once back in Kyrenaia, Demetrios faces a problem far different. The garrison of Kyrene had managed to repulse a minor army of Kart-Hadast earlier, but now they were planning to attack in force. Countering the enemy, Demetrios marches his newly reinforced army south to confront they enemy:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9241/maa913if4.png
Though the center of the line was reserved for the Silver Shield veterans, near the center formed the ranks of newly equipped Pezhetairoi, armored in chain:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5416/maa914mj4.png
With the enemy on a hill, Demetrios has his men move forward slow, pausing occationally to test the enemy. Reaching the base of the hill, the Qarthadastism preform a test of their own, only to fall back under fire from the Bosphorian archers:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6784/maa915ls3.png
Coming within shouting range, the two phalanx lines possition themselves parrallel to eachother and prepare for battle:
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8558/maa917rq6.png
The forces of Kart-Hadast fleeing back to their city on the far side of the desert, Demetrios marched north once more. Boarding the fleet, he sets sail for the future the oracle had told him of:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5673/maa919kl6.png
Around this time, other events unfolded across the known world. In India, the elder Seleukid Basileus, Magas, suffers defeat after defeat along his Indian front:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4373/maa920dc1.jpg
In Iuodaia, the locals rebel against the local king, rioting in the streets:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1876/maa921xq3.jpg
In in city of Sardis, the city grows larger. With the city growing, the city's palace, where Antigonos had die so many years ago, also increased in stature to reflect the increased importance of the city as regional capital of Ionia:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7695/maa922em1.jpg
In Hellas, control was finally established, freeing up the local garrisons for other tasks:
https://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5098/maa923ox7.jpg
In Pannonia, the Makedonian Empire had established control of the region and nearly every local tribe fell in line. In the easter parts of the region, however, one Celtic tribe refused to accept Makedonian rule. During this time of relative peace in the Makedonian Empire, one of the Illyrian Argeades, descendants of Alexandros Argeades, decides to let this tribe know who controls Pannonia. Assembling an army of Illyrians, he marches north and confronts the tribe in their own native territory:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7900/maa924nl7.png
Along a road, built and maintained by Makedonians, passing through a draw, the two armies meet:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3319/maa925eu4.png
The vast number of poorly armored Illyrians didn't quite match the vast number of barbarians, but prepare for the battle:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2867/maa926ep7.png
The battle begins with Aristophilos charging his cavlary into the Celtic left flank:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1778/maa927xv1.png
With a successfully landed charge, Aristophilos takes his cavalry around the flank and prepares for another charge. This time, however, the Illyrians are countered by a force of Celtic cavalry:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3097/maa928ik2.png
Meanwhile, the Celtic infantry make their move against the Illyrians only to recieve a rain of javelin. Javelin depleted, the Illyrians run forward, breaking the enemy and chasing them down. Those Celts that didn't break are quickly encircled and wiped out. Soon only the enemy general remained, but he avoids conflict, attempting to regroup his men:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1294/maa930ew6.png
[Stupid AI stuck in skirmish mode.]
Eventually, even the enemy general turned to flee. With the majority of their warrior class wiped out, the tribe decides settle down and accepted Makedonian rule:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8756/maa932hi2.jpg
As Aristophilos heads north to take control of Vindobona and his army heads south to be replenished, the situation in Krete turns bad. Deinokratis, ex-tyrant of Kydonia died of old age and stress. With him dead, the last voice of Makedonian support on the island is lost. Within a year the island declares itself independant of Makedonian rule:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3831/maa933xb0.jpg
Dispite the situation with the Hellenes, all things seem to be going so well for the Makedonian Empire. But all good things come to an end, and so did this age of relative peace. With an awkward peace for decades, the violent Romanoi finally brake the ceasefire and attack border forts in Illyria:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6250/maa934fx5.png
As this war with the Romanoi begun, Demetrios lands his army in Sikilia, beseiging the oppressed city of Syrakousai. Long had the Makedonian Empire planned on assisting the Syrakousians, but there had always been more pressing matters. Now, Demetrios finally followed through on that promise, setting out to liberate the city from the city of Kart-Hadast:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3316/maa948it2.png
To the north, the Romanoi thought they were only facing an army of Celtic mercenaries. What they did not know is Nepos, first born son of Alexandros had been preparing for this event. Along the border, he had an army of Celts, guarding the border forts for decades. To the north, Nepos and his sons Neikolas, Gelon, and the ironcally named Pyrrhos, had been preparing with their force of Makedonian soldiers. And to the south, they Illyrian army had replenished its numbers and prepared to assist the war effort. Meanwhile, the new shipyards of Ambrakia had built a fleet and prepared to sail north to assist the war effort.
With reinforcements out of range the Celts decide to fight off the Romanoi on their own:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8688/maa935tq3.png
Exiting for the sides of the fort...
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8139/maa936fl6.png
...the infanty form up on the right while the cavalry set up on the left:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/904/maa937hk6.png
[I love that picture. Thanks to Goth for the skies!]
The infantry attempt to form a line, but before they can get into possition, the Romanoi send their heavy cavalry forward:
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9194/maa938wl1.png
The elite heavy cavalry of the Romanoi are no challenge of the Celts, as they cut them to pieces, forcing them to flee. Once again reforming the line, the infantry prepared for the main battle. Meanwhile, the Celtic cavarly clash with the Romanoi medium cavalry behind the Romanoi lines:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9140/maa939jf7.png
Regrouped, the Romanoi heavy cavalry charge once more, assisted by Romanoi fighting as Hoplitai:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7392/maa940rd6.png
After the Romanoi heavy cavalry brake once again, there is another pause in the battle. This short pause is then followed by a charge by the entire Romanoi line. Facing the superior number of Celts, the Romanoi unts brake one at a time until only one unit of elite infantry remains:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1977/maa943or1.png
The fight lasts quite some time, giving time for the bulk of the Romanoi to escape, but eventually the elites brake as well:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4889/maa945du3.png
Chasing the Romanoi into the forests, the Celtic infantry surround a group of elites, but the clash costs more Celtic lives than Romanoi:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8348/maa946ob7.png
With that, the Celts had heroically defended the borders of the Makedonian Empire:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6037/maa947sr0.jpg
With war in the north, Demetrios hastens his assualt on Syrakousai. Hiring mercenaries from Italia to do the fighting, Demetrios attacks the city garrison:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/79/maa950zu1.png
The siege doesn't get off to a good start, though, as one of the two siege towers bursts into flames before reaching the wall:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/691/maa951dg7.png
However, the other tower easily takes the walls and gateway. As the forces of Makedonia enter the city, not only do the tower defenders surrender, but they also started firing at the Kart-Hadast garrison, fighting for Makedonia:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8183/maa952tb1.png
With the walls lost, the Kart-Hadast forces retreat to the town center and prepare to defend the city palace:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8682/maa956wj6.png
[The guy right next to the officer is thinking, "Haha, my spear is bigger than everyone elses."]
Charging in from both sides, the Italians surround the city defenders:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4218/maa958lg8.png
Fighting as hard as they could the Kart-Hadast forces get wiped out. Eventually only one African remains:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2250/maa959ya6.png
With his death, the city is taken:
https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6135/maa960ml8.jpg
Finally, after decades of fighting on their own against the Kart-Hadast war machine, Syrakousai is rescued. Demetrios quickly sets up a military system to take advantage of the large population of Hellenes, so that they might defend themselves. Greeted as liberators, the Makedonian army marches into the city, but they have little time to enjoy celebrations. Sparing no time, Demetrios leaves the town in the hands of the mercenaries and moved against the rest of Qarthadastism Sikilia:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5900/maa962jm9.png
The known world in 213BC:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/...xmak213ff2.png
Next: Chapter 22 : Sikilia
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Now you know of the red monotony I spoke. I call them the "Extraordinarii". I know not this "Roma" of which you speak, Italia seems to be control by a nation called "Extraordinarii".
This is a feverish pace of updates! It saddens me to see the Kart Hadastim in battle. Even more when they lose. I so miss them! Anyway keep up the excellent updates!
So...how many turns did peace last until the western factions went to war with you?
Oooh, interesting. Your empire's indeed seeming to become the Byzantine Empire-lookalike, now that you're gun' conquer Kart-Hadast+Rome (/Vandal Kingdom+East Gothic Kingdom). IF you intend to conquer them, that is, of course. :p
Anyway, nice update once again.
Speaking of, is your capital still Pella?
Thanks for the comments.
Since I'm a fan of the Romani, I've never really like the Carthaginians. This campaign's experiences have really reinforced that opinion, too. I've never even played a Carthaginian campaign more than two or three turns.
I was at peace (never with Kart-Hadast) for about 5-8 turns. I think it was the AI hardcoding forcing 'Total War' that caused the Romani to attack.
The Romani have started their trek north (at least they are going through Gaul), so there is only one way to stop them from expanding. Nepos Argeades is well prepared for an invasion of Italia. As for Carthage, I'm not sure I want a poorly defendable desert yet.
My capital is still Pella, though Antiocheia is definately a close second, in the role-playing department. Antiocheia is where Demetrios was in the Pontic War and where Aristotelis (the heir) is now.
Nice AAR... i love to read your updates :yes:
Just a question: do you use any AI/formations mod or the standard from EB?
Nope, no minimods of any kind. I've done a couple hand edits since I started but those have been restricted to stuff like recruitment changes.
Chapter 22 : Sikilia
With a war with the Romanoi dominating Makedone interest, Demetrios attempts to conquer all of Sikilia quickly to prevent another multi-front war. The fact that Kart-Hadast and the Romanoi are allied makes the task much easier, seeing as the Kart-Hadast have left the island lightly garrisoned and sent all of their forces of to Iberia, where they were currently murdering Iberians and Hellenic colonists alike.
Besieging the Kart-Hadast colony of Lilbeo, Demetrios is confronted with Kart-Hadast reinforcements from Messana:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9207/maa963lr7.png
Demetrios possitions his main battle line to confront the reinforcements from Messana, while he moves his Hetairoi and Basilikon Agema to defend the rear from any forces sallying out of the city of Lilbeo:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9609/maa965fl8.png
As the Kart-Hadast reinforcements come into range, the Bosphorians let loose their arrows:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9623/maa964ev3.png
Under fire, the Kart-Hadast elites charge forward and engage the phalangite line:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7483/maa966gx2.png
To the rear, the forces from Lilbeo charge the Basilikon Agema, but as soon as the battle is engaged the enemy general breaks off with his cavalary:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8461/maa967po1.png
Maneuvering between the two battles, the Kart-Hadast general charges the Makedone missile troops. Falling back to a grove of trees, the Bosphorians move to engage the cavalry while the slingers retreat:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/596/maa968vf4.png
The move was a excellent maneuver, but the Kart-Hadast general overestimated his men and underestimated the Basilikon Agema. Soon, the engaged general finds himself pinned in, as the Basilikon Agema charges from behind. With their general dead, the remaining Kart-Hadast forces begin to withdraw and are chased from the field of battle:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5756/maa970sn3.jpg
Demetrios enslaves a portion of the Phoenician population of Lilbeo and quickly sets up military control. Once relative control is established, Demetrios once again leaves a garrison of mercenaries and moves eastward to defeat the last of the Kart-Hadast strongholds on the island.
Demetrios always had on his mind that he had to hurry and defeat the forces of Kart-Hadast. The Makedonian Empire has to focus all of its efforts on the Romanoi, who were quickly becoming one of the most advanced nations on the Mesogeios:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6132/maa971ys1.jpg
As the war between the stongest nation on the eastern Mesogeios and the two nations of the western Mesogeios began to heat up, rebellions still plagued regions where old client kingdoms were now being integrated into the Makedonian Empire. The long leaderless Kingdom of Tylis saw what was going on in Hellas and officially cut all connections with the Makedonian Empire. Seeing this as a hostile move, Perseus ordered that the Byzantion garrison to counter the little kingdom. Striking out with a small force, Aristonos Metropolites, son of Byzantion's governor, attacks the city of Tylis in order to reintegrate it into the empire:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2109/maa972qb5.png
To the south, Chrysoloras lands men on Krete, to retake the rebelling island. He is immediately countered by an army of levy Kretan archers. Facing off against the enemy army, Chrysoloras retakes the island for Makedonia:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2892/maa973ym1.png
[I thought I was going to loose against them when I autocalculated, but I won. I was so suprised I forgot to take a picture of the results.]
With his father in Sikilia, chasing his fate, and the sons of Alkyoneus dealling with rebellions, Aristotelis begins to assume more administrative powers as heir to the throne. As Aristotelis ruled the Empire in his father's stead, he left management of distant areas to he local governors, usually his distant relatives. Managing from Antiocheia, Aristotelis had direct control of Anatolia, Aigyptos, and the Levant, with indirect control over Makedonia, Thrakia, Hellas, and Illyria. Being in the eastern regions for so long began to influence him.
After the establishment of Alexandros' empire, colonies had been set up for Makedones and Hellenes. The Makedonian Empire had done this as well, in order to establish control of places by inserting a loyal populace, but the Seleukids and Ptolemaioi had taken it one step further. In the east, land was granted to soldiers in exchange for military service in times of crisis. Many of these settled men were now serving the Makedonian Empire as Deuteroi or Pezhetairoi, but the system itself had collapsed. Seeking to return the system of indepted soldiers to the eastern regions, Aristotelis revived and reformed the old Seleukid system:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9002/maa975nt5.jpg
Though it will take time, Aristotelis starts granting lands in Anatolia, Syria, and Aigyptos to soldiers who will fight when called upon and whose children would continue the system after their death. Fighting either as phalangitai or peltastai, the main unit of the system was the Klerouchoi Phalangitai:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4993/maa976od4.jpg
Speading from the Seleukids to the eastern parts of the empire, the system soon starts to spread into regions nearer Makedonia.
As Demetrios marches against the last of the Kart-Hadastism forces in Sikilia, Nepos marches into Romani territory, where he is countered by General Sextvs Cornelivs Blasio:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5295/maa977dh6.png
Taking up a possition on a hill, Nepos and his army made quick work of the exhausted Romani forces, killing Sextvs Cornelivs Blasio in the process:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7148/maa980kt0.jpg
Back in Sikilia, Demetrios is finally confronted in open battle again. There, he faces three small Kart-Hadast armies on the plains near the sea:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2687/maa981kz1.png
With ash falling from the sky, the first Kart-Hadast army moves forward:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6382/maa982xo7.png
Charging forward, the Hellenic Hoplitai (in service of the Kart-Hadast) surprisingly breach the sarrisa line:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2015/maa983wh3.png
Even with their success they soon brake, however, and are chased down by the Hetairoi. Regrouping just in time, the Hoplitai counter the Hetairoi charge...
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2703/maa984ga9.png
...but they are no match for the heavy cavalry:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9321/maa985pg7.png
The Hetairoi chase down the last Hoplitai as the second Kart-Hadast army charges the Makedone battle line:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/987/maa986oj5.png
The Africans soon push through the line, as well. With the battle line in trouble, the Basilikon Agema circled around the flanks and attack the engaged Africans:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9232/maa987oq2.png
The Africans soon retreat, but the the third Kart-Hadast army arrives before the Makedones can rest. Preparing to face them, the Basilikon Agema forms a line and braces themselves:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6912/maa988jj1.png
The fight doesn't last long. It ends as the Kart-Hadast turn and run:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9395/maa989to0.png
Chasing the enemy from the field, the Makedone phalangitai march forward to take the last Kart-Hadast stronghold on the island:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2215/maa990xw9.png
Almost no Kart-Hadast soldiers survive the day:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6060/maa991lm5.jpg
The known world in 212BC:
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/...xmak212xz3.png
Next: Chapter 23 : TheExtraordinariiRomani War (Part I)
You have just got to love the Pedites-spam, now don't'cha? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Anyway, nice update, and good progress at liberating Sicily from the Qarthadastim.
Very nice update! I thought the Maks don't get Klerouchoi Phalangitai? Or did you cheat?
What are the tags for crossed out?Quote:
Extraordinarii