Printable View
Incredible as usual. I am wondering how long Iberia has before you crush them lol. Is your capital still Pella? What is the biggest city in the ancient world? Are you having problems with rebellion? Overall a very nice campaign you got going on :) Nice battle pics in front of Bostra. It really looked as if the entire army charged your line!
Thanks to all who have commented and for the compliments. :bow:
As you can tell from the title of my next chapter, I tried to have an era of peace, but it wouldn't be, and that includes in Iberia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Pella is still my capital. I was thinking about moving it elsewhere. I thought Athenai, but my empire has been quite Mishellene and that wouldn't do. When I was expanding only eastward I had planned to move my capital to Demetreia (Antiocheia), but not that would cause too much discontentment in places like Iberia.
Historically Roma, Seleukeia, and Alexandreia were all huge cities. My empire adds to that Pella, Athenai, Demetreia, Kart-Hadast, and all of central Italy. There are also about four huge cities in Baktria in this campaign. The city with the most people in this campaign would probably be Roma, since I didn't enslave when I took it. (I originally let all cities grow as they would in vanilla EB, but have since added restrictions.)
I haven't had any rebellions, but I have to have full stacks garrisoning towns in places like Iberia, Africa, Armenia, and the city of Jerusalem.
So great seeing you still going. You actually inspired me to go on with my carthaginan campaign to conquer the whole world. Maybe I'll write some type of late game AAR about it.^^
Brilliant as always MAA
That failed Saba invasion has made me wonder if they'll ever learn?
You'd think they would after having both the Ptolemoi and the AS breathing down their necks:gah:
Still rooting for the Sweboz lol:2thumbsup:
Sweboz and the Arverni are having an arms race. Both of them have several stacks on their shared border and are just staring eachother down. It would make quite an impressive war if it ever happened.
Congratulations on having over 25000 views and, of course, on producing such an all-conquering AAR. :thumbsup:
The Indian faction would be great to play,if only it was on 1.0, then you could upload the save and we could all try to beat the empire.
Also After iberia has fallen (hopefully the Luties will have a settlement of two in gaul).
And the Sabeans are destroyed in Arabia (so they have to fight meroe).
Then you could throw everything at the east and take Alexander empire (you know you want to).
Thank you kind sir. I'm beginning to think that it has gotten too long...Quote:
Originally Posted by Poggleit
Since India is just Pahlav, you could easily recreate it by doing one of those migration campaigns and conquer Takashilia.Quote:
Originally Posted by alatar
Somehow, the Seleukids are managing to completely rebuild themselves, so going east is looking difficult again...
May I ask how you roleplay the Makedonian government? Because from what I recall from 0.81, all possible Satrapies are situated in the east with a few exceptions in the west. But now your empire holds many territories which were historically no objects of interest of the Antigonids.
Iirc, the lvl3 government is a garrisoned allied state. That means, it's nominally no part of the AM. Plus they had a very impressive malus of -20% happyness. Which made building such governments in the farther corners of the empire a pain in the ass.
So was this government changed in 1.0 or will it be changed in 1.1? Because these two issues, the low happyness and the formal autonomy, turn me off a bit. I imagine it would be quite hard to expand westward with such governments. (I'd like to in my upcoming campaign).
Please share your thoughts.:smiley:
I'll start out by admitting two cheats... :embarassed: First of all, I removed the penalty from the Type3 government. Now they have basically not boni or mali. I justified this to myself by saying that I reformed my government back in the day (around the time I integrated Hellas into the empire) so that I have more of an empire system. The second cheat is that I editted the EDB so that I can build Type2's wherever I want. I have only taken advantage of this in Armenia and the cities of Tolosa and Bostra and Kart-Hadast, though. My role-playing and restraint now decides where I can build different governments, not that I have left the area of history...Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
I don't really follow the text descriptions of the governments exactly. The way I play governments is:
-Type1 = Core
This represents Makedonia and Epirus (which Antigonos integrated into his kingdom as full, equal citizens).
-Type2 = Hellenized, fully part of the Arche Makedonia
These are places that I have added to my empire as Satrapies and have started settling Makedones. These places I try to Hellenize and gain control with minimum military involvement.
-Type3 = None hellenized, military controlled parts of the Arche Makedonia
I consider to be part of the empire but not completely integrated. These places are still local in custom and control. They have a Makedonike government that is run through strict military control. The only places I have these are north of the Alps and in Iberia & Africa.
-Type4 = Client States
I consider almost as outside of my empire. They do what the Basileus tells them, but they don't have any direct connection to the Arche Makedonia base of power. My plan is to eventually integrate most of them into the Arche, but slowly. Rightn now, my only Type4s are Galatia, Judaea, and Roma (which I say controls all of central Italia, by giving Type3s [and no governors] to those towns).
I don't believe there are any official changes to the governments in v1.1, but I make my own unofficial changes midcampaign to make the game more dynamic. My changes to the Type3 are somewhat cheap, but it would be impossible to hold any of my Iberian (in culture) provinces without the edit.
Can I do this mid-campaign or do I have to do it before starting? Could you please tell me how to do this?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
That's almost exactly like I roleplayed it.:smiley: Thank you for your thoughts.:smiley:Quote:
I don't really follow the text descriptions of the governments exactly. The way I play governments is:
-Type1 = Core
This represents Makedonia and Epirus (which Antigonos integrated into his kingdom as full, equal citizens).
-Type2 = Hellenized, fully part of the Arche Makedonia
These are places that I have added to my empire as Satrapies and have started settling Makedones. These places I try to Hellenize and gain control with minimum military involvement.
-Type3 = None hellenized, military controlled parts of the Arche Makedonia
I consider to be part of the empire but not completely integrated. These places are still local in custom and control. They have a Makedonike government that is run through strict military control. The only places I have these are north of the Alps and in Iberia & Africa.
-Type4 = Client States
I consider almost as outside of my empire. They do what the Basileus tells them, but they don't have any direct connection to the Arche Makedonia base of power. My plan is to eventually integrate most of them into the Arche, but slowly. Rightn now, my only Type4s are Galatia, Judaea, and Roma (which I say controls all of central Italia, by giving Type3s [and no governors] to those towns).
It is all in the EDB. You just have to find the governments section and edit them. They are kind of hard to understand because every faction has their own boni/mali for every level and there is a bunch of reference text there that almost makes it harder to understand. Just look for something like "happiness_bonus bonus -3 requires factions { macedon, }".Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
For the Type2, you just have to change the building requirements of the Type2 so that it is the same as the Type3 requirements. I think this involves simply removing a "and building_present" part of the Type2 requirements line...
No problem. It is basically how I play every faction's governments...Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
-----
On a side note...
Remember how I mentioned artificially making myself a challenge many pages back? Most ideas I had for doing so in this campaign were too complex or not possible without writting myself a script or something. I think I just came up with an idea to make a challenge...
-----
Next chapter, soon:
Chapter 47 : War and Peace
While war still wages in the east, from both Persia and Arabia, in the north and to the west things are pretty quiet. One odd even occurs in the winter of 181BC, however. A rebel tribe had migrated through Arverni territory and the Arverni decided to meet them with force. Now the tribe attempts to excape over the mountains, in the dead of winter, and into Italia, but are stopped in their tracks. A border fort of the Arche Makedonia, maned by locals, cause them to halt. There, they are attacked by the Arverni:
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2995/maa2493jr9.png
As the battle begins, the rebel tribesmen charge at the forces from the Arche Makedonia, attempting to break through:
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1983/maa2496id4.png
The local spearmen hold them down and the Arverni are quick to attack from behind and encircle the rebels:
https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/558/maa2497fc7.png
The Arverni crush the enemy and slaughter all they can there in that mountain pass:
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1682/maa2498kl4.jpg
The very same winter, on the far side of the known world, Median forces attack Lysippos and his steppe cavlary force who are guarding a river crossing in order to divide Median forces:
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8351/maa2499ix2.png
The Median forces approach the river crossing. As they position themselves and get ready to attack, a darkness comes over them. Looking up they witness more arrows in the sky then they have ever seen before:
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6575/maa2500ql2.png
The arrows rain down and deal heavy damage to the poorly armored men of Media. Taking advantage of their one key weapon, the Median general, Ayrarat of Tirpatuni, personally leads his heavy cataphracts across the bridge. As arrows simply bounce off of them, they charge Lysippos' unarmored cavalry:
https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3861/maa2502rj5.png
At first the cavalry withdraws, but they lull the enemy general into a false sense of security and draw him from the protection of his spearmen. Separating him from his army, the light cavalry turns about and charges back in at him:
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8445/maa2503je7.png
Even with heavy armor and better weapons, the cataphracts don't stand a chance against so many enemies. Surrounded and isolated, General Ayrarat falls dead and his cataphracts are completely wiped out.
Falling back to the cover of the tree line, Lysippos' army once again opens fire on the enemy army:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1087/maa2505nk8.png
With their own arrows depleted and the enemy demoralized, the great number of steppe cavalry charge in, in hope of breaking the enemy:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1820/maa2506oh9.png
The risky manuever pays off, as the entire Median army breaks and attempts to flee in all directions. Surrounded by so many cavalry, many fall dead where they stand, and as the rest are chased into the forests, a mass of bodies is left in the wake:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8439/maa2507ct1.png
Lysippos wins the battle and holds the bridge, isolating the city of Zadrakata:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8251/maa2509lm4.jpg
Far from there, Neokles finally manages to establish firm control of the city of Kart-Hadast. With a system of government in place, he hands control of the city over to Pyrrhos and his sons. Assembling the entire royal army with him, the now aging Neokles boards the fleet and sails for Makedonia, to assume the throne:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4445/maa2465tv0.png
With this, Pyrrhos and his sons come to complete control of the newly conquered African territories. Upon entering Kart-Hadast, Pyrrhos is greated with a measure of praise from the subjugated locals, for he is know for his kindness to those he conquers and his fair rule.
With the loss of the royal army, Pyrrhos is left with only one professional army in all of Africa and must depend on local support and that of his sons. When he came to Africa, he brought with him his first born son, Sotades. Sotades had come of age in Roma and had blooded himself fighting Latin rebels, but he had received little advanced education. His second son is Philippos, who came of age just after Pyrrhos had begun the African campaign. Pyrrhos decided that Philippos was to be sent to Hellas for training. There he had accomplished the Spartan Agoge and is now in Athenai, training at the great academies. Other than those, Pyrrhos has two more sons, one is still young, but his third-born reciently came of age, just after Pyrrhos' family moved to Africa. This man is not a great man, but takes after his father greatly, even in physical malities:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/775/maa2510qu5.png
Back in the east, Lysippos is once again attacked at the river crossing. This time, however, it is an offensive army, lead by Armog of Gnuni, returning home to defend their territory:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/460/maa2511nl6.png
Rather than wait and take losses, like the previous army, they decide to charge forward and cross as quickly as possible:
https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8645/maa2512of8.png
Under a rain of arrows, the mass of men force their way across the narrow bridge to get to the other side:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2696/maa2513vo6.png
Armog and his cataphracts move forward, as his infantry regroups. Their heavily armored cataphracts are once again no match for the vast number of men Lysippos has with him. Armog and his cataphracts are quickly surrounded and wiped out:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3876/maa2514zg1.png
Although ever last one of his men die, Armog of Gnuni manages to personally break free. As hundreds of arrows bounce off his armor, he escapes and flees southward:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9317/maa2515jo2.png
With their general gone, the infantry attempt to escape as well, but are pursued by the steppe cavalry and take huge losses:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3742/maa2516ij2.jpg
Although he is winning, the lifestyle of danger in enemy territory does not agree with Lysippos. Uncomfortable with his assignment, Lysippos request to be replaced:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/727/maa2520pa0.jpg
Around the same time, south of there, forces of the Arche Seleukeia attack a Makedonike fort guarding the passes in the valleys of Elymais:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8374/maa2517ip2.png
The archery army fires at the Seleukid men from behind their protection and inflict casualties:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7237/maa2518xu8.png
Marching from the fort, the Persian archers chase the enemy from the field. This marks a change in diplomacy, as the Arche Seleukeia comes to the realization that they can no longer attack the powerful Arche Makedonia and cancel all reclaimation invasions westward:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9954/maa2519gz3.jpg
Neokles finally arrives in Makedonia. Marching his army into Pella, Neokles is crowned Basileus of the Arche Makedonia. After visiting the grave of his father and paying him his honors, Neokles goes to the business of managing the Arche. Being a man of peace, rather than war, Neokles attempts to negotiate peace with the Arche's many friends and enemies, bringing an end to the long era of war that has enveloped all aspects of the Arche Makedonia since its formation with the expulsion of the Celts from Makedonia.
First, Neokles sends diplomats to the Numidians and Mauretanians. Once clients of Kart-Hadast, these newly freed nations oddly still stick together for some unknown reason. Although difficultly, the envoys manage to establish peace with the Satrapies of Kart-Hadast:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9375/maa2521oa8.jpg
Then envoys are sent eastward to the Arche Seleukeia. Peace with the Arche Seleukeia comes quicker. The Arche Seleukeia had since cancelled westward expansion and is now focusing on retaking Persia from the weakened Gandhara. Welcoming trade with her old ally, the Arche Selekeia agree to a ceasefire:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7726/maa2522bi5.jpg
In Iberia, envoys are sent to the capital of the Iberian Confederacy. There, they negotiate for the southern coast of Iberia. In this region, huge amounts of Phoenicians and Phoenician-friendly Iberians live discontently. Since the fall of Kart-Hadast in Iberia, this region has proved difficult for the Iberian Confederacy to hold. The Iberians are quick to surrender this troublesome province in exchange for Makedonike silver. With this purchase, a firmer control of the Pillars of Herucules is gained for the Arche Makedonia.
Finally, word is sent southward to the Kingdom of Meroe. Peace is acheived, but those who understand the enemy do not expect it to last long. The reborn Ptolemaic Dynasty still lay claims on all of Aigyptos and are most likely using the ceasefire as a chance to build up their military:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6799/maa2523ox4.jpg
One place Makedonike diplomats are clearly not welcome is Arabia. From the deserts, the Saby'n Empire only marches for war. Once again they attack the Makedonike colony at Bostra:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/499/maa2524pb5.png
With his young son at his side, Eulandros Delphikos prepares his Klerouchoi army for another fight:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3056/maa2525zz1.png
Once more, the Arabian army charges for the Makedonike line...
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4977/maa2526fd7.png
...and once again they start to break through the line and start inflicting casualties on the Klerouchoi phalangitai:
https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1166/maa2527ak1.png
As general Tharin Il Watar watches, his men begin to loose the battle:
https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5387/maa2528jh3.png
In the tactics of Demetrios, Eulandros Delphikos attempts to wraps the flanks of his battle line around the sides of the battle. Seeing this move, however, is the last straw as it breaks the Arabs and they begin to flee:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/779/maa2529lk9.png
Attempting to raise the courage of their men, the generals and their elite bodyguards charge in and engage in the battle. Only a few of the fleeing men turn to join their generals. With only a few elites on the field, Eulandros quickly outflanks the enemy with his Klerouchoi peltastai:
https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/136/maa2531qz9.png
Killing the general, Saraw Bayin, with javelin, the Klerouchoi peltastai charge in from the rear and surround the remaining elite enemies. On the right flank, the phalangitai begin attacking general Tharin Il Watar and his men from all sides:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6526/maa2533on8.png
Killing the enemy general, Eulandros once again defends the colony and the borders of the Arche Makedonia. Although a victory, there is no sign of surrender of even weakening from Arabia:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2584/maa2537iy2.jpg
The known world in 179BC:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/28/hxmak179mv8.png
Next: Chapter 48 : A New Man
how you manage to keep it interesting is beyond me. But, by jove, interesting it still is:dizzy2: thanks for another update:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
I have to say reading those wars with the Romans were quite disappointing seeing the stupid armies the AI raised. And all those crappy levy hoplites?
Awesome Job MAA!! I remember fighting the Arabians in my Ptolemaic campaign and man it stunk. You cant recruit anything and the towns rebel left and right. I would completely exterminate a town with only 400 people left and had a garrison of a thousand men and somehow there would be a civil revolt! Very annoying. I like your new leader.
Great work. But I´m dying to see what this artificial challenge could be. Might it have something to do with this New Man?
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reality=Chaos
Yeah, the Romani recruitment was a bit disappointing. Though, they do seem to recruit better armies in the Polybian Era over the Camilian Era...Quote:
Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius
Due to the lack of recruitment, the distance from my capital, and the real lack of anything worth conquering, I don't think I'll attack Arabia any time soon. Your comments make me even more hesitant. :sweatdrop:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
The new Basileus is somewhat of a lazy coward, but someone seeking peace is nice for a change...
Last night I tried to implement my idea, but the little tiny script I was trying to write for it refused to work. I eventually got it to work in a different way then I was trying, but I got quite fustrated by the whole thing. You'll all see what it is in about 2 or 3 chapters.Quote:
Originally Posted by General Appo
The "New Man" is involved in the change, but not directly at first...
Thank you for your explanations & very nice update. You use force_diplomacy, right?
Yeah, I use forced diplomacy. It's the only way I could possible get that many ceasefires in RTW.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
I just don't get the spear-fetish the Roman AI seems to have. Triarii, Levy hoplitai, levy Gallic spearmen...Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Indeed, it's the only way to get around the frankly moronic behaviour of the AI when it comes to diplomacy. You've destroyed all their field armies and taken some settlements, and they have no means of resistance. Yet refuse a ceasefire?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
So, Marcus, what are you going to do now that 1.1 is out? Your AAR has gone on for really long... it's now an EB Forum legend...
Or maybe you already have 1.1 downloaded on a separate vanilla install?
I was planning on quiting on the release of v1.1. I am playing a version that is now more than two releases old. However, I have just made a change that could give me another couple months out of this campaign.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaotix27
I've got both v0.97(what I call my version) and v1.1 on my computer so I don't have to worry about choosing one or the other.
I've got at least three chapters worth of pictures and the next chapter is nearly done. I think I'll finish up the next chapter then work on the 'citymod' and the EB2 FAQ. In the next week or so I'll see if I want to continue the campaign and thus the mod. Until then I'll make a update or two when I have the time.
I should probably just let this thing die now, though...
You probably should let it die, but that would be such a great pity.
Chapter 48 : A New Man
Since the fall of the great city of Kart-Hadast, her old territories of allies had remained united and resolute in their definance of the Arche Makedonia. Neokles had expected the satrapies of Kart-Hadast to rebel, fall apart, and begin fighting eachother as soon as Kart-Hadast had fallen. None of this had happened, instead they built up their forces and remained an obstacle to the Arche Makedonia.
As the summer of 179BC hits, the Arche Makedonia finally finds out why Numidia, Mauretania, Garmana, and the desert tribes have stayed united. Men from Kart-Hadast had hidden themselves away in the region and now reemerged to take up power after the withdrawl of Neokles and his army from the region. Several aristocrats from the city of Kart-Hadast and an army of her elites have managed to remain undefeated, hidden in the hills of Numidia, and now they strike back at the newly conquered Makedonike cities in Africa:
https://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4757/maa2538vl8.png
The garrison of the city of Ippone desides that it is best to confront the Qarthadastism army quickly before they run low on supplies and the enemy can build up siege equiptment. As the Makedones charge out of the city, the Qarthadastism men rush forward to meet them:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2594/maa2539pn9.png
The African elites attempt to attack the Makedonike battle line before they can form up, but towers and skirmishers rain disaster down on them and they pull back:
https://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3251/maa2540fb4.png
Elite Sacred Band Spearmen attack the Makedonike battle line before they can form up, but it is too late and the line is already fully established. Realizing they have too few men to break the Makedonike line, the Qarthadastism generals order a general retreat but not all obey:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5355/maa2541up6.png
Circling around the side of the city, the cavalry attacks the enemy bolt throwers, who are among those who refuse to retreat, and chase the engineers down, killing every last one of them:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1743/maa2542gp9.png
When the last Sacred Band Spearman falls dead, all that remains are the elite African Pikemen from the city of Kart-Hadast. They make an attack against the Makedonike line but are quickly surrounded by flanking cavlary and skirmishers:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2919/maa2543np9.png
Although all of the Qarthadastism aristocrats escape, the city garrison manages to wipe out most of the elite army, an army that cannot be replaced from amongst the Numidian population:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3490/maa2544hz5.jpg
Pyrrhos, in Kart-Hadast, is relieve that the city is saved but fears that a full war will break out in Africa. Coming from north of there, a letter reaches Pyrrhos in Kart-Hadast. His eldest brother, Neikolaos, writes of what seems to be bad news to come. The Iberian Confederacy has suddenly pulled her armies from the war in Gaul and is now mobilizing on the Arche Makedonia's borders. Though they still claim to be allies and friends of the Arche Makedonia, this action can only be seen as an act of war:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3628/maa2555wm8.png
Far from any battle front, a man had been educated in the ways of war, politics, and philosophy. First completing the Spartan Agoge then studying in Athenai, he had matured as a wise and strong man. This man is Philippos, third-born son of Pyrrhos' four sons. Being more than twenty years of age, Philippos, with consent of his father, decides that it is time to get some actual experience. Gathering a few men, Philippos begins his military career by engaging brigands. Fighting in Hellas, Makedonia, Thraikia, Anatolia, and Syria, Philippos begins to gain actual military experience.
While in Syria, Philippos begins to gather a larger army, first being the famed Syrian archers. During this time in the east, Philippos is exposed to great animosity. The governors and ruling elite of the area, mostly decendants of Antigonos, treat Philippos as though he were a enemy rival and are very cold to him. It would seem that the popularity of his father and the successes in the west have inbittered the eastern branch of the family.
As time passes Philippos begins to get the feeling that he is constantly watched and fears that an assassination may come at any time, from his own people. Escaping the animosity, Philippos takes what few men he has and sails for Aigyptos, where the ruling class has no strong family connections to any branch of the Antigonids.
Once in Alexandreia, Philippos finishes assembling some men for his army. Being raised in Italia and exposed to different types of warfare, Philippos attempts to assemble a new type of army, completely lacking any pikemen. While in Alexandreia, Philippos hears news, travelling down the Neilos, that the Nubians have betrayed the ceasefire and now march north. Volunteering his services, Philippos marches his new army southward and confronts the Nubians in the open field:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8598/maa2545kb6.png
Lining his infantry in three lines, Philippos places his men with the most javelin out front and his elites in the rear. Then behind the three infantry lines are the archers and finally the cavalry:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9492/maa2546xh6.png
The two armies both move toward eachother and as the distance decreases and the enemy come within javelin range, Philippos halts his men. With the enemy just before them, the first line opens fire with their javelin and pelts the Nubian front line:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4735/maa2547ib9.png
As they come into range, Philippos orders his archers to open fire on the elephants behind the Nubian line. It may be hard to kill the great beasts, but it is quite easy to scare them.
Just as the first line runs out of javelins, the Nubian vanguard rush forward and charge the Makedonike line:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4770/maa2548sm9.png
The initial Nubian attack is followed by the changing of the bulk of the rest of their army. As the first line begins to get tired and surrounded, Philippos orders the second line to attack and the first to withdraw:
https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6447/maa2549mj0.png
The second line does well in reinforcing the first line, but the first line is unable to retreat from the chaos.
The battle begins to grow stale as neither side gains an advantage over the other. Then the elephants panic. Charging through their own men, the elephants break through the middle of the battle:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3870/maa2550vd2.png
The elephants deal casualties on their own side but fall dead just short of the Makedonike line of engaged infantry.
With the elephants out of the way, Philippos moves for his end-game and circles his cavalry around the right flank. Once in possition, he signals to his third line to charge into the battle, while he charges them from the side:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1081/maa2552oz5.png
With this move the Nubians quickly break and route. The Makedonike army gives chase and few are able to escape into the desert, where they die from exposure anyways:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3504/maa2553qf9.jpg
Philippos' new army defeats the enemy, but not easy enough. The first line proved to be too weak and the third line is too expensive to keep in a standing army. Philippos returns to Alexandreia, where he dismisses his elite Makedones and reviews what happened in the battle. From Alexandreia, Philippos takes what is left of his army and boards a ship, travelling first to Makedonia then to Sikilia. Dispite the fact his battle was not an overwhelming success, the battle does teach Philippos many things for him to consider in future engagements:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2697/maa2554kl0.jpg
Just as Neokles is settling in to managing the Arche from the capital at Pella, disaster strikes. In the first major crisis of his reign, a plague hits Makedonia and manages to infect people of all classes, all the way up to the highest level of society, including Basileus Neokles himself:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2520/maa2556vl2.png
The second crisis of Basileus Neokles' reign is quick to follow the first. Betraying the long standing alliance, the Iberian Confederacy attacks the city of Emporion and betrays the very people who had saved them from enslavement under the armies of Kart-Hadast:
https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/503/maa2557vp4.jpg
With this act, the Iberian Confederacy also looses there only other ally, the Arverni king. With a long shared border with the Arche Makedonia, the Arverni would be fools to chose to betray such an ally:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/787/maa2558hu4.jpg
[I reloaded and betrayed them so I would keep the allies...]
The attack on Emporion is easily broken as the attackers flee from the garrison when it sallies, but now war has come. There to counter the invasion is an old man, Neikolaos, son of Nepos, liberator of Gaul, eldest brother of Pyrrhos, and hero of the Romaioi War. Neikolaos is the one man that Pyrrhos looks up to and the only other surviving hero of the Romaioi War. It is said, in fact, that if Pyrrhos had been offered the throne he would default it to his eldest brother, for Pyrrhos looked up to him and saw him as the leader of their branch of the family.
Now Neikolaos assembles his Gallic army, a small number of which are old veterans of the Romaioi War, and marches them against the Iberians who are defying Makedonike land:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/337/maa2559ak7.png
As the two armies enter the field, Neikolaos marches his men forward to meet the enemy:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7859/maa2560kw5.png
In the center of the line are the Hellenized Gauls, newly trained and equiped in mixed style, a result of the Makedonike conquest of the area:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2959/maa2561fn0.png
As the enemy approach, the battle line halts and gets down so that the missile units may fire over them at the approaching enemy, who take heavy losses to the arrows and lead shot:
https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/363/maa2562jq6.png
Even under a rain of death, the Iberians are undetered and unfrightened as they slowly move forward:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4210/maa2563sd6.png
Finally the Iberians charge the Makedonike line and engage Neikolaos' Gallic forces. On the left flank, elites with huge sheilds confront the line:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/930/maa2564ee4.png
Meanwhile on the right flank, swordsmen skirmish with the Makedonike line before charging forward:
https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4627/maa2565us7.png
The Iberians fight along the entire Makedonike line, but they focus the bulk of their force on the Hellenized soldiers in the center. This tactic manages break through the center but tie down the flanks so that the center cannot be reinforced:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/921/maa2566tg1.png
Soon Neikolaos' center breaks and the Iberians surge through. With the flanks tied down and the center fleeing, Neikolaos orders his archers to hold their ground and tie down the enemy while he takes the cavalry around the right flank and frees up the men tied down there:
https://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7718/maa2568ui7.png
With the Makedonike center completely gone, the battle desolves into three separate battles, two on what used to be the flanks and one where the archers fight to keep the Iberians from taking the field.
In an attempt to free up the right flank, the elderly Neikolaos personally leads a charge in at the rear of the Iberians:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7356/maa2569zl9.png
The cavalry charge is successful and the Iberians on both flanks begin to break. The Iberians fall back but quickly regroup. While the cavalry and the remnants of the Makedonike line infantry rush to the aid of the archers, the spearmen who were originally ordered to guard the extreme flanks rush forward and meet the regouping Iberians:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3162/maa2570jb2.png
After a short skirmish, the Iberians break once again and the Gauls chase them from the field. Meanwhile, the Iberians who had been battling the archers break and flee as well:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3946/maa2571wo1.png
Giving no quarter, Neikolaos orders that his men chase down the enemy and kill as many as possible. By the end of the day few remain:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6273/maa2572sn3.jpg
Neikolaos realizes, in the aftermath of the battle, that he and perhaps all of the Arche Makedonia has underestimated the power and skill of the Iberian people. Realizing that native forces won't be enough to fend off the Iberians, Neikolaos writes to his little brother Pyrrhos and requests that one of the armies of Makedones deployed in Africa be relocated to the Iberian front. In Africa, however, is only one professional army, the personal army of Pyrrhos. Rather than deploy his army and allow for Numidian/Mauretanian invasion, Pyrrhos sends word to Sikilia to build an army and to inform his son, Philippos, that upon his arrival he is to move to Iberia and engage this foe. Pyrrhos does not only send his son to Iberia because he believes he is the best general but to separate him from modern politics of the Arche.
As war starts up in the west, war draws to a close in the east. By taking their new capital at Apameia and blocking off the trade routes through Hyrkania, Bykoli and Pefkolaos manage to restrict what was once the reborn Median Empire to a tiny strip of land in eastern Hyrkania:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1882/maa2576hu4.png
As the Arche Makedonia pushes eastward, more the eastern customs become dominant over the Hellenized aspects of Syria or even Babylonia. In these regions, the Arche Seleukeia even funded such eastern customs and religions:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4627/maa2577jl5.jpg
After about a year of few events, Philippos manages to land his new army in Iberia. Mustering two armies of Iberians to join his attacks, Philippos moves his army west from Mastia and begins his counter attack on the Iberian interior:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7507/maa2596ee8.png
The known world in 178BC:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/176/hxmak177be6.png
Next: Chapter 49 : An Era of Disaster
Great work, it´s finally time to take Iberia. Though the title of the next chapter is a bit worrying.
Also, I´m guessing that none of your generals died in that plauge?
Nice work:2thumbsup: Glad you haven't stopped.
General Appo, maybe the plague is part of the next chapters title?
Sweet go Marcus, hopefuly nothing too bad happeneds in the next chapter......:juggle2: . BTW, did you get that plague for role-play purposes?
or was it so kind of weird event???? and lastly seems to me in 1.1 in italy you can recuit some pretty nice units there now as Im playing as Epeiros and am recuiting some legions into my armys :laugh4:
Thanks guys. :bow:
The plague started in Sardis and I moved a spy into Makedonia. Since plagues are basically harmless I did so for roleplaying, since domestic problems are so rare in RTW. The plague continues for a while...
Italy is pretty bare for me. I get Rorari, Hastati, and Equites and that's it.
Great Job MAA. Like a good book you keep me turning the pages. I have grown quite attached to the little world you have created here on the forums! You have kept it interesting and it has been a pleasure following it! Awesome job!
Oh and congratulations on over six months of the Antigonids!! You started this thread on October sixth of last year!! I don't know if this is possible but it sure would be cool to see a time lapse of your empires growth. Somehow string together your screenshots of your map or something. I know your busy but that would be cool to see your empire evolve!
Thanks for following, Chirurgeon. I always try to keep up with your great AARs, too. Your latest sure has been successful. In the chapter after the next there is some Makedonia-Iberia action. Those Iberians sure are tougher than they look...
I haven't played since the v1.1 release, so this AAR may finally come to an end when I run out of content and pictures in two or three chapters. (The next one is almost done.)
I could give a chain of minimap pictures and a short description of what each Basileus did militarily over the years. I might do that, as things wind down...
Well getting it to 50 chapters would be a nice round number. Sounds like thats doable. Yea from what I hear 1.1 is all the rage. I am too deep in my AAR to stop, however I did notice that there are some new units for Iberia in the new release. Go figure right?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Chapter 49 : An Era of Disaster
The rule of Basileus Neokles continues and the plague in Makedonia refuses to pass. Growing in intensity, the plague begins to kill nobles, governors, and generals. Suffering from the plague, himself, Basileus Neokles grows ever tired from the exhaustion of dealing with the problems of governing:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/1917/maa2574yj0.jpg
His brother Bykoli and his good friend / advisor Pefkolaos rule the eastern part of the Arche from their military controlled, newly conquered city of Apameia. Unable to move his army out and risk loosing the city, Bykoli decides to remain and send out envoys to do his bidding. One of the first things he does is calls the Mekybernaios family to Babylonia. Bykoli grants this family, who is extremely loyal to him, the governorship of this area and has them rule this historic fertile land betweens the two great rivers:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7176/maa2575wk9.jpg
After Philippos had crushed the standing army of Meroe, another peace treaty had been signed between the Arche Makedonia and the Kingdom of Meroe. The dynasty of Ptolemai VII was not to be trusted, though. He never stopped seeking to retake the lands of Aigyptos. After a couple years, when a new army had been assembled, Ptolemai VII brakes the peace treaty and attacks the fortress city of Pselkis once again:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/6876/maa2578xp5.png
A Nubian army lead by a Makedonike general from the court of Ptolemai VII besieges the city and prepares to attack it with siege equipment. As the lumbering machines move forward, the archers on the wall open fire at them:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9061/maa2579rh8.png
With little effort, both enemy rams are set on fire:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7960/maa2580yw5.png
And then the archers set ablaze one of the enemy mining sites:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/179/maa2581mq9.png
As the archers attempt to set the final mining entrance on fire, the siege towers reach the walls and the Nubian infantry comes pouring out:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9886/maa2582jf4.png
Undermined by the emeny sappers, a section of the wall comes crashing down. Although nobody is on it at the time, it does come crashing down on a division of Klerouchoi phalangitai:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5083/maa2583rh9.png
With a breach in the wall, the enemy general orders his cavalry to rush forward and move into the city. The enemy cavarly are met with a quickly arranged block of spears and their charge is stopped. Though halted, the Nubian cavalry start pushing through the line. To sure up the defenses, the majority of the reserves are rushed to the fight:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/434/maa2585se1.png
The last remaining group of reserves then moves to the walls to help finish off the last of the enemy coming out of the towers:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/8561/maa2586qc6.png
More Nubian cavalry rush through the breach in the wall, but they all die there on Makedonike sarrisa:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3558/maa2588qr5.png
Realizing that the battle is lost, the enemy general orders a retreat. Outside the wall, however, the Makedonike cavalry have already blocked off the escape. Finishing off his cavalry quickly, soon only the enemy general remains:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/457/maa2589be9.png
With both horse and man exhausted from the fight, he fails to escape and dies there. Once again the armies of Ptolemai VII have been repelled:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6678/maa2591yl8.jpg
Although the battle is won, it is a direct blow to Neokles. He came to the throne claiming he would usher in a new age of peace and prosperity. Now the Arche is at war with her old ally in the Iberian Confederacy, Arab armies constantly cross the deserts and attack the Levant, and all of his peace treaties with Numidia, Mauretania, and Nubia have all fallen apart. Although Neokles is a non-violent man, he is surrounded by violence from all sides and striken by a plague.
In the city of Tolosa in Gaul, the great general Neikolaos dies:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/1488/maa2592ps7.jpg
This is a great blow to Pyrrhos, who looked up to his elder brother greatly. Although the death is declared a death by natural causes, it occures while Neikolaos is being visited by guests, envoys from Bykoli. Rumor quickly spreads that he was poisoned so that the descendants of Alexandros would not challenge Bykoli' right to the throne. Pyrrhos' advisors quickly set up greater security for him and prepare for any type of problem.
This is only the first of many mysterious deaths. In the court at Pella, several nobles mysteriously die from the plague, even those who were recovering or didn't seem ill at all. The one thing that ties all of the mysterious deaths together is the fact that each noble had been a man advocating Pyrrhos take the throne. Because of the amount of those dying in Makedonia, there is no time to investigate each death and even the most mysterious deaths are left as speculation.
Surrounded by war, plague, assassination, and intrigue, Neokles is once again forced to deal with disaster. Due to heavy rain and a storm, the city of Halikarnassos is flooded. Although few are killed, much damage is done to the town, draining the already low treasury:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1125/maa2594pu1.png
More troubles follow and Neokles is besieged with problems. Just as it seems the plague in Makedonia is ending, it spreads. Reaching down into Hellas, the plague once again grows and hits Makedonia again, even in places were it seemed to have passed:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/690/maa2595sl8.jpg
In Africa, the surviving nobles of Kart-Hadast once again strike at the Arche Makedonia, this time with an army of mostly locals:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/6006/maa2600db6.png
In Nubia, the armies of Meroe once again cross the border and invade Makedonike territory:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9913/maa2601tf3.png
And in Nabataia, several new waves of Sab'yn invaders cross the desert, moving from one hidden water source to the next:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6495/maa2602wx9.png
Troubles from all sides besiege the new leader and just as things seem as bad as they can get for the Arche Makedonia, the worst possible things happens. Exhausted from overworking and stress, the plague finally takes Basileus Neokles in his sleep:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/3039/maa2597rs3.jpg
News quickly spread across the Arche Makedonia and the question of who would be the next Basileus was asked on every street corner and in every tavern. The nobles still fear Bykoli and Pefkolaos coming to power, but the decendants of Antigonos and Demetrios don't want a distant branch of the family gaining power.
In Bosphoria, the sons of Euboulides have a claim on the throne as well. Other than Bykoli, they should have been the next in line. They lacked great support of the nobles, but they have the loyalty of Bosphoria, Pontos, and Egrisi. Also, they have Lysippos. Lysippos, hero of the Armenian and Median Wars, is the brother in-law to the sons of Euboulides and loyal to his family. With Lysippos, the sons of Euboulides would gain a strong general and all the armies loyal to him. However, of the three brothers, only the eldest, Herakleon, sought the power, but even he was not willing to go to war for it.
Then of course there is Pyrrhos of Makedonia, decendant of Alexandros who was nephew to Antigonos Gonatas. Nepos, who had planned the Romaioi War and died just before the fall of Roma had been the head of the Alexandros branch of the family. He had had three sons: Neikolaos, Gelon, and Pyrrhos. Gelon only sought out a simple life and administered northern Italia quietly. With Neikoloas now dead, that meant Pyrrhos not only had the support of the nobles and armies, due to his fame in battle, but he also had the support of the Alexandros family as the rightful leader.
Pyrrhos had been planning an invasion of Numidia and was in the process of releaving the siege of Ippone, when the news of Neokles' death came. Realizing what had to be done to save his family and possibly the entire Arche, Pyrrhos quickly withdrew to Kart-Hadast, where he gained support from the populace while making ready to sail:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/8559/maa2604ra0.png
And in the east, new reaches Bykoli and Pefkolaos in Iran. Bykoli was the descendant of Antigonos Monophthalmus, Demetrios Poliorcetes, Antigonos Gontanas, Megas Demetrios, and Aristotelis. Bykoli is the only man left living who could claim direct descendence from all the great rulers of the Antigonid Dynasty:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/595/maa2603mm2.png
Upon hearing the news of his brother's death, Bykoli and Pefkolaos assemble their entire army and quickly march westward, abandoning the newly conquered territories. Civil unrest builds in these regions and soon other garrisons and armies are abandoning their posts. Lysippos, in Media, assembles his army and moves to retreat. Before he leave, though, he makes contact with the surviving Median royalty and exchanges the territory of Media for a promise of a peace treaty. Although this is outside the power given to Lysippos, there is currently no man in all the Arche who has the power to be angry at him for doing so:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4990/maa2636lk2.jpg
Lysippos quickly retreats his Persia / steppe army to Armenia. Along the way, his old Pontic-Hellene army joins him and Lysippos moves both armies all the way to Egrisi and prepares to join up with his brothers in-law in Bosphoria.
Bykoli and Pefkolaos, meanwhile, move to Babylonia. In Babylonia, he retrained his army and gained support from the generals, armies, and people of the area. The people were quick to join the two men when they inform the populace that Pyrrhos had murdered his brother and sought to gain complete control of the Arche Makedonia for his own gains and to usher in an age of tyranny. The average people are quick to accept such "truths" and soon Bykoli has the complete support from the Persian Gulf to Assyria.
The known world in 177BC:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/...mak1772lj9.png
Next: Chapter 50 : Philip's War
That sounds fantastic. If you manage to explain to me how one can start and roleplay a civil war, you will be my deified hero! :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :bow: :bow: :bow:
This is amazing. After nearly 50 chapters you still manage to mix it up. I liked how you referred to the Lusitannan as the Iberian Confederacy. I laughed a little upon hearing that. This should be interesting!
I did more than just roleplay a civil war. How to get the civil war to work and have it actually be a challenge is the idea for a challenge that I came up with a couple weeks ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Back when Carthage conquered the Lusotania territory from the Iberians I started considering them Arevaci (Celtiberians) since that was their capital and the strongest tribe left. When the retook Lusotania I decided to call them the Iberian Confederacy. In the next chapter I'll be fighting your Iberian Confederacy. (It looks like your AAR has made it into both mine and hooahguy's recently.) :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Can't wait. And later explain it, please.:smiley:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
I think its cool how we can do that. I am really intrigued as to how you did a civil war. CAn't wait!Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Some weeks ago i thought about how to do a civil war for a (at the moment postponed) romani aar. I'm curious to see if you have some better ideas than i had :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Brilliant update!:beam: Did you give some territories to the AS for the civil war?
It all sounds great and the name of the chapter is really true to the story i was amazed how much disaster come from every side of the Arche Makedonia
Thanks for the comments.
I don't think my form of civil war would work for the Romani. It isn't too complex, but requires a few things being setup correctly. And forced diplomacy.
Hmmm... I think I know what you´re planning. Oh well, we´ll see if I´m correct.
well, time to come out of the shadows again! looks like civil war is coming up more often these days among AARs.... mine, yours, ect.
good luck!
Chapter 50 : Philip's War
When the news of Basileus Neokles' death arrives in Iberia, Philippos is already besieging the Iberian fort-city of Baikor. Upon hearing the news, Philippos prepares to assemble his army, march east, and join his father in his claim for the throne. Before Philippos could even inform his men of his intention, however, a letter from his father arrives. Pyrrhos writes to his son of many things. First he talks of his intensions to sail for Sikilia and then the city of Roma to gain support for his claim to the throne.
After discussing his general plan, he tells his son of what it would take to be a good general and a good leader. It is advice that Pyrrhos has given all of his sons many times and Philippos knows it well. Even written, Philippos knows he was more sincere now than he had ever been before. Pyrrhos listed the virtues that he saw made up the perfect man and perfect leader, virtues Philippos had striven for his entire life.
Philippos took all of his father's words to heart, but then came the surprising news. Pyrrhos gives direct orders to Philippos, as a son and a subordent general, to remain in Iberia and to fight the Iberian Confederacy. Pyrrhos intends on taking his first and third born sons with him, as well as his young fourth born son, to Makedonia, but he wants Philippos to not get invovled. He tells his son that he wants at least one son that is not tainted by the politics of the time, who could be clean of all ill doings that were about to come. Pleading with his son to remain out of the evils he will soon endure, Pyrrhos finishes his letter by telling his son to look to his uncle Gelon if anything happens to him.
https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2443/maa2672dd7.png
Young Philippos decides to heed his father's words and remain in Iberia. The young man is extremely loyal to his father and to his home of Makedonia. He is a noble and virtuous man. The only thing he lacks is charisma. He isn't an unfriendly man, he simply believes that there are better ways to spend his time than giving speaches and befriending nobles at feasts. He is very smart, and dispite his low charisma found himself a smart wife to compliment him. Taking after his father, in the short time that he has been active, he has grown to become a good military leader.
With trouble brewing all around him, Philippos knows that he must bring this war in Iberia to a close quickly. Were a civil war to break out in the Arche Makedonia, Philippos knows that reinforcement will never come. Risking early losses, Philippos decides to attack the besieged city of Baikor and take it by force:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6439/maa2606ti1.png
The garrison is small and the only thing stopping Philippos is the stone walls encircling the city. With siege towers in position, Philippos orders his men to take those walls:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9466/maa2607yj9.png
The elite Peltastai quickly take the lightly defended walls and begin raining down death from their high position:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7268/maa2609rx3.png
With the walls taken and the forward defenders disorganized, Philippos makes his move and orders his main force through the gates:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/729/maa2611tp6.png
Seeing such and outnumbering force, the few defenders of the walls fall back to the city's center hill and regroup. Philippos then moves his entire army into the city and slowly marches on the city center.
The infantry move against the inner defenses and the Syrian archers begin the final battle by weakening up the enemy with several volleys of arrows:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2756/maa2613on8.png
The infantry charge the first line of defenses, who quickly break and flee:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2523/maa2614gm8.png
Moving in from the great hall in the center of the town, a small group of Iberian swordsmen counter the vast army of Makedonike spearmen:
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3994/maa2615ma7.png
Circling his cavalry around through the town, Philippos personally leads a charge at the rear of the enemy and quickly kills the last defenders:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6660/maa2616kc6.png
Although losses are taken, they are quite few for an attack on an enemy city:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7210/maa2617cl9.jpg
Philippos rests his army a couple months an establishes military control of Baikor. Once the initial unrest subsides, Philippos moves one of the allied armies of coastal Iberians into the city and moves his army westward.
Just to the west, in the town the locals call Sucum-Murgi the Arevaci king, Tueizu Consaburacoi, current head of the Iberian Confederacy, is raising an army. Cornering a small scout army, Philippos is able to draw the elite Iberian army from the city and into a battle on the open fields:
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9308/maa2618on1.png
With the Iberian scouts cornered at a small lake, and the two large apposing armies approaching eachother from either side and the battle begins:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3234/maa2619wv0.png
Philippos marches his army forward a short distance, halts, orders his archers to fire a single volley then marches forward again:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7092/maa2620pj1.png
Slowly moving forward and regularly firing volleys of arrows, the Iberian light infantry is quickly widdled away until only a handful of men remain, running for the hills:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4085/maa2622vb5.png
With the small army gone, all that remains are the two elite armies, facing off along the edge of the lake:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3654/maa2623zh0.png
Philippos moves his men forward then halts. Facing off against eachother, only a short distance between them, the two lines begin skirmishing with their javelin:
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5606/maa2624gv5.png
The skirmishing lasts a short while, then the Iberians charge forward at the Makedonike line:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5388/maa2625tf0.png
At first, not much is evident, then the Makedonike line starts taking losses and loosing cofidence. Seeing the situation, Philippos yells to his men to hold their positions and rushes his cavalry around his right flank.
Skirting through the woods, Philippos surprises the Iberians and charge out into the rear of the Iberian left flank:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9375/maa2626ks4.png
Philippos quickly pulls his cavalry out of the fight and regroups them. Leading another charge, this time on the center, he hits the enemy in the rear again:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5038/maa2627fv5.png
Philippos pulls his cavalry out again and as he looks back at the line he sees his own men beginning to faulter. Looking to the Iberian right flank he sees why. King Tueizu Consaburacoi is shouting out orders to his men and leading all aspects of the battle. Even units that are loosing the fight against the Makedones are filled with confidence simply because this man is here.
Realizing what must be done, Philippos charges in at Tueizu Consaburacoi on the Iberian right flank. Tueizu Consaburacoi attempts to escape but is quickly caught by the Makedonike cavalry:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3163/maa2628em0.png
Almost like magic, as the Arevaci king falls, so does his army. Leaving the dead bloody body of the king laying in the field, Philippos charges his cavalry in one last time at the enemy and the entire army breaks:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1827/maa2630pt2.png
Chasing them from the field, Philippos makes sure no enemy makes it back to the city to defend it:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8928/maa2631oz6.jpg
Philippos learns much, both from his experience and from witnessing the great enemy general. For future conflicts, Philippos knows how to lead his men better:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6710/maa2633ju7.jpg
One thing Philippos learns from this battle is the weakness of the Thorakitai soldier. In order to better meet varied enemies, Philippos devides the Thorakitai class into two types, creating a class that uses only a straight shortsword and no spear:
https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4512/maa2670rf9.png
After seeing to his wounded and resting his men, Philippos marches west and takes the enemy city. With no Iberian army for many miles, a huge chuck of land falls into the hands of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8080/maa2634vv8.png
In the city, Philippos captures the treasury of the Arevaci king and gains a small furtune for himself. With it comes respect as well as jealousy:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3725/maa2635gb0.jpg
The known world in 176BC:
https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/...mak1762nq4.png
[You'll notice some heavy FD there.]
Next: Chapter 51 : The Race for Pella
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4000th post ! ! !
Intresting chapter:2thumbsup: .good work:2thumbsup: !!
congrats on your 4000th post mate. Can't wait to see who wins the race for Pella
Painful chapter for me. Good to see the Iberians putting up a good fight though :) Congrats on your 4000 post. Is that Iberian brown in Ireland? How did the AI manage to do that?
Whoa, damn, what happened to Baktria?! I thought they were supposed to be the most advanced faction... were they just a paper tiger, or did the Saka get lucky?
Come on guys, read the freaking AAR! Or didn´t anyone notice the "You´ll notice some heavy FD there". Obviously he has been using Force Diplomacy to give away those regions.
Yes, the rebirth of Media, Iberian in Ireland, the destruction of Baktria, and the gain for all of her neighbors were all done through forced diplomacy.
Well, first I went in and defeated every single Baktrian army and conquered all but one of their cities using cheats (so they wouldn't just retake everything I FD'd away from them the next turn). Then I tore down some buildings and created some other ones that would suit the new owners using cheats. Finally, I gave the towns to whoever I wanted.
I also made a small script that spawned L3 MICs for the Median towns (I hated fighing purely Pantodapoi armies when fighting Hayasdan/Media).
I have an ultimate plan to my meddling, not just the destruction of a faction that annoys me (Baktria).
Chirurgeon, those Iberians are tough. Between my new army that lacks sarrisa and the strength of the Iberians, I took way more losses then I'm used to.
I'm surprised nobody commented on my new unit...
Not familiar enough with Macedonian troops to know...I guess the ones with the new swords?
It's kinda hard to tell by the picture, but I'm gonna guess that you canabilized the now-irrelevant Pontikoi Thorakitai skin.
"MAA once again makes every other EB player jealous by creating a new unit for the Great Arche Makedonia!"
Chairman
Very interesting and makes me curious for the upcoming civil war. Yes, what unit did you create?
So true!Quote:
"MAA once again makes every other EB player jealous by creating a new unit for the Great Arche Makedonia!"
No offense to MAA and his AAR, but I am glad there is a new page! It takes a long time to load all those pics!!
You can adjust the number of posts per page. Personally I put it to 10, that's fine for me.
Wow I'm really surprised that after all this time is still so awasome. I actually have to admit that you just inspired me for going on with my Makedonian campaign for the 3rd time^^.
Thanks for the comments. :bow:
The unit showed was the "Pontikoi Thorakitai". I was thinking of deviding the Thorakitai corps into "Thorakitai Hoplitai", "Thorakitai Phalangitai", and "Thorakitai Sworditai" :sweatdrop: using a couple units from defeated factions. I'm not sure I'll do it or not since I haven't played this campaign since the v1.1 release. I wish there was a unit I could use to make a "Thorakitai Toxotai", though...
Chapter 51 : The Race for Pella
The year of 176BC starts and the great plague finally begins to fade away. In Makedonia and Hellas, the plague almost completely disappears. Only in distant trade cities, where the plague had quitely spread at later times, does the dying continue:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5046/maa2637dd2.jpg
With the Era of Disaster finally drawing to a close, a new era begins, an era of internal conflict. Three men claim the throne, Pyrrhos in Africa, Bykoli in Babylonia, and Herakleon in Bosphoria. All men head for the capital city of Pella, to get the endorsement of the council of nobles and get crowned as Basileus of the Arche Makedonia.
The key to claiming the throne lies in military strength. A man with a loyal army can get the nobles endorsement even if the nobles dislike him, and none of the three men are universally liked. At this time in the Arche Makedonia, only four professional Makedonike armies stand. In the west, there is Pyrrhos' army of Pezhetairoi backed up by Italians and Illyrians. There is also the army of Philippos, a Thorakitai army. Pyrrhos does not call to his son and his army for assistance, however. To the east, there is only one standing Makedonike army. With the disbanding of Aristotelis' army, only the Syrian army of Bykoli remains. The final professional army is in Pella. The royal army of Neokles stations itself in the capital itself, under temperary command of the nobles.
Other than the professional armies, there are small armies dispersed around the Arche. Major armies of Klerouchoi or conscripts are all across the Arche: one in Nabataia, one in Nubia, two in Africa, one in Babylonia, one in Chersonesos, and Lysippos' army in Egrisi. There are also armies of regional recruits in Pannonia, southern Gaul, Iberia, Lysippos' second army in Egrisi, and many on the eastern front. And of course there are the allied client states. Joudaia lacks an army, but both Roma and Galatia have a large standing force.
Herakleon, son of Euboulides, grandson of Antigonos Gontanas, is leader of his small branch of the family in Bosphoria. With him, he has only his two brothers and Lysippos in Egrisi. Other than Bykoli, Herakleon has the most legitimate claim to the throne as the second closest direct male descendant of the royal line, but with a small army and few supporters, he has the smallest chance of success. As he prepares his army and his navy (one of his few strengths), envoys from Bykoli arrive and attempt to convince him to join the side of Bykoli. Herakleon quickly refuses, believing Bykoli to be the least likely candidate and returns to his preparations. A few days later, Herakleon falls ill and quickly dies:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4586/maa2638km3.jpg
Although it seems like natural causes, the previous "mysterious deaths" in the past when in the presence of envoys from Bykoli leads only to one logical conclusion. Although assassination is obvious, none of Herakleon's brothers are willing to claim the throne while his sons and nephews are all too young to do so. Thus, Bykoli is successful in removing one competitor.
Although one man's journey is cut short, the other two men who claim the throne must travel to the capital, but not forget to gain support as they go. Bykoli, having already set up friendly leaders in Babylonia, moves to Assyria but has a difficult time crossing the deserts with his large army. Pyrrhos, having access to the best port in the world has quick access to travel via the sea.
Pyrrhos sends word ahead of him to Syrakousai, to gather the nobles of the island. Once his army is ready and the loyalty of Africa is ensured, Pyrrhos sails for Syrakousai. Pyrrhos has long had strong contacts in Sikilia and their loyalty is almost ensured, but Pyrrhos meets with the leaders of the island and southern Italia and guarantees their support.
Once the loyalty of the polis of Sikilia is sworn, Pyrrhos sails to the city of Roma. Pyrrhos may have defeated the armies of Roma and conquered the city, but he had not harmed the people when he marched into the city. In the years after the conquest, Pyrrhos had even restored large amounts of autonomy to Roma under her rebuilt Senate, and many of those new Senators owned their position to Pyrrhos. Stopping in Roma for a short time, the Senate and Roman army pledges their loyalty to the man they call "Pyrrhus Magnus".
Northern Italia, southern Gaul, and all Iberian territories are all controlled by close family members of Pyrrhos and their loyalty is ensured. With everything west of Illyria loyal to him, Pyrrhos heads to Pannonia, Illyria, and Epieros, where distant members of his branch of the family rule. Loyalty in this region is quickly received as soon as he arrives. With the death of Neikolaos, his family recognizes him as head of the Alexandros branch. Pyrrhos is forced to make a quick stop in this region, however, to replenish and replace his Illyrian cavalry force, many of which are long overdue for retirement:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8476/maa2639di5.png
To the east, the Sab'yn forces once again strike the Klerouchoi army in the colony at Bostra:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6900/maa2640jz3.png
With troubles brewing Eulandros Delphikos had called his sons to join him at Bostra, where they discussed what they would do if civil war did in fact break out. As they discussed what they would do with the forces that the family now controls, forces of Sab'yn attack and Eulandros' son Chrysoloras takes command of the army to defend the city.
Once again the Klerouchoi forces hold their ground against a massive Arab charge:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8770/maa2641um5.png
Losses are taken by the Bostra army, but more are dealt out against the enemy:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1352/maa2650za8.jpg
On the far side of the great desert, the army of the city of Babylon, under the command of Isidoros Oresteus marches across the desert and attacks the small oasis city of Gerrha. Ignoring the internal conflicts and continuing with preplanned tactics, Isidoros refused to choose any side and instead fights an enemy he knows is an enemy:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9711/maa2651lh0.png
Despite wars still raging, all that concerned the leaders of the Arche was who would be the next Basileus. Bykoli and Pefkolaos had been in Iran when Neokles died and were left far behind in the race to Pella, but they gained some ground by already ensuring the loyalty of those in Babylonia. From Babylonia, Bykoli takes his to Assyria and southern Armenia, where he won over the majority of the peoples, leaders, and armies. The Thraikoi of Armenia (see end of Armenian War) and those loyal to Lysippos, however, are not impressed by him. Instead of travelling all the way into Armenia, out of fear of those who do not support him, Bykoli and Pefkolaos then move toward the city of Demetreia:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6130/maa2653ei2.png
From Demetriea, Bykoli had planned to travel through Anatolia and gain the support of those there, but is forced to stop in Demetreia. With the earth shaking and smoke coming from the mountains, Bykoli's priests warn him against travelling northwest just yet. Delayed, Bykoli retrains and replenishes his army in Demetreia and assembles a fleet, in case he is forced to make the journey by sea.
With every major army rushing for the capital or preoccupied debating which man they will side with, the borders of the Arche Makedonia are weaken and open to attack. Even in Iberia, the strongest border and the only place with a professional army still stationed on it, the situation is weakened. When one of the border forts is besieged, no armies can come to their rescue and it is unable to hold out for long on its own:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2220/maa2655fp7.png
The Gallic mercenaries hired to defend the border of the Arche do thier best to hold the Iberians at the walls:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6008/maa2658eu0.png
In the end, overwhelming force pushes through and the Gallic mercenaries are forced to surrender:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9494/maa2659iw4.png
The fort is surrendered and the inland regions of northern Iberia fall completely into Iberian hands:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2073/maa2660xo6.jpg
With the borders breached, the Iberians are able to push all the way to Emporion:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6189/maa2663bv8.png
The Iberians are no match for the Hellenic city defenders, and they retreat quickly. With the open front, however, moral is lost amongst the civilians living on the Iberian front:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/446/maa2664kn3.jpg
Delayed in Demetreia, Bykoli and Pefkolaos make little progress. They then move into Anatolia and begin to gain support in this core area of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/742/maa2662cw9.png
Bykoli is too slow, though. As Bykoli is crossing into Anatolia, Pyrrhos and two of his sons enter Pella with their army:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/714/maa2661sv9.png
Pyrrhos, his sons, and his army march into the city of Pella and are greeted as triumphant saviors. The people of Makedonia come out to greet him and offer him gifts. The city erupts into celebration, like it has never seen before. This the first time the people crown a popular leader since Demetrios. Marching to the center of the city, Pyrrhos is welcomed by the nobles. On the same spot where Perseus had embraced his uncle and declared he accepted Demetrios as Basileus, nearly fifty years prior, the nobles of all of Makedonia show their reverence to Pyrrhos. After meeting with the council of nobles, Pyrrhos emerges and gives a speach to the people of Pella, declaring that he has been made Basileus of all the Arche Makedonia and that he will name is son Philippos as his heir.
The people of Makedonia are overjoyed. Demetrios had been a great leader, but when he died the Arche Makedonia had begun a turn downward. The reign of Aristotelis had begun with an unwanted war and had ended with madness. The reign of his son, Neokles had been short and a general failure in all aspects and people attributed all the ills of the Arche to him, even natural disasters. Now the people have a strong Basileus as well as a competant heir:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8048/maa2605ua9.png
When word reaches Bykoli and Pefkolaos that Pyrrhos has arrived in Pella, been crowned Basileus, and gained the loyalty of the royal army, Bykoli halts his army. At first, Bykoli is unsure what to do. Bykoli was never a wise man, and situations without an obvious choice had always been hard for him. His first thought is to fall back to Babylonia, where he is ensured of the loyalty of the people and the armies, and from there set up a separate Arche, negotiate peace with Pyrrhos, and live his days relatively peacefully. Pefkolaos quickly convinces him otherwise. Always being the mind of Bykoli, Pefkolaos decides the best course of action is to march west and confront Pyrrhos on the battlefield. Reluctantly, Bykoli agrees.
Bykoli and Pefkolaos reach an area south of Galatia, when trajety strikes them. While walking amongst his men, as he often had done, a random soldier rushes forward and thrusts his sword into Bykoli's stomach. Nobody ever learns why the man does it, for a swarm of men quickly surround the man and stab him many many times. Bleeding profusely, Bykoli realizes his death is near. Surrounded my his loyal men and grabbing the wrist of one of his generals, he looks into the sky and says, "It's not worth war," and then he fades into darkness.
With two men dead and one left standing, it appears that a civil war is averted and Pyrrhos shall be the undisputed Basileus. Pefkolaos will not have this, though. Rallying the army to him (they had always been more loyal to him than Bykoli, anyways), Pefkolaos declares that his two year old son is the true heir to the line of Demetrios and rallies his army to move forward. Declaring himself regent for his son, Pefkolaos takes complete control of all of Bykoli's powers. Declaring themselves the Demetrids, Pefkolaos and his followers say that only descendants of Megas Demetrios are fit to rule the Arche Makedonia. Giving moving speaches to the people of Anatolia, Pefkolaos wins over the people with his promise to avenge the deaths of both Neokles and Bykoli.
By the spring of 175BC, everyone is choosing sides. Iberia, southern Gaul, northern Italia, Pannonia, Illyria, and Epeiros fall in with Pyrrhos because of his family connections. Sikilia and Africa also side with Pyrrhos because of his involvement in those areas in the past. Roma sides with their very conqueror and join Pyrrhos. Makedonia, Thraikia, and by default Hellas fall into Pyrrhos' hands when he is declared Basileus, but most of Hellas never official claims loyalty to either side. Babylonia, Assyria, Armenia, and Syria all side with Pefkolaos because of their loyalty to Aristotelis. Pontos, Anatolia, and Ionia join Pefkolaos because of his direct contact with them and his promises, but it is a weak bond.
With that, the general line is drawn straight through the Bosphoros, but then there are some areas that could go either way. Eygpt is mostly neutral, but eventually decides to join Pefkolaos because of the weak ties to the family of Megas Demetrios. Both Galatia and Ioudaia side with Pyrrhos because of their direct ties to Makedonia and not direct ties to any man. Only one city in Hellas officially joins either side, and that is the city of Sparte, declaring their loyalty to Pefkolaos.
None of the family of Alexandros turn on Pyrrhos, but there are those amongth the families of Antigonos who believe strongly enough in Pyrrhos that they openly turn on Pefkolaos. First amongst them is Antisthenes Gortynios, son-in-law of Demetrios. Antisthenes Gortynios had defended the city of Kyrene from attacks from Kart-Hadast for decades and had lead an attack against them in Neokles' invasion of Africa. Antisthenes Gortynios hates Phoenicians and follows Pyrrhos because of his great victories against Kart-Hadast. With Antisthenes Gortynios, Pyrrhos doesn't only gain the loyalty of his army and the coasts near Lepki, but Kyrenaia and Lybia as well, for they are still strongly loyal to Antisthenes Gortynios. Other than Antisthenes Gortynios, there is the Delphikos family in Bostra. They side with Pyrrhos as well, but don't hope to stand too long, cut off from supplies and surrounded by Pefkolaos supporters. There is also, Isidoros Oresteus on the far side of Arabia, who continues to ignore the issues and remains besieging the city of Gerrha.
Finally, there is the issue of the family of Euboulides. Having lost their leader at the hands of an agent of Bykoli and not having anyone left to challenge Pyrrhos' claim, the family of Euboulides sides with Pyrrhos. With the family, comes to old tired hero Lysippos and his two great armies. Bosphoria, Egrisi, and parts of Pontos then swear their loyalty to the Euboulides branch and therefore to Pyrrhos as the new Basileus.
Hearing that Pyrrhos is not doing well, Pefkolaos crosses the Bosphoros and moves into Thraikia to claim Makedonia. Though tired from marching, tired from politics, and extremely sick, Pyrrhos assembles his army and moves to counter the attack:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6664/maa2665pl3.png
So there, in southern Thraikia, two great Makedonike armies meet. This battle will mark either the begginning or the end of a civil war. Depending on the outcome, it will be determined what the fate of the entire Arche Makedonia and thus the entire world:
[One of the oracles predictions to Demetrios...]
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1584/maa2666dq4.png
The known world in the spring of175BC, at the beginning of the Makedonian Civil War:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/41...763editqh5.png
Next: Civil War?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pyrrhos (blue) in the west is "Makedonia", and Pefkolaos (red) in the east is "Baktria". Baktria still owns the city of Baktra but I editted the map so that it keeps its original color and looks like a separate kingdom. Baktria is the perfect faction to use for a Makedonian civil war since they share MICs. The "Demetrids" (Baktria) spawned in the FD and will be able to recruit Hellenistic units, but not regionals, making for a good Makedonian civil war.
That is as far as I've played. I got to that battle and though, "This will take an hour, I'll play it later." Then EB v1.1 came out a couple days later. While I haven't been playing v1.1, I haven't had a lot of time to play any computer games. Plus, I finally bought Kingdoms. So, what do you think, should I keep playing and making this AAR or let it die?
OMG this is AMAZING. Wow. I am speechless MAA. What a cliffhanger. My hat off to you in combining excellent writing and your technical prowess to do this. Truly remarkable. You need to play this. This AAR has been building up to something like this. I cannot wait to see what happens. All AARS are now judged by the MAA standard. After the war however it should really come to a close. Civil war is the ultimate climax to an empire if you ask me.
:jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: OMG. I just peed my pants. This is the one single best chapter ever.
If you should continue your AAR? Are you kidding or what... Yes you should definitely play out this civil war! I want pictures from that battle in Thraikia. And I want you to explain me please how you made Baktria split into two factions. And how you assign provinces, troops and characters etc. to another faction. Pleeeaaase!
Wow, this is insane, MAA! You have to play this. You can't stop now, this is the best part! I'll be looking forward to this... and if (when) you post the next chapter, I'll have a balloon waiting for you! :balloon3:
I agre with the others, You have to continue this MAA, the Civil war is the best cloasure, When one comes on top, and the strife ends that is the best point where to end it. You dont even have to play it ti the end but till the Winer is clear.
But yeah this chapter just blown my mind it was awesom.
You...Must...Play...Final....Battle!!! It will be the epic end to an era.
:dizzy2: :dizzy2: :dizzy2: :dizzy2: Will you never stop blowing us away, with your awesome AAR? WOW this was simply amazing. Can't wait for the civil War.
You MUST finish the final battle for this Civil war as its too good to waste:yes: .
BTW Love the Civil war theme wish we could freely have those, like it was back then......:skull:
Seconded! ~:thumb:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!!!!!!! :laugh4: :laugh4: :2thumbsup:
You know what you should do, fight the war and have it being so destructive that Makedon ends up as a much smaller kingdom. Ends where it began, you know. Very poetic.
Oh my God, this is the best AAR ever!!!!!! And how you create the civil war is just amazing.And i will love to see this AAR going further, but you must make your own choise, and wich kindom are you now?
Wow, a great way to close an awesome AAR. I henceforth declare my official support of Megas Pyrrhos Basileos ton Arkhe Makedonike.
Absolutely amazing! Please play out the civil war, and explain in a little more detail how you created the Demetrids, and assigned the FMs etc.
All hail Pyrrhus Magnus!
This...is...killer...
May the Gods and any and all Forces ever created curse you if you don't finish this. Even it is means your last breath, it will be worth it and worthy of the great Arche!
Just for the sake of it MAA, any chance you might torrent this version of yours and seed it? I'd give my right hand right now for your skills in editing, or just to play the battle. The Holy Grail of all AARs is in your hand MAA. Do not let is slip. Drink from it and we shall forwever praise you as the one and only AAR God (no offense meant to all other AAR writters).
Thanks for the comments, compliments, and enthusiasism everybody. :bow:
How I created the "Baktria" side of the civil war was destroying Baktria and remaking them. I sent armies over to Baktria's territories (with 'move_character' and 'character_reset') and used 'auto_win' to defeat everything I could find. (The armies I sent had the 30-40 family members that I wanted to kill off because they were joining Pefkoloas.) I destroyed everything Baktrian except a small military in Baktra, the faction leader, the faction heir, and a guy that looked like Pefkoloas. I exterminated all the towns that I took then gave them to the three factions around Baktria. Then I disbanded all of my military in the towns I wanted to give to "the Demetrids" and, using forced diplomacy, I gave all of the towns to Baktria, spawning tons of regional units for them. I used 'create_unit' to replace some armies that I had disbanded but wanted the Demetrids to have, but for the most part my plan is to let them mobilize on their own. I didn't create any family members for them, but having a shortage of generals and a ton of new towns, the AI should be magically spawning new generals all over the place. I guy that looks like Pefkolaos, I'll call Pefkolaos and every other new general will just be new in the story since none of the guys I killed off were important or mentioned previously in the AAR. They did move their capital to Tarsos, though I wish they had chosen Demetreia.
I'm hoping that the three factions around the east (Nubia, Media, & Saba) will be able to take some territory from the Demetrids and make an interesting situation there, but Pyrrhos is not stupid enough to let his side fall apart. He left is son and an entire army in Iberia because he need to ensure the income of the mines there and keep his Arche from falling apart.
I'll see if I can get some time to play again on Tuesday. Until then I have a ton of University work I need to do.
I'd have to upload every last file, since my version is pre-1.0. Plus, my ISP sent me an email saying that I need to cut the amount of bandwidth I'm using, so I've stopped using Torrents, or else I'll risk getting my internet cut.Quote:
Just for the sake of it MAA, any chance you might torrent this version of yours and seed it?
Ah, i've been wondering how you got him on the other side :applause:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Thank you for the explanations MAA. What does "character_reset" do? Do you have to use some kind of internal names to move the characters or are the in-game names sufficient?
Suddenly everything is clear!
I'm afraid there is only one option to end the ARR. Dissolve the empire.
As far as I can tell, here's how the situation could play out.
Pyrrhos defeats Pefkolaos in this battle, but Pefkolaos escapes back into his Eastern provinces. Pyrrhos however will claim victory and lay claim to the entire eastern portion of the Macedonian Empire. But with Pefkolaos still living, he will need to reconquer the Eastern provinces to reunite the empire, a process which could take years if not decades, time that Pyrrhos doesn't have. Peace negotiations begin. Perhaps there will be two Macedonian Empires. One East, one West. But before the negotiations are completed, Pyrrhos dies from old age and illness. Pefkolaos immediately seizes the opprotunity, again laying claim to the Western Portion of the Macedonian Empire and marches his army towards Pella. The city falls and Macedonia proper falls under Pefkolaos' control and Pyrrhos' sons flee to Italy. The army under Pyrrhos' son in Spain is recalled to Italy.
However, the entire Western Empire does not fall under Pefkolaos' sway. Seizing the opprotunity, several dissident Greek cities declare independance and northern Greece is in rebellion, soon followed suit by Southern Greece. Pefkolaos will have to deal with this before moving on into Italy to destroy the heirs of Pyrrhos, thereby cementing his claim to all of the Macedonian Empire. He marches south to quell the Greek states.
However, all is not well with the Western Empire either.
The Western Empire's power is weakened. Pyrrhos' sons having milder support than Pyrrhos did, and portions of the empire begin to fall away.
The far-flung territories in Spain either claim independance or are overcome by barbarians, lacking military support from the Western Empire, whose attention is to the east. North Africa also rebels with the death of Pyrrhos, and Carthage is declared reborn.
The Eastern Empire fairs little better. With the might of Macedonia turned inward, the heirs of the Ptolomies from the south, the old hated enemy, gain support and reconquer portions of Egypt. The furthest territories in the East fall to invasion, and several territories around the Black Sea rebel or fall away as well.
Pefkolaos manages to subdue the rebellious Greek states but now must turn his attention to problems in the East. Again, the Western Empire will have to wait.
Neither Pefkolaos nor the heirs of Pyrrhos have the resources or support to send armies to all corners of the Empire to deal with these problems, and the Macedonian Empire shrinks. The Eastern Empire now consists of Anatolia, Macedonia, Greece, the Levant and Northern Egypt. The Western Empire consists of Italy, Sicily, Libya, and Yugoslavia.
But soon the Western Empire no longer exists. The Roman Senate no longer sees the good in remaining loyal to Macedonia that the sons of Pyrrhos claim they are, and Pyrrhos' sons are either murdered or forced to flee into exile. The Roman Senate declares independance and Sicily and Libya soon follow suit. Yugoslavia joins with the Eastern Empire.
That's all I got. :sweatdrop: I'm saying you've got to dissolve the Empire because if one sides emerges strong and victorious there is no reason that the game should end, as there is still reason to continue.
No problem. "character_reset" restores all of the movepoint an army had at the beginning of the turn, but you have to know the internal name of the character the same way as "give_trait" or "move_character" requires. For the Greeks, though, getting the name right is pretty easy as it is usually just the same as the visible name.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Mordrorru,
Interesting chain of events. I've thought of similar, how the empire could crumble because of the civil war. The thing is, though, that the west is extremely strong. Both the Numidians and the Iberian Confederacy have been crippled and both in Gaul is allied to me. If Philippos can secure Iberia, the western front can be secured and the entire west can focus on the civil war. The east on the other hand is surrounded by powers. Saba, Media, and Ptolemaioi are sort of strong, and knowing the AI, they will leave openings for these powers to carve out a chunk of the eastern part.
Also, there is Philippos. He is probably the best family member I've had since Demetrios. Other than being uncharasmatic, he has no negative traits. I'm planning on using him as a strong heir to fill Pyrrhos' big shoes.
You are right, though. If I reunite the Arche and one power is born again, that really isn't an end... I guess I'll just play for a while and see what direction the game takes me...
Amazing work....CANNOT WAIT FOR THE BATTLE!!!!!:2thumbsup:
Well, there are two (somewhat arbitrary) ways to end it all, either with the end of the civil war or the end of Pyrrhos's or Phillipos's reign. Either way, it would effectively be the foundation of a new dynasty. Nobody would think of the new line of Makedonian kings as "Antigonids" anymore, after a rupture as severe as the one you have displayed. More likely, the line would be more closely associated with Pyrrhos and Phillipos than with the long-lost Antigonos or Demetrios. Hence, it would be the end of the Antigonids, the founders of the Arche Makedonia, and the beginning of the Pyrrhid line.