I realise that my writing isn't the best so constructive criticism would be appreciated.
In this AAR I will be using Greek words courtesy of Maion and EB itself so I will give translations for all those, like myself, who don't speak Greek. :tongue:
Basileus: King
Olympionikes: Olympic Victor
Moros: Literally moron but I'm using it to mean foolish
Persoletes: Destroyer of Persians
Aaptos: Invincible
Dysarestos Kleronomos: Disgruntled Heir(he is a crazy fool who believes he should rule the kingdom)
Lipodes: The Fat
Eiar: Spring
Theros: Summer
Phthinoporon: Autumn
Cheimon: Winter
Introduction
My name is Oxyartes Marakandaios.
Today I come of age, I am officially a man at sixteen years of age, but I have yet to finish my education. My father wishes for me to stay in this backwater town and finish my education here, but I wish to travel to Baktra and study in the Megale Schole, listen to great orators in the Theatron and discover the intricacies of money in the Agora.
In Baktra I will also learn politics from the renowned politicians, my cousins Agathokles, and Heliokles, and the one good thing Patrokles produced, my half-brother Zoilos, widely regarded as the smartest man in the kingdom and the most trusted and loyal advisor to Basileus, not to mention being Olympionikes of the most recent Olympic games.
I am a part of the royal family of Baktria, grandson of Theodotus Baktrios Moros, nephew of Basileus Diodotos Baktrios Persoletes known amongst his people as Aaptos, and of course, son of Dysarestos Kleronomos Patrokles Marakandaios Lipodes. Well, that’s what everyone believes, however my father wasn’t some treacherous, filthy minded, indolent lardy arse like Lipodes, but a glorious war hero, like my uncle and grandfather.
The following comes from the diary of my father that he gave to my mother following that fateful phthinoporon in the third year of the 127th Olympiad.
The story of my father starts in theros of first year of the 127th Olympiad.
04-10-2009, 15:28
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Let me know what you think, Chapter 1 will be up soon
04-10-2009, 15:49
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Basileus Baktries: King of Baktria
Basilikos Stratos: Royal Army
Somatophylakes Strategou: FM's Bodyguards
Basilikoi Somatophylakes: King's Bodyguards
Chapter 1
Theros – The First Year of the 127th Olympiad.
Theodotos, then Basileus Baktries, sets off east for glory and lands, taking his son-in-law Patrokles and the Basilikos Stratos of
5000 Pantodapoi Phalangitai
6000 Persian Archers
1000 Asabaran-i Madaen and
600 Somatophylakes Strategou, of whom my father was a member
and leaving his only son Kleronomos Basileios Diodotos to defend Baktra with
3000 Persian archer-spearmen.
During Eiar of the following year, the second year of the 127th Olympiad, Theodotos ventured into the province of Paropamisadai to lay siege to the town of Kophen.
3 months later the siege rams were ready and Theodotos gave the order to attack.
The battle started as do all sieges, the rams moved into position to batter the wooden palisade surrounding the town.
The archers fired blindly towards the sarissai of the enemy phalangites, visible over the walls.
Once the walls were down, the Pantodapoi rushed the breach,
attacking viscously with their axes, taking advantage of the fact that
their lighter armour gave them more speed and flexibility in close combat.
While the enemy infantry was engaged battling for the gates,
the Basilikoi Somatophylakes hastened through the side streets,
hoping desperately not to get lost along the way, their goal,
to seize the town centre from the light skirmishers guarding there,
they were well aware that every minute they delayed was another man dead,
as in a protracted melee the heavier armour of the enemy infantry would give them
an advantage over the Pantodapoi.
The Somatophylakes Strategou having destroyed any resistance
from the light skirmishers, now charged down the main road,
heading to the rear of the enemy formation
and dealing a devastating blow to their foes.
Wow, I was surprised to see this! Good stuff dude :2thumbsup: Oh, and take a balloon for creating this: :balloon2:
Maion
04-10-2009, 16:02
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maion Maroneios
Wow, I was surprised to see this!
i said i was gunna :tongue:
MY FIRST BALLOON!!!!! :charge: :birthday2:
*edit*
next installment tomorrow, then after that sometime next week.
now i'm off to bed
04-10-2009, 16:04
Maion Maroneios
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Well, I thought it would come later. Anyway...
Maion
04-10-2009, 16:50
satalexton
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIAAAAA!!!
04-10-2009, 18:36
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maion Maroneios
Well, I thought it would come later. Anyway...
Maion
Well I find if i think about things for too long they tend not to get done, best to do it now while it's a fresh idea then to think it to death. :clown:
Quote:
Originally Posted by satalexton
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIAAAAA!!!
Makedonia? You mean
BAKTRIAAAAA!!!
hmm... doesn't quite have the same ring does it? :clown:
well, what about
BASILEION BAKTRIES!!!!!!
Nope?
well i'll get it a some point :clown:
04-10-2009, 18:53
Belisarius II
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Keep it up! Now there is only one thing left to say...ON TO INDIA!!!
04-10-2009, 18:59
Olaf Blackeyes
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
This should prove to be excellent so plz keep it up.
04-11-2009, 04:18
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 2
Late theros the eldest daughter of the Basileus, Klophia wife of Patrokles, arrived at Kophen. Over the
phthinoporon my father and Klophia slowly fell in love and they had the whole cheimon to meet in
secret away from the Basileus and her mad husband Patrokles.
After cheimen Theodotos once again headed eastwards, my father following him leaving Patrokles and
a pregnant Klophia behind.
Through the following months the army faithfully followed Theodotos further and further east until
early phthinoporon of the third year of the 127 Olympiad they came upon the banks of the mighty
Indus. Theodotos had heard stories of the wealth of these lands and grew anxious over the following
days as they waited for the scouts to find a suitable crossing.
The scouts soon returned with a suitable ford and the river was swiftly crossed. Before long the
mighty stone walls of Taksashila were encountered. These lands must be rich indeed to afford such
elaborate defences and the Basileus ordered that the town should be surrounded and preparations
made for a long siege, while the engineers examined the walls for any potential weakness they might
exploit.
The Basileus also ordered that the scouts should scour the surrounding countryside and find anyone
who could be questioned on the composition of the towns defending force.
One week later and still no sign of any locals could be found. It was assumed that they had all hidden
in the town as the army had marched into their lands. Some of Theodotos more cautious advisors
urged him to rethink his plans for a long siege, the locals could not be expecting the siege to last long
if so many were hiding within such a small settlement. No chance for a change of heart was allowed
however, as the enemy forces sallied exactly one week later.
Theodotos ordered his phalangites and archers to take up position in front of the gates.
The Basilikoi Somatophylakes engaged the enemy horsemen on the flanks, the enemy may have been
lighly armoured, but the armour was very well made and they put up a surprisingly good defence
against the Basilikoi Somatophylakes, however no man can stand against the mightiest that Baktria
has to offer.
Despite all the advantages of our enemy it seemed as though Theodotos would win the day. That is
until, from around the side of the town there emerged,
Many men tired and injured from the many hours battling, simply took one glimpse of these terrible
beasts and dropped their weapons and shields, running for the hills never to be seen again. Some
brave souls, realising they had to buy as much time as possible for their Basileus to retreat, charged
futilely at the elephantes.
Their brave sacrifice sadly achieved nothing as Theodotos horse was shot from under him. The only
surviors were 5 of the Somatophylakes Strategou, four of whom committed suicide for having failed
their Basileus and one, my father, who travelled back to Baktrian lands to tell the tale of the brave
Moros Theodotos.
On the way back to Baktra, he stopped in at Kophen to see Klophia. He was told that Klophia was
sick so he simply left his diary and continued on his way. Klophia was infact not sick but in labour.
She gave birth to a boy on that day exactly 16 years ago.
My father arrived at the court in Baktra, and after informing the new Basileus Baktries of the
situation, slit his own throat for failing in his duty to Theodotos.
He never even knew I existed.
I have often wondered what he would have done if he had know of my birth.
So there is my father's story, and so begins mine. I have many plans to avenge my father and
grandfather, but they must wait. For now I head Baktra to truly begin my education.
04-11-2009, 05:36
MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Interesting loss. It will be interesting to see where you take this.
(It should probably be "avenge" there in the last paragraph.)
04-11-2009, 05:42
Olaf Blackeyes
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Wow thats actually very deep man.
I like it.:beam:
04-11-2009, 05:46
ezekiel2517
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
interesting story, but the screenshots are the best here :2thumbsup:
04-11-2009, 06:16
Vasiliyi
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Nice little twist there. Good start, keep it up!
04-11-2009, 12:52
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 3 coming up soon, not many screen shots though, just setting the scene.
And before i get too far ahead of myself i should say that alot of the ideas I'm using are insipred by Vasiliyi and MAA. Kudos to those great writers :2thumbsup:
*edit*
I'm not saying my aar holds a candle to either of theirs, but they are very inspiring :beam:
04-11-2009, 13:01
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 3
It has been two years since I arrived in Baktra and those years have truly changed me. I have a
greater understanding of geography, music, rhetoric, engineering and mining. But most importantly I
have devoted myself to studying tactics, logistics and the recent history of our Basileion.
The actions of Basileus Diodotos following the death of his father are very interesting.
Firstly he hastened the ongoing construction of the Teiche Lithina that now surround Baktra and
focused on training archers to fight in the local manner to defend the new walls rather than recruiting
an army of conquest as Theodotos had done.
Once the security of Baktra was assured, he declared independence from, but not war against Arche
Seleukeia. Diodotos made it clear that he wanted to maintain trade links but the people of Baktria
would never be subject to a Basileus living so far from their homes.
He then devoted time and money to improving the trade,
After the infrastructure of the city was in place he then spent countless fortunes on schools, and
cultural buildings like theatres and religious shrines, despite not believing in any gods himself.
He developed quite an extensive spy ring to counter any enemy spies or assassins from our many
potential enemies, and has also become known as quite the counter-spy.
In less than sixteen years he transformed the struggling satrapy he inherited from his father into an
independent Basileion of great learning and wealth.
What makes this all the more fascinating is that he managed to do so while fighting off invasions from
endless hordes of Pahlavan horsemen, and the occasional attempt from Arche Seleukeia who seek to
return us to a Satrapy, as well as, in recent years, a few raids from the Hadou Hippeis, Saka Rauka.
Over the years, due to his countless victories, hundreds of thousands of Persians have their final
resting place within the borders of Baktria. Diodotos has truly earned the title of Persoletes and it is
no wonder the citizens of Baktra yell Diodotos Aaptos from the windows when he walks through the
streets.
And now I shall have my first taste of battle, a Pahlavan horde awaits their destruction outside our
city walls.
04-11-2009, 13:15
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Interesting loss. It will be interesting to see where you take this.
Ah! MAA commented on my AAR!!
I swear I almost screamed like a school girl, I'm very honored :bow: I hope I live up to your expectations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
(It should probably be "avenge" there in the last paragraph.)
Cheers mate, changed it. :2thumbsup:
04-11-2009, 16:49
Vasiliyi
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Good update. Keep this going. Ive never seen a Baktrian aar last very long so this should be good.
04-11-2009, 17:06
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasiliyi
Good update. Keep this going. Ive never seen a Baktrian aar last very long so this should be good.
I'm finding it very fun so it will keep going for a while yet, I've got a more chapters under my belt but I'm waiting a bit to post them as whats happening now might change things a bit.
possible spoiler if you're following the story
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Possible reforms, as capua has 25000 pop. but is still a large city. fingers crossed
I just done a search and the last Baktrian AAR was over a year ago and lasted 2 posts! :dizzy2: These are rare indeed.
04-11-2009, 18:03
V.T. Marvin
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Very good story, keep it up!:2thumbsup:
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
I just done a search and the last Baktrian AAR was over a year ago and lasted 2 posts! :dizzy2: These are rare indeed.
You have not searched too well - my Baktrian AAR lasted longer than that and is dead only for a month (and still on the first page - at the very bottom, though):beam:
I wish you more endurance and less real-life time constraints than I have had...:2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:
04-11-2009, 18:29
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by V.T. Marvin
Very good story, keep it up!:2thumbsup:
You have not searched too well - my Baktrian AAR lasted longer than that and is dead only for a month (and still on the first page - at the very bottom, though):beam:
I wish you more endurance and less real-life time constraints than I have had...:2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:
Eeep, I did a search for titles with "Baktria", apparently this didn't include titles with "Baktrian" :sweatdrop:
And it's now a second page story I'm sorry to say, mine must have pushed it down :sweatdrop:
Nice AAR btw, too bad it died.
04-11-2009, 21:37
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 4
The battle started with the archers atop the walls killing as many of the enemy as possible before the
Somatophylakes Strategou prepare to engage the enemy.
The death of their general was enough to break the spirit of the enemy. The rest of the battle was
simply a matter of killing as many enemy as possible before they fled into the bush.
Taking good screenshots can be tricky stuff, in this battle I was busy taking lots of good screenshots and didn't even realise my main character had lost over half his men :sweatdrop:
So lots of screenshots to come will now be missing chunks of the sky because I've now taken to pausing :laugh4:
04-11-2009, 21:58
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Hadou Hippeis - Horsemen of Hades
Chapter 5
My second battle in as many years. This time against the Hadou Hippeis, Saka nomads.
The battle started with the archers firing from the walls, they seemed to have a personal grudge
against these foes and took no shame in showing it.
This battle would be quite different to the last however, as the these horsemen had fine armour and
our arrows dealt little damage, this battle would ride solely upon the back of our fine Baktrian steeds.
The noise of the two lines of heavily armoured horsemen clashing deafened all those nearby. The
small enemy group was soon overwhelmed and turned tail.
They did not stand long in the face of such well armoured foes and I started to give chase before
remembering the rest of battle. I reordered my men and prepared to charge the rear of the last
standing Saka nobles.
The battle may have been short, lasting little more than an hour, but the fighting was fierce and
many fine sons of Baktria had taken their last breaths that day.
04-12-2009, 07:29
MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
Taking good screenshots can be tricky stuff, in this battle I was busy taking lots of good screenshots and didn't even realise my main character had lost over half his men :sweatdrop:
I hate it when that happens. I've had many times when I've had to stop taking pictures in a difficult battle just so I don't loose something. :laugh4:
04-12-2009, 11:07
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Metalleutikon Kentron - Mining centre
Athanatoi Hippeis - Invincible Horsemen
Chapter 6
I am now twenty years of age and have completed my education. I spent the final year of my
education, following the battle with the Saka nomads, studying armour so that we might have an
advantage over them in future. After examining the armour captured in the battle,
consulting with my history teachers, and long discussions with the master smiths, we have developed
a new type of armour, far superior to any possessed by our foes to the north.
The armour consists of full iron lamellar barding for the horses, and a combination of plate, mail and
lamellar armour for the riders. The armour will be incredibly expensive, however I believe it will be the
finest in all the world, none will withstand the mighty charge of these Athanatoi Hippeis.
I am meeting formally with my uncle later today in his capacity as Basileus and I hope to convince
him to let me carry out my plans for an invasion of the lands beyond the Indus, with my bodyguard
outfitted in the new armour of course.
I was shown into the throne room and greeted my uncle, “Hail Basileus Diodotus Baktrios Persoletes.”
“Welcome Oxyartes. What did you wish to ask?”
“Basileus, I have plans for an invasion of the lands to the east.”
“The east?”
“Yes Basileus.”
“You know your grandfather died in the east young Oxyartes.”
“Yes Basileus, Thedotos Moros.”
“What makes you believe your plan can succeed where he failed?” asked Diodotos, none too pleasantly.
“I have studied the tale of that lone survivor closely and believe there is a way to succeed were your father failed.”
“Yes?” Inquired the Basileus sitting forwards in his throne.
“A large contingent of Dahae riders, skirmishers, and peltastai, should be sent along with our heavy
cavalry and phalangitai, they would bring down the Elephantes and kill many of those formidable
sword men from a distance.”
“Your plan has merit. However, I could not leave Baktra while the threat of nomad invasion exists,
and who knows what Patrokles would try if I were to leave the Basileion.”
I took a deep breath before continuing “I would propose that you let me lead the invasion Basileus.”
There was a long silence and the Basileus lowered his head to think. “We will discuss this plan later
with Agathokles and your brother Zoilos. Prehaps it is time to increase our power” he muttered under
his breath. “If that is all you, may go.”
I took another deep breath, “There is one other thing before I go Basileus.”
“Yes?”
“I, with some of your finest smithies, have developed a new type of armour, and if this invasion goes
ahead, I would wish to outfit the bodyguard in this new, manner.”
“Is there anything I should know about this new armour?”
“I believe it is the finest in the world Basileus.”
“And…?”
“The expense will be enormous.”
“I see.”
“However with the recently built Metalleutikon Kentron there should be no troubles in paying for them.”
“Yes, well we will discuss it later. If there is nothing else you may go.” It was not a question, I had
thrown a lot at him and I hoped he would not be angry later.
04-12-2009, 14:37
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Hetairoi Kataphrakoi - generals bodyguards
Chapter 7
Phthinoporon the second year after the 134th Olympiad, I am now in my 25th year, and I have been
waiting out side the walls of Taksashila for almost 2 years. Despite my in depth instructions for the
supply train that I left with Patrokles, in recent months supplies have been short and the men are
now on short rations. I would leave to set things right however, I believe the enemy will be sallying
for soon. Prehaps they plan to do so in the coming cheimon, to catch us off guard. I will certainly
inform the Basileus of Patrokles incompetence after I have returned in triumph.
Antimachos, the makedonian son-in-law of the Basileus, has been getting irritable, lately and I don’t
blame him. The thought of facing those elephants has caused me many a restless night recently.
The Basileus convinced me to bring him along due to his formidable fighting skill and his ability to think
quickly in a tight spot, he should be a valuable commander in the upcoming battle
We left Baktra in late Theros of the third year of the 133rd Olympiad.
And arrived at Kophen just as Cheimon was starting, glad to be out of the harsh weather, but
dreading the thought of spending the entire cheimon with Lipodes.
I despised asking Lipodes for anything but I needed skirmishers, and Kophen was where the
skirmishers were. I almost turned back then and there, but I sucked up my pride and asked him
towards the end of cheimon, knowing he would be insufferable after I did.
I left with my skirmishers as soon as the weather permitted in the fourth year of the 133rd Olympiad
and set off east to the Indus.
I received word in Theros that my new armour had been tested in battle. All the royal family members
upon viewing my Athanatoi Hippeis had outfitted their bodyguards in the same manner, the resulting
units, Hetairoi Kataphrakoi, were frighteninly effective in battle.
The enemy lost almost 25000 men while our forces took less than 300. It was more than I could have
ever hoped. I hope they perform as well against the Indian forces.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Some general stats if anyone is interested. I was quite pleased with myself, sure I’ve won battles
with worse odds, but rarely do I win such a large battle with so few lost.
How the hell can you have more than 100k mnai with such huge armies and only 2 settlements? Are you cheating?
Anyway very good chapter, only one question, i thought it was the protagonists father who died in india, not his grandfather....:inquisitive:
04-13-2009, 02:31
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
I just started reading this cuz i've had no wireless internet acess up here at my gradparents house and have had to use wire which i just got onto. It's 5 hours up to NY from the maryland suburbs of D.C. I'm following this and good luck.
Edit: HOLY SHIT how did those troops get so F***ing much experience. Did you cheat them in?Better not of or else... jk. Also you must of cheated the money.
04-13-2009, 08:43
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyrus
How the hell can you have more than 100k mnai with such huge armies and only 2 settlements? Are you cheating?
Anyway very good chapter, only one question, i thought it was the protagonists father who died in india, not his grandfather....:inquisitive:
No cheats what you can't see in that pic is that when the army goes back in the city the income goes to about -3200mnai and my other town, kophen is on about 5000mnai, gotta love the mines baby :2thumbsup:
And his grandfather was Theodotos and he died in india, his father was that unnamed bodyguard who survived and got word back to Baktra, of course no one knows this apart from Oxyartes and his mother.
Bloody hell, looking at that rundown, this story is beginning to rival a neighbours plot :clown:
Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
I just started reading this cuz i've had no wireless internet acess up here at my gradparents house and have had to use wire which i just got onto. It's 5 hours up to NY from the maryland suburbs of D.C. I'm following this and good luck.
Edit: HOLY SHIT how did those troops get so F***ing much experience. Did you cheat them in?Better not of or else... jk. Also you must of cheated the money.
they have that experience from killing so many besieging armies over the years, Diodotos has only left Baktra once, (and that was to kill a rebel army and he was back before the turn ended) Yet he has over 30 battles under his belt, using the army numbers I've been using in the AAR he would be getting close to having killed 500,000 men, 75% of those, being Pahlavan. He has the trait "seen the elephant" but has never even left the capital let alone his kingdom.
Neither Pahlava or Seleukeia have any big armies in their entire kingdoms because they keep sending them to Diodotos to be killed.
PS. some of those more familiar with Baktria may have noticed I added a new unit.
Does anyone know if I can change the name on their unit card to show up as "Athanatoi Hippeis" without also changing the name of the regular bodyguard unit?
*edit*
before I built that army Baktra was on about 1500mnai and Kophen almost 6000
04-13-2009, 10:04
Raygereio
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
PS. some of those more familiar with Baktria may have noticed I added a new unit.
Does anyone know if I can change the name on their unit card to show up as "Athanatoi Hippeis" without also changing the name of the regular bodyguard unit?
If I'm reading correctly; you added the Hetairoi Kataphraktoi as regular units?
If so, go to the entry in your EDU for 'Athanatoi Hippeis' and change the dictionary line into 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1'.
Then go to export_units.txt in EB/data/text. Go find the entry for 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi' and copy it.
Now in that copied entry, add '_1' to all instances of 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi'. Like this: 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1_descr_short'.
Unit info text is under the _descr line, the _descr_short line wil show up in the summary of all the units you trained at the start of your turn.
The actual name of the units as it will show up ingame is to the right of the dictionary line.
So simply change 'Hetairoi Kataphraktoi (Baktrian Late Bodyguard)' into something like 'Athanatoi Hippeis (Baktrian Weapon of Mass Destruction)'
Hope that helps and it's been fun reading so far.
Also yeah, once you get the mines going Baktria becomes incredibly rich, even more so once you get the Indian provinces.
04-13-2009, 13:11
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raygereio
'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1'.
Then go to export_units.txt in EB/data/text. Go find the entry for 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi' and copy it.
Now in that copied entry, add '_1' to all instances of 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi'. Like this: 'hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1_descr_short'.
Unit info text is under the _descr line, the _descr_short line wil show up in the summary of all the units you trained at the start of your turn.
The actual name of the units as it will show up ingame is to the right of the dictionary line.
So simply change 'Hetairoi Kataphraktoi (Baktrian Late Bodyguard)' into something like 'Athanatoi Hippeis (Baktrian Weapon of Mass Destruction)'
cheers, glad your enjoying it,
I changed it and I worked but the unit card picture wasn't showing up so I went to Rome - Total War\EB\Data\UI\UNIT_INFO\romans_bruttii and made a copy of hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_unit.tga and changed it to hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1_unit.tga so now the unit card picture is ok but the little picture that you can see in the screenie is still wrong, how would I go about changing that?
I changed it and I worked but the unit card picture wasn't showing up so I went to Rome - Total War\EB\Data\UI\UNIT_INFO\romans_bruttii and made a copy of hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_unit.tga and changed it to hellenic_cavalry_hetairoi_kataphraktoi_1_unit.tga so now the unit card picture is ok but the little picture that you can see in the screenie is still wrong, how would I go about changing that?
Woops; forgot about the pictures. Sorry.
Do the exact some thing you did for the unitinfo picture, but in the following directory:
EB\Data\UI\UNITS\ROMANS_BRUTII
04-14-2009, 17:35
Tarkus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Miotas,
I don't have my copy of EB or the Recruitment Viewer in front of me here at work, so I don't have all the data in front of me. But adding the Athanatoi Hippeis around 246BC is a major cheat, don't you think?????? That sally out of Baktra in 245BC was crazy...your Elite Cataphracts accounted for nearly 1800 of the 2344 total Seleukid casualties!! Unless I'm missing something in the historical part of the Baktrian simulation here, you're not playing on a level field.
I'm struggling through the early phases of my own Baktrian campaign (to be summarized in a separate thread, so as not to dilute your own excellent story), and I now see the value of trying to lay low in the first few decades and building up infrastructure in Baktra and Kophen. I got militarily greedy against the Saka and am now really paying the price...
04-15-2009, 01:04
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarkus
Miotas,
I don't have my copy of EB or the Recruitment Viewer in front of me here at work, so I don't have all the data in front of me. But adding the Athanatoi Hippeis around 246BC is a major cheat, don't you think?????? That sally out of Baktra in 245BC was crazy...your Elite Cataphracts accounted for nearly 1800 of the 2344 total Seleukid casualties!! Unless I'm missing something in the historical part of the Baktrian simulation here, you're not playing on a level field.
I'm struggling through the early phases of my own Baktrian campaign (to be summarized in a separate thread, so as not to dilute your own excellent story), and I now see the value of trying to lay low in the first few decades and building up infrastructure in Baktra and Kophen. I got militarily greedy against the Saka and am now really paying the price...
That wasn't the Athanatoi Hippeis, as rich as I am right now I still doubt that I could afford 5 units of them, that was the generals bodyguards, Hetairoi Kataphraktoi, and they showed up by themselves, I'm not planning on using the Athanatoi Hippeis until I've subjugated India. Plus I had to add them before I started, as I don't think new units are savegame compatible, and as I don't have the knowledge to go fidling with reforms, I could have built them from the start if I'd had the money or the mic level.
But I'm roleplaying that after all those attempted nomad invasions they have decided to upgrade their bodyguards' armour, and if that goes well they will make a separate unit, once they have the money.
And the laying low method is still balancing on a thin wire, I almost lost it a few times, the retraining costs of all those nomad attacks almost crippled my economy, but i struggled through and it really paid off. For that reason I waited until I had played about 20 years before I started writing this to make sure I didn't lose it before I really got started.
04-15-2009, 01:30
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
AW: Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
Plus I had to add them before I started, as I don't think new units are savegame compatible, and as I don't have the knowledge to go fidling with reforms, I could have built them from the start if I'd had the money or the mic level.
Ah, and I was wondering how you added them as a recruitable unit. To my knowledge, adding a new unit to EDU is indeed not savegame compatible.
Nice AAR, btw. :yes:
04-15-2009, 01:59
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
I don't know how to do any of this add new units s*** and I agree that his roleplaying makes sence though.:2thumbsup:
04-15-2009, 15:57
Tarkus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
That wasn't the Athanatoi Hippeis, as rich as I am right now I still doubt that I could afford 5 units of them, that was the generals bodyguards, Hetairoi Kataphraktoi, and they showed up by themselves, I'm not planning on using the Athanatoi Hippeis until I've subjugated India. Plus I had to add them before I started, as I don't think new units are savegame compatible, and as I don't have the knowledge to go fidling with reforms, I could have built them from the start if I'd had the money or the mic level.
You're right, fair enough...my mistake. I'm at 238BC in my Baktrian campaign and I still have the Somatophylakes Strategou -- how did you obtain the Hetairoi Kataphraktoi? Am I to assume this is because I haven't yet built up my MIC to a sufficient level?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
And the laying low method is still balancing on a thin wire, I almost lost it a few times, the retraining costs of all those nomad attacks almost crippled my economy, but i struggled through and it really paid off. For that reason I waited until I had played about 20 years before I started writing this to make sure I didn't lose it before I really got started.
I'm about ready to give up...I recently lost Baktra to the Grey Death so, with the exception of Alexandreia Eschate, I have only small settlements (Kophen, Chach, Gava Haomavarga, Marakanda) that are not doing me much good. I guess I'll try to keep fighting until the bitter end...!
Keep up this very interesting AAR, Miotas!
04-15-2009, 15:59
A Very Super Market
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
March of Time. Its a little bit random, but whenever the Romans get a huge city in Italy that isn't Rome, you'll get your shiny new bodyguards.
04-15-2009, 16:16
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarkus
You're right, fair enough...my mistake. I'm at 238BC in my Baktrian campaign and I still have the Somatophylakes Strategou -- how did you obtain the Hetairoi Kataphraktoi? Am I to assume this is because I haven't yet built up my MIC to a sufficient level?
They turn up with the march of time, which is the first roman reforms, and that happens when they get a huge city in italy that isn't roma, which in most games means that you get the reforms when capua upgrades to a huge city.
*edit* too slow, guess that's what i get for a long post *
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarkus
I'm about ready to give up...I recently lost Baktra to the Grey Death so, with the exception of Alexandreia Eschate, I have only small settlements (Kophen, Chach, Gava Haomavarga, Marakanda) that are not doing me much good. I guess I'll try to keep fighting until the bitter end...!
Keep up this very interesting AAR, Miotas!
If you are capable of building a stone wall and some persian archers then you can basically create an impenetrable force field around you're city :laugh4:
Let them seige and then do a sally each turn, killing as many as you can with your archers from the walls, if you have all you're forces back within the walls you can exit the battle without losing it, you will get a message saying that the sally was successful and then you can click ok to exit the battle. And when you feel you can crush them with your horses you can sally properly.
and if all else fails then fight to the last man, making them pay a terrible price for every honest Baktrian's life those fiends take. :smash:
Seriously, it will be good for the combat experience, then come back as a fresh Basileus Baktries and teach those buggers a thing or three. :2thumbsup:
New update should arrive sometime tomorrow.
*edit
Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
I don't know how to do any of this add new units s***
Neither did I but I followed instructions from bobbin in the unoffical modding sub-forum and now I have a vague idea, the thread was to do with these exact units funnily enough
04-15-2009, 18:18
Tarkus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Thanks for the March of Time info, AVSM and Miotas...shoulda remembered that. This is my first non-Roman campaign so I'm having to learn how to see the world from a different perspective!
And thanks again to you, Miotas, for the description of sallying tactics. I really f***ed up in my campaign by losing Baktra a few years ago so now it's going to take a long time to build up the remains of my empire to a point where I can make a serious bid to re-take the city, finally crush the Saka and keep the Pahlavans at bay...all while keeping my eye on Gandhara and neighboring rebel provinces. Wow...playing Baktria is hard but alot of fun!
Thanks again...looking forward to your update tomorrow.
04-16-2009, 12:26
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 8
Late Phthinoporon, just before the first snowfalls of cheimon, the enemy sally forth to attack, starved
and demoralised as they must be following such a long siege, they should not be too difficult to
defeat.
My first time leading an army to battle, I hope I make my father proud.
I organised my men in two lines, Pezhetairoi in the first line, with peltastai in the second line
supported by light skirmishers. The small group of Persian archers formed up behind the skirmishers
and I ordered the Dahae skirmisher cavalry to wait well back behind the lines and prepare for the
elephantes to arrive.
It wasn’t long before the elephants arrived. It seemed that this time they would be used to disrupt
our lines for the infantry to attack, rather then attacking after we were already tired, like they did to my grandfather.
I ordered the Dahae cavalry to attack the approaching elephantes.
They were more effective than I could have hoped. Watching the javelins so easily toppling those
huge beasts it was hard to imagine that they could have given Theodotos so much trouble.
Antimachos, seeing they were in trouble, rode into the fray, wreaking havoc amongst the enemy
warriors. The Kataphraktoi were winning but many were unhorsed and it seemed this would be a
costly fight.
Riding back to survey the battlefield, I noticed that on the opposite flank, the enemy were becoming
exhausted, so I ordered my still fresh pezhetairoi to break formation and charge.
The battle did not last much longer before the enemy broke formation and tried to flee. In a fit of
rage like I have seldom felt before, seeing so many of my men lying dead, I ordered that not a single
enemy man was to leave the battle field alive.
04-16-2009, 13:42
Cyrus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Yeeeeeaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!kill them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:smg: :smg: :smg: :smg: :smg: :smg: :smg:
Seriously, though, great chapter! I can't help wondering why those elephants attacked before the infantry..... weird, every time i beseige an indian settlement they always wait for my men to be tired.
You lucky bastard!:furious3:
04-16-2009, 14:54
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyrus
I can't help wondering why those elephants attacked before the infantry..... weird, every time i beseige an indian settlement they always wait for my men to be tired.
You lucky bastard!:furious3:
I had my general off to the side of my formation, unprotected, and they were heading towards him, they probably would have arrived at my main formation just after the enemy troops but I rode my horse skirmishers out to meet them and for some reason the elephants never arrived. :beam:
I was quite surprised at how well they did against the elephants though, I've only really played as western factions, sauros was as far east as I've gone, so I've never fought much against elephants.
1 unit Elephantes Indikoi 13000 mnai
1 unit Dahae Skirmisher Cavalry 1800 mnai
Watching Dahae Skirmishers :smg: Elephantes Indikoi, priceless
04-16-2009, 16:01
Roka
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
nice story so far, a little bit of advice, once your cavalry have charged hold Alt and right click on the enemy to make them draw their swords (or axes)
EDIT: or is that ctrl?
04-17-2009, 04:40
Vasiliyi
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Love this aar, keep it going. Oh and those Baktrian Body guards are one of the most beautiful units ever!
04-17-2009, 05:21
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
Neither did I but I followed instructions from bobbin in the unoffical modding sub-forum and now I have a vague idea, the thread was to do with these exact units funnily enough
I personaly think it's cheating to create units that weren't historicly there in ancient times. It's not accurate, it's that simple. Good chapter though. I liked the picture of the phezatairoi or whatever charging. Funny seeing phalanxes charge.
04-18-2009, 11:23
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Chapter 9
Eiar the third year of the 134th Olympiad. I was woken early this morning by my retainer, aparently I
had been crying out in my sleep again. All those faces keep coming back to me. The heads of 8000
young men, this is the price I exacted upon Taksashila, one for each life their soldiers took in the
battle.
It is good that I have risen early, there are many preparations to make. Today I begin the march
west to besiege the town of Kophen. That fool Patrokles sent secret messages to the Basileus of
Seleukeia, explaining that if a seleukid army could reach the gates of Kophen they would be open, in
exchange for a heafty reward no doubt. Luckily Baktrian honour was preserved by my half-brother
Antialkidas, who redeemed himself of a lifetime of foolishness by locking up Patrokles and defending
against the Seleukid army.
The account of the battle had come from Euthydemos, one of Antialkidas bodyguards, he had been
knocked senseless in the battle but his armour had saved him and he was able to recover and escape
before the enemy found him.
The town had no defenders who could hold the gates, so while the enemy advanced upon the gates
Euthydemos was soon knocked senseless but he dimly remembers that the sounds of battle continued
for many hours, despite the small number of bodyguards that still remained in the city.
After he had given his account of the battle Euthydemos told me that my wife, who had returned to
Baktria after I had left Kophen almost 3 years ago, had given birth to a baby girl, Patrokles had been
intercepting any messages directed to me. If I find him alive once I take back Kophen it will take him
weeks to die.
04-18-2009, 15:21
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roka
nice story so far, a little bit of advice, once your cavalry have charged hold Alt and right click on the enemy to make them draw their swords (or axes)
EDIT: or is that ctrl?
Cheers :2thumbsup:
you may notice that I took your advice. And it is Alt.
04-19-2009, 01:07
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
1 unit Elephantes Indikoi 13000 mnai
1 unit Dahae Skirmisher Cavalry 1800 mnai
Watching Dahae Skirmishers :smg: Elephantes Indikoi, priceless
LOL:clown:
04-19-2009, 01:08
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by miotas
1 unit Elephantes Indikoi 13000 mnai
1 unit Dahae Skirmisher Cavalry 1800 mnai
Watching Dahae Skirmishers :smg: Elephantes Indikoi, priceless
lol
04-19-2009, 04:14
Vasiliyi
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Nice chapter, its so refreshing to see a baktrain aar. Im constantly checking on this one.
04-20-2009, 12:34
the man with no name
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
LOL:clown:
woops i ment to edit:furious3::furious3::furious3:
05-17-2009, 03:40
miotas
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
I left captain Andragoras to look after the new administration until the new local ruler is chosen. I
pushed my men hard, knowing that the Basileion was in a dangerous position, enemies completely
surrounding us and now inside our borders as well.
Phthinoporon of the third year of the 134th Olympiad. I have arrived at the borders of Paropamisadai,
Kophen lies little more than a weeks march to the west. I held a meeting of the captains this morning
to try and decide which course of action we should take. Many of the captains suggested we set up
camp and wait until Eiar rather than trying to lay siege during cheimon, Antimachos suggested that
we march forth now and waste no time in reclaiming land that rightfully belongs to Basileion Baktries.
I think that I had already made up my mind before I even called the meeting so I ordered the
captains to go and ready their troops for the march.
We had received reports recently that an army lay to the west within Baktrian borders, it was an
army of almost 2000 prodromoi who had been dispatched from Baktra when the Seleukid army had lain
siege to Kophen but had arrived to late to be of any assistance.
I immediately sent riders to order them to come and aid in the siege of Kophen. They would be oflittle
use in the tight confines of the town streets, but I could use all the help I could get, as I did not
wish to hire mercenaries who would likely want to pillage Kophen after we had recaptured it.
We arrived at the town 9 days later and the prodromoi arrived soon after.
We soon learned that the old Baktrian spy rings had remained active during Seleukid occupation and
that it would be little trouble for them to ensure the gates would be open when we attacked as the
entire citizenry would be more than happy to see the Seleukids driven from these lands.
Our assault started on a foggy morning in late phthinoporon.
The enemy was ill equipped to hold a siege, having little more than 2000 heavy infantry.
I formed the main assault force outside the northern gates. Antimachos took position at the eastern
gates, while captain Biton positioned his pezhetairoi next to the western gates and captain Herakon
prepared his mixed cavalry force of kamboja's and prodromoi to ride around and try to secure the
southern entrance.
Noticing that the enemy did not have much of a force defending the north wall, I quickly rushed my
Kataphraktoi to the gates to take advantage of the situation.
The enemy horsemen seemed to have endless numbers and I was forced to put the rest of the battle
out of my mind in this mad struggle for survival. There was nothing but my sword, the enemy and my
loyal hetairoi fighting by my side. Many fell that day, and if this had been an open field their armour
may have protected them, but in these tight confines all who fell were soon trampled to death.
After all resistance was broken at the north gate, I gathered my forces and marched towards the
east gate to see how Antimachos was handling his attack. It seemed that the majority of the
infantry had attacked Antimachos however he had established a foothold inside the gate and was
slowly pushing back the Seleukid forces.
I gathered my kataphratoi and charged into their rear, breaking any resistance.
With all enemy crushed in the north eastern section of the town, I took my bodyguard and rode
around to the west to see how captain Biton was faring.
His assault had proceeded flawlessly, as predicted the enemy had sent most of their forces to attack
Antimachos and myself so the western gate was lightly defended.
Just then a runner from captain Herakon arrived bringing news that his horsemen had crushed the
enemy at the southern gate in a viscous fight of kamboja vs kamboja.
They were holding position outside the gates, as many had been injured and they were awaiting my
orders. I ordered them to hold position, as the enemy forces had all retreated to the town centre.
The rest of the fight would simply be mopping-up the remaining forces with my pezhetairoi.
Its not dead yet! It will just be progressing very slowly from now on.
05-17-2009, 03:50
Vasiliyi
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Awesome. Im glad this is back up. :2thumbsup:
05-17-2009, 10:49
Maion Maroneios
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
Good stuff mate, keep it up :thumbsup:
Maion
05-17-2009, 13:04
Horatius Flaccus
Re: Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias
I just read the whole thread, it's very good! :yes:
In my own Baktrian campaign I abandoned Baktra (the Saka, Pahlava and Seleucids are now vigorously fighting for it, it has changed ownership about 7-8 times now (in about 10 years) and fortified in India.
