The Antigonids : A Makedonian AAR

The Antigonid Dynasty
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2140/maa195zo9.png
Greetings! I was play-testing a campaign of the interal version and was bored, so I decided to make an AAR. I was just going to try to keep all new content out of the AAR or limit it to distant shots, but it was quite difficult to do so. So I'm going to just wait until release day to post the first chapter so as not to spoil the new stuff for everyone. Which means that this may be continued tommorrow or it may be continued in a couple months...

I wanted to make an AAR with as many pictures as writing, but since I don't want to spoil anything and since I didn't take many picture during the first couple decades, here's my long pictureless introduction:

Introduction: The Reign of Antigonos
In the year 272BC, by the Christian calender, Makedonia was in chaos. Pyrrhos of Epieros was in control of the inland cities and was ready to take complete control of Makedonia, overthrowing Antigonos. But at the last moment Pyrhhos himself, saved Makedonia. In a trademark Pyrhhos decission, Pyrhhos left one war half done and moved his armies to invade Illyria. For the moment, Makedonia was spared.

Antigonos took the opertunity to quickly consolidate power amoungst the Hellens. Every city state to the south was rebellious, even those loyal to Antigonos would inevitably revolt. But two cities stood above the rest, Athenai and Sparte, if they fell the rest of the cities would fall as well. So Antigonos took his combined forces and besieged the ancient city of Athenai. Within the year, it had fallen. Antigonos entered the city and told its people that he had come to free them. He quickly set up the politician Karpophoros as tyrant, loyal to the Makedonian throne. Antigonos insured the Athenians that they were free and showed this by moving the entire garrison out of the city. Though in truth, the garrison was needed to confront the Spartan menance to south.
https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/7489/maa200ph1.png
[picture of years later]
Antigonos quickly moved to finish off the Spartans before they could receive reinforcements from Rhodos or Crete. Though, apon besieging the town, the Spartans sent for help from one of their armies stationed near Elis. And so, the following season three Spartan armies attacked Antigonos as he beseiged their home. The battle was tough, but in the end the field was filled with Spartan dead:
https://img73.imageshack.us/img73/9423/maa191fh6.jpg
Meanwhile in the north, Epieros had failed to subdue the Illyrian tribed and had renewed its attack on Makedonia. Alkyoneus, son of Antigonos had managed to repulse several attacks, but with every attack the defenders of Makedonia grew weaker. Antigonos quickly set up a local puppet ruler in Sparte and force marched his men north. The forces of Antigonos and Makedonia joined together and Antigonos and Alkyoneus marched on Epieros, leaving Antigonos' younger brother Kalos to oversee Pella.

An alliance was made with Rome, who had made several failed attempts to keep Epieros out of Italy, and war began in Epieros. After several years of war, Epieros was conquered and Pyrrhos and one of his sons were all that was left, wandering Illyria (Taras the only city still loyal to them). Alkyoneus and the remaining Thessalian Cavalry confronted the two generals and their tiny army outside the Illyrian village of Dalminion and brought an end to the Kingdom of Epieros:
https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5848/maa193mx4.jpg
So Antigonos returned to Pella as victor and ruler of all of Greece. Several years of peace followed, as Antigonos rebuilt the shattered economy of Makedonia. During this time, Alkyoneus easily annexed Dardanoia, north of Makedonia. Peace didn't last. The Aitolian League started causing unrest in the south, so Antigonos once again marched to war. Aitolia fell quickly to Antigonos, then the troublesome city of Byzantion was next. Alkyoneus managed to make an alliance with the Celtic city of Tylis, setting up a Makedonian friendly leader. Meanwhile Byzantion fell to Antigonos.

Tired of war [he actually got Unsatisfied Supervisor from fighting :wall:], Antigonos once again returned to Pella to rule in peace. Around this time, Demetrios returned to Pella, after completing his Agoge training with the Spartans. Ready for war, Antigonos gave him command of his own army and order him to kill the Spartan king who had been hiding in Crete, as well as conquer the island while there. Soon the island fell and Demetrios confronted the Spartan king of the eastern shores of Crete:
https://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2751/maa194yo7.jpg
[I took this picture because it reminded me of Mount Suribachi]
The Rhodian fleet that they were expecting never came, as it had been sunken by the Pergamon fleet [Pirates] the year before. By the end of the day, the Spartans lay dead in the rising tide.

Puppet rulers were quickly set up in Crete and Demetrios sailed on Rhodos, who had assisted the Spartans for decades. During this time, Antigonos' elder brother, who had been governor of Epieros decided that it was time to conquer Illyria and all of its resources. So he and his sons assemble an army, mostly made up of veterans of Alkyoneus' conquests, and marched on Illyria. Before long, they had conquered all the way to the edge of the Roman Cisalpine Gallia territory. Frightened by a powerful enemy on their border, Roma attacked Illyria. The tiny Roman army was quickly repulsed and the Roman Senate pleaded for peace with Makedonia. When Rhodos fell, Demetrios returned home with his army and peace continued until around 245BC.

Around 250-140BC, the Syrian Wars made a drastic change. With the fall of Babylonia to Ptolemai, the Seleukia Empire, long time allies of Antigonos, began to crumble. Soon, all of Asia was shifting to Ptolemai control, threatening, not only the balance of power, but the future goals of Antigonos. Seeking allies, Antigonos sent diplomats to the Galatians [Arverni - Galatia kept alternating between being conqered by Pontos and rebelling to Arverni] and acquired an alliance. In Pella, an army of Pezhetairoi was assembled and Antigonos and Demetrios invaded Asia. The same year that Nikaia fell to Makedonia, Sardis and Ipsos fell to the Ptolemaioi. Before they could establish full control of their new regions, Antigonos struck at the Ptolemai. In the same year both Phrygia and Lydia fell to Makedonia and Antigonos prepared to invade Syria. But Antigonos' plans were cut short, in the winter of 242-241BC Antigonos died peacefully in the the palace of Sardis:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9154/maa192ok3.jpg
Makedonia was left in crisis. Demetrios was clearly the better general and ruler, but Alkyoneus had long been the heir to the throne. Who was the rightful next king of Makedonia?

The known world upon the death of Antigonos:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/...xmak241mr3.png
Next: Chapter 1: The Two Kings

We already know you guys are coming out with the release any day now.

Come on guy....you can tell us. :)

Anyways, great aar. I can't wait until tomorrow when I can read the rest!

:P

:dizzy2: To be honest, I have no idea when EBv1.0 will be released. There have been so many different dates shooting around internally and I haven't been around enough lately to read every single debate. :dizzy2:

I'll take that with a grain of salt....I don't trust team members at release time...your all masters of the propagandist arts.:dizzy2:

*all joking aside, I just like to speculate....whenever it's released, I'm sure it will be worth the wait*

:2thumbsup:

Lovely AAR, will be watching this one...

Yes a new AAR can't wait to read you're first chapter. And kick those Hellens to hell

Thanks!

Wrote the first chapter for whenever. I also added more pictures to the intro.

I'm liking this aar so far, keeping it up

you've already shown at least 1 new unit...keep it up!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by paullus

you've already shown at least 1 new unit...keep it up!!!

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Is that meant sarcastically?
And if it is what I think you mean, it isn't exactly new...

I noticed something, there... They changed the color of the sea to make it look more like M2TW's. It's a lot more realistic looking now.

Yeah, there is a preview of those somewhere in the forums....

I like them, they're more black than blue, sort of like a satellite shot from space.

Just noticed you added the shot of the puppet rulers....f***ing awesome. :2thumbsup:

EDIT: After looking at them closer, they look a little bluer than I thought they were after recalling the previews some weeks ago...regardless, there very nice.

no, i wasn't being sarcastic, i'm happy to have new units previewed in screenshot format...most of the fans have only seen them in renders, so it seems like a fine idea to me, especially since you seem to take nice screenies and write a nice story. Really do keep it up!

There were several changes/refinements to the strat map graphics. The ones previewed may not have been the final version.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by paullus

no, i wasn't being sarcastic, i'm happy to have new units previewed in screenshot format...most of the fans have only seen them in renders, so it seems like a fine idea to me, especially since you seem to take nice screenies and write a nice story. Really do keep it up!

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Oh, ok. I thought you were mad I leaked something. I've written the first chapter and will release it the day of the release. It includes a battle with focus on a completely new unit.

Man thas this mean what I think that it means, and I love What Hayasdan is doing on the campaigne map :beam: :beam: :beam:

Very nice AAR, MCM. I hope it´ll be continued soon ~D

btw, the phalanx in the battle screenie, are they the new klerouchoi (sp?) phalangitai?

Great AAR Marcus, I'm sure I hope we'll be seeing the next chapter soon :yes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bavarian Barbarian
btw, the phalanx in the battle screenie, are they the new klerouchoi (sp?) phalangitai?

---

They just look like standard Pezhetairoi to me.

Youre right, Admetos, the mak klerouchikoi have a bronze shield. Maybe im getting a bit paranoid...:laugh4:

Doctoring pictures up to make it look like there is actually a new release for EB is downright cruel Marcus. You just got lazy - that's why you didn't show anything else new. *Sure* there are other new units that you are just being "trustworthy" to the team and not showing everyone about. I have right here, in my hand, the names of all the U.S. representatives and senators that belong to the communist party too! :laugh4:

how come when I get the faction destroyed message the image doesnt show up? :cry:

that Epiros defeat message is cool and makes me want to go destroy epiros now.

Thanks for the comments, everybody.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bavarian Barbarian

Very nice AAR, MCM. I hope it´ll be continued soon ~D

btw, the phalanx in the battle screenie, are they the new klerouchoi (sp?) phalangitai?

---

When I was adding that picture, I made sure I didn't show any new units in my own army but forgot to think about the enemies I was showing. They are both new skinned units. Oops...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spoofa

how come when I get the faction destroyed message the image doesnt show up? :cry:

that Epiros defeat message is cool and makes me want to go destroy epiros now.

---

Are you playing with the first cohort mod, city mod, or any other mod that adds night battles? For some reason activating night battles makes some of the event screens not work.

Nice AAR, and are they the new Ptolemaioi Thorakitai that were previewed a while ago in the first screenshot?

They look like the ptolemoi agema. Or thorakitai hoplitai?

The Ptl Thorakitai was previewed? Then I don't feel so bad about showing it, though distand, blurry, and running away...

The version I'm playing this campaign on is only about a week old, but so much new stuff has been added in the last week, such as the integration of the new Hellenistic family members. If I continue this after the release, it will be an outdated version.

With the release, I will post the update to this when I get to my other computer with the data. Though, this was done on a version tht isn't v1.0 (it's something like v.0.97), so I don't think I'll continue this for too long. Plus people will be too busy playing EB to read it anyways.

I'll read it....I like the dynasty style, that's why I did mine that way...make sure you start another one....mine is dead. Maybe I'll start a new one later, but I might focus on the manual and succession game instead.

Chapter 1 : The Two Kings

In 241BC, Antigonos Gonatos died peacefully in the newly conquered town of Sardis. His dream of uniting the Hellens and building a Makedonian Empire was completed. His Empire was the second strongest in the known world, only challenged by the Egyptian Kingdom of the Ptolemaioi. In Athenai and Sparte, he had set up Makedonian loyal tyrants and established garrisons to watch of the the Hellens. Eventually even having to set up a puppet in Korinthos due to unrest.
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6523/maa201pv3.png
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4874/maa214bz3.jpg

In the west, the sons of Antigonos' elder brother guarded Illyria from the Romans, who had begun to set their eyes apon territory outside of Italia:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5972/maa227fx3.png
But now the kingdom was on the verge of being torn apart. Two of Antigonos three sons were capible of becoming king and ruling. Alkyoneus had been a politian and domestic ruler, while Demetrios was a general, a conqueror, and a hero. Demetrios had clear support and could have easily taken the throne, but he did not wish to see his father's kingdom, which he had fought so hard for, torn apart in a brotherly conflict.

In the end it was decided that they would share the throne. Alkyoneus would rule from Pella and Demetrios would be General of the Armies. With civil war avoided, both men sought to gain support and fame among the peoples they ruled. Both gathered their armies and set out to expand their father's kingdom.

Alkyoneus quickly gathered an army in Makedonia and marched north to join up with some allies in Tylis. The two great armies that had been assembled by his father were both deploid far away and Alkyoneus was forced to quickly assemble an army of mediocry skills. For years Kallatis, a Greek colony had sought assistance from anyone who would listen. Kallatis had suffered raids and seiges for over a decade from the Getic Federation to the north of Makedonia. Antigonos hadn't wanted to risk war and had not answered their request, but Alkyoneus knew saving fellow Greeks from barbarian hordes would give him the fame he needed and risked the chance of war:
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4593/maa202kg8.png
In the east, Demetrios assembled his veterans and marched them east, to continue his father's war with the Ptolemaioi. The Ptolemaioi hadn't expected Antigonos to come to the assistance of the Arche Seleukia and was suprised and outnumbered in Asia. Demetrios continued with that suprise and marched on Pamphylia before reinforcements could arrive from Egypt.
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8913/maa203eo1.png
The Battle of Side
After besieging the city of Side for a few months, the Ptolemaioi attacked Demetrios on some rolling hills just west of the city:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7968/maa204ul9.jpg
Demetrios set up his phalanx in a single row, with his Thracian skirmishers in the front and his Thurophoroi on the flanks. With the archers and slinger behind on a slope. To the front was the small army that had initiated the battle, to the left was their reinforcements from the city:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4735/maa205iy8.png
As the enemy marched forward, skirmishers, archers, and slingers fired a couple volleys at the enemy:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9514/maa206ai6.png
As soon as the enemy got in skirmishing range, the Thracians fell back to keep casualties to a minimum:
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2452/maa207pp1.png
The enemy Thorikatai charged the pikes of Demetrios' Pezhetairoi but quickly fled. The enemy Kleurchi engaded the Pezhetairoi:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7471/maa208dy9.png
As the enemy army broke, the entire line reformed to face the incoming reinforcements while Demetrios and the Thessalian Cavalry chased down the routing enemies. Soon after forming up, the enemy general and his Hetairoi rammed the Pezhetairoi line, breaking through. Seeing the problem, the Thurophoroi and Thracians charged in to quickly fill the gap:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2314/maa209oi7.png
The enemy line of mostly Jews crashed into the Pezhetairoi's pikes. The Ptolemaic general quickly withdrew to aviod being surrounded and the Thurophoroi and Thracians gave chase and engadged them:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/920/maa210zv2.png
The spears and Thracian falx quickly cut through the Hetairoi and eventually the general fell:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3018/maa211ip6.png
The remaining enemies quickly broke and Demetrios and the cavalry quickly chased them down. Only the cowards charged with the protection of their general managed to escape:
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6848/maa212tj5.png
And so Side fell to Demetrios:
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/775/maa213gz1.jpg
Next Chapter 2: The Two Battles of Pergamon
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I think there is only one thing that would have been a leak in this update. I was going to include another battle, with a new unit, but I decided to include it in the next update.

PS Sorry for the slow load speeds. I was trying to post high quality pictures.

good writing, nice story, and great screenies...keep it up!

You already showed one new unit. Not in the battle though. Not that it matters anymore.

Chapter 2: The Two Battles of Pergamon

In the North, Alkyoneus arrived in the colony of Kallatis and set up his garrison. The following season, an army of the Getic Federation arrived. After surveying the new garrison, they withdrew. Kallatis held a festival for Alkyoneus, happily unaware he intended to make his garrison perminent.

In Side, Demetrios begins setting up a government and reinforcing his possition.

The First Battle of Pergamon
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2200/maa215at4.png

To the west, Kalos, the younger brother of Antigonos assembled a small army from Byzantion and allied Mytilene. Antigonos had given Kalos and his sons the job of governing the newly conquered areas of Asia, but Kalos wanted a capital. Sardis had been the Seleukia seat of power but decades of warfare had cost the area most of its granduer and depleted its population. So Kalos looked to the rising city of Pergamon as a place he could set up power. But under estimated the power of Pergamon. The city Pergamon had managed to consolidate power over all of Mysia and gained quite a lot of strength while Kalos had yet to prove himself in battle.

Even before the battle start, Kalos knows exactly what he is going to do. Kalos prepares his Peltasts and Mercenary Celtic Hoplites to punch through the wall. Once there is a hole, the Hoplites from allied cities will charge in and take the city. The rams approach the wall:
https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5848/maa216ms0.png

Before long, the weak walls of the city fall:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8468/maa217um0.png

The Celtic Hoplites and Peltast quickly rush through the two holes in the walls and attempt to gain superiority inside the city. The defenders quickly go to counter the invaders. On the right flank they counter with Peltasts and Thracian Mercenaries, while on the left flank Ennomos, the King of Pergamon himself, leads the charge:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9109/maa219pu2.png
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7175/maa218ny9.png

Soon, that battle begins to turn against Kalos, but not having secured the walls yet, Kalos continues to hold the Hoplites in reserve, as the Petasts and Celts die:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9027/maa220fl8.png

Before long things turn for against the Makedonian forces on the left flank and the men begin to flee. The King pursues, and even after regrouping, the entire left flank is wiped out:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3603/maa221lc6.png
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7128/maa223af0.png

Seeing his units fleeing, Kalos panics and withdraws:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2200/maa224tc9.png
[You'll notice I still have to old general. I updated and started playing this campaign about a hour before the new generals were integrated.]

Noticing their general fleeing, and not having any deep loyalty to the dying Makedonians in the city, the allied Hoplites decide to flee as well. And so, King Ennomos chasing them off the field:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7198/maa225ci5.png
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3181/maa226gj2.png

Kalos falls back, in defeat, to the allied city of Mytilene. Neither ruler willing to repremand their own uncle, Kalos goes without punishment but does not attempt another attack on Pergamon.

Before too long, a garrison, recruited from amongst the Hellens, arrives in Side and fortifies the city from Ptolemai counterattack. Demetrios hands command of the city over to a cousin and moves his army of professional soldiers westwards now, to deal with those who appose Makedonian claims to Asia:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2135/maa228yc9.png

First, Demetrios marches through Lysia, making sure every local knows who is the new King of these lands. Demetrios then continues on to Karia and the city of Halicarnassos, north of Rhodos. The city of Halicarnassos had seen hardship while the Seleucids and Ptolemai ruled the area. When Antigonos had invaded Lydia, the Ptolemai became weakened and the city of Halicarnassos had managed to gain its independence once more, but it had not lasted. After about a year of seige, the city surrendered to Demetrios. The rest of south-west Asia followed soon after.

Meanwhile, Alkyoneus had not found the war he was expecting. The Getic Federation had withdrawn from the coastal Hellenic colonies and had instead begun subjugating tribes west of them. Even to the west of Makedonian territory, there was no activity. The Romans had finally accepted the Makedonian claim on Illyria and were bogged down fighting over Sicilia. The only changes in the Makedonian Kingdom lay to the east, where his brother continued to gain notoriety. With Kallatis secured, Alkyoneus returns to administer the Kingdom from Pella.

As the Makedonians expanded, they continued to encounter new things: new peoples, new soldiers, new customs. The most interesting and most profitable new thing was, however, new trade. As Asia fell to Antigonos and Demetrios, new trade possibilities began to open up with the Galatians, Cappadocians, Pontos, Armenia, the Seleucids, and Hellenic colonies. Though, with new trade came another new item: new diseases. As trade came through Ipsos in Phrygia, a new disease began to spread amongst its inhabidents, a disease that would last years:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8324/maa232ot5.png

To the east, Seleucid control in the region was about to break. As the Ptolemaioi and the Seleucids fought for control of Cappadocia, the fledgling kingdom of Pontos began to expand. For years they had been a menance to Greek colonies, but recently they had been attempting to subjugate the Galatians as well as expand into western Armenia. Demetrios made sure to watch bothe the Diadochi struggle and the rising power in Pontos:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1441/maa233en8.png

The Second Battle of Pergamon
Soon, only Pergamon dominated Mysia remained disloyal to the Makedonian Kings. An new Makedonian fleet had been built and Demetrios was quick to use his advantage. He quickly ordered the sinking of the Pergamon fleet [pirates that hung out in the Aegean] and the blockading of the primary port in Mysia. Then Demetrios and his army of Pezhetairoi marched north from Halicarnassos and beseiged the city of Pergamon once more:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3473/maa234zo7.png

Unable to afford repairs, the Pergamon walls remained broken. Taking this weakness to his advantage, Demetrios decides to attack before the city can organize its defenses. The Thracians and Thureophoroi rush the breaches and enter the city. Though, unlike Kalos, Demetrios sends his elites to back them up:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4201/maa235pr6.png

Once again, fighting breaks out in two places just inside the city:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2756/maa236xi9.png

But this time, the Pezhetairoi make all the difference and crush the opposition:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6133/maa237ua4.png

Before long, the King lies dead in the city streets and the armies of Pergamon begin to retreat:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2394/maa238qy0.jpg

The Pezhetairoi retreave their sarrisas and march on the remaining forces in the city palace. A few counter attacks are attemped on the formation, but not success is gained by the defenders:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6589/maa239fc4.png

As the defenders make one last effort to counter attack, the Pezhetairoi charge the city square, surrounding the few who remain:
https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/349/maa240vn4.png

Before long, no defenders remain and the city falls:
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1264/maa241yi7.jpg

For their rebelious attitudes and difficulty to conquer, as well as the difficulty it will take to subjugate them, a portion of the people of Pergamon are enslaved to be sent to Makedonia and Greece:
https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/410/maa242zl4.png

However, soon after, Demetrios sets up Ennomos' cousin as king and leaves the territory with its 'independence'. Demetrios and his army then boards the Makedonian navy and heads back to Makedonia to replenish his supplies, upgrade his weapons, replenish his loses, and maybe brag to his brother about his victories a little.

With the fall of Pergamon, Makedonia became one of the largest Kingdoms in the known world. And with the defeat of several Ptolemaioi armies at the hands of Makedonia's Seleucid allies, Makedonia now had the strongest military in the known world:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9821/maa229li6.jpghttps://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9360/maa230eu1.jpg

But, before long, the Ptolemaioi mounted their first counterattack...
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1949/maa243jb9.png

The known world in 237BC:
https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/97/hxmak237ds3.png
Next: Chapter 3: Kilikia (aka what happens when you leave a battle going and leave the room)
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I wanted to play the first battle as an inept general, but it was actually hard to loose.

I know the idea of two guys sharing the throne is odd. I wish I could have had some sort of civil war, though I would amagine it would tear my kingdom apart. Alkyoneus would get Makedonia and Thrace. Demetrios would get Asia and the Aegean islands, as well as possible support from the Hellens. Though, I would amagine the Hellens would rebel and regain their independence. Illyria would probably be independant too. They are so removed and a distinct branch of the family, so I would amagine they would form their own little country.

But anyways, thanks for reading...

Awesome AAR as per usual

Great AAR Marcus, really enjoying it. Keep it up. :2thumbsup:

Too bad you won't be going too much further. I do hope you'll consider starting a new one. :yes:

Thanks for the comments.

I don't know how long I'll continue this. I think I'm going to install v1.0 on my laptop and make a new version of the city mod there, so I won't have to worry about making space on my computer, quite yet.

How do you remove the ui on the campaign map?

Great AAR! Enjoyed it very much.

Could you tell me your secret for such great graphics? I can't seem to get my troops looks so spectacular as yours? Or are you using editing tools?

I just crop out the UI. I play on the highest detail settings and have a good graphics card, so that is the main reason for the appearance. But it might also have to do with the fact that I reduce the screenshop from the original size. The screenshots start as 1280x[whathaveyou] and I reduce them to 60% the size, then crop out the UI and any icons. I think the act of reducing them in size makes the appear more detail since they are denser in pixel count. When I want something from the UI includined in the picture, I juct cut and paste the part of the UI from the uncropped picture and put in the corner.

:rtwyes: :rtwyes: :rtwyes: :rtwyes: :rtwyes:

Super cool MAA!

It looks all fantastic and enticing, the new campaign map is so beautiful... I have a really big Makedonian empire at the moment but your AAR makes me want to play a new one from scratch. I'm such a moron I didn't download 1.0 yet to save my old campaign, but I'll think I do it right now.

Although perhaps I should start with a Sweboz campaign just for fun? Uhhhh... Thanks for steeling my life you EBers.:laugh4:

Edit: Does Makedonia have the Satrap-titles yet? Does it take long until they will be included?

Thanks!

I don't think the Maks are going to get Satrapis, unfortunately. Most of those complex things are made by a few select team members that have a personal drive to add something to their favorite faction.

I think I'm going to try and update this tonight. Though, I tried yesterday and my internet was too slow and couldn't upload any pictures so I gave up. :embarassed:

EDIT: Nevermind, I still lack the internet speed to upload images. (I managed to upload 5 of 41.)
UPDATE: 22 of 41 :wall:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

I don't think the Maks are going to get Satrapis, unfortunately. Most of those complex things are made by a few select team members that have a personal drive to add something to their favorite faction.

---

Hmm, that's a pity. You don't know if there are any non-savegame-compatible updates planned for EB in the near future, do you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Hmm, that's a pity. You don't know if there are any non-savegame-compatible updates planned for EB in the near future, do you?

---

Not that we've talked about. Still though, never can tell so you better hurry and play as much as you can now.:whip:

Chapter 3: Kilikia

By the time word reaches Demetrios and Alkyoneus in Pella that Side is beseiged, it is too late for either of them to do anything. It falls apon the garrison of Greeks and allies to defend the town. One morning, the Ptoleamaioi are seen outside the city and it is decided that the garrison will sally out and confront the Ptolemaic army.

At first, it seems the Ptolemaioi will wait for the garrison to form up after quickly exiting the city:
https://img369.imageshack.us/img369/236/maa244mh0.png

But as soon as the Ptolemaioi see the size of the garrison and flanking Hoplites, they decide to run for the hills:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2918/maa245qh7.png

The Ptolemaioi fall back from Pamphylia, but the incident proves that they are not willing to relinquish their claims on Asia. Demetrios sends a diplomatic envoy, but at the same time prepares his army to march eastward. By the time the diplomats report failure, Demetrios is already across the Aegean. In less than a year, Demetrios arrives in Ptolemaic Kilikia and besieges the city of Tarsos. The seige is hardly started before Ptolemaic reinforcements arrive from Syria and attack Demetrios outside of Tarsos:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9017/maa246jt7.png

For the first time, Demetrios is faced with a large well trained army as his opponent. With the conquest of Syria & Babylonia, the Ptolemaioi have managed to acquire a considerable amount of wealth, which they seem more then eager to spend on well trained elite phalanxes to counter their enemies.

Demetrios sets up and a gentle slope at the edge of a plain and awaits the enemy:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9012/maa247po6.png


Out front are possitioned the local mercenaries acquired during the march to Kilikia:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/354/maa248uh4.png

[Right here, I pushed 'P' and could have sworn that the game was paused. However, when I came back five minutes later, the battle was still going. Since the only thing that had happened is one unit was wiped out and a bunch of enemies had impaled themselves on my Pezhetairoi, I decided to just keep playing.]

Though loses were taken amongst the mercenaries, it soon became apparent that the Ptolemaic army had no discipline as they had failed to form up in an proper battle line:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7386/maa249hg9.png

Demetrios had his cavalry and his auxilary units move onto the flanks and await the proper moment for a pincer attack against the enemy:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6313/maa250tc5.png

The levies and farmers were no match for the well trained Makedonian Pezhetairoi, some even breaking and fleeing early in the battle:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6415/maa251zc3.png

However, the elites proved to be more of a match to the Makedonian line:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/573/maa252ni0.png

When the time was right, Demetrios signaled the flanking Thracians and Thureophoroi to attack the flanks of the disorganized enemy army. On the Makedonian left flank, they charged Galatians who were attempting to reform:
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3355/maa253dk2.png

...and on the right flank they charged a group of disoranized elite pikemen:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2986/maa254dm5.png

As Demetrios chased down those who had fled, the Ptolemaic line began to crack, but it was not yet enough for them to break. With both flanks secured, the Makedonian phalanx broke formation and charged the engadged Ptolemaic flanks, assisting the medium infantry:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9923/maa255hn2.png
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1562/maa256dy3.png

It was then that the Ptolemaic general decided to charge into the battle. But it was too late the help the battle sway in favor of the Ptolemaioi. Seeing the Ptolemaic cavalry tied down, Demetrios and the Thessalians charged their rear, wiping out half of the general's guards:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8840/maa257jc5.png

Soon, even the Makedonian center broke formation and charged in to finish off their enemy with their swords:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4602/maa258qe0.png

Surrounded and panicked, the Ptolemaioi were quickly wiped out, including their general:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9227/maa259su6.jpg

But the Ptolemaic elites on the Makedonian's right flank won the respect of their enemies that day, as they stood to the last man, fighting to the death:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1945/maa260jo9.png
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3043/maa261wt6.jpg

The battle marked a low point in Ptolemaic success. One of their three major armies in Syria had been wiped out and their last holding in Asia had fallen. With all of the defeats in Asia, Pharaoh had been lax in his war with the Seleucids. Seeing the weakness, the Arche Seleukeia, allies of Makedonia, started a campaign to retake Babylonia from the Ptolemaioi. Now the Ptolemaioi were facing a loosing battle on two fronts.

To the west both Carthage and Roma were powers that deserved to have an watchful eye alway apon, the the only real powers were Arche Seleukeia, the Ptolemaic Egyptians, and Makedonia. Arche Seleukeia had been seriously weaken by the Ptolemaioi and were now surrounded by rising powers to the north and to the east. The Ptolemaioi had now begun to suffer great loses of men and territory. Makedonia was now the most advanced faction in all of the known world:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1903/maa263ij8.jpg
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2268/maa262gy0.jpg

With no war to call his own and his years continuing to add up, Alkyoneus decided it was time he dedicate himself to something new. In Pella and Athenai diplomats, explorers, and envoys were trained to go into the west. After they were trained, several groups went out north, west and south.

To the immediate west stood the alliance of Italian cities under the city of Roma. They were a violent people who never followed the rules of war. They always sought out new lands, even attacking Makedonian territories at one point, but they quickly learned not to try that again. East of the Romans stood the Kingdom of Makedonia. North of the Romans were the Boii, who securely held the areas north of the mountains.

South of the Romans was the Empire of Kart-Hadast, who had delivered many defeats against the Romans in the war for the island. News of the fate of Sicily arrived in Makedonia as it had fallen to Kart-Hadast soldiers:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/400/maa266sh0.png

Alkyoneus had wished to assist the enslaved and suppressed fellow Greeks, but Alkyoneus lacked the army and resouces need to both secure his northern borders and engadge in a foreign war. Though, it was at this time that he began to train a grand army that would surpass even his brother's army that had been assembled by their father. He would have an army that was supported by well trained veterans:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4251/maa267kj1.jpg

As the envoys and explorers continued west, they came to the last people who had been barring the Roman's expansion. To the west of the Romans stood the unified Gallic confederation of the Aedui. The Aedui had assisted their brothers in northern Italia when the Romans had invaded. Years later, the Romans engadged in an invasion of Gaul, to continue the war that had been started then:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8222/maa265vj4.png

Though the Romans were not enemies of Makedonia, they were definately not friends. Alkyoneus decided that it was best to do all that was in his power to undermine any chances that the Romans had. It was at this time that an alliance was made between the Gallic Confederation and Makedonia:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7619/maa281dr4.jpg

In the east, Demetrios prepared his army for another march eastward. Before their eyes was the land of Syria, with good Makedonian colonists, now suppressed by Ptolemaic overlords. But first, Demetrios had to wait for the garrison from Side to move east in order to watch over Kilikia.

North of Kilikia was the Seleucid territory of Cappadocia. This area had become isolated from the center of Seleucid power and took more money and men to hold against not only the Ptolemaioi but the fear of the growing powers of Pontos and the Kingdom of Hayasdan. Seeing the state of these lands, Demetrios decided to send diplomats to the Seleucid court and request the domain of the Cappadocians be turned over the the Makedonian crown. With a little Makedonian silver, the Seleucids quickly agreed:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5926/maa264cc6.png

It was around this time that one of the two remaining strong armies of the Ptolemai in Syria attempted another counter attack against Makedonian conquest. As the army approached Tarsos, where the Makedonian army had been camped, they stopped on a plain between two rivers. Wishing to avoid a defensive battle, Demetrios marched out of Tarsos to meet the Ptolemaioi on that plain:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4519/maa268lw4.png

The Ptolemaic army consisted of many elite units of Egypt. Amongst the elites were a selection of the Pharoah's royal guard. These men were adaptions of the Thureophoroi, taken to the extreme, but equiped with short pikes:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/300/maa270bo6.png

Even though Demetrios initiated the battle, the Ptolemaic elite army was not afraid and quickly became the agressors. The Ptolemaic line marched slowly toward the Makedonian line:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6884/maa269cs9.png

The Ptolemaic line approached the Makedonian line slowly, but suddenly stopped. The line regrouped and reformed before the Ptolemaic right flank continued forward to attack the Makedonian left flank, while the Ptolemaic left flank stood their ground and waited:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3159/maa271rp4.png

As the two lines approached eachother, the Thracian Skirmisher Mercenaries working for the Makedones moved out of the way and the two lines clashed:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1319/maa272nw5.png

The two lines fought for a while, but soon Pharoah's guard began to break through the Makedonian line. Seeing the units in need, the Thracians rushed in to help fill the forming hole in the line:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9238/maa273lb6.png

On the edge of the battle, Demetrios had managed to lead the cavalry around the enemy's flank and charged them in the rear, in a fashion Alexandros himself would have been proud of:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8981/maa274fu5.png

The Ptolemaic flank broke and began to flee. Demetrios gave chase and cut down the cowards, but was soon engadged by Ptolemaic reserves and was bogged down. In the middle of the Makedonian line, the Elite Ptolemaic troops began to make a hole through the line and many good Makedones were loosing their lives:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7914/maa275gb0.png

Just as the battle began to look good for the Ptolemaioi and the line looked breached, the Ptolemaic general lost his life at the hands of a Thracian. Seeing their general fall, all engadged Ptolemaic units broke and fled. Demetrios greeted the fleeing units on his way back to the battle line, cutting many of them down.

Seeing their first assualt fleeing, the Ptolemaioi began their second assault. This time moving there remaining units against the Makedonian right flank:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6967/maa276nb0.png
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3430/maa277pk8.png

Demetrios quickly finished off the remaining Ptolemaic reserves:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7350/maa278li5.png

The Ptolemaic line, engadged against the Makedones, were left with no reserves and were easily surrounded by Makedonian reserves and cavalry. These farmers quickly gave up the battle to turn and run:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8612/maa280co7.jpg

The battle had been won by Demetrios, but at a great cost. Nearly a third of Demetrios' army lay dead on the field. The Ptolemaioi were crippled in the region, but the invasion of Syria now lacked the manpower and would have to wait. As the sun moved ever lower in the sky, Demetrios reformed his men and and began to count the dead:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4140/maa279mq3.png

To the south, the Ptolemaioi marched another army north from Egypt. To the north, a Ptolemaic army marched on Mazaka. But the true problem was just north of even that...

The known world in 235BC:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/...xmak235uy2.png
Next: Chapter 4: Syria (aka "Yes, I fight bridge battles" :sweatdrop: )
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That sure took a long time to update...

If your internet connection is as bad as mine, sorry this post didn't load correctly/quickly. :sweatdrop:

It's worth waiting for this, another great chapter...

cant wait for next installment! meanwhile, with my AAR, cant find much time to play..... :sad:

Brillliant, as good as ever MAA.:2thumbsup:

Very nice. How could you become the richest faction? Is the money-minimod included in 1.0?

Thanks for the comments, everyone. :bow:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Very nice. How could you become the richest faction? Is the money-minimod included in 1.0?

---

Well, the money script was altered for v1.0 but is basically the same. The only factions large enough to get tons of money are Ptolemai and AS, and they are always at war, depleting their money.

I think the reason I have so much money is because of my mines. When I first built the army that I have been using for all these battles, I started loosing money every turn. So I upgraded all of the mines I had in Greece, Thrace, and Illyria. It took a long time, but once I got those L2 mines built, my per turn income just shot up. Even after building a fleet and a third army, I am still making a profit every turn.

Thank you for the explanation.~:)

Can't wait for the next installment MAA, brilliant AAR. :2thumbsup:

Well F***! :wall:

I just wrote up the next part and was almost done, but internet browser randomly changed pages (think I hit something on the keyboard) and when I pushed 'back' everything was missing. Now I'm pissed. :wall:

I might try again tomorrow, but I really don't want to rewrite that. I usually write it elsewhere and copy/paste it to the forum. That will teach me for writting it in the forum. :wall:

:wall: :wall:

:wall: :wall: :wall:

That's as pissing as fighting four huge battles on AI's turn and then the game CTDs.:rifle:

Chapter 4: Syria

In the winter of 235BC, the city of Mazaka lay beseiged by the forces of the Ptolemaioi. Due to the winter, Demetrios didn't risk marching his large army across the mountain passes from Kilikia. The next closest force that could assist was stationed in Ipsos, on the far side of Galatian territory and would never be able to arrive in time.

Seeing they were alone, Pantauchos Singios, son-in-law of Kalos, decided the garrison would fend off the Ptolemaioi with only the city garrison of Hellenic levies and local peasants:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9720/maa283qy3.png

The main army marched out one gate, while the peasants and Peltastai, led by Pantauchos went out the other. As the Hellenic levies tied down the Ptolemaic line, the peasants and skirmishers circled around their rear and pelted the enemy phalanx from behind with stone and javelin then charged. Completly surrounded and outnumbered, the Ptolemaic line lost their nerve and fled, with the townsfolk in pursuit:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6580/maa286kc3.png

As the day ended, the people of Mazaka rejoiced. The city had been saved, and with no small amount of help from the simple townsfolk.:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4025/maa287qe5.jpg

As the new year started, replacement troops from Pella arrived in Tarsos. Demetrios had sent for the reserves, stationed in Pella apon his last costly victory and they had hurried across Asia, along the way hiring some Thracians to replace Demetrios' lost Thracians.

With his newly replenished army assembled, Demetrios left his son-in-law, with some locals and reserves from Pamphylia, in charge of Kilikia. Demetrios then started his march eastward into Syria. In Syria were good Makedonian peoples who had followed Alexandros east, and who now were under the domination of a corrupted man who called himself "Pharoah".

Around this time, centered near the Island of Rhodos, an earthquake shook western Asia. Although relatively few were killed, the earthquake was certainly worth making note:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4475/maa289nx6.jpg

In Northern Asia, was the Kingdom of Pontos, a land created by oppertunists who were quick to steal parts of Alexander's empire apon his death. They had been allowed to live only because they had sworn loyalty to the Seleucid Basileus, but these betrayers couldn't even keep that promise. When the Ptolemaioi began defeating the Seleucids in Asia, Pontos quickly broke their alliance with the Seleucids and allied with the Ptolemaioi.

Over the years, the Kingdom of Pontos murdered and enslaved many good Greeks who live along the Pontic Sea. As time went by, the Kingdom of Pontos destroyed or occupied Greek colonies along the coast and began to expand into areas that were clearly not theirs. A couple years ealrier, the Pontics had invaded Galatia (ally of Makedonia) one mor time, this time taking the city and putting its citizens to the sword.

Soon, the Pontics made the ultimate betrayal. In the summer of 234BC, Pontic forces moved west and attacked the Makedonian city of Nikaia.
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/950/maa290sk8.png

This was the last straw. Alkyoneus decided that it was time that the Kingdom of Pontos be wiped from the earth. Alkyoneus assembed his army, not yet fully trained, and marched east to wipe this nation of theives and murderers from the planet. But Alkyoneus couldn't reach Nikaia in time to save the city. Instead, Hephaistion Skionaios, governer of Ipsos marched his garrison north to confront the enemy. Hephaistion Skionaios was another son-in-law of Kalos and had as much experience as he had had when he failed to take Pergamon a decade earlier.

The Battle of Nikaia Bridge
As Hephaistion approached the Pontic forces, they fell back to their camp on the far side of a river. Though, as Hephaistion approached, the feared loosing control of the river crossing and charged back across. Hephaistion barely had enough time to reform his line in front of the bridge. The Pontic forces started pushing through, but the Makedonian line lacked the reinforcements of the medium infantry, which Hephaistion was forced to possition to the south to counter a crossing of Pontic forces just upstream:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4762/maa291ln6.png

With the seige lifted, the forces from Nikaia sallied forth and were not far behind Hephaistion. Seeing that the battle had already begun, the Nikaia pikemen ran to the battlefield and formed a line behind the exsisting one. Meanwhile the Nikaia slingers formed up and began firing at the Pontic horsemen still on the bridge:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/479/maa292lq7.png

Now reinforced, the flanks of the first line reformed and the center broke formation and fell back. As the Pontic horsemen gave chase, they quickly met a second wall of pikes:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7609/maa295hx6.png

To the south, the two Makedonia governors and a Pontic general spotted eachother. The Makedonian Hetairoi quickly lined up and changed the Pontic general:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9973/maa293ly0.png

After chasing off a group of archers, the Makedonian Petastai and Hoplitai charged the rear of the Pontic general, surrounding him:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/222/maa294zu7.png

The cowardice of the Pontic general soon became aparent, as he turn and fled, abandoning his army:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6917/maa296rm7.png

But it was of no use, the heavy Pontic cavalry were just too slow and were quickly caught by the Hetairoi, killing the cowardly general:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5012/maa297jy8.jpg

At the bridge, Pontic units began to panic and flee back across the bridge. As they flee, the received volleys of lead shot from the Makedonian slingers, stopping many where they stood:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7849/maa298wm3.png

Soon the Pontic general who had lead the forces across the bridge was alone with this guards. They were easily surrounded and perished:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9765/maa299bu6.jpg

The Makedonian forces quickly crossed the bridge and finished off the reforming Pontic forces. As they fled, the Makedonian forces gave chase. They gave no quarter and wiped out the remaining army:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4592/maa302ce5.jpg
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3702/maa303xy4.jpg

That day, the Kingdom of Pontos suffered the first of many defeats, which would hopefully lead the end of their Kingdom:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/118/maa301yw9.png

In the years before he followed his father into war in Asia, Demetrios had a child, several children. When his first son was born, he named him Aristotelis. Aristotelis spent many years in Athenai, learning from the great teachers who lived there. When he reached the age of twenty, he gathered an army and wandered Makedonia, Illyria, and Thrace, killing brigands and putting down rebellions that had arisen in isolated regions of the Makedonian realm. One time, he even found himself far north, near the Greek colony and trading city of Olbia. During his travels, Aristotelis began assembling a mighty army of Thracian, Dacian, and Scythian soldiers.

When word reached Aristotelis that his father was invading Syria and would need assistance with the Ptolemaioi, Aristotelis started the long march south and into Asia. Along the way, Aristotelis separated from his army and hired local mercenaries to assist him in his ongoing attacks on brigands and rebels. During one of these battles, he noticed that he had begun to develop a grasp of greater tactical skills:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6825/maa305jg6.jpg

As winter approached, Aristotelis camped his army along the Pamphylia coast and awaited the Makedonian fleet. He was to sail to Kypros in spring and ensure it was in Makedonian hands:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9374/maa304eb2.png

As spring came, Demetrios found himself confronted with the last of the great Ptolemaioi armies stationed in Syria. The Ptolemaioi attacked Demetrios as he was about to cross a river north of Antiocheia:
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3153/maa306kn5.png

Demetrios quickly formed up his men to defend the river crossing. Meanwhile Demetrios, the Thessalians, Thracians, and Thureophoroi made for a ford upstream to cross the river and attack the Ptolemaioi from the rear:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3200/maa307xt3.png

[Ok, this battle was basically frozen on my computer. Between the vast numbers on the field and the lag that accompanies a bridge crossing, my computer couldn't take it. Fraps said I was getting 1FPS, but it was much lower than that. I lowered all of the graphic details as low as they could go and tried to continue. Fraps still said 1FPS, but I believed it was actually near 1FPS now. Since all you would see is a jumble of sprites, I didn't take any pictures.]

The Ptolemaioi refused to cross the bridge completely and impale themselves on the Makedonian pikes. The Makedonians were unwilling to break formation and attack the enemy on the bridge. The battle was at a stalemate, but Demetrios managed in coming around the back of the Ptolemaioi and possitioned his men on the other landing. As the Thracians and Thureophoroi started throwing their javelin from one side and the slingers fired from the other, segments of the Ptolemaioi army began to break. The Pezhetairoi took advantage of this moment and moved in, resulting the the entire breaking of the Ptolemaic forces. As they fled across the bridge, they were greeted with the charging of Thessalian cavalry.

Demetrios mopped up the confused mass of paniced soldiers and moved his army completely across the river:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6457/maa308eo2.png

Demetrios quickly moved on and besieged the city of Antiocheia, a city which had once been the seat of government for his ally. Though, built in the eastern style, the city had a large population of Makedonian colonists who were tired of strict Ptolemaic rule.

The seige had barely begun, when a small army of Ptolemaic reinforcements arrived. They were a small force, but Sogenes Euphrantas Pyrgas decided that it would be enough for him and refused to wait for reinforcements:
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3941/maa309lz3.png

Sogenes Euphrantas Pyrgas was a Ptolemaic hero of the Syrian wars, who had won many battles and gain much experience. It was said that his personal bodyguard were some of the best in the entire world. Today, his pride would be his undoing.

Demetrios lined up his men along the top of a gentle slope and awaited the enemy:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7214/maa310sp2.png

The Ptolemaic phalanxes rammed the Makedonian line and the battle began. The levies from Judaea were hesitant, though. At first, it seemed they would charge headlong into the Makedonian pikes, but instead pulled back and began to move and flank the Makedonian right:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4583/maa311we0.png

The Thracians quickly moved ot the right flank to counter the Jewish levies, while Demetrios and the cavalry moved to the left flank.

Once again, Makedonian Pezhetairoi found themselves up against Egyptian elites:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8092/maa312hr9.png

Building apon his previous experiences, Demetrios managed to move around his own left flank and possition himself behind the Ptolemaic line. Once again, he managed to crash his heavy cavalry into the rear of the Ptolemaioi and make the run in terror:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4572/maa313nm8.png

As Demetrios possitioned himself for another charge into the rear of the Ptolemaic line, Sogenes Euphrantas Pyrgas suddenly appeared and charged into the Thessalian cavalry. Demetrios make a quick decision and decided to leave a segment of the Thessalian Cavalry in possition while the other half and his personal guard charged Sogenes Euphrantas Pyrgas as he was bogged down fighting:
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2087/maa314vw0.png

Sogenes Euphrantas Pyrgas was quickly surrounded, but more than half of the men left to tie him down lost their lives. Their sacrifice was worth it, as the great Ptolemaic general fell dead on the field:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6051/maa315ys9.jpg

Seeing their general dead, both phalanx and levy broke order and ran. Demetrios quickly chased them down, killing and capturing them to ensure they did not return to Antiocheia to secure the city:
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5820/maa316dg9.png
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5485/maa317tz0.jpg

Demetrios immediately marched to Antiocheia, whose remaining garrison surrendered. Demetrios ordered no looting or killing was to be done by his army and they peacefully entered the city. Demetrios was greeted as a great liberator and a savior to the people of the city. Though the city had not been returned to the hands of the Seleucid Basileus, they were much happier to be out of the hands of the Ptolemaioi. The city was now added to the newly reformed Makedonian Empire, reborn from the ashes of Alexandros' Empire.

As celebrations began to slow down and after several months passed, Demtrios received word from his son:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4159/maa319zx3.jpg

To the north, Alkyoneus' quickly suplimented army approached the Pontic border. Alkyoneus finally had his own war and he as intent of wiping out the Kingdom of Pontos:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/440/maa318xb7.png

The known world in 233BC:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/...xmak233ei8.png
Next: Chapter 5: 233BC - 230BC (aka That name describes about how exciting it is.)

Ahh, the good cavalry! I'm missing it in my current Sweboz campaign. Very nice again MAA. :2thumbsup:

Yeah, I'm winning all of my battles with the hammer and anvil tactic. It works well, but the same type of battle over and over doesn't make a very good story.

I managed to play tonight (hadn't had any free time near my computer that can run EB for nearly a week). I had a huge war with Pontos and it ended, basically with both of us losing...

Very good AAR! One observation: Pavla has a freaky territory East of AS & South of Baktria....like an isle. Let us see how long that one will last?!?!

Nice AAR, those I love those Uazali from the third chapter!

This is interesting MAA, keep updating. I always wished that you had made that ridiculously huge Roman Empire you had in 0.8 into an AAR, but the Maks are a good choice too.

Thanks!

Yeah, the Seleucids attacked India early on and managed to take one town. However, when the Ptolemaioi started kicking their butt, they lost that town and it defaulted to Pahlav (because that is the founder/creator faction for Indian provinces). I thought they would loose it or AS would take it right back, but they haven't. In fact, Baktria recently reached the point of critical mass (they get to a certain point of power and just steamroll the entire east) and swept westward against the Parthians. The Pahlav capital then went to Opiana, India. I think there may be an Indian faction and now Parthian faction in my campaign, soon.

I am trying to use more new units, but it is hard since most battles worth taking pictures of have old elite units. I got some nice pictures of some new Pontic units though, for the chapter after next.

I had a short AAR about my Roman campaign, but I got bogged down in my Gallic Wars and realized that my writting style wasn't good enough without any pictures to back it up.

Chapter 5: 233BC - 230BC

In 233BC, Mazaka was once again besieged by the forces of the Ptolemaioi. This time the heir to the Pharoah, Alexandros Thraikikos lead the army himself. Alexandros was a great politician and ruler, but his military skill was lacking. Even at his age, it seemed he had seen very little battle:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/831/maa320vm5.png

With superior numbers of archers and long range units, the Ptolemaioi are chased off and the seige lifted. Alexandros Thraikikos fell back to Sophene and readies another attack:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5316/maa321mf5.jpg

In Syria, Demetrios establishes Makedonian power and secures Antiocheia against future attacks. Although he is known as a great general, Demetrios becomes known as a good man who is just in rule. Even though it may be harmful to his reputation amongst his equals, Demetrios becomes known as an intellegent ruler who refuses to oppress the people he rules:
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2552/maa322ed1.jpg

To his enemies, Demetrios is seen as less just. To the south of Antiocheia, the first wave of a counter attack begins to assemble. Rather than wait for reinforcements to arrive and assemble a large army, Demetrios attacks the Ptolemaic forces south of Antiocheia:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/599/maa323fw0.png

Though a failed flanking manuever costs the lives of many Thracians, the battle comes to a quick end. Lacking anything to counter the Makedonian Pezhetairoi, the Ptolemaioi recieve a crushing defeat.
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1331/maa324ms5.png

In Pella, Perseus, son of Alkyoneus is left in charge of local administration. Perseus lacks the skill and charisma that his father, uncle, and grandfather had, but Perseus manages to govern Makedonia and Thrace well enough. Alkyoneus' other son, governor of Kallatis, is definately the one who follows in the footsteps of the great men in his family, but Perseus is heir to Alkyoneus.

Perseus takes over his father's job of monitoring distant areas and covertly assisting distant colonies of the Hellens. As the time went by, a messanger arrived in Pella. He gave the simple message, "Rejoice, Syrakousai is rebelling." Alkyoneuis had once considered using his army to liberate the Hellens of Sicilia, but was now forced into a war with Pontos. Now the need was no longer there. On the distant island of Siclia, the great Hellenic colony of Syrakousai had managed to once more repulse the forces of Carthage from the south of the island:
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9316/maa325ft3.png

During this time, Perseus also managed to build the proper infrastructure and convince the Thracians to support the Makedonian Empire more than they had before. Now, Thracian nobles were willing to fight for the Makedonians. Perseus quickly recruited some of these elite soldiers for the wars in the east:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3017/maa346ku2.jpg

In Asia, the city of Mazaka was again besieged by the Ptolemaioi. With every attack, more and more locals were conscripted into the garrison force of the city to replace and augment the original Hellenic/Makedonian garrison. Now, another Thraikikos besieged the town with a small army centered around elite phalanx units:
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4168/maa326rz1.png

As the battle began, Pantauchos Singios, governor of Mazaka, had his pikemen assualt from one side while he and the more mobile men attacked from the other. With several battle pulses by the Peltastai and Mazakan townsfolk, elements of the Ptolemaic army began to flee. As the bulk of the Jewish spearmen and levies attacked the peasant lines, Theokles Thraikikos saw his oppertunity and took his guard around the Makedonian flank. Though successful in flanking and crashing into the rear of the Makedonian line, Theokles soon found himself surrounded and began to panic. As Theokles Thraikikos fled, much of his army broke and followed him. Pantauchos Singios gave pursuit and cut down many of the fleeing Ptolemaioi.

Meanwhile, the Makedonian pikemen held the superior Ptolemaic phalanxes in place. As the phalanxes were held in place, the Armenian bowmen circled around behind the enemy line. Regrouping after their battle, the Mazakan peasants formed up with the archers. Now in possition, the bowmen opened fire at close range apon the rear of the Ptolemaioi line. As scores of men fell, the line broke and tried to flee. With the enemies in disorder, the surrounding Makedonians broke formation and all charged in at the remaining Ptolemaioi. Soon, none remained and the day had been won:
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8190/maa327cs3.png
https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6953/maa328as4.jpg

The next spring, Alexandros Thraikikos made this move. With his supplies replenished, the Ptolemaic heir, marched his depleted army to Antiocheia, where it was reinforced with Galatians from Egypt:
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4699/maa329qu1.png

Even greatly outnumbered, the inept tactician, Alexandros Thraikikos, didn't retreat. Eventually, Alexandros made the mistake of engadging the Thessalian cavalry under Demetrios. Quickly surrounded, Alexandros soon lost all of his bodyguard and was alone:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8559/maa330po7.png

Fighting to the end, Alexandros was killed and the would-be next Pharoah died on the plains of Syria, just outside the city of Antiocheia.

Seeing their general killed and the forces they came to reinforce wiped out, the Galatians turned and fled the field before they even fought. Once again, Demetrios had won the day and won the support of the Makedonians living in Syria:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2596/maa333zh0.jpg

In Kilikia, a Ptolemaic army had managed to move in from Sophene and march over the mountains during the winter to attack the garrison at Tarsos, the same spring. The garrison of Tarsos was weak. Demetrios had expected any attack on Kilikia to be made through Syria where he and his army could counter it. Now, with Tarsos besieged, Demetrios couldn't risk leaving Syria without a garrison while he marched to Kilikia. Instead, Demetrios ordered his son, already enroute to Syria from Kypros, to engadge the Ptolemaioi in Kilikia. Landing south of the city, Aristotelis marched around the city and confronted the enemy at their camp near a river crossing:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/319/maa334uk3.png

Aristotelis lined up his Dacio-Thracian army near a bridge, but both sides refused to move at first:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2742/maa335wd2.png

Aristotelis ordered his steppe horsemen to move downstream and find a crossing to flank the enemy. Meanwhile, the Thracians slowly marched across the bridge, completely unappossed by the Ptolemaioi:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6093/maa336pd3.png

With the cavalry successfully flanking the Ptolemaioi, and the Thracians safely across the bridge, both lines opened fire. The Thracians threw their spears and the cavalry fired their arrows:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6847/maa337wc7.png

The Ptolemaioi remained in formation and didn't counter the Thracians. Though, as soon as the Dacian spearmen moved to cross the bridge, the Ptolemaioi decided to engadge their enemy before they would have to face the entire army of Aristotelis:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1151/maa338lg8.png

As the fighting went on, the Galatians serving the Ptolemaioi quickly learned that their army was no match for the Thracian weapons. As the Thracians continued to cut through the Galatians, the Dacians rushed across the bridge and joined the fight:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7813/maa339tj4.png

The decreasing number of Galatians tried to hold off their falx weilding enemy, but were soon forced to flee the battle:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4186/maa340py5.png

As the day ended, Aristotelis had won his first important battle and gained the respect of those in the Makedonian Empire:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9610/maa341pc1.jpg

After the battle ended, Aristotelis reorganized his men gained supplies and marched north. Aristotelis moved to gain control of the mountains that the Ptolemaioi had been using to attack Kilikia and Kappadocia for years. As winter came, Aristotelis set up winter camp in a valley, but soon was confronted by another Ptolemaic army. Fearing their escape route had been cut off, a army heading for Mazaka doubled back and attacked Aristotelis:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/734/maa342mm8.png

The weak Ptolemaic forces lacked a compitent leader and didn't stand long before they broke and fled. With nowhere to flee safely to, most of them were chased down and killed in the Kappadocian hills:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/8262/maa343zp7.jpg

In Galatia, Alkyoneus had managed to take the city of Ankyra and gain control of the rest of the region. The Pontic garrison gave in without a fight, even though there were large Pontic armies near by, they did not risk a battle over the Galatian, even though a relative of the Pontic king lead the Ankyra garrison:
https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3144/maa344jc4.jpg

As Alkyoneus took the city, he quickly ensured the people that he was their to help as an ally and not a conqueror. To show his support to the Galatians and shared hatred of Pontos, the Pontic general was executed. Alkyoneus quickly repaired the Galatian infrastructure and set up a temperary government. After a while, Alkyoneus found one of the few surviving Galatian nobles, after the Pontic slaughter, and set him up as ruler of the region. Alkyoneus then took his army and left, leaving the Galatians to rule themselves as they had before:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7554/maa345ze5.png
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9448/maa351bt0.png

In Syria, the Ptolemaioi once again attempted a futile attempt to capture the the city of Antiocheia:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3505/maa347wk8.png

Thanks to the Creten archers and their flanking, the Ptolemaioi attempted to retreat. As they retreated, Demetrios managed to seperate small groups from the main group and run them down with his cavalry. In the end, the Ptolemaioi lost two thirds of their army:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/949/maa349pu9.jpg

Word soon reached Syria and the Makedonian Empire that the Satrapy of Baktria had separated itself from the Seleucids. Though they had not openly challenged Seleucid power, they no longer followed orders coming from Seluekeia. They had begun to independantly expand and had even attacked the Pahlav, allies of Seleukia. Soon the Pahlav core was conquered and the northern territories of Arche Seleukia were threated by these rebels:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/615/maa350bc4.png

As the winter of 230BC came, the Makedonian Empire faced a new set up problems and challenges. In Assyria, the Seleucids continued their counterattack against the Ptolemaioi by attacking the city of Edessa. North of there, Aristotelis had decided to attack Sophene, the staging point of countless invasions into Makedonian territory:
https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7724/maa352kw3.png

In northern Asia, Pontos once again beseiged the city of Nikaia. Along the northern coastline, Alkyoneus besieged the city of Sinope where Artaxerxes, king of Pontos ruled his kingdom from:
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3527/maa353sr3.png

And in Syria, Demetrios was once again besieged. This time the Ptolemaic forces were vast in number and yet not too threatening:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1990/maa354xz2.png

The known world in the winter of 230BC:
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3715/hxmak230wae5.png

Next: Chapter 6: The Pontic War

Again very enticing to start a new Makedonian campaign on my own. I like how you roleplay the characters. Can the Maks now recruit the Skytho-Hellenic Bowmen, Toxotai Thureophoroi I think they are called?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Again very enticing to start a new Makedonian campaign on my own. I like how you roleplay the characters. Can the Maks now recruit the Skytho-Hellenic Bowmen, Toxotai Thureophoroi I think they are called?

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I'll answer that question with a picture of them fighting for me in the next chapter:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/809/maa408yl2.png

Cool. Makedonia really has one of the best unit-rosters. Only thing they really lack is Thorakitai.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

:wall: :wall: :wall:

That's as pissing as fighting four huge battles on AI's turn and then the game CTDs.:rifle:

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You can actually save the game during an AI's turn-seige by pressing the esc button. XD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Intranetusa

You can actually save the game during an AI's turn-seige by pressing the esc button. XD

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Really? That'll help alot... Thank you.~:)

You can't active the script until your own turn if you load that kind of save, unless there has been some improvement on the script activation.

There hasn't and there never will be, however, missing a couple of turns once in a while won't do much harm. If it was near the beging of the campiagn, then possibly the AI would stall, but deep into a campaign missing a turn will not break your game.

Chapter 6: The Pontic War (Part 1)

In Syria, Demetrios was once again faced with fighting off another Ptolemaic army. Over time the Ptolemaic forces continued to decrease in quality, drafting many Jewish levies, Galatians, and random locals. Demetrios was beginning to be annoyed by the mail armor of the Galatians and Ptolemaic Thorakitai, though:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1990/maa354xz2.png

The battle when quick, and after the main force was flanked, they crumbled and were wiped out. Seeing the main force fleeing, the reinforcements turned and ran, but not before they were chased down by the Thracians and Thessalians and took heavy casualties:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/983/maa356jb3.jpg

Meanwhile, in northern Asia the Pontic War finally began to heat up. The city of Nikaia was once again besieged. Theodoros, son of Kalos, was forced to fend off Megabazos Stameneus and his army alone. Though, as spring approached, an army of elite Thracians, deployed by Perseus to assist his uncle in Syria, was passing by. Perseus immediately sent word to them that they were to assist the city of Nikaia. As the Thracians approached, Theodoros sallied forth to meet the Pontic enemy:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/8004/maa357ok7.png

As Theodoros assembled his army outside the city gates, the Thracians marched along a ridge to the north of the town and moved to the Pontic right flank:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3755/maa358cy7.png

As the Thracians approached, Megabazos Statemeneus sacrificed several units of Hoplites from the city of Sinope as he weighed his options:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2199/maa359yn1.png

The Thracians cut through the Hoplites as though they had sheilds made of straw and slaughtered all who stood their ground. When Theodoros moved to attack the Pontic left flank with his personal guard, the Pontic forces turned and moved away from the city. Seeing the opportunity, Theodoros signalled for his entire army to charge the enemy. Fortunately the attack went well and half the army was killed before they could flee:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/731/maa360kg0.jpg

Near Sinope, Alkyoneus had the Pontic king, Artaxerxes Herakleotes surrounded and outnumbered. Only the city walls were between the two leaders. Realizing that an assualt on the walls of a great city would cost the lives of many men, Alkyoneus had his own army retreat and had an army of allied Galatians move in to attack the city:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6904/maa361cu8.png

The Galatian swordsmen manned the towers as they moved in on the great city. The city had been conquered and subjugated by the Pontic armies, but it still showed signs of the fact it was a Hellenic colony:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2755/maa362dv9.png

As the Galatians charged out of the towers onto the city wall, the defenders quickly realized their fates:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2053/maa363wo8.png

The swordsmen fought the skirmishers on the wall to the last man and opened the gates as the few archers who guarded the walls retreated to the city center. The Galatian spearmen then marched to the city square, followed by Alkyoneus and the cavalry. They expected to met an envoy telling them that Artaxerxes had surrendered the city and honorably taken his own life, but instead they were met with a cavalry charge of Artaxerxes and his personal detactment of cataphracts. The spearmen held their ground as Alkyoneus and the cavalry went around the reat and hit Artaxerxes from behind:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1249/maa364ww3.png

Eventually Artaxerxes was alone and being attacked from all sides. The elderly king continued to fight, alone, for many minutes, personally killing sixteen Galatians after his bodyguard was wiped out. But finally, he was pulled from his horse and stabbed many time by the Galatians. As Alkyoneus watched from his horse near the edge of the battle, he was reminded of the heros of old:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6841/maa366jy6.jpg

As the battle drew to a close, the Galatians began to celebrate. The celebration turned into looting. The looting turned into raping, pillaging, murder, and destruction. Unable to do anything about it, Alkyoneus watched as parts of the city burned down and the Hellenic people he had come to save were murdered before his eyes:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4153/maa367qd1.png

Word eventually reached Demetrios that this battle and the aftermath had greatly effected his brother:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/2504/maa368tj9.jpg

Alkyoneus was quick to move the Galatians from the city of Sinope and ordered his own army in to regain order in the town. The Galatians were then ordered to engage a series of Pontic armies. Since they were clearly outnumbered, Alkyoneus had originally planned for this to just be an attempt to weaken the Pontic forces in preparation for his attack:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4290/maa370pv6.png

As the battle went on, though, the Galatians proved to be quite valuable in battle. By taking up a defensive possition on a hill, the Galatians had managed to gain just enough advantage to swing the battle and win. The Galatian army chased the Pontic forces from the field that day:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3082/maa371bn0.png

Even with half the forces, the Galatians succeeded:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1373/maa372uw0.jpg

The Galatians then confronted the retreating army of Megabazos Stameneus, on his way back from Nikaia. The Galatians succeeded once more, but Megabazos managed to escape:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4610/maa374pp2.jpg

In Sardis, a great trade hub at the end of the Persian Royal Road, where Kalos administers the western parts of Asia, a plague breaks out, so severe it even reaches the palace and Kalos himself:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9803/maa373um7.png

In Sophene, Aristotelis, son of Demetrios continued his seige of the fort city of Karkathiokerta. Karkathiokerta had long been the gathering place of Ptolemaic military expeditions into Kappadocia and Kilikia to attack newly acquired territories in the Makedonian Empire. Now, Aristotelis sought to capture this strategic city and put an end to the Ptolemaic invasions.

After about a year of seige, the city was reinforced by an army lead by Pasikrates Koptios. As soon as the battle began, Serapion Anemurionios, governor of Sophene sallied forth with his army to assist in the battle:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5083/maa375hw6.png

Aristotelis arranged his forces in a defensive possition on the top of a hill, though it was hard to find a battle field in the region that wasn't a hill. The Dacian spearmen took the center, with the Thracians on the flanks, protecting Persian archers, all in front of the cavalry and steppe cavalry archers:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9422/maa376uo5.png

As the battle began, the garrison of Karkathiokerta was the first to make its move, charging in on the Makedonian right flank. The Persians and cavalry immediately opened fire on the approaching enemy:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/714/maa377xd6.png

As the two lines met, the Ptolemaic levies and Galatians charged the center while their general moved across the front of the line and approached the far left flank of the Makedonian line:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2481/maa378uu0.png

Seeing the flanking cavarly, Aristotelis ordered that all archers open fire on the enemy general, Serapion Anemurionios. As Serapion approached the enemy line he soon found himself under the fire of the Thracian javelin as well. Attempting to regroup, Serapion turned and moved away from the Makedonian line, but it was too late and an arrow found its mark in side of his neck:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4210/maa379sv1.png

On the right flank, Galatians attempted to flank and attack the Persian archers. Countering the threat, the Thracians rushed in and attacked the Galatian troops:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5384/maa380sj4.png

With an opening, Ptolemaic Thorakitai charged the engaged Thracians from behind:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9431/maa381fe0.png

Soon the forces attacking the center of the Makedonian line began to desolve and flee, which was soon followed by those fighting and loosing to the Thracians on the right flank. Aristotelis took his cavalry and gave chase, cutting down many before turning back and reforming. The Thracians and Dacians, meanwhile regrouped and began to march down from the hill to meet the rest of the Ptolemaic forces:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6836/maa382so4.png

With the Makedonians forces out of formation and marching, Pasikrates Koptios, general of the Ptolemaioi, charged the Dacio-Thracian line. The Dacians and Thracians held their possition and began to cut through the heavily armored enemy cavalry:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/856/maa383tz3.png

After some time, Aristotelis managed to move his heavy Thracian cavalry around the rear of the battle and charge into the rear of the Ptolemaic general and his bodyguard:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7962/maa384mc8.png

Pasikrates Koptios quickly fell and his remaning guards began to flee. As the fight came to a close, Aristotelis soon realized that the remainder of Pasikrates' forces were lining up to attack. All that remained was a group of elite pikemen, Thorakitai, and some Jewish levies. Aristotelis quickly ordered his Dacio-Thracian line to reform and prepare for the fight:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/200/maa385ob6.png

The steppe cavalry quickly dispersed the Jewish spearmen, while the Dacians and Thracians took out the Thorakitai. Seeing they were surrounded and outnumbered, the Ptolemaic army folded and ran. The cavalry chased them down and killed the cowards:
https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3622/maa386rw2.jpg

With the sun low in the sky, Aristotelis marched into Karkathiokerta and claimed the city as his. He was surprised to find that the people were neither happy nor angry at his presence. Declaring that he was their to assist them, not subjugate them, Aristotelis kept looting to a minimum and quickly set to the task of setting up an 'independant' local government.

In Sardis, Kalos, brother to the great Antigonos dies. He was a great governor and a terrible general, though he fathered many sons and established control in Asia for this brother and nephews. Having survived the plague, he lived for nearly a year in a weakened state, only to finally fall to the forces of time:
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6944/maa387hh7.jpg

In Makedonia, Perseus, son of Alkyoneus is left in control of the region. Seeking to expand the borders of the Makedonian Empire, locally, Perseus looks to the north. With a strong Getic Confederation, Perseus decided to do the same as his father and avoid all out war. Instead, Perseus enters negotiations to redefine the borders. Eventually after much negotiation, the Getic Confederation agrees to transfer ownership of all lands south of the river and north of Makedonia to the Makedonian Empire. In exchange, Perseus offers a large some of money and the promise of continued friendship:
https://img458.imageshack.us/img458/2708/maa416rk7.jpg

Perseus then personally moved to the fort city of Naissos, where he quickly established military control:
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2858/maa419kh0.png

With the city in control, Perseus immediately refounds the city and begins to completely rebuild it from the ground up. With a new territory, Perseus busies himself with surveying the land, controlling the locals, and building up his new city.

The known world in 229BC:
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/...xmak228pm9.png

Next: Chapter 7: The Pontic War (Part 2)

Another great update to a great AAR. :2thumbsup:

PS: Silly Romans, bypassing Segesta. It's the easiest town in Northern Italy to conquer :idea2:

Very entertainig & well written! :2thumbsup:

Very good update and a very nice AI faction progression.The only thing I don't like about 1.0 is that the soldiers are almost invisible on the shadow-side. And that the snow sometimes looks yellow... But in general the beauty of the landscape has increased a lot from 0.8 (vanilla) to 1.0.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Subedei

Very entertainig & well written! :2thumbsup:

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Yes I think it must be quite hard to find a banlance between details & overview. You want to learn about the characters by role play aspects, but at the same time too much detail could lead to ennui. I think MAA did that very well.

Thanks for the feedback and compliments! :bow:

I've watched the Romans since the beginning and ever since about the second turn they have been beseiging Segesta, always failing. And with every failure, they send a smaller army to try again. I think last time I looked half a unit of Rorari were besieging about 50 defenders, but that failed as well.

Yeah, I've got to agree, winter battles in some regions do look odd some times.

I was originally going to show every battle in detail, but lately I've had so many I've had to compromise and just mention them shortly so I can add other content. The defensive battles of Antiocheia every other turn would definately get repetative.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

I'll answer that question with a picture of them fighting for me in the next chapter:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/809/maa408yl2.png

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awwww man are you serious? just when i thought pontos had a decent advantage over the massive juggernauts in the area. now when i think about it, pontos is outclassed in phalanxes (chalkaspides <<< argyraspides, reformed mak heavy phalanx), infantry (do those pontic thorakitai even count?), cavalry, and now even archers are the same. i suppose our only advantage is the ability to recruit tindanotae...but that is hardly factional nor does it make sense for pontos to have their best unit be gallic.

any suggestions on how to play pontos properly based on its units? so far i've only been using an imitation alexandrian style army - a line made up of the best phalanxes, behind is the bosphoran heavy archers, swinging out to the flanks is tindanotae while the galatian heavy spearman screen enemy cavalry, supported in their role by scythian noble cav and FM. any suggestions on how to make better use of the pontic roster?

On topic: really enjoying this AAR and the awesome armies and their compositions you bring up. i'm staying tuned in.

Actually, in my next battle I had fight between Pontic chalkaspides and my argyraspides and I was taking signifigant losses. I won, but I definately underestimated the strength of those chalkaspides.

And Mak has to go into Skythia or Crimea to get the Bosphorian archers, so it isn't really that unfar.

Chapter 7: The Pontic War (Part 2)

After some time, Alkyoneus manages to establish control of Sinope, hiring some local levied Hoplites to defend the city. With the city in relative order, Alkyoneus decides to move in and hit the Pontics before they can build an even bigger army. The Pontic forces consisted of two large armies and two smaller armies. One small army had been defeated by the Galatians, while the other had attacked Nikaia and failed, only to be defeated by the Galatian army as well. The largest army guarded their capital at Amaseia, while the second large army had conquered Trapezous. After the Makedonian-Pontos war had started, the Pontic forces at Trapezous had withdrawn to their capital. The citizens of Trapezous saw their opertunity and overthrew the remaining Pontic garrison and liberated themselves. But now, Alkyoneus marched against the Pontic capital and their two remaining armies. As he besieged the city, the Pontic field army moved to attack the rear of Alkyoneus' camp:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6149/maa388tb9.png

Alkyoneus possitions his army to counter the Pontic field army, hoping he could crush it before the army from Amaseia arrived:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/821/maa389ok8.png

On the flanks were the elite Basilikon Agema, sent to defend the Makedonian king:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1156/maa390uc7.png

In the center were elite veteran pikemen:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9717/maa391ux4.png

As the battle started, Alkyoneus quickly noticed the Pontic chariots rushing forward:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1751/maa392zt3.png

As the Pontic chariots attempted to flank the Makedonian line, the Pheraspides squad of the Basilikon Agema opened fire with their javelin. Taking losses, the chariots turned to charge their attackers:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1353/maa393fa0.png
[Stupid arrows.]

Though having taken many losses, the chariots turned and fled before most of them could even have a chance to use their deadly blades against the Makedonian flank. Meanwhile, the two lines of infantry slowly began to clash:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5775/maa394hl6.png

Alkyoneus began to move to the flanks with his Hetairoi, while in the center of the lines two groups of elites fought:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4425/maa395im8.png

As his elite silver shield pikemen began to suffer losses, Alkyoneus quickly made a charge on the rear (now undefended with the flight of the chariots) of the Pontic phalanx:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2617/maa396xd4.png

The elite Pontic soldiers quickly started fleeing, but before Alkyoneus could make another move, he was confronted with Galatian mercenary cavalry serving the Pontic king:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9259/maa397as5.png

While the two sides of infantry fought, Alkyoneus and the Hetairoi were faced with defeating many groups of Pontic cavalry right behind the Pontic line. As the Galatians turned and fled, Alkyoneus tried to possition his men again to attack the Pontic infantry, but was now faced with skirmishers. As he turned to face the skirmishers, the fled just far enough to continuing harrassing the Makedonians. Using a few tricks, Alkyoneus finally managed to force one group into combat:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6624/maa398eg6.png

As the Pontic cavalry broke and fled, Alkyoneus turned to see that the Pontic infantry had broken as well and were fleeing. Alkyoneus quickly charged in and crushed the Pontic troops who were attempting to reform. As Alkyoneus chased down the Pontic army, the main battle line turned and reformed to counter the Pontic army from the city, which had recently appeared, marching down from the edge of hill:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/815/maa399iv7.png

First forward from the Pontic army was, again, the chariots. As the Pontic chariots seemed to be flanking the main line, Alkyoneus decided to counter them personally with his Hetairoi, rather than devert troops. Alkyoneus lined up his cavalry and charged into the formation of chariots:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3849/maa400ji2.png

As he hit, both sides took losses, but soon the chariots paniced and began to flee. Rather then let them get away, Alkyoneus gave chase, but then tragedy hit. As one of the chariots rushed past Alkyoneus, the blades hit his horse, cutting its legs out from under it. Alkyoneus flew through the air, chashing to the ground in a mangled mass. His Hetairoi broke off and turned to assist, but it was too late. He lay motionless on the field, dead:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8073/maa402py6.png
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7509/maa401pk8.jpg
[I didn't do that on purpose, I was actually stupid enough to get my faction leader killed off by taking on scythed chariots.]

Seeing their king fall, the Basilikon Agema quickly rushed forward to save their king or at the least defend his corpse from Pontic desecration:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5272/maa403mc2.png

The Hetairoi quickly attacked Pontic cavalry attempting to make their way to Alkyoneus' corpse, chasing them from the field. Meanwhile, the Basilikon Agema fended of nearly the entire Pontic army, including the general and next in line to the Pontic throne, Megabazos Stameneus. The Pezhetairoi line moved forward to defend the body of their king:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9607/maa404fg2.png

Just to the west, Arsiochos Amaseios, the new king of Pontos charged straight into the Makedonian phalanxes, with surprisingly few lossses:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2650/maa405ik6.png

Without their king and general, the Makedonian army struggled to maintain order. With their flanks wide open, the phalanx line attempted to continue to engage the enemy:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9743/maa406vb5.png

To the south, the Basilikon Agema achieved a victory, with the long overdue death of Megabazos Stameneus:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6705/maa407xv9.jpg

But soon, the battle was too much, even for these elite Makedonian men. As they became overwhelmed, groups started to break off and flee. Soon, only one lone unit of Hypaspitai spearmen held the Pontic army from attacking the rear of the pike line:
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1489/maa413ec1.png

As the Pontic king began to force his way through the Makedonian phalanx, the Bosphorians, who had been considering retreat, moved to flank the cavalry:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7120/maa408vj2.png

As the Bosphorians fought on, it seemed that even the pikemen and flanking manuever wasn't enough to stop these heavy cavalry. Just as the battle looked completely lost, the Hetairoi returned from chasing off the rest of the Pontic cavalry and charged the Pontic king with all the energy the poor horses had left in them:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1681/maa409bz0.png

Arsiochos Amaseios' cavalry finally began to die, and soon the Pontic king was nearly alone. Fearing for his own life, he turned and fled as the remainder of his personal cavalry fell. The Hetairoi chased him from the field as the Makedonian line turned to face the rest of the Pontic army:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3593/maa411fi0.png

As the Makedonian line once again formed up to protect the body of their king, the Pontic army began to flee. Seeing their king fleeing and the Makedonians revitalized to face them again, the fled to the defenses of their city:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9420/maa412ns5.png

Even with the death of their king, the Makedonian army had achieved an amazing feat that day. Facing forces nearly twice their number and fighting after the death of their king, to the death in the case of much of the Basilikon Agema, it was a day to be remembered for all time. On the site where Alkyoneus had fallen from his horse, a plaque was placed to comemorate the battle and the death of the king:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4435/maa414tx2.jpg

When word reached Demetrios that his brother had died, they say he had to hide himself away from the public for the rest of the day. Even though they had competed at nearly everything, Demetrios had loved his elder brother. Even when their father had died without an heir, they cared enough for their family and eachother that they had promised to share the thrown. Now, however, Demetrios was the sole king of the growing Makedonian Empire:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5641/maa415sd4.jpg

Demetrios gave a speech to the people of Antiocheia and sent for his son, Aristotelis. When Aristotelis arrived in Syria (he had already been on his way after setting up a local king to rule Sophene for Makedonia), Demetrios handed over the governorship of Antiocheia and the command of the eastern army to his son. Demetrios then immediately boarded the Makedonian fleet in the Syrian harbor and sailed for Makedonia itself.

In Thessaly, Euboulides, youngest son of Antigonos, received word of his eldest brothers death and his brother, Demetrios' ascension to the throne. Euboulides had been governor of various places in Makedonia, Epeiros, and Thessaly for some time but had little hands on experience with warfare like his brothers:
https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9862/maa418we0.jpg

Rather than sadness, anger overcame Euboulides. He quickly sent message to Pella and to his brother that he was headed for Pontos to join the forces still beseiging the city. When word reached Demetrios in Rhodos, he sent a messenger to meet up with Euboulides and grant him full command of Alkyoneus' army to crush the remaining Pontic forces and completely destroy the entire kingdom. The only condition was that once Pontos fell and the territory secured that the army was to be sent back to Makedonia. The army, thus waited in their depleted state for Euboulides to arrives so that they might continue the war and avenge their king.

Demetrios soon landed in Makedonia, arriving before the body of his brother. Demetrios puposely brough no military forces with him as he approached Pella:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2279/maa421tr1.png

As Demetrios entered the capital city of Pella, he was greeted with hesitant cheering and praise. As he came to the center of town he was greeted by his nephew Perseus, first born son of the previous king. An awkward silence filled the entire agora for what seemed like a lifetime. Then with a sudden fluid movement the tension was released as Perseus embraced his uncle. The next morning, the two men appeared in the agora and annouced that Demetrios was the new king of the vast Makedonian Empire.

Soon, the body of Perseus arrived in Pella, where it was burned in the pyre in a great ceremony. The ceremony was even grander than the ceremony that was for Antigonos. When Antigonos had died, the Makedonian Kingdom was in a precarious place, but now the Makedonian Empire was strong and rich and could risk having all the distant generals travel to Pella for a burial.

As Alkyoneus was entombed in Aigai, on the far side of the empire, Euboulides had finally arrived in Pontos. With minor forces defending the last loyal Pontic city, where the Pontic king hid, Euboulides decides to risk an attack on the walls:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3728/maa424mq4.png

With mercenaries leading the attack, Euboulides prepares to attack the northern gate of the city:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/412/maa425vp4.png

After receiving missile fire from archer, skirmisher, and tower, the seige towers reach the wall. As the caucasian swordsmen charge out, they quickly deal with the Hellenic archers and Hellenic skirmishers in front of them. On the east side of the gate, the opposition is light:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1659/maa426qh0.png

To the west, though, the fighting is much tougher:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8866/maa427jr3.png

The Basilikon Agema quickly moves to the eastern tower to get passed the fighting and enter the city, while Pezhetairoi move to the western tower to assest the outnumbered mercenaries. As they take the walls, the Pheraspides move into possition where they are just above a group of Pontic chariots. Realizing that these can be none other than the the chariots that killed their king, they open fire with the javelin [with help from a captured tower]. Soon the entire unit lays dead in a twisted heap of horse, man, and machine:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3026/maa429lg3.png

The Hypaspistai, on the other hand, quickly move to assist the mercenaries at the eastern tower:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4615/maa430gi0.png

As the enemy on the eastern side are defeated, the Hypaspistai move to assest the western side, as the Pontic forces are crushed between them and the Pezhetairoi:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5843/maa431xa7.png

As the walls are taken, the rest of the infantry move in through the captured gate. The Bosphorians and slingers then move in and take up possition on the walls of the city. Near the eastern gate, they see an oppertunity and open fire on the Pontic king in the town square:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2955/maa432px4.png

Angered by the attack, the Pontic king and his remaining cavalry rush from the town square and charge down a road at the assembling Makedonian forces. Unprepared for the attack, the Pezhetairoi and Hetairoi simply attack with sword and counter the Pontic heavy cavalry:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6117/maa433qk2.png

The battle lasts quite some time, but eventually Arsiochos Amaseios, King of Pontos, falls dead in the streets of Amaseia:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/180/maa437od6.jpg

Even as the Pontic king fought on, a flanking force of Makedonians manages to make it to the center of the town. As the enter the town square, the face a line of elite Pontic pikemen, whom they counter:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5437/maa439mm9.png

As the fighting goes on, it eventually desolves into broken formation sword battle:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5379/maa440ym1.png

As the last Pontic soldier falls dead, the town taken, the Makedonian soldiers celebrate and cheer Euboulides' name:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6979/maa441kg4.png
[Look at the time. I almost lost the battle even though there were only a couple Pontic guys left.]
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/7796/maa442tq9.jpg

With the death of the last Pontic king and the fall of their capital, the Kingdom of Pontos fades into history, as its citizens are integrated into the Makedonian Empire:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1905/maa443gy1.jpg

As the era draws to a close:
Aristotelis fends off another attack on Syria by the Ptolemaioi, with little effect:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/175/maa444qq9.png
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8117/maa445xe1.jpg

A plague from Egypt arrives in Kypros and devistates the population:
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7215/maa446qg5.png

Makedonian greatness once again trumps all other nations:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2364/maa447nm2.jpg

North of Makedonia, the reconstruction of Naissos is completed as it is rebuilt as a Hellenistic city:
https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2136/maa448bb1.png

And to the east, the Kingdom of Hayasdan conquers the newly liberated Hellenistic colony of Trapezous:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3625/maa452ui1.png
Next: Chapter 8: Kyrenaia
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Ha! I found the forum cap for number of pictures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Ha! I found the forum cap for number of pictures.

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Lol, I'll say you did some thorough searching for it. Glad I'm not on dial-up...

It's an excellent update really. I was so sad that Alkyoneus died... Not least because he was a special character in my 0.81 Makedon campaign, where he went from the bookish prince of an unstable kingdom to being the greatest conqueror and general since Alexandros himself.

That was really epic! How can you charge chariots with cavalry? That's really foolish.:no:

Did you move the Generals for burial really to Aigai? And Caucasian spearman, are they hired mercenaries? Because I thought Makedonia can't recruit them.

I had 52 pictures and had to drop two or else it wouldn't let me post. For anyone having problems, sorry for mass of pictures. A while ago, my internet wasn't working correctly (turns out the ISP was purposely doing it to me as some sort of retarded punishment... long story), but I couldn't even load my own AAR. :sweatdrop:

My Alkyoneus was really bookish too, but he turned out to be a decent leader. And yes, I was so stupid as to charge him into chariots. My Hetairoi had already taken a whole lot of losses and I though, "What's a couple more? My faction leader has multiple hitpoints, he should be fine," but he wasn't. I thought of just quiting and fighting the battle over again, but then decided his death would be nice roleplaying event.

Yep, I roleplayed that Alkyoneus was entombed in Aigai and move a bunch of family members to Pella for the funeral celebration.

The Caucasian swordmen are mercenaries now. I was suprised when I saw them, but needing some augmentation, I thought they would be a good choice.

Great AAR Marcus! I'm looking forward to the next chapter. :)

Thanks. :bow:

The next chapeter is going to be a short(er) one since it is basically a series of repetative battles. :shame: