1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Tellos Athenaios]

It's 241 BC and those 8 years (the last update was 249 BC) have seen some massive warfare.

The Aedui quickly lost Amorica and after a lengthy siege their relief forces + the quite massive garrison of Bibracte proved unable to change the course of events --> Bibracte was sacked for some needed cash. (Actually ~6000 Mnai ....) Which means that the Aedui confederation is now without the Aedui tribe...

The Arverni took the opportunity to mount a campaign against Lemonum/Burdigalla and so far have succeeded against Lemonum. Burdigalla might prove a bit thougher challenge than expected, though. However, the Arverni managed to capture Massalia with a surprise attack, and despit initial riots in the city - the region is still in Lime Green hands.

The Aedui became/argeed to becoming a (dissapointing) Roman protectorate. But the Romani couldn't keep their hands off the Mamertines, and a *true* first Punic War was a fact. The Aedui obviously chose the side of the Qartadastim allies, and so, recently the Romani have set out for a punishment expedition. (Currently besieging Bononia, while virtually all Aedui forces are located around Aventicos/ the passes to Mediolanium. Clever AI there...)

If I had a more strict roleplaying going on in my campaign I would've said that the Arverni invited me (because they profited most as they were about to collapse against the Aedui but now seem to have fully recovered) to aid them against the Aedui; and the Aedui in turn invited the Swebozez to attack me from accross the Oder. (Because the Aedui were just about fully removed from the Transalpine Gaul theatre; however since the Swebozez 'intervened' the Aedui had enough time to consolidate their borders. So they retain a northern stronghold: Aventicos.) I wasn't caught entirely off guard and a forced march towards the Elbe + a few crushing defeats inflicted on Swebozez invaders ensured I kept my regions....

After some more manoeuvres I was enabled to go on a quick punishment campaign against Denmark & Sweden. Then I took some risk and conquered Gawjam~Rugoz. Another large battle, and now the Swebozez military is in shambles... Currently besieging the capital with ~35% of my forces in the region; the rest is to march South, be refitted and conquer that one rebel settlement next to Bibracte... (And keep an eye on my allies, the Arverni...)

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On Sicily a real Punic War took place; but the Qartadastim lost the battle for Messana in the end. Not surprising actually, as the Qartadastim forces were vastly outnumbered (the entire Roman war machine was marching south at the time...) With Messana secured the Romani signed a treaty with the Qartadastim and are now free to molest Syrakosai with the (approving) consent of the Merchants in white.

The Merchants in white seem to prefer grand-scheming against the Ptolemaioi and minor campaigns against desert jinns.

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In Spain the Lusotannan discovered what a devastating effect old age has on Eleutheroi generals: they don't have kids to take over their duties! So the crafty Portuguese resorted to a long-term strategy: waiting till the enemy dies of old age and their people is left leaderless... But just for fun, only the city of Emporion is constantly harrased by bands of Lusitanian party-goers...

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Makedonia held out against all expectations; and now seem to be a bit more than just a nuisance for the grand Koinon of the Koina... Both Epeiros and KH have dispatched forces to deal with the intrusions of Makedonike forces. On the other hand the Makedonians constantly try to subjugate Pergamon, and if they don't then the KH gives it a try from Sardis. So far no luck, though.

Epeiros is a powerhouse; using rather blunt but effective tools nonetheless agains the garrison of Ak-Ink to conquer it. Will be a while before they manage, because the governor is still alive and kicking Thracian Tribal Levies whenever he gets a chance to. But he's got to do that with fewer men each time the Thracian Subjects of the Epeirote throne get back....

In Mikra Asia, Pontos is on the rise - and quite possibly about to fall very far, very far indeed. Not content with warring against Seleukids, and barely managing to contain Ankyra's lust for Pontic gold and silver -- they decided to attack Tarsos. That might be a bad idea, a very bad idea...

Because further East the Ptolemaioi may have been unable to crush 'so-called Saba' - they have been able to finally squash Damaskos once and for all; as well as to reconquer Palmyra and grab Babylon to boot. And the Seleukids don't seem a match for the Ptolemaic forces marching at Edessa either...

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Further east, the Pahlava have finally reconquered Ekbatana. And they seem eager to oust Theorodoros Syriakos from his Hyrkanian throne too...