1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Skullheadhq]

Amazing luso expansion.

[johnhughthom]

It's like an Autumn day, with all those browns and golds.

[Whatever Scortamareva]

Casse, 246 BCE

I thought I'd try something different in my Casse campaign and see how it turned out for the rest of the factions too.



This is the first time in the campaign that i've turned FOW off, it's kind of interesting but so early in the game nothing huge has happened.

After uniting the isles I set my sights on the Iberian peninsula, and coast skipped my way down raiding and pillaging. I wiped out the Lusos and made them my protectorates, and forced out the Qarthadastim.

The Lusos keep their stack and a half waiting around by their capital, If only I could be bothered to find the name for that particular FM, i'd console teleport him, but alas.



After uniting the peninsula I set about securing my northern borders, which to be honest were fine until I shipped in an army and cut up some Aedui ass. I captured Darioritum and gave it to the struggling Arverni, and did this with Gergovia too. Now I'm making my way through with my measly half stack, hopefully I'll be able to ship in some more guys soon.



In Northern Africa I fought to beat the Qarthadastim to the most western settlements, but after I conquered <the one with a 'z' or an 'x' in it's name?> and gifted it to the Lusos, those baby killers took it back and foreseeing a defeat out there.

The Maks are in a sticky situation with Pella on the crossroads between their enemies the Epeirotes and KH, and the Getai preparing stacks to send down. This was one of the more interesting AI expansions, since the Makedonians usually manage to at least expand north in Eastern Europe. They have a hold on Asia Minor though, and look to be staying there.



Rome have been stopped by a strong Aedui, unfortunately I'm wearing them down so the Romani might be looking to expand north again soon.

EDIT: are the pics showing up? i don't normally have to wait for imageshack...?

[Apraxiteles]

Nope, can't see any pics.

[Whatever Scortamareva]

Ah balls, imageshacks not working.

EDIT: alright theyre good to go now

[Olaf Blackeyes]

@ Whateverman
Are you sure that you arent playing as the Sauros? Cuz otherwise how the heck did the AI Sauros that out a Central European Super army?

[Whatever Scortamareva]

@ Whateverman
Are you sure that you arent playing as the Sauros? Cuz otherwise how the heck did the AI Sauros that out a Central European Super army?

Haha yeah Ive no idea how they managed that, especially with the pretty sizeable Saka and Hayasdan empires at the flank.
They were helped along by the Sweboz who expanded west a little bit then gave up and just watched the Gauls fight each other.

If they do reach me i'll just have to set up a lusitani super buffer on the eastern front and hope they can soak up the horse archers

[IrishHitman]

Typical Casse, having to rely on console cheats to expand

[bobbin]

@ Whateverman
Are you sure that you arent playing as the Sauros? Cuz otherwise how the heck did the AI Sauros that out a Central European Super army?

If you look closer you'll see that the sauromatae were actually stopped by the superstacks, their most western city is Cotiune (sp?) which doesn't have a scripted stack, they've captured it a few times in my games but its quite rare.

[Mr Polska]

I thought they stopped at Carrodunum.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

If you look closer you'll see that the sauromatae were actually stopped by the superstacks, their most western city is Cotiune (sp?) which doesn't have a scripted stack, they've captured it a few times in my games but its quite rare.

I dare to disagree, since they clearly own the Lugii province which, at least in v1.1, is guarded by a scripted über-stack.

[Dewirix]

This is my 1.1 Aedui campaign in 208 BC.



I've made an effort not to destroy any of the other factions, with the exception of the Averni, who were standing in the way of Celtic unity.

The Maks and the Seleukids have been wiped out, but everyone else is hanging on. Baktria's down to one territory and there are Pahlava stacks in the area, so it might be curtains for them soon.

I've been at war with the Romani from 260s without any let-up. Just sacked Rome and Arminium, but abandoned them as I don't want to end up sharing the Italian peninsular with the Karthadastim.

The Sweboz attacked around the 230s, and I've spent the last 20 years or so pushing them out of northern Europe. They're now bottled up in Skándzá and I've got a full-stack garrison to hold them at bay.

The Getai have done fairly well expanding west and north and attacked me as soon as we shared a border (the 210s). I've taken Pannonia off them and garrisoned it, but I don't want to send my troops towards Greece for fear of losing trading partners and having to fight off Epirote phalanxes.

Just taken Tolosa and Burdigala in southern France and the Lusotannan have already sent a couple of half-stacks my way. We're not at war yet, but will be soon, which will give me the chance to pick up the Iberian cities I need for my victory conditions.

I've only been fighting defensive wars (even if they end up extending the borders of the empire), and as such the Casse are likely to prove problematic. I'll let them unite the isles (only Wales to go) and see if the invasion script gives me a valid retaliation pretext. If not, I guess I can fabricate some sort of trade dispute, or find a disgruntled and disinherited noble to 'restore', or send military aid to an oppressed minority, or something...

[IrishHitman]

send military aid to an oppressed minority, or something

Yeah, make sure you liberate Hibernia there...

[Dewirix]

Yeah, make sure you liberate Hibernia there...

I was thinking that if it came to it that's where I'd bottle the Casse up.

It's just occurred to me that if I'm quick I could take Wales from the Eleutheroi and then we'd share a land border without me having to break the peace. That should be enough to produce my pretext for war, and I can claim I was protecting the druids from Casse aggression.

[Molinaargh]

217 BC

I'm KH!

And I don't mean Kart-Hadast, I mean Koinon Hellenon!

[Dewirix]

217 BC

I'm KH!

And I don't mean Kart-Hadast, I mean Koinon Hellenon!

Wow, talk about slow and steady! I imagine the Maks must be making regular visits to southern Greece, or have you somehow managed to keep them sweet?

Have you been tempted to pick up any of the western Greek cities, like Massalia?

The Casse are making pretty good progress, as are Baktria, both of which are good to see.

Looks like the Romani took out Satres too.

[IrishHitman]

217 BC

I'm KH!

And I don't mean Kart-Hadast, I mean Koinon Hellenon!

I can't see whether you control Rhodes or not...

[Molinaargh]

Wow, talk about slow and steady! I imagine the Maks must be making regular visits to southern Greece, or have you somehow managed to keep them sweet?

Have you been tempted to pick up any of the western Greek cities, like Massalia?

The Casse are making pretty good progress, as are Baktria, both of which are good to see.

Looks like the Romani took out Satres too.

I place my army in a way so the Makes can't siege my cities, unless they defeat me of course. That happened once and I had to reform my army in order to survive, as you can see here with the 18 units of Phalangitai:



I think defending western cities would take too much money and effort, but I did keep the easterns Pantikapaion and Trapezous when they rebelled to me.

I can't see whether you control Rhodes or not...

I do.

This is VH/VH by the way, before anyone complains about the historical innacuracy of my Phalangitai army

[IrishHitman]

I do.

This is VH/VH by the way, before anyone complains about the historical innacuracy of my Phalangitai army

What's your relationship with the Ptollies like?

[Molinaargh]

What's your relationship with the Ptollies like?

Neutral. I lost the alliance by not declaring war on Baktria when they asked me. I still have Trade Rights and they never blockaded my ports for no reason as one would expect.

[IrishHitman]

Neutral. I lost the alliance by not declaring war on Baktria when they asked me. I still have Trade Rights and they never blockaded my ports for no reason as one would expect.

If Pontus take Cilicia, you should seize Karia/Lycia.

[Whatever Scortamareva]

I like your presence by Pontos, you've picked yourself a hard fight though with the Sauromatae and that monster Parthia.

[the man with no name]

I place my army in a way so the Makes can't siege my cities, unless they defeat me of course. That happened once and I had to reform my army in order to survive, as you can see here with the 18 units of Phalangitai:

Look on the left side, there 7 halfstacks. Good luck dealing with them

[schlappi]

Romani 210 BC (VH/H), using Alex.exe for the first time. I am totally happy about the improved campaign and battlemap AI. Loads of fun, in the Camillan era i lost quite a few battles against the celts in the river po basin.

The Getai launched a series of raids at Segestica and Dalminion, forcing me to abandon my Aedui campaign about 20 years prior to this screenshot.

Carthage does pretty well, shipping loads of pikemen and elephants to iberia after having trouble to keep control of the former Lusotannan settlements. They are massing their armies around Emporoion now, i expect a full-scale invasion anytime soon.

The last ten years i was busy to reinstall free poleis in Greece, after the Macedonians controlled all Hellas plus the Epirote territories.

[athanaric]

Swêboz H/M, EB 1.2 (of course), RTW exe.

This is perhaps the most unusual AI behaviour I’ve seen yet. I had almost given up this campaign, because the Ptolies became just too powerful and I didn’t see much hope there. They killed off two of my dearest allies, Pontos and Hayasdan, and it seemed that they were going to conquer the steppes and go after me.
The troops I sent to Hayasdan’s relief arrived too late; yet I was able to send them on a rampage of madness across the Ptolemaioi territories, pillaging and burning as they went. This way, I raided Kotais, Trapezous, Sinope, Amaseia, Mazaka, Side, Tarsos, and Antiocheia, leaving death and smouldering ruins in my wake.
Trapezous then rebelled to the KH, which was as I intended. Later, the loyalists also took Amaseia from me, and soon afterwards accepted a proposal to reinstall peace and trade rights.
From Antiocheia, my mercenary army (headed by a Celtic general) set sail for Kypros, installing a client kingdom there. After that, some of them took Kydonia, which has an enormous strategic importance for my gameplay (apart from my passion for island-hopping in the Mesogeios). Namely, to control any faction of the region lest they become too powerful, and to aid as a base for sea raids against my enemies.
Currently I am fighting/at war with Aedui, Qarthadastim, Ptolemaioi and Romani. And I’m winning, btw.



Now for the AI factions:


Makedonia: My most powerful ally, they hold Soutern Hellas in their sway. Following in my wake across Anatolia, they effectively drove the Ptolemaioi from the peninsula, thus surpassing even my wildest hopes.
Now they have become the new superpower and, having driven away the KH and Saba, are closing in on Egypt. Those black fullstacks give me the creeps...

Koinon Hellenon: For a long time, they were reduced to one province (Rhodos). As usual, they profit most from loyalist uprisings. Initially they were allied with their former nemesis, Makedonia, and fighting the Ptolies. Now they are again limited to Rhodos. Very obliging.

Epeiros: My allies too; they haven’t really done anything for a long time.

Getai: Dormant. A while ago, they thought it wise too attack me, only to discover that their most promising young general had switched sides and now serves me. Haha. (Update: he passed away peacefully a short while ago).
After some futile attempts to avenge this betrayal and conquer Bastarnolándám, they apparently gave up and accepted peace.

Casse: Nothing unusual. They are the richest faction and barely do anything. They have managed to fully upgrade Camulosadae though.

Arverni: Having suffered from a lot of Romani and Aedui aggression, they are relatively safe now. I’m unwilling to destroy them so I keep them as a pet. The pet still has teeth though, and I have to be cautious.

Aedui: Minions of the Romaioi and almost as treacherous as the latter. I could have destroyed them some time ago but it’s much more fun to have them build up their cities with stuff the Swêboz can’t build (paved roads, universities, level 2 farms etc.), only for me to take over.

Romani: Upon realizing they couldn’t destroy the Arverni, they went for me instead. After an uneasy peace period, they attacked me again in Gaul and have paid dearly for this insolence. A Swêboz-Alpine mixed army headed by a young and eager general (who had to escape a blood feud anyway) ventured south and took mighty Roma itself, raiding Arretium on the way. To add insult to injury, I’m now training Hastati in Roma itself, in order to attack other regions.
I used Roma as a base to raid and take the Carthaginian possessions in the Mediterranean.

Ptolemaioi: As a result of their behaviour, the incestuous dogs have lost their role as the dominant power on the map to me. My allies Makedonia, Pahlava, and Saba are now carving up the former Ptolemaic Empire. Revenge can be so sweet…

Saba: The single biggest surprise in the campaign and the main reason why I post all this. Contrary to their usual behaviour, they went rabid all of a sudden and went as far as sieging Susa! Before that, they took Ptolemais-Theron, Charax, Babylon, and Seleukeia. I swear I had no part in this.

Pahlava: Have been fighting bravely for their continued existence. A while ago, they were attacked by the insolent Ptolemaioi and repelled them, taking important parts of Persia in the process. Now they are trying to re-establish the Persian Empire.

Baktria: The fools have allied themselves with the Yellow fever. Thank god though they haven’t been able to do significant mischief.

Saka Rauka: Another powerful ally. Doing well.

Qarthadastim: Another obstacle in my way and that of my allies, they had to be punished. My chief raiding target ATM.

Sauromatae: Quite strong and capable of self-defense against “civilized” incursions. Although they initially suffered from Hai aggression, they managed to recover after their foes were destroyed by the Yellow Fever.

Arche Seleukeia: Another ally, they are fighting Baktria for dominance in India. Recovered thanks to loyalist uprisings.

Lusotannan: Nothing unusual. I need to be wary of these guys, since they, too, have set their sights on Gaul.


Here's the progress on the map:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

236 BC


213 BC


212 BC


202 BC


199 BC


194 BC


187 BC


186 BC


Taking Antiocheia

182 BC



Oh yeah, and I sacked Rome three or four times...

[Jebivjetar]

Pahlava M/M, Alex.exe

[Lovejoy]

Pahlava M/M, Alex.exe

lol. its like that Michelangelo painting but even more epic!

nice progress btw. have you been successful triggering the reforms?

[Jebivjetar]

lol. its like that Michelangelo painting but even more epic!

nice progress btw. have you been successful triggering the reforms?

Thanks :-)

Well, i'm too low in money so i didn't build reformed pastoralism yet. Anyway i spare every penny to build some in Susa and i hope i'll have that done in near future. MOT didn't happen yet and i like that because i just love my bodyguard catas with arrows.

This is my third try with Pahlava btw, and finally i'm doing good.

Beautiful faction, indeed

[Knight of Ne]

Heres my current campaign as the Koinon Hellenen-236bc

The AS are really dominating the game at the moment.



Knight of Ne

[Companion Cavalry]

Heres my current campaign as the Koinon Hellenen-236bc

The AS are really dominating the game at the moment.



Knight of Ne

I'm liking that beast of a KH.