1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Zim]

Nice Empire. I like how Pontos has expanded as well.

Parthian Empire, 138 BC ( i think)

[anubis88]

Nice Empire. I like how Pontos has expanded as well.

It looks that Parthia is quite succesful in your campaign as well. As for pontos, as i mentioned in a previus thread in the main forum, they have gone crazy. It's really a battle of titans in Macedonia and greece, and Epeiros has mingled in there as well, so it could end either way.

I'm just waiting for them to weaken each other, then i'll help the romans to destroy them all

[Zim]

They really surprised me. I spend the vast majority of that first century of my game turtling in Sicily, and when I finally checked how the factions elsewhere in the map were doing, the whole world had changed around me while I was distracted in my little corner of it. As enar as I can tell, Parthia and Baktria thrashed the Seleucids first, who wasted their armies stalemating with Ptolemy, then after sitting on Greece forever Macedonia just steamrolled the two former superpowers.

And just recently Macedonia and the Parthians broke their alliance, making me wonder if a confrontation is coming up. It's been such a fun game I'm thinking of starting an aar...

So you'll be pushing all the way to Greece to finish what earlier Persian Empiresh had started? I wish good luck to Pontos then, that they may have a brief time of hegemony in Greece before being crushed under the heel of Parthia.

[anubis88]

They really surprised me. I spend the vast majority of that first century of my game turtling in Sicily, and when I finally checked how the factions elsewhere in the map were doing, the whole world had changed around me while I was distracted in my little corner of it. As enar as I can tell, Parthia and Baktria thrashed the Seleucids first, who wasted their armies stalemating with Ptolemy, then after sitting on Greece forever Macedonia just steamrolled the two former superpowers.

And just recently Macedonia and the Parthians broke their alliance, making me wonder if a confrontation is coming up. It's been such a fun game I'm thinking of starting an aar...

So you'll be pushing all the way to Greece to finish what earlier Persian Empiresh had started? I wish good luck to Pontos then, that they may have a brief time of hegemony in Greece before being crushed under the heel of Parthia.

Wow, interesting. However, i have a feeling that Macedon will crush Parthia, since Baktria is probably at war with them as well, and they IMHO will not be able to compete against both of them.

Well my plan is to conquer as much as Parthia had IRL, and then wage a huge war with Rome.
First i want to make Armenia conquer some Seleucid land, and i help them since they are my allies with armies and money, since i want them to be strong once i'll fight them. Also i hope the Saka will win their huge everlasting war with Baktria on their own, and if they do, they will probably start attacking my empire, and i hope i will lose a battle finaly.

They have some pretty scary full stacks, full of HA, catas and FMs, which would make some extremly usefull battles.

as for my self, i will slowly conquer all the lands east of the Euphretes, and wait for Rome

[Dyabedes of Aphrodisias]

Just got EB 1.2 and started up a Sweboz campaign. All good so far, but this picture isn't current (I'm at about 216BC now, the picture is 230BC) but the only big differences involve my own expansion.



The AI expansion in this version has improved excessively! The Lusotannan, Sab'yn, Getai and Casse grew a pair, and the BI.exe has provided some interesting foreign wars. The Ptolemies are effectively extinct; they've been driven into the desert and it won't be long before the Macedonians, Seleucids and Saba are fighting over the booty. The Arche Seleukeia has become formidable only because of the downfall of Ptolemaic Egypt; they're being tempered by Makedonia and Epeiros at the west and the various colors of the east. The Saba seem like more of a serious pest than a serious power; they just keep taking and losing various minor territories of the the Ptolemaioi and Seleukids.

The Romani have produced an interesting expansion as well; going west because Carthago won't let them have Sicily. These two factions are constantly at war, sissy-fighting and trading back and forth various Mediterranean islands. Carthage could do some damage of they landed their stacks in Italia rather than Sicilia. The Romani made an attempt at eastern expansion by landing a stack in the heart of Epeiros, but they failed to send support after them. They somehow let the Gauls get all the way to Serdike, choosing to attack the Lusotanna instead, making some headway there.

The Getai are making some awesome progress (since this picture I've "inherited" Gawjam-Bastarnoz from their clumsy governing). Also currently the Arverni are extinct at my hand, the Aedui have been significantly damaged by my invasion and my raids after they foolishly decided upon an attack into modern-day Belgium and by the Romans to the south (my allies), and the Romani should be preparing for a German invasion after betraying me (they decided to go for an unguarded but totally pillaged and raped Viennos before it got to rebel back to the Aedui).

[Cute Wolf]

The most tiresome period (played in 5 days!) in this campaign, as I command simultaneously massive invasion, consist of 3 Strategos at the west, lead about 5 fullstack (2 are led by captain as reserve), and 1 Strategos led the Black sea encirclement with 2 fullstack (1 are led by captain as reserve).

[Beefy187]

Roman VH/M Vanilla
I just got past 200 BC as the Romans, and I've been in war with combined army of Luso and Getai.

Was playing on 2 army at any one time, having to be led by Consuls. Otherwise, I had to auto resolve.
After a nice and slow reaction, conquering Taras, Region and Sicily, I sat there raising my family members.

Then I got bored and went to fight Satres and his elite Alpine army. That is when the trouble begin....
After a few turns, full stack Getai came and sacked my city. (I had one of the Juliis governing the place)

After fighting few stacks of them in the North Italian front, Luso who just finished conquering the entire Gaul... came and attacked my place.

They had about 6 full stack army constantly besieging one of the three Northern Italian city.. I just couldn't handle it and had to Force Diplomacy ceasefire a couple of times...

I had to call it a end of role playing, and built two more stacks.

KH is occasionally sending a few units via Fleet for Taras too.

I never feared the AI up till now

[Hax]

Beefy, there's no picture. Is that intentional?

[Beefy187]

I'm on a different computer.
And my key board doesn't let me do cheat codes

[Africanus]

Here's my Romani campaign so far - VH/M.

Just vanquished the Luso a few turns befor this shot. I prefer to beat down my enemies and leave them one province (except for Carthage), but the Lusos sent their last remaining family member to attack me (bad idea ).

I allied with the Sweboz during the first year of the campaign and it's held up so far.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Unintended BM]

Makedonia, 216, M/M



Getai and Pontos are my protectorates, and stupid Rome keeps getting to like 23000 is Capua and then all of the sudden their population growth dips down to -2%. I guess I'll take Tarsos and start a war with the Ptolemies. I bought like half the land I have. Makedonia is a peaceful nation.

As for AI, I like what Baktria has done. They've gotten quite large since the last time I looked at them. The Getai rarely get such a large amount of land in my games, but I've been paying them off with huge amounts of money most of the time. Pontos had Ankyra, Sinope, and Trapezous, but I bought all of them because they're my protectorate and I didn't want to ruin that. The Romans and the Sweboz and sandwiching Gaul. The Ptolemies and I are splitting up Seleukid land.

[Hax]

Arche Seleukeia
231 BC
BI.exe
No cheats/force diplomacy (save toggle_fow)


Allies: Saba
Enemies: Ptolemaioi, Pontos, Pahlava (the three P's), Saka-Rauka, Makedonia
Dead: Arverni, Aedui

Arverni: Dead. Killed around 5 years ago by Romani
Aedui: Idem
Baktria: Not doing that much at the moment. Just...walking around my borders and taking some cities in the far east. Allied to the Pahlava though, scum.
Casse: *tumbleweed*
Epeiros: Was reduced to Taras by Makedonia, took Capua at one point, but now is reduced to Taras again.
Getai: Engaged in a fatal struggle to the death with Makedonia. Their death, I think. I might just help them out.
Hayasdan: ...
Kart-Hadast: Doing their own thingies in North Africa, I think
Koinon Hellenon: Well, they actually got Syrakousai and started expanding from their. They are the blue thingies in Sicily and Olbia.
Lusotannan: Taking Iberia, cool and easy
Makedonia: Betrayed me, sieged Pergamon. They learned they shouldn't do that when I have a fullstack nearby. So I killed that army and took Mytilene. I don't want to cross into Greece just yet, although it might be very handy to have more factional troops hanging around..hmm...
Pahlava: Betrayed me in the first turn! Vhat a tvist! Took Asaak, lost it again after twenty years. I then took Nisa as well. They are pretty much reduced to nothing right now.Pontos: Betrayed me around 235, I reduced them to just Sinope.
Ptolemaioi: I took all of their cities outside of Egypt by 250 BC. I moved into Egypt around 245/240 BC, and took most of their cities. They sometimes try to attack Diospolis Megale, but are kicked back to the south all the time
Romani: Went totally insane. They killed the Arverni and Aedui and controls the lower part of Gaul.
Saba: Pretty cool guys. Meroë rebelled to them and they took all of Arabia. I have this foreboding feeling that they'll betray me (soon) though.
Saka-Rauka: They're not really that spectacular, as they haven't managed to run over Marakanda yet. They took Eschateia at one point, but that city rebelled back to me.
Sauromatae: Do I need to mention the Tumbleweed again?
Sweboz: Assisted the Romans in killing the Gauls, and controls Germania as well as northern Gaul. Let's see what will happen...

[Zim]

I've always wondered, does the Black Sea area produce much income? I keep meaning to start a Getai game and taking all the ports along the Black Sea...

Makedonia, 216, M/M

[Unintended BM]

Well, the main reason I took most of those towns were these guys:



And horse archers.

Other than that, I think Kotais and Trapezous have mines. Coastal cities in general give you decent amounts of money. The two towns in the steppes, the ones east and west of the Crimean towns, they probably don't give you much money, but once you hold them for a while, let the population build up, etc., I bet they're pretty good trading cities.

[Cute Wolf]

Yeah, the best archer in the game..... save for Kretans that was better in melee anyway.

[anubis88]

Yeah, the best archer in the game..... save for Kretans that was better in melee anyway.

I thought that to, but now i use subeshi archers. They are killers, since i think they have the maximum range in the game, so they really kick unarmoured units asses.

EDIT: Damn, it seems that this was just my imagination, since i looked up the unit details :S

[anubis88]

Anyways, here's my Parthian Empire at 118 BC:


I further attacked Baktria, and conquered some land from them, which i made vassal kingdoms. I made the mistake of capturing Samarkand and letting it rebel, since it rebelled to my allies the Saka, which are now at war with me.

Baktria is no more then a petty province nowdays.

the AS are just incredible. They still have huge armies. And they kicked Ptoly asses, kicked the KH from cyrene and Augila, and are giving me a hard time. They get to war with Pontos every turn, but then declare a ceasfire the same turn.

Pontos has gone crazy. They practicaly destroyed the KH mainland, despite KH being the second or third power in the world for most of the game, at some time holding the entire starting positions of Eperios and Makedonia, + the wester part of Micra Asia.

Rome is still trying to put down the "rebellions" in Spain, but they can't quite finish them off. Velika is a real stronghold. They are going back and forth with Carthage in Africa, and if they had a competent commander there, they would destroy them by now.

Epeiros is a regional power, not letting the Romans invade a greece.

I attacked a few AS holdings, but managed only to get Damascus and gave it to the Ptolys, + Pork hayk (or whateva) and gave it back to the Hai.

Hayasdan can't get Armavir back to them. IMHO when they succed, the entire AS power may diminish, since Hayasdan will be a worthy adversary once more.


Oh, and sorry for the white crap at the bottom, but my MPaint skills really suck

[bobbin]

Romani 195bc

Currently fighting the Lusotann and have seized all their Gallic holdings, I'm hoping to make peace with them at some point as I have no desire to involve myself in Iberia right now.
The Getai have also attacked me but have been halted by the presence of one of my armies camped out on the only bridge into my territory, they seem hesitant to attack now only having a few small armies hovering nearby doing nothing.

My next move is strengthen my position in Gaul by conquering the Aedui who are weak and ripe for the taking as well as absorbing the Sweboz enclave. As for the Arverni I shall leave them be as they have been faithful allies for many years and will serve as a strong buffer against any Sweboz attacks.

In other parts of the map, the Pahlava are attacking Pontos who has cleverly established a foothold in the Crimea as a safe haven, it remains to be seen if the Pahlava can capture and hold any settlements so far from thier centres of power.

The Ptolemaioi are embroiled in a war with the Saba but whilst besting them in almost every battle they are not making much headway due to the remote and rebellious nature of the Saba cities.

The Seleukids having nearly completed their miraculous recovery from complete defeat are poised to capture the last Makedonian city and a reinforce their postion as a strong regional power.

Greece is a complete warzone but the Eporites seem to have the upper hand now.

[XSamatan]

I love your map Hax! Nice idea and beautiful done!

XSamatan

[anubis88]

Well here it is... My first game to go beyond 100BC...

My Pahlava campaign at 95BC.
.

It took ages for me to help Rome to get Utica. I bribed a Carthaginian general, and made a full stack of mercenaries and after about 10 years i managed to conquer the City, and give it to Rome. Now there's no more worries of their Republic to brake down in Africa.

On the Eastern part:
The Ptolies were about to be destroyed, having only Damascus left, so i started an invasion in Syria, captured Antiochia, Palmyra and Sidon, in gave them with money to the Ptolies, just so i don't have to fight an extremly rich Seleucid Empire.

I just attacked my long term allies, Hayasdan, since i was really starting to get bored, and i decided to capture Arbela and Phraaspa.

I also helped Rome a bit, on their eastern front, and they finaly managed to destroy what was left of Epeiros. Now the war with Pontos will probably start.

SPQR has like 8 full stacks patrolling W Gaul and Spain, and they still let their provinces rebel!!.

I will probably have to move those armies myself, in order to give them a chance in the following Mithridatic wars.

P.S. Notice the irony, with the Seleucids having Egypt, and Ptolies Syria.

Oh, and i forgot to mention the KH creating a Bosphoran kingdom by now... I forgot to write it on the picture... Oh well

[Molinaargh]

I wish my maps were balanced like that in the late game. One AI faction always conquers most others. Maybe they're too agressive on VH? What difficulty are you playing at, anubis?

[anubis88]

VH.

But i'm using Force diplomacy to steer the Romans in the right way. Other then that i help the Ptolies(without FD, they're more like my vassals in syria) but noone alse. It is indeed remarkable how long some factions are alive.

Lusotana for one, just wont go away. Iberian Cities keep rebelling to them. Also the Getai are protectorates of Pontos for about 50 years, so they are safe. KH was once a great empire, but now they live only on Crete and the Bosphoran kingdom, which are pretty secure. (Altough the Ptolies have 2 huge stacks on crete, but neverming.

I recommend you try using FD. But use it only to help the stupid AI.

[Dyabedes of Aphrodisias]

Update:

The Known World According to the Swebozez, ~160BC


Right now at war with Rome. Going to sack a few more major cities and trade peace for Patavium and protectoracy so they won't be a problem in the future. The Seleukids are mighty (mighty!). They've decided to reunite Alexander's empire I guess, and are currently working on Hellas proper. They've got dozens of stacks running about north of Greece, spewing over from Anatolia. They've made the Getai their protectorate, kicked Makedonia out of their homeland and now are wresting the rest of it from Epeiros (though somewhat unsuccessfully). It seems to be stalemated, and has been for the last several years. The Epeirotes, Getai, Makedonians and Aedui combined produce just enough regional power to equalize the Seleukid war machine in the area. The Aedui are on their deathbed I predict. Their migration to Illyria wasn't too good for them; too many factions vying for those lands, and they're without their factional troops. At war with Rome, Epeiros and Seleukia without factional troops...

[Horatius Flaccus]

Beautiful expansion! I like how the Seleucids haven't expanded to the steppes or into Meroe.

[anubis88]

Beautiful expansion! I like how the Seleucids haven't expanded to the steppes or into Meroe.

And Pergamon is the only "superpower" whom the Seleucid can't conquer! You gotta love that little rebel spot

[Dyabedes of Aphrodisias]

And Pergamon is the only "superpower" whom the Seleucid can't conquer! You gotta love that little rebel spot

That is kind of a funny little thing there. The Epeirotes, too - they were down to just Ambrakia not terribly long ago. Then they exploded, taking all of Hellas proper from the Makedonians, whom I thought were going to be the next major regional power, then themselves being pushed back by the Seleucids.

[Zim]

In 272 the Sweboz were, at best a regional power, but that would change with the ascension of Heruwulfaz. Heruwulfaz led the confederation against neighboring tribes, bringing ever more of them into the confederation. As his people's territory grew, so did his fame, and every tribe conquered eagerly provided troops on the promise of a share in the loot, as well as a share in the leadership of the Confederation for their own rulers. Heruwulfaz would become known as Waldondz Theudom Alaizom, "Ruler of all Tribes". Even many of the Baltic and Celtic tribes became vassals of his, and all across the Confederation and its vassal states mourned when he died in 228 B.C.

Since then the Sweboz have been under the rule of a succession of shortlived rulers, none who would gain the fame of their predecessor. Sweboz land and influence would continue to grow, but in fits. Neighboring tribes and nations, sensing weakness in the Confederation's lack of a strong ruler, have attacked. In the east the Getai are barely held back, their archers raining death on German troops, while the presence of horsemen with both riders and cavalry clothed in chain on the northeastern borders frightens the garrisons there. In the south the incessant raids of the Romani have forced the current ruler Leubaweniz to strike at the Po Valley in an attempt to prove to the Sweboz vassal states that the Confederation can still protect them.

Current extent of Sweboz influence.



1. Sweboz core territories.

2. Allied German tribes.

3. Baltic and Slavic allied vassal tribes.

4. Alpine Celtic vassal tribes.

5. Enclave of Patavium, ruled by Erilaz.

Important figures in the Confederation

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Herulwufaz, regarded as the Confederations greatest ruler, who passed away in 228 B.C..



Leubaweniz, current ruler of the Sweboz. Accusations of cowardice and weakness have just finally started to fade away after his successful campaign in Northern Italy, but the overstretching of Sweboz resources may prove disastrous.



Erilaz, a close compatriot of Leubaweniz, has grown covetous of the riches of the civilized cities to the south. He's been placed in Patavium both in an attempt to satiate his greed and to keep a watch on the Celtic vassals nearby.



Young and ambitious, Segumerjaz was granted rulership over the Alpine Celtic vassal tribes in exchange for his service in conquering them. He would like to see his kingdom gain further autonomy from the Confederation, but unable to withstand Roman excursions on his own he's been forced to call upon Leubaweniz for aid, further tying his fortunes to the Sweboz ruler. On the plus side, he's likely to gain Mediolanum out of the deal...



Brandafusaz is the supposed defender of the eastern tribes, and responsible for the Baltic peoples since their last native ruler died. However, he's become tied up in attempted conquests of Getic land, while behind him Carrodunum is sieged by Steppe peoples.

[Molinaargh]

I like your characters, Zim.

Pahlava VH/M, 231 B.C.


Restarted playing an old Pahlava game. Baktria took 2 cities from me at some point, but now I'll be the one taking cities

[Tiberius Claudius Marcellus]

***UPDATED! PICTURES NOW AVAILABLE!!!***

I am playing the Romans (VH/M) and am not using Force Diplomacy or toggling FoW. All intel comes from spies and map swaps.

STARTING IN 272 BC


262 BC

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Europe
10 years into the game the fledgling SPQR has soundly thrashed the Epirote presence in Kalabria (city: Taras) and has put the traitorous rebels to the sword in Brettia (city: Rhegion). The Senate has decided to work on the economy of the land and attempt to make relations with the various tribes more harmonious. Peace and trade has been achieved with the Sweboz and Arverni, the fragile alliance with Carthage remains in tact, and tempers are beginning to cool towards the Epirote Greeks.

Hellas is a hotbed of military strife and conflict, but the Makedonians appear to be gaining the upper hand.

The Sweboz are working on subduing all the tribes within their greater homeland region as are the Arverni - steadily manhandling the Aedui on the battlefield without managing to conquer any settlements that would enable them to control the region.

Asia
The Ptolemies have completely annihilated the central and eastern forces of the AS. They have conquered all Seleucid territory east of Anatolia with the exception of three remote and mountainous provinces: Parapomisadai (city: Kophen), Sogdiane (city: Marakanda), and Arachosia (city: Alexandropolis).

All other factions remain rather unimpressive at this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

252 BC

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Europe
The SPQR has achived an uneasy alliance with the Arverni in an attempt to mutually dissuade the Aedui from further aggression. Closer to home, the tribes in the areas of Liguria and Aemilia have become more accepting of Roman hegemony in the region - possibly because of the constant presence of two legions in the area to "assist" the tribes in repelling further Celtic invasions of the penninsula. Trade relations have been established with the Epirotes. No further expansion as the economy continues to grow.

The Aedui have continued to dominate the battlefield against the Arverni. The only thing stopping their complete subjugation of all Gallic tribes is the tenuous Triumvirate of the last strongholds of the Arverni, Sweboz, and SPQR.

The Lusotannan have firmly allied themselves with Carthage and have used the occasion of a secure southern border to extend their influence over all of northern Iberia, up to the Pyrenees and the contested border with the Aedui.

The Makedones have been halted from complete control of Hellas and Illyria by stout Epirote resistance, however, both city-states of Athenai and Sparte have succumbed to Makedonian oppression. Not to be deterred from their stalled westward expansion, the Basileus of the Makedones has sent his armies north and eastward into Dardanoia (city: Serdike), Odrysai (city: Tylis), and Chersonesos Thraikia (city: Byzantion) to obtain tributes and men-at-arms to crush the Epirote resistance.

The Epirote Greeks have stalwartly smashed several full stack Makedonian armies and sent the remnants fleeing into the hills. Emboldened by this turn of events, the Great Pyrrhus has taken advantage of the weakness of his neighbors and subjected the tribes of Dalmatia (city: Dalminion), Pannonia Illyrica (city: Segestica), and Scorcouw (city: Singidunum) to his levy of taxes and soldiers.

Seemingly unbeknownst to the major combatants in Hellas, the Getai have extended their influence to include Getia Koile (city: Sarmiszegethusa), Mikra Skythia (city: Kallatis), Thraikia Hypertera (city: Naissos), and Skythia (city: Olbia). Meanwhile, refugees of Athenai and Sparte, aided by ships of their Rhodian allies, have established a government-in-exile in Bosporion Tyrranesis (city: Pantikapaion).

Asia
The AS have re-conquered one or two provinces from the Ptolemies, however Baktria has expanded into India, without having re-taken Marakanda) and now has units with elephants.

The Pahlavans are holding well against continued Ptolemaic incursions in to the steppes, but are otherwise stagnant, having only captured Dahyu Mazsakata (city: Gava-Mazsakata). The Saka and Sauromatae are also stagnant, having only captured Saka Yagbu (city: Gava Saka) and Dahyu Yugra (city: Gava-Yugra) respectively.

In Anatolia, the ruling dynasty of the Hayasdan has been either captured or killed by the burgeoning military machine that is Pontos. The Pontic forces have annihilated all Seleucid forces in Anatolia and filled the power vacuum by supplanting the regional satrapies of the AS with their own. Heady with the sense of invincibility that comes from having so soundly defeated a super power, a Pontic army has freed the Ptolemaic city of Side, in Pamphylia, from "Greek oppression".

Ptolemaic response to this assault has been - in a word - :flower:. Rather than send an army to relieve the besieged city, they have taken to spawning half stacks of crap to patrol their internal regions.

Africa
The mighty trading empire of the Carthaginians has spent the last decades eliminating strongholds of pesky desert tribes that were raiding their caravans. Hegemony of the western portion of the continent is complete and a mighty fortress and outpost at Kyrene, in Kyrenaia, has been founded in order to dissuade Ptolemaic westward expansion. Diplomatic efforts are underway in Iberia to attempt to sway the southern tribes to their side, rather that submit to a greater Lusotannan-led collective. Outright expansion in Iberia has been non-existant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

242 BC

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Europe
War has erupted between the Carthaginians and the Res Publica! After several lengthy sieges and field battles between three and four armies at a time, the legions of Rome have driven off the Punic forces and those of their allies from the entire island of Sicilia. Roman control was shortly established with some rioting in Syrakousai, but no outright rebellion. In the northern lands of the Italic penninsula, the tribes of Liguria and Aemilia welcomed Roman protection and officially became part of the Republic. Due to the military interactions of the legions of the SPQR and its conflicts with Celtic and Punic armies, military reforms were adopted by the Senate and tactics and equipment has changed for the better!

The Aedui have conquered all of Gaul, vanquishing the last strong hold of the Arverni in 245 BC. They took advantage of the Roman war with Carthage and the Sweboz attempting to move south in to the homelands of the extremely independent tribes in Rhaetia, Noricae, and Mrogbonna. Without these strong allies, the Arverni stood no chance against the juggernaut of their brothers. Though in doing so, they have technically gone to war with the SPQR and the Sweboz, both nations appear quite willing to offer terms of peace - if only to strengthen themselves for the war to come.

It would appear that the Lusotannan have also taken a page from the playbook of the Aedui by declaring war on their former ally and joining the side of Rome! War was declared on the Carthaginians and the entirety of Iberia fell under the sway of the Lusotannan chieftains within five years. Apparently the Punic diplomatic efforts were for naught.

Hellas remains stalemated, but the Makedonians have crossed the Bosphorus and have taken the coastal regions of Bithynia (city: Nikaia), Mysia (city: Pergammon), the island of Lesbos (City: Mytilene), and Lydia (city: Sardis) - putting them at odds now with the firmly established Pontic Kingdom of Mithradates.

To the north, the Getai have gone to war with both Epiros and Makedon, determined to plunder the riches of their cities. The strongholds of Lucorattea, Gawjam-Bastarnoz, and Sigdunum and their surrounding farmlands have come under the purview of the Getic king.

Asia
The last reigning Basileu of the Arche Seleukia was deposed by a Ptolemaic general in 248 BC. Enriched with slaves and material wealth, the Ptolemies strengthened their internal infrastructure and sent military forays into Arabia to secure the wealth of the trade routes there, as well as to confront the growing threats of Pontos, Pahlava, and Baktria.

Pontos has responded to the new Makedonian threat by stationing large armies at bridges and choke points on the west of their newly acquired Anatolian territories, and have further expanded their grasp into the independent territories of Egrisi (city: Kotais), Kartli (city: Mtskheta), Aghvan (city: Kabalaka), and Adurbadegan (city: Phraaspa). Several sieges against Egyptian-controlled Tarsos and Antiocheia were soundly beaten back.

Baktria has mustered its armies, swollen with infantry and elephant recruits from India, and began to whittle away at the field armies of the Ptolemies in their eastern regions, without successfully conquering any settlements of note. They are experiencing severe losses to the newly mobilized hordes of the Saka Rauka.

The Saka have exploded over central Asia and extended their domain to Dahyu Alanna (city: Gava-Alanna) in the west, Kangha (city: Chach) in the south west, and Xiyu (city: Sulek) in the south east. Multiple armies, some more independent and aggressive, and others more loyal to the King and controlled, roam their borders ready to raid and conquer at a moment's notice.

Not to be caught unready, the Sauromatae have also sped headlong towards the Saka to halt their expansion in to the homelands. They control all lands in between Dahyu Mazsakata (city: Gava-Mazsakata) to Sapmi (city: Asodat) to Neurije (city: Gordu-Neuije) to Maeotis (city: Tanais).

Africa
Stunned by their defeat in Sicilia and by their betrayal by the Lusotannan, the Carthaginian leadership is at a loss as to how to respond. Sensing this weakness, admirals of the navy have begun to raid Roman and Lusotannan shipping without direct orders in an attempt to help rectify the situation and to exert Punic influence in the Mediterranean. They successfully prevented a flotilla of Roman biremes from reaching their destination of Sardinia to land troops. The entire armada with its legions and two generals was sent to the depths of Poseidon's realm. Rumors on the trade routes claim that desert nomads are revolting and harassing the southern reaches of Carthage's holdings in Africa. Could this be a result of the lack of clear leadership and decision making in Carthage?

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232 BC

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Europe
The legions of Rome have completed their conquest of Sardinia and Corsica, gaining the military and trade ports there. Troops have been permanently garrisoned to serve as a buffer for the Italic main land. Further north, legions have crushed opposition to Roman dominance and enslaved the populations of Mediolanum, in Insubramrog, and Patavium, in Venetia. The entire Italic peninsula now lies under the purview of the Senate and People of Rome. Citizen ship has been extended to many thousands of land owners and the Samnites have finally paid their debt to Rome for having rebelled and resisted so long ago. A one-sided peace was pressed upon Carthage, and tribute flows regularly into the coffers.

The Lusotannan have broken through the border defenses of the Aedui and their unwashed hordes have poured into the regions of Aquitae (city: Burdigala), Lemorisae (city: Lemonum), and Volcallra (city: Tolosa). Multiple armies roam the countryside and even the Chief of Kings has been seen leading their forces in battle.

The Aedui are in a desperate struggle to repel the invading Lusotannan. Diplomatic efforts have been mostly unsuccessful - though an allied general and his army was bribed to join the side of the defenders. To add to their dire situation, they are also defending against the Sweboz on their east.

The Sweboz have bided their time until now to take vengeance for the disgrace of not coming to the aid of their allies, the Arverni. They have conquered and put to the sword the inhabitants of the cities of Bagacos, Vesontio, and Aventicos. The uneasy truce with the Romans appears to be a stumbling block before their hurried assault.

The Getai and the Epirotes have obtained an uneasy peace - both sides having fought to a stand still. The Makedonians, seeing that both of its enemies are, while injured, still viable opponents, consolidates its holdings in Hellas and turns its attention to the east - fighting Pontos in undecisive skirmishes.

Asia
The Ptolemies have bolstered the defenses of their central and eastern holdings with the troops and riches gained from the destruction of the imposter successor state. Though having lost a few provinces to Baktria, they and Pahlava have been fought to a standstill. In Anatolia, Greek arms have driven back the marauding armies of the pretended "king" of Pontos and all of the holdings of the former "kingdom" of Hayasdan from Ani-Kamah in Pokr Hayk to Phraaspa in Adurbadegan now bow to the indominable will of Pharaoh. Several armies have also wandered the deserts of Arabia attempting to raid the camps of the Bedouin nomads and dominate the political landscape, but as soon as an army is withdrawn, the locals murder the strongman imposed upon them as a governor and continue to deny Egypt total control of the sea trade routes to India.

The "new" Persian kingdom of Pontos has suffered huge territorial and financial losses from the Egyptian offensive. While able to keep Makedonia at bay, for the time being, they are slowly being ground into dust.

The various nomad clans and tribes wander the steppes raiding their own members as often as they join forces to attack a common enemy. No banner stands to dominate the area completely at this time. The Indo-Greeks of Baktria have seen success against the infantry based armies of the Ptolemies, but they are peppered with arrows until there is barely left a man alive and the survivors run down in droves by the horsemen from the north.

Africa
Carthage continues to remain stagnant and impotent, even its admirals have given up hope through piracy.

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222 BC

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Europe
Rome has been busy maintaining its borders against the new Sweboz aggression that has arisen since they are unable to defeat the Lusotannan in battle.

The Lusotannan, still allied with Rome, captured and executed the last remaining family member of the Aedui in the summer of 224 BC. The leaders of about five tribes formerly allied with the Aedui declared their scattered and uncooperative independence. The lands of these tribes are now the stage for a power struggle between the expanding Lusotannan and Sweboz peoples.

All of Hellas remains stagnant in an uneasy peace.

Aisa
Makedonia has gained the advantage over Pontos and is slowly pushing eastward, fully occupying half of Anatolia.

The Ptolemies have forced their liberating governance on the peoples of Arabia, leaving the Saba one encampment and trading port at Homna in the land of Maketa. In the north of their realm, the nomadic Persians of Pahlava have been aroused by the riches of Pharaoh's cities and have struck out to make them their own, conquering Asaak, Zadrakata, and Hekatompylos.

The nomadic tribes to the north continue to squabble over grazing and hunting grounds, exchanging ownership every few seasons.

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212 BC

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Europe
No longer able to simply stand by while other nations expand, the Senate and People of Rome laid their eyes upon the rich mountain mines and coastal ports of Illyria - occupied by their long time enemies of Epiros. Several legions were dispatched by land and sea to blockade ports and to capture the various villages and towns of the lands. The regional capitols of Segestica, Dalminion, and Epidamnos were wrested from the Greeks and are now firmly under the thumb of Roman rule. Reinforcements were sent to bolster the defenses and to provide fresh troops for the counter attacks that were sure to come.

The son of the Molossian recoiled in abject terror as his lands were taken from him and his people sold in to slavery. He withdrew his remaining armies into the last bastions of his power - Ak-Ink and Singidunum; all others having been plundered by both the Getai. There he plotted the demise of his enemies and the defense of his kingdom.

The Getai have expanded their holdings to the borders of the Sauromatae in the north and the Sweboz in the northwest. There were still the remaining Epirotes and a few independent tribes separating themselves from the Romans.

While at first aiding the Romans financially for their support against the barbarian Epirotes, the Makedonians did not appreciate the fact that Roman legions were there to stay and so betrayed their alliance and besieged the garrison at Epidamnos. While this army was repulsed, it weakened the Romans enough to be able to lay siege to the other two newly conquered cities. The two regional powers were bound in a death grip - only one could be allowed to survive.

In western Europe, the Lusotannan had conquered and subjugated the entirety of Gaul, including the independent state of Greseoallra (city: Massalia) and were pressing into Sweboz homelands. The Sweboz, meanwhile were pressing back into Gaul and each side was suffering terrible losses. When they could, they continued to send armies across the alps to besiege Mediolanum - always unsuccessfully.

Asia
With their war in Hellas against the Romans, Makedonian military might was reduced without territorial loss in Anatolia by steady Pontic defenses and by a resurgence of Ptolemaic forces brought to the area by the newly forged Ptolemaic-Roman alliance, forged out of their mutual distrust and hatred of these pretended heirs to the throne of Alexander.

Pontos had been effectively reduced to its starting position plus Sinope and Trapezous while the Yellow Death continued to swallow them whole.

All other factions kept each other in check with occasional border changes.

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202 BC

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Europe
The Roman war machine was in full gear, churning out two fully equipped and trained legions each year. Epic battles were fought in the mountain passes and forested hills of Hellas. Casualties on both sides ran in the hundreds of thousands until eventually, all of Hellas that remained in Makedonian control were Athenai, Chalkis, Tylis, and Byzantion. Roman spy and assassin networks wreaked havoc amongst the operatives of the Baileus, killing several family members and destroying much needed infrastructure to support the war effort.

To the west, the Lusotannan began to assault the borders of the SPQR, besieging Segesta and even Mediolanum when they occupied the lands to the north. They were in a death lock with the Sweboz and sought to outmaneuver them by flanking through the Italian Alps. The Sweboz, however, fought hard and valiantly and took the border territories from the Lusotannan while still managing to raid the lower portions of the Amber Route within Getic lands.

The Getai raided the stagnant Epirote Greeks and fortified their new border with Roman occupied Hellas. It was to their north, however, where they focused their attention on the expanding and raiding Sauromatae horde.

Asia
Its holdings in Hellas all but lost, the Makedones renewed their war effort and soundly defeated several full stacks of Ptolemaic reinforcements meant to crush the true heirs of Alexander. While in Europe they may be on the run, in Asia they are here to stay.

All other factions appeared to remain stagnant with occasional border changes.

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192 BC

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Europe
Roman military might has driven the Makedones further out of Hellas by capturing both Athenai and Chalkis. Still the proud Makedones refuse to surrender and accept terms of peace. The economy of Hellas has been restored and plundered loot and trade from its myriad of ports has caused the coffers of the Senate and People of Rome to overflow. A systematic removal of all things Hellenic, save for wonders, has been instituted and the cities and people now have a proper Roman look and feel to them. With this victory, multitudes of troops are freed for duty in the alps against both the Sweboz and the Lusotannan. Roman legions have marched forth and liberated the peoples of Massalia and even so far as Aventicos in Helvetis. While the first city is held and defended successfully, the latter was overrun within a year - two legions and a consul being slaughtered by both the combined armies of the Sweboz and the Lusotannan.

The rest of Europe remains a constantly changing chessboard. While the Lusotannan are strong in one area, the Sweboz are strong in another, and so balance is achieved. The Getai remain engaged in their border skirmishes to the north and have accepted a strong peace with their new Roman neighbors.

Asia
The Saka have broken through Baktrian defenses, leaving them only six territories in the south east corner of the map. The Pahlava have flanked the Saka and drove eastward into their newly weakened neighbors. Territories between the two are exchanged randomly. The Sauromatae have yet to expand any further, simply patrolling their borders with full stacks of well-mixed units.

The Ptolemies have withdrawn from their war with Makedonia after their stunning losses in Anatolia and have also seemed to have granted clemency to the kingdom of Pontos - not having acted against it in nearly 20 years.

[johnhughthom]

226 in my Casse AAR campaign, have just built up my one city and let the AI play out itself.