[Romani AAR] It began on seven hills...

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 08:17

As I've already said, I'm not interested in alternate history. That doesn't give me any kind of guide as to what I should be doing and I'd either spend a lot of time turtling and building myself up without acting, or rashly going out there and grabbing stuff. I only play EB because I want a historical simulation, and a chance to test out my house rules.

The other AAR was always struggling to maintain my interest after Pahlava died, it was only then that I realised how important it is to keep an eye on the other factions from the very beginning, not just later on.

**Banzai!** · 04-10-2008, 09:53

Dude! Give Pyrrhus his due and give him back his territories.

If you want to stop him pwning the Macedonians fight him! Don't use Force Diplomacy.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 10:30

Originally Posted by Banzai!

Dude! Give Pyrrhus his due and give him back his territories.

If you want to stop him pwning the Macedonians fight him! Don't use Force Diplomacy.

I'm not fighting the Epirotes now I've taken Taras, nor engaging in an ahistorical early war in Greece. I've got war with Qarthadast, that's more than enough to content with, without losing even more trade income.

Besides which, all Makedonia were left with was Mytilene, and I didn't want them abandoning Greece and expanding out into Asia Minor.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 13:10

261BC:

Pontos is still expanding at an alarming rate, last turn they took Ankyra, which I gave to the Arverni via Force Dipliomacy. Nothing I have in the region can slow them down, my only spy just died trying to get into Nikaia. I've got two more on their way to try to foment some unrest and hopefully spark rebellions back to the Eleutheroi. If they take Tylis and I can't get it to revolt, I'll give it to Makedonia. What's most annoying is they're not even trying to take Sinope after failing the first time.

I took Messana a couple of turns ago, now things in Sicily have gone a bit cold. Apparently in 257BC or so there's a coming of age in Lilibeo which makes them more aggressive, so I'll wait for that to get the hot war moving. Then once we've had a battle or two, I'll send that stack to Africa.

I've been long-sieging Segesta, about to start again for the final time. Has had the side benefit of culling the Gaesatae who will make taking it hard.

The taking of Messana has helped my economy a lot, now clearing around 4k in profit a year, which I've been putting to good effect building some farms and markets.

**STuNTz2023** · 04-10-2008, 15:40

nice job so far, trying to control AI expansion looks to be a real pain the ass tho. lol

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 04-10-2008, 16:49

Originally Posted by STuNTz2023

nice job so far, trying to control AI expansion looks to be a real pain the ass tho. lol

Yep, he'd have had an easier time on Medium campaign difficulty instead of Hard for a purely historical game.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 16:53

259BC:

My conquest of Italy is now done for a generation having taken Segesta and now holding all Italy south of the Padus.

In the rest of the world, I had a brief scare thinking the Arverni would take Massilia, but it was an army led by a captain and they got mauled. Makedonia seem to have awoken, taking Serdike and now besieging a weakened Tylis. I can only hope they'll kick Pontos off the continent.

Pahlava and Baktria are both growing at the expense of the Seleukids. The Hai are doing alright, I think they're just about to start trouble with the Sauromatae.

Funny people mention the campaign difficulty, I haven't really found the AI lvel of aggressions towards itself any different in Medium, compared to Hard.

**Chirurgeon** · 04-10-2008, 17:07

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

As I've already said, I'm not interested in alternate history. That doesn't give me any kind of guide as to what I should be doing and I'd either spend a lot of time turtling and building myself up without acting, or rashly going out there and grabbing stuff. I only play EB because I want a historical simulation, and a chance to test out my house rules.

The other AAR was always struggling to maintain my interest after Pahlava died, it was only then that I realised how important it is to keep an eye on the other factions from the very beginning, not just later on.

The beauty of alternate history is that you are not chained to what actually happened. The AI does not follow history. You said you quit your last campaign because the Pahlava were killed off. That can happen in EB. Its what makes the game fascinating. The AI does not play by your rules which is why it is easier to adapt to the situations that you are presented with. One of the most enjoyable aspects of AARs is not knowing what is going to happen next. One of the most intense and long fought wars I ever did was when I was Rome and had to face the Macedonian Juggernaut that had taken over everything south of the Danube. It was amazing because I had to come up with tactics to beat them without Legionnaires. I think the AI will frustrate your efforts. Not only will you micromanage your own faction but you will have to do that for the other dozen factions as well. Just trying to save you a lot of trouble later on thats all.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 17:11

Originally Posted by Chirurgeon

The beauty of alternate history is that you are not chained to what actually happened. The AI does not follow history. You said you quit your last campaign because the Pahlava were killed off. That can happen in EB. Its what makes the game fascinating. The AI does not play by your rules which is why it is easier to adapt to the situations that you are presented with. One of the most enjoyable aspects of AARs is not knowing what is going to happen next. One of the most intense and long fought wars I ever did was when I was Rome and had to face the Macedonian Juggernaut that had taken over everything south of the Danube. It was amazing because I had to come up with tactics to beat them without Legionnaires. I think the AI will frustrate your efforts. Not only will you micromanage your own faction but you will have to do that for the other dozen factions as well. Just trying to save you a lot of trouble later on thats all.

It makes the game a lot more interesting for me having to keep an eye on them. Just focusing on your own faction without a view to the balance of power elsewhere quickly turns into a rather boring game of queuing stuff with the occasional battle here and there.

Furthermore, it gives your agents something meaningful to do. Diplomats, spies and assassins are all active parts of keeping the AI factions balanced, rather than just people you occasionally use for yourself.

Plus it stops you rushing out there, which inevitably seems to be involved in people playing "alternate history". It wasn't actually that much trouble in the other game, and I've started earlier this time around.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 18:24

257BC:

Just as someone said, in 259BC a Karthadastim family member came of age, and suddenly they became a lot more aggressive. I've been giving them money in the hopes they'll hire a fair few of the huge numbers of mercs washing around Sicily. I've been avoiding hiring any of them myself.

There's a genuine stalemate in Libya between Seleukids and Ptolemies. Baktria are starting to get into their swing. Pahlava are giving the Seleukids a lot of trouble. Epeiros have fully gone to sleep, they're now a Makedonian protectorate and doing nothing. Koinon Hellenon keep attacking the Seleukids in Asia Minor after Halikarnassos rebelled to them.

**General Appo** · 04-10-2008, 18:53

Well, I would certainly never be able to play a campaign like this, always interfering with the AI´s war, but it´s sure fun to read an AAR about it, so keep it up. I hope we get to see a big Imperium Romanum vs Parthian Empire war in a few hundred years. It´s good to see that the Pahlavans are doing something of their own in 1.1, and not just attacking the Saka´s.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-10-2008, 22:33

254BC:

Waiting and gifting of money (via console) seem to have stirred Qarthadast into action! They've now besieged Messana three times, I've got another attack to fend off here. You can't see them because they've just boarded ship, but I've got the Army of Sicily ready to sail to north Africa, which means the client ruler of Messana is on his own. That said he's proven quite capable and though he only has local levies to call upon, they are well-drilled enough.

If anyone is wondering about how Saba ended up with a province in the north African desert, that's some capricious Force Diplomacy from me right there. Since the various kingdoms of Numidia, Mauretania and others don't exist, I figured something needed to prevent Karthadastim hegemony in Africa.

I think Pahlava have over-extended themselves taking Susa, they've run out of steam.

**General Appo** · 04-11-2008, 14:37

Good work. Though be careful the Pahlavans there, a huge Parthian Empire around 50BC might be nice, but you still want some Seleukids to fight in the Roman-Syrian war.