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

**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.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-11-2008, 15:42

Originally Posted by General Appo

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.

Indeed, that's why I've not given them any assistance since the first turn pretty much. It looks like they've over-extended themselves and the Seleukids are returning with a vengeance too.

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-11-2008, 17:33

Later in 254BC:

I landed an army in Africa and took Adrumento, which was defended only by a single family member. Next port of call, Atiqa, assuming they can't scrap an army together for a battle.

In Sicily they actually landed another family member and some proper reinforcements. Give them long enough and my army might have gotten back from it's raid (I don't plan to hold either settlement). Pirate sunk the transports, I'll have to raise some more; all the money from destroying their buildings helped lots.