[Epeiros/Pergamon AAR] Heirs to Lysimachos

[QuintusSertorius]

Quintus I have a question


I'm trying to use add_money to help the AI but I'm nut sure if I'm doing it right, this Is what I write
add_money "Koinon Hellenon" -40000

You need to use their rtw faction names (have a look at the bottom of the descr_strat.txt - it tells you what every faction is called.

Syntax is thus: add_money greek_cities, [amount of money up to 40000, with a minus if you want to take it away]

[QuintusSertorius]

252BC:



The sharper-eyed amongst you might notice two things that are different. Firstly, my faction colour is now a rather fetching purplish-blue. No more confusion whenever I fight Gallic rebels, as happened in that last battle so half the time I couldn't tell which were my units and which the enemy's.

Second, Roma have taken Alalia and Messana. Not on their own, I'm afraid, they're still trying to expand into Gaul. Combination of FD and a move_character'd raid, then gifting them sorted it out. I've also moved some of their armies to Sicily, I'm hoping when I reload the "new" AI will use them to attack Syrakousai or Lilibeo, not march back into Italy.

Otherwise I'm just quietly building up my economy and defenses. Nearly all my settlements now have stone walls, and most blacksmiths. When I kick into war mode again, I'll be ready to churn out lots of troops.

Just bribed a Greek army to join me; mostly to weaken them so they don't wipe out Makedonia, but it handily gave me some troops I'd actually use. Not cheap at 26k, but still worth it.

The only faction I see a need to hurt right now are the rampant Ptolemies. Perhaps it's time to mount an assault on Side? Or perhaps just a raid (ie capture, destroy all buildings, leave) on Side and Tarsos? Possibly follow that with spies once it revolts back to the Ptolemies (or I give them back) to make them go rebel?

Starting to get thoughts of taking some distant locations while I'm chilling in my main location. Like Syrakousai, or Kyrene, or the Bosphorous. Would they be too hard to hold, given the distance?

[Lysimachos]

I assume, you are using rtw.exe like you did in the romani campaign after you tried BI? Perhaps it would be beneficial to use BI this time, so the romans could start oversea operations on their own and you would perhaps have a bit of a challenge to defend your islands (which would be non-existant with rtw.exe)?

[QuintusSertorius]

I assume, you are using rtw.exe like you did in the romani campaign after you tried BI? Perhaps it would be beneficial to use BI this time, so the romans could start oversea operations on their own and you would perhaps have a bit of a challenge to defend your islands (which would be non-existant with rtw.exe)?

Yep, rtw.exe, I was less than impressed with BI in my other game, so went back to the original. Same goes here, I'd much rather port AI armies about with move_character than rely on them to have a clue where they should be attacking. Besides if I do use BI, they'll often undo the moves I make for them by simply shipping troops back out again.

I'm more than open to ideas from people as to who might invade my islands and contest for control of them. I'm tempted to snatch some rebel stacks to simulate unrest amongst the local peoples anyway.

[Swordmaster]

Only the Ptolemaioi would attack your islands, if they needed. But we're not so far yet, I think.

Actually, I was also thinking about the Bosporan region for expansion, colony-style or something. You might have some fun fighting the Sarmatians should they dare attack you. Sounds like a good relief from fighting Hellenic-style troops all the time. Kyrene sounds like too much Ptolies-backyard, and Syrakousai should be the Roman/Carthaginian playground for now.

[QuintusSertorius]

Capture of Pamphylia

The kingdom of the Ptolemies had the audacity to send an assassin to Sardis, in an attempt to kill Alexandros. Moving quickly to avenge this insult, he gathered the army and marched to invest Side.



It was swiftly taken and more Greeks added to the confederation.



Now Alexandros pondered on something bigger. Perhaps a raid against Aigyptos itself, or Syria. Something to send the message that Pergamon was not to be trifled with, no matter how mighty you may be.

250BC:



So I took Side. I've started making for Naissos, if only to have something to do, maybe I'll start a war with the Getai and eventually take Kallatis? Besides it's about time I had an army on that side of the Hellespont, and doing something with it. Makedonia are too weak to attack, I could intervene in their war with Greece, but that might tip the balance too far over the other side.

Alternatively I could scour up some stacks from Egypt and let them combine so I can actually fight them. Or go to Syria and start pillaging there. All this consolidating leaves you feeling like you're sitting on your hands, and I think rushing the diplomats in after I've taken something doesn't give the AI a chance to respond.

What you see there is my standard army; a core of classical hoplites, Celto-hellenics on their flanks, peltasts on the wings and lots of cavalry.

Only the Ptolemaioi would attack your islands, if they needed. But we're not so far yet, I think.

Actually, I was also thinking about the Bosporan region for expansion, colony-style or something. You might have some fun fighting the Sarmatians should they dare attack you. Sounds like a good relief from fighting Hellenic-style troops all the time. Kyrene sounds like too much Ptolies-backyard, and Syrakousai should be the Roman/Carthaginian playground for now.

Not a bad idea, attack it, stick some type IV governments in and as you say try fighting horse-archers.

I'd be glad of some battles though, to be honest. Both the Ptolemies and Seleukids are so busy fighting each other in Syria that I'm all but ignored, apart from the odd assassin.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

From my understanding, Pergamon wanted to conquer Anatolia but not necessarily Kilikia and Syria. If I were you, I'd go after AS and Pontos before invading Europe.

By the way, quite the unique AAR here. Keep it up!

[||Lz3||]

Quintus how do you give settlements to the eleutheroi? cause... in my romani campaign unfourtunately right at the time I send my army to raid north africa n 255 bc , a karthadastim army appeared on sicily (the one from Xanthippos) and captured Sirakusai !!

but I could make it rebel cause they had their faction leader there , so it had a massive order bonus , so what I did was to attack , and capture the city and then let it rebel ,but that made it go back to the karthadastim... so I'm not sure what to do now.... retake it and stablish a client ruler (well sirakusai was allied after all) or... let the karthadastim have it , nut sure if there's any other way...

[QuintusSertorius]

Quintus how do you give settlements to the eleutheroi? cause... in my romani campaign unfourtunately right at the time I send my army to raid north africa n 255 bc , a karthadastim army appeared on sicily (the one from Xanthippos) and captured Sirakusai !!

but I could make it rebel cause they had their faction leader there , so it had a massive order bonus , so what I did was to attack , and capture the city and then let it rebel ,but that made it go back to the karthadastim... so I'm not sure what to do now.... retake it and stablish a client ruler (well sirakusai was allied after all) or... let the karthadastim have it , nut sure if there's any other way...

I didn't "give" anything to them; did it the hard way with spies and assassins to make it rebel. You need one decent spy in there (I'm certain multiple ones actually add to the order, not decrease it), and a cloud of good assassins to sabotage the buildings that give public order bonuses. I wouldn't bother trying to assassinate the governor, your chances are so slim it's a waste of assassins.

It should rebel to either the faction creator (which for Syrakousai I think is Koinon Hellenon) or else to the rebels. The governor's residence is the usual decider; if the Qarthadastim have upgraded it then it'll rebel to them, but if you get it to rebel again it'll go Rebel.

[||Lz3||]

yep well that's what I meant by giving , the hard thing is that karthadast already upgraded the city..., so if I make it rebel twice... it will go to the rebels?

[QuintusSertorius]

yep well that's what I meant by giving , the hard thing is that karthadast already upgraded the city..., so if I make it rebel twice... it will go to the rebels?

If they've upgraded the governor's palace it's possible, but difficult.

[QuintusSertorius]

The Defense of Kyrenaia, Act I

Once a favoured general and worthy nobleman in Pergamon, and a fixture at court, Skepas Thesprotos had fallen out of favour. Tried in a prosecution sponsored by his enemies, he was exiled from Pergamon and took refuge in the Greek communities in Kyrene. It was about as far away from Pergamon as he could go, yet still be surrounded by people who spoke the same language as he did, even if it was with a strange African dialect.

The people of Kyrene were glad to have him, no matter his reputation he was a man of substance and standing who enhanced the community. His knowledge of building projects and military engineering had helped improve the city of Kyrene. Often the council would ask his opinion on matters of state. Then came word that Ptolemaic Egypt was mustering an army to attack Kyrene, felt to be distant enough from Pergamon's sheltering influence to be vulnerable. They hadn't banked on Thesprotos being on hand. Appointed to command Kyrene's levies and mercenaries, he got to work drilling them in the manner of his armies of old.

When the Egyptians arrived, he didn't cower behind the walls, in a display of confidence the armies of Kyrene marched out of their long walls to face the invaders in an open field. They left behind some levies to man the walls and witness what would be done this day.

Thesprotos was outnumbered, his enemy were well-trained, but he had a plan.



The battle took place on the coast, with a portion of the Kyrene battle line hidden amongst the trees.



Confident in their numbers, the Egyptians advanced, weathering the hail of missile fire from the Kyrenaian skirmishers.



The Egyptian heavy cavalry charged the left flank.



Springing from the shadows of the treeline, the Thracian cavalry retaliated. Meanwhile a single elite phalanx block marched forward, as though to tempt the Kyrenaians into something rash.



Exercising commendable discipline, having dealt with the Egyptian cavalry, the Thracians wheeled around and returned to friendly lines.



The Ptolemaic infantry milled around as their commander gave contradictory orders.



Under the cover of the trees, the Thracians slipped around the Egyptian line to carry out their assigned task for the battle - kill the enemy general.



He and his bodyguard fought hard.



Seeing the danger to their general, some Galatian veterans tried to chase off the Thracians.



His blood up, the general charged after the retreating horsemen, unaware that his bodyguard were now all dead, and his Galatians couldn't keep up.



Outnumbered and surrounded, he didn't last long.



As the Thracians gave the signal for mission accomplished, Thesprotos ordered the infantry forward.



He personally led a band of Karians to attack some levy spearmen, who turned and ran without a fight.



All semblance of ordered lines vanished as the Kyrenaian hoplites charged home.



The outflanking maneuver by the Asian cavalry sparked a mass panic among the levy troops.



But the elite phalangites fought on regardless.







It took a charge by Thesprotos and the weary Thracians to finally break their resolve to fight to the last.



It was a glorious day for Kyrene.





Editorial note

Once again I had to balance out a hideously unbalanced army, adding some skirmishers and light cavalry to what was an all-infantry force. I did use my slingers to whittle down the general's bodyguard, then he created an opportunity to send some assassin cavalry to get rid of him when he kept lingering at the end of their line with those double-hard Galatians. Took some doing to stay ahead of them, yet kill him.

The cavalry got the lion's share of the kills, mostly in the routs as usual, but it was the Thracians who won that for me. Without killing their general, that would have been a defeat since the entire attacking phase after his death would have met failure with the morale and defense bonuses his stars gave them.

Still, another meaty battle.