Post your EB empires!

[Tanit]

Nice game!

[Africanus]

161 BC.

Still seeing oddly passive AI behavior for a VH game. I sent two legions to give the Qarthadastim the boot out of Iberia, and when that was accomplished I fully expected the Lusos - a protectorate of the Qarthadastim - to attack me with their 6 fulls stacks running around not doing much of anything.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

But that never happened, so I sent my Hispania Ulterior legion to to take the remaining QH coastal provinces. I've left them the desert provinces and Lepki as a buffer to the mighty Ptolemaoi. I've shipped that general back to Rome to celebrate his triumph, and then it's back to Iberia. I suppose I'm going to have to be the aggressor against the Luso's, starting with Arse.

To the north, the peace with the Aedui has held since the game's second turn, and I've periodically given them settlements that I've taken from the Averni when I feel they've gotten too powerful. But after a tough battle to take Gergovia, the Aedui are now refusing to take it, even with Force Diplomacy.

After being attacked by the Sweboz, I've taken Mediolanum off them, and they send wave after wave of troops trying to get it back to no avail.

On the eastern front, it's more AI passiveness, as I've held borders with the KH and Epiros for years with no attacks. Epiros have lost all their Adriatic holdings and have many full stacks wandering around doing nothing.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'm wondering if being a protectorate kills the aggressiveness of a faction. Both the KH and Epiros are protectorates of the Ptolemy's, and the Luso's with the QH.

[Blxz]

I wish i had that AI passivness. Lost 3 good generals to massive elite Epirote attacks at Patavium. My fault I guess for leaving a skeleton garrison. Maybe your problem is the massive garrisons scaring their attacks off? Who knows, count yourself lucky though.

[Tanit]

If you simply offer a city, with the ability for the AI to choose what they give in return, or even as a gift I think, the AI can refuse even with force diplomacy. You need to request something back at the same time, like 1 mnai or something.

[Africanus]

I wish i had that AI passivness. Lost 3 good generals to massive elite Epirote attacks at Patavium. My fault I guess for leaving a skeleton garrison. Maybe your problem is the massive garrisons scaring their attacks off? Who knows, count yourself lucky though.

It is nice not to have to fight wars on five different fronts, yes. The problem is I don't like to be too aggressive and now that I've pretty much neutered the QH, and don't wish to expand north, I'm left with not much to do but watch the KH and Epiros amass huge armies and wander around aimlessly.

If you simply offer a city, with the ability for the AI to choose what they give in return, or even as a gift I think, the AI can refuse even with force diplomacy. You need to request something back at the same time, like 1 mnai or something.

Thanks, I'll have to give that a try next time.

[QuintusSertorius]

I find map information is the best thing to offer/request in return for whatever you're trying to give/take with Force Diplomacy.

[jirisys]

Olbia and Syrakousai were mine in the round finish

But... Why did I take it before the end?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Here's why :

~Jirisys (All Hail Hellenon!)

[Rahl]

I'm wondering if being a protectorate kills the aggressiveness of a faction. Both the KH and Epiros are protectorates of the Ptolemy's, and the Luso's with the QH.

All factions I made protectorates lost their aggressivness, if it's the same for AI factions I don't know, but it seems so.

[Africanus]

I find map information is the best thing to offer/request in return for whatever you're trying to give/take with Force Diplomacy.

Yes, I tried that earlier and it worked. Unfortunately, it didn't work with Gergovia. It's too late now as I've decided to keep Gergovia and have started building infrastructure. I plan on soon relieving the Sweboz of one of their settlements in retaliation for their constant attacks on me, so I'll try giving it to the Aedui once again.

All factions I made protectorates lost their aggressivness, if it's the same for AI factions I don't know, but it seems so.

The KH are protectorates of the Ptolemaoi no more as the two factions are now at war, so I'll get to see if the aggressiveness of the KH changes.

[QuintusSertorius]

Yes, I tried that earlier and it worked. Unfortunately, it didn't work with Gergovia. It's too late now as I've decided to keep Gergovia and have started building infrastructure. I plan on soon relieving the Sweboz of one of their settlements in retaliation for their constant attacks on me, so I'll try giving it to the Aedui once again.

You're right, it's not a guaranteed item of exchange.

Have you considered giving the ex-Sweboz settlement to the Casse? Danger of giving it to the Aedui is the Arverni or Sweboz will just take it off them. Give it to someone else and you change the dynamic.

[Folgore]

Bodmelqart crosses the Alps


Spring 212BCE


Summer 212BCE

Casualties:
Carthaginian ~850
Roman ~9000

First battle was at the river crossing north of Massalia. My army, fresh from the barracks, was besieging Massalia from the north, standing on the bridge, while an army of 3000 Romans attacked me from the north. At the same time, the 1000 Romans in Massalia sallied. I put my hoplites in a semi-circle around my side of the bridge while my Spanish and Garamantine troops crossed a ford a little to the east with my elephants. In no time at all I had 3000 Romans trapped on a bridge far too small for that number of troops with Elephants rampaging through the ranks. When my cavalry destroyed the reinforcements from Massalia, the men on the bridge were overwhelmed with panic and were all slaughtered while trying to escape.

The second battle was for a hill-top in the middle of the Alps. 2000 Romans had occupied it and it took the combined efforts of my heavy infantry and elephants to route them. What remained of the elephants from the previous battle fell here.

The third battle was on a slope going down the Alps on the Roman side. An army 3000 strong attempted to stop my advance, but they chose a very poor position, fighting an uphill battle against my forces. Sadly, they managed to hide a troop in the woods nearby, which managed to encircle my elite Africans, killing half of them before my cavalry could come to the rescue.

In all, I estimate I destroyed half the Roman armed forces in a single season. Time to destroy the other half!



NOTE: Elephants are totally not worth their price. It's that I'm swimming in cash, but if you are in want of money, spend it on something else.

Also, having an elite army you must be careful not to become overconfident and charging in without assuming a proper tactical formation or you will lose a needlessly high amount of your soldiers.



EDIT: Meanwhile, in Sicilia, the Romans besiege and assault Messena with a 3000 strong army (literally half of them Triarii). My 2500 strong garrisson (mostly regular hoplites) resists the assault, but takes 2300 casualties, resulting the biggest carnage I've ever seen.

[Africanus]

Have you considered giving the ex-Sweboz settlement to the Casse? Danger of giving it to the Aedui is the Arverni or Sweboz will just take it off them. Give it to someone else and you change the dynamic.

Hmmm, I like that line of thinking!

I ended up taking Aventicos and Valdideno, and the Audei this time were grateful for my gifts. They've managed to hold off the Sweboz for now but if I have to go at it again I'm definitely going to try to get the Casse into play. They've yet to attempt to get off the island.

Meanwhile, the KH have been much more aggressive since losing their protectorate status. They took Rhodes off the Makes, killing the last family member and destroying the faction while turning Crete rebel. They then took Crete and also Halikarnassos off the Ptoly's but lost Hali back. They still haven't come after me though.

The two remaining protectorates - Epiros and the Luso's - have still done absolutely nothing but wander around their holdings. I've got my two legions in Iberia and am getting prepared to strike. I also think I'm going to take Lepki off the QH to see if that provokes the Ptoly's to break their alliance with me and open another front. They're running roughshod over the rest of the world, splitting the once mighty Baktrian empire in two.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Blxz]

@Folgore, nice series of battles. I would like to see some minimaps also. Would be nice to see what the world looks like and what areas you and the romans control.