Roman: Scipii

[Pontifex Rex]

It looks like the Brutii will be your toughest opposition in the march on Italy. Hopefully the AI will give you a good fight.

[Pontifex Rex]

Report to the Senate - Spring 255 BC

Expensive victories.

Cornelius Scipio led I Legion through the gates of Massena in the spring of 260BC after a small relief force of mercenary Hoplites and Samnite Warriors landed north of the city. After a bloody fight the Carthaginians army was defeated and driven from the field. Unfortunately, Cornelius would not live long after his victory and died in the fall of 260 BC. II Legion laid siege to Thermon and withstood a relief attempt by a Greek field army, unfortunately the garrison was too strong to be overcome by the legion after the relief force was defeated. III Legion marched north from Larissa and lifted the siege of Thessalonica in another major field battle that saw the Macedonian army retreat to Bylazora. III Legion followed up its victory by laying siege to the Macedonians at in their last northern city. Meanwhile at sea the navy traded victories and defeats in a war of attrition against the Greek Cities, the Macedonians and Pirates.

The years 259 – 258 BC proved to very challenging ones for the Scipii. I Legion (now commanded by Lucius Scipio) marched west to the border of Carthaginian territory where it fought and won 3 major field battles though it suffered quite heavy losses. Despite casualties, the legion maintained itself in the field and 258 BC ended with young Lucius facing the decision of striking for Lilybaeum or Syracuse. All this time II Legion, while suffering many casualties takes Thermon and then marches on Larissa and places the city under siege. A reinforcing column of archers, slingers and infantry was dispatched from Crete to aid II Legion when 2 major Greek armies were landed east of Larissa in an attempt to regain control of northern Greece. In a series of field battles and on and off again sieges, Larissa is taken and the remnants of the Greek armies driven back to the ships. III Legion, although badly outnumbered by the garrison of Bylazora, maintains the siege lines while absorbing what few reinforcements could be spared from the south.

257 – 256 BC were largely dominated by naval battles off the east coast of Sicily and Crete. Admiral Nero, with 40 improved Biremes, destroys 14 Carthaginian and 47 Macedonian ships for a loss of 14 of his own near Syracuse. Six months later, Admiral Asinius’ fleet is defeated northeast of Crete losing 17 of 40 ships while sinking only 4 belonging to the Greeks. Thankfully, the first Trireme units join the fleet at Messana adding much needed firepower to the navy. On land, Lucius Scipio and the I Legion lay siege to and take the city of Syracuse and then destroy a small Greek army outside the city. Aulus Ovidius, a Scipii agent near Lilybaeum, discovers two Carthaginain armies massing near that city. II Legion, after absorbing replacement marches on Athens and at the time of this writing is laying siege to the city. Up north the garrison of Bylazora, facing starvation and surrender, sorties and is destroyed by III Legion. The city is sacked and the larger portion of the legion set off for Byzantium, still thought to be held by a rebel king.

Five Year Plan for 255 – 251 BC

Priority will be given to finishing the campaigns in southern Greece and Sicily. It is planned to expand the army from three legions to five to meet both combat and patrol needs of the growing Scippi possessions. IV Legion will be raised in southern Greece to aid II Legion in the conquest of Attica and Laconia before crossing the Aegean to take Rhodes, Ionia and Phrygia. III Legion will finish the conquest of Byzantium and then prepare to drive the Thracians north of the Danube while I Legion will cross the Mediterranean to take the city of Carthage. XIII Legion will be raised in Greece for garrison duty and will be broken into four ‘Patrol Groups’ and the navy will be expanded to some 180-200 ships, primarily Triremes.


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[SWT]

That fast-Greece-conquest is nice, you will ensure it for the rest of your game!

I am finishing my campaign... I will show you some picture, too

[Pontifex Rex]

Report to Senate – Spring 250BC

The period 255 – 251 BC saw numerous successes for the Scipii faction in expanding Romes power in the Mediterranean. In Greece, Quintus Scipio and the II Legion took the cities of Sparta, Athens, Rhodes and Halicarnassus, destroyed the Macedonians, was granted the title of Conqueror and adopted the name Quintus Victor. II Legion is now regrouping in Lycia and establishing watch towers and a patrol force before setting off for Pergamum, the last Greek city. III Legion, under Gnaeus Scipio also took Byzantium during this period but the good general died mysteriously in 254 AD of an unknown malady. His legion, now commanded by Captain Tiberius is marching through Illyria in preparation for driving the Dacians north of the Danube. XIII Legion (garrison/patrol) continues to mobilize as resources allow.

IV Legion (Flavius Scipio), though newly raised and far under strength repelled a Gaulish invasion of Dalmatia and pursued the defeated Gauls all the way to Patavium. At Patavium, the lead cavalry elements of IV Legion aided the Julii in taking the city but the cavalry was badly mauled and sent south to Capua for rebuilding. The remaining elements of IV Legion are regrouping in northern Dalmatia awaiting the arrival of III Legion before launching the attack on the Dacians. A new V Legion (Captain Manius) is forming in northern Paionia with the mission of watching our new allies, the Thracians. In Sicily, I Legion (Lucius Scipio), after receiving heavy infantry and missile reinforcements, has finally defeated all the Carthaginian field armies or driven them back into Lilybaeum, which is now under siege.

At sea, after numerous naval battles, especially in the seas between Sicily and Africa, the Romans have attained a certain degree of naval superiority. The Macedonian and Greek fleets have been destroyed and only the Carthaginians still manage to maintain any ships at sea in the central Mediterranean. While the Scipii fleet managed to sink over 320 enemy ships, including 75 pirate vessels in a single battle, it lost some 140 vessels of its own and has struggled to maintain 160 vessels around Sicily and the Aegean Sea.


Five Year Plan for the years 250 – 246 BC

Finances are finally becoming more stable as we dominate the Aegean and central Mediterranean trade aided by the conquest of Rhodes and the ‘Wonder’ that improve naval trade. Priority will be given to continued economic development of the cities with the army drawing its major strength from mercenaries. Roman units will be raised as needed, in particular archers and cavalry and smaller patrol groups of garrison legions. Naval expansion will continue with the goal of maintaining a fleet of between 240 and 300 vessels.

On land, I Legion will complete the campaign in Sicily and prepare to cross over to Africa and the Carthaginian capital. II Legion will be tasked with taking Pergamum and destroying the power of the Greek Cities. If possible we will avoid war with the Pontians and Seleucians but the decision between war and peace will be theirs. III and IV Legion will invade Dacian and Gaulish territory and add the provinces of Illyria, Pannonia and Noricum to our holdings. V Legion will stand on the Thracian border and make it known we will brook no interference.

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[Pontifex Rex]

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Reaching for an Empire

Report to Senate – Spring 245BC

The previous five year period saw less military action for the Scipii although the international scene in the near east has become quite critical. The Egyptians, Pontiians and Parthians have all but destroyed the Seluecid Empire and the Egyptians stand poised to break into Asia Minor. Whether or not Pontus will oppose the Egyptian moves or try to finish the Seleucids is unknown. The Brutii have moved into Africa taking the Carthaginian capital and the province Byzacia. We continue to block their attempts to move eastwards through Europe. The Julii are continuing to drive back the northern barbarian tribes and have taken Venitia, Cisalpine and Transapline Gaul.

I Legion (Lucius Scipio) has successfully finished the campaign in Sicily while II Legion, now under Daecius Maecenus, has taken Phrygia and is marching to the borders of Ionia waiting orders on what to do next. The III Legion (Luca Ahenabarbus) struck deeply into Dacian territory after the Dacians refused our financial offer to them for surrendering Illyria and Panonia. After a brief seige Luca's legion took Aquincum and is preparing to move south. IV Legion (Flavius Scipio) after taking the province of Illyria is now marching northwest to take Noricum. V Legion (Captain Harennus) continues to mobilize in Paionia while XIII Legion is almost complete in its garrison positions throughout Greece.

Young Publius is untaking a special mission up in the barbarian northeast. He has been recruiting as many Sarmatian heavy cavalry and Scythian mercanries as he can find and sending them to the coast of Scythia where our transports then carry them south to our terrotories in Asia Minor. Finally our fleet has reached a total of 268 ships which are mainly concentrated in the eastern Mediterranean. It is planned to expand the fleet something near 350 ships in order to be able to fight the navies of both Pontus and Egypt should the need arise and to blockade their harbours.


Five Year Plan for the years 245 – 241 BC

Considering the threat that both Pontus and Egypt pose to Europe the II Legion will most likely be directed to take the city of Sardis should the Seleucids refuse our offer to become a protectorate of Rome. II legion will have to form the main force in resisting and move by Pontus or Egypt to move against Phrygia, Ionia or Lycia. Quintus Victor, currently enjoying semi-retirement on Rhodos, is now raising the VI Legion which will be used to strike at Cyprus when the seas have been swept clear enough of Egyptian ships. I Legion is already enroute to Cyrenaica and will establish a Scipii presence there before moving east to Alexandria and the Nile.

Over in Europe, V Legion will be shipped across to Phrygia while III and IV Legion consolidate the line of the Danube and the eastern passes through the Alps. All crossing points will be blocked to prevent foreign agents from entering our territories or other Roman factions from making trouble north of the Danube. Any foreign agents currently south of the Danube will be hunted down and eliminated. Finally, it is planned to expand the fleet to something near 350 ships in order to be able to fight the navies of both Pontus and Egypt should the need arise and to blockade their harbours.

[Guyus Germanicus]

Those are the most amazing map screens I've ever seen, both in terms of the campaign conquests and the money amounts. Jaw-dropping money amounts?!?!
Wow, SWT. Amazing. . . .

[Pontifex Rex]

Consolidating an Empire

Report to the Senate Spring 240 BC

There was little major action in the previous five year period and the Scipii faction have limited there expansion to Noricum, Ionia and Cyrenaica. This means that the Scipii have secured the entire length of the Danube (except for Thrace) as well as the exits from the Italian pennisula to the northeast, north and northwest, only the pass through the Alps between Cisalpine and Transapline Gaul remain open to non-Scipii traffic. A brief foray north of the Danube into Bohaemum was successful and that province was turned over to Germania in order to buffer those tribes against the larger and more aggressive Britons now driving deeper into northern Europe.

The army now consists of five mercenary (I, II, III, IV and VI) and two Roman (V and VII) Legions. I Legion is currently in Libya, tasked by the Senate in capturing Siwa. While it was hoped to avoid war with the Numidians, the capture of Siwa will put the Scipii in a good position for attacking the heartland of the Egyptian Empire when the time comes. II, V and VI Legions are in Asia Minor, III Legion is in Paionia near the Thracian border, IV Legion is currently withdrawing from Bohaemum and VII Legion is completing its concentration in Sicily. The fleet, some 280 ships is currently concentrated mainly in the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea with small squadrons in the Black Sea and the western Mediterranean.

Five Year Plan for the years 240 - 236 BC

I Legion will complete its conquest of Siwa and then position itself to be able to strike at either Middle Egypt or Nile Delta. II, V and VI Legions will invade Pontus in support of our Thracian allies. This may draw in the Egyptians who are currently fighting Parthia and Armenia but it is hoped to avoid war if possible. III Legion will watch the Thracian border and be ready to strike at Tylis if the Thracians betray us for moving into their sphere of influence. IV Legion will watch the upper Danube and defend the northern border against either Briton or German incursions. Finally, the VII Legion will complete its concentration in Sicily before be transported to Spain to hem in the Julii's offensive there.

There is currently no plans to expand the army further as the seven main legions (I - VII) and three garrison legions (XI [Danube], XIII [Greece] and XIV [Asia Minor]) are all that is needed. Casualties will be replaced in Roman formations and mercenaries hired to replace losses among those formations. The fleet will be expanded only if war with Egypt breaks out.

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[CountMRVHS]

Pontifex Rex, great write-ups! I notice you allow the AI to run your non-governed cities. How do you find that works? I often think about doing that, especially since I tend to find the city-management very tedious in the late campaign when you've got dozens of cities. Might also be fun for realism, as you'd need to get a governor installed in order to force production down a certain route.