Roman: Scipii

[Pontifex Rex]

War! War!! War!!!

Report to the Senate 260 BC

Hail, and well met, fellow Romans,

The last five years have witnessed a quantum shift in the political and military efforts of not only our faction but that of the Roman Empire as well.

The plan to rush troops to Corinth to try and steal the city and the 'Wonder' failed as the Brutii did not wait to starve out the Macedonian garisson but assaulted as soon as their seige engines were ready. In order to forestall any further moves north the III Legion (Gaius Scipio) was directed to Thessalonica, where we entered the war against the Macedonians in the spring of 263 AD. After the briefest of seiges and moderately heavy casualties to our Samnite mercenaries, the city fell.

In the meantime the II Legion (Quintus Scipio) on Crete was fleshed out somewhat by mercenaries and sent to join III Legion in Greece. Our squadron of 20 Biremes defeated a small squadron Macedonian ships off the coast of Crete and reopend communications with the mainland. Before the two legions could link up, however, the Greek Cities declared war on our faction in the winter of 262 AD but was defeated in the field near Larissa (Thessalia) by elements of III Legion, now under Captain Secundus. II Legion was marched north from near the Macedonian city of Athens in the spring of 261 BC while III Legion laid seige to Larissa. Then, in the fall of 261 BC the pernicious Carthaginians, despite being in combat with the Greeks near Syracuse also declared war on us and have laid seige to Cornelius Scipio (our beloved leader) his I Legion and Messana. In Greece, a large Macedonian army marched south from Piaonia and has laid seige to Gaius Scipio and the garrison in Thessalonica. As of the time of this report, our faction is now at war with Carthage, the Greek Cities and the Macedonians.

Five Year Plan for the years 460 - 456 BC

We actually have a few miltary options but there are some risks involved. At Messana the I Legion (Cornelius Scipio w/ 24 Heavy Cavalry, 2 Hastadi, 2 Town Watch, 2 Veletes, 2 Equites) can either strike immediately at the Carthagian army (9 Iberian Infantry, 3 Skirmers) or wait for some reinforcements from Italy in the form of Lucius Scipio's column (1 Hastadi, 1 Samnite Mercenary, 1 Equites) which will march south into Bruttium and link up with our fleet of 60 Biremes. The relief of Messana would take place this fall. The decision on this will wait for 24 hours while those who wish to give advise may do so.

While events began to unfold in Greece and Sicily, Flavius Scipio had been sent north to recruit barbarian mercenaries from the Gaulish territories when he was commanded by the Senate to take the town Segestica. Unfortunately, when Flavius reached the town he found it already seiged by the Dacians, who look quite capable of successfully concluding the conquest. The column under Flavius' command (2 Barbarian Mercenaries, 1 Barbarian Cavalry) will now move as quickly as possible down the Dalmatian coast to reinforce our legions in Greece.

Captain Secundus (III Legion) will abandon the seige of Larissa and march north to Thessalonica and, together with the garrison, raise the seige, hopefully destroying the Macedonian army there. Quintus Scipio (II Legion) will hire what infantry are avalable near Thermon and harass the Greek troops in the region or perhaps draw the Greeks away from Appolonia by laying seige to Thermon. Desius Maecenas, governor of Kydonia (Crete) will also raise what mercenaries are available and send them to Greece to aid II Legion.

Ave Roma!


https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...cipii265AD.png

[SWT]

I hope it not to crush your screen

I think it's not a huge empire, it's my first game...

At first I conquered Sicily, then, I defeated Carthague. After that, the Senate send me to Termon so I took Termon itself, Sparta, Athens, Thessalonica... Everything until Campus Getae. Next, I went to Turkey and took it all, to defeat the Greek Cities, and conquered some Ponthus settlements like Artaxarta and Kotais... I also sent an army to Africa to take Siwa, Cyrene, Lepcis Magna... And now i'm defeating the egyptians and their rebel cities. I'm playing in normal-normal. I have 41 regions... I want to finish it, and start another campaign...

Is my money normal? I could not spend it in my whole life! I would know if someone else has got this amount of money, I don't think I am the only one, there are players who are much better than me here!

[Quillan]

That looks fairly typical for the Aegean Sea. The exact number vary with population levels and port levels; I assume Halicarnassus is very large while Athens is probably the smallest in terms of current population level. But that area generates an OBSCENE amount of money, and it's even more productive in the hands of the Bruti, since they have a temple that increases trade goods.

[SWT]

Oh I see... What you said about Athens... The matter is that Athens is my capital And Halicarnassus is "ill" (sorry, do not know how to say it in English)

Is not Aegean Sea a bit unfair? Is there any other zone similar to that?

[Severous]

@ SWT

I see famous battle markers in the sea. !!

Ive never seen that before. Do you recall any battle that caused such markers ?

I have never seen that much money either.

[Quillan]

I missed the skull icon. The term in english is "plague". I don't know if there are any other differences between the different language versions, but in my North American version, most of those would have reached "Huge City" sizes, because of the city appearance I can tell an Imperial Palace has been built there. However, the maintenance costs are distributed in proportion to the current population. Assuming there aren't any other differences like Athens being the only one of your cities to have a dockyard or the market levels varying a lot between all these towns, the reason Athens is making so much more than the others would be because it has a lower population. Any city with plague has money problems, as pretty much all trade stops as long as the plague is active. I once had plague break out in 3 cities at once; it was a severe economic hit.

As to your other question, the eastern med is pretty good (Antioch, Tarsus, Salamis, Sidon, Jerusalem and Alexandria), as is the area right around Italy (Tarentum, Croton, Messana, Syracuse, Lilybaeum, Caralis, Carthage and Thapsus).

[SWT]

Got it Quillan, thanks! Yes, Halicarnassus had a plague in the picture

Corinthio has less population than Athens, but I think the matter is that Athens is the capital of my empire, so maybe that's why Athens earns the most money.

Another strange event has happen... Byzantium gives me the same money as Athens now!... It suddenly grew up from 2800 denarii per turn to 6500 denarii!

The same happened me with Carthage, Tapsus and whole Sicilia... They were giving me losses and now they all give me more than 3000 denarii per turn!

Severous, I have 3 famous battles markers in the sea, all of them in Aegean Sea. I think my boats' golden weapons, armours and chevrons helped to make an epic victory (In spanish it is "Victoria Épica", the biggest type of victory, I don't remember how is it en English... "Crushing Victory"?) and that's why I got it, I made Crushing Victories at sea...

I wish there are playable naval battles in next games...

[rotorgun]

Hey there SWT, Rotorgun here.

I couldn't help but notice the huge amount of income that you have generated in your empire! At first it was almost unbelievable, that is until I noticed that you have a virtual monopoly of the Agean, the eastern Medditeranean, and the Black seas. I also noticed that most of your ports are very well developed. You must be, in the tradition of the Armada, an Admiral de Los Mares de todo El Mundo, a veritable Don Medina Sedonna. I am very immpresed, as I am a proponent of the big navy strategy as well. How many ships do you posess in total? Do you use them to blockade your enemy's ports?

I was also wondering how one says plague in Espanol? I imagine it to be La inferma del muerte, or perhaps El muerte negro or words to that effect. I speak a modicum of La Lingua myself, and am always trying to learn palabras nuevas.

Muchos felicidades en Su strategia muy victoriso!

[SWT]

Thank you very much Rotorgun. I could teach you some spanish if you want, you can see my MSN Messenger in my profile.

"Plague" would be literally "Plaga", but it is not the term we use. "Plaga" can be used for every illness, but in the game, the illness is called "Peste" or "Peste negra". I am not a doctor, but I think it is the illness that makes your skin get grey and high fever, and then you die in a few days...

Yes, my ports are fully developed. I don't use to block many ports... Only if I am at war I began to build a lot of ships when I started the war against the Greek Cities... They had a lot of ships! So I built another lot I have about 5 fleets, all them with the full-coloured sail and at least one thousand men each one. So... About 5000 sailors. I don't know if it is a lot, but it's enough to dominate the Eastern Mediterranean Now I'm building Deceres, they are great!

Oh, another thing! The translation of "Admiral" is "Almirante" :P So it would be "El Almirante de los mares de todo el mundo", but your spanish is quite nice I think.

¡Muchas felicidades por tu correcto español! I cheer you to learn more!

[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.


https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...55ADGreece.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...55ADSicily.png

[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.

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...egion250AD.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...1/IILegion.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...egion250AD.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...rates250AD.png

[Pontifex Rex]

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...cipii245AD.png

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.

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...cipii240AD.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...aemum240AD.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...Minor240AD.png

[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.

[Pontifex Rex]

Pontifex Rex, great write-ups! I notice you allow the AI to run your non-governed cities. How do you find that works?...

Thanks very much.

It works quite well, actually, I 'guide' the cities by clicking off the AI and directing production when necesaary but otherwise set the slider to 'save' rather than 'spend'. Sometimes I'll 'uncheck' both AI production boxes and run the city w/o a governor. This allows for more fiscal planning and less silly purchases. I use governors when and if the strategic situation allows for them.

The plan for using mercenaries has worked quite well thus far but is very expensive. It will be a long time before I will be able to break 25,000 denari.

Cheers.

[Roman_Man#3]

Hey, I started a scipii campaign and thought id leave my thoughts and what-not. I started by taking sicily (sorry about lack of detail, i did it a while ago and i forget now), then i landed a relativly large army, divied it up into 2, and attacked Thapsus and Carthage simultaniously. Then i took Lepcis Magna. I then waited a while, regrouped and launched an attack at patavium and mediolanium. Having lost in battle at mediolanium multiple times and experiencing heavylosses but also inflicting some, i attacked with barb mercs to start the sige be4 the main force got there. The enemy general sallied and i annhilated him . so ive secured a place in the barbaric north, and because i know when the julii tech up and the civil war comes, Ill have some pretty good cities at the north of italy so i can sandwich the romans between them and capua

I plan on attacking the greek cities soon, hitting sparta and then moving north from there...

ill notify u if anything happens

[Roman_Man#3]

sry, wont be telling anyone what hapens! I had to reinstall my game and i lost the save file. sry

l8er

[Roman_Man#3]

Her Pontifex,

i find ur strategy and professionalism using and keeping track of the legions very cool. i love reading ur posts informing us of ur plans and stuff.
its so awesome to read!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work

l8s

[Roman_Man#3]

hey,

i just started another scippi campaign. so when i started, i filled the boats near capua with the trrops there, leaving a governor and one unit of hastati. i sent the boat full of troops to the coast of thermon. my troops on sicily waited in messana. u realized that carthage had taken syracuse, so theyre army was a little weak. i split up my troops and attacked syracuse and lilybeaum. i sent a spy to syracuse before i attacked, and he let me in. once i captured it i enslaved the populace. i then sent the spy to lilybeaum before my other army. he let them in and i enslaved the populace.i thought it was pretty awesome. meanwhile, across the ionian or whatever. i took thermon and appolonia in the same turn. i waited a couple turns then i took troops from lilybauem and syracuse. i got me a full stack, and i transported them to africa and took thapsus, im in the middle of taking carthage. i dont know what im gonna do next, probably take some more settlements on the greek peninsula.

later,
roman_man#3

[Pontifex Rex]

Her Pontifex,

i find ur strategy and professionalism using and keeping track of the legions very cool. i love reading ur posts informing us of ur plans and stuff.
its so awesome to read!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work

l8s

Cheers to you Roman Man#3. Stay tuned. A new chapter is ready to go.

[Pontifex Rex]

Marching through Asia

Report to the Senate - Spring 235 BC

Much to the reief of the leaders of the Scipii faction Pontus declared war in the spring 240BC after a failed assasination attempt against one of their family members. The Scipii army in Asia immediately struck deep into Pontian territory with a three prong offensive. V Legion in the north attacked and took Nicomedia and then marched along the north coast to Sinope. The fight for Sinope was bloody but the facilities their have since allowed V Legion to begin a major refit and regrouping effort with improved armour and weapons. The center thrust was carried out by the smaller mercenary VI Legion who easily took Ancyra and defeated two rebel armies. Most of VI Legion cohorts have been transferred to make up losses in the II and V Legion and it is now reconstituting as a mixed Mercenary-Roman legion near Sardis. The southern thrust was carried by II Legion which fought three major field battles and two seige battles which resulted in the conquest of Cappadocia and Assyria, thus finishing off the Pontian kingdom.

Meanwhile, down in Libya, I Legion was denied the prize of Siwa when the Egyptian arrived at the city first, laid seige to it and then captured it. The Egyptians also attacked Parthia at the same time and are currently laying seige to Seleucia. Egypt is developing into a major threat and will need watching. Finally, the small VII Legion landed in the Balieres Islands and have captured the city of Palma. Its commander, Servius Scipio is about to land on the island and raise mercenaries to flesh out the legion before it sails for Baetica.

Five year plan for the years 235 - 231BC

The entire army in Asia is in need of at least one more year of rest and refit but the situation in Babylonia and elsewhere may not permit any delay. II legion will march to the relief of our allies at Seleucia while V and VI Legion move to the borders of Cilicia. If Seleucia falls it will mean war with Egypt and these two legions will drive south to Judea while II Legion captures Egypt's eastern territories. I Legion will attack Siwa and then push on to Egypt proper supported by reinforcements from Greece brought by sea.

III Legion is still on the borders of Thrace while IV Legion has moved west to the borders of Lugdinensus in preparation for attacking the Gauls in support of VII Legion. VII Legion will carry out the landings in Baetica with the objectives of Corduba and Numantia in order to cut off the further conquests of the Julii faction (who are getting far too powerful).

The Scipii factions popularity with the mob has grown substationally over the past 5 years and some have mentioned the possibility of seizing power and forming a dictatorship. At this time it must be stated that the Scipii are and always have been loyal to Rome and to the Senate, any other declarations are scandalous lies.
_______________________________________________________________________________

II Legion prepares to depart for Babylonia. The troops to the southwest are 7 bands of Scythian mercenaries while those to the northwest are replacement Hoplite and Thracian mercenaries to reinforce the II Legion.

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...ionatHatra.png

V Legion continues its refit at Sinope. It will depart for Cilicia in the fall of 235 BC

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...gionRefits.png

VII Legion prepares to depart Palma while Servius Scipio arrives to take command

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...ionatPalma.png

[Roman_Man#3]

hey pontifex,

on the world map or whatever its called, i noticed what i thought was the dacia was up in Locus Gepidae. is it really them? ive never seen them that north. just wondering.

l8s

ps. oh and good job in the turkish theater.

[Pontifex Rex]

on the world map or whatever its called, i noticed what i thought was the dacia was up in Locus Gepidae. is it really them? ive never seen them that north. just wondering.

Yes, that's them. If you back a few posts or to the top of the page you can trace just how big they got. At one point they got as far as west as Noricum.

[CountMRVHS]

Ok, now I have to ask: how on earth do you keep track of your individual legions by number? I can keep track of certain family members, and remember which army I've got with Gaius the Killer, but II Legion, VII Legion...? Is there some feature I'm missing whereby you can label your armies, like the renaming cities feature in BI? Or do you keep track of it with a notepad?

You do a great job with these writeups, so I'm naturally curious how you go about recording it all. Keep it up!

CountMRVHS

[Pontifex Rex]

Ok, now I have to ask: how on earth do you keep track of your individual legions by number? I can keep track of certain family members, and remember which army I've got with Gaius the Killer, but II Legion, VII Legion...? Is there some feature I'm missing whereby you can label your armies, like the renaming cities feature in BI? Or do you keep track of it with a notepad?...You do a great job with these writeups, so I'm naturally curious how you go about recording it all. Keep it up!

I usually do it by the name of the commander and by breaking the action every 5 years (ten turns) for the right up and to let the scribes make their notes. If the action gets hot and heavy a few notes on the side can be kept. The garrison legions are set and deployed by geographical regions, i.e. XIII (Greece). Its four patrols are stationed about 1.5 turns apart and do not move unless they spot a rebel group or are shipped off to another legion (very rarely). Finally, once a legion starts driving in a ceratin direction, it will likely keep going, so its easier to keep track that way as well.

Being a bit anal about things doesn't hurt either. I like a tidy empire and a tidy battlefield. I also do not mind spending the time necessary to keep track of the story,... I'm in no rush to finish a game.

[Pontifex Rex]

Crisis of Empire

Report to the Senate - Spring 230 BC

The campaign in Asia against the Egyptians began much as had the one against Pontus, agents moved out in advance of the armies to gather information and assassinate any unwary army commanders and royal family members. A failed assassination attempt against the heir, much as had happened with Pontus, brought an Egyptian declaration in the spring of 235 BC. Unfortunately for the Egyptians their armies were not placed to advance against the Scipii holdings in Asia as they had just been defeated in Babylonia.

II Legion (Asinius Marcellus), having just finished refitting in Hatra, had planned on marching to our Parthian allies aid but instead moved southwest and took Palmyra, although at a heavy cost, after two field and one seige battle. Unfortuntely, while laying seige to Damascus, plague broke out in the city, and though an Egyptian attempt to raise the seige was easily destroyed but the II Legion could not escape the effects of the plague as the city fell in 231 BC. This once powerfull legion has been slowly decimated over the last year by the effects of the pestilence. Damscus is currently under Imperial Quarantine.

Meanwhile, V Legion (Decius Victor) closely followed by VI (Vibius Sejanus) wheeled inside of the march path of II Legion and struck for Tarsus and Antioch. By the time both legions had cleared the mountain passes three Egyptian armies had arrived to do battle. The could not save Tarsus but did pose a threat to V Legion as it marched through the narrows between Antioch and the mountains. Much of the pressure was relieved when the horse archer host of Scythian mercenaries attacked the Egyptian columns from the east and V Legion went on to take both Antioch and Sidon and has just finished refitting in southwestern Syria. VI Legion boarded ship in Cilicia and crossed over to Cyprus, quickly conquoring the island. VI Legion is now regrouping in northern Phoenicia, preparing to march on Jerusalem.

Lucius Scipio, the Scipii faction leader, was leading the I Legion in the campaign in Libya when, in the fall of 232 BC, a delegation from the Plebian class, posing as merchants, approached him outside of Siwa. They mentioned that the people of Rome and of the empire had grown to admire his miltary skills greatly and were growing restless under the thumb of the Senate and its corrupt ways. While stopping short of treason the delegates intimated that should Lucius make a bid for power he would find mind much support from the citizens of the city. Lucius replied carefully, as he feared a possible Senatorial trap, stating that he was a loyal citizen of the empire and that any changes in Rome would have to come through the legal means of senate reform, he would not consider military action. Using the excuse that he had a seige to run, Lucius thanked the delegates and sent them on their way with the promise to listen to their grievances in more detail on his return to Capua after the Egyptian campaign had been successfully concluded.

After the plotters had departed, Lucius send word to II, III and IV Legions to begin moving towards Italy. Unknown to Lucius at the time, II Legion was trapped in Damascus by the plague but III Legion immediately began to march from the borders of Thrace heading for Segestica and IV Legion withdrew from raiding rebel bands in Germania and is now camped in the Alpine passes leading from Noricum to Venetia. If the plague in Damascus contiunues, V Legion may be given orders to return to Campania in its place. Over in Iberia, the VII Legion (now under Captain Amulius) took the city of Corduba but young Servius Scipio fell in the battle when he was run through by a Carthaginian lance during a melee. Sextus Scipio is en route with Hoplite and Samnite reinforcements and will take command of the Legion and continue to attempt to block further Julii expansion.

With growing political instability within the empire it was decided to begin raising three new legions to cover both current Scipii holdings, fight the war against Egypt and be prepared for in case civil war broke out. Quintus Sextus is currently raising the VIII Legion from barbarian mercenaries up north in Germania and Scythia, Captain Augustus has begun training the IX Legion in Sicilia and Numerus Scipio has undertaken the raising of the X Legion in Campania.

Five Year Plan for the years 230 - 226 BC

Lucius Scipio, known as "The Killer" for his ruthlessness with enemies, is currently on the Libyan coast marching westward to rendezvous with a naval squadron that will carry him back to Campania where he will take command of the IX Legion when it arrives. Placus Nigidius is on his way to Siwa from Greece to take command of I Legion. In Asia, VI Legion along with II Legion will continue the campaign against Egypt. VII Legion will move north in Iberia and disrupt, as mush as possible, the plans of the Julii. VIII legion will back up the XI (Danube) and XII (Thrace) garrison legions. V Legion will board ship in Syria and sail for Italy where it will join with III, IV, IX and X legions and stand ready to ensure the survival of the empire and the dominance of Rome against all her enemies.
_______________________________________________________________


https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...lague230BC.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...rches230BC.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...onPrepares.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...ncentrates.png

[Pontifex Rex]

Civil War!!!

A message to the people of Rome from Lucius Victor, leader of the Scipii:

Citizens of Rome, we have been betrayed. I have brought my armies to these shores to prevent Rome and her empire from slipping into the hands of the wicked and corrupt. The Senate has debased itself, its members more interested in gaining wealth and power that performing their duties of governing, it has lost its moral authority to rule. The Julii and Brutii, rather than aid us in this noble cause of righting the wrongs of those appointed above us, have formed an alliance to overthrow the empire and establish the rule of selected families, perhaps even a monarchy.

When this crisis has past,...and it shall pass,...my armies will withdraw and the people of Rome will again be masters in their own homes. On this point, I give you my word as a Roman.

Civil war has to come to the empire. This spring the Senate declare both the Julii and Brutii outlaws as well as turning against our family. Lucius Victor had hoped to avoid war but the rot had sunk too deep. III and IV Legions immediately struck at Brutii and Julii positions in Venetia destroying a Brutii legion on the borders of Dalmatia and laying seige to the Julii city of Patavium. Patvium was liberated when the garrison attempted to break the seige with the aid of a relief column.

Meanwhile, in the south of Italy, V and IX Legions landed by sea and marched to Croton and Tarentum, laying seige to both cities, both cities fell in prepared but bloody assaults against trhe walls. X Legion stands on the border of Latium, prepared to defend Capua against the armies of the Senate should they move against us. In Spain, VII Legion destroyed a Julii legion, ending the attacks against the Spanish and opening the road to Numantia. Finally, II Legion, final free of the plauge, has begun its march on Bostra while VI Legion captured Jerusalem. Unfortunately for VI Legion, plauge has broken out and the legion is now under quarantine.

Immediate plans for the years 227-226 BC

V and IX legions will march north to assist X Legion at Rome while III and IV Legion will destroy the Julii forces in the north. With five legions in Italy it is hoped the campaign will be short but the Julii are strong and are bound to strike back. VII Legion will continue to harrass the Julii in Spain while I, II and VI will continue the campaign against Egypt. XIII (Greece) Legion, currently laying seige to Corinth will attack the city shortly and completely remove the Brutii from European territory. The fleet, now some 300 ships, will be tasked with preventing the Brutii from sending more troops to Italy from Africa. VIII Legion will continue to patrol in Germania, interfering where possible with Thracian attempts to expand further.
______________________________________________________________________

III and IV legions in Venetia

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...avium227BC.png

V Legion regroups at Tarentum and IX Legion at Croton

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...entum227BC.png

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...roton227BC.png

VII Legion in Spain

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...Spain227BC.png

II and VI continue the drive in Asia

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...nAsia227BC.png