Gamespot Update !!

[Doug-Thompson]

You know, I've stuck with CA more than many posters in the disputes in this forum over history.

Sometimes, that's hard.

For instance:

Ian Roxburgh: "There were few references to significant naval battles in the period at all--the threats to the Roman world were exclusively land-based."

Now I'm going to be charitable here and recognize the fact that he's talking about naval battles, not land raiders travelling by sea. Still, the remark that "threats to the Roman world were exclusively land-based" is a bit much.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Vandals sack Rome, then take to sea, cross the Mediterranean and establish a Vandal kingdom in North Africa during this time period?

Before that, didn't the Goths in current-day Ukraine take to sea, cross the Black Sea and fall like a storm on Asia Minor and Greece?

Also, didn't the Saxons invade Britain, which can't be reached by any means other than the sea?

[Edited P.S. and correction: I went and read what's been posted about BI more carefully tonight. Unless I'm reading it wrong, the Saxons are already established in Britain and the Vandals in North Africa before the game's time period begins. So Mr. Roxburgh had more of a point than I gave him credit for.]

[Deus ret.]

To add to this:

Were not the Pirates a huge annoyance in the Mediterranean area? Did not Pompeius himself achieve most of his fame by getting rid of the Pirate threat (which must have been considerable, given that its removal gave birth to such a glory)?

Was not Carthage, an ancient sea power, the main threat to the aspiring Roman republic in the 3rd century BC? Did not Carthage destroy the Roman fleet several times in the 1st Punic war alone, almost forcing the Romans into a humiliating peace?

Was it not possible for the Romans to effectively establish their rule in Greece only after having crushed the famed Greek fleet, manned with a crew whose members were among the most respected citizens of the Greek city states, especially Athens?

admittedly, this is pre-empire history, but still it stands against disregarding sea warfare that way since BI also adresses numerous RTW issues.

Si Ian tacuisset, philosophus mansisset.