The Serpent Shield (Getian AAR)

[Morte66]

I am Zalmodegikos, leader of the Getic peoples in Getae proper and king at Buridava. I am sixty years old today, and as I look back on my life it seems I have been a poor chief. I rule but one province of the many Getic tribes, we are at war with the great might of Macedon though we share no border with them, my treasure chest is bleeding, and the barracks have burned down. It is time to make amends, and leave a sound kingdom for my son Oroles.

I have marshalled the army.

A Getae AAR
So, let’s have go at an AAR. I was tempted to play the Getae because it seems they have:
- A fairly balanced roster, including some unusual units, which could be fully rounded out by local conquests. It’s not that high-tech, but it’s good value. It’s described here.
- Room to expand, followed by challenging (Macedon, Rome) but not insane (Seleucia) natural enemies.
- A good variety of military opposition (Greek phalanxes, Roman heavy infantry, steppe heavy cavalry and horse archers).
- A potentially viable economy, with mines and land trade routes and a chunk of the Black Sea trade. It’s not like the Ptolemies, but they could earn enough to be proactive.

Objectives
I’ve never paid much attention to official victory conditions. I just do what I think is right for my people, and play until I think “I’ve got this one in the bag”. My goal for this campaign is to unite Thrace under the Getae and make them mighty and secure. That probably equates to:
- Conquering their region 1 and 2 provinces.
- Building a strong economy.
- Strength on the field and a sound strategic position with good borders.
- Peace with all, if necessary by conquest.

(House) Rules
- Very hard/medium, manage all settlements, large units, unlimited time.
- No reloads, except when I clicked wrong (I am prone to pathing foul-ups on the strategic map).
- Otherwise, it’s win or die. River battles are a fair reward for manoeuvring on the strategic map to earn them.


272BC, Spring, Buridava

There is a hole in my treasure chest, and money is pouring out. It’s pouring into the mouths of a dozen army units who’re standing around doing nothing. I have five thousand mnai and I’m losing three and a half per season. I have to either disband this army and leave this one province to Oroles, or conquer new lands before the moneylenders come knocking.

Well, there are rich mines to the north near Sarmiszegethusa in the mountain bastion of Getia Koile. I’ll take Oroles plus two thirds of the army and head north through the pass. The other third is with my younger son Dizo in Mikra Skythia to the east on the Black Sea shore. I have a spy there, one Diales, who seems quite talented. He says five units garrison Kallatis, so I’ve told Dizo to march on it.

I told the young spy to scout westwards between Getia and the Macedonian lands, and not to risk his neck since I can’t replace him. My court diplomat is Tarsa. He has achieved as little in life as me, and seems no smoother than the rug merchant in town, but I have no other diplomats so I send him south. I’m looking for a ceasefire with Macedon, trade with anyone he can find, and alliances with Macedon’s enemies (especially the Koinon Hellenion and the Kingdom of Epeiros).

Before leaving, I must order Buridava. The town is small and undeveloped and the people are not especially fertile. I’ve spent the rest of the treasure chest commissioning a palisade, roads, and hot vapour baths to attract more subjects. I need taxpayers and soldiers, and the chest would have been empty by autumn anyhow. I’ll leave a unit of light skirmishers to guard the place from thieves. They’re cheap, and don’t look much use in a real fight.

To war!