1.0x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Soggius Chippius]

186 has finally come, so here's the next campaign update. But before the stock map picture, I'll just take this chance to gloat.



Nothing more than confirmation of the supremacy of Casse power in the west of course. Now that their military machine has almost completely consolidated its power in the west, it won't stop till it has captured all the riches of the east as well.
So, without further ado, the world map.



The last decade has been one of ridiculously fast steamrolling on both side of the map. For the Casse, the conquest of Germania was a laughably easy task, taking 3-4 years in total (it really felt like I was invading a stupendously weak country. Almost all the troops were levies, and were chewed through with ease, allowing me to take 3 fullstack garissoned towns with a single army and no re-recuiting)
However, while that invasion was going off without a hitch, Spain was quite a different matter. The logistics of supplying fresh troops from France (which, unlike Germania, was entirely necessary, as the Lusotannan were no slouches)was a nightmare, due to the shocking roading system the Spanish had set up. Sure, the Helvetii were able to make a road over high mountains, but the Lucies just couldn't be arsed it seems. At any rate, by the time I had gotten into central Spain, I had a half stack, and the Lusotannan had 4 cities and 2 and a half full stacks. Luckily, the westernmost city (whose name I seem to have forgotten) was able to train the Lusotannan light spearmen, who are ridiculously good as far as AoR troops go. In the end, I only beat the Lusotannan by getting extremely lucky with the only assassin I had made all campaign who killed the faction heir despite a 3% chance, after which I caught up with the faction leader fleeing by himself from the city I was about to besiege, killed him, and destroyed the faction, dispersing almost all their troops. Had that not happened, I would have been in for a long war (well, victory would have been delayed 2-3 years anyway) so thank Lugh it did.
Finally, two turns after my last update, my Faction leader with his full army fresh from conquering Italia and the isles landed on the shore not far from Utica, and after a very short march, laid seige to the city. After taking it, Carthage and Adrumento fell quite quickly, but then came the realisation of the sublime stupidity in the choice of landing site. Yes the area surrounding Carthage is important, but if the rest of North Africa is held by an enemy, you can't continue on to capture more cities without leaving yourself open to retaliation from your rear. Adrumento and Carthage have stayed with the Casse since their capture, but Utica has changed hand a number of times due to campaigns against Southern Carthage drew resources away from the defence of the northern shore. This, incidentally, was another reason for me to be hurrying the conquest of Spain, because (as you have probably noticed by now) southern Spain is a brilliant place to launch an attack on Carthage from.
The crusher has now become the crushee as Uticarthadrumento (I know, I'm usually not a fan of portmanteus either. Though that's probably because they're usually used for stupid reasons. Like Brangelina. Anyway) acts as the anvil, and my Spanish army (made up pretty much entirely of lusotannan light spearmen. Really, the only difference between it and an actual Lusotannan army invading Africa is the fact that the General rides in a chariot rather than something that's actually useful in battle on occasion like the Lucie bodyguard) acts as the hammer.
Here's the current situation that my spanish army faces.



A single half stack stands between me and lordship of the northern coast. I'm not particularly worried about the Gaetulians either, because they still haven't built any roads and their one army appears to be lost in the desert.
Of course, while that's all lovely and flash and such, here's what I face from Libya.



One full stack that inexplicably has elite African pikemen in it (can they recuit them in Egypt?) and another still to come. Though that one will most likely be solely Garamantine infantry as most fullstacks seem to be.
Of course, as bad as I make it sound, that's really the only front I currently have to worry about. Epirus is currently more lethargic than a dead sloth, having attacked Patavium once and then sort of run off. I'm not 100% sure why they're doing so little despite having so much, but I have a sneaking suspicion they're trying to take some of those eleutheroi towns. I really have to thank the modders for those, because they work ridiculously well. As far as campaign map strategy goes, it's sort of like having a mountain range right across eastern europe, except it's a mountain range made entirely of death, as any army that goes into the province either doesn't come back, or comes back with a handful of survivors gibbering like idiots. Idiots with post traumatic stress disorder anyway.
Here's a look at the border currently.



The only way they can invade is around the Adriatic, and that army I have waiting there is very strong. In fact, it's essentially the Vesontian army (if you recall that from my last update :P) but with a few unit upgrades.
I'll invade entually, but I think I'll wait till North Africa up to Libya is under control.
Anyway, enough about the Casse. Let's check out the east, where there's only one power now really, Baktria. It's gone and crushed all the other successors, and is finally at the point where the only faction that can realistically halt it anymore is me. Pahlava and Saka are now its protectorates, so you can just pretend they're blue if you like.
Here's what's left of all the other factions in the east.



The Seleukids now really only have those two provinces and another throwaway one in the Caucasus. I'm always glad to see the Grey Death averted, but it's a bugger that its destroyer just ends up being the new <colour> Death. As you can also see from this picture, Carthage is most likely next, which will help me (in a way at least. Unfortunately, it'll mean I'll be at war with Baktria in the next decade or two)



The mighty Ptolemies have been brought low as well, though to be fair, not by Baktria. This is really all they have left aside from one and a half fullstacks on Cyprus which are never going to go anywhere anyway. They're currently at peace with Baktria, but I don't see that army of theirs keeping it that way for long.



Futher west, Makedon is doing quite nicely, all things considered. They're even at war with Epeiros now. Pontos up there was doing quite nicely for a few years as well. Then they met Baktria and it's been downhill since.



Finally, Greece is still *somehow* independant. Despite having lost their provinces in Syria, they're doing quite nicely too. Until about a year ago, they were in the top 5 overall factions, bizzarely enough (due to their production value I believe)

Oh yeah, forgot to take a screenshot of it, but Sauromatae are doing as well as they look like they're doing on the map there. Quite a few fullstacks, and they've been holding their own very well against Baktria up north.
That's enough for this update anyway. See you in 176.

Edit: One other thing I forgot to mention. My diplomats succeeded in finding Olaf (granted, his actual name was Hadawulfaz, but still, he was Olaf to his mates) but found that he already had quite a nice position as the leader of the Sweboz. He was getting on a bit by this stage, so my conquering army left his settlement alone until his popped his clogs, at which point they 'liberated' it from its new 'governor', a mere captain acting as head strong man, in the name of Olaf the Mighty, friend of the Casse and brother to Adcobrovatae, our mighty leader (who sends his condolences from North Africa). So there you go. A happy ending after all.