1.0x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Mykingdomforanos]

Hi, Im new to EB, first RTW mod and first campaign as Casse (VH/Med)
Im kind of cheap because I constantly reload when battles and AI movements dont go my way but old habits die hard :)

Nevertheless:




257 B.C.

After conquering Britain (first via my distant kin the Belgae in Bratosporios and Bagacos to get some trade money going and get me out of the red ASAP) I then took the Eleutheroi settlements all down the western Gaul (Atlantic) coast and cut east to take the Mediterranean ports of Tolosa and Massilia, from where I am now considering my options.
I now have a Naval port on the Med (Tolosa) , buffered somewhat by the populous stone-walled city Of Massilia which is a nextdoor troop factory from where I can dispatch Celtic armies across the Med.
I have no enemies (except Eleutheroi of course) , am still allied to the Aedui and Arverni but due to my Blitz all my settlements are undefended (or with 1 levy unit to keep the peace)
The Irish navy (lol) patrols the channel and atlantic coast and the Aedui are showing no signs of stabbing me in the back yet as long as I keep off their land so I am going to continue to blitz and risk that if I have to race back to defend that I will only lose a couple of settlements or so.

I have but a single army of about 6 units of experienced slingers (awesome for killing half the enemy in sieges without even entering the city lol) and 4 modest infantry which are the best I can train(naked spearmen/gallic swordsmen) to protect the slingers and take city squares.
My general on his damn chariot just gets in the way pretty much lol but someone has to collect command stars (Ive gained 1 so far between us damn this is tough heh))and provide morale boosts I guess

So, now Ive arrived at the Med with all the options its opens up Ive had a wee cheat by peeking at the recruitment viewer to see which province produces the best troops!
Mikra Scythia on the Black Sea is standing out bigtime (Elite Thracian falx guys, Heavy Cav, elite archers, Horse Archers, phalanxes) and its a naval port!
From there I have a base against the Eastern menace, but I would head west and take Getai (and train those cheap as chips Drapanai armour slicers) and proceed slowly west taking over the rest of Europe.
Noone seems to be expanding much in Europe except the Sweboz and I want to get my hands on the Alp provinces before they or the Arverni do, as the Rhaetic axemen and Alpine phalanx are useful judging by custom battles.

However, its cheap and unrealistic to think the Casse from Britain would get in their boats in Tolosa and go right across the Med to take Scythia so I will just slog east taking over the Sweboz and eventually arriving at the Black Sea!
From there I can train some falxmen and horse archers and return west to lay waste to all Europe inc the Romani and Lusotanni (possibly bringing Carthage and the East into the war also)
Im getting some good income now so I will train another army up to either take Iberia or run parallel to my east-bound one, either way it will be closer to home in case I need to defend my turf.

Going on custom battles and my geographical situation Im aiming for an army of Drapanai with 1 or 2 phalanxes to hold the line and block roads in sieges , heaps of slingers to win the sieges cheaply, and 1 or 2 Scythian Riders to distract the enemy's rear with arrows and charge when needed.
The Elite Thracian Infantry (Rhomphaiorii) with their armour slicers are quite cheap and from what I could see pretty much invincible in custom battles , even against Gaesatae who dont have much armour. When I can train them (level 5 regional mic) they look pretty much like all the melee infantry Ill need.
The Goidilic hammer guys arent the worst either and I can get them fairly quickly.

Edit: Just noticed that my little Empire above is similar to that of England's in Middle Ages during the Hundred Years War with France. Aquitaine on the west coast along with Normandy across the channel. Aquitaine was obtained by marriage though AFAIk not by conquest, but a nice little parallel even so