A Pontos AAR

[Horst Nordfink]

The Reign of Ariobarzanes I Kianos
The First Seleukid War

Machares Mosynoikos reached Amaseia a week after the Siege of Amaseia had been lifted by Ariobarzanes and immediately set about pursuing the retreating Menippos Nikatoreos Syriakes and what was left of his army. Machares caught him a days march outside of Mazaka. So close, yet so far!!

An expensive battle followed, not quite a pyrrhic victory, and the Seleukids were defeated. The brunt of Pontic casualties were taken by Machares' mercenary Misthophoroi Uazali, a barbarian horde who know not how to conduct ones self in battle and paid the price accordingly.

Menippos fell fighting bravely, which went towards making up for his cowardly display a few weeks earlier.

A fair punishment for the insolence Menippos had shown to the great Kingdom of Pontos.

Machares recruited some Galatian mercenary cavalry and was augmented with some Cretan archers from Amaseia. He then set out to take Mazaka as punishment.

The army headed by Artaxerxes and Holophernes had been informed by a messenger from Amaseia that the siege had been lifted and were instructed to take the Seleukid city of Ipsos and raise it to the ground. Artaxerxes was ordered to exterminate the inhabitants and destroy and loot all he could find of value and return to Nikaia. There was a more urgent matter at hand than punishing Seleukids, for now.

The city of Chersonesos north of the Euxine has been attacked and the citizens have sent a representative to Ariobarzanes begging for his help. Ariobarzanes planned to send Artaxerxes to help after his mission at Ipsos.

Artaxerxes did not dissapoint. The garrison of Ipsos sallied against the siege and were pushed back within 3 months. The army of Arche Seleukia were destroyed and their leader Sarpedon Syriakos was killed. Months of murder, looting and punishment followed for the citizens of Ipsos. Convinced that nothing of value remained in Ipsos, Artaxerxes and Holophernes left for Nikaia. From there Artaxerxes headed for the Bosphoros to aide the citizens of Chersonesos.

Machares' army was slightly outnumbered by the garrison inside Mazaka. The besieged army were of foul spirit and had not half as much confidence in their commander as the Pontic troops had for their young leader.

The city easilt fell to the battlehardened Pontic soldiers and a quarter of the citizens were sold into slavery. This would not be a repeat of Ipsos two weeks prior. Mazaka was to be added to the Kingdom of Pontos. The Kappadokians of Mazaka were brothers of Pontos and should rightly share in the spoils of Pontic glory. They were to be annexed into the Pontic homeland.

Next update: Egyptian intrigue....

[Horst Nordfink]

Unfortunately ladies and gents, my Pontos AAR game has suffered from a chronic CTD. I am unable to continue this. I'm quite dissapointed.

[Treverer]

T'is a pity ...

Have you plans for a new AAR, in the not too far away future?

Yours, T.

[Horst Nordfink]

I probably will do another one at some point, but I've no idea who I'll do it with. I'd like to do a Roman AAR, but they are ten a penny.

I only want to do a "civilised" campaign. I've no time for smelly savages!

Suggestions anyone?

[Treverer]

IMHO Epiros is relativly easy, at least 'til around 260 b.C.: reduce Makedons & KH to their islands. Many mines (Pella & Dalminion are both uncredible) and you can decide whether to stay or to leave Southern Italy. Later on though, you must pay attention to your neighbours (SPQR, Getai, Pontos/AS).

And believe me, it is a LOT easier as Pontos ...

Yours, T.

[Horst Nordfink]

I have never played as Epeiros, because they are lying, underhanded, cheating quasi-Greeks, and they have crossed me on far too many times.

For the same reason, I have never played as Arche Seleukia, the smelly Gauls or the Ptolemaioi. I would feel dirty and violated playing as them.

I may do a Makedonian AAR.

[Treverer]

I have never played as Epeiros, because they are lying, underhanded, cheating quasi-Greeks, and they have crossed me on far too many times.

Maybe, but IMHO of the three factions in Greece, they have a splendid starting position. I really like to play with them when I am too frustrated about my miserable results with Pontos.

For the same reason, I have never played as Arche Seleukia, the smelly Gauls or the Ptolemaioi. I would feel dirty and violated playing as them.

Do not bash them, please. The AS has a really, really fantastic unit rooster, and the traits/ancillaries I've discovered so far via spies are amazing. But: I'm not good at managing a big empire already at turn one, I prefer smaller ones.

The Gauls (and Getai, Casse, Lusotani & Sweboz) are simply not "my" faction(s). Point.

I may do a Makedonian AAR.

I'm looking forward to this one. And surely I'll learn something about playing with 'em ... as I always do when following an AAR.

T.