[Epeiros/Pergamon AAR] Philetairos' Gift

[Swordmaster]

Ouch, painful for the Seleukids. Then again, what a crappy commander, not bringing any cavalry. Nice screenshots, Quintus.

[QuintusSertorius]

Ouch, painful for the Seleukids. Then again, what a crappy commander, not bringing any cavalry. Nice screenshots, Quintus.

They had a single unit of already-depleted Hippakontistai, who the third FM routed on his way to joining the army. I didn't need the reinforcements, but a big unit of heavy cavalry like that made a difference. Especially to the ease with which I killed their general early on in the battle. My light cavalry were invaluable; chucking javelins in people's backs once the lines had engaged, and killing routers with ease. The Gallic ones even killed in shock charges when they'd run out of ammo. They also killed the enemy general, because they arrived moments before the merc general did.

I don't want to take Ipsos and I'd like a few more battles, but I'm not sure how to encourage that. There's a danger now that the AI will just keep sending stacks of 3-5 units whenever they've collected them together, which will be no challenge at all.

Perhaps I should steal one of their armies from elsewhere, then add units to it to make it into a proper balanced force? As in one that isn't just filled up with native phalanxes and even more useless native spearmen. Maybe even a unit of elephants.

[Swordmaster]

They had a single unit of already-depleted Hippakontistai, who the third FM routed on his way to joining the army. I didn't need the reinforcements, but a big unit of heavy cavalry like that made a difference. Especially to the ease with which I killed their general early on in the battle. My light cavalry were invaluable; chucking javelins in people's backs once the lines had engaged, and killing routers with ease. The Gallic ones even killed in shock charges when they'd run out of ammo. They also killed the enemy general, because they arrived moments before the merc general did.

I don't want to take Ipsos and I'd like a few more battles, but I'm not sure how to encourage that. There's a danger now that the AI will just keep sending stacks of 3-5 units whenever they've collected them together, which will be no challenge at all.

Perhaps I should steal one of their armies from elsewhere, then add units to it to make it into a proper balanced force? As in one that isn't just filled up with native phalanxes and even more useless native spearmen. Maybe even a unit of elephants.

You might have some luck if you wait long enough, but even then it won't be a real challenge for you I'm afraid. The Seleukids start out with very little military infrastructure, and although the AI usually builds them up faster than I'm doing in my current game, you won't see elephants in a long time, if at all.

You could script an army to be spawned near your lands, although I imagine the Seleukids giving up on western Anatolia in this period of time. You might spawn the army later on, symbolizing Antiochos III coming to conquer you, thirty years from now or something.

[QuintusSertorius]

Perhaps I should sue for peace and give them a lot longer to build up their infrastruture, then?

[Swordmaster]

Perhaps I should sue for peace and give them a lot longer to build up their infrastruture, then?

That would also work, of course. Especially if in the meanwhile they could get peace with their other enemies.

[QuintusSertorius]

The Seleukid War, 240-239BC

Lydia

There had been a brief cessation of hostilities in the war between Pergamon and the Seleukid empire, but it was temporary. No sooner had they a chance to resupply their forces, the Syrians attacked once more, this time laying siege to Sardis. Messaneos and his army had taken to the ships for an invasion of Syria itself, and it was left down to others to defend the homeland.

Gathering a newly-recruited force of levies and mercenaries, Nikostratos Megarikos forced the enemy to abandon the siege, and then offered battle outside the city. To his surprise they opted to fight.



The battle took place on the road, giving the Seleukid phalanxes level ground on which to maneuver.



Megarikos ordered the advance.



The enemy sent their pikes forward.



Hesitant about facing superior numbers, they began to withdraw.



The Pergamenes advanced to follow.



Many of the Seleukids escaped.



Megarikos had carried the day, although many Seleukids survived to fight another day.

[QuintusSertorius]

Kilikia

Later in the season, Megarikos was instructed to assist Pergamon's allies, vassals of Ptolemaic Egypt in Pamphylia by invading Kilikia. His activities on the border attracted the attention of the Seleukids stationed there. They were led by Seron Kadysios, an experienced general.



The Pergamenes held a commanding position cresting a hilltop. The Seleukids were forced to march uphill to meet them.



They suffered horribly from missile fire.



As they engaged, the enemy general charged the Pergamene line.



As he withdrew to charge again, Megarikos spurred ahead of the line and called out a personal challenge.



Kadysios and his bodyguard accepted, and the two bodies of cavalry clashed.



Megarikos tried to cut his way through to face Kadysios in personal combat.



Meanwhile the weaker elements of Kadysios' army began to flee.



Some of Megarikos' men watched, but knew better than to interfere in matters of honour. Their general would either win or die trying.



In the centre, resistance was beginning to weaken.



The generals fought on. Megarikos' bodyguard, more rested, began to get the measure of their heavier Seleukid counterparts.



Kadysios' regular pikemen were surrounded, yet grimly held on.



Kadysios' bodyguard were slain one by one, until only the man himself remained. To his credit, he didn't run.



His regulars continued to stand their ground.



Succumbing to his wounds, Kadysios died with his sword in his hand.





Megarikos' men cheered their brave general, who gave thanks to Athena.



Seeing their gallant general slain, the last Seleukids capitulated.



Megarikos had won not just a victory, but great personal honour too. He could now dedicate a special ceremony in honour of his slain foe and the boost to his personal reputation that would carry.



Editorial note

I was rather surprised at how well my general's bodyguard, who are much lighter armoured than their Seleukid counterparts, managed to survive that fight. I put it entirely down to the fact that they were fresher, and used their swords rather than those slow-to-use lances which the Seleukids never switched from. Pretty telling that I lost about ten in that unit, and they lost all 40.