Post your EB empires!

[Africanus]

As a result of losing Ipsos and Sardis, I'm bleeding funds badly. I'll go negative next turn, even after relieving the siege of the capital. Though I do have a massive building queue there, probably 70k in committed funds.

You're a man of great patience Quintus. I can't let my armies lose on purpose (or not give my best effort anyway), even if it makes the game more of a challenge. I think my next campaign I'm going to go from VH/M to VH/H to make the battles more difficult.

[QuintusSertorius]

How far along are you? I was getting lots of naval invasions early in the campaign, and the KH even had remnants of two fleets fairly late, but they just sat parked outside of Antioch before I suppose pirates took them out. At least I should get a good battle when I get around to taking Crete!

With rtw.exe, the AI seems incapable of understanding islands. I've seen KH have ships, and not use them with any sort of consistency to move armies around, particularly off Rhodes and Krete. I gave them the latter in my game, but I constantly have to move their armies from there to the mainland for them via console. Same was true of Makedonia when they had Mytilene. Which besides securing a naval port was one of the other reasons I took it from them.

More frustrating is the Casse doing absolutely nothing the whole game, even after I gifted them some settlements in Gaul.

I gave them Bratosporios in my game, and they took the other Belgae settlement themselves. They've also built up a full garrison and full stack under an FM in Galatia, though they haven't done anything but patrol for the moment.

You're a man of great patience Quintus. I can't let my armies lose on purpose (or not give my best effort anyway), even if it makes the game more of a challenge. I think my next campaign I'm going to go from VH/M to VH/H to make the battles more difficult.

I can only lose on purpose by auto-calc'ing; it's quicker and I can't be tempted to win it. But this is a game that is going to run for a while, so I figure why not. If I'm trying to keep the AI factions within rough historical limits, then I should really apply the same rule to myself.

Statistical bonuses to the AI doesn't appeal to me (which is what you get with higher battle difficulties), same goes increased aggression (and bonus money to all - I prefer being able to give it via console to the factions I consider need it) with higher campaign difficulties. Especially when the increased aggression doesn't come with any improvement in intelligence.

[QuintusSertorius]

The battle to relieve Pergamon:



The enemy:



The result:



For a change the AI didn't throw away their general right at the start. I had to hunt him down with my cavalry, which is why they got mauled.

And retaking Sardis in retaliation:





Sardis' garrison was rubbish, about eight units of freed slaves making up the numbers. The other army, on the other hand, had two FMs (father and son) and some decent units in it. Needless to say, they're both food for crows. But Doesstos got his revenge on Medikes for the battle in Kappadokia five years earlier.

Not much has changed as a result, just Lydia rejoining the fold. Once I smack down that stack there, I'll declare for peace.

[QuintusSertorius]

216BC and all of a sudden stuff is happening.



Pergamon is at peace, but the rest of Asia Minor is all over the place. The Seleukids conquered Bithynia, only for a native revolt to unseat them (my spies and assassins helped). Sort of spoiled their recent ascendancy, look at how much they've pushed the Ptolemies in Syria. The Makedonians were more successful on the other side of the Hellespont.

As you can see, the Casse "Galatians" have laid siege to the Pontic capital. While a Pontic army makes for Ankyra. Double treachery, but the barbarians got there first! Pontus took Trapezous recently, finally getting off their arses.

The world:



Can't see it on here, but the Romans just landed a full stack at Emporion. Maybe they're about to start a war in Spain with the Karthadastim?

Saba took Tuat all by themselves. Looks like the Karthadastim might have some competition in their backyard for a change.

[QuintusSertorius]

I've got a new computer (one on which I can play M2:TW so ready for EBII), and started a new migration campaign. This time, Saba as Palmyra, though I'm keeping the Arabian provinces so I have something resembling an economy. There will be no support from the south, Palmyra stands alone.

In 268BC, this is my immediate vicinity:



The world (note I did a cheeky and evicted Epeiros from their regular holdings and made them into Pergamon):



And a recent defense of Palmyra against the Seleukids (note how crappy my army is!):



Unbelievably, the Ptolemies and Seleukids are now at peace. We'll see how long that lasts, I don't fancy being caught between the two of them.

[Lazy O]

Hmmm, wont the names be a bit innacurate?

[QuintusSertorius]

Hmmm, wont the names be a bit innacurate?

They will, but Saba were the closest fit I could manage really. At least they have some recruitables in the region, rather than relying entirely on mercs.

Turns out the Arabian light infantry are better than Pantodapoi. Though virtually everyone is better than Pantodapoi, so not that surprising.

[The_Blacksmith]

They will, but Saba were the closest fit I could manage really. At least they have some recruitables in the region, rather than relying entirely on mercs.

Turns out the Arabian light infantry are better than Pantodapoi. Though virtually everyone is better than Pantodapoi, so not that surprising.

i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...

[Fluvius Camillus]

i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...

Not to forget they fight with spears in melee, which makes them even more useful!

~Fluvius

[QuintusSertorius]

i accualy enjot having Arabian Light, I use them indread of Akontistai reason being that they have better melee and they have javs... killer combo...

They're a neat alternative sort of "heavy skirmisher" to peltastai. Better against cavalry, due to the spears.

Not to forget they fight with spears in melee, which makes them even more useful!

~Fluvius

Indeed. I'm planning to splash out on a range of mercs when things have stabilised with my economy; some merc hoplites, some Jewish spearmen (as thureophoroi-a-likes) and some Parthian horse-archers if I can find them. The rest I'll fill out with my regionals (Arabian light infantry and cavalry, Arabian slingers, Syrian archers).

[QuintusSertorius]

Not long later, here's the sort of crap the AI has started throwing my way:



I wonder if its run out of proper armies in the region. They're at war with the Ptolemies again, no surprise there.

Not much different here three years later:

[Biowulf]

My Arverni Campaign M/M 203 BC


The center of my little empire

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Our new pirate hunting force :D

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

We're #2! We're #2!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Don't let the dip fool you, I disbanded all my garrisons for internal settlements and disbanded a few units that took too long to retrain. I lost the equivalent of a fullstack and a half of troops at least.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Allies: Casse, Aedui, Sauromatae, and Baktria
Enemies: Epeiros, Lusos, Romans
Dead: Sweboz (by me), Pontos (by AS), Makedonia (by Epeiros), Parthia (by AS)

My goals right now are take out the Romans, give the Aedui the western coast of Italy + Sicily, take Iberia and perhaps divide it among the factions I want to see survive, then I'll cripple the Epirotes and give some land to the Getai just for fun.

What's happened so far:
My first action was to remove the Aedui from Gaul proper and unite it under the banner of the Verrix. The Aedui, with just Mediolanum, took all of Northern Italy and I allied with them against the Romans. However, the inevitable happened and the Romans pushed them back to Segesta and that's when I invaded Italy the first time. I sacked my way down to Rome and nearly lost my king in the process, but a series of Heroic victories kept his army from disappearing. I let Rome and Arretium rebel back to the Romans and kept Northern Italy safe from Roman aggression. By the time I managed that I had begun wars with the Sweboz and Lusos since I bordered them. The lusos continually besiege Emporion and Burdigala, but continually fail to take them. Once my king died, his successor (who still lives at age 63) declared a personal war between him and the Sweboz which ended just a few years ago. Early in my game Galatia rebelled against the Arche and went to me. I tried to hold onto it as best I could, but the neverending swarms of grey eventually defeated the local king. It was this event that spurred the AS into action, culminating into two invasions of the Ptolemaic homeland. The first invasion was beaten back for a time even though the Ptolies lost Alexandria and Memphis, and I thought for a few turns that they would actually be able to turn the tide, but the AS was on too much of a roll. They just lost their last African settlement, leaving them with Salamis on Kypros. Which brings us to the present turn. After dealing with constant rebellions Epeiros decided to attack at Segestica and to invade Asia Minor. They currently have only one enemy: me. I resumed my invasion of Italy once my Verrix destroyed the Sweboz and so far I've been dealing with the mini stacks of Hoplitai Haploi and various samnite soldiers.

[Molinaargh]

Currently playing Koinon Hellenon (M/M) for this AAR.

The year is 269BC and the nature of the AAR doesn't allow much blitzing.


These are all the poleis of the Koinon, except for Rhodes.


And this was a battle defeat which stopped us from expanding further north.

[Lazy O]

Too bright

[QuintusSertorius]

Those are tiny looking units, what size are you playing on?

[Lazy O]

Normal. Allows for quicker battles

[QuintusSertorius]

Normal. Allows for quicker battles

Meh, I much prefer bigger battles to merely quick ones. That's pretty much my only technical requirement, I'll happily play with little detail to get a neat 1:10 scale on the field.

[Maniro]

Romani campaign M/M


The game system made him faction leader
I find AI quite prophetic

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Molinaargh]

Impressive!

[GenosseGeneral]

How does a a Roman FM have a "barbarian" portrait?

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

How does a a Roman FM have a "barbarian" portrait?

From the name, I take it he is a bribed Saka general. At that point, money should be no problem.

[durnaug]

This is my KH empire. The Getai were my staunch allies for almost 80 years but an independent Greek revolt has ended all that :/ Now the stacks I had built up for an attack on the Ptolemys will have to go defend that sprawling balkan border.

The Ptolemys are huge so I have been conducting pirate raids on their coastal cities to soften them up. But now that the invasion is postponed I am going to finally take all of Anatolia. I put it off for ages because it means finishing off the Macedons, which means I will not be able to make peace with any of her allies.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Paltmull]

Makedonian Empire, 213 B.C. (H/M, City Mod a):

[Lazy O]

Who is the dark blue between Hai and Baktria?

[jirisys]

Who is the dark blue between Hai and Baktria?

Pahlava

~Jirisys ()

[Paltmull]

Yup, it's Pahlava. I just don't think that pink makes them look... fearsome enough.

[Lazy O]

Nice empire btw

[Paltmull]

Thanks!

[jirisys]

Yup, it's Pahlava. I just don't think that pink makes them look... fearsome enough.

At least they ain't got no pajamas

~Jirisys ()

[Paltmull]

True that.