From Basileion to Arche - An interactive Makedonian campaign/AAR

[julius_caesar_the_first]

*Alypios rises and addresses Alkyoneus*

Noble and Wise Basileus, I personally believe that we should return those two provinces to the Seleukidai for two reasons:

Firstly it would give us a buffer against the Ptolemaioi. Without such a buffer I fear we would face a never ending war with the Aigyptioi (spelling please).

Secondly, I know the Seleukidai better than anyone here and I fear that they may consider that not returning “their provinces” *Alypios says this with disgust and anger before returning to his usual tone* a betrayal of the alliance and lead to a war with both them and the Ptolemaioi, a war which we would not be able to win at the moment.

I do not believe that they deserve any of the land they now possess but we must not rush things or our Empire will suffer the same fate of Alexander’s.

*Alypios sits*

________________________________________

Out of Character: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!

[Socy]

Sympatriotai, brothers!

What has already been said, my dear Basileus, by the Synedrioi is indeed sound and logical. I agree with all of it. However, as have been mentioned, Krete presents a.. Interesting topic.

It is true, that Krete serves as one of the few outposts still loyal to the cause of the Chremonidian usurpers that we expelled from Hellas not too long ago. This presents a problem. As long as Krete stands, so does the so-called Koinon Hellenon, and thus, their cause. As long as this union still stands, yet broken as they are, they have the possibility to further their cause by politics and other means. That they lack military might, especially compared to us, this we know through our networks. However, in the hellenic world their words can still weight heavy and their say in politics aswell. As opponents to us and our cause, which is just and ours by right, they will most likely talk trash about us behind our backs, nagging and criticizing us for every move we make. Now I do not fear them, this Koinon Hellenon. No brothers, I fear what they might do. Remember, that there are many Hellenic poleis (Spelling? Polis in plural) out there that swear allegiance to no political power that we are dealing with yet. Take for example Trebizond, Bosphoria amongst others. Alone, these poleis do not present any threat to any major power, as they are simply too weak on their own. However, should these poleis unite against us.. I fear for the worst. And trust me, brothers, that the Koinon Hellenon can, and will, given proper evidence, accuse us for a great ammount of things that could win these poleises over to their cause.

This is, ofcourse, as long as the Koinon exists. Or rather, its leaders. For while they do have a common enemy, us, that is also all they have in common. Take away their leaders, who struggle to hold the crumbling alliance of theirs intact, and the whole rebellion will surely fall.

Also, let us not forget the economic value of taking Krete. Krete has a very favourable position when it comes to guarding the Aegean sea. While Krete still remains under enemy control, we are missing out on alot of trade from the outside world, such as the Karchedonioi. It also limits our own naval influence that we cannot pass past or near Krete.

But, as the rest of you have pointed out, taking Krete could turn into a drawn out, long siege, possibly delaying our entry into the Syrian heartlands, which is, after all, the goal of our next military steps. I do, however, vote for conquering Krete, despite the delay it will cause.

Furthermore, Syria. As our wise Basileus and his advisors have planned, I agree on taking Rhodos, then moving along the coast, taking Side, Tarsos and finally Antiocheia. Our army should, however, be prepared for marching long and fast, since time is of the essence. Our goal is to avoid the Ptolemaic army currently residing in Mikra Asia seeing as a battle with it could prove fatal to our own forces. I do not say it is a battle we could not win, merely that it would alert the Ptolemaioi to our pressence and give them time to regroup in Syria, making it harder for us to liberate it. As I said, speed should be of the essence and Syria should be the goal. Might I advise that we send scouts to both Side and Tarsos, and if they are lightly defended, be so bold that we split the army heading for Antiocheia, taking the two cities fast, then regroup at Tarsos before moving on to Antiocheia? Might I also suggest that they travel by sea as far as possible, seeing that it is faster?

As for when Syria is in our hands, since I have no doubts that it will become ours, I suggest that we hand it over to the Seleukidai. Not only to show our good intentions and honouring our brothers in the east, but also as others have pointed out, beacuse it would give us a buffer-state against the Ptolemaic sphere in Phoinike. The landgains along Mikra Asias southern coast, should however, befall unto us. However, they could prove to be hard to protect.. I am a little bit split on that descision, so the thoughts of you, brothers, on that particular topic would be appreciated. I do belive that after liberating Antiocheia we could turn backwards, after giving it to the Seleukidai ensuring that it is properly garrisoned, and wrestle Karia and Lydia from the Ptolemaioi? Not only are these areas of great importance should we decide to keep Side and Tarsos, considering roads, logisitcs etc. but it would also clear Hellas Proper from the looming threat of Ptolemaic troops. As it is right now, they are closer than I like to Pella itself. Now I know our navy would most certainly not allow any troops of theirs to cross the Aegean sea, but I am not one for taking chanses. We all know how Pyrrhos was close to taking Pella, not too long ago. I do not wish for a similar Ptolemaic threat looming over Pella.

That is all I have to say, brothers. And, my Basileus.

[machinor]

"Ah yes... the matter of how to rearrange Syria politically. Well, I can only repeat what my fellow synedroi said before me: We need the Seleukidai as a buffer against the Ptolemaioi. If we give them back their Syrian provinces, then their military focus would be right there on the border they share with the Aigyptoi. I fully agree that we should keep the Southern lands of Mikra Asia we are going to conquer. Not only can we intercept any Aigyptian armies marching into Mikra Asia, but we will also have a safe supply route to Syria, should the need to help the Seleukidai in their wars ever arise. Furthermore, the Sleleukidai do not have the military might to hold Mikra Asia as well as Syria and their Eastern dominions. If we keep their former provinces in Mikra Asia for ourselves, we relieve them of one of their protection spheres, enabling them to focus their military attention on their more vital struggle with the Ptolemaioi. This would be in their best interest, as they will surely acknowledge (if they are wise). Their Syrian Provinces however are, as I said before, one of the main pools, they draw their military might from. stripping them of these cities and provinces would be like taking away the gatehouse of their capital. Their heartlands in Mesopotamia would be wide open to Aigyptian armies. And I don't think I have to point out how desastrous it would be if the sons of Ptolemaios would hold the dominion over Mesopotamia.

As for my friend Antigonos Aiginios' concerns regarding our possibilities to defend and hold our eventual gains in Southern Anatolia: If we add Rhodos to our dominion, we have the mighty Rhodian fleet at our disposal. With that it should be no problem to supply our garrisons there by sea. Even more so as we will hold Kypros too, stripping the admirals of Ptolemaios of their operations base for the coasts of Mikra Asia and Syria. This will push their naval influence back to the coast of Aigyptos since they will be left with only Alexandria as their only remaining military port."

Btw, note that by "Syria" I mean the whole region that was refered to as "Syria" in Antiquity, not just the EB province.

[Socy]

You speak with great wisdom for your age, Zenon.

Indeed, what you say is true about Rhodos. I suppose that with Rhodos under our control, we could control the seas around southern Mikra Asia, aswell as supply our armies and newly gained territories there. Forgive me for forgetting the strategic weight of Rhodos.

As for everything else Zenon said, I fully agree. All of Syria must be conquered and given back to the Seleukidai. As Zenon stated, we should also station one army in southern Mikra Asia for two reasons. First, to protect the region from any Ptolemaic agressions. Secondly, to be able to quickly intervene should the Ptolemaioi strike against Syria with full force before our Seleukidai brothers have rebuilt and re-fortificated the region.

[Maion Maroneios]

Hello everyone. There is something I have to tell you all. First of all, thank you for your time to post here and participate in this AAR. Thanks to all my readers as well for sticking with me all this time. Due to certain (tragic) RL events as well as a very annoying persistant bug that cause me a CTD every time I hit "End Turn" (man, how I hate that every bad thing happens at the same time when you get the downfall), I will sadly have to discontinue this AAR.

Thanks to everyone again and sorry for this, but I really have no other choise. My internet surfing will also become less and less frequent, at least until things are fixed. Thank the economic crisis for hitting me as well

Anyways, you don't have to listen to my stories. Here, have a balloon each for participating in the Synedrion:

Maion

[Tyrfingr]

Hello everyone. There is something I have to tell you all. First of all, thank you for your time to post here and participate in this AAR. Thanks to all my readers as well for sticking with me all this time. Due to certain (tragic) RL events as well as a very annoying persistant bug that cause me a CTD every time I hit "End Turn" (man, how I hate that every bad thing happens at the same time when you get the downfall), I will sadly have to discontinue this AAR.

Thanks to everyone again and sorry for this, but I really have no other choise. My internet surfing will also become less and less frequent, at least until things are fixed. Thank the economic crisis for hitting me as well

Anyways, you don't have to listen to my stories. Here, have a balloon each for participating in the Synedrion:

Maion

*Rhemaxos commits suicide out of cheer dissapointment*

[Olaf Blackeyes]

NUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(cries)
WHY?!?!?! WHY!?!?!?


ok now for seriousness. Its sad to hear this has been put down. I can only pray for another one at some point like this.

[desert]

Everything that has a beginning has an end, Ne Olaf.

We must carry the Ordenskissen and lay it to rest by the grave of this heroic AAR.

[julius_caesar_the_first]

I'm really sorry this had to end this way. Thanks for the balloon. I only wish I could have received it under better circumstances.

Good luck with the RL problems. I hope you manage to solve them quickly.

[Socy]

Damn! This is some seriously sad news indeed! But hey, real life comes first. Always.

As the others have said, hope you get to solve it all! Best of luck mate!

But as for this AAR going down.. Lets just say that I am very sad about it, like I am sure that many others who have participated in it are. But hey, thats a good thing, in a way! It is atleast proof that we all genuinly liked being part of it. :)

As I said, best of luck to your RL issues.

Um, I will shamelessly come with a proposition.

What say you all AAR-members of discussing something new along the lines of this AAR? With some other faction perhaps, etc.? Could be fun. And ofcourse, that AAR would be in honouring memory of this one and Maion's efforts to make this AAR as immersive and good as it have been. Those of you that are interested in this offer could PM me and we could perhaps talk more about it. Everyone welcome, even those of you that have lurked and are interested but never have posted in this one. And ofcourse all of you that have posted but have not participated in this one. :)

[johnhughthom]

Sad to see the end of this Maion.

[gamegeek2]

See, this is how the Makedonians pay for denying good Skythian cavalrymen some Kleroi!

JK, that must suck. Have a for comfort.

[HunGeneral]

It's really sad to see this AAR end like this

Best of luck to RL. I hope everything will be solved soon.

Thanks Maion for starting this AAR and keeping it alive as long as possible. And thanks for all other participaters. God bless you all.

(Thanks for the Balloon)

EDIT: I had a feeling I forgot something and I was right: to Maion for all the work and time spent on this AAR

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Well that's quite unfortunate. I'd been following this since the beginning and it is a shame to see it go.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Squadron leader Antiochos pulls out his sword, raises it high unto the sky, facing Mount Olympos.

"Ye Gods! What befell you? What gruesome fate treated us so badly? I have been held captive by unscrupulous Thraikian mercenaries for decades. Every day have I thought on flight, and finally have I managed to reach my beloved country again. But for what? For what? Only to see my beloved Makedonia fall at the hands of you, Zeus, and you, Hera, you, Dionysos, Apollos and Herakles. Even you, Herakles, our noble ancestor. You too have turned your back on us."

Antiochos points the sword towards his belly. "Oh Makedonia! Oh my Basileus! I'd rather go forward than await my bitter fate! F**k you Gods! Arggh!"

[Lysimachos]

Hello everyone. There is something I have to tell you all. First of all, thank you for your time to post here and participate in this AAR. Thanks to all my readers as well for sticking with me all this time. Due to certain (tragic) RL events as well as a very annoying persistant bug that cause me a CTD every time I hit "End Turn" (man, how I hate that every bad thing happens at the same time when you get the downfall), I will sadly have to discontinue this AAR.

Thanks to everyone again and sorry for this, but I really have no other choise. My internet surfing will also become less and less frequent, at least until things are fixed. Thank the economic crisis for hitting me as well

Anyways, you don't have to listen to my stories. Here, have a balloon each for participating in the Synedrion:

Maion

I'm sorry to hear this. Although I didn't have the opportunity to contribute, I planned to do so and followed the progress as far as I could.
Of course the well-being of this AAR is less important compared to that of your own, so I'd like to communicate my compassion to you, for whatever tragic may have happened. I very much hope your live will turn to the better soon.

Accept a balloon from me, as a puny comfort:

[machinor]

I'm very sad to hear of your problems. I hope you'll be able to sort that out soon.

As for the AAR, it's a pity that it has to end like this. This was great fun and Maion's elan is to be admired, as is every participant. You all did a great job, guys!

[Maion Maroneios]

Just found some time to get on-line again and I must say I am deeply moved by all you here. Really, I never expected this Anyways, things might turn out a little better once I find a job sometime and perhaps I can 'revive' this AAR at some point later on. Note it probably won't be an interactive one, but just a normal storytelling AAR about Makedonia in her rise to glory.

Thank you all again for your support and balloons, it is nice to see this from you. If things get better, be sure you'll be informed henceforth and maybe we can even discuss doing something together from the start.

Goodbye

Maion

[Maion Maroneios]

A little bumb here (no the AAR is not resurrected ), everyone still interested in "reliving" this in some sort, look for a thread created by me and the main Forum section about a Makedonian PBM.

Maion

[satalexton]

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!