1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Jebivjetar]

Pahlava, 148BC

[Horatius Flaccus]

Nice, Sweboz creating a Baltic empire.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Has anyone ever seen the Sweboz invade Britain?

[SwissBarbar]

Safot Softim biQuarthadast
187 BC
VH/M




I play Carthage, have conquered the western part of northern Africa, have reconquered Messana and Sicily from the Romans and all of Spain is mine. If you want to read more about the epic war Carthage vs Roma, please read the closer look to the situation here: Epic War - Carthage vs. Roma


But it's not about me, look and enjoy this wonderful AI Progression.

The Koinon Hellenon have founded a powerful empire by exterminating Epeiros and Makedonia and sucessfully fighting the Hay in the east (who had conquered great parts of Anatolia !!!) and by pushing back the Aedui in the west (who had conquered great parts of Illyria !!!) and now fighting the Romani in Italy

The Ptolemaioi have coquered huge parts of the former Arche Seleukeia, but could not exterminate the Saba, with whom they're at war ever since. They are losing the war against the Koinon Hellenon for Anatolia at the moment and regularly trying to conquer Lepki from me

The Aedui, once being most powerful empire in the whole world (!!) for ca. 20 years, are now being pushed back by the Sweboz and the Koinon Hellenon.

The Sweboz have forced the Sauromatae to be their client kingdom

The Pahlava, Baktria and Saka Rauka are fighting each other, making it quite easy to the Ptolemaioi to expand in the east.

The Getai once ruled more lands southwards of their current southern border, but have been pushed back by the Koinon Hellenon.

The Casse haven't had contact to anyone outside Britannia

[Horatius Flaccus]

Wow, nice - surprising - expansion. Especially the Koinon ofcourse.

[SwissBarbar]

Update
Safot Softim biQuarthadast
165 BC
VH/M




The news:

The Romani. Too long have they crossed our borders and raided our towns and villages. Too many men have died because of their pride. But pride always goes before a Elephants. Their walls have collapsed due to the warcries of our warriors. Their skies have darkened over the smoke of victory. Their people has been vanquished and enslaved. The Romani are no more.


The enemy alliance. When the dust of the great war against the Romani has abated, our people was known as the most powerful empire under the eyes of Baal-Hammon. Emissaries from all corners of the world have come to Quart-Hadast and have bowed before the might of your people. But dark clouds approach from the east. The still powerful Ptolemaioi, enemies of old, have gathered a strong confederacy. The Koinon Hellenon and the Pahlava joined forces with the Ptolemaioi and with each other, and now try to bring us to our knees. Supported by Pahlavan money, the Koinon Hellenon attack our possessions in Europe and the Ptolemaioi those in Africa. But we are battle-tested like no other people in the world. Our Generals have ravaged in Egypt, have burned fields, annihilated cities and brought home 100'000 slaves from Alexandreia alone. Soon our great fleet will be ready to sail the greatest army the world has ever seen to Egypt, and when we have finished there will be no Ptolemaioi in Africa anymore.

The friends. But not all peoples as eager to go to death like our enemies. The strong and wild tribes in the north, the fearsome Sweboz and the again strengthening Arverni are supporting us in our war against the Koinon Hellenon. And in the east the proud and venerable Saba are fighting the superior Ptolemaioi for over one century and are still not broken.


Ye gods, give us the wisdom to honor you, give us the courage not to fail in battle and give us the strength to subject our enemies, and we will sacrifice their children to you, and you shall be satisfied.

[athanaric]

Senatus Populusque Romanus, 222 BC, VH/M.



Current reform level:

Time of Soldiers
March of Time
Polybian Reforms (229/228 BC)


Epeiros will be the first faction to snuff it. They were fun for a while, fielding large armies with Chaonion Agema, Thraikioi Rhomphaiaphoroi, Molosson Agema and even Elephants. Then they decided to assassinate one of my generals. This of course requires their extermination.

Aedui are surprisigly tenacious. They even reconquered some provinces from the Swêboz.

Arverni are my most active enemies, fielding decent armies with Solduros, Neitos, Arjos, and other interesting units.

Hayasdan is looking forward to serious trouble with Suebi loyalists. Totally wacky epansion.

Baktria required a lot of babysitting on my behalf. Even now, they are beset by Seleukid forces.

Pahlava isn't doing great, either.

Casse are quite active, surprisingly.

The Getai just decided to betray me. Brilliant idea.

Here's my first and, as of yet, only Triumphator, an excellent S/C/V character:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He was born an Arverni. I can provide more screens if you don't believe me.

[The Celtic Viking]

My Arverni Campaign

234 BCE:


No special development by any AI faction that I can see, with the exception of Makedonia perhaps. They've taken both the KH and Epeirote homelands, and are expanding into Mikra Asia as well (which the KH has done as well, possibly through rebellion?).

222 BCE:


While I have been busy fighting off the Romans and the Sweboz, Lusotannan have conquered Iberia and crept up on me from behind. Aedui are down to their last settlement, while the Epeirotes have made a small comeback, taking Pella again. Saba expands north, AS takes Alexandreia and Carthage wins the battle over Sicily.

215 BCE:


Finally 215 BCE and the Lusotannans' holdings in Gaul have been divided by me after they decided to attack and take Avaricum. This is also after I made my raid on Roma, which caused so much problems for the Romani that they got completely conquered by Carthage. Sweboz forced to accept a peace treaty for the return of a couple Germanic settlements I had taken.

Makedonia won the battle over Greece, and the Epeirotes are done. Their holdings in Mikra Asia remain the same. Pontos, however, have expanded a little more on the expense of AS, who's lost territory to the KH, but are otherwise pushing back against Pahlava and still holding Alexandreia. Ptolemaioi have kicked back Sab'yn and conquered all territory south of Alexandreia.

Oh, and I also had a brief encounter with the Getai, in which I got Ak-Ink, but no other changes have been made. I also believe the Getai accepted to become protectorates under Sweboz rule shortly before this picture. (If not, it was shortly after it.)

210 BCE:


I have completely conquered T. Gaul and in doing so gained a peace with Lusotannan, while Carthage have stabbed both me and the Aedui in the back. Aedui have once again been pushed back to their last settlement.

Otherwise, it remains much the same since 215 BCE. Makedonia expands further in Mikra Asia, Pahlava and AS both lose and take territories from each other, and Saka Rauka are breaking down on Baktria.

202 BCE:


Aedui have been defeated, and I have accepted a cease fire with the Carthaginians, who gained Bononia in the war. I haven't expanded much since, living mostly in peace until the Makedonians decided to make for Segestica. I then took Illyria down to Ambrakia, and in exchange of not destroying the wonder and giving Ambrakia back, I managed to get back Ambrakia (which they had bribed) and a peace. As soon as I left Ambrakia and they had it under control, they attacked me again in violation of the peace. Must raid Pella.

In Mikra Asia, the Makedonians have had more success, making it as far as Antiocheia. The AS, while beating back the Pahlavans, are having a hard time with the Ptolemaioi and Makedonians working on them in the west.

[Marcus Ulpius]

Update from my Seleucid campaign:

it's year 193



Previous maps:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

205

233

Campaign in India is finished. Bactria lost common border with Saka and didn't find better thing to do than to attack me. They paid the price for that. Campaign against Hayasdan in its final stages. They were pushed out of their homeland into the cold void of the steppes. Saka will most likely be my next target and that should bring the East under the full control of the Seleucid king.

AI:

Romani are winning their war against the Lusos. Rome slowly but steadily becoming a superpower.
Lusos are losing to the Rpmani and they also lost a coastal town to Carthadahst, hard to tell if it was a naval invasion or rebellion.
Arverni - surrendered to SPQR and became the protectorate.
Sweboz - busy fighting immortal armies of Satres.
Geate - their expansion stopped for some reason and they even allowed weak Epiros to take two towns from them without any response.
Macedonia - made peace with KH and are desperately trying to take Byzantion back from me.
KH - attacked Epirotes. They have quite significant forces stationed in Greece and if they use only a fraction of those, Epirotes should be crushed.
Carthadasht - they refuse to make peace with me, but they also don't attack.

[seienchin]

Has anybody ever seen the romans taking over AI north africa?

[anubis88]

This is my current Pahlava campaign.
I hadn't had this much fun in a long time, so let me tell you sth about how the campaign is progressing.
I enjoy playing historicaly, and although i've conquered more then i should, it was due to the fact that i wouldn't survive if i hadn't conquered as much.
I've conquered both Gabai and Ekbatana as a retribution to a huge scale Seleucid attack. I also have to thank Saka and Baktria that they haven't attacked me yet.
I have 4 standing armies, one near Gabai, one near Ekbatana, one near my capital Hekatompylos and one near Antiochia Margiane just in case the Saka/Baktria decide to attack me.

Ok, so on to what my neighbouring faction have been up to.

Arche Seleukia - My first campaign in which they practically destroyed the Ptolemies, even though i gave them money, usually it was vice-versa. I already thought that the AS was going to steamroll agains everyone when the Hai blitzed them, conquered Mazaka, and Tarsos, (i gave them Arbela later on ) but were reppeled in a few years and the AS started their counter attack.
My way of taking down the AS empire is with spies and assasins. I've tried this now and it works prefectly, i sabotage their temples, fill the towns with spies and some cities revolt.
Persepolis did this, Karmana is about to do it, and the most beatufill par was Pergamon rebelling to KH, starting a war between the two, and Ankyra rebelling to be conquered in the next few turns by Pontos. The only ones not at war with the AS are Baktria, but i will leave that be, so that me and Baktria don't share more borders then we should.
AS almost conquered all of Asia Minor and Egypt but now the tides of war are changing. However they are still very strong. I defeat a huge army every few turns, but Pontos, Hai, Saba (they also attacked them a few turns ago, guess they smelled blood) are having their hands full as well.

Ptolemaic Empire - As i said before, the first time they get kicked by the AS, and are now but a shadow of the empire they were in 272 BC.
However, due to the multiple fronts of AS, they may bounce back. I will try sending some spies to Egypt, and make Alexandria na Memphis revolt.

Hayasdan - They gave a run for their money to the Sauromatae, but got too ambitious and attacked the AS. They were succesfull at first, but repelled later, and the Sauromatae conqured their steppe cities back, so now they're back to square one.

Pontos - They didn't do much, conquered only Sinope in the first 50 years ( realistic almost huh?). Now they've conquered Ankyra and started a war with AS, we will see how that goes. Oh, just remembered. They've captured Thrace when it was Macedonia's last possesion. Dunno why or how, but they've besieged the damn city for 10 years before it fell and thus ended the Antigonid dynasty

Saba - Didn't pay much attention to them, they did the usual and conquered the Arabian peninsula, but now they have struck at the As, conquering the Hebrews, and starting to besiege Damascus.

Saka-Baktria - they are at war since the begining (they are both still allies with me), and not much has happened between them. They are kinda in a stellmate.

Western world:
Romans are at constant war with QartHadast for Sardinia, Corsica and the Baleares. I helped rome to conquer Sicily. The Lusos are becoming a superpower again, and the Sweboz as well.


My grand plan is to conquer as historically as possible, and help later on the romans, so that i could have my own Carrhae in in the 1st century BC

[Zim]

In the early decades of the third century BC Carthage had gone into decline. Riven by internal as well as external conflicts, Carthage saw its territories in Iberia fall to native tribes while Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia fell to Rome. Meanwhile many of the city's African territories went into rebellion, leaving only Carthage itself and the cities closest to it under Punic control.

This would change by the end of the century, however. The Anti-Barcid party came to dominate Carthaginian politics, as many blamed the recent losses on the overstretching of the city's resources. It was decided to concentrate on Africa, and slowly the borders there reached and even surpassed their previous state. Carthage's coffers flowed with money again and even had the strength to not only repel invading Ptolemaic armies but to intervene in affairs in Asia, keeping the balance between their Egyptian enemies and the Seleucids.

Eventually the losses of the beginning of the century were forgotten and the Baricds again came to power, advocating the reconquest of Spain, which succeeded after a long guerilla war against the Lusotannan and other tribes there. Afterwards enriched by the conquest of all of Iberia, the Carthaginian elite would push further wars, taking the fight to the Romans who had stolen Sicily. Encountering surprisingly little resistance as the bulk of the Roman army somehow deteriorated to the level of levies called "Vigiles", despite great reserves of manpower and riches, the Carthaginians took all of Italy, then turned their sights on the Greeks, who had sunk Punic ships during the war.

Ever since the Carthaginian has continued to grow, sometimes slowly, sometimes in spurts. After the Greek Empire's territory was captured and their leaders banished to the northern shore of the Black sea, only the Seleucids were powerful enough to threaten Carthage. War between the two superpowers raged for decades, but the Seleucids lost large chunks of their territory to not only Carthage but to Baktria and Hayasdan as well. Technically a state of war still exists between teh two nations, but the Seleucids, while still possessing a sizable Empire, are little more than a shadow of their former selves.

Lately Carthage has expanded in a new direction, taking all of Gaul from the Arverni and the remnants of the Romans. Some grumbling has occured, as these lands are poorer than any thus far conquered, and hard to keep order in. However, the Carthaginian leaders have continued to push for more expansion, with the first expeditions establishing a foothold on the Isle of Tin itself. Only time will tell if the Carthaginian Empire is overstretching itself.

[Jebivjetar]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the early decades of the third century BC Carthage had gone into decline. Riven by internal as well as external conflicts, Carthage saw its territories in Iberia fall to native tribes while Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia fell to Rome. Meanwhile many of the city's African territories went into rebellion, leaving only Carthage itself and the cities closest to it under Punic control.

This would change by the end of the century, however. The Anti-Barcid party came to dominate Carthaginian politics, as many blamed the recent losses on the overstretching of the city's resources. It was decided to concentrate on Africa, and slowly the borders there reached and even surpassed their previous state. Carthage's coffers flowed with money again and even had the strength to not only repel invading Ptolemaic armies but to intervene in affairs in Asia, keeping the balance between their Egyptian enemies and the Seleucids.

Eventually the losses of the beginning of the century were forgotten and the Baricds again came to power, advocating the reconquest of Spain, which succeeded after a long guerilla war against the Lusotannan and other tribes there. Afterwards enriched by the conquest of all of Iberia, the Carthaginian elite would push further wars, taking the fight to the Romans who had stolen Sicily. Encountering surprisingly little resistance as the bulk of the Roman army somehow deteriorated to the level of levies called "Vigiles", despite great reserves of manpower and riches, the Carthaginians took all of Italy, then turned their sights on the Greeks, who had sunk Punic ships during the war.

Ever since the Carthaginian has continued to grow, sometimes slowly, sometimes in spurts. After the Greek Empire's territory was captured and their leaders banished to the northern shore of the Black sea, only the Seleucids were powerful enough to threaten Carthage. War between the two superpowers raged for decades, but the Seleucids lost large chunks of their territory to not only Carthage but to Baktria and Hayasdan as well. Technically a state of war still exists between teh two nations, but the Seleucids, while still possessing a sizable Empire, are little more than a shadow of their former selves.

Lately Carthage has expanded in a new direction, taking all of Gaul from the Arverni and the remnants of the Romans. Some grumbling has occured, as these lands are poorer than any thus far conquered, and hard to keep order in. However, the Carthaginian leaders have continued to push for more expansion, with the first expeditions establishing a foothold on the Isle of Tin itself. Only time will tell if the Carthaginian Empire is overstretching itself.

Oh, man: great work and nice roleplay! In my current Carthaginian campaign i tend to do something similar: conquer Egypt and go for Asia Minor. Therefore i have one question for you: which good local units can Carthage recruit in Syria/Asia Minor? I mean, i know there are some levies available for each faction, but i wonder if i can recruit some decent troops in these territories, or i'll be limited to some local levies while more decent troops i have to transport from my homelands and/or have to take mercenaries?

Really nice empire you have!

[Zim]

Thanks! It's been my favorite EB game thus far. Unfortunately the computer I played most of it on started breaking down a little while back and I lost most of my saves and screenshots (managed to get the newest save off to continue, though...), so that's a bit of an abridged history.

I think when I started into Asia, I had just the settlements required for the victory conditions plus Greece and the Balkans. For a long time I actually did ship armies from elsewhere, putting them together locally and sending them as full stacks oversea. I did eventually start recruiting them locally. There are some ok regional troops in Asia Minor, depending on how much you expect from them.

Classical hoplites can be recruited in many of the western coast of Asia Minor. Cappadocian hillmen are also pretty widely available, and a good buy for the price. Cretan Archers can be recruited in nearby Crete, and to my surprise in Alexandria. Most of the local cavalry have bad charges, unfortunately. Caucasian archers and slingers are also available, and pretty decent. Ankyra can only produce up to about mid level Celtic units, but at least the Celtic cavalry holds their spears underhand and have a decent charge. Antioch has the axemen and other basic local units, Damascus is worse unit wise.

About the best I've been able to come up with is hoplites and axemen, a few Celts (sometimes Celtic cavalry), plus local archers and skirmishers (but the Caucasian or eastern ones, not the Greek ones). Then I might add some mercenary cavalry and maybe merc Galatian Wildmen or other specialty units. It works pretty well against the Seleucid Armies I fight, despite higher casualties than I'd like.

[Hax]

That looks absolutely beautiful.

[athanaric]

That looks absolutely horrible. Way too much Chalk Death and Grey Death

Zim: Antioch has Cretan Archers, too. As well as Syrian Archers IIRC. One of the best places for recruitment.

[Zim]

Cretan and Syrian archers? That's something to remember in future games...



Here's a Seleucid one I've started recently. I roleplayed it as the Empire falling apart under internal as well as external pressures, with my taking over two fms and territories in Anatolia.

[Cute Wolf]

Koinon Hellenon, Playing relatively slow and rather than doing my usual way (heading west and trashing a certain city), I decide to conquer Kyrene and Stab the Ptolemies at the back... Currently at war with Ptolemaioi, Makedonia, and Epeiros. Allied with Baktria and the Romaioi (Not yet trashing them as usual)



Special Note:
1) Sauromatae push themself to the west rather quickly, but as the result, their territory are quickly gained, but also quickly crumbled, looks like they want to deliver the finishing blows to the Getai.
2) Makedonia, because I show mercy to them (not yet drive them out of their north Makedonian territory), rather than become usual lesbian local kingdom, they conquer Pergamon and kickin AS' out of Western mikra asia. Attempt to besiege Byzantion and Ankyra, but AS lost their Ankyra holdings quickly, and rebelled to Avernii.
3) Avernii lost their eastern gallic holding because the Sweboz invasion, but getting many troops pumped out of Ankyra, looks like they soon fall in the west because Sweboz are going mad
4) Aedui pushed back heavily by Sweboz, but start gaining an upper hand in their war against Romaioi, maybe they'll sack Arretium soon.
5) Sweboz blitz their way in South and West expansion... looks like they still on their momentum, but Sauromatae checked their movement at the east...
6) Hayasdan is still doing their stupid northward invasion as usual
7) Ptolemaioi pushed toward asia by me, their African holdings is under heavy harrasment
8) AS start crumbling, but they still impressively resist Baktria and Pahlava at the east
9) Unlike my lastest Sweboz campaign... Pontos is docile now
10) Casse is as dead as usual
11) Luso and Karthadast and Romaioi also doing their usual ways, I didn't interfare with their wars yet...
12) Saba and Saka, still usual exspansion
13) Getai is squeezed between Sweboz and Sauro... looks like they are about to fall

[athanaric]

2) Makedonia, because I show mercy to them (not yet drive them out of their north Makedonian territory), rather than become usual lesbian local kingdom, they conquer Pergamon and kickin AS' out of Western mikra asia. Attempt to besiege Byzantion and Ankyra, but AS lost their Ankyra holdings quickly, and rebelled to Avernii.

That's actually a smart move, seeing as they will "convert" Mikra Asia to your culture, and build some nice local barracks and other stuff for you to conquer later.

I love how the Swêboz and Romani put out the Super Eleutheroi in your game.

[Macilrille]

The super Eleutheroi have almost always been taken by Romans or Sweboz in my games. As Rome I watch in amazement how the Sweboz kill armies I dare not tackle with and as Sweboz I watch the Romans do the same

Baktria Campaign pics coming up soon, but I have problems posting pics, so mere to my Album, see how the Lusos took all Southern Gaul and the Italian Peninsula down to Rhegion...

Edited to try and add a pic of the time I got bored.
Did not work, here it is https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/album...pictureid=2102

[Cute Wolf]

Update:
Constant harrasment on Pella and invasion from Byzantion finally forced me to kick the Macedon out of Hellenes, but they capture Byzantion and right after that my Troops just simply overpower the exhausted Makedonians and drive them out... And their constant harrasment on Rhodos forced me to invade Mikhra asia, to getting more money to fund my Egyptian wars, as the Result, the Makedonians are pushed further east, and The Ptolemaioi are now become crussader states (Having Antioch and Jerusalem), oh yeah, I have try to get Hierosolyma as well, but constant rioting and their always red face forced me to abandon them back to their old Ptolemaioi master, and nowe they become the capital of Ptolemaioi (Yeah, you can call them Kingdom of Jerusalem now ). I got Ethiophia, but it soon rebelled for Saby'n and decide to stop my Egyptian blitz there. Right now, my western front are unusually peaceful, Epeirotes are trying their fortune invading Italy, and at one point Burned Barbaropolis (but soon the Romaioi taken their Barbaropolis back), and the removal of Makedonians give me much easier breath there. Only one half stack of depleted Sauro horse archers dare to besiege Pella, but my golden stack "slingers from hell" utterly vangquised them....



Yeah I must admit that much of the mainstay of my armies are my highly experienced hoplitai backbone, coupled with massive numbers of "slingers from hell", the fighting is gonna to become highly repetitive, create a wall of proper hoplitai in guard mode, flanked by either thorakitai or peltastai without guard mode and auto fire, and massive slingers running arround and rain their stones all over the enemies, they are especially excellent at pwning those unshielded hetairoi and Makedonian bodyguards just like machine guns, and I always keep some haploi (or at the eastern and suthern front: Pantodapoi) fresh from the city for meatshield if the enemies decide to come close prematurely (and they usually dies more from my own slinger's barrage.... oh how evil am I...


EDIT : I modify my EDB to get missile weapon upgrade from blacksmith...

Ok, and another faction's note:
1) Sweboz : Aedui pushed them for a while, but they pushed aedui back again, their balkan holdings are constantly harrased by the single Romaioi city and the Getai, but they are still the strongest faction, I hope they still expand, and meet me on the field someday (so my slingers could have easy prey afterall )
2) Aedui : surprisingly resilient in defending their territory, fought several fierce wars with Sweboz, and allied with Avernii.
3) Avernii : Pressed badly, and now they are on their last foot on Gaul, fortunely for them, they had Ankyra and I decide not to doing any mess with them as long as they don't harrasing my holdings (constantly at war with Makedon and AS, so stabbing them at their back is ridiculously easy now)
4) Casee: Only get one more province, they are as slow as usual
5) Lusotann : Gained extra territory in Iberia, but still allied with Karthadast.
6) Karthadast : claiming entire west Africa and start to enroaching my African territory, right now they are sending their libyans to certain doom at my rain of stones.... hope they don't bring their elephants into the play.
7) Romaioi : Their north italian territory fall, the Epeirotes prevail for some time, but they start to consolidate their holdings again. But they are not allied with me anymore after they treacherously sent a fullstack of legions and besiege Ambrakia, Blasted Barbaroi.... luckily, my slingers can be quickly marched before they decide to assault, and they are getting killed under my slinger's machine guns. I think I should let the Epeirotes finish them off because right now most of my army are campaigning in Africa, holding Ptolemaioi and Karthadast stacks after stacks.
8) Epeirotes : Finally, they call for truce, because those stupid Romaioi Barbaroi start attacking me too... they are doing fine in Italy, but recently beaten back.
9) Makedonia : Pushed further east, at war with AS and Avernii, not yet died... and as long as they are harmless towards me, I will keep them alive as buffer state (right now I'm allied with AS)
10) AS : Oh, my most valuable ally.... they are the one who took almost all the Ptolemaioi, Saby'n, Makedonia, Pahlava, Baktria, Saka, and right now, I'm their only ally. Yeah, good large and weak friend for distraction.....
11) Saby'n : Sandwiching the Ptolemaioi, and at war with Me, Ptolemaioi, and AS, right now they are going invasion frenzy and rebel backing frenzy.
12) Sauromatae : Sucessful enough to hold constant war with everyone, and still expanding in the north, but sadly, their stack thrown at me is ridiculously depleted, well I decide to leave them to do anything they want right now.
13) Getai : Not yet died, as they has strong will to live
14) Pontos and Hayasdan : Just small local kongdom
15) Saka, Baktria, and Pahlava : for somewhat reason, the AS seems to hold their northeast province nicely, as the somewhat weird war is raging on the eastern steppe.

EDIT : Oh yeah, and the super Eleutheroi stacks are now mostly gone :)

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Romani

It's Spring 239 in this picture.
Currently at war with Qarthadast and Ptolemaioi.

[Cute Wolf]

Updated again:



Having conquered a whole northeast Africa, and sucessfully hold Karthadast stack spamming at the Augila - Kyrene chokepoint with my crack hoplite army (retrained in Kyrene again and again, until I grow bored and auto resolve all the battles), I decide to turn my attention northward, and toward a certain gigantic clash with the pretty weak (!) Sweboz empire (their units are mostly Teceitos, Boii Cingetos, and several assorted depleted Sweboz army). Conquering the Bosophoran regions and still in progress claiming all the Black sea region. Epeirote harrasment is suspiciously ended (they are losing against Romaioi), and what is WORSE is the Sweboz and Romaioi formed an alliance against me (this is VH ai afterall, duh...). The unimportant trio kingdoms in the Mikhra asia (Makedon, Pontos, Avernii) helps me a lot in keeping a good relationship with the Rejuvenated AS, as they are the one who take punishment and repel invading AS stacks.... Ptolemaioi are now sucessfully stranded themself in the levant area, and they start struggle against AS invasion (curiosly, how long until they sign a peace and attack me together.... )

-> Getai : well, they are my ally until their last moment... after their north province was taken by Sweboz, I quickly betray them and simultaneously besiege Sarmiszegethusan holdings, they are completely taken by surprise, because they only had one fm each in their city, and their fullstacks is located far north.... BANG, and they are dead..... Ohhh... I'm such an evil guy....

1) Romaioi : Quite frightening growth detected, as they almost swept Aedui in a very quick sucession, allied with Sweboz, and forced me to garrison Ambrakia and Epidamnos with my veteran hoplites and slingers from hell, as they also attempt to land massive army each year.... at least the Lusos check them out. I still restrain myself not to invade italy, because I want to see how much that they could grow and ripe for extermination....
2) Epeirotes : What quickly gained, could be quickly lost.... Romaioi mauled them soo badly, as their Ilyrian holdings now under siege.... but at least they still had several fullstack stucked in Italy.
3) Karthadast : Stranded in their sand wars against me.... and now start taking Syrakousai and hope they are heading toward Barbaropolis... not across the sea and invade Hellas.... (Right now, I only leave minimal garrison on Hellas proper.... as I still manage to move most of my veteran hoplites and slingers from hell from their african holdings toward nothren campaigns by sea.... yeah, I also pump a really lot of fresh troops from Hellas to fuel my logistical nightmare campaign on Sweboz holdings right now
4) Sauromatae : I start to prick their nice empire one by one, as their horse archers and foot archers are no match for my Slingers from hell... but I wasn't intended to exterminate them completely...... well, their recent Sweboz backed uprisings in Baltic hurt them badly too...
5) Sweboz : Still expanding in the west, but after they sign an alliance with the Romaioi, their growth are stopped, at war with me, Sauro, and Aedui, just recently made peace with Epeirotes.
6) Lusotann : Start to expand, and now enroaching gauls.
7) Casse : As slow as usual
8) Avernii : Kicked out of gaul, trying to attack me in Mikhra asia (pathetically), but quickly destroyed, I keep them alive for the sake of becoming buffer state between me and AS
9) Pontos : Still sleeping
10) Makedonia : Rather than lesbian local kingdom, they are now an unimportant Cappadocian local kingdom.
11) Hayasdan : lost aramvir to AS, pushed and almost dead (but not yet)
12) Saka : regain their homewolrd from AS
13) Pahlava and Baktria : Start carving their respective empire, harrasing the AS eastern front
14) AS : After renewing their war with baktria, I drop the alliance with them, but they are not yet attack me...
15) Ptolies : A poor levantine kingdom, throwing Klerouchikoi Greeks, Jews, and Arabs towards me in Tarsos and Alexandreia crossings (and badly trashed as usual)
16) Saby'n : I kick them in the nut really hard, driving they out of Ethipohia, recently made peace with ptolies and start sending Arabs against my ethiophian holdings by sea.

[Zim]

VH/M Bi.exe

My "Syracuse" game. I migrated to Sicily right at the start and let my cities rebel/fall to Makedonia.

I think I learned the secret to having a tough game. First turtle, then stay up all night one night drinking and playing the campaign.

It's been a fun game. I came pretty close to losing a couple times. I spent years in on and off wars with Carthage, the Romans, Epirus, and just about every one else in the area who decided to invade Sicily. It was nice to see the AI send full stacks by sea. Now that things are stable I'm not quite sure which way I want to go, unite some of the Greek cities in the west (like Emporion and Massalia) or head east to Greece and beyond... Probably north and west, since Cute Wolf is kicking so much butt in the east right now.

I really like the Pahalava and Baktrian expansion, which started well before Macedonia rolled over the Seleucids and Ptolemy.

[anubis88]

Parthian Empire, 138 BC ( i think)

Still not blitzing... I attacked Baktria a year ago, since i really didn't want to continue my invasion of Syria just yet, and everything looks great. I raised 3 new armies, and i'm still in the green with my finances, however, Baktria still has some kick left, so it won't be easy to deplete their armies. I still haven't decided how many cities i will take from them.

As far as the other factions go (at least the more important ones)

the AS are damn hard to kill. I routed their entire Mesopotanian armies, they got attacked by the Saba, Hai, Pontos and Ptolemies, but got out of those wars stronger then ever, invading Hayasdan themselves, and Taking from the Ptolomies almost all of Egypt ( they had Memphis, Parantion and nothing alse for a while.)

Rome fights a huge war with Epeiros, which only had a city left, but they bounced back, and look better then with Pyrhos in charge.

Pontos- Incredible. Conquered almost everything you see in ten years and not stopping.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

You are NOT the Romans?? They did that on their own?? And why do you call yourself Parthia, when you have Saka colours?

[anubis88]

You are NOT the Romans?? They did that on their own?? And why do you call yourself Parthia, when you have Saka colours?

I just changed them, since i got tired of the purple colour.... I forgot that the Saka have similar colors, but the difference is still visible.... Baktria had that border with me when i changed them.


Well rome didn't do that by itself... I helped them... I always give them every spare cash i have, since i make 20k a turn,

I also gave them Carthago through FD.

They would never acomplish this on their own.... They had a huge army in Sardinia, so i just moved it to Africa, and they conquered a city or two.

[Macilrille]

When I try that, even if at war with Carthage, Rome still does nothing, the legion just starts wandering about or stands there looking dumb.

[Cute Wolf]

When I try that, even if at war with Carthage, Rome still does nothing, the legion just starts wandering about or stands there looking dumb.

Well, not in my usual case, even without any assistance, as long as someone allready take care about those super eleutheroi stacks at the central europe (or weaken them), the Romaioi usually grows fast, but when I attack them before they reach Massalia, they usually become mere sitting duck.

[anubis88]

Yes well in my campaigns Rome usually does everything in it's power to not become a superpower as well.