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Aedui

Averni

Getai

Carthage

Koinon Hellenon

Epeiros

Ptolemaioi

Pontos

[Tarran]

Well RS, unlike EB, has fancy-ass-as-hell graphics and nice music to show off. So there.

[Stworca]

Well RS, unlike EB, has fancy-ass-as-hell graphics and nice music to show off. So there.

And on the 8th day God created <generic audio player> that can play music in the background, while one plays Romanus eunt Domus : Total War

[Delta Foxtrot]

Do you need the expansions to install this mod?

It's made for RTW 1.5 but with a little hassle (google if you like) it can be made to work with either BI or ALX. Expansions are supposed to give it a bit better AI and night fights. In addition at least ALX makes the AI retrain it's units so hopefully we won't be facing as many half killed stacks.

[PhantomSpaceMan]

The mini-map is a bit confusing to me, are the tan provinces amongst your provinces unowned? The white splotches are owned by the Seleucids I presume, why have you discovered one of their provinces so deep in Persia?

[Tarran]

I'm pretty sure tan provinces are independent.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The mini-map is a bit confusing to me, are the tan provinces amongst your provinces unowned? The white splotches are owned by the Seleucids I presume, why have you discovered one of their provinces so deep in Persia?

White/grey is Selucids, yes. The tan are independents/rebels. There are also two yellow provinces (Ptolemaic Egypt) in the southern coast of Anatolia that can be a bit hard to differentiate from Selucid white or rebel tan. Unlike in vanilla, in EB most factions know a little more than than their immediate surroundings. In this case, since Selucid capitol is so deep in Persia, and we start the game allied with them, we see that much in our minimap.

----

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 3

Spoiler: 269-268 BC (click to show/hide)

LP Relevant loading screen. Not to discourage anyone from trying this mod out, but being a fast reader on a slow computer I have enough time to read almost all of that before it finishes loading.



Rest of the year 269 BC passes by relatively peacefully. A small rebel army is destroyed and few barrackses are built to enable us some more unit types. Militia hoplites are some of the best defensive militia units, while Caucasian archers are on par with the famed Cretans.





Our spy reports two large Seleucid armies. So far neither is clearly moving towards our lands. To the north are the lands of Hayasdan, an enemy of the Seleucids and our ally. Much further east are Pahlava and Bactria, they too oppose the Seleucids while being allied with us.





In the west Seleucids attempt to cause unrest in the city of Sardis. Pontic counterintelligence foils their attempts at every turn.



Our spies report more Selucid troop movements.

Spoiler: Battle of Sinope (click to show/hide)

In the autumn of 268 BC a Pontic army led by Oxathres Polemonios besieges coastal city of Sinope. They wait until winter of the same year before the defenders sally and try to drive back the besiegers.



Polemonios orders his phalanxes to form a straight line and skirmishers to take up positions behind them.



Polemonios harasses the advancing enemy and tries to lure them disorderly into his ranks.



Pontic skirmishers throw their javelins in the rear of enemy hoplites. Each volley causes heavy casualties among the unarmoured militia.



As enemy's main body moves towards the waiting phalanxes, Polemonios himself attempts to take out enemy archers and slingers.



While the Pontic phalanx ties the enemy, skirmishers hit enemy's flank.



Enemy ranged troops drive Polemonios away and enemy hoplites flank our Phalanx. To our right enemy skirmishers engage our own.





Our unengaged skirmishers flank enemy flankers.



With the help of their General, our skirmishers rout the enemy skirmishers and move to surround the flankers.



Soon General Polemonios charges the enemy hoplite's rear.







With many of the enemy heavy hitters dead, the ex-general's bodyguards seize Sinope's central plaza. Disheartened by their General's death, many Pontic troops turn to flee.









The city is won, but Royal Court is disheartened by the loss of its most promising son. A bittersweet ending for year 268 BC.

As soon as we can start retraining those phalanxes, we should have the means to really go out and start conquering the rest of Asia Minor/Beyond.

[Tarran]

Oooh, ow, sucks to lose a general like that.

[Zrk2]

I've lost an acronym somewhere. EB=Europa Baraborum, but RS=I dunno. Halp plx?

[Tarran]

RS=Roma Surrectum.

Shortened version of RSII, which is Roma Surrectum 2. But nowadays I'd assume pretty much everyone plays RSII instead of RSI that it doesn't matter.

[Delta Foxtrot]

Wasn't the first time I've lost a family member for making a charge while exhausted. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned from this.

The guy was my most promising general to boot. Few years of schooling and some victories and he would have been well on his way to become my #1 General. Alas. Most of my other young family members are not quite that stellar. Ah well, luckily the stats game gives everyone only make things a bit more likely or unlikely so I can still train up my Alexander.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 4 - In which foundations are laid

Spoiler: 267-265 BC (click to show/hide)

The year 267 BC saw many civic constructions made to better the life of common man in the Kingdom of Pontos





267 BC also marked the coming of age of Artaxerxes Herakleotes, King's Brother-in-law's son. Clearly not the sharpest arrow in the quiver, his father yet sought to further his education by sending him to Kingdom's capital to study in the didaskaleion there.



Yet the foolish young man sough to prove his abilities by capturing the Ptolemaic city of Side. Before he reached the city, however, he was ambushed by Ptolemaic forces there.



Luckily he survived the encounter, even if it cost half of his bodyguards their lives. He may yet be able to prove himself, though. After all, Gods favour the bold.

Meanwhile our spies reported Hayasdan besiegeing the town of Trapezous. They had also captured the town of Ani-Kamah to the south. Both provinces share a direct land border with our capital. For the time being we hope they respect their alliance with us.



Luckily a Selucid army in their heartlands should deter any possible aggression the Hai might harbour against our people. For the time being anyway.



Nonetheless, all things considered, we have invoked the wrath of Selucids, Ptolemaioi have refused peace with us and Hayasdan are marching ever closer to our borders. King Mithridates I forged a Mikra Asian kingdom in just one year. It wouldn't need even a year for it all to fall like a house of cards. For this, a serious build-up in Pontic military capacity will be necessary.





During the winter our watchtowers report of a small enemy force moving through the pass.



Come spring, our spies inform us that the Hayasdan siege of Trapezous has failed.



The Selucid force sieges Mazaka but reinforcements are sent from the capital.



The cowardly enemy flee the field before Pontic troops are able to force a confrontation.

Meanwhile in the west.



Autumn of 265 BC marks two things. One:



Two:



With new barracks in place, we can retrain our depleted levy phalanxes.



Though this alarms us to the low population of our capital. Significant population boost would be helpful to ensure continuous supply of fresh troops.



We've also been spammed by this for quite a few turns now:

   

Spoiler: 2nd Battle of Ipsos (click to show/hide)

Sardis garrison led by Ariarathes Herakleotes quickly moves to relieve Ipsos.



Herakleotes and King Ariobarzanes I charge enemy skirmishers.



Getting pounded by Pontic Royal cavalry, the light enemy units quickly lose heart and flee. This quickly turns the entire Ptolemai army running.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 5 - In which alternative forms of government are acknowledged

Spoiler: Battle of Ankyra (click to show/hide)

With Pontic army back on its feet, Artaxerxes Herakleotes is ordered to besiege the city of Ankyra. Home of the Galatians, Celts who have migrated all the way to Anatolia. If successfully subjugated, the Galatians might one day prove to be a valuable addition into Pontic armies.

Defending the city are a number of Tindanotae, "Wild Men". Fierce tribal warriors who fight naked according to old traditions. Most unnerving opponents. They are among the finest warriors in all of Anatolia, if not the world.



Knowing full well the damage his phalanxes would take against the fearsome foe, Artaxerxes intended to take full advantage of their lack of armour. No amount of blind fury and conviction would protect against an arrow to the lung.







Upon securing the south gate, Artaxerxes made his way to the east gate where a unit of phalangitai was tying up a unit of Gallic shortswords.



The young Celtic warriors couldn't take the onslaught and turnd to flee and were soon cut down.



Meanwhile mainstay of Pontic forces were advancing on the central plaza.







A fine victory for Artaxerxes

Spoiler: 264-263 BC (click to show/hide)

Fierce tribal warriors are recruited to augment the Pontic phalanxes.



One of them is intercepted en route by a Selucid diplomat, however.



As per plans, the Galatians are granted nominal independence. They are free to live according to their customs but are obliged to provide Pontic armies with warriors when required.



In the spring of 263 BC a new leader is chosen for Galatia.



The new governor for the province of Galatia:





A good sized Hayasdan army is spotted closer to our border.



Our spies report of an Armenian revolt in Selucid's northern holdings.

Spoiler: Battle of Nikaia (click to show/hide)

Reinforced by Anatolian hillmen, Artaxerxes sieges the city of Nikaia. Not wanting to spend the winter camping, he has his men storm the city.

Among the defenders are some mercenary Celto-Hellenic troops and the renowned Thracian peltasts.



Artaxerxes opens the battle by softening the defenders with his archers.



Eager to test battleworthiness of his new troops, Artaxerxes orders the assault.



Covered by the ax wielding tribals, Pontic phalanxes are able to enter the city unmolested.



Weakened by arrows and finally broken by axes, the defenders turn to flee but most are quickly cut down.





The main force entrenches themselves near the plaza while attackers at the north gate make their attack.







The northern forces are attacked by the enemy general.



While in the plaza a final push is made.







Artaxerxes' star is rising. Another victory for the young general.

--

After we're done securing Asia Minor, we have quite a few options on where to expand and I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

1. Directly to our east and north-east are the Caucasus mountains with mineral rich provinces. It's held by our current ally Hayasdan however and attacking it would open up an avenue for the Selucids to make their move against us.

2. We could go after Selucids which would take us east towards Persian lands. Big cities. Much money to be had there too. It would however open our flank for the Ptolemaioi to exploit, while tackling the Selucid giant head-on could be a rather daunting task this early in the game. On the other hand if they've been exhausted by the Ptolemaioi it might turn into a massive anticlimax and we'd end up crushing them with zero effort. I'd really prefer to give them time to go postal on us or for Ptolemaioi to really conquer them and let them go postal on us.

3. Go West. In the balkans Macedonia, Epeirotes and Koinon Hellenon are for the time being still at each other's throats. With Balkans and Anatolia we would have a monopoly on Aegean trade and a decent chunk of Mediterranean trade in general.

4. Historical route. Start turning the Black Sea into our mare nostrum. It would also offer the benefit of letting the Ptolemaioi/Selucids grow for a late game showdown and give time for the Greeks to get united under a single banner and turn it into Alexander: The Sequel for rest of the world. It might also open a front against Hayasdan, Getai and Sauromatae in the long run. And there would of course be the Black Sea trade to fill our coffers and enable us to field more awesome armies.

Not that there's any rush to go outward just yet. Pergamon and Halicarnassus in the west coast and Trapezous in the north are still independent and Ptolemaioi hold two provinces in the south uncomfortably close to our big cities.

[Iituem]

Historical route, sounds more Fun. =D

[Svarte Troner]

Sail to Crimea and take it from those bastard Sarmatians! rebels or whoever's there I can't tell.

[majikero]

Go historical for the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny.