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Aedui

Averni

Getai

Carthage

Koinon Hellenon

Epeiros

Ptolemaioi

Pontos

[Zrk2]

Go historical for the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny.

Indeed. We need more ball breaking.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 6

Spoiler: Battle of the Watchtower (click to show/hide)

Emboldened by his victories at Ankyra and Nikaia, Artaxerxes pressed on to Pergamon in the first clear months of 262 BC. Soon after crossing the provincial border he came across an army from Pergamon, led by a man named Alkibiades. He led an experienced force of good quality mercenary phalanxes and hoplites. Despite having relatively inexperienced troops and of lower quality, Artaxerxes pressed on, having faith in his superior numbers, archers, mobility of his bodyguard cavalry and the hillmen to win the day.



Artaxerxes deployed his phalanxes into a single line, with his bodyguard and hillmen behind in reserve. Archers in front of the formation.



Archers only got a few volleys in before Thracian light cavalry led by Alkibiades himself attempted to drive them away. Artaxerxes intervened. Despite numerical superiority of enemy cavalry, Artaxerxes' royal kinsmen were more than a match for the Thracian rabble.



Beaten back, enemy cavalry took additional losses as the archers concentrated their fire on them.



After baiting some enemy hoplites forward, Artaxerxes had his archers fire upon them. Massed volleys from Anatolia's finest archers took their toll on the Greeks.



Taking their time and expending their ammo, the archers finally provoked enemy phalanxes into attacking.



Once the enemy phalanx was in place, hill men made their charge from the woods.



Meanwhile Artaxerxes was trying to finish off the enemy commander.



Faced against a vastly superior phalanx unit, Artaxerxes' levies were decimated and turned to flee. Not even the flanking hillmen were able to break the enemy in time.





But not all was lost. Alkibiades was slain and his remaining peltasts and hoplites were routed by the hillmen.



Being among the last units in the field and surrounded, a badly mauled enemy phalanx turned to flee.



A little later the last remaining phalanx was pinned down and flanked by everything Artaxerxes could muster.







Not necessarily a pyrrhic victory, but the damage done to Artaxerxes' phalangites is certainly a setback.

Spoiler: 262-261 BC (click to show/hide)

Not only was Artaxerxes weakened by his battle with Alkibiades, but Macedonians besieged Pergamon the next summer before Artaxerxes could reach the town.



By winter the siege had failed, but by then Artaxerxes had already set his sights to other ventures.











Not having the time to stay and consolidate Pontic hold on Side, Artaxerxes kept most local institutions in place.



Meanwhile a sizable mining project was undertaken in Mazaka.



Shortly after capturing Side, a large Ptolemaic army was spotted near Antiocheia. For the time being Ptolemaioi and Seleucids are at peace, so this is grave news indeed.





It might be that Side will be lost back to Ptolemaioi. Artaxerxes and his battered army are on their way to the capital to be reinforced before they can meet with this new threat.

Spoiler: Battle spoilers/commentary (click to show/hide)

Fun fact about Pontic warfare. All successor states get their low quality levy/native phalanx at barracks level 2, a professional quality at level 3 and elite(s) at 4 and/or 5.

Pontos gets their natives at level 3 and don't ever get a professional quality as such. We do get a bit more elite phalanx at (hideously expensive) barracks level 4, but until then we're definitely outmatched almost whenever we face other phalanxes. Not that we don't have ways to cope with the disability. We just have to be careful with our phalanxes.

I was seriously surprised when I noticed mid-battle that one of my phalanxes was routing and the others were taking heavy casualties. I was expecting it to be a total pushover match on the road to Pergamon. Alas. Despite it leading to the capture of Side it still robbed our momentum somewhat.

[Zrk2]

I noticed that Pontus seems similar to Poland if you've played Medieval II. They have fairly shitty infantry but solid cavalry. Or at least that's my experience, seeing as I've never played as them.

[USEC_OFFICER]

I noticed that Pontus seems similar to Poland if you've played Medieval II. They have fairly shitty infantry but solid cavalry. Or at least that's my experience, seeing as I've never played as them.

So if Pontus is Poland, then the Seleucids must be the Russians? And I suppose that the Ptolemaioi would then be the Austrians. But who are the Germans? Hmm... Maybe the Greeks are the 16^th century Holy Roman Empire? I think that I'm reading too much into this whole comparison.

EDIT: Just make sure that the Ptolemaioi, Seleucids and Greeks don't get too chummy with each-other.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I usually just took Teutonic Knights or Lithuanians and started wreaking havoc from Poland to Novgorod. Poland was usually that annoying faction pestering my borders when I wanted to kill something that was actually interesting. Though to be fair it's been a few years since I last dabbled with MTW2 & mods. If I got Stainless Steel up and running now I'd probably go for Poland or Kiev match. Maybe once I upgrade my hardware and SS 7.0 is out but not before.
I never really thought about it but Pontos does lack in the mid grade quality. Once I hit barracks level 4 I can get some good assault/general purpose infantry and my elite phalanxes, and if we get any old Persian lands we can (again with the vaunted level 4 barracks) recruit royal kinsmen heavy cavalry (ie. same as my general's bodyguard). Before that though it's a bit rough around the edges, what with successor units beating us in one on one fights and all.
Well, there is a decent Greek influenced spearman unit at level 3 that will get introduced in an update or two. And Pontos is parked right next to Galatia so that compensates somewhat. Now if I could just be bothered to actually build some barracks levels there instead of pop growth/economy and we could start waging war the Gallic way.

But yeah. Pontos is basically a bunch of old Persians who are Greek wannabes. Too bad Persia is long dead and All the real Greeks serve with the real successor states. It ain't easy for poor old Pontos.

[Tarran]

Well then, the answer to all our problems is obvious:

Go to Athens and bring all those Greeks over here.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 7

Spoiler: 260 BC (click to show/hide)

Spring of 260 BC brings Macedonians to our doorstep once more. While both Koinon Hellenon and Epeiros have some of their territories left, the Macedonians are clearly the top dog in Hellas at the moment.



Artaxerxes drives back Ptolemaic stragglers in the sixth battle of Mazaka.







The Ptolemaic general, Kerkeosirites reaches the outskirts of Side, but strangely they don't attack or besiege the town.



Same time another Ptolemaioi army stationed at Tarsos marches somewhat closer to our border.



The second army returns to Tarsos, however, as reinforced Pontic army lead by Artaxerxes moves closer to Egyptian holdings. Kerkeosirites' army does nothing as the Pontic army marches ever closer.



Meanwhile Macedonian sieges on Pergamon and Byzantion fail.



It appears the reason Kerkeosirites has laid low is because a diplomat was en route to deliver message to us. Seems the Ptolemaioi wisely sought to avoid bloodshed.



... Too bad it won't help him or his army. Such insults at our sovereignty will not be tolerated.

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

In 259 BC, Artaxerxes' army reaches Side and immediately makes battle with the Ptolemaioi.



Making an appearance in this battle are the Thureophoroi. These spearmen of Hellenic origin are an evolution of the original hoplite and peltast tactics used by the Greeks for generations. Their versatility stems from a combination of the staying power of hoplites and mobility of the peltasts.



As our army marches in position, Artaxerxes leads our cavalry against enemy skirmishers.





This soon draws the attention of the enemy general.



Following retreating Artaxerxes into Pontic lines, the Ptolemaioi rushes straight into the waiting spears of the thureophoroi.





The general escapes with most of his bodyguards still alive.

Upon reaching high ground, Artaxerxes' archers open fire.



The enemy general once more makes a go at our left flank and is repelled by the thureophoroi and our cavalry.



Similar action takes place as lighter Ptolemaic cavalry strikes our right flank.



Some time after enemy hoplites reach our right flank only to meet our tribal axe men.



A superior Ptolemaic phalanx is engaged by both our levy phalanx and a unit of thureophoroi in our left flank.



In our both flanks Ptolemaioi units are squashed between our phalanxes, tribal hordes and thureophoroi.







With his phalanxes crushed and most of his other forces obliterated, Ptolemaioi general sounds a retreat. Pontic forces are still able to destroy a unit of Ptolemaioi.









Kerkeosirites still lives and two of our phalanxes were heavily depleted in the fight. But a victory over the foe is a victory nonetheless.

Spoiler: 259 BC (click to show/hide)

By autumn of 259 BC enough money has been gathered to start extensive mining operations in the province of Bithynia.



It is also at this time that Artaxerxes launches an attack on Tarsos, the last Ptolemaioi stronghold in Asia Minor. The town is guarded mostly by poor locals levied into service.



Come winter, Kerkeosirites hasn't moved against us. He did purchase the services of many quality mercenaries, turning him into a threat once more.

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

Wasting no time in strengthening Pontic hold on Asia Minor, Artaxerxes launched an assault on Tarsos in the winter months of 259 BC.



Arrows were shot...



... peasants were massacred...



... phalanxes deployed...



... hillmen unleashed...



... and squares rushed.

Spoiler: 259-257 BC (click to show/hide)

Artaxerxes recruited additional cavalry, expecting to face Kerkeosirites once more.



Fortunately for Kerkeosirites, Pontic diplomats were faster. A ceasefire was agreed, with Pontos retaining ownership of the provinces it conquered from Ptolemaioi.



With Ptolemaioi out of the picture and the Macedonians not besieging western Anatolia, King Ariobarzanes I urged haste in bringing rest of Asia Minor into Pontic fold. The garrison of Sardis was dispatched to besiege Pergamon while Artaxerxes would march his army west to take the cities of Pergamon and Halikarnassos.



Another son came of age. Holophernes Herakleotes, younger brother of Artaxerxes. He was immediately sent to the capital for additional schooling becoming of Pontic nobility.



In the summer of 257 BC two Seleucid armies were spotted marching towards Pontic borders. One in the mountain pass leading to Mazaka, which also held the Ptolemaioi Kerkeosirites who had never left Pontic lands. Another one was down south on the road to undefended city of Tarsos.



Hoping that the Ptolemaioi army would act as a buffer between Mazaka and the Seleucid northern force, all available forces in the eastern cities were gathered and sent to Tarsos to meet the Seleucid threat.



Deeming it appropriate for now, King Ariobarzanes I arranged an alliance between the up and coming Pontic Kingdom and the Mighty Ptolemaioi Dynasty of Egypt.

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

With the Seleucid armies fast approaching from the east, Artaxerxes was in a hurry to bring rest of western Anatolia into Pontic hands. His first target would be Halikarnassos while Sardis garrison was starving out the defenders of Pergamon.

Among the defenders were a small number of hoplites fighting in the Iphikratean manner, an attempt by the Greeks to modify their phalanxes into a more potent fighting force in this day and age. Alongside them were two units of local Karian warbands. Fierce melee combantants popular as mercenaries all around the Mediterranean.



With so many enemies wielding fine shields and some wearing decent armour, Pontic arrow barrages didn't have the usual obliterating effect on the defenders.



The hillmen were sent to deal with the somewhat weakened defenders.





With the aid of javelins thrown by the thureophoroi, the hillmen were finally able to drive back the defenders despite taking a heavy beating themselves. However this enabled the Pontic phalanxes to march into the city.



Meanwhile in the northern gate the tribal levies had beaten the meagre defenders and a phalanx was in place slowly ploughing its way to the central plaza.



Soon they engaged the enemy general and killed him.



With majority of the defenders beaten, they were soon surrounded and slaughtered in the plaza.









The population of Halikarnasssos was mostly dispersed among the other Pontic provinces in Asia Minor to provide for much needed manpower
in those areas.



With this victory, Artaxerxes is recognized as the captor of Mausleoum of Halikarnassos.

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

Back east the relief force sent from the capital reaches Tarsos just as the Seleucids have begun their siege of the town.



Pontic archers open by thinning the Seleucid ranks. Unfortunately their phalanxes are too far and are fairly well armoured anyway.



Unit of Thureophoroi are sent forward where they meet enemy light spearmen.





Seleucids start moving one of their phalanxes forward to support their dwindling spearmen.



Having incurred casualties from both enemy spearmen and friendly arrows, the unit of thureophoroi are withdrawn and replaced.



The enemy replaces their heavy phalanx with some native spearmen.



Having beaten all but enemy phalanxes, Pontic troops pour over the bridge.





The enemy general is squashed between the Pontic phalanx and cavalry.



Their leader dead and themselves flanked by pikes and cavalry, the remaining enemy units are routed.

--

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is shaping up quite nicely. ~15 years since the game start and we're almost masters of Anatolia. Only Pergamon and Trapezous (and maybe Byzantion) to go. Here's hoping Hayasdan doesn't snatch Trapezous before us. I'd hate to break our alliance so soon. Seleucids have been relatively docile as regards to us, my spies have spotted numerous stacks moving towards east. I guess Pahlava (Parthia) or Baktria is causing some trouble thereabouts. I doubt Ptolemaioi are going to stay allied to us long. But having them peaceful and trading with my ports even for a few turns is profit enough for me. Depending how the game rolls, I'm predicting two updates before we head for Crimea. Problems we are facing right now are:

1) Economy. We're making ~5-6k a turn with our current taxes and army upkeep. Cost for most economic upgrades (tax/trade/farm) are in the 2-8k range. Barracks level 4 is ~12k and mine upgrades are 32k. Too much army right now and we'd go bankrupt. But fear not, I have plan to fix our economy once and for all.

2) With what do we conquer it with?. Right now we have two armies, one defending the east while other is conquering the west. We really need a third army to go overseas. One army is protecting us from the Seleucids, Ptolemaioi and possibly from Hayasdan in the east. In the west; either we conquer Byzantion first or Macedonians conquer it, either way we'll be bordering them in due time. I'm not going to bumrush Hellas right now so we'll need an army to hold our western border unless we want the Greeks to march over us Alexander style.

3) How to get there - Beyond the sea. Thing about us here is, well, we can't build ships. EB divides ports into military and trade. Some provinces are limited in their military/trade/both ports. Now Anatolia isn't totally bereft of military ports, we just have to build them. Then we have to build hideously expensive ships with hideous upkeep (they put elite units to shame). One ship should be enough to sneak us all the way over the Black Sea without bankrupting us though.

Incidentally 2 & 3 are solved when #1 is solved. But yeah, we're surviving right now. Soon we should be thriving, then we'll start invading. We most likely will end up clashing with the Getai once we establish a foothold in Crimea. They've expanded quite decently in that direction.

[hostergaard]

I say go for Byzantion, it should serve quite nicely as your western border, being the only place an enemy army can cross without a ship if I remember correctly. That way you can easily prevent an army from entering Asia minor and potentially go wherever they damn well please and wreak havoc. Its also vital if you plan to take the Black sea and want your trade to stretch into the Mediterranean Sea.

I say we do both the historical route and go get a piece of the Greek homeland too. That is, what kind of mod is this? Are the Spartans still the best? And this mod makes you able to hire them if you capture Sparta? C'mon, lets set up 300 style situation except the Spartans get squashed.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I say go for Byzantion, it should serve quite nicely as your western border, being the only place an enemy army can cross without a ship if I remember correctly. That way you can easily prevent an army from entering Asia minor and potentially go wherever they damn well please and wreak havoc. Its also vital if you plan to take the Black sea and want your trade to stretch into the Mediterranean Sea.

I say we do both the historical route and go get a piece of the Greek homeland too. That is, what kind of mod is this? Are the Spartans still the best? And this mod makes you able to hire them if you capture Sparta? C'mon, lets set up 300 style situation except the Spartans get squashed.

Byzantion is definitely on my to-do list for this LP. Though there are actually two places one can enter into Asia Minor: Bosphorus and Dardanelles.

Spartans are definitely a top-tier unit. While EB unit recruitment is region based, unfortunately only Koinon Hellenon can recruit Spartans, and only in Sparta. Same goes for some other faction specific units. But if we choose to expand west after Black Sea, we'll certainly go ravage the Balkans all the way to Sparta.

[Delta Foxtrot]

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 8 - In which we work on economy and military

Spoiler: 256-254 BC (click to show/hide)

After making his way from Halikarnassos to Pergamon, Artaxerxes took command of the Sardis garrison and assaulted the city of Pergamon.

With so many of the defenders dead or weakened from the long siege, Artaxerxes had to do little more than parade his hoplites inside to claim the city.







With kingdom wide heavy taxation program and the riches captured from Pergamon, King Ariobarzanes I began a massive effort to increase Kingdom of Pontos' wealth tenfold within his lifetime. First of many, province of Bithynia began to work on massive mining complexes and supporting infrastructure. Once finished, these would greatly increase the amount of minerals extracted from the bosom of Anatolia.



In the winter of 256 BC Artaxerxes' little brother, Holophernes, was mobilized with all available forces of the eastern kingdom to stand guard against Seleucid forces causing mayhem in the mountains.



Pergamon was being indoctrinated into Pontic way of life. Dispersing much of the population to various Pontic provinces, either through slavery or merely deporting them, greatly helped the process.



In the summer of 255 BC His Highness Ariobarzanes I had travelled to Sardis and commissioned refinement and expansion of current mining facilities and techniques there.



In the capital of Amaseia, his son and heir Mithridates began expanding Pontic military infrastructure.



A husband to one of King's many daughters. Gobryas Sinopeus, a Greek noble from the coastal city of Sinope married into the royal family. With many Greek settlements recently acquired in the west, there certainly were openings for budding young nobles looking to gain favour within royal court.



In autumn the inevitable happened. After capturing the grand city of Antiocheia near our borders, Ptolemaioi were emboldened enough to make war against us once more.



Holophernes quickly moved to intercept the treacherous hellenes and wipe out the army of Kerkeosirites. It could not be allowed to rampage in the heart of the Kingdom.



By winter King Ariobarzanes I had begun the work on mining centres in Nikaia, Sardis, Ipsos, Ankyra and Mazaka. Pergamon already had extensive mining infrastructure in place when it was captured by Artaxerxes. Within the kingdom only the coastal settlement of Tarsos could still have its provincial mines expanded. It would take some years before the work would be finished, but the King was happy. He had made probably his most significant contribution to Pontos. To its future rulers. To his son. His lineage. No longer were they a poor satrap buried deep in the mountains. Riches, and then, Glory would be theirs.

Spoiler: Battle on the Galatian plain (click to show/hide)

Moving away from the advancing Pontic army, Kerkeosirites lead his army into land of the Galatians, heading north. Most likely attempting to capture our undefended settlements there. At the onset of winter Holophernes caught up with him and made for battle.

Kerkeosirites' army  was a ragtag bunch of quality mercenaries and peasant rabble called to arms.



Holophernes deployed his phalanx near a patch of trees with thureophoroi guarding the flanks. Archers were behind the main line harassing the enemy.



For some reason Kerkeosirites made his single unit of hoplites launch an unsupported attack towards our phalanxes. They were pinned and hammered with little effort.



While the enemy army manoeuvred, Caucasians concentrated their efforts on the enemy naked warriors, causing tremendous casualties.





Enemy general charged our left flank causing some casualties. Losing their momentum, they soon retreated back to their lines however.





With cavalry out of the way, the thureophoroi engaged enemy skirmishers sneaking in the woods.



Despite most of their army falling back, a single heavy phalanx marched towards our engaged spearmen.









Finally Holophernes himself routed the enemy.



A single enemy tindanotae emerges from the woods and charges the entire phalanx. Men quickly drop their sarissas and charge with their hand-axes.







After a short missile exchange, Holophernes charges Kirkiosirites, resulting in the rout of the entire army.









The remnants of the army dispersed and fled to the countryside. Kerkeosirites, defeated and disgraced, will trouble us no longer.

Spoiler: 253 BC (click to show/hide)

After the defeat of Kerkeosirites, most dreadful news surfaced. An alliance between our two most hated enemies.



Following the declaration of alliance, Ptolemaioi sent a small force to besiege undefended Tarsos but were repelled by Holophernes Herakleotes.

Spoiler: 7th Battle of Mazaka (click to show/hide)

Few months later Seleucids sent a near thousand strong force to besiege Mazaka. Once more Holophernes was quick to respond.



Aiding Holophernes in the field were King Ariobarzanes I and the governor of Mazaka with their bodyguards.



In the opening moments of the battle, enemy cavalry attacked King Ariobarzanes I but the attack was repelled with excellent results.





Nearing the enemy line, Holophernes readied his phalanxes and sent his archers forth.





Closing enemy units forced the archers to retreat, but this helped little against their deadly arrow fire.







Holophernes was able to confront and rout the enemy second in command.



With one general dead and the other fleeing, the enemy army lost all will to fight and did their best to flee the field alive.

Spoiler: 253-252 BC (click to show/hide)

The Ptolemaioi were as insolent as ever. Following victory over the Seleucids at the 7th battle of Mazaka, Ptolemaioi demanded us to submit to their rule.



Following our refusal was another small Ptolemaioi force besieging Tarsos. Luckily King Ariobarzanes I was touring the province at the time with his bodyguard cavalry.





Real reason for King's presence in the contested border province was to finish his mining reforms. With Tarsos underway, there was no province in the whole of Kingdom that wasn't improving its current mining potential.



In order to protect the vulnerable underbelly of Pontos, a border patrol force was gathered. Its purpose to repel or cause excruciating casualties to any force attempting to break through to Tarsos. Similar force was also being gathered to protect Mazaka. Emphasizing the defensiveness of the troop combinations used, Pontos would be able to divert more fighting troops for offensive purposes.

Phalanx to hold the enemies at bay, Caucasian archers to cause casualties and a unit of thureophoroi as mobile reserve would form the core of this force.

Spoiler: Kilikia-Syria border skirmish (click to show/hide)

It didn't take long for the border garrison to get its first fight. Ptolemaioi attacked with vastly superior forces, although they lacked any ranged combat units.



Pontic defenders in place ready for battle.





As fight went on, the enemy commander was killed. Unfortunately left side phalanx started to suffer friendly fire from the archers who were recklessly firing at the centre group of enemies.



Thureophoroi were forced to join the fight to finish off the last enemy phalanx trying to push its way through.





Most of Pontic casualties were from friendly archers. Serious revisions in combat discipline would have to be arranged to prevent the whole army from dying to its own arrows.

Spoiler: 251 BC (click to show/hide)

With most provinces busy improving their mining yields, royal treasury was filling with money that found little use for the time being. Luckily this coincided with the expansion of Pontic military industry. With her borders secure and excess treasury to spend on military expansion, a new army was raised and command given to Holophernes Herakleotes. Younger brother of the famed Artaxerxes Herakleotes.

He was to march to Trapezous, the last minor independent kingdom in Anatolia, and conquer it for the glory of Kingdom of Pontos. Under his command were some of the most experienced phalangites in all of Pontos, some thureophoroi and Caucasian archers. But what stood out were the Cappadocian hillmen, more disciplined and superior in all respects to Anatolian hillmen commanded by Artaxerxes, and new type of heavy infantry. Pontic Thorakitai, an assault/general purpose infantry able to stand toe to toe against most foes of Pontos. With these troops Holophernes was to capture Trapezous.

Artaxerxes was renowned far and wide for his expertise in cracking cities open and he had most of Anatolia to show for it too. How would young Holophernes fare?

Spoiler: 2nd Kilikia-Syria border skirmish (click to show/hide)

Barely had the Ptolemaioi been repelled when a Seleucid force attacked the Kilikia-Syrian border.



With great accuracy the archers punished the exposed attackers, avoiding the previous fratricidal fiasco.



Enemy general himself sought to spearhead the attack.



Routed by the stalwart thureophoroi and slain by Celtic slings.



Seleucid mercenaries were able to inflict some casualties in the exposed flanks, but were soon routed by the combined phalanx and thureophoroi.

Spoiler: 8th Battle of Mazaka (click to show/hide)

A simultaneous attack was launched towards Mazaka.

Man those mines are expensive. And it only takes 5 in-game years to finish upgrading one. Worth every penny though.

[USEC_OFFICER]

Damn. You're starting to get into Stworca levels of kill-ratios. Keep this up and the world will soon be yours.

[hostergaard]

Loving it so far, keep the updates coming!

Great to hear you are looking at Byzantion, I always loved the name, Byzantium that is. Such nice ring to it. Two places to cross? Eh, I guess that makes for two places to guard. Still, that region fits nicely as your western border for the time being.

I see a lot of towers, its been a while since I played but you can build fortresses too, right? Planning to build one in a mountain pass maybe?

Oh, does having soldiers in the field incur extra cost compared to having them in city or a fortress?

And finally, does some of those buildings in the city provide garrisons in the event of an attack? That is, units that are not normally part of your army?

[Delta Foxtrot]

Loving it so far, keep the updates coming!

Great to hear you are looking at Byzantion, I always loved the name, Byzantium that is. Such nice ring to it. Two places to cross? Eh, I guess that makes for two places to guard. Still, that region fits nicely as your western border for the time being.

I see a lot of towers, its been a while since I played but you can build fortresses too, right? Planning to build one in a mountain pass maybe?

Oh, does having soldiers in the field incur extra cost compared to having them in city or a fortress?

And finally, does some of those buildings in the city provide garrisons in the event of an attack? That is, units that are not normally part of your army?

1. A single army is enough to protect both passes assuming enemy doesn't overwhelm both passes simultaneously.
2. Forts can be built, but it's easier to win a bridge battle than a fort siege as a defender. This allows me to have as few units as possible defending at home, while most of the troops are out there conquering additional provinces.
3. There is a feature in Medieval 2 that enables free upkeep for units in cities, no such thing in Rome or its mods though. At least I haven't come upon anything like that in the RTW mods that I've tried.
4. Nothing like that in EB. Not that I'm a huge fan of that sort of thing. Bad memories from launch day Third Age: Total War for M2TW. Nothing like frigging trolls spawning while I'm trying to conquer some minor border province with low grade militias. Agh.

Glad to hear you like this.

--

The Illustrated Histories of the Kingdom of Pontos

Chapter 9 - New units and other advances

Spoiler: 251 BC (click to show/hide)

In the summer of 251 BC Macedonians besiege the city of Byzantion.



Some rebels popped up in the countryside near Mazaka. Mostly just some local rabble supported by local minor nobility. 9th Battle of Mazaka was about to commence. Mazaka border force was mobilized to action.

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

King Ariobarzanes I in his infinite wisdom has deemed the Macedonian island stronghold of Mytilene to be a threat to Kingdom's security. As a result Artaxerxes and his army have been mobilized to assault the island of Lesbos. Pontic spies already in the city enabled a quick assault to take place.



Artaxerxes is able to form his battle line uphill against the advancing Macedonian reinforcements approaching from the coast downhill. Hillmen were deployed to guard against a possible sally by the town defenders.



Artaxerxes' bodyguard and Greek mercenaries charge downhill straight through enemy archers.







Advances by the enemy main body force a retreat by Pontic cavalry.



While cavalry and archers harass enemy units at every turn, some hillmen are unleashed in our flanks.





Under constant arrow barrages, cavalry charges and finally ravaged by our light infantry charges, majority of the units trying to reinforce the city are routed and killed.

Archers use their remaining arrows to drive back units defending the northern city gate, allowing our axemen to enter the city and surround the defenders.



Final push is made by the phalangites with cavalry support.







Not only is Mytilene a city rich for its sea trade, it also has the capability to produce vessels required for war. Great victory for the Kingdom.

Spoiler: 251 BC (click to show/hide)

Macedonians agree to a peace treaty and resumption of trade despite our conquest of Mykelene.



Dire news, Macedonians have captured the city of Byzantion. While we're still in relatively good terms with them, this is unacceptable. While an open attack against Macedon is out of the question for now, the settlement will be closely watched and border garrisons be kept in high alert.

Spoiler: Chariot testing (click to show/hide)

Some new units are trained and put the test fighting against a small rebel force in the countryside.



With increased wealth, Pontos is able to field significantly more cavalry if it so chooses



Some say war chariots are in the past. We shall see. They certainly are pricey.









Pending further testing as a part of a real army, no more additional chariots will be fielded, though the one currently in use will be transferred to whoever gets to lead our overseas expansion.

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

Holophernes, eager to finish Pontic conquest of Anatolia, assaults Trapezous.



Hillmen handle the rams, with archers supporting and thureophoroi and thorakitai heavy infantry ready to advance.



Cappadocians meet enemy skirmishes and exchange a volley of javelins before charging in.





Pontic units start pouring in while Cappadocians decimate the enemy in close quarters.





Holophernes heads straight for the enemy archers.



Enemy hoplites hurry to meet our troops.









Overpowering the enemy's flank, unit of thorakitai attack skirmishers hiding behind the now defeated hoplites.



Cappadocians hack the poor enemy commander's face as his forces are being ravaged by Pontic onslaught.



Only a thin line of hoplites remain.



Holophernes captures the plaza with a unit of Cappadocians while Thorakitai chase after panicked enemy skirmishers.







A joyous display by our superb infantry units.





With Trapezous firmly under our control, our growing army and expanding economy, the star of Pontos is truly on the rise. The world will learn to fear us.

A joyful day! Not only did we conquer Trapezous, first of our many brand new mining centres have been finished. Truly, our star is on the rise.

[hostergaard]

Nice, things are turning out nicely. Could you post a map of the two crossings (near Byzantium) so I can have a closer look?

I personally always liked city garrisons. I always felt it was unrealistic that a major city with huge walls would just flop over with no fight if I did not have an army posted there, they should at least have a rabble of peasant to form a ragtag militia. Having that kind of permanent guard makes for one less thing to worry about. Its kind of annoying having to station part of my military in some secure province because else they would just capitulate to whatever small time bandit or rebel that decided to come knocking.
Still, I guess there is certain balancing issues, you are right in that. While I don't think there should be hard limits, sometimes you want a big militia for a small town because its an important border village, there certainly be some cost associated with upgrading outside what a town of the given size normally would support. Thus making it unattractive to build large garrison buildings for unimportant places.

To bad about the forts, it would be great if one could spend turns upgrading the forts so they became more than square deathtraps. Perhaps integrate them with features like bridges.

Thanks for the answers!

 

[Zrk2]

I think that was instituted in Empire, and you get a couple free upkeep units in Medieval II cities.