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Dick should stay in Iberia for 2 seasons, to weaken Spaniards.

1 (7.7%)

Dick should stay in Iberia for 4 seasons, to weaken Spaniards.

6 (46.2%)

Dick should stay in Iberia for as long as it takes to cripple Spain

6 (46.2%)

Total Members Voted: 13

[Hanzoku]

At the moment, they are a fine military force to be sure, but I have heard rumors of a certain Marius and his talks of a more professional army.

((Point of interest, Gaius Marius was born in 157 BC, more then a century from the historical date of this campaign's start.  If you hear rumors of his talks of a professional army then you must keep the company of very impressive soothsayers indeed.))

They are indeed paid very well to predict coming events, and should their predictions not come to pass, they're asked to predict how they'll die.

If they get it right, they get a second chance!

[Stworca]

Historically accurate or not, we did kill Hannibal Barca in update 2.
Carthago had 20 000 pop mind you, Roman Cities are also above 20 000 for sure.
All they need is for 2 of them to hit 24k, and the world suddenly becomes a very nasty place.

Last time i've played they had reforms by 245 BC

I guess that date will be about accurate this time as well.

THUS : We have until ~245BC to be ready to take a faction with impossible to defeat armies, that will outproduce us 5 to 1 despite having half the number of cities that we do.

Most people seem to agree that we should take Punics out completely, but the next step is not yet decided (many voices for egypt, rome, iberia..) so we'll get back to that later.
For now i'll play some RTW and fight them Punic Empire.

[USEC_OFFICER]

By the sounds of it we have two options:

A: Fight the Romans ASAP, so that they don't utterly crush us with their super-soldiers.

B: Attack Egypt, Greece, Turkey etc., but leave Italy alone, so that the Romans can build up a massive empire and eventually attack us with their stacks of doom.

I don't know about you, but B sounds nice right now.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I say we should conquer Iberia. Let the Romans throw themselves at our spears if they are so inclined. Coastal Iberia will provide us with trade and the whole peninsula is littered with precious metals waiting to be extracted. With Iberian wealth we can outmatch the Romans and march to Rhegion and onwards.

[Hanzoku]

I don't know, I'm interested in seeing these "doom-armies", especially since I don't think I've ever seen Stworca lose... to anything.

[Shadowgandor]

Oh I have seen him lose....using 3 units versus 20 superior units and still taking out 60% of the army That or naval battles lol.

[Stworca]

Part 3 : Punic Nightmare

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It was said by the Punic slaves, that Dick Mountainjoy would meet his match in the south. In Sabratha. Himilko Saunites was said to be a living legend, a god among generals. The leader of Punic Empire, and the first sword of its armies. Nobody expected Dick to back down, and he didn't.


Neither has anyone expected Commander Mountainjoy to pick this challenge alone, but this he did.


His courage would be his undoing.

Akakios of Stworcagrad, once a bodyguard of Dick Mountainjoy


While our minds were focused on Punic Empire and their armies, grave news have followed from other places. An assassin was sent by Eastern Kingdoms, trying to halt our progress and crush the empire before it's even born.


The retaliation was immediate and decisive.


Their generals, with their unorthodox fighting style, were but dummies in urban fights, where their long pikes were a disadvantage.


All this has allowed Punics to assemble another army, and send it to reclaim Carthago. Unfortunately for them, the army that once assisted Dick Mountainjoy was already moved north, to aid in the defense.


This unexpected turn of events has caused the enemies to face unlikely odds. Impossible even.


One could admire the Punic courage. They stood their ground and followed orders no matter what was happening around them.


One could admire that, if their blindness and total obedience didn't lead them to their deaths.


It did.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

There was something disturbing in watching Mountainjoy ride in the very first line towards the battle. Challenged, he dared all of them to face him.


It didn't take long for him to be the target of each, and every one of them. It did not seem to bother our commander.

Akakios of Stworcagrad, once a bodyguard of Dick Mountainjoy


Punic counter-attack failed, and their situation kept getting worse with every field battle they've lost. Nobody doubted that Punic treasury can field new armies every few seasons..


..but as months passed, more and more cities were falling under our forces.


One by one, Libyan cities that tried to resist.. fell. Some put up a heroic fight, others hardly resisted, but in the end it did not matter.


Repeatedly Punic navy tried to create a second front line, one that we wouldn't be able to handle with but one army.
Their final destination remained the same : bottom of the sea.


Whether Punics defended palisades or mighty walls.. It mattered not.


Whether Punics tried to hold the walls, or holed up at their town square.. It mattered not.


Punic Empire was falling, and we were the sole reason behind it.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

He struck down one man, then another, then three more, five, ten..


Dick Mountainjoy seemed impervious to enemy blades, while enemies died in but one swing. How could our morale ever shatter, with a warrior-general like him leading us?


To challenge General Mountainjoy is to challenge death itself, and Punics found that out first hand. One day Dick Mountainjoy will die due to his insane bravery and recklessness, but this day was not it. I regret only, that my wounds have been heavy enough to no longer be able to serve under him.


One can never get enough Punic blood.

Akakios of Stworcagrad, once a bodyguard of Dick Mountainjoy


A secondary, levy army, has been assembled in Africa, in order to secure the rebel cities in the deserts.


Needless to say, they succeeded. Facing unwashed rebels is not even considered a real battle.


Meanwhile Sicily didn't remain idle, and the finest barracks the world has ever seen were constructed. Finally we could begin training Greek Hoplites. At the time that wasn't something we'd consider, but retraining the existing units was worth its weight in gold.


With Dick being one battle away from crossing Gibraltar, Punic situation was dire indeed. The fact that Tingi belonged to Eastern Kingdoms didn't bother us anyhow.


Eastern Kingdoms managed to assemble but one army, which met us in the field in early summer 265BC. The open plain would aid their chariots in riding right through us. (Charge 16!!!)
If we succeeded, we would capture Garama and secure North-West Africa (To the south is just the desert. No cities, no armies.)


Instructed by a messenger from the far west, Telemenes positioned the forces at the only hill on the battlefield. It wouldn't be enough to slow the chariots down, but it was more than enough for archers to shoot freely without striking our own infantry.


EK sent their infantry as first, to create a stable front line for the chariots to run through.


It was a good strategy in theory, but the number disadvantage of eastern infantry, coupled with arrows raining on them from the hill, has caused a swift defeat. Our bowmen never stopped firing.


Battle turned into a one-sided curbstomp.


The battle may not have been major, but the victory was important nonetheless.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Good fortune doesn't last forever, and so we all expected news of a defeat. It was, however, received very poorly, as it was the admirals incompetence that has cost us victory.


Only a swift recovery saved him from facing a trial. (Yes, Trial. Land Generals that are defeated will be judged by ze council and possibly stripped of command or even exiled!)


News from the far West were good, as always. The siege of Tingi has begun, and the numerical advantage was obvious to everyone.


Most of them died by the walls, with javelins and arrows laying waste to enemy ranks.


Those that have withdrawn to the city square, soon wished that they've died earlier.


Punics still held numerous cities in Spain and three Islands in the Mediterranean sea.
The last part wouldn't remain true for too long. With control over the seas, naval invasions are but a formality.


At the same time, the falling empire fielded yet another army in order to stop Dick Mountainjoy. Our commander allowed gave them time to prepare, as the troops were tired from the march.


While in the West, the battle was delayed, in the East Siege of Garama was in progress. Initially the snowstorm has slowed the progress down to a crawl.


The weather didn't oppose us infinitely though, and as soon as the skies cleared, the purge began. The resistance was fierce, as the Eastern soldiers fought to the last man.


Even the general had to dirty his hands. Soon the tide shifted in our favor, and the Easterners were pushed back.



Those blind fanatics have reformed deeper in the city, trying to put up another fight. But at this point it was already too late.


Even though the casualties were high, it was all worth it. With Garama in our hands, the front line was closed.


Any army that would wish to strike us, had Cyrene in the way, with a strong, Greek garrison guarding it.


Generals Ashtzaph and Hamalkar have put together the largest army yet, in order to crush us at Gadir. General Mountainjoy was aided by two others, and three units of mercenaries reinforced his forces.


Trying to inspire his forces, Ashtzaph was the first one to charge. It worked just as he had planned, raising morale of all units.
Until Cretan Archers crushed his spirit, and halted the charge mid-way.



Line shattered and units scattered.. The Punics were not prepared to face the wall of shields and spears that stood in front of them.


They still tried. The line was long and held strong on both sides. This is when Dick charged into a gap that exposed one of enemy generals, and the two secondary commanders joined the fight.



It was tied up, with only a minor advantage on our side. This is when the mercenary cavalry was ordered to advance.


Trying to keep track of what is going on the battlefield, Ashtzaph used "Withdraw and re-think strategy".
It wasn't very effective.


Almost at the same time the second enemy general was struck down on the right flank. With both commanders murdered in plain view, and Bay12 forces pushing on both flanks, Punic morale has collapsed. Most of them weren't going to leave the field alive.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Capturing Gadir has forced us to face another issue. Iberians being our new neighbors. They didn't give us reasons for hostilities.. yet.
But their aggression towards Emporion, and significant forces north of Gadir, gives an impression that they could easily decide to strike us.


Only Mastia, the Punic capital, was still in Carthaginian hands. (And the two islands west of Italy.) Only a skeleton crew was garrisoned inside, and with seas blocked by our navy, there was no hope for them.


Northern Africa is slowly being colonized by Bay12 settlers. Western Culture was spreading through Carthago, Utica, Hardumentum and some other settlements. Soon the entire continent would be civilized.


Further East, things are calm. But a garrison is being maintained in Lepcis Magna. To stop possible invasions.
With Lepcis Magna secure, and seas under our control, Spain remains the biggest question mark.


Now for all you number-fans.



Also : The mod introduces some terrible traits that i'm not a fan of. "Fails to follow the footsteps of Alexander"?! Fuck this. Dick Mountainjoy kills thousands of people on his own, without being TOUCHED.. Alexander is the one who failed to follow in Dick's steps.


Still.. Dick will not retire, even though the penalties to hit points WILL pile up the better general he is.. (REALLY?!) and he WILL conquer the known world, even if he'll be a feeble 1 hp old man by then.

[Korbac]

Generals will be exiled if they lose

Stworca

Lose

XD

[Stworca]

Stop exposing my trickery! 

[Delta Foxtrot]

Hamalkar lol

Wow, that's some nice conquering. Good screenshot of Ashtzaph's demise too.

--

I say, with Punes out of the way, let's rush those Iberians before they shoot us in the back.

[Iituem]

Generals will be exiled if they lose

So you're basically like Assyria:  "We're unbeatable, so long as we never lose a battle!"

This strategy worked for about 200 years before they actually lost one battle... at which point the entire empire crumbled as the illusion of their omnipotence cracked.

[ed boy]

According to the minimap, there are parts of western africa that are not yet under our dominion. This needs to be fixed.

[warhammer651]

move up through Iberia. We shall crush the Romans from above the Rubicon and from below in Sicily

[Stworca]

According to the minimap, there are parts of western africa that are not yet under our dominion. This needs to be fixed.

Uncapturable desert province. The city is hidden in the mountains and is impossible to access.

[Simmura McCrea]

I'm disappointed. I expected more puns to make it a real pun-ic nightmare.