The rise of AAR's recently has not gone unnoticed, and since my last story sort of fell apart and I've never really done a true AAR, I've decided to do so. That said, I have to start out by saying I am not very good at R:TW. I expect to make many blunders and any advice throughout the AAR is much appreciated.
I've decided to use Europa Barbarorum because its much more historically accurate than the vanilla R:TW, and because I envy a good challange. I'm going to keep the difficulty on M/M, so I have some chance of winning by the end. Without further delay, here we go!
There it is. The great Roman Empire is...well, not really an empire. Not yet anyway. We control the central Italian Penninsula, with Epirotes to the south and Aedui to the north.
Since Rome itself is already in the red, I raise the taxes to very high. It helps some, but I'm still losing money here. Perhaps a moneymaking scheme could be devised...
Oh, and here's a look at the victory conditions. The ones in red I must control, and the ones in black I have to "raid." I'll have to go find out what exactly that entails...
The projected fiances. Despite the money loss in Rome, the other cities are in the black and so I should make a profit next turn.
Its blocked by the scroll (dangit!), but Rhegion is right on the southern tip. It would be an excellent place to start Roman expansion.
Another good place to start. Quite the garrison, though...
Bononia is in central northern Italy. Yet another good place for expansion.
I take most of the garrison of Arpi and move it south towards Rhegion.
I move that general towards Segesta. He's really close, but not quite there. Those mercenaries sure do look enticing, but at over 3300 mnai (at least!), they're more than what I'm willing to pay.
For some reason, my spy was in Sicily, so I moved him to Rhegion to get a better idea of what I would be facing in a few turns.
For his successful entrance, he gets some good bonuses!
Its the next turn, and that's the actual financial gains for the season.
Caius Aurelius Cotta moves closer to Rhegion...
...and Blasio sieges Segesta.
I'm trying to figure out how in the world I'll overcome that garrison...
My diplomat moves to the Aedui town of Mediolanium, to negotiate a temporary peace so that I don't have to worry about being invaded from the north while expansion is going on...
...and they accept, if only barely.
The Rebels in Segesta sally during their turn, and I realize I don't have much of a chance so I withdraw.
Also in the off-turn, my weak garrisons in Capua and Arpi are besieged by Epeiros. This really messes up my plans for Rhegion!
Cotta abandons the march towards Rhegion and instead heads to attack behind the Epirotes at their town of Taras. Hopefully I can lure back those sieging armies...
I train some Hastati in Rome in case the plan fails.
Ha! They've taken the bait and one of the besieging armies retreated and joined with most of the garrison of Taras to attack me. Odds are even, 1:1.
The larger army...
...and the smaller.
Troop formation is such; missile troops in front, infantry behind, spearmen in third row, and flanking cavalry.
The approaching Epirotes from the view of my skirmishers...
...and us Romans from the Epirote cavalry's standpoint.
Missiles fly...I order my cavalry to charge the enemy.
There they go...
My Equites catch up...
...as does Cotta and his bodyguard.
Uh-oh. The other Epirote army's cavalry is coming. This isn't looking good...
Blast! As soon as the other enemy cavalry joins the fray, the Equites fold and rout.
My general's not doing so hot himself, and I order him back to our main lines.
The foolish cavalry run head on into my heavy infantry.
My general charges them from behind.
It takes seconds for the white flag to go up.
I regroup and wait for the next wave.
Hoplites are charging! Certainly no place for any self-respecting general wishing to keep his head!
It's a war of the spearmen...
The Triarii prove more steadfast than the Greek hoplites.
Remember that other cavalry that was fighting my general? Well, you do now!
They soon rout too, and the attention turns to the bigger fight, right?
Well, kinda. The more enemy casualties, the merrier!
With all my troops engaged or about to be, the Epirotes see the battle is over. A sea of white flags and we have won!
Victory! Rome has won the day!
A look at this turn's projected finances...
Seeing their town weakened, the other army breaks off the siege at Capua and marches back south.
Check out these guys! They look like they'd do some serious damage in battle!
(Much more to come!)
I've decided to use Europa Barbarorum because its much more historically accurate than the vanilla R:TW, and because I envy a good challange. I'm going to keep the difficulty on M/M, so I have some chance of winning by the end. Without further delay, here we go!
There it is. The great Roman Empire is...well, not really an empire. Not yet anyway. We control the central Italian Penninsula, with Epirotes to the south and Aedui to the north.
Since Rome itself is already in the red, I raise the taxes to very high. It helps some, but I'm still losing money here. Perhaps a moneymaking scheme could be devised...
Oh, and here's a look at the victory conditions. The ones in red I must control, and the ones in black I have to "raid." I'll have to go find out what exactly that entails...
The projected fiances. Despite the money loss in Rome, the other cities are in the black and so I should make a profit next turn.
Its blocked by the scroll (dangit!), but Rhegion is right on the southern tip. It would be an excellent place to start Roman expansion.
Another good place to start. Quite the garrison, though...
Bononia is in central northern Italy. Yet another good place for expansion.
I take most of the garrison of Arpi and move it south towards Rhegion.
I move that general towards Segesta. He's really close, but not quite there. Those mercenaries sure do look enticing, but at over 3300 mnai (at least!), they're more than what I'm willing to pay.
For some reason, my spy was in Sicily, so I moved him to Rhegion to get a better idea of what I would be facing in a few turns.
For his successful entrance, he gets some good bonuses!
Its the next turn, and that's the actual financial gains for the season.
Caius Aurelius Cotta moves closer to Rhegion...
...and Blasio sieges Segesta.
I'm trying to figure out how in the world I'll overcome that garrison...
My diplomat moves to the Aedui town of Mediolanium, to negotiate a temporary peace so that I don't have to worry about being invaded from the north while expansion is going on...
...and they accept, if only barely.
The Rebels in Segesta sally during their turn, and I realize I don't have much of a chance so I withdraw.
Also in the off-turn, my weak garrisons in Capua and Arpi are besieged by Epeiros. This really messes up my plans for Rhegion!
Cotta abandons the march towards Rhegion and instead heads to attack behind the Epirotes at their town of Taras. Hopefully I can lure back those sieging armies...
I train some Hastati in Rome in case the plan fails.
Ha! They've taken the bait and one of the besieging armies retreated and joined with most of the garrison of Taras to attack me. Odds are even, 1:1.
The larger army...
...and the smaller.
Troop formation is such; missile troops in front, infantry behind, spearmen in third row, and flanking cavalry.
The approaching Epirotes from the view of my skirmishers...
...and us Romans from the Epirote cavalry's standpoint.
Missiles fly...I order my cavalry to charge the enemy.
There they go...
My Equites catch up...
...as does Cotta and his bodyguard.
Uh-oh. The other Epirote army's cavalry is coming. This isn't looking good...
Blast! As soon as the other enemy cavalry joins the fray, the Equites fold and rout.
My general's not doing so hot himself, and I order him back to our main lines.
The foolish cavalry run head on into my heavy infantry.
My general charges them from behind.
It takes seconds for the white flag to go up.
I regroup and wait for the next wave.
Hoplites are charging! Certainly no place for any self-respecting general wishing to keep his head!
It's a war of the spearmen...
The Triarii prove more steadfast than the Greek hoplites.
Remember that other cavalry that was fighting my general? Well, you do now!
They soon rout too, and the attention turns to the bigger fight, right?
Well, kinda. The more enemy casualties, the merrier!
With all my troops engaged or about to be, the Epirotes see the battle is over. A sea of white flags and we have won!
Victory! Rome has won the day!
A look at this turn's projected finances...
Seeing their town weakened, the other army breaks off the siege at Capua and marches back south.
Check out these guys! They look like they'd do some serious damage in battle!
(Much more to come!)