A few weeks back, I installed
One thing I learned --
I'll still be using some of the formatting from my AARs, especially for listing the outcomes of battles. However, the time and space limitations have prompted me to use mostly screen shots for detailing in-game messages and some moves.
I chose the House of Brutii for reason of their association with the Republic of Rome, and to see if I could get them ahead with both the Greek Cities and the Macedonians looking them in the eye. The first few turns would be easy enough, with Epirus and Dalmatia being in the hands of rebel factions (Epirots and Illyrians) and being quite simple to take on. However, the Hellenistic factions beyond them would prove to be troublesome enough.
Once you get started with the Brutii campaign, as the other Roman factions, you'll receive a mission from the Senate. The Brutii have to cross the Adriatic to take Apollonia, the settlement controlling region of Epirus.
By clicking on your faction's icon button on the lower right-hand corner of the screen, you get all the details of your faction's situation, its standings amongst the other factions, and what your current financial state is. In my case,
is the lists scroll, which details your military officers, settlements and agents.
One thing I always check out in starting a session will be the overview of the Senate.
I have plenty of time (10 turns) to get this one accomplished.
My faction's leader, Tiberius Brutus started out in the city of Croton, controlling the region of Bruttium (the "toe" of Italy). His traits and the drillmaster in his retinue indicated that he'd be better used for the field of battle. You can also note that I began to give my recruitment and build orders here: Croton was to get
a port, and spend a few turns training town watch infantry for garrison duty.
Vibius Brutus, governing the faction's capital city Tarentum, had stronger civic traits and would remain as a garrison commander for the time being. Here, I ordered a trader and began to train equites cavalry. While not
being very strong against heavy infantry, these light cavalry are perfect for flanking moves and chasing off
formations of skirmishers and archers in battle.
Both of my armies started out in Apulia north and east of Tarentum. Amulius Brutus commanded the one to the east, so I decided to send him into Bruttium to set up a watchtower and then take over the governorship of Croton from
It would be Aulus Brutus, the faction heir who would hire the mercs. He had strong traits on both civic and military levels, so he would be a worthy successor to the role of
hostile activity from that quarter.
One more military commander on the lists scroll does not appear in my family tree: Admiral Marcellus. He would be the commander of my three-bireme navy which would serve to ferry my agents and armies across the sea to
their respective destinations as the campaign proceeded.
First up, my diplomat Cassius Flaminius would serve as my contact with the eastern factions, starting with Macedon.
Luca Antonius was the spy who would follow him into Epirus, then proceed to be my eye on the surrounding region as the campaign session went on.
Once I ended the turn, the following messages dropped down on the left side of my screen:
Looked like the
I took my time building up the army that I needed and setting up my cities to support the expenditures that were expected. The port and trader was completed by the end of turn two (Winter, 270 BC), so I started on shrines for each of the home cities.
I chose Juno for the heath and public order benefits that would go to Croton; Tarentum got Mercury for the trade benefits. I was thinking of Mars for the former, but will try and get him in place once an upgrade becomes possible for the temple buildings in my captured cities.
Meanwhile, Luca had been doing his job...
Caius the diplomat would make contact with the Macedonians, gaining an alliance and trade rights for a map exchange. Little would I know where
In the meantime, my army was gathered and crossed the sea to lay siege to the Epirot rebels holding Apollonia.
While the faction's leaders waited out the siege, young Cassius had his coming of age (COA).
Boys in Rome certainly grew up very fast, didn't they?
[This message has been edited by J Ursus Cato (edited 09-21-2010 @ 06:47 AM).]