I still find it hard to believe how easily you won against heavier units. It kind of made me lose my self-esteem a bit. :tongue:
December 12, 2009, 05:52 AM
Walkers_Shade
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes
I really like this and all of your narratives. Except, as I read them I'm noticing that not all of your spoilers work. Maybe my computers just too slow but I can't see the story of the battles or anything. I still get the gist of what's going on but I don't get the full Alavaria experience, you know?
December 12, 2009, 08:25 AM
Apollyon
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes
I should have done this for my Epirus campaign, winter 271BC, and the Romans are finally dead. Too bad Macedon are giving me grief:hmm:
December 12, 2009, 12:01 PM
Alavaria
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkers_Shade
I really like this and all of your narratives. Except, as I read them I'm noticing that not all of your spoilers work. Maybe my computers just too slow but I can't see the story of the battles or anything. I still get the gist of what's going on but I don't get the full Alavaria experience, you know?
Hmm, it might be that your browser doesn't like downloading all the images. In that many updates, even if it is in spoilers, your computer still has to store and cache all of that.
I believe if you try refreshing a few times, it should work. Sometimes (well frequently, on my updates) it gives problems unless you make it load everything a few times ...
Alternatively, find the link on the post number (eg: for this one it is : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...49#post6436049)
and change the bit "showthread" to "showpost". This means you only have to load the images for that one post (instead of all 4 update posts on page 1). Hope this helps!
In the west, Gelo's campaign against the Carthaginian's continued to meet with success and the Alliance's approval. Somewhere across the sea was a city called "Carthago Nova" or "Nea Carthage". However, the new senate formed there appeared unwilling to prosecute the war in Africa that had been essentially lost by their founders.
In the middle of this, Nymphodoros, careful to avoid the last mistake of his late father, searched the ranks of his officers and selected a second-in-command from among them.
After the usual celebrations, news arrived of the expected victory in Africa. Of course, Italic gains were were valuable, as Carthage was well defeated, unlike the Romans.
It wasn't to say there were no holdouts. Desert tribes might not have liked Carthage, but they took even less kindly to hosting the Alliance on their land.
The Alliance had grown considerably in both size and population. Sicily was relieved of a great number of peasants and farmers who emigrated to newly-claimed Alliance territories in Africa and Italy.
As we set out, the mood was somber. Nymphodoros had taken ill soon before news reached us of a Roman attempt to reclaim their lost lands.
With all haste, we set out for one more conquest. Hopefully, our "Italian" Commander-in-Chief would live to hear news of history being made. Roman poison was suspected, and doctors from Syracuse were sent by ship to attend to him.
December 17, 2009, 01:17 AM
Diomede
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes
I'm not sure why, but even though this is a good AAR, I wasn't getting into it. Suddenly I have! Thanks, good update.
The levies were sent forward first, with their large heavy shields. In fact, some of the enemy might have recognized their own standards on the captured Roman scutums.
It didn't stop them from throwing their pila, however. Not many of our men fell, though a large number of shields were hastily thrown away.
Assault pikemen (phalangites armed with a short sarissa or long spear) crowded in behind the hoplites.
Behind them, men armed with the more standard length pike waited to enter the breach.
Once the assault pikes were ready, they began forcing the Romans back with spearpoints as the remaining hoplites faded back into the formation to avoid distrupting the phalanx.
Elite Roman infantry tried to regain control of their walls, however unit after unit of pikemen were pouring in and had already taken position along the road.
There was a small forest of pikes in the air and another only slightly smaller one leveled at the Romans. They couldn't get through.
It must have been hard for them to move through the crowd of weapons. Imagine trying to push yourself forward while ten or twenty men push back with sharp points.
The men had been trained specially in pike use in such cramped quarters. Essentially, each soldier held his pike straight and looked down the shaft. If there was a Roman in front of the point ...
I was stationing some of my trusted men around high-value areas, to prevent looting and destruction of the places.
Our absent general had to see the city for himself. As a result, some of the officers were assigned to guard duty in order to keep the city looking "good".
In order to keep the streets clean, the soldiers rounded up all the Romans of military age and marched them down to the docks before executing them at the waterside.
We also tore down some of their temples so that our general wouldn't have to see it.
It wasn't too likely that we would be able to put up another one before he arrived, but that's just the way these things work.
------------------------------------------------
After the battle, Epikydes saw my men and I standing outside of the Roman senate, getting some of the Roman slaves into the magnificent building to clean it up.
You see, a group of senators and their guards had barricaded themselves inside. As a result, hoplites and assault pikemen were required to force an entry and clear them out.
The interior was a mess. There was a lot of blood, everywhere (even on one of the ceilings, which mystified me).
Epikydes: "There you are, I was looking for you."
Me: "Are the other areas secured?"
Epikydes: "Yes, and in good condition."
Me: "That's good news. It will take a few days to make this place presentable."
Epikydes: "Don't worry Theopompos, I'm sure your father would like it even as it is."
Me: "Maybe so ..."
------------------------------------------------
He arrived in time for a triumphal parade into the settlement. (Actually, we were waiting for him to come, but no one's going to leak THAT).
The night before, some of the men had climbed up on one of the triumphal arches in the city and hung leaves, flowers and a large banner made of stitched-together senatorial togas (thankfully, cleaned of blood first).
Nymphodoros, my father, liked it very much and decided to take it with him.
As usual procedure, light spearmen were sent in first. The enemy's horsemen (which were patrolling the walls) spotted and engaged them. The battle was on!
The enemy falls for the bait, committing their heavy hoplites. Our spears backpedal into the pike phalanx and slingers hurriedly move into the textbook "rear position".
Heh. Rear of the enemy, not of us. Needless so say, this group of hoplites is completely devastated.
I admit, they do learn a little about pike phlanaxes. They took group two by surprise as they were rounding a corner.
Unfortunately, we are steps ahead of them. They only caught the spearmen screening the actual phalanx. The pikemen simply formed up behind the shields of their comrades and began marching forward.
As the spears faded away into the mass of pikes pushing forward, they could hear the resounding sound of hundreds of sarissa points striking Carthaginian shields.
Group one pushes forwards cautiously. The pikemen stay in formation and their screeners keep a careful eye out for any -
These enemy spearmen are no threat, but they are capable of buying time. However, the question is buying time for what? Perhaps they are unaware that our forces are split into two groups.
The poor men fight and die, their hoped-for reinforcements already bogged down elsewhere.
And slingers are doing their usual work, sending their missiles deep into the town.
They can't flank enemies in these roads, there is no way to get around the heavy melee combat that plays out when the enemy pushes directly against a pike wall.
Morale is high as news of the Italian Campaign reaches us. Roma has fallen before us!
The Romans and Carthaginians, our great enemies, are in trouble now!
January 07, 2012, 06:56 PM
Apollyon
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes - Update 7
Well done so far :)
January 09, 2012, 08:03 AM
GeoHitmanGR
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes - Update 7
That's a great AAR, it takes some serious stones (no pun intended.... maybe a bit) to play on H/VH.
January 26, 2014, 10:02 PM
Alavaria
Re: Syracuse: A Tale of 1000 Pikes - Update 7
Update 8:
(I lost all my stuff long ago. However, there are a lot of images that were uploaded that stretch to the end of my playthrough.)
The Alliance continues to prosper. While we have broken the backs of Carthaginians and Romans alike, there is no intent to stop until the Romans have been reduced to history lessons.
Romans.
Yes, the war effort continues. The Alliance continues ever onward! For a Greek Italy!
The focus will of course be the main settlements still in Roman hands. As long as we move in good order, the Romans must abandon their land and flee ever north, or suffer a massacre at the hands on our soldiers.
Still, finding some Romans out in the open areas of Italy is reason enough to fight. Theopompos spots one such group, disorganized and out of supply. There is never a time when we shall walk away from a "battle" like this!
The Romans must realize instantly that they're out of luck today! Their Roman gods have availed them not at all. The force of Greek vengeance is upon you, sons of the Fallen City.
The sight of all our pikes terrified and unmanned the enemy.