[RS AAR] From the Seven Hills - A Rome AAR

[Nellup]

Background: This is an AAR starting in 480 AUC, because I've only just decided I want to start an AAR and that's where my campaign happens to be. It will be told as a series of dialogues between generals - much like this, but with more game screenshots.

Rules:
-Playing on H/H
-All RS house rules will be obeyed, except I'm not going to be sitting back and building up, and troop carrying enemy ships are fair game. As I see it, if one navy sighted another one, and had superior numbers or ships, they would attack regardless of if they were carrying men.
-No cheats

This is my first attempt at something like this for any game, so any advice would be appreciated.

I am Tiberius Maxentius, ruler of Rome, Roman arms shall conquer the world!

I am Aulus Maxentius, son of Tiberius, and unfortunate enough to look a lot like him...

I heard that, I may not be pretty, but who destroyed Pyrrhus' army? Who paved the way for the eventual conquest of Epiros by Macedon? Me, that's who. Have a look at the kingdom I have carved out for us:




Hello my king.

Who on earth are you?

Another one of your sons, sire

Any more introductions to be done while we are at it?

Yes, sire, I am Caius Flaminius, your chief diplomat and foreign advisor, currently wandering around the black sea because one of the Gods decided to get rid of the land bridge near Byzantium.

So how are you talking to me?

Um...magic?

What are your plans for Rome, sire?

I'm glad you asked, it means I can talk for a long time. I plan that you attack the rebels near Segestica, while me and some of my numerous relatives maintain the siege of Bononia.

What about me sire?

I was just coming to that, be patient. You will continue gathering information about other nations, and see if they'll trade with us.
Well? Why are you all standing around looking at me? Get going.



Coming soon - the Battle near, but not quite at Segesta.

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

Haha brilliant way to tell the story, can't wait for the next update!

[aja5191]

Should be good!

I'm looming forward to seeing what you have in store for us!

[Nellup]

The Fuzz, aja, thanks for your support. Now on to the update.


Damn, It's cold here, why'd we have to go campaigning during the winter?

Where is 'here' exactly?

Firstly, who are you? And secondly here is a diagram:



I am Vibius Maxentius, your brother and who has been campaigning with you since the beginning of time. I'm not sure our father knows about me though...
Couldn't you have drawn a better diagram, that one is all pixelated.

I'd like to see you do better.

Fine then:



Yeah...well...I have more command stars then you - so there! Anyway, I suppose we'd better obey Tiberius and attack that rebel horde, I'll just inspect the troops.



Excellent, onwards soldiers of Rome! To battle!





Arrgh! Ambush! There is another horde there! We must withdraw, we must wait for another legion to arrive.

Never! I shall not retreat from these filthy barbarians, who is with me!

Huzzah!

Huzzah...



How strange, they have the same name, we are bound to win. Deploy the troops and advance.



Velites - forward! Puncture the enemies hearts, or at least demoralise them a bit.



Amulius, we must engage them, their archers are wounding many of our men.

So be it, Principes, Triarii, advance. Equites swing around the flanks and take them from behind!

I'm afraid I don't swing that way, sir

Ha, Ha, everyone likes a joker. I tell you what - you can lead the charge, and be snappy about it, their second horde is almost upon us.





Sir, we must return to our own lines, their infantry are almost upon us.

No! We can take them, spears down, charge!



Noooo! Amulius! Fight men, fight for the memory of Amulius.

We are surrounded sir, to the death!



They are too many, I shall be shamed forever, but give the signal to retreat.







Back in Segesta...


We must lick our wounds and await Tiberius' response.




To be continued...

As an aside, I won't be reporting all battles like this as it takes too long. Instead they'll only be reported in full if something important happens like a family member dies or an important city is taken, and I'm working on sorting out the cursor in the screenshots issue.
Also updates will be a bit sketchy over the next couple of weeks as I'm in the middle of a load of exams which I'll be revising for and so won't be able to play RS too much.

[68 Powers]

nice, lovin the AAR man.

[Fargham]

This is very well done! The humor in it alone makes it worth reading.

[Jimexander the Mighty]

One of the greatest AAR's i have read so far

[Nellup]

Thank you all for your kind words.

What? It cannot be, how did this happen?

Our scouts information was wrong sire, there were two hordes waiting for us, not one and Amulius would not withdraw.

How dare you try to blame Amulius - he charged into battle and died like a man! He did not run away with his tail between his legs like a whipped dog and he certainly would not have allowed the enemy to capture an eagle while he could still draw breath. You, Vibius, are a disgrace to Rome. You will raise more troops, if anyone is willing to serve under you, and you will destroy those rebels. Only come back as a victor or as a corpse.

As you wish, sire.



Sire, the rebels in Bononia have surrendered to us.



Excellent, enslave them all. Hang on, who are you?

Valerius Cicero, sire. An adopted son sire, I was a garrison captain during the war with Pyrrhus and your gracious being deemed me worthy to join the family.

Very well, you and that other lad...what was his name, the one who married one of my granddaughters?

Secundus Turranius?

Yes, him. You and him take your legions and block the fords across to Patavium. Myself and Aulus will retake the eagle that Vibius carelessly lost. To Mediolanum!





Sire, we have made contact with the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus.

Argh! Don't speak suddenly like that, disembodied voices are creepy at the best of times.

A thousand apologies - but I have obtained trade rights with them sire.

Very well, carry on...

[Nellup]

Men, I have failed you before, that I admit, but this time it is different! This time, I shall lead you to victory or I will die, too many Roman lives have been lost here, I intent to make sure the rebels are put down like the dogs that they are - to battle!



Advance! Let the enemy feel our blades.



Velites, fire!




Principes, wait until they close and let your Pila rain death on their ranks.



They flee! This day is ours!



I see you finally managed to beat those rebels, perhaps there is hope for you yet.

Sire, I request permission to join the siege of Mediolanum, I wish to regain the eagle I lost.

Very well, position your legion on the north side of the town.



Sire, might I suggest raising another legion to help with the conquest of Patavium and eventual invasion of Macedon - and of course it would help restore public confidence after the defeat of Amulius' legion.

Indeed - I may only have two sleeves, but I shall never have enough armies!

That was a terrible pun sire. I might also suggest Cassius Maxentius to lead the new legion - he is Amulius' son after all.

So be it. We shall see what young Cassius is made of...

The beginnings of a legion, and a career

To be continued...

[Selahedîn]

Excellent AAR, keep it up!

[General Store]

This makes very good reading, well done and keep em coming!

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

Hehe loving it.

[aja5191]

Yeah, this is an excellent guilty pleasure from exam studying.

Well done!

[Jimexander the Mighty]

Great, great work

[Nellup]

Thank you all, I have an exam tomorrow morning, so tonight is a cramming session, but I'll be taking tomorrow evening off to play some RS, so expect an update tomorrow night or Thursday.

[Nellup]

Excellent, Cassius' legion is ready - Valerius, Secundus, Cassius take your legions towards Patavium and smash the barbarians! And for crying out loud Valerius, cheer up, it might never happen.

I'm sure it will sire...



Foward men! To battle, I shall lead us to victory, and can someone please inform me why every other barbarian is called Morirex...



What is this? How can our reinforcements be delayed, they were but five miles away!

Sir, our outriders report the enemy hordes are merging.



Damn, we cannot fight on without reinforcements. I will not die in a hopeless attack like Amulius. Sound the bugles, we withdraw, today is not our day to die, nor theirs.










Where in the God's name were you? I was left against two hordes with no reinforcements - it's a miracle they didn't attack and force us to engage.

Sorry Secundus, but we encountered resistance from the peasants as we marched through their lands, we had to safeguard our own legions supply lines.

very well, Tiberius will not be happy, but we will try again soon.

Later...

Do you think he suspects us?

Certainly, no sane man wouldn't, but I think he bought our story - the peasants are indeed unhappy, if not rebellious.

We must try harder next time - let your legion turn up, but not not engage the enemy until Secundus is surrounded. We must purge him from the family.


To be continued...

[SNIGEL]

Now this is a exellent AAR

[Jimexander the Mighty]

Hehehehe cant wait for the next chapter

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

Pity about the battle. Can your PC run that many units at the same time? If so, you can make UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD to true and you won't get 'reinforcements delayed' anymore.

[Nellup]

Pity about the battle. Can your PC run that many units at the same time? If so, you can make UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD to true and you won't get 'reinforcements delayed' anymore.

Now this I didn't know, I assumed there was just a random chance of it happening as I'm sure it has happened on small battles before. Well I've set it to true now, so when I get a chance I'll be fighting that battle, just a turn later.

Thanks for your comments everyone!