Hmm? Cookies activists again :hmmm:. Or should I say cookies terrorists? I think I should propose the word cookie to the list of words that appear on forums as "" smiley
Last edited by Stilgar CG; August 29, 2008 at 07:07 AM.
New update, everyone. Not as spectacular as I expected, but still hope you'll enjoy it, guys.
Chapter 12. Tide turns in the East.
Eastern front. Summer 254BC. The battle of Tarsus was clearly a Pyrrhic victory for the TSE, but they still had at their disposition sufficient forces to secure Tarsus and even threaten Antioch. In their turn, Macedonians were decided to take initiative in their hands and attempt an offensive in Cilicia and possibly in Syria. Damasos left Agis and remainder of his army to guard Antioch, whereas he and his army marches towards Tarsus and attack a Seleucid army composed of light infantry and a force of phalangists.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The plan is simple: to smash the enemy wings, encircle the remaining enemy, and kill them all. Heavy missile infantry enters in a short missile duel with their opponents; hoplites on the left attempting to flank the enemy.
The enemy broke. Hoplites threaten now the rear of the enemy phalanx.
The Seleucids left wing, weak from the very beginning of the battle, is reduced to almost nothing. Levy phalangists alone face now the Macedonian heavy infantry - Thorakitai and Hypapists. Enemy phalangists move right to take a higher ground and away from Macedonian phalanx line.
Thorakitai have to face the Seleucid phalanx now. They are ordered to engage the enemy.
The fight does not last long. The hoplite’s charge in the rear took the last bit of hope and courage from Seleucid worriers. They soon flee.
The time for Macedonian cavalry to “harvest” the enemies lives has come. The victory is complete.
Now two Macedonian armies threaten Tarsus.
In an attempt to prevent a coordinated Macedonian assault of Tarsus, a TSE army under Athenodorus of Heliopolis attack Euenos and his men. This bold move was probably also intended to break into Anatolia at some point, which would make Macedonians to weaken their military presence in Cilicia and Syria. The nucleus of TSE army was formed by pahalngists supported by light and heavy infantry (hoplites), and war elephants.
Macedonians took a superior defensive position. The light cavalry was sent on a mission to kill the enemy elephants. The Seleucids took the bait and elephants accompanied by two units of spearmen went after Macedonian light cavalry.
The main body of TSE army was approaching the Macedonian position under archers fire.
The Macedonian light cavalry was largely successful in their mission. Most of war elephants were killed.
Athenodorus charged the Macedonian phalanx in a futile attempt to change the tide of the battle that was clearly going the Macedonian way.
His men followed him, just to watch him dying moments later and meet their own fate shortly afterwards.
The last noticeable episode of the battle was the light cavalry charging and “flattening” a group of fleeing hoplites. Cowards die twice.
By the end of 254BC Macedonians turned their attention to Syria. After a brief council, Damasus and Euenos concluded that Eunos alone is in the position to deal with Seleucid forces near Tarsus, whereas for Damasus it was right time to turn south and march towards Damascus – an important military and economic center. His path is blocked by a Seleucid army, composed (again) mostly of light infantry, but also of a healthy force of elite phalangists.
Reading the strength of the Macedon army, Seleucids retreated to take an elevated position.
Damasos sends companions in the enemy rear. Companions take a poison high uphill behind the enemy lines, but await signal for attack.
They soon bump into a unit of light cavalry. After short fight the Seleucid horsemen are killed. This happened to be the enemy captain.
Seleucid spearmen were sent to deal with this threat. Companions overwhelm the enemy infantry in a single charge.
Light cavalry is sent to harass the enemy left wing. Throughout the battle, both light cavalry and companions were successfully hunting enemy light infantry that was far enough from the main body of the army.
Finally, Macedonian infantry took the attacking position. Archers focused their fire on the nearest enemy units. A numbers of units routed soon without even being engaged in melee. Hoplites were about to take their position in front of archers.
Light cavalry continued their hunt of the enemy infantry.
When the stage for the final attack was set, Macedonians faced only Seleucid phalangists, roughly a third of the initial Seleucid force.
A charge by hoplites followed by an attack in the rear by Macedonian Thorakitai was enough to break the Seleucid phalangists.
They flee and Macedonian cavalry could go on with their hunt …
Damasos and his army found themselves in a strategically good position: they could threaten Damascus now and, if necessary, turn back to intercept the enemy reinforcements moving from Hatra.
Antioch, garrisoned by Agis and his increasingly strong army, was safe now. Euenos was also in the position to march to launch an offensive on Tarsus.
And indeed, the Seleucids were running out of men and flare: they launched no attacks in the beginning of 253BC. Therefore, Damasos looses no time and marches toward Damascus. But, firsts he and his men have to face another “horde” of Seleucid light infantry diluted with a few phalangist units.
Plan is the same: smash the enemy flanks, encircle and annihilate the enemy. Hoplites and hypapists attack the enemy left wing. Seleucids try to keep their distance; a unit of brave spearmen face the Macedonian infantry and soon “melts away”. Macedonians march on.
On the left, Thorakitai engage the enemy line.
Companions appear in the enemy rear. Spearmen sent to deal with this treat are swept away by a wave of charging horsemen.
On the left, Damasos leads his cavalry in “hammering” the engaged enemy infantry. It’s all over soon enough. No survivors on Seleucid side.
Damasos marches on and besieges Damascus. And then … stroke of luck: a spy had managed to open the city gate. Macedonians launch an assault with no delay.
Macedonian main force assaults the south gate. The gate is guarded by a unit of pahalngists. Macedonian archers made a short work of the pahalangists. Macedonians enter the city.
The Northern gate is assaulted by hoplites, supported by companions.
Hoplites march in, engage and destroy the enemy phaalngists guarding the gate.
Soon they are locked in fight with their fellow Greek mercenary hoplites. “Macedonian” Greeks prevail.
Macedonians march towards the main square. Phalangists reach the square firsts and are charged by enemy cataphracts. Few phalangists survived that charge and subsequent fight, but companions came just in time.
Thorakitai pours into the main square. The second group of cataphracts follows the fate of their comrades.
Damascus and Syria are under Macedon rule now.
In the mean time, the Seleucid brought reinforcements from Hatra. They wisely ignored heavily fortified Antioch and launched an attack on Euenos army. Success would open the road to Anatolia and would allow the forces protecting Tarsus to use in an assault on Antioch and against Damasos’ army. Let alone this would cancel all the effort and recent successes of Macedonians.
Euenos faced a numerically superior force, but he could count on the discipline and experience of his men. The key to success was a quick defeat of first of the Seleucid armies. Damasos orders to engage the enemy line in all its length. Cavalry wheels behind the enemy line and attack the pinned enemy in the rear. Macedonians not only managed to route and destroy most of the Seleucid vanguard, but also to take an advantageous position and meet the approaching enemy with well-coordinated missile fire. Weakened enemy was soon engaged in melee, routed or destroyed.
Euenos men are attacked again. Though weakened after first battle, they destroy the TSE army in the same fashion as in the enemy vanguard in previous battle.
The tide has turned in the East.
Last edited by Stilgar CG; November 13, 2008 at 03:12 AM.
Dude those Cilician battles were awesome. Very nice screens. I hate it when TSE spams a horde of light infantry too. They sprawl all over the place. Seems you've found a way to keep them still, for good. You're Asian campaign is a classic example of how well trained, disciplined troops (usually) prevail over a mass of lesser quality. Very similar to comparing Alexnders army to that of his enemy(ies). I'm suprised to see the TSE recruiting cataphracts. They've rarely recruited cavalry in my XGM experience. And if they do it's those damn annoying chariots. Thanks for the update, it was refreshing.
BTW, how high do you have you're res. settings in the game? Those pics were really clear and sharp.
Indeed, Dirty_M, crashing those hordes of light missile infantry using a higher level and better equipped army isn't that difficult, and becomes boring at some point.
On another note, my slow advancement in Cilicia and Syria were also related to lack of siege equipment.
But, it's gonna change very soon: some siege equipment from the mother land is about to arrive and I am building a catapult range in Antioch. (Ironically, in Italy I am swimming in siege equipment, but lack heavy cavalry and heavy infantry; in the East it is the other way around ).
I play with a resolution of 1024x768, with AA at 2x. Some settings are on high quality, but most on medium.
Awesome TSE thrashing ME, show 'em who's boss! Some pretty epic battles there, Tarsus should be yours in a matter turns. And then Macedon will turn its eyes on Egypt.... Or possibly more eastward to Seleucia?
Awesome TSE thrashing ME, show 'em who's boss! Some pretty epic battles there, Tarsus should be yours in a matter turns. And then Macedon will turn its eyes on Egypt.... Or possibly more eastward to Seleucia?
What shall I do to TSE? This is one million dollar question, Scutarii. I'll take their lands at some point; after all, I am trying to recreate the Alexanders empire. But, probably not right away. I am contemplating the plan of taking Satala (city East from Pontus lands), Hatra and Amida, and give them to ... Pontus (well, not before sacking them extensively ). This would allow me to turn my attention to Ptolemies.
I'll go for Egypt soon enough; just have to gather a stack in Sicily. This army will head for Cyrenaica first, to get those nice Greek barracks. Then, this army will march in the heart of Ptolemies lands, whereas Damasos could advance from Syria. I expect an intertaining campaign against Ptolemies: their armies should be advanced enough. But I'll bring plenty of siege equipment from Italy, so there is a good chance for blitzing, at least initially.
But, before that, I still have a turn or so of heavy fighting in Italy and perhaps a few intense battles with Seleucids around Tarsus. The stage is set, I just have to click on the button with clepsydra on it
Guys, if any questions/suggestions/comments, do not hesitate, post away!
Last edited by Stilgar CG; September 10, 2008 at 04:34 AM.
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Re: Makedonia dreamin' AAR
Ducenarius
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" smiley
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).
Originally Posted by Scutarii
). This would allow me to turn my attention to Ptolemies.
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