The Ptolemies, Africa, and open space

**MathiasOfAthens** · June 21, 2008, 03:06 AM

Well I love the game. However, one thing that really bothers me and may bother others is how the Ptolemies expand. Almost every game Ive play the Ptolemies wipe out the Selucides and extend almost as far as Baktria by 200 BC. They expand too fast and unfortunateley unrealistically. Makes it a pain in the ass when I expand as the Romanoi into Anatolia and the Levant.

=== Only thing I could ask for is perhaps for some fix to make the Ptolemies less aggressive or perhaps a new faction like Judea that would make the Ptolemies more Stationary and defend what they have. Same for the Seleucids.

Now about Africa this refers particually to the Ptolemies again. Is there much support for all the cities down by the nile and out in the desert. Since the Ptolemies always expand down there one would have to hunt them down and conquer all their cities to stop their raiding.

=== Could there be a possible remaking of the map to remove most of the cities down there perhaps make the borders include a couple cities along the Mediterrenean shore and closer up by Alexandreia. Perhaps put on inaccessible city far south of the map and that city controls most of the desert. Same for the western side of the map below the carthaginian empire. An Inaccessible city far south that controls a large portion of the desert thus preventing the factions from expanding into the desert.

**icydawgfish** · June 21, 2008, 02:23 PM

Well, if you weaken the Ptolemies than the Seleucids steamroll everything. As for adding a new faction, Judea wouldn't be independent until the Macabeas (sp?) and their revolt from the Seleucid Empire. As for changing the map, it's doubtful that will happen either. I think they did their best in 1.1 to balance the factions because in my games, sometimes the Ptolemies lose and sometimes the Seleucids do.

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · June 21, 2008, 02:47 PM

There already is an unconquerable city in the far southwest corner of the map, but the rest of the towns in the desert are historically important and were included.

No Jewish faction will ever be added to EB. They didn't exist for most of the time period and were never powerful.

The problem is a balancing between AS and Ptl. If you play v0.8x, you'll see that it is AS that almost always wins and conquers everything. The issue of balancing is something that is constantly be discussed and worked on. The problem is that you don't always know there is a problem with the balance until you play several decades and the team doesn't always get to play long test campaigns, meaning the unbalance isn't known until after a release.

**MathiasOfAthens** · June 22, 2008, 01:59 AM

Yeah I understand. About the cities in africa though can the territories be shorten but keep the cities there?

Is there a way to make the factions more passive and stationary by editing their traits? Is there a such file that allows this?
________
Malaysian recipes

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · June 22, 2008, 04:48 AM

AI behavoir is hardcoded and unmoddable. If there was a way to change the way they acted, it would have already been modded.

**davepyne** · June 23, 2008, 07:35 PM

Also, don't forget that the faction that is at war with you gets free money. So if you play a faction that borders Ptol, you will probably be at war with them at some point and they will get alot of free money from the script.

**Ludens** · June 24, 2008, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by davepyne

Also, don't forget that the faction that is at war with you gets free money. So if you play a faction that borders Ptol, you will probably be at war with them at some point and they will get alot of free money from the script.

Not quite: all A.I. factions get a financial bonus. The A.I. needs a bit of help since unit upkeep is very high and it tends to blow most of its money on units.

**paulus** · June 24, 2008, 02:58 PM

The Ptolemies will be considerably more difficult in EB2. But bear in mind that in 247-6, Ptolemy III captured most of Asia Minor, Syria, and Mesopotamia before having to return to Egypt in response to internal unrest. So its right for the Ptolemies to have considerable potential for expansion. But it will indeed be harder in the future.

**MathiasOfAthens** · June 24, 2008, 04:15 PM

Ptol usually do capture all that territory but unlike history they dont have any internal unrest that forces them to return home.

Is there anyway to incorpate large scale unrest in the script.
________
Ship Sale

**Ovtivon** · June 24, 2008, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by MathiasOfAthens

Ptol usually do capture all that territory but unlike history they dont have any internal unrest that forces them to return home.

Is there anyway to incorpate large scale unrest in the script.

That is actually a good idea. Once a faction reaches a certain size they will have more and more unrest penalties in their cities. Would effectively stop any faction from becoming a monster by 200 b.c. and make playing as romans more realistic since you may get actual revolts.

**MathiasOfAthens** · June 24, 2008, 04:53 PM

Yeah thats why I hardly ever finish campaigns... Actually I have never finished a campaign before (excluding short campaigns with simple missions like take 3 cities in some mods out there). Once I get to big I start a new campaign. The thrill is gone. Thats why I like IBFD Julianus campaign revolts all over the place.

EDIT: How many Spys do u have to put in a enemy settlement to cause a revolt anyone have a general idea?
________
Video review

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · June 25, 2008, 01:48 AM

Depending on their skill, each spy cause 0-15% unrest. After two or three spies, additional spies will have no effect. If that 30% or so added unrest isn't enough to cause a revolt, then the spies cannot cause a revolt in that town.

**Lucuis Quinctius Cincinnatus** · June 27, 2008, 03:30 PM

I think scripted unrest would be good, like the scripted invasions that take place if certain conditions are met, maybe even a slave revolt like Spartacus' popping up.