My idea

[Xehh II]

Salutations!

So when I signed up, I vowed to be a more visible member of the community. We can see this is going most excellently, as of writing this, I still only have 4 or 5 posts.

So, my idea.
I was thinking of doing an old fashioned AAR, not really a fan of let's plays. It's hard to weave a story into a let's play like you can with an AAR.

Would anyone be interested in this?

[Richard III]

I'd definitely be interested! But I'm slightly confused - I thought AAR's and Let's plays were the same thing? Or is AAR like a fictional story?

[zonks40]

I'd definitely be interested! But I'm slightly confused - I thought AAR's and Let's plays were the same thing? Or is AAR like a fictional story?

One is reading the book, the other seeing the movie, the book is nearly always better

[Xehh II]

An AAR is a written account with pics to go with it, a let's play is some dude playing on youtube, often pre recorded, so less interaction with the audience.
Let's plays are a tad less personal than I would like.

[GourmetGorilla]

Excellent idea, I'd be interested in following this. Any idea of which faction you might choose?

[Xehh II]

Probably Massalia, maybe Sparta or Ptolemaioi. Definitley a Greek faction.
I did an EB1 AAR as Koinon Hellenon, so Greeks are natural for me, I'm not looking to go too out of my comfort zone.

[GMFH]

I am also interested. I like written AARs better than the "Lets Play" videos. There is a Rome II AAR sub-forum on TWC that has some good AARs if you haven't seen it.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forum...r-Rome-II-AARs

[Irishmafia2020]

Cool -I love true AAR's, and I've done a couple myself... LP's are not nearly as fun, but they can show the battles in their true glory at least! I look forward to a true AAR, but it can be time consuming to try to finish one as the player...

[Xehh II]

Yeah, the other AAR I did kinda fizzled out due to personal issues, which was sad cause a lot of people said it was good. Wish I could've kept it going.

But this one shall succeed, not only succeed but it shall be glorious!

Just to warn you guys though, I won't be starting for a while, I'm going to be having a daughter on monday, so I'll be doing new daddy stuff for the next few weeks but once our routine is set though, I should have a couple of hours free a day to start.

[HarkonRules]

I really like AARs, they have a more immersive and old school feel. Everyone and their mothers do LPs these days.

Play Sparta then, man. Most challenging starting position and I'm always interested in seeing people play it.

[Xehh II]

Hey guys, so I've found out that I have more time on my hands than originally thought having this little human around.
So I might start my AAR a little earlier than planned, just have a few more questions to pose before I get to it.

1) Will the current version of DEI (1.04a) be stable for the foreseeable future?

2) Thinking of adding KAMs new battle thing, it looks good, what are your guys thoughts on this? Yay or nay?

3) Can I post my AAR in the DEI forum? Or do I have to post it in the generic Rome II AAR forum? I'd rather just post it here to be honest.

4) And last, faction. It's going to be Greek, I know that much. One guys says already he wants to see Sparta, this wouldn't be terrible but I would like see what others think.

[FlashHeart07]

Hey guys, so I've found out that I have more time on my hands than originally thought having this little human around.
So I might start my AAR a little earlier than planned, just have a few more questions to pose before I get to it.

1) Will the current version of DEI (1.04a) be stable for the foreseeable future?

2) Thinking of adding KAMs new battle thing, it looks good, what are your guys thoughts on this? Yay or nay?

3) Can I post my AAR in the DEI forum? Or do I have to post it in the generic Rome II AAR forum? I'd rather just post it here to be honest.

4) And last, faction. It's going to be Greek, I know that much. One guys says already he wants to see Sparta, this wouldn't be terrible but I would like see what others think.

1. Very very likely. I cannot see that anything game breaking will be added. Updates are usually save game compatible and version 1.1 is still some time away. Go for it

2. Yay. Using it myself and it really works. Much more reactive BAI. Also try the harder CAI diplomacy mod on steam.

3. Post it here. Is good for new users to see some of the festures of the mod.

4. Massalia is nice because of their acces to gaullish units but also Epirus is nice because of its tough position. Athens and Sparta are just too ordinary

[rjacko10]

Also try the harder CAI diplomacy mod on steam.

Are you referring to this one?: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...+diplomacy+mod

I think Dresden is in the process of making one for DEI but I'll take anything that comes recommended and makes AI more aggressive.

[FlashHeart07]

Are you referring to this one?: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...+diplomacy+mod

I think Dresden is in the process of making one for DEI but I'll take anything that comes recommended and makes AI more aggressive.

I am. But dont know how far Dresden is. Believe he is quite busy atm.

[rjacko10]

I am. But dont know how far Dresden is. Believe he is quite busy atm.

Thanks for response

[HarkonRules]

Hey guys, so I've found out that I have more time on my hands than originally thought having this little human around.
So I might start my AAR a little earlier than planned, just have a few more questions to pose before I get to it.

1) Will the current version of DEI (1.04a) be stable for the foreseeable future?

2) Thinking of adding KAMs new battle thing, it looks good, what are your guys thoughts on this? Yay or nay?

3) Can I post my AAR in the DEI forum? Or do I have to post it in the generic Rome II AAR forum? I'd rather just post it here to be honest.

4) And last, faction. It's going to be Greek, I know that much. One guys says already he wants to see Sparta, this wouldn't be terrible but I would like see what others think.

1) Yeah, it fixed several inconsistencies thus far and is certainly stable.

2) Definitely go for it. Battle AI is better and the battles themselves more challenging and intense.

3) Pretty sure you can post it here, just as good a thread as any other at the very least.

4) Sparta! It's challenging and certainly takes opportunism to rise above. Go for it.

[Butan]

1) Will the current version of DEI (1.04a) be stable for the foreseeable future? No, but download the standalone to be sure you can play out a whole campaign no prob (and update only if its said to be save compatible)

2) Thinking of adding KAMs new battle thing, it looks good, what are your guys thoughts on this? Yay or nay? Yay

3) Can I post my AAR in the DEI forum? Or do I have to post it in the generic Rome II AAR forum? I'd rather just post it here to be honest. Of course, since there is no AAR section you're welcome to post here

4) And last, faction. It's going to be Greek, I know that much. One guys says already he wants to see Sparta, this wouldn't be terrible but I would like see what others think. I think Sparta would be cool if you go the full RP route, any factions really but Sparta is known for pretty straightforward battle composition/tactics and strategy/diplomacy and way of life

[Lord Blackfyre]

Would love a good AAR, what about Baktria? Or Massillia would be good too

[HarkonRules]

Butan, could you point me to somewhere with a decently laid out typical composition of Sparta's armies? I've been willing to make armies in-game as historical as I can with Sparta.

[Butan]

I'm no expert, but I think in the first years of the grand campaign (classic army, before spartan military reform began around 230 B.C.), you would have :

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

- 1-2 light cavalry unit per army max (they were only there to scout and harass, greek armies are generally infantry heavy, only makedon and thessaly had good horses, can recruit them as AOR to replace light spartan cav if you expand)
- general always royal spartan hoplite, always one of the 2 leaders of the Royal Families or Other Families (the "kings", because spartan armies were always led by at least one of the 2 spartan kings)

Rest of the classic army :
* between 20% and 50% skirmishers units
- mostly perioikio peltastai and helotes akontistai (the balance between the two need be according to slave population (helots) and global expansion (perioikoi=non-citizens of Sparta))
- 1-2 skiritai peltastai, and not much more than 5-6 faction wide (were special light skirmishers, coming from specific regions with limited manpower)
- no spartan archers/slingers only elite AOR/mercs units, and 1-2 per armies max

* between 80% and 50% hoplites units
- mostly spartan helots (real spartan citizen hoplites were fewer and fewer due to elitism and previous losses in battles)
- some perioikoi/metic hoplitai (more if sparta expands to include conquered villages (non-spartan citizens/residents), even more if you enslave little helots to serve as hoplites)
- 1-2 actual spartan hoplites, and not much more than 5-6 faction wide (elitism/manpower reasons); and half as much Epheboi (+1 extra Ekdromoi if need be!)

1 or 2 special AOR/merc units for flavor as you go in your military campaigns, to plug the gaps in your stacks and give some diversity, while still keeping with historical composition.
Of course no artillery at all, and for navies, better keep them as few as possible and following the land army composition (+ occasional "marines").

After reform began I lose interest historically. But mostly it began to follow macedonian army composition, with the apparition of spartan phalangites (until they replaced hoplites completely) and thureos/thorakitai, and there was even more non spartans in the armies.




I didnt find one complete source on spartan armies composition, but how spartan army worked is not too hard to find. Also some things on general greek armies: here and here are some examples.
I'm mostly reading wikipedia, so because it is not entirely reliable I invite others to give you better insight.