Having a blast playing Macedon at the moment and just had one of my best battle experiences so far, fighting a fierce Thracian tribe in the Rhodope mountains. The AI was actually really smart in it's engagements and I think, I never had anything like this in Total War until AE came out. It held reserves, it flanked, it charged my skirmishers, but pulled back when I withdraw them. It's absolutely stunning.
And because this mod never seizes to amaze me, I wanted to share a few screenshots I just took.
A Scythian mercenary force is advancing downhill towards the Macedonian lines.
The Macedonian army is fully deployed and awaiting the attack.
The first assault, a mix of Cavalry to drive away the Macedonian skirmishers, soon followed by the Thracians well-known rhomphaia wielding warriors.
After defeating the first wave with only minor losses, the phalanx is gearing up for the clash with the Thracian main force.
Ferocious fighting is taking place and after the additional assault of Celtic mercenaries, the Macedonian phalanx is for moments in danger to lose its cohesion.
Meanwhile, the Macedonian cavalry, after deafeting what was left from the first wave Thracians, is attacking the vulnerable skirmisher force of the Thracians. But the Thracian king, immediateley ordered his reserves to attack this grave threat to his army.
Realizing the incoming menace, the horsemen start to warn their fellows, who are still in the fight. But it is already too late...
At the end of the day though, that counter-attack was not enough to save the Thracians, the main line broke and the army got dispersed and shattered. All that remains now, are the cries of the wounded and the bodies of 4000 fallen men of both sides.