A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

And the Carthagenian fleet arrives. I think our Roman galleys can overwhelm it with numbers, with heavy losses. If there are more Triremes on the way, we could be in trouble.
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

While the Roman Legions in Greece beat a hasty retreat to the coast, scouting reports come in showing where parts of the Carthagenian fleet are located. The Carthage-Athens Federation is at war across the known world, against the Dacians, Macedonians, and now the Galleici in northern Spain.

Carthage is now a threat to Roman Gaul and Nearer Spain.
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

Good news from Spain, however:
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

172

The Carthagenian fleet arrived! Two triremes and a galley attacked the Roman fleet southeast of Barium. No Roman ships lost, but three damaged. One enemy trireme lost. The Roman fleet is going to concentrate again and strike back.

The Carthagenians are attacking with success in Northern Spain against the Galleici, in Africa against the Ptolemies, in Greece against Rome and Macedon, and against the Dacians. Their ships are in support of all those actions. But perhaps they have taken on too much, in their incessant lust after trade route control. Rome is moving south against the Carthagenian Athenian allies, and then we will support the Macedonians.
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

169

The war with Carthage continues in northern Spain, southern Spain, Dalmatia, and at sea. The Roman navy guarding the transport route from Barium to Greece has been raided repeatedly. Of the 9 Roman galleys, 7 have had to return to port for repairs or make emergency repairs at sea, but we have yet to lose a ship. The Carthagenians have not lost any more also, but their naval demands around the world don't allow them to hit the Roman fleet really hard.

All the Legions of Cisalpine Gaul were drawn away to Illyria, where they have had great success. We thought the Celtic peoples there had been completely pacified, and had been incorporated into the Roman empire long enough to remain loyal, but now they have risen en masse.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

166

Rome achieved a major naval victory off the toe of Italy, after finding a Carthagenian fleet of triremes and transports. The entire Roman galley force converged for the kill. This followed repeated landings by the Carthagenians in Italy and Spain.

Rome's land forces have been steadily advancing in southern Spain and Macedonia.

The Senate, responding to signs of war fatigue among assimilated peoples in Gaul, Iberia, and Illyria, have decided to offer peace. If the Carthagenians accept, it will be time to heal and improve the land ... and to prepare for the next time Carthage challanges us.

Rome has committed one Legion to the Celtic rebellion in Cisalpine Gaul, hitting their major cities before they can organize an army. A newly recruited cavalry regiment from loyal Celts in Gaul has been dispatched to help with crushing the rebellion.
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

158

Our Spartan allies, transported on Roman galleys, have returned to Sparta!

[later] Immediately after this screenshot was taken, three Carthagenian triremes hit the fleet off Peloppeniasia. Amazingly it took all three enemy fleets to defeat the trireme fleet guarding the supplies to the Spartans. Messages were dispatched to call in the rest of the Roman fleet to catch the enemy triremes.
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Last edited by gwgardner on Fri Sep 14, 2018 11:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

15 years of war with Carthage finds the Republic overall victorious, but internally the realm seems to be crumbling.

All funds have gone into the army, navy, and repairing damaged cities and mines. Population subsidies are the least priority, so there has been little growth. Commerce is stagnant, with little improvement in trading infrastructure.

Two more Legions have been committed to suppressing the Celtic rebellion in Cisalpine Gaul. The Carthagenians landed support forces there, to encourage the continuance of the rebellion.

And now a new rebellion along the border with Athens in Macedonia, and a plague has run its course through German and Dacian lands. There will be a huge expense there if the Republic wants to hold onto those regions. Note also that the plague spread across into the lands of the Celtic Rebels.
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eddieballgame
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by eddieballgame »

If ever there was an AAR that could/help sell a game, this is it.
Even though I am still on vacation, it is posts like these that make returning home feel less sad. :)
This AAR, alone, showcases just how good a game this is. One of the many fine attributes this game has shown me is how good the AI is.
It, actually, appears to have its' own best Interests at heart.

I recall one game where I was in conflict with the German tribe. Eventually I was able to force it "to its' knees". I decided to keep them around for potential benefits & out of the goodness of my heart. I'll be damned if they would still not meet any of my diplomatic requests/demands...selfish bastards.:)

Again, outstanding AAR & kudos to the 'devs' for making it possible.
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gwgardner
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments concernign the game and AI, and thanks for your comments on the AAR. It's so easy to role-play with this game because everything just makes such good historical sense, I think.
eddieballgame
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by eddieballgame »

BTW, I shared this link on Steam.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by pavelk »

I totally agree with eddieballgame that this AAR is really great! gwgardner doesnt do it first time, he was also writing it during beta test and it was always such a nice reading!

I hope it is not over yet..? Mortal enemy is still undefeated;)
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

Thanks to both.

Not over by any means. There's a day of reckoning coming for the Carthagenians, when Rome will take the fight to North Africa. And then ... well, Asia is a mess. Roman leadership there would be welcome, surely.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

151

All our overtures to Carthage have been rejected, so the war continues. They have lost all their Greek possessions, but are still heavily engaged against the Ptolemies and in Spain. Their depredations in Sicily continued non-stop, and Syracuse has been completely wiped from the map.

This seemed like the time to offer federation to Epirus again, if they wanted Roman help in holding onto their last lands in Sicily. And they finally accepted.

With Rome's immediate infusion of troops and equipment, the Carthagenians were finally defeated completely in Sicily, and a long-cherished objective of the Roman Republic was achieved.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

149

The Carthagenian fleet is maneuvering along the coast of Spain, supporting their forces there primarily against the Galleici. The time is ripe for the denoument of this mighty struggle. Carthage has bled itself dry with its overweening desire to control all the coasts and trading routes of the world. This time we have caught them napping in their homeland.
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The landings are successful:
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

Carthagenian forces have converged on the Roman troops like locusts.

The first two rounds of combat, Roman forces have held their ground, except for a melee infantry unit that was weakened so much that it had to be withdrawn.

All units have been damaged. It's not looking good for the attempted invasion.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

Word of the Roman losses in North Africa have spread across the sea. Unfounded rumors have spread that Rome failed to read the omens properly, that the gods are punishing the Republic for sacreligious crimes. Our allies are distancing themselves. Some Iberian tribes, still not reconciled to Roman rule 10 years after the conquest, have rebelled.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

The new map of Roman-controlled lands looks much different than the old.
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by n0kn0k »

Ouch, but a good read!
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Re: A Brief Alternative History of the Roman Republic

Post by gwgardner »

With four Legions and Auxillieries remaining in the invasion force, surrounded by more and more Carthagenian defenders, there was a choice: retreat onto the boats, or go for final glory, to the death, if necessary. The Roman Legate chose the latter, and the will of Rome has prevailed!

Carthago has been taken, after the loss of one Legion. A third Legion took the important town of Thabraca, to the west along the coast from Carthago. Both cities were sacked, in the heat of the battles' aftermath, but now the Roman forces are furiously repairing walls and throwing up field fortifications. Parts of the fleet have been dispatched back to Sicily and the mainland, for reinforcements.

We have but a tenuous hold on these enemy cities.

And we now have another choice: continue to hold, or raze these cities to the ground and salt the surrounding fields, to end their existence once and for all.
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