Wave: Yes It's Difficulty is becoming Clear. However the Weakness of other Nations is providing Opportunities.
dragonizer: Perhaps but they're not worth attacking with a penalty of 2 stab. Anyway there willing to work with me still as I make a new alliance to do a mission.
loki100: Yes but the situation has improved. Picking off scraps in Greece seems like the worst possible policy right now. Macedonia by far the Weakest Greek Nation has been guaranteed by a number of nations including Epirus therefore making an attack Suicidal.
Qorten: The only real Scar is the fact I'm in massive debt. but Yeh as above for Scraps.
Saithis: Well the Fact the Illyria's Religion has the lowest power makes using omens too risky. Temples help but it will take time before large scale usage of omen can occur. Only Jewish Nations can use Omen reliably at the start and there are no Jewish nations.
Chapter 4: Is Timing and Target Picking everything?
( A while Later)
Regent: Well The Economy is sluggish.
Advisor: But Improving with a reduction in the army disbanding empty units*
Regent: Still Look at these maps.
Advisor: There maybe 50 years old.
Regent: Yes but they seem to show the current region was under Illyrian Control before the Celts of Tylis moved in.
Advisor: Your Right. A sign from the Gods maybe the High Priest was muttering about some new religious practises that showed promise of gaining the Gods favour.
Regent: It must be then.
( Some Time Later)
King: Hello any new news?
Advisor: Not a lot though several priests seem to think you may be a God.
King: What? Really? Why?
Advisor: You seem so brilliant that you must be a god. How else would we end up with so brilliant a King?
King: I see well if they think so let them go ahead.
( More Time Later)
Advisor: There seems to be another Civil War going on this time in the Selucid Empire.
King: Most Strange. You would think something was lowering their Popularity to help Ensure so many civil wars**
Advisor: Still the Rebels again moved too quickly they aren't strong enough to defeat the Selucids.
( A little While later)
Advisor: It seems the Selucids are in for a rough Time. Egypt has taken advantage of them being divided and in civil war to attack hoping to press their claims to Selucid Lands.
King: Which is better Strong Selucids or strong Egypt?
Advisor: Preferably both divided and weak but that's unlikely to happen. Also Can you stop having so Many Bastards it's damaging your popularity which could cause a civil war if your not careful.***
King: I'll have to see what I can do.
( A little while later)
Illyrian Travel Agent: Umm King you were wondering about those Elephants.
King: oh yes has something changed?
Illyrian Travel Agent: Well Yes it seems a TransCaspian State called Parthia has pushed into the Eastern Regions of the Selucid Empire meaning the Selucids no longer control any Elephants. Just thought you should know.
King: This may be Critical. If this Parthian State can push to the Sea somewhere We may be able to invade and move swiftly towards Elephants.
Advisor: Wishful Thinking really It's far too weak right now to push back the Selucids that far. It's taking advantage of Selucid weakness to push into the area like Cappadonia which has Declared Independence. The Selucids are weak right now so Everyone is trying to take advantage of it.
King: Still it should be considered.
( More Time later)
Advisor: Egypt has beaten the Selucids.
King; Taken three provinces that will shift the balance of power.
Advisor: Yes it may Encourage Egypt to completely dismember the Selucids? We should be ready to attack when the Selucids are weak enough to take but they have enough land that is worth taking.
King: Yes We'll need a fleet for that. We should plan but not hope the Selucids where Distracted remember they may well recover.
( More Time later)
King; I've been watching events in Epirus and I think now is the Time to revoke our Tribute arrangements with them.
Advisor: Why do you think now is the time?
King: A few dubious deals Have raise us enough money to function**** while we now also make a profit to boot. Revoking Tribute will secure us Financially. Also the Epirot Army has somehow been beaten by a group of rebels which means they will be unable to counter attack straight away to re-establish our Tribute.
Advisor: Good thinking. This could work.
( Some Time Later)
King: Right now that's clear that Epirus isn't going to attack us we can attack Tylis.
Advisor: But they have more men then us!
Kin: Yes but we can wear them down fighting attrition warfare they will run out of manpower long before we do. That will allow us to smash their army and then take their lands. We will not suffer stability hits as we have claims to their lands It's the Perfect Solution to all of our current problems more resources for temporary costs.
Advisor: Ok then but If this goes badly don't blame me.
( A little While Later)
Advisor: That went badly.
King: Not at all 4 to 1 losses are more than acceptable the army could do with some expansion and after that we''ll do fine.
Advisor: Are you going mad? We're going to be beaten.
King: We suffered a Year and a quarters worth of manpower they almost certainly lost more and we have plenty of manpower to replace our losses they are almost certain not to.
Advisor: How long is this going to last.
King: Not long once they have run out of men to fight they will quickly be crushed.
( A little While and several Battles Later)
King: I told you this would work.
Advisor: Yeh after we lose most of the country.
King: Still it can be taken back and the Celts have been badly weakened by their defeats soon they will crumple before our might.
Advisor: Perhaps they will.
( More Time later)
Advisor: I think we're standing to close to their Army they have archers they could hit us here.
King: If we don't have good knowledge of the battle site we will lose far more men.
Advisor: Perhaps but still couldn't we move back to the top of the Ridge we can see perfectly well from their and we'll be out of range of any archers there.
King: There Archers couldn't get us he.........(Arrow Flies over and hits King in Eye)
Advisor: Don't say I told you so.
New King: Looks Like I'm king Now.
Advisor: Your not half the man he was. You can barely swing a sword let alone lead men to battle.
New King: Perhaps but I'm the Rightful Heir.
Advisor: Ok Let's just finish this off.
( A little While later and a couple of battles later)
Advisor: Your Brothers Plan worked I see you would never come up with something anywhere near as good.
King: Don't Insult me.
Advisor: Just saying the Truth you know.
King: Still now all we need to do is reduce their controlled forts to claim all their lands.
( A Little While later)
Advisor: Looks like the Selucids have ended their Civil war now.
King: But they are all the weaker for it. Other nations have grabbed land of them while they were distracted by infighting.
Advisor: Still they could now recover.
( Some Time later)
King: Ok Then with all your lands occupied we demand you give it all up apart from some land in and around your capital in Thrace and give Us 20 gold.
Tylis Chief: I suppose we have no choice but to accept. I don't like it though.
King: Victory we have now almost doubled in size and have lots more money now.
Advisor: But not a lot more manpower.
King: Oh well we can work on that later. Let's celebrate.
( Some Time Later)
Advisor: Now that your Sober again I'd Like to Inform you that Egypt is attacking the Selucids once more.
King: Ok can we take advantage of this?
Advisor: No Our fleet is far too small and it would encourage others to attack us.
King: OH ok then.
* I had about half of My units with no men in them. I disbanded some but kept enough to form a sort of Balanced Army.
** Very Easy Difficulty reduces AI Leader Popularity Which may explain the number of civil wars so far in the big Monarchies.
*** My King had 4 or 5 Bastards in just 9 Years. I always refused the Rumours as that cost less popularity and Loyalty.
**** Rome doesn't do Bankruptcy or anything like that As Far as I can tell. Instead you get events which destroy Buildings or lower Stability in exchange for money. This can help recover from debt but can lead perhaps to long term Financial Instability as doing so means you are unable to make a profit any more if the wrong things happen.