Mod Overview: Carthage, Macedonia and Seleukids
EDIT: Mod's out! Linked below:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2827580531
Hello everyone! I'm RetconCrisis, and I'd like to showcase some stuff from a mod that I'm working on called Carthago Delenda Est, which is basically a 150 BC (604 AUC) start date, in case anyone is interested.
In 150 BC, much of the map in Imperator Rome was divided between powerful yet numerous states all vying for power, though Rome at this point was quickly heading towards becoming the undisputed power of the Mediterranean. Thus, we’ll start off by taking a look at the various corners of the Mediterranean that were embroiled in war in 150 BC.
First, let's take a look at the namesake of the mod: Carthage. Carthage is in a rough spot; having lost the Second Punic War over half a century ago and losing Iberia and it's Numidian allies, Carthage has lost even more land to King Masinissa of Numidia since the end of the war until now, the most recent loss being the Punic cities of Tripolitania. As a result, Carthage in 150 BC is flanked by the Numidians by land from all sides.
Even worse, although Carthage has paid off all of its war reparations, the treaty signed with Rome at the end of the Second Punic War also states that Carthage cannot declare offensive wars, or else Rome can declare war for violating the treaty. This means Carthage has to provoke its targets into attacking first, or deal with two enemies at once. The Roman Republic's main strength is also its weakness: Rome's abundance of socii (Italian allies) makes naval invasions clunky for the Romans, and also decreases the levies available to Rome in Italy. Thus, if Carthage can prevent a sizable Roman army from gathering on land, then they can win the war from battles alone; I have even seen an AI Carthage take back Sardinia and Sicily if they have a high enough war score.
Additionally, if Carthage does decide to declare an offensive war, they will have the choice to convince Rome to back down, and in turn Carthage will end all of its offensive wars and make peace with the defenders. However, the war-eager Romans are less likely to accept this offer of peace. And if Rome does declare war, expect the Numidians to try to grab as much land as they can while Carthage is distracted.
___
Next, let's take a look at the eastern Mediterranean. The kingdom of Macedonia was dismantled by Rome in the Third Macedonian War and split into four client republics. Although the aristocrats who now possess political authority are in favor of this move, most of the Macedonian people are angry at the various restrictions placed on them by the Romans and long for a reunited Macedonia.
Thus, when a pretender by the name of Andriskos claims to be the son of the last king Perseus, making him the heir to the Antigonid throne, many Macedonians rally behind him as Andriskos wages a war to unite Macedonia. The Romans initially underestimate the young pretender and will not immediately send troops to deal with the revolt, which can give a newly-revived Macedonian kingdom some time to build up enough strength to face the inevitable war with the Romans.
___
Farther to the east are the former Diadochi, the Ptolemaic and Seleukid Kingdoms, which are both in the midst of a great war involving several major powers. A young boy named Alexandros Balas and his sister Laodike were brought before the Roman Senate as supposed children of the late king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The man who brought them before the Senate was Herakleides, who held a grudge against the current Seleukid king, Demetrios I Soter, for killing his brother Timarchus when the latter revolted in Media. The Roman Senate approved the boy and gave him their support, and other states followed suit. Not only was Demetrios already unpopular among his own subjects due to his drunkenness and cruelty, but other states like Pergamon, Cappadocia and the Ptolemaic Kingdom also wished to see a weakened Seleukid Kingdom.
In 152 BC, an older Alexandros landed in Ptolemais-Ake, leading a mercenary army supported by the kings of Pergamon, Cappadocia and Egypt. By 150 BC, Alexandros had seized much of the Phoenician coast, his territories reaching as far north as Seleukeia Pieria. This causes even the Maccabean leaders in Judea to side with Alexandros in the war in return for an alliance.
For gameplay purposes, if Alexandros’ Seleukid Claimant army is able to seize the capital city of Antiocheia, a battle will ensue in which Alexandros kills Demetrios and wins the Seleukid throne. However, Alexandros is content with ruling only over Syria; this allows several local dynasts to breakaway in Mesopotamia, the most notable of which is the city of Seleukeia, which is the most powerful of these dynasts and historically remained independent even when the Parthians invaded the region. The governors of Elymais and Characene also break away, but there is a chance that the governors will seek Seleukid protection and request to become tributaries under the new Seleukid king.
This results in a much-weaker Seleukid Kingdom; thus, a player playing as Egypt, Pergamon, Cappadocia or Judea will want to help Alexandros seize Antiocheia in order to prevent a much-stronger Seleukid Kingdom under Demetrios from steamrolling their own territories in the future. Despite facing a large coalition, I have seen the Seleukid AI win the war fairly quickly, so while it may be challenging at first, the war can certainly be won playing as the Seleukids.
Even if Alexandros wins, however, stability in Syria is not guaranteed. The son of Demetrios I flees to Crete after witnessing the deaths of his father, mother and brother. This Demetrios II will return in the near future to avenge his father and take back the Seleukid throne…
I welcome any and all feedback, and I'll continue posting more about the mod soon!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2827580531
Hello everyone! I'm RetconCrisis, and I'd like to showcase some stuff from a mod that I'm working on called Carthago Delenda Est, which is basically a 150 BC (604 AUC) start date, in case anyone is interested.
In 150 BC, much of the map in Imperator Rome was divided between powerful yet numerous states all vying for power, though Rome at this point was quickly heading towards becoming the undisputed power of the Mediterranean. Thus, we’ll start off by taking a look at the various corners of the Mediterranean that were embroiled in war in 150 BC.
First, let's take a look at the namesake of the mod: Carthage. Carthage is in a rough spot; having lost the Second Punic War over half a century ago and losing Iberia and it's Numidian allies, Carthage has lost even more land to King Masinissa of Numidia since the end of the war until now, the most recent loss being the Punic cities of Tripolitania. As a result, Carthage in 150 BC is flanked by the Numidians by land from all sides.
Even worse, although Carthage has paid off all of its war reparations, the treaty signed with Rome at the end of the Second Punic War also states that Carthage cannot declare offensive wars, or else Rome can declare war for violating the treaty. This means Carthage has to provoke its targets into attacking first, or deal with two enemies at once. The Roman Republic's main strength is also its weakness: Rome's abundance of socii (Italian allies) makes naval invasions clunky for the Romans, and also decreases the levies available to Rome in Italy. Thus, if Carthage can prevent a sizable Roman army from gathering on land, then they can win the war from battles alone; I have even seen an AI Carthage take back Sardinia and Sicily if they have a high enough war score.
Additionally, if Carthage does decide to declare an offensive war, they will have the choice to convince Rome to back down, and in turn Carthage will end all of its offensive wars and make peace with the defenders. However, the war-eager Romans are less likely to accept this offer of peace. And if Rome does declare war, expect the Numidians to try to grab as much land as they can while Carthage is distracted.
___
Next, let's take a look at the eastern Mediterranean. The kingdom of Macedonia was dismantled by Rome in the Third Macedonian War and split into four client republics. Although the aristocrats who now possess political authority are in favor of this move, most of the Macedonian people are angry at the various restrictions placed on them by the Romans and long for a reunited Macedonia.
Thus, when a pretender by the name of Andriskos claims to be the son of the last king Perseus, making him the heir to the Antigonid throne, many Macedonians rally behind him as Andriskos wages a war to unite Macedonia. The Romans initially underestimate the young pretender and will not immediately send troops to deal with the revolt, which can give a newly-revived Macedonian kingdom some time to build up enough strength to face the inevitable war with the Romans.
___
Farther to the east are the former Diadochi, the Ptolemaic and Seleukid Kingdoms, which are both in the midst of a great war involving several major powers. A young boy named Alexandros Balas and his sister Laodike were brought before the Roman Senate as supposed children of the late king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The man who brought them before the Senate was Herakleides, who held a grudge against the current Seleukid king, Demetrios I Soter, for killing his brother Timarchus when the latter revolted in Media. The Roman Senate approved the boy and gave him their support, and other states followed suit. Not only was Demetrios already unpopular among his own subjects due to his drunkenness and cruelty, but other states like Pergamon, Cappadocia and the Ptolemaic Kingdom also wished to see a weakened Seleukid Kingdom.
In 152 BC, an older Alexandros landed in Ptolemais-Ake, leading a mercenary army supported by the kings of Pergamon, Cappadocia and Egypt. By 150 BC, Alexandros had seized much of the Phoenician coast, his territories reaching as far north as Seleukeia Pieria. This causes even the Maccabean leaders in Judea to side with Alexandros in the war in return for an alliance.
For gameplay purposes, if Alexandros’ Seleukid Claimant army is able to seize the capital city of Antiocheia, a battle will ensue in which Alexandros kills Demetrios and wins the Seleukid throne. However, Alexandros is content with ruling only over Syria; this allows several local dynasts to breakaway in Mesopotamia, the most notable of which is the city of Seleukeia, which is the most powerful of these dynasts and historically remained independent even when the Parthians invaded the region. The governors of Elymais and Characene also break away, but there is a chance that the governors will seek Seleukid protection and request to become tributaries under the new Seleukid king.
This results in a much-weaker Seleukid Kingdom; thus, a player playing as Egypt, Pergamon, Cappadocia or Judea will want to help Alexandros seize Antiocheia in order to prevent a much-stronger Seleukid Kingdom under Demetrios from steamrolling their own territories in the future. Despite facing a large coalition, I have seen the Seleukid AI win the war fairly quickly, so while it may be challenging at first, the war can certainly be won playing as the Seleukids.
Even if Alexandros wins, however, stability in Syria is not guaranteed. The son of Demetrios I flees to Crete after witnessing the deaths of his father, mother and brother. This Demetrios II will return in the near future to avenge his father and take back the Seleukid throne…
I welcome any and all feedback, and I'll continue posting more about the mod soon!
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