Carthage
An Introduction
Having been playing EU3 MP for the best part of the year, I like many have been looking forward toward trying the latest installment of the paradox series in the roman world.
I got the game on Wednesday and the first few days I spent learning the game and reading through the useful manual and strategy guide. The sandbox recommended single player nation recommend Macedonia was a good one to cut my teeth. I got to learn about all the facets of EU: Rome without being overwhelmed by massive wars or huge character micromanagement.
It had been discussed during the past week between EU3 playing friends whether we would set up a game, and on Friday the thread was put up and I decided to put myself down as Egypt first choice. After playing them Saturday morning, I was beginning to hanker for some human company whilst playing the game. Checking the forum I noticed Holistic Gods test game would be starting soon. I thought I would check it out, imagining all kinds of instable noob type struggles. But it proved the furthest from what I imagined it to be.
For a start the metaserver had a nice cream background that made the text easy to read. I was pleased to see players I had played with in the past like Dues Irae and Varam also signed up for this campaign as well as friendly articulate players new to me.
All this being said we did have the usual situation of mass sign up and the usual 60% turn out at start – but being unsigned up this suited me perfectly.
Some players picked their original selections, we had a cast iron Macedonia and Seculid Player, another keen on either Pontus of Armenia and fourth wishing to try his hand at a Gallic minor. Later we picked up another layer for the Pontus/Armenia area. This left three of us to flip for Rome, Carthage and Egypt. The GM HG(and host as well) fairly logically had Rome and I had the challenge of Carthage and the other player got Egypt. We were set and away we went.
We did have one early rehost and another later for mass OOS – but it did go surprisingly smoothly I am happy to report. It was a very satisfying and calm experience and highly encouraging for further MP play.
The Opening
Given the restricted area and smallish map I feel the opening moves of Rome will be fascinating in the opening few weeks. Here I will analyse the Carthage situation…
Provinces
Carthage has a large power base at the beginning. Its dominion includes almost all of non egyptian coastal Africa, three provinces in the south of Spain and all of the Islands up to and including Sicily and Malta. They have the land-locked vassal of Numidia which rather frustratingly holds two of the three horse producing provinces in Africa.
Trade – Possibly the first thing to look at in when starting any MP game for any player will be the trading situation. I started by clicking the trade map button and noted down the following breakdown of provinces.
20 provinces in total at game start:
10 of which are population boosting
grain provinces (including the capital province of Carthage) ;2 all important
elephant producing provinces ; 3 manpower boosting
fish provinces; 2 defence boosting
stone provinces; 1
wine province; 1
spices province; and 1 navy and archer producing
wood province.
The main headline here is the lack of Iron or Horses. Horses indeed will be an issue for many realms but most non – African nations will have no problems finding an abundance of Iron resources. This will have to be thought about later in expansions.
Setting up the trade routes available was about a case of logistics trying to get an idea where to put supply centres for my shipping and potentially to supply my forces with a steady supply of elephants. Having a couple of stone provinces is also useful for building defensive bases in areas at risk and important to keep difficult to siege.
Finally I also considered the improvement of the civilised score of the two outlying Spanish provinces and prioritised getting those grain provinces filled.
Inevitably there are some grain provinces left over and given Carthage poor relations with all but their landlocked vassels Numadia I was not too hopeful of finding more trade – perhaps later with forums.
Military –
I note that Carthage has 3 nice mixed 8K stacks around the capital province with its 3 stock troops that it has ability to build. Cannon fodder militia, ranged archers and the battering ram like elephants. Less useful is the smattering of 1k archer armies posted on virtually all island possessions.
I was rather surprised at the size of Carthage’s navy I had just 10 ships meaning it would not be easy to go for an early large scale amphibious attack.
I looked to start producing an early Spain barbarian raiding party out of archers and militia I also rather wastefully clicked for one expensive elephant unit.
The early Expansion possibilities
Well the first priority is to take Syracuse before Rome does. So I knew I would be taking two of my nicely mixed 8K stacks and invading the Epirus.
I would have to be quick as Rome is already at war with them, I hoped Rome would be distracted with the realm that owned two provinces in the Italian boot.
I then pondered briefly the possibility of taking one of the Italian boot provinces, I saw they had a Roman core on and I felt one would be easy enough to gain but would provoke Rome into full scale war for years to come.
The Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes along with the small greek one province nations look inviting but again probably too provocative to Egypt and the Macedons and with my lack of navy I felt again they would be difficult to defend.
I then looked on at the Egypt- Seleucid conflict – I could weigh down on either side of the conflict, tempting I must say to look at rushing toward Egypt’s Iron province – but it was the first MP game after all and I thought hey go easy, besides it would take the best part of a year to get to Egypt and I feared the quick peace out the other side and suddenly becoming a victim of aggression.
Indeed this halted me from looking at a possible attack on future rival Rome – hoping perhaps to aid the Epirus and boot Italy realm turn the heat on Italy.
Again I thought go easy and also it would not be a trivial to get a CB like it is the AI.
Plenty of colonial expansion available on the interior of Africa there is an important Horse province. Mauritiana is also close to fulfilling the colonisation requirements with the key resource of wood to aid a naval and archers building program.
Characters
The program does a good job of putting the best people in the best places at the beginning. I had three pretty useful generals for my attacking forces and plenty of loyal 5+ finesse governors. I did look to see for the uber high finesse high charisma character for possible assassinations or for a governor on Syracuse.
I played about with my researchers giving the best two to construction and land tech improvements.
Opening ten years – Taking Syracuse, harassing barbarians and some surprising turn of events.
A CB was gained and Syracuse was taken in short order – strangely Epirus fled Sicily, but proved difficult to take their capital on Greece landing with a maximum of 10 troops against 8 ready and waiting commandos. Nether-the-less after spamming the AI with the peace deal it in typical AI style turned round no I have a better idea I will offer you the same deal instead.
My Spanish barbarian smasher comprising of archers and militia was found to be somewhat weak due to the lack of martially skilled commanders. Meanwhile colonies were established in the depths of Africa increasing my wood and spice supplies but even more important gaining me access to some horses.
Carthage kept quiet on its external diplomacy and watched as they jostled for position in the East. Our position with extra grain stockpiles soon peaked the interest of the core Macedonian nation. We saw no reason to refuse their trade when they offered the some of their excess Iron supplies.
This led to wide ranging army reforms as Cavalry and Heavy infantry were brought into our forces and Militia largely removed. Our navy likewise got and increase of focus as larger fleets were commissioned.
The next ten – teetering on the brink of cival war and the blocs form.
The smacking of African and Spanish barbarians had raised two popular and politically aware rivals for the leader of Carthage Hannibal. Both had control of significant loyal armies and despite triumphs being held in their honour still had eyes on a bigger prize. Action needed to be taken to eliminate these pretenders as they were both assassinated by one of Hannibal’s strongest family members.
However families of the killed men many of whom were governors of some of Carthage’s key provinces were most upset by the murders and were quickly voicing their disapproval.
Hannibal could ill afford to assassinate more nobility with the massive realm under his possession.
The threat of civil war was a distinct possibility for some time, but as time wore on the patriarchs of each family moved on to the next life and the crimes were forgotten.
The leader of Carthage began to look on at how his competitors were doing and was rather interested to note the dangerous alliance blocs that had formed between the great powers of the world.
Essentially these blocs can be split into three factions:
a)
the WRE – Rome, Macedonia and Egypt: Egypt seems to be holding the alliance leader card here and obviously is Carthage’s most dangerous threat. Egypt has played a masterful first session cutting off Seleucids silk route, taking the greek islands and also finding a colonisation route in Greece. Macedonia has been friendly toward us establishing lucrative trade routes. Meanwhile Rome has been quite hostile in its words, and has had difficulty with barbarians. It seems surprising to Carthage that the Macedonians and the Romans would allow Egypt to dominate them in this alliance structure. Rome carry the additional threat of Messalina.
b)
The ERE – Seleucid Empire, Armenia and Pontus: Seleucid lost the opening war, but rather than rampage North it decided to consolidate in Anatolia. Armenia and Pontus have expanded quickly around the Black sea. One wonders what is now the fate of this alliance with its fast expansion at its limit. Will it come pouring over the Bosporus? Will it focus on regaining the Seleucid silk route and threaten Egypt? Will it go to the sea and start to sail off at realms further area?
c) Then there is
Carthage, standing proudly but lonely in the west. Perhaps waiting in the wings to decisively come down on one side or another…
Arguably the WRE have the strongest overall military power and economy, but they are pincered by two potential enemies on both sides. Carthage to the west and the ERE to the east. It shall be interesting to see how it develops.
