JalNES I: Quick and Easy

I only need orders from Dreadnought. If I get them, update will probably be earlier...

Orders in!

Beginning work on update...

Woot! Looking forward to it.

Beginning to post update. DO NOT POST!

Update 1: Baby Steps​

A new tribe has arisen on the Iranian steppe near the Caspian sea. The Medes have a strong warrior culture (+1 Culture, +200 Spearmen), and have spent the last century ceaselessly campaigning(-20 Chariots, -100 Spearmen), under their legendary leader and founder Iaxeres and his successors. This expansion has almost doubled the nation(+1 Size), which has had both positive and negative effects--the increased land has led to a boom in agriculture (+1 Rural Economy), but at the same time has put much stress on their nearly nonexistant infrastructure. It is growing increasingly hard to collect taxes, and tax collectors are often waylaid on their treks through wild lands. (-1 spending point until infrastructure improves)

The Medes' expansion has brought them into contact with the nations of the Fertile Crescent. For centuries, Ur dominated the Tigris and Euphrates, but Elam managed to break free of Ur's rule to become its rival. Meanwhile, the Babylonians ponder to their east, contemplating conquest and empire...

-------------------------------------------------------

North we go, on our merry way to Prussia in 1997 BC. Ah, we've arrived just in time for the show! A howling mob of axemen charges north, ready to make a raid to earn glory for their tribe. But what's this? Instead of hiding in the woods nearby while the raiders loot their village, these people want to fight! And instead of meeting the charge with a disorganized one of their own, they stand and wait. And they don't just wait--some of them fire sharp pieces of wood that sink into the flesh, killing and injuring dozens. And when the faltering charge reaches within a few feet of the massed defenders, they stick out long, pointy sticks that the chargers are literally impaled upon. The charge breaks, too late for hundreds. The raiders run away as fast as they can. And here is another difference--instead of waiting the proper time and then launching a raid of their own, the defenders chase the raiders back to their own village. Here the fighting is a little more chaotic and less one-sided(-300 Spearmen, 200 Archers, 200 Axemen), but the Prussians, for Prussians they are, have the force of numbers. The village is taken, the inhabitants slaughtered. Survivors carry the word to other villages, some of whom surrender rather then be killed themselves.

This is a scene repeated many times over the next century. The Prussians expand greatly, crushing all in their path (+1 Confidence), and now control most of the Baltic shore and a good chunk of land (indeed, they are starting to have logistical problems). The other tribes have merged, too, and finally just three are left, trying at any cost to destroy the Prussian threat to their way of life.

-------------------------------------------------------

And south again to the ancient Nile, where peace has finally come. The nations of Egyptia and Lower Egypt, last remnants of the petty warfare that consumed Egypt for centuries, agree to unite, and unite they do, under Raami II in 1946 BC (+1 Culture, +2 Confidence), though not before Raami beats back a coup attempt by his uncle, who then flees to Cyprus (-1 Confidence, -5 Galleys). The Dual Kindom of the Nile is formed, and its unique two-capital arrangement has managed to prevent infrastructure problems, at least for now. (+2 Size)

Raami II will be remembered by the people of Egypt for many things, but the greatest of them are the building of many temples and academies throughout the land (+1 Education), and his expansion into Nubia (-200 Spearmen, -100 Axemen, -100 Archers). When he dies, he is immortalized in a great monument--the first pyramid(+1 Culture).

Meanwhile, to the east, Syria is consumed in civil war (-2400 Spearmen).

-------------------------------------------------------

In Carthage, the ruler decides to crush the Berbers once and for all. He raises a great army and commands them simply to "strike down the Berber threats". Needless to say, this does not work well. Although a small amount of land is taken, the Berbers simply melt into the desert and continue raiding (-300 Spearmen, -100 Archers). A better strategy is needed if the Berber threat is to be ended.

-------------------------------------------------------

Another new state arises across the Red Sea from the Egyptians, perhaps influenced by trade with them. The Hedjaz, based in Mecca, also raizes a great army, but the king, unusually cautious, has only a few troops expand. The little expansion that there is is successful, however, and no significant casualties are taken.

Unbeknownst to them, the major sources of trade for the Hedjaz are the same as those in Ur--Dilmun, with its capital of Manama in Bahrain, and Magan, on the east coast of Arabia. Thus a great circle of trade is formed-- from Ur and Elam to Manama and Magan, to the Hedjaz, to Egypt, and back to Ur and Elam. If the Hedjaz were to become more involved (perhaps opening the overland trade routes--a long and difficult but immensely profitable task), they could benefit greatly from this trade...

-------------------------------------------------------

In B.C. 1993
War was beginning.

Rather than waiting for the Etruscan invasion, the Romans struck first. Most of their force crossed to Veii, the Etruscan capital, and sieged it. Veii, outraged, called for the armies of the other 11 cities to arrive. Much to their surprise, only 3 of them sent troops. Some stated that Veii violated sacred decree in its plans to expand the league. Some reported mysterious milk curd infections. Some gave excuses of broken bridges and rockslides. One city, in the north, simply revolted.

Nevertheless, a force did arise, and, knowing the terrain better, succeeded in holding them off(-1000 Spearmen, -300 Axemen, -200 Archers). Succeeded, that is, until the second Roman army arrived from the west. Veii fell that day. It was quickly taken over by Rome, and many of the nearby cities were as well(+1 Urban Economy). The rest of the League was overrun by barbarians, who seem to have gotten more powerful...Rome now rules a relatively vast empire (+1 size, +1 Confidence), and infrastructure problems are beginning to take their toll...

-------------------------------------------------------

Times are good in Byzantium. They have created a lucrative trade deal with Athens and Minoa (+1 Trade to all 3), and enjoyed easy expansion into Asia Minor.

But the nay-sayers warn of other events. Byzantium is becoming increasingly overstretched, raids from the Thracians are increasing (-200 Spearmen), and Athens, a critical ally, has suffered many a major defeat at the hands of the Spartans, who seem increasingly bloodthirsty and determined. Perhaps Byantium should intervene?

-------------------------------------------------------

NPC Diplo​

From: Sparta
To: Byzantium

You have made a foolish choice.

Sparta and Troy agree to an alliance.

From: rebels on Cyprus
To: Dual Kingom of the Nile

Ha ha! You can't get us!

From: Berbers
To: Carthage

Surely you can do better than that?

Rants from the Mod (OOC)​

Orders due for next update Saturday at 6 PM. Again, get them in early!

Stats are done. Start your complaints... NOW!

You may or may not have noticed it (), but infrastructure is important in this NES. Without at least some infrastructure, you'll find it hard to expand and may even be penalized (like Iggy). You can fix this either by increasing infrastructure or building a city-- you'll probably want to do both.

The 3 city system may or may not end up being used--the trade economy stat largely removes the need for it. However, if anyone goes crazy with story writing, we might see a cultural or religious center.

Scapegoat for the turn: azale, for making me create 2 new NPCs and not doing much of anything
Best orders: alex994-- he said his orders were rushed. Even so, they were by far the most detailed.

The map has arrived! You may now post.

Nice update Jal!

Like the new avvie?

Lord_Iggy said:

Nice update Jal!

Like the new avvie?

Click to expand...

Only nice?

And yes, I do, but the two-color border is weird.

Really? I just decided to mix 'em. What background do you have?

CFC Modern. I'm sure it shows fine, I just don't like the look.

pssh, what exactly am I supposed to do without a nation?

So who do I have contact with? Bahrain, Magan, and Egypt right?

Azale said:

pssh, what exactly am I supposed to do without a nation?

So who do I have contact with? Bahrain, Magan, and Egypt right?

Click to expand...

Yes, but Bahrain's real name is Dilmun. (Yes, these are real civilization names--it's hard to find anything in Arabia at this time.)

Excellent update! Are the Italian barbs friendly with us in anyway? Which of the other 11 cities are still under our control?

Nice update, of course with my luck I picked the loosing side...time to change that

To Berbers
From Carthage

Lets see you exscape when our troops are on fire!

@Alex: Thanks. The barbs don't like you. The cities would, but they were sacked and burned long ago. You control Veii, Velch, Velzna, Tarchna, and Caisra.

From: Berbers
To: Carthage

Learn to spell. And knowing you, you would manage to set your troops on fire!

I usually ignore typoes, but... that deserves siggage.

Expansion Map.

orders sent right after this.

Barbarian Raiders Upon the Doorstep
--------------------------------

Captain Theodus was a warrior from birth. He always wanted to fight the other boys in his neighborhood in rural Constantinople, and he would beat most of them too. He started archery from age 6, and a few years later was wielding a sword. Not suprisingly, he joined the Byzantine Army, recieved a captain's commission, and sent to the Byzantine - Thrace border with several hundred men.

The Thracians were barbarians who enjoyed killing the Byzantines, which of course Captain Theodus had to stop. He began to survey the terrain on the border. If there was a easy way for the barbarians to reach his country, he would block them.

Of course, the barbarians always found a way around the defenses. They appeared out of nowhere one night, and were spotted by advance scouts of Theodus' command. He knew that he must engage this enemy fools.

He positioned his men where he thought the enemy would attack - a small village a few miles from the Aegean Sea. He hid his men in a small forest and waited for the enemy approach.

A few hours later the enemy were spotted. They were advancing rapidly toward the village. Theodus prepared his men for the upcoming attack.

They were getting closer... ... ...

Theodus gave the command. "ATTACK!"

The Byzantines hit hard into the flank of the Thracians.The barbarians were hit hard, and began to waver. Soon they rebounded however, and began to engage Theodus' troops. In this type of combat the Byzantines would prevale, because of their discipline and organization. However, they would take high casualties, for the barbarians refused to abandon the battlefield.

Theodus entered the fray, stabbing one barbarian in the chest. An archer next to him fired at a barbarian 15 yards away, sending him to Hades' realm.

Theodus turned to his spearmen. They were, so far, holding formation. With their large shields and spears, they could hold off the enemy, but if the formation broke the barbarians would isolate his troops.

A dozen spearmen ran past, expanding the Byzantine line until it almost outflanked the enemy.

One last attack would do it...

There! The barbarians were routing, first near the flanks, then toward the center of the line, like a ripple of fear. However, his spearmen were too tired to pursue, exhausted from the fight.

At least this village was saved...