PBEM: A Soaring Spirit

[Northerner]

Samos retaken.

No other moves against the Corinthian League.

A punic galley runs into an Ionian transport in the middle of the ocean. This was unintentional, I sort of just hold the key corresponding to the desired destination down until I hit land.

Should the Ionians take this as a casus belli the elders would understand well.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

No Etruscan News.

No World Events.

Athenian News:

Piraeus contains five Ionian units, including a Pentreconter. I assume this is visible to me because Piraeus is within the city limits of Athens, so the map tells me of the unit that is occupying the square. Have checked, and seeing units inside a city works both in Classic and Test of Time (I checked ToT using the Imperialism scenario) so I assume this is a regular game mechanic and that I've been free to use it. However, I thought I should mention it in case this hasn't been noticed before, since it was new to me.

Athenian Spies note this is a good time to attack Piraeus, and the Athenians force march 3 battering rams to make the attack. Loose 2 battering Rams, the last survives at a sliver of health. Amphibious attack by hoplites results in one death on the beach, and one Ionian thracian warrior killed. Athenian thracian warrior defeated also, and another hoplite. The Athenians are impressed at how the mercenary defends Piraeus. Another hoplite dies on the beaches, but Athenians from the land side finally defeat that mercenary hoplite. An Ionian hoplite defeated. Pentreconter defeated. Piraeus liberated and 11 drachema plundered.

 

[McMonkey]

I will have to play my turn tomorrow as I have a day out drinking in Tenby, West Wales planned for today.

Congratulations to Athens on retaking Piraeus. I did not know of that feature but I guess it makes sense.

Regarding the Phoenician's accidental sinking of one of our Transports. These tragic events are bound to happen in the fog from time to time. Certainly not worth going to war over an accident!

 

[Patine]

I will have to play my turn tomorrow as I have a day out drinking in Tenby, West Wales planned for today.

Congratulations to Athens on retaking Piraeus. I did not know of that feature but I guess it makes sense.

Regarding the Phoenician's accidental sinking of one of our Transports. These tragic events are bound to happen in the fog from time to time. Certainly not worth going to war over an accident!

That doesn't look like a city in West Wales!

 

[McMonkey]

CORINTHIANS
Tricca captured and Pherae liberated.

IONIANS
Samos recaptured. Damaged Athenian Hoplite east of Therma wiped out.

Apologies for the delay. Hungover on Sunday and working yesterday. Still committed to this scenario!

@Patine
The sea is very clear in that part of West Wales and on occasion it has been know to be sunny!

 

[Northerner]

I'm torn. I actually feel like a real life villain for keeping the war up. All McMonkey did was play to the best of his abilities!

I had forgotten how deeply under the skin playing against real humans go. I have rummaged and rummaged, but I can't reach a conclusion.

Now, you're a grown man McMonkey, and I hope you don't take my aggressiveness personally. I just tried to do the rational thing from my civilizations perspective!

...

Some city in the Peloponnese retaken. Can't remember the name.

No activity in the east.

 

[McMonkey]

You are a villain Northerner, but then you are playing as the Spartans so I would expect no less

We'll have to see how this war plays out. I'm glad we're moving again. There may be some flaws in the design but it's still a fun scenario to play. Also, this game will give me plenty of ideas for the updated and expanded Test of Time version.

Professor Garfield, are you still with us?

 

[Patine]

You are a villain Northerner, but then you are playing as the Spartans so I would expect no less

We'll have to see how this war plays out. I'm glad we're moving again. There may be some flaws in the design but it's still a fun scenario to play. Also, this game will give me plenty of ideas for the updated and expanded Test of Time version.

Professor Garfield, are you still with us?

Hopefully, he hasn't joined his minion "Nermal" in touring Abu Dhabi.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

I'm here. Got distracted when the game was first posted, then I had other commitments over the long weekend...

No News from the Etruscans.

No World Events.

Athenian troops begin a siege to retake Sunium.

 

[McMonkey]

CORINTHIANS
No news

IONIANS
Etruscan transport sunk off the coast of Sardinia.

Ionian capital moved to Therma in Thrace.

 

[Northerner]

I may have to defer playing until thursday, or even friday. I have a murderous load of teaching responsibility, in addition to my studies. Luckily for me, the teaching part is coming to an end next week!

Even so, I'll definitely play friday!

McMonkey, I have much thought about your idea of having additional independent trade destinations. Egypt, or others. I love the idea. A facet that could be interesting would be to give them a bunch of trade squares, and then have random events remove them and later add them again. In the case of, say, Egypt, this would mean bad harvests decreasing prices, or whatever. This would make trade more periodic, which might be fun.

Carthage could see the same, in randonly going from top trade destinnation to empty markets.

 

[McMonkey]

That is a good idea. I was really happy with the map but realise it cut off important areas such as Egypt, the Levant, the Black Sea, Southern Gaul, Iberia. Adding these as a trade destination makes sense but varying the trade output would make things more interesting.

 

[McMonkey]

Northerner up next

 

[Northerner]

Ganging up on the Corinthian League was fun and all, but it felt awfully hollow. I take it that with the loss of both capitals, the League can no longer receive Strategoses. I don't remember how many the League fielded in total, but i do remember it has already lost one at least.

But I'm perfectly happy to play on if McMonkey is all right with it.

...

The siege of Mycenae almost claims a Spartan Strategos!

Spartans should take up cyclopean masonry.

All quiet in the western mediterranean.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

Etruscans begin the Siege of Naxos.

A New Strategos has risen to lead the Spartans to victory.

Athenians liberate Sunium, after enemy forces abandon the city. Athenians also capture the undefended island of Delos.

 

[McMonkey]

I'm up for reviving this scenario. Couldn't face it yesterday as I had a banging headache and it's going to require a bit of concentration to assess my current situation and make plans. I'll try and post the turn at some point this morning. Glad we're going again as I really enjoy this scenario. It will also assist me with a 'secret' project I'm involved with

 

[McMonkey]

Having taken a look at the situation I would like to try again to come to a peace deal that suits all parties. I put forward a proposal before that was unsatisfactory to one or both opposition factions. Instead of me putting forward my concessions I would like to invite you guys to outline the terms you would find acceptable. I acknowledge that the rapid territorial expansion of the Corinth-Ionian League was a major factor in provoking this war. However, I did not make any aggressive moves against your territory or threaten your cities with my troops, so I'm not offering an unconditional surrender as the protagonist. I'm just weary of the slaughter of our brave young men and my people learn to return to peaceful trade, development, and the pursuit of the arts. What are your thoughts after this long hiatus?

 

[Northerner]

The gerousia agrees that peace might be a wise course.

Sparta will refrain from all hostile actions for the next five years, as envoys travel, meetings take place, gifts are gifted, old grievances are settled.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

The Athenians and Etruscans agree to a five year cease-fire during which negotiations will take place.

 

[McMonkey]

Great news. I will play my turn now. We can continue negotiations as we go along. Any ideas about the settlement? The Corinthians would like to get Corinth back as part of any permanent settlement but are willing to negotiate territorial exchanges to balance the power dynamic between the Meditteranean powers.