The Great Mithriadic War - Pontus

[nemethand]

I have just checked that scenario.

Am I assuming correctly that Pontus basically, on the very first turn, should use the option 'Pontus declares war' in order to join the game?

Any considerations why it rather NOT?

[koningtiger]

I have not tried it, but could be more usefull wait until Sertorio develops a bit the war in Hispania. Not sure.

[Sir Garnet]

What is the effect of disabling foreign entry in the scenario? Armenians don't possibly join Pontus? Anything else?

[Bohémond]

Foreign intervention is not ''used'' in AJE.

Armenians will join Pontus if Romans become too numerous in Armenia Border or if Romans wonn too fast but Pontic player/AI must have taken the option to escape to Armenia.

For Pontus declares war option, there are two differents costs (EP, NM) depending if Bythinia has already been inherited by Rome or not. It's your choice to declare war with or without Casus Belli.

Regards

[Bertram]

It is a choice to declare war or not.... If you declare at once, the heritage event (in which rome gets most of what is now west Turkey) won't have happened yet. The declaration will cost you 100 VP and 5 NM (above the 5 EP). If you wait till after the heritage event (up to two years?) it will cost you only 5 EP. Advantage of waiting is that (hopefully) Sertorius and Rome are fighting each other (NM of Rome was down to 65 NM in my game - makes it easier to fight them!), and while waiting you can incite all kind of tribes against Rome (for a price). If Sertorius feels like it, you can even form an alliance with him (the option will appear in the ledger after about a year). On the other hand you loose some time, need to pay those armies anyway, and if you are unlucky Rome might have won against Sertorius, leaving you facing their might all alone....
One of the good choices, advantages and down sides both ways...

[Laruku]

Sertorius is an unleashed beast! Look at his stats! Pompeius has nothing compare to him.

[ferrenava]

That, that, that Sertorius Rome and kill each other and then the Ponto comes and eats them both, hahaha

[Metatron]

Roman IA can be strange in that scenario. The first time I waited for bythia inheretance and rome was massing its armys in front of pontus, dealing with pirates in cilicia. Then as I declared war the roman legions just crushed me (lost 50k men in two months for a few thousand romans). On the another side of the map sertorius IA was besieging massalia after kicking rome out of hispania... I tried another game and that time Sertorius and rome went into a big clonflict leaving me with time to prepare a lauch at asia.

So declaring war sooner against IA, depends if rome IA goes for Sertorius IA or not, against player rome and sertorius I would not wait, because rome can beat up sertorius pretty bad if pontus stays inactive for about 6-8 turns (or more can't remember) leaving you with more roman legions coming your way.

[Pocus]

The AI has a strong generic component, and then some guidance from scripts, that are themselves randomized... So variability indeed!

[dpt24]

I would say in a multi-player game you would want Pontus to go to war instantly. Because otherwise I'd be very fearful as Setorious that facing the whole of Rome I'd be destroyed. If Pontus doesn't go to war for awhile then I feel like Setorious, as strong as he is, will get wiped from the face of the earth. Once that happens, Rome will be able to turn most of their force on Pontus. So I would hope that Pontus declares war instantly if I'm playing at Setorious, and if I'm playing as Rome I'd hope they hold off.

[nemethand]

Thanks for your explanations and insights, everyone.

[Sir Garnet]

It was my expectation that Pontus would simply encroach, Mithridates being a very encroaching type of fellow.

Pompey equals Sertorius in offense skill though not in defense. Strategically, the lightly defended Iberian capital is exposed to the small Roman coastal strip in the north so rescuing it has to be a priority rather than poking at the sprawling Roman red stain across the otherwise pleasant light blue of southern Hispania. So far, so good, Pompey and his Italians being knocked about and soon on their way out of the peninsula if he knows what's best for Rome.

What's the story with the Iberians in the north? Future ally? Possible enemy?

[Soulstrider]

It was my expectation that Pontus would simply encroach, Mithridates being a very encroaching type of fellow.

Pompey equals Sertorius in offense skill though not in defense. Strategically, the lightly defended Iberian capital is exposed to the small Roman coastal strip in the north so rescuing it has to be a priority rather than poking at the sprawling Roman red stain across the otherwise pleasant light blue of southern Hispania. So far, so good, Pompey and his Italians being knocked about and soon on their way out of the peninsula if he knows what's best for Rome.

What's the story with the Iberians in the north? Future ally? Possible enemy?

In my Sertorious campaign they pretty much just sit there all game, dunno if there is a random chance of them coming down and causing problems to the Sertorians.