On the New Parthian Expansion (modeling Parthian tactics with AJE engine)

[hannibal_barca]

Does the new Parthian Expansion implement any new mechanics to simulate the unique form of Parthian combat/doctrine (Calvary archers hit and run)? It seems like the base engine of AJE may not be able to accurately simulate Calvary heavy tactics apart from giving arbitrary bonuses. Am I wrong? I would like to purchase the new expansion but I am worried that I may not like the outcome of the battles. I recently re-read Plutarch's Crassus life.

Thank you

[Erik Springelkamp]

Does the new Parthian Expansion implement any new mechanics to simulate the unique form of Parthian combat/doctrine (Calvary archers hit and run)? It seems like the base engine of AJE may not be able to accurately simulate Calvary heavy tactics apart from giving arbitrary bonuses. Am I wrong? I would like to purchase the new expansion but I am worried that I may not like the outcome of the battles. I recently re-read Plutarch's Crassus life.

Thank you

I played the Crassus scenario several times against the AI, and his armies were destroyed by the Parthians, so that was historical.

In battles the Parthians fight a number of rounds at long distance, doing a lot of missile damage, and when the ranges gets down to melee, they are able to retreat when their force is inferior.

But if they want to win the field with a large army, they have heavy cavalry with a very heavy punch.

Their armies are also very fast, so they can strike from a large distance at an inconvenient moment.

Their siege is slow however, but defending in sieges they bring in sneaky supply trains through the besieging troops.
I wonder if the latter is really as designed, because I have seen that even cavalry on attack stance doesn't prevent it.

[Philippe]

I haven't gotten around to playing this one out yet, but the two salient features of that particular campaign that stick in my mind were that the Parthians were significantly outnumbered,and that in order to compensate for this they brought along camels with extra bags of arrows so that their archers could keep shooting even after they ran out of ammunition. Extra ammunition camels were apparently not the norm for the Parthians, and in default of any ancient passages to the contrary should only apply to one particular general's army.