The Shadows Devour You.
Nope. Which still turns them from being elite troops to elite cannon fodder. 
"You know, thats not very nice." Bomilkar
Aderbal of age. He's one of Bomilkars brood. Not much of a commander, he's sent to govern Adrumeto. Bomilkar rests in Ippone with his army.
"Well... that was an interesting few year!" Bomilkar
"Uncle, message from Mago. He wants you back in the capital pronto." Gisgo
"And I was just getting comfortable... probably wants me to lead that blasted siege. In fact... Gisgo, you've got a record for being a good defender... here's what we'll do..." Bomilkar
Construction Orders
Simple Drainage in Karali and Lepki to get their flagging populations up.
"I'm going to make sure every town has simple drainage. Getting the money for the mines took its toll on us, its time to get back on our feet." Mago
That was... nice of you, Mago!
"He's not completely heartless!" Roxanne
270 BC (Summer)
THIS YEAR IN HISTORY!
"I'm sharpening my knife!" Bomilkar
Alexandros of Epeiros and Mitylos of the Illyrioi go to war with each other... is there anyone the Epirotes didn't fight? Slave revolt on Chios, which will go on for ten years. While I know who I'll be rooting for... who I'd bet on is another matter. Astronomy school founded. Poor still starving and hungry, but at least the rich have a clear view of the stars now! Right?
Romans finally take Rhegium from a treacherous commander, though the commander has to go blind for them to do so, which isn't the greatest commentary on Roman warfare prowess.
Now, back to the current timeline...
Pirates attack Lilibeos port!
"Whose idea was it to disband the navy?!" Mago
"Yours, actually." Roxanne
Well I do actually have the naval power left to take down the pirates, they're just... on the other side of the sea right now. Admiral Thero, acting on his own, does manage to sink one of the frakkers.
"Serves those dirty pirates right!" Mago
"Maybe if you hadn't taxed the poor up to the hilt with that 'breathing tax' we wouldn't be having pirate problems!" Hanno
A general boards his ships with his army, heading for Carthage.
"Isn't Mago going to be really cross when he finds out about this?" Gisgo
"We'll be fine!" Bomilkar
AD 270 (Autumn)
Mines at Mastia complete! Carthaginians now most advanced faction.
"Our faction has no ture rivals! We are the most advanced of all peoples to walk the land and sail the seas!"
Even more advanced than those space-faring Egyptians back in the days of the Pyramids?
"The Romans pinched that title off us a few years ago. I'm onto you guys! You won't have the last laugh!" Mago
Nothing like petty national contests to keep the two empires away from each others necks. Much like Have I Got News For You, the points mean nothing.
Construction Orders.
Simple Drainage in Adrumento, Atiqa, Lilibeo and Alalia.
"Remember to put up signs telling people not to roll marbles along the drains. Its unhygenic." Mago
But now for Spain. I somehow managed to forget to mention that Hasdrubal had been besieging the city of Baikor, home of the Carpetani tribe for four seasons... well he has been.
"You mean I've been stuck in the middle of Spain for a freaking year, and you FORGOT TO MENTION THAT SMALL DETAIL?!!" Hasdrubal
"Mistakes were made, campaigns were forgotten... it happens!" Mago
Er... uhh... LOOK OUT! THE CARPETANI ARE SALLYING!
"I'm not falling for that one." Hasdrubal
"No, seriously boss, they are sallying." Izqul
"Ah... damn it! This isn't over Hannibal!" Hasdrubal
Whats he going to do, sail back to Carthage and smash the display? I can still talk to him you know.
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Three battles, and now you're probably getting an idea of why I didn't manage to update yesterday.
Hasdrubal watches as the garrison of Baikor scrambles to leave the city.
"Damn it, do we have enough infantry... no time to worry about that now, get our soldiers around that gate!" Hasdrubal
Objectives: Once again, Hasdrubals forces are considerably weaker than the enemies, and he is deficient in infantry. Nonetheless, stop the sally or break the resistance of the Carpetani factions... may or may not involve magical carpets... or fish.
Parameters: 70% of the Carthaginian army must survive to ensure the safety of the colonies. Hasdrubal must also survive, or they will be left leaderless.
- Carthaginian Forces: 305 men
- Carpetani Forces: 270 men
- Ratio: 6:7 against Carthage.
Hasdrubals Army (3 stars, -2 Morale)
- Hasdrubals Bodyguard: 12 men, 2 EXP
- 1st Iberian Light Infantry: 38 men, 1 EXP
- 1st Iberian Light Spearband: 54 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Iberian Light Spearband: 52 men, 1 EXP
- 3rd Libyan Light Spearband: 30 men.
- 9th Poeni Militia: 25 men.
- 1st Iberian Light Cavalry, 25 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Iberian Light Cavalry, 25 men, 1 EXP
- 3rd Iberian Light Cavalry, 25 men, 1 EXP
- 4th Iberian Light Cavalry, 19 men, 1 EXP
Eburankus' garrison (4 stars)
- Eburankus' Iberian Medium Cavalry, 32 men, 1 EXP, +1 Attack
- 1st Iberian Medium Spearband, 20 men, 1 EXP, +1 Attack
- 2nd Iberian Medium Spearband, 39 men, 1 EXP, +1 Attack
- 1st Lusotannan Light Spearband, 48 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Lusotannan Light Spearband, 47 men, 1 EXP
- 1st Iberian Light Infantry, 48 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Iberian Light Infantry, 45 men, 1 EXP
End of Pre-battle Analysis.
edited 12th Jul '10 7:07:45 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
I'm Only Sleeping
You have the defensive advantage.
"Wait, it's IV. Of course they are. They'd make IV for Dreamcast." - Enlong, on yet another FFIV remake
The Shadows Devour You.
Phase 1: Struggle At The Gate
Hasdrubals men charge forward to surround the gate, once again ordering their troops from strongest at the blade of the Crescent to weakest at the points, as at the same time the Carpetani surge from the gates. The first unit out of the gates are the 20 men of 1st Lusotannan. The Cavalry get into position and shower them with javelins, killing three as they emerge. As 39 light spearmen emerge behind them, Hasdrubal repeats his brothers daredevil charge at Messana... but it has little effect, the spears just shrugging the charge off. The javelins kill three more of the 1sts spearmen before turning their attention to the light spearband as the 13 spearmen recklessly bull straight into the Libyan spearmen and 1st Iberian Spearband even as they still ready their formations.
"Have the Carpetani gone crazy?" 1st Iberian Spear Sargeant
"That or they're damn sure they're going to win..." Libyan Sargeant
The 2nd now also recieves a charge from the light spearmen, who haven't been nearly as hurt by the javelins.
"There's still more of us than there are of these ones! Bring it!" 2nd Iberian Spear Sargeant
"Break that crescent!" Carpetani Light Spear Sargeant
"Now! Close the trap!" Hasdrubal
The bodyguards, militia and 1st infantry now all swarm around the attacking Carpetani, completely enveloping the struggling units. The Carpetani are reinforced however, as a unit of medium spearmen emerge to harass the 1st infantry and militia, even as more light spearmen pour from the gate as the heavy medium spears easily shrug off an attack by the 4th cavalry who only manage to get three of their men killed off in an ineffectual charge. The Libyans respond
"Get round there and help the militia!" Libyan Sargeant
The Libyans manage to get most of their unit round to help the militia, hemming in the enemy again and forming an incomplete figure of eight around the two enemy forces. It looks like things are going to go Hasdrubals way, but now a great cheer goes up from the Carpetani!
"The enemy commander!" Izqul
"Eburanko..." Hasdrubal
Phase 2: Cavalry Battle.
As the infantry hack and thrust their way through the stubborn and utterly relentless Carpetani infantry, Hasdrubal leads the entire cavalry force against Eburanko
"You should've stayed inside the walls!" Hasdrubal
The Carthaginian cavalry envelop Eburanko and his guard, but he still succeeds in mauling the 4th Cavalry.
"We're struggling here!" 4th Cavalry Sargeant
"Come in at them from the sides and rear!" 2nd Cavalry Sargeant
"How many of you are there?" Eburanko
"Enough..." Hasdrubal
A horrific melee breaks out as casualties on both sides soar. With just 30% of the Carpetani army still standing, the Carthaginians approach 25% casualties. Despite killing his entire bodyguard, Eburanko manages to break out and run for the walls.
"Damn you, come back!" Hasdrubal
"See you late-" Eburankus
Eburankus stumbles into the melee at the gate. An Iberian spear unhorses him and he is struck down in front of his entire army.
"Surrender or share their fates!" 2nd Iberian Sargeant
But the Carthaginians are weakening too. The militia have been all but annihilated and the Iberian infantry are struggling. Hasdrubal realises that if he is going to avoid prohibitive casualty rates he is going to have to do something drastic.
"Get everyone ready for a charge! We have to break those infantry!" Hasdrubal
The cavalry pour into the melee with Hasdrubal at their head. For a second, it looks like the Carpetani will be broken and will have to lay down their arms.
But they don't. In a sudden upsurge in the slaughter, the Carthaginian casualty rate breaches 30%... and climbs...
The cavalry are beaten off with heavy casualties... and now the infantry are left to finish a bitter battle as the Carpetani refuse to surrender. Hasdrubal looks on horrified as screams ring out across the field, Carpetani and Carthaginian warriors falling in droves. Still the Carpetani fight on...
Eventually, a raging fight turns into a pitiful bloodbath as the Carpetani not only fail to break, but fight to the last man in defiance. By the end of it, only civilians remain, and, including the casualties of the battle at Gaders, half of the army Hasdrubal set out with lies dead on one field or another.
As the day ends, healers on both sides rush over to try to heal the dead of both sides, Carpetani and Carthaginian doctors working in tandem to try and find someone to save in the piles of dead soldiers in what will go down in history as one of the bloodiest battles of the Iberian peninsula.
"Come on sir... we'd better sort things out in town... the militia are in a bad way, as are the infantry..." Izqul
Aftermath
- Carthaginian Casualties: 109 (40%. Parameters failed.)
- Carpetani Casualties: Wiped Out.
Breakdown
Hasdrubals Bodyguard
- 14 kills
- 5 lost, 7/12 men remain.
1st Iberian Light Infantry
- 45 kills
- 34 lost, 8 healed, 12/38 men remain
1st Iberian Light Spearband
- 42 kills
- 22 lost, 4 healed, 36/52 men remain
2nd Iberian Light Spearband
- 49 kills
- 10 lost, 42/52 men remain
3rd Libyan Spearband
- 41 kills
- 8 lost, 22/30 men remain
9th Poeni Militia
- 20 kills
- 20 lost, 3 healed, 8/25 men remain
1st Iberian Light Cavalry:
- 14 kills
- 7 lost, 18/25 men remain
2nd Iberian Light Cavalry
- 14 kills
- 3 lost, 22/25 men remain
3rd Iberian Light Cavalry
- 14 kills
- 6 lost, 19/25 men remain
4th Iberian Light Cavalry
- 12 kills
- 13 lost, 4 healed, 10/19 men remain
Baikor Occupied!
Tacticians Notes
This was going to be a tough fight from the start, but the charge was stupid. By throwing my cavalry into a charge, I was hoping to finally break the Carpetani which would make mopping up much easier or possibly even provoke a full rout. But I underestimated the resolve of the enemy infantry. How the hell do you get surrounded guys to fight that hard when their commanders just been slaughtered in front of their eyes?
This battle is a good example of my lack of experience playing Europa Barbarorum. I made a stupid mistake and it cost me my objective. That said, it looked like it was going to be failed anyway, so the charge was a saving throw. It failed...
edited 12th Jul '10 9:27:45 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Blue Brain Cell
Ninja'd. Bad luck for you there buddy...
Maybe it's just a bad day all round for TW livebloggers?
edited 12th Jul '10 9:33:00 AM by IniquitusV2
Rome: Total War Liveblog. Read it or die.
The Shadows Devour You.
(I also forgot to mention that Hamalcar has been besieging Syracusae for the past year, and it will fall in another. Did I just skip over an area of my notes or something?!)
"Commander, message arrived. Its from Mago." Bodyguard
"Hasdrubal. All went well I assume?" Mago
"...We captured the town." Hasdrubal
"Parameters?" Mago
(Silence)
"Failed?" Mago
"Grossly exceeded. Over half our army is dead on the field. Morale is at breaking point. On top of that, unrest here means those of us who have survived are not going to be leaving Baikor any time soon." Hasdrubal
"I see... its alright, we can recover from this. We're allied with the Lusotannans, who are the major power here, so the rest of the smaller tribes should keep off your back. I'll makes sure finances for a militia barracks in Mastia are provided so you can replenish your losses. I will have to report your progress to the Senate of course... you did the best you could, Hasdrubal. Don't kill yourself over it. Standby for further orders or instructions to return to Carthage." Mago
"Understood. Is that all?" Hasdrubal
"For now, yes. I'll talk to you later Hasdrubal." Mago
AD 270 (Winter)
It gets worse for the clan as their matriarch, Actaee, dies well into her late 60's.
Hey, I work with what I'm given.
Ceasefire between the Greek city states and Seleukia on the grounds that they're nowhere near each other.
"Doesn't look like Alexanders old empire is going to make a resurgence. The new factions are settling down to become nations. Thank the Gods for small mercies..." Mago
Well that would be the case if it weren't for the fact that the Ptolemaioi have made several gains at the expense of the Seleukids.
"At least we're friends with them. Speaking of which, shouldn't we help them?" Bomilkar
I'll bring up our alliances at the next senate meeting.
Construction Orders.
Hasdrubal sets about establishing an interim government in Baikor, while a militia native barracks and magazine is established at Mastia
"The magazine isn't explosive is it?" Carthalo
...
Its the 2nd century BC! There isn't anything to blow up! You have to put a real effort in just to get a decent sized fire!
"I don't know, drop a torch in the poorer areas of Carthage and..." Mago
...
Thats horrible. Even by your standard.
"I wasn't advocating actually doing it!" Mago
More hilarity for the Carthaginians as pirates blockade their port.
"What? Oh so they did, the bastards." Mago
They WILL pay for that. End of turn
269BC (Spring)
Romans pull ahead on tech again.
"DAMN THEM! BURN THEIR TOWNS, BUTCHER THEIR POPULATIONS! MAKE FUN OF THEIR ANCESTORS NAMES! ROMA DELENDA EST!" Mago
Calm down, calm down. They're still our allies, sheesh. You'd think they'd burned a puppy or something... oh yeah, that happened a week ago, didn't it?
"It was an ACCIDENT, damn it! We didn't know that naptha thrower was loaded!" Roman Faction Leader
The barking didn't clue you in? Himilco of age, who takes after his old man, Bomilkar.
(sniff) "So proud..." Bomilkar
"Bomilkar, are you crying?" Hasdrubal
"Uhh... no, no no!" (Puts on gruff, cynical exterior again) "I... just had something in my eye... also I have a cold..." Bomilkar
And its only now that Mago (and myself) realise that its Gisgo who has been sent back to Carthage, not Bomilkar.
"Bomilkar, you lazy bastard!" Mago
"Come on, give the boy a chance!" Bomilkar
"What chance? What are you talking about?" Gisgo
Gisgo, who has recently been a bit depressed, isn't amused with Mago's attempts to cheer him up.
"Don't worry my boy, its only a death march for a year through a desert with indisciplined, resentful troops followed by a year-long siege! Nothing to worry about!" Mago
"Mago, Bomilkar, I hate you both so much right now!" Gisgo
Yes, Bomilkar is still in Ippone. RAGE!!!
Hasdrubal finishes pacifying Baikor, which at least keeps any insurgents from adding to the death toll. Pirates sunk off coast. (YAY!) Navy needs refitting now. Now how to tell Mago about the cost.
"How... How m...?!!!" Mago
3000 mnai. Once you get it of course.
"WHY DO SMALL, SCOUTING BOATS COST SO MUCH DAMN MONEY?!!!" Mago
Probably something to do with being an organic structure that is constantly damp, and which requires a crew that need feeding and paying in circumstances where it is extremely incovenient to do either. As they say, a boat is a hole in the water down which mnai goes.
Gisgo expands his retinue to include two priests of Baal, one a fertility priest with an expert knowledge of farming matters. He now provides an extra +1 law and +1 farming output, making him a solid choice in settlements with unrest and low growth rates.
As Gisgo rages over being saddled with the campaign nobody wants, Bomilkar heads cheerfully home.
Construction Orders.
Simple Drainage in Bocchoris, Ippone and Baikor.
9th Poeni sent home to disband and 3rd Libyan sent to Gader for retraining. 4th Libyan leaves to rejoin Hasdrubals army. The Iberian armies are starting to recover from their mauling.
end turn.
269 BC (Summer)
ITS THAT TIME AGAIN!
"YEEAAAARRGH!!!" Gisgo
"Make the noise stop..." Carthalo
Never! THIS YEAR IN HISTORY!
Kallios of Sphettos saves Athens from grain famine, probably in order to screw them or someone else over later. Ptolemaioi offers support to Byzantium in the form of weapons, money lands and chicks food. The city grants its highest honours to him and commemorates a temple in his honour. Ptolemaioi also complete the city of Antiocheia after 30 years of construction (Custom made cities? The successor states were awesome! Pimp my city anyone?) Canal also established to Red Sea by nile. Hopefully this won't drain all the water out of either water source and end up flooding the other one.
"It doesn't work that way!" Mago
Hiero of Syrakousai harrasses Mamertines (Messanans) and takes several cities, the Mamertines only standing due to Carthaginian encouragements. (pictures the entire Carthaginian senate standing on the border yelling encouragements and booing the Syracusans.)
Ooooh, how the tables have been turned. After a year and a bit of siege, the Syracusans are getting desperate. At this rate, thanks to the attrition effect sieges have on garrisons, there won't be many of Hieros men left when they sally in 3 turns! (Which is, of course, the point.)
A Carthaginian named Hannibal (Not that one... or that one) persuades the Mamertines to hold out. Rome, meanwhile, suffersa severe winter, but this doesn't stop them from minting their own silver coins for the first time and getting involved in several scraps with the Caraceni and Picentes. A samnite bandit named Lollies is defeated when his men can't take his name seriously.
(Yes, made the last part of that sentence up.)
Gisgo starts his march into the desert after reaching the coast of Tunisia. Iberian Spearbands dispatched to Mastia to retrain in the new barracks there. Navy refitted, much to Magos chagrin.
"Can't the army just swim or something?!" Mago
269 BC (Autumn
Hanno is getting bored in Lepki, apparently.
"Fine, he can lead the army." Gisgo
"Are you kidding? He's one of our best managers!" Mago
"He's also one of our best commanders. Fine, he can take over." Gisgo
Gisgo swaps out for the energetic Hanno, who quickly makes the march to the border. Native Militia Barracks complete, so we can train Iberian Spearbands now.
"Excellent. Iberian Spearbands are low cost, yet very reliable spearmen They're not in the same league as the Libyans, but will give a good account against most infantry. One of my favourite units." Hasdrubal
Character Update! Mago has been improving himself... mostly in positive ways. His days as an awkward leader are behind him, and he is now extremely quick of tongue, being fond of ribald rhymes and a fluent speaker. He can outmaneuver even veteran senators in the senate chambers, carrying an influence of six along with his equally high management.
... of course there's also that affair he's been having... whats this on your unit card? Casual adulterer?
"Husband, a word?" Roxanne
"Come on, they were twins! Hot, Libyan twins! Working in a library! How could I not fall madly in love?!" Mago
I believe the word you were looking for was lust there Mago. Bomilkar and Hasdrubal are feeling gloomy and Gisgo is downright depressed after the siege... hasn't he found any anchovies to cheer him up yet?
"NO NO NO!!! THEY'RE ALL WRONG! YOU DON'T SERVE THEM LIKE THAT! They have to be in this delicious, balsamic marine! You do not. dry. ANCHOVIES!!!" Gisgo
Ahem... proving you can be a large ham over anything... moving on.
4th Libyan arrives in Baikor.
"You the next to die?" Hasdrubal
"Oh come on commander, cheer up." 4th Libyan Sargeant
269 BC (Winter)
Mago starts having trouble getting into a deep sleep. Admittedly his light sleeping habits are handy if an assassin should get any ideas.
"Who would want to kill me?" Mago
Lets see... there's the Epirotes, the Romans, the Arverni, the Seleukids... I guess the Lusotannans... and the occasional disgruntled nutcase from Carthage... oh, and then there's your fellow senators.
"... I'm doubling my bodyguard!" Mago
You're the leader of a faction mate, get used to it. Mines in Gader complete! Money pouring into the treasury now. Mines in Baikor started.
"How could we need even MORE money?" Bomilkar
"More money we have, more troops we can support, and before that, the faster we can get things built in settlements without having to wait for our balance to go back to a positive number. I'll be honest: I want every penny I can get." Mago
Strategicians Note.
My love of having about twice the amount of moolah that I need hasn't changed as you can see. If I can get something done with half an army, then I won't bother raising a full army. I'll just wait the extra turns to let the settlement fall.
Kinda different from my Medieval strategy of dagger tactics? Rome works differently. Heavily garrisoned settlements are bastards to take and unlike Medieval, the enemy can actually hide their full army in them. I don't make direct assaults unless I have to, I prefer to slowly conquer the world with one army rather than spend four armies conquering it quickly. This usually leaves me with a few high tech armies and a treasury full of loot, after which I can buy and take whatever the hell I like, regardless of what the other factions have been up to.
That said if I see a place with just a few defenders I've no qualms with storming it. I just hate unnecessary meatgrinders.
Simple drainage also started in Gader. Iberian Spearbands retraining in Mastia as the 3rd Libyans, now retrained, head for Baikor.
Hannos energetic nature halves the time taken getting to Garama, and its only a turn away now. More pirates mimic the titanic.
"BURN, MAIM, KILL! BLOOD FOR THE BAAL GOD, SKULLS FOR THE SHOPHETS THRONE!" Mago
...do Shophets get a throne?
"Well, we do get fancy seats..." Mago
And now its time for the end game as Hieros pitiful remnant sallies from Syracuse, his forces now little more than a starving rabble after 2 years of siege and unrest. Hamalcar, watching the enemy emerge, smiles.
"This is an execution, not a battle. Hiero knows this as well as I do..." Hamalcar
edited 12th Jul '10 11:58:48 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Objectives: The enemy forces left in Syracuse are pitifully weak. Hiero is on his last legs. Finish this menace off for good and avenge the Sacred Band for their defeat in 341 BC!
Parameters: Considering the weakness of the foe and the nature of their position, the Senate will not consider this an acceptable result unless 90% of the Carthaginian army survive the battle. Hamalcar must, naturally, survive the fight to be honoured as the cities conqueror!
- Carthaginian Forces: 419 men
- Syracusan Forces: 163 men.
- 5:2 ratio
Hamalcars forces (0 stars, -3 morale)
- Hamalcars Bodyguard, 20 men, 1 EXP
- 3rd Iberian Light Infantry, 30 men.
- 4th Iberian Light Infantry, 50 men.
- 5th Iberian Light Infantry, 51 men.
- 1st Libyan Spearband, 36 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Libyan Spearband, 40 men, 1 EXP
- 5th Libyan Spearband, 34 men, 1 EXP
- 3rd Iberian Light Spearband, 57 men, 2 EXP
- 4th Iberian Light Spearband, 60 men
- 1st Liby-Phoenician Spearband, 57 men, 1 EXP
Hieros Garrison (6 stars, The Computer Is a Cheating Bastard)
- Hieros Tarantine Elite Cavalry, 26 men, 1 EXP
- Hippokontistai, 11 men, 2 EXP
- 1st Syracusan Spearband, 16 men, 2 EXP
- 2nd Syracusan Spearband, 16 men, 2 EXP
- Hellenic Spearband, 18 men, 1 EXP
- Hellenic Heavy Skirmirshers, 16 men, 1 EXP
- 1st Akontistai, 24 men, 1 EXP
- 2nd Akontistai, 24 men, 1 EXP
- Toxotai, 12 men, 1 EXP
End of Pre-battle Analysis.
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
The first thing Hamalcar does upon realising that Hiero is sallying out is to pull his men away from the walls and up the steep hill rising away from Syracuse.
"March away from the walls, up the hill. And whatever you do, don't run and get tired!" Hamalcar
Hiero has no such wisdom, and in a move of stunning incompetence, charges his entire army out in a banzai charge. Unfortunately Hieros cavalry also waste no time. The 1st Syracusan Hoplites are the most enthusiastic, but allow themselves to be separated from the rest of the army, and stupidly assault the backs of the still fresh veteran 3rd Light Spearband, who calmly turn round and countercharge the already tired hoplites even as Hamalcar, who is shepherding the infantry, circles round and smashes the hoplites in the rear.
"What are the idiots doing... Charge!" Hamalcar
Its only a brief melee as the Syracusans are cut to pieces as the 2nd, losing only 3 men, continues almost uninterrupted on its way up the hill. The Hippokontistai try to help but are caught by Hamalcar and also cut down to just two men, before Hamalcar drops back to shadow Hiero, who is climbing round the right flank of the Carthaginian army.
"If they keep doing this, this will be a short fight indeed..." Hamalcar
Now heavy peltasts forget their primary duty and also charge the 3rd, who simply repeat the operation and let Hamalcars guards do their work, annihilating them. They continue up the hill, having destroyed three of the Syracusans outnumbered units while isolated from the rest of the infantry almost effortlessly.
The Hellenes spearmen now try to throw javelins into the backs of the 3rd Light Infantry, who simply turn and reply as Hamalcar charges at their flanks while they reload. Hamalcar hits the javelins but has to pull back at first, but this just lets the 3rd charge in next as the beleaguered spearmen desperately try to keep in formation.
Meanwhile, up the hill, the Liby-Phoenicians and the 4th Light Spearband move to the flank to guard against Hiero and his guard, realising their general is tied up with finishing the Hellenes. Akontistai force the 3rd to break into a run, and they manage to get off a lucky volley which slays six of the spearmen. This enrages Hamalcar.
"By the Gods I serve, I swear that I will personally destroy those skirmirshers!" Hamalcar
Hamalcar moves in and charges to try to annihilate the Hellenes, but they practically fight to the death. Meanwhile, Hiero charges forward at the Carthaginian flanks even as the 2nd Syracusan hoplites engage with 1st Libyan, and the Liby-Phoenicians, moving to counter, get caught up in the mess too, leaving the weaker 4th Iberian Spearband to deal with the problem as the 5th Iberian Infantry go round the rear to quickly deal with the dangerous hoplites.
"Hiero's charging! Get the Liby-Phoenicians over here!" 4th Iberian Spear Sargeant
"We can't, we're fighting with these hoplites!" Liby-Phoenician Sargeant
"Are you telling me you didn't manage to spot a phalanx as you ran?!" 4th Iberian Sargeant
"Well they've kind of shrunk during the siege! Must be all that rain we've been having!" Liby-Phoenician Sargeant
"Then get the infantry round the back of them and deal with this quickly while we go after Hiero!" 4th Iberian Sargeant
2nd Libyan, meanwhile, charges down at the 1st Akontistai, taking the initiative as the 5th moves round to shield the struggling infantry from cavalry even as the 1st surrounds the enemy hoplites. As the 2nd charge, they are joined by Hamalcar and the 3rd Infantry, who blithely disregard the two remaining Hellenes and charge down at the toxotai archers and 2nd Akontistai. The 4th Light Spearband, who have driven Hiero away from his infantry, provoke a desperate charge out of the failing general.
"CHARGE! Destroy them!" Hiero
"Yeah, not like we haven't heard that one before. You're finished, Hiero." 4th Light Spearband
"Leave some for us!" 5th Libyan
The 4th recieves the charge in good order, not losing a man from the initial impact. Only a handful go down to Hiero as they gut his bodyguard, reducing it to under fifteen men in short order as the 5th charge in from behind, finishing the job. Meanwhile 4th Infantry and the 2nd Light Spearband wipe out the two remaining Hellenes with javelins. Hiero breaks and flees as his army dissolves, even the skirmirshers and breaking in the face of Hamalcars wrath, with the exception of the hated 1st Akontistai, who the 2nd Libyans just hunt down later, finishing them off without a casualty.
Leaving Hiero and the two Hippakontistai who survived to rally and make a last stand. It doesn't last long. One of his bodyguard and the two light cavalry fall to javelins from the 1st Libyans and 3rd Spearband. Then the whole army surges after him with Hamalcar at their head. Hamalcar catches up with the hated tyrant and, in a brief melee, annihilates his bodyguard and takes Hiero prisoner.
"Your days are over, tyrant. You're coming to Carthage, and then you're going to be paraded through the streets and executed. Or maybe just sold into slavery, if the senate are in a particularly bad mood..." Hamalcar
"Do your worst, Punic dog." Hiero
End Of Curbstomp Battle.
GC's Tacticians notes
Calling this a battle really is an insult to battles. I didn't even get near 10% losses.
edited 13th Jul '10 9:49:26 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Aftermath
- Carthaginian Losses: 23 men (6%)
- Syracusan Losses: Wiped out to commander.
- Carthaginians Remaining: 395/419 men.
Breakdown
Hamalcars Bodyguard
- 71 kills.
- 6 lost, 2 healed, 16/20 men remain.
- +1EXP!
3rd Iberian Light Infantry
- 20 kills.
- 4 lost, 26/30 men remain
4th Iberian Light Infantry
- 1 kill
- 2 lost, 48/50 men remain
5th Iberian Light Infantry
- 6 kills
- 3 lost, 48/51 men remain
1st Libyan Spearband
- 4 kills
- No Losses
2nd Libyan Spearband
- 15 kills
- No Losses
5th Libyan Spearband
- They apparently didn't kill anything.
3rd Iberian Light Spearband
- 3 kills
- 8 lost, 2 healed, 51/57 men remain
4th Iberian Light Spearband
- 19 kills
- 4 lost, 56/60 men remain
Liby-Phoenician Spearband
- 8 kills
- 1 lost, 40/41 men remain
Syracuse Occupied! 1006 mnai looted.
Senate Objectives Complete! Reporting to council...
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Oh yeah, the awards.
- Khorne Award: Hamalcars Bodyguard.
... thats it. This really was an easy battle.
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Guys I'd get the senate report up but I'm suddenly feeling really tired... I'll do it later on tonight or perhaps early tomorrow. (Yawn...)
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Alright, lets finish the behemoth.
268 BC (Spring)
1st and 2nd Iberian Light Spearbands retrained. Simple drainage in Gader, establishing basic sanitation everywhere.
Provisional military government to be implemented in Syracuse.
But now we go to the Senate, where Mago is calling a meeting...
Senators, lend me your ears!
At long last, the great thorn in our side on Sicilia is no more! No longer will we have to contend with the Syracusans meddling with our plans on that island. The former Sacred Band is now avenged, and all those who have fallen for the Syracusan tyrants greed as well. Now we will focus on more pressing matters. With this pest out of our way, Sicilia is finally ours, and if Baal wills it, there may now be an open path to the rest of the world! On, then, on to one victory after another!
It is therefore with great pleasure that I proclaim Hamalcar Barca conqueror of Syracuse!
I am also pleased to inform the Senate that not only have the Iberian and Numidian menaces been seen off by the brave efforts of generals Hasdrubal and Bomilkar, but the town of Baikor has fallen and the Turdetani and Carpetani fortunes have been laid low forever. We now hold a third of Iberia! Another quarter lies in the hands of our allies, the Lusotannans, meaning our influence now lies over half of that great peninsula. But this is not all! Even as I speak Hanno leads our brave citizens onwards to do something unprecedented! He intends to besiege and take Garama, pushing further into the lands those opposed to expansions into overseas posts were so determined to take. Never again may the anti-Barcids complain that we do not have eyes on the interior! I say, why choose, when we are strong enough to expand everywhere we desire! Never have our people been more vigorous, never have we had more friends, never, senators, has our influence over the known world been greater!
Never have we been wealthier either. Every season 8500 mnai flows into the treasury when just four years ago we struggled to bring in 1000 on crippling tax rates. The financial crisis hasn't been sorted, its been banished! Our taxes in the colonies have been abolished except in area where the population is growing too quickly.
Progress has been made on our social problems in the colonies. In every town basic sanitation has been implemented, even in our new colonies, and our robust finances mean that we can potentially finance a wave of reforms and turn our cities into paradises that make other states near us turn green with envy! Not a town has a less than a 1% growth rate, and a few have a healthy 2% growth rate! This is an improvement of 1-1.5% population growth since 272BC!
But now we must be on our guard, senators. Here, you noble men may review the progress our empire has made, and listen to proposals to better ourselves from across the empire!
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
Senate Issues.
Military.
Reviews.
Here you can let me know how I'm getting on generally and on specific fronts. Any advice, criticism or even outright snarking would be appreciated!
- Review of Hamalcars campaign on Sicily.
- The battle of Messana.
- The battle of Syracuse.
- Overall competence of the campaign and what could've been done better.
- Review of Hasdrubals Spanish Expedition.
- The Battle of Gaders.
- The Battle of Baikor.
- Overall competence of the campaign and what could've been done better.
- Review of Bomilkar and Gisgos actions in defence of Ippone.
- Speed of Response
- The Battle of Ippone
- Overall competence of the campaign and what could've been done better.
- Overall review of the military and its actions in the last four years.
Policies.
Where new proposals can be put forward. If more than one expansion option is chosen I will prioritise and go for as many as are physically affordable, and will press them until victory is achieved or defeat apparent.
Bear in mind our current forces.
- Hasdrubals 1/2 army in Spain. Under retraining. Will be ready for action in 2 seasons.
- Bomilkars Militia. Currently on campaign. Suitable for defeating cavalry armies or lightly defended settlements.
- Hamalcars Sicilian 1/2 army. Most formidable force. Can move out as soon as order is restored to Syracuse and any ships needed to transport them arrive.
- Military Weakness and upgrades.
Our military is now rather stretched, and improving it would yield positive results. We have a few options on what to do about this. We can focus on recruiting from the colonies, which will provide troops immediately where they are needed, we can concentrate on improving the barracks at Carthage and recruit our elite troops, or we can decide that our military is adequate for our goals. Bear in mind that taking on other factions is a far harder task than reducing independent rebels.
- 1) Actively expand our barracks and local garrisons in the provinces (Spain, Africas Interior and Sicily.
- 2) Actively expand our ability to create elite forces in Carthage and focus on recruitment there. (Navy may need improving.)
- 3) The military is good enough for now. We're expanding fine, we don't need even more forces. Just provide our current forces where we need to replace or buttress them.
International Matters.
The Matter of Epirus.
We are at war with these people across the sea from Roman Italy, and still positioned on the foot of Italy. The Romans are our allies, and we should rightfully be going to their aid. But we have been distracted by matters closer to home. I therefore propose that we organise an expedition to aid Rome against the Epirotes. We can either help directly in subduing the town of Tarsus, which is a physical threat to Rome, or we can attack Epirus itself. Or, we can decide not to press our war at this time, focussing on our own issues.
Rome currently has the advantage. It is not in immediate danger.
- 1) Attack Tarsus with a moderate force.
- a)The force on Sicily could manage it, or
- b)We could raise an army for the job in just two seasons.
- 2) Launch a full-scale assault on Epirus itself! This will require the forces positioned on Sicily and 3 seasons preparation and will initially be expensive, but could be extremely rewarding as it would allow us to trade with the Romans on the east side and we would win the friendship of the Macedonians.
- 3) Stay out of it.
The Seleucid Question.
Our trading allies, the Ptolemaioi, are pushing on with their campaign against Seleukia. They are a long way away, but a full campaign, while initially expensive, would probably succeed in slicing off the west wing of the Seleukid empire for our own, which is amongst the richest parts of the mediterranean! It is a great undertaking that will take a years preparation, but if any faction has the potential to carry this off, it is us as we are now.
- 1) Send a full army to attack the Seleukids and carve out a part of their empire for our own needs.
- 2) This is a bit overzealous for aiding a mere trading partner!
Aedui Alliance.
We are also allied with the Aedui, who are to our north in Gaul. They are currently engaged in fierce fighting with the Arverni tribes, and could use our assistance. Once again a full army will need to be mustered, so unless we use the army on Sicily to bolster our numbers this will take at least a year to prepare for. Taking Messana could be our first goal, before our armies march on the Arverni towns themselves. It is a wealthy Greek colony, and to set up trade there would fill our coffers with mnai.
- 1)Prepare and launch the invasion but take Messana first to get a secure base there.
- 2)Charge straight for the Arverni towns and take them out quickly!
- 3)Leave the Aedui to sort it out themselves.
May I note that Carthage did not expand historically by cautiousness! Most of Carthages most noteworthy achievements were due to bold ventures like the ones proposed above. While the above are all risky and time-consuming, not to mention initially expensive!... they may all carry a MASSIVE payoff. The least risky proposal is probably the Epirote expedition. The next safest is supporting the Aedui. Our most hazardous option is the Seleukid operation, but success in carving up the largest faction on the map would render Carthage nigh-unstoppable.
(It would also be a lot of fun.)
Internal Expansion.
We now turn to independent towns in our sphere of influence. The options are as follows.
Italy
- Rhegium. Can be attacked immediately with Sicilian forces, will take two seasons to prepare for otherwise. Within allies sphere of influence. (Rome.)
Africa
- Kiya- landlocked settlement. Large garrison. Will take a year to prepare for unaided by existing forces. Very near Ippone, serious threat.
- Siya- Coastal Settlement. Near Spanish provinces. Will take 3 seasons to prepare for.
- Kyrene- Coastal Settlement in fertile belt of Cyrenacia. 3 seasons to prepare for unless existing forces used.
Spain
- Arse: Coastal Large Town. Can be attacked immediately.
- Areveni: Inland settlement. Can be attacked after 1 season of training.
Review our allies.
- Rome- currently engaged in struggle with Epirotes.
- Aeduii- currently engaged in struggle with Arverni.
- Lusotannan- at peace.
- Ptolemaioi- currently engaged in struggle with Seleukia.
Review our enemies.
- Epirotes
Economic Issues.
Here you can review Mago's economic policies and suggest where to focus economic attentions.
- Continued Mining.
We've achieved mining in three of our settlements. Our only mining options now are deep mining in Gaders, which will be extremely expensive but potentially yield 5000 mnai a season, or basic mining in Karali, which will yield 2000 mnai and can be gotten underway relatively quickly. Mines in Karali can be built in two years, mines at Gaders will take five years once gotten underway.
- 1) Deep Mining in Gaders.
- 2) Mining in Karali.
Trade on Sicily.
We can potentially build a variety of trading improvements to the two major towns on Sicily. We also need to prepare Messana for when it grows into a large town, to get the most out of it.
- Lilibeo: 3500 for a Mercantile port. Year and a half. Adds ~250 mnai per season. Bazaar is 6100. Adds around 80 mnai per season. 2 years. Can also build roads and then paved roads. Will take 2 1/2 years Result unknown, costs around 3200 for combination, or 800 for experimental roads.
- Syracuse: Needs alliance government first, but similar to Lilibeo. May yield more due to size.
- Messana: Needs government. Getting a trader, Coastal Clearing and Simple Farming would cost only 3700 mnai and would yield +110 mnai immediately once the farms and trader were established. Whole business would take around 2 1/4 years. Adding a Phoenician Colony for 1200 would augment that income, would take extra 2 years.
Trade in Spain.
- Gaders: Mercantile port and farms for 6700 mnai. Will yield around +280 mnai per season.
Smaller colonies.
- Coastal clearing in Lepki, Bocchoris, Alalia and Karali. 2000 mnai for the works. 2 seasons. (fast and cheap.)
Africa.
- Mercantile Harbour in Adrumeto: 3500 mnai, +150 mnai.
You can also choose to focus on just the ports, in which case I'll just build ports and maybe get some roads if I can afford it within my objectives.
Social Issues.
Review Magos social policies.
Expansion of farms.
Farms are always a good way of enhancing a region. As well as improving the growth of population, they bring in a small sum of money as well. Farming increases take around a year, a year and a half for improved farms.
- Basic Farming in Every Province: 6000 mnai.
- Improved Farms in Large Town Provinces: extra 9600 mnai.
Hygiene.
We've already made large strides on this front, but there's nothing that can't be improved. These structures provide a growth bonus while also countering the resulting squalor, giving you growth without consequence. Good if you've got the money for tech and you want something specific out of a province, or if you want to tax a province without dragging its growth down. Sewers take a year to establish.
- Sewers in Large Towns: 6000 mnai.
- Sewers Everywhere: 7200 mnai.
Healers.
We can ensure local medicine thrives with a bit of investment. This does about the same thing as the sewers, but we've already got some established. 1 year to establish.
- Healer in Large Towns: 8400 mnai.
- Healer in all towns: 7200 mnai extra.
Thanks to Gods.
We have had a great deal of success. Traditionally, some kind of thanks to the Gods in the form of temples would be offered under these circumstances. We could expand the temple to Baal in Carthage, focus on upgrading the smaller temples in the large towns, or make sure every town in our lands knows the names and has access to the worship of our Gods.
- Large temple of Baal al-Hammon: 6080 mnai. Helps public order and trade and offers top-tier retinues to the ruling family. 2 1/2 years.
- Temple improvements: 15400 mnai to complete the job. Will secure order in Large towns and ensure that a variety of retinue priests are available for well-travelled governors. 2 years.
- Shrine in every town: 2300 mnai for 2 seasons. Will give a large order bonus in towns and give some minor retinues to governors in those provinces.
I'll deal with government types as they come up.
Thats it for tonight! Have fun senators! Carthago Invicta!
edited 13th Jul '10 5:21:12 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Blue Brain Cell
(Senator hat on)
Military Performance
My lord, I am pleased with your tactical acumen and skill in resolving the battles we have fought to date - special mention going to the Messanan victory. However, I feel that a more conservative infantry policy is necessary. The forces of mighty Carthage are undefeatable, of course, but victory is all the sweeter if it can be celebrated with your friends, is it not? As an example, the losses suffered against the Turdetani could have been avoided with more judicious charge timing. That being said, however, this Senator does realise that only mighty Baal is truly flawless in strategy, and that a Shopet meets with such success in battle is surely a sign of approval from the gods.
Policies
Currently, I believe that, while our military may seem satisfactory to some, it should be mentioned that auxiliaries are ultimately inferior to home-trained fullblood Carthagian soldiers. Is this respect, my advice is to slowly begin training equivalent replacement units for our current frontline units, and to ship these out gradually to the colonies. Any militia troops this procedure would render obsolete or useless would then be gathered into a front-line assault force and pacification army. This would, I believe, qualify as a vote for (1) in your plan.
International Matters
The Matter of Epirus
I am strongly against the deployment of our forces in this theatre. As a half-Roman man myself, I know that they are devious, untrustworthy and would sooner steal a dead man's money pouch than close his eyes. As you have indicated, the Romans are currently on the winning side of the conflict, so further assistance would only weaken our existing settlements to the point where a single overambitous Roman governer with a handful of boats and two dozen men could overrun them.
The Seleucid Question
For a mere trading partner, I believe that gathering an army to fight a war not of our creation is overkill, to say the least. I am against assisting the Seleucids at the moment, though if they are on the verge of being defeated, I would advise His Mightyness to send a diplomat and offer an alliance and possible economic support in exchange for bringing low their foes.
Aedui Alliance
The Aedui have been friends since some time now, and assisting them could not only establish a Carthaginian presence in Germanicus Magna (mainland Europe), but also help us curb Roman ambitions, who would have no choice but to expand eastwards into Greek territory. My vote is for option 1 in your proposed plan.
Internal Expansion
I advise a period of military caution, succeeded by an attack on Kiya (eliminating the rebel threat), and then taking Arse (just to say "Congratulations, you are now the governor of Arse.").
Economic Issues
Vote for Mining in Karali.
Vote for the whole package in Syracuse.
Vote for Coastal Clearing in all available locations.
Social Issues
Vote for Basic Farming everywhere.
Vote for Sewers in large towns only.
Thanks to Gods
Vote for Shrines in every town.
((Hey, I need some spare time to do my liveblog in.))
This is all I have to say at this juncture, mighty lord.
/senator hat off
Announcer: "The senator Iniquitus Hamilcar yields the floor to the next man!"
edited 15th Jul '10 4:12:35 AM by IniquitusV2
Rome: Total War Liveblog. Read it or die.
The Shadows Devour You.
I just noticed that I called Hamalcar Hasdrubal through about half that fight. 
The Shadows Devour You.
Anyone else? If not I'll continue playing tomorrow under Iniquitus's suggestions and will post when I have those objectives completed/failed.
edited 15th Jul '10 3:18:59 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
The Shadows Devour You.
ARRGH!!!!
The game just closed down on me after I won a massive victory!
I'm going to leave this for today, and then I'll come back to it tomorrow when I'm feeling less angry... I decided to switch to Rome specifically so this wouldn't happen!
edited 16th Jul '10 11:51:42 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Blue Brain Cell
Cheer up, eh. It'll be alright. At least you don't have to hack your game files so you can save, like me for Medieval 2...
Rome: Total War Liveblog. Read it or die.
Sleuth Diplomat
Sorry, too late I think, and no suggestions anyway, I'm a firm believer in the decisions of the commander on site. Also, I think you may have inspired me to run a hearts of iron 3 liveblog. I play a very madcap germany (IE italy has free reign to run amok in the balkans and germany in poland in late 36), so once I can mod the government to something a tad more tolerable (I'm thinking a coup by a bunch of crazy prussians is in order), I may give that a shot. Even though I hope not to imitate too much, it is the sincerest form of flattery 
.
edited 16th Jul '10 10:56:06 PM by xthetenth
The Shadows Devour You.
EDIT: Oh, and good luck with that Hearts Of Iron liveblog.
I figure I should give a brief update seeing as its taking so long to get my objectives completed.
Good news is, no tech difficulties and I managed to more or less replicate my victory. (It was a very forgiving battle.) I'm making progress towards my objectives but the going is slooooooooow. Really slow. Europa Barbarorum really is a grindy game! So far I've been slowly reducing settlements, restoring the loyalty of said settlements, (which can take even longer) raised enough money to raise an army to conquer the next settlement and moving on. I'm glad they give you twice as much time in this game, because it looks like the clock might be a factor after all! Especially as there are more provinces and some of the most southern provinces are FREAKING WELL HIDDEN!!! The southern-most one below Gaetulia (which is south of Numidia) is a massive stretch of desert, and finding the town there is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. (Pity my poor diplomat who is down there mapping it out.) Does anyone happen to know that area so that when I finally get to that stage I don't need to send a legion of spies down there to discover what I'm looking for?
I do intend to conquer the entire map eventually, but by the looks of things I might have to abandon my passive strategy and move on to a more bloodthirsty approach. Maybe after Mago hops it...
Sorry about the lack of characterisation and a few other missed out points. This liveblog has been a bit less structured as I've been trying to chew through the sheer amount of material. I could go into individual characters details, building information and unit comparisons but we'd be here next summer if I did that.
Further EDIT: That reminds me. Does anyone know how I could get a way to record the screen so I can do a Let's Play section of this liveblog to supplement the writing? I'll also need a way to link a mic and voice recorder up to a laptop. Or will I need a specialised PC to do that?
edited 18th Jul '10 3:09:46 PM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Sleuth Diplomat
Oh hell, I'm pretty sure that they just record the screen they're working on, I'll have to look to see what the software would be but I'm pretty sure it can be gotten for free. IE 99% sure I heard at least two methods being discussed. I'd love to see that, it'd make it a lot easier to wrap my head around the situation. And thanks, it'll take a while to get the government modded so don't expect to see it too soon.
Blue Brain Cell
The Shadows Devour You.
Right, I'm looking at the equipment I need to buy. So far I seem to need Snagit (Screen recording software) and a mic? Anything else I'm missing?
EDIT: Snagits expensive though... $50!... oh, wait, thats dollars. Thats not quite so bad then.
edited 21st Jul '10 3:28:04 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Sleuth Diplomat
I'll be hunting for free equivalents. You might want to check out camstudio for example if you haven't already, for example, it should do what you need. http://camstudio.org/
edited 22nd Jul '10 12:47:35 PM by xthetenth
Have they removed the "bodyguards replace themselves at a rate of 1 man per turn" mechanic?
"Wait, it's IV. Of course they are. They'd make IV for Dreamcast." - Enlong, on yet another FFIV remake