Description[]
A Conqueror Is Born is the seventh scenario of the Greek Campaign in Empire Earth.
Briefing[]
A Conqueror is Born: 334 - 332 BC
The great warhorse flinched and shied beneath her rider, as if aware of the danger presented by the enemy troops across the river. Alexander soothed her with a firm hand and a quiet voice. Beside him rode Philotas, his most trusted general.
They had crossed the Hellespont with their army, along with the seasoned Greek generals Craterus and Meleager. The Emperor Darius III had mounted his defense on the far bank of the River Granicus, where his own generals waited, confident in their ability to smash the Greek upstarts.
The battle would soon be joined... King against Emperor, general against general. At stake, nothing less than control of the Persian Empire!
History[]
Over a hundred years had passed since the Persians invaded Greece. But Athenians, Thebans, and Spartans alike still hungered for a chance to strike back and repay that painful humiliation. Once Alexander III of Macedon had confirmed his mastery over all the Greek city-states, the stage was finally set for that dream to be realized.
The army with which Alexander crossed the Hellespont in 334 BC was not large. Unrest at home required that a sizeable contingent remain behind under the command of his general Antipater. In lieu of a large force, Alexander chose an army composed of crack veterans and his elite, fast-moving Companion Cavalry. Superior training, superior armament, and - above all - speed would be his tactical edge.
When Darius heard that the Greek rabble from across the Aegean had indeed invaded, he moved to stop Alexander before the Macedonian king could advance very far into Persian territory. The River Granicus became the place where Persian might would first be tested by Alexander's genius, but they did not fare well. The Persians were routed both at Granicus and Issus.
After the victories, the most important task facing Alexander was to subdue the fiercely independent island city of Tyre. Home of the sea-faring Phoenicians, this well-defended citadel had remained unconquered for centuries.
The capture of Tyre in 332 would secure Alexander's hold on the Middle East, and guarantee freedom of Greek naval and maritime activity throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.
Objectives[]
- You must destroy at least half the Persian army awaiting you across the Granicus River. Many other battles await Alexander in this invasion, and his troops can't be replaced, so fight each battle carefully.
- The Persian army at Issus must be completely annihilated.
- Alexander must meet up with Meleager at the siege of Tyre.
- Find a way to break into Tyre and then destroy the Tyrean Capitol.
Losing Conditions[]
- Alexander, Philotas, or Craterus dies.
Starting Condition[]
- Starting Epoch: Bronze Age
- Starting Resources: 1500 Food
, 1500 Wood , 500 Stone , 1200 Gold , 600 Iron - Starting Pop Cap: 52/100
- Starting Units:
Hints[]
- After defeating the Persians at Granicus, your units can be healed at a Hospital at the allied town of Antioch.
- Tyre will be difficult to take, but perseverance and combined land-sea tactics will prevail.
- Use your generals wisely. They can accompany different groups of soldiers, attacking from different directions, and give you an important tactical enhancement.
- If you choose to ally with Antioch and thus control their Citizens, you will be able to build the Temple of Zeus, Pharos Lighthouse and the Coliseum. Each of these Wonders offer tremendous strategic advantages.
- Remember that you cannot train any more soldiers than you already have. Use them wisely.
Walkthrough[]
Destroying the Persians[]
Assemble your entire army near the crossing to the other side within the marked flags. Once Alexander gives the go-ahead, position your Phalanx, on stand-ground mode, as a blockade halfway across the land crossing with Craterus at their front. Position your Simple Bowmen right behind them on stand-ground mode, with Alexander on their side. Use Philotas as part of the Lure and Chase tactic, by running to the Persian army and back so that your main army can deal with them. Be sure to lure less then 15 units at a time. When half of the army is destroyed, the Persians will flee back to Issus and you will have to follow them.
On your way down to Issus, you will be alerted to a friendly hospital near Antioch. If you have any injured units you may heal them there, though it will be quicker to just have Alexander take care of them. Once you are at Issus, set up your army in a similar arrangement like in the first battle, but this time covering more area. And keep your Companion Cavalry a little to the front nearby on stand-ground mode. Just like before, use Philotas as "bait" to lure small numbers of the remaining Persian army. Once you have killed most of them, send your whole army in to destroy them. The Sargon of Akkad will not defend himself and thus will be easy to kill. Be sure to destroy every unit in order for the story to continue.
Siege at Tyre[]
Once the Persian army is defeated, send your army down to Meleager who will be waiting for you. After the talk, send Philotas up to Antioch to commandeer the town. Once that is done, have your citizens continue mining Gold, Iron and Wood (focusing on wood). Also, immediately train/build: two Prophets from the local Temple, five more citizens to help gathering, and eight Catapult Ships. Be sure to upgrade the tririemes' range, attack and health, in that order. Fill up your pop cap with Battleships and rally your clergy with Philotas back to your main army.
Have your Catapults (and only your catapults) destroy the warships near the land bridge with Alexander and Craterus giving them hero support. Once the warships are destroyed rally your Siege Machines, Craterus, Alexander and your Simple Bowmen at the Wall on the land bridge where they may automatically destroy the Tyreans. This is the land tactic.
While that is happening, be sure Prophet generates Hurricanes consistently to take care of any warships near your land army. Have the Hurricanes skirt the edges of Tyre where ships may be. Bring your fleet down to Tyre in lots of three, so that they don't get tangled with each other, and systematically destroy the Towers on the edges of Tyre as well as its Docks. Be wary of other warships as well as Siege Machines within Tyre. Continue building Catapult Ships as you will lose some of them.
Once the Towers and Docks are destroyed, take down the wall and Tyrean Gate with your catapults, keeping your archers and Phalanx units to deal with any units that comes out of Tyre. Once the defenses are down, send your army in with your Companion Cavalry first (to take out the Stone Throwers within Tyre) and your siege machines last. Throw everything you've got at the Tyrean Capitol while remembering to keep your heroes alive. Once it is destroyed, Tyre will surrender and you will have won.
Script[]
Alexander and Philotas observe the Persian army from across the River Granicus.
Alexander: We learn from what we observe with our eyes. My old tutor, Aristotle, taught me that, Philotas.
Philotas: Well, my lord, I'd suggest that we've learned all we can by observing the Persians. Perhaps we ought to return to our men - before we lose our chance to put this knowledge to use.
Alexander: Ha! You worry too much, my friend! But come, let us rejoin our forces.
They ride back to where the general Craterus awaits with the rest of the Macedonian army.
Craterus: What news, comrades? How are we to fight the Persian army?
Alexander: Their leaders are the key - kill them and the Persian army will fall apart. It time to deploy our troops by the river. I have marked out the area with flags.
If a unit is ordered across the river before Alexander give the go-ahead...
Alexander: No one is to attack until all our troops have taken positions within the area defined by the flags!
The Macedonian army assembles near the crossing of the river within the flag boundaries.
Craterus: We're arrayed for battle, sire. Whenever you wish, the attack can begin.
Alexander: The Persian army's morale is easily broken. Once we have killed half of them, they will break and run - I am sure of it.
The battle commences. Soon, half of the Persians are destroyed and the rest flee the scene.
Alexander: The morale of the Persian Army has been broken! They are retreating - and the field is ours. The Persians are regrouping at the town of Issus, to our south. We must wipe them out, then capture the island city of Tyre. This will secure our hold on all of Palestine. Assemble the troops! We march!
The Macedonians pursue the Persians down to Issus. As they near Antioch...
Craterus: There is a neutral town nearby, Antioch. Perhaps we should commandeer the Hospital there to heal our wounded.
The army goes to the hospital to heal and recover. If a unit comes near Antioch's town center...
Narrator:This is the city of Antioch, renowned for her advanced shipyards. There may come a day when the Macedonians will have need of them.
The Macedonians battle the Persians once more at the river near Issus. Soon enough, the Persians and their leader are killed.
Alexander: We have destroyed the Persian army at Issus. Now, on to Tyre! General Meleager is already there, constructing a land-fill bridge so that our army can attack the island. Let us check on his progress.
The army rides on down to where Meleager and his men are camped.
Alexander: How goes the siege, Meleager?
Meleager: Not well, my lord. There are some warships harassing us from offshore. They must be destroyed, or the siege will falter. IN Antioch, north of here, there are shipyards - perhaps we should make use of them, eh? You can send me or any of the generals to commandeer the Docks, the town, and even the Citizens who live there.
A general is sent to Antioch to assume control over it for Alexander.
Narrator: The city of Antioch has surrendered. Her Docks and shipbuilding skills are now at Alexander's disposal.
Citizen: Sire, we have learned to mount catapults on ships, exactly as the Tyreans do. We can construct these catapult tririemes right here in Antioch!
Alexander's forces head to the fleet of warships near the land bridge and destroys them.
Alexander: To force them to surrender, we will have to destroy their Capitol building. Hmmm... it might help if we can mount an attack from the sea.
The siege of Tyre takes many days, but eventually Alexander's army breaks through the walls and obliterates Tyre's capitol building.
Narrator: The spirit of the Tyrean people has been broken! The island city is prepared to surrender, and the entire Palestinian coast will come under Macedonian control. Where will Alexander's hunger for conquest take him next?
Gallery[]
