what's your favorite faction

[Belisarius12]

i just wondered what the most liked faction was :2thumbsup:

[Strategos Alexandros]

Makedonia:balloon2: , Quarthadastim:balloon2: , Epeiros:balloon2: .

EDIT: Hey, post 272 and I said my favourite factions!

[Ayce]

See my sig...

[Atanamir]

:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:ARCHE SELEUKEIA:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

[Korlon]

I pretty much have no favorite faction. I love all of them.

[Strategos Alexandros]

So you have 21 favourite factions.

[Korlon]

20, I can't play the rebels.

[QuintusSertorius]

I only play Rome.

[STuNTz2023]

Koinon Hellenon, fun watching units, specially barbarians run straight into my Spartan phalanx.

[Siruso]

It seems to change to whatever faction I'm currently playing, so right now I gotta say its the Hayasdan. Something about those reforms, HAs, and the absurd difficulty level makes them rock.

[Leviathan DarklyCute]

Saka, Baktria, Pontus and Hay:balloon:
:gathering:

[Belisarius12]

I don't know for the moment because ineed to start playing eb so i was just wondering which faction was the most liked

[Jorduan]

I've now completed with Seba, Carthage and Bactria.
And I rekon Carthage was the most fun to play with...
so its Carthage all the way:2thumbsup:

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Take a look at my signature, although every faction is really admirable in EB.

[MerlinusCDXX]

Any of the Nomadic factions, Pahlava, SakaRauka, Sauromatae, but I'm a horsearcher/heavy cavalry fan. Also really like the Getai, though all of the factions are well done and seem interesting to play, though I'm not the biggest fan of the phalanx.


If you've similar inclinations, Pahlava and Saka Rauka are great cav factions, but they don't leave you in the dust when it comes to infantry though (reforms needed, the Pahlava reform is a little more complicated to get than the Saka reform). Sauromatae is a bit harder going on the infantry dep't. Getai have great "barbarian-style" infantry, and easy access to horsearchers along with some "pseudo-phalanx" infantry. Their heavy cavalry aren't that great though, but not bad (certainly not as poor as the Romani cavalry).

[Chaotix]

Makedonia, Qarthadastim, and the Koinon Hellenon. I also really like the unit roster for the Getai, though I have yet to play a true campaign with them.

[Jaume]

Definitively, Romani and Bactria.

[Hax]

Arche Seleukeia
Epeiros

[artaxerxes]

1. Arche Seleukeia.

2. Makedonia

3. Pontus, Pahlava, Carthage, Koinon Hellenon, Epeiros

those are the ones I love so much that I can never bring myself to destroy any of them when they are AI... and that's kinda a problem ;( ;)

4. Baktria, Hayasdan

5. Ptolemaioi, Getai

[Gebeleisis]

Getai
Arche Seleukeia
Karthadast

[DeathEmperor]

1. Arche Seleukeia

2. Romani

3. Makedonia

[PershsNhpios]

The Eleutheroi.

God love them, they never give up - I think the grey little bastards have killed over twice as many of my men than all the other factions put together.

They have the best generals in the game, and they always defend their city squares like true madmen.

Desert, plain or Alpine mountain, they are always the most painful and dreaded enemy - they ambush your singular units en route to the main army, and kill off your best generals when they are retiring home to the capital.

By far the most realistic, tactical, brave and unrelenting faction.

[Olaf The Great]

Pontus, because they have a Perso-Hellenic Army and Casse, for their awesome starting position.

I would've said Lusotanna if it weren't for the cripplingly high unit costs.

[Chirurgeon]

Pontus, because they have a Perso-Hellenic Army and Casse, for their awesome starting position.

I would've said Lusotanna if it weren't for the cripplingly high unit costs.

I am playing the Lusitannan and although the units are expensive the resources of Iberia pay for them :)
Favorites so far:

1. Carthage

2. Lusitannan

Although to be honest its a tie at this point.

[Fish-got-a-Sniper]

1. Ptolemies
2. Carthage
3. Koinon Hellenon

[Wolfman]

I like all the factions in EB. Here's just a few that I really like.

1. Casse. The first faction I ever played consistently in EB (0.74 days. ah the nostalgia) I still have a soft spot for those brave blue men.

2. KH. Like STuNTz2023 said. There's something about watching a disorganised barbarian rabble charge into my perfectly lined phalanx.

3. Sweboz! Never really got that far with them but i just like feeling evil and the overall dark atmosphere the germanic forest gives (on the campaign map that is).

4. Getai. They're close to thracians! I love thracians!

5. Bactria. A nice blend of India, Persia, and Greece. East meets West.

6. Karthage. Diverse armies kinda like bactria good economy. Plus Hannibal Barca!

7. Saby'n. I just like them. Sure their armies aren't on par with those of their greek or persian neighbors. But I still like them.

8. The sons of Aeneas!(Romani) I love attempting to conquer the world as them.

9. Lusotannan. I like their units. and i like iberia. I've always wanted to start a campaign were i conquer all the iberian tribes who aren't under the influence of Karthage or greece. Then moving my capital to Numantia.

10. Pontus. I like their unit roster. They're are kinda like the jack-of-all-trades faction to me when it comes to their units.

11. Hayasdan. Riding with my loyal subjects to subdue those filthy perverted greeks and restore the persian empire! ( I always get crushed by the Silver death after attempting this sadly.)

12. Saka. Good calvary. Later on when the reforms hit gain good infantry (sadly i never made it to the reforms. stupid crappy steppe economy). Well balanced.

[Ibrahim]

Arche Seleukeia and the romani.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

3. Sweboz! Never really got that far with them but i just like feeling evil and the overall dark atmosphere the germanic forest gives (on the campaign map that is).
Why do you think they are evil?

[Wolfman]

Why do you think they are evil? I don't know really. Not so much evil but mysterious to me. Dark, Unknown, Ancient. Their warriors sort of give me that feel. I've always liked learning about the Barbarian peoples that were able to defeat the mighty roman empire.

[PershsNhpios]

Ha! Not so mysterious when I plunder their spooky little towns and trample the estranged spirits from their pale bodies with my wing of horse!

They stay on their side of the river, and I'll stay on mine.

(My favourite player faction is the Arverni).

I love the pride shown in the noble Gallic armour, the headress, the emblems and customs.
A very gallant culture really, and I pity the Arverni because of their terrible fate in every game I play outside of Gaul.

[Theodotos I]

Pahlava definitely. I've finished campaigns as Baktria, Qarthadastim, Getai, and Pahlava(all 1.0), but they were the best. Horse archers are incredibe. Armored horse archers even more so. :yes:

[tapanojum]

Hayasdan! Because it's the only faction that I never seem to be able to win as!

Started a campaign as Saba today, in the 250's BC. Really fun starting position, once you get past the initial boring decade of building mines in your cities and having almost no fighting done!

[Aaldaemon]

Almost no one seems to like the Sauromatae (bar the I like them all people) hehe. I wonder if that's because of a lack of city improvements/city size cap, horse archer hatred(in some cases), or lack of identification with them hmmmm....

I myself wasn't a big fan till I started playing them :yes:, but my favorite faction remain ever the Seleucids... Semper Seleukeia!

[Barae]

Hayasdan and Casse!
Hayasdab cause I love the persian way of fighting and Casse cause they simply are fun to play:grin3:

[Eyes330]

Saba!
Mainly because I like fighting against overwhelming odds and an army based around skirmishers and light infantry. It's also quite satisfying when you win a battle with inferior troops and send the greeks scurrying back to their safe cities.

[Jurdagat]

Hayasdan so far, can't praise my recent campaign with them enough.

But finding my current Makedonia campaign interesting to. :)

[Irishmafia2020]

1. Baktria - I just love the concept of "indo-Greeks", plus the campaign really has a frontier feel to it...

2. Makedonia - Like Rome, but harder and more Hellenic...

3. Saba - How can you not enjoy conquering Ethiopia?

[tapanojum]

3. Saba - How can you not enjoy conquering Ethiopia?

That just made my day

[gamegeek2]

Saka (I had a great campaign which inspired "Of Mail and Men" a while back, search the forum for it), because of their challenge and amazing empire-building capabilities for a steppe faction.

Arche Seleukeia because I love doing a Persian redux with Hellenic units to boot.

Qarthadastim because they are the first faction I played as, their units look so awesome (and their capabilities are as good as their looks), and they have so many options, from African expansion to "Colonizing" the mediterranean by taking random cities along the coast, to just landing a fullstack next to Rome.

Honorable mentions: Koinon Hellenon, Sweboz, Getai

[The Celtic Viking]

Arverni (quelle surprise, huh?), followed by Aedui, Sweboz and Casse. Their story, their units, their location and the heroic feeling that the Celtic units give me is just what I like. I also like Sab'yn.

[Happy balroae]

casse and sauromate
casse because i like the heroes and british regional units
sauromate because of the horse archers

[Victor1234]

Arche Seleukeia.
1) Amazing unit roster
2) Satrap system
3) Lots of ethnicities for generals
4) Hellenic building tree
5) Founder-cult worship
6) No waiting for reforms
7) Very difficult at start
8) Very difficult as you expand (due to distances)

Definately the best faction out there for me. :2thumbsup:

[AlexanderVII]

1. MAKEDONIA (Rulers of the world) always

maybe in the future other Macedonian factions:

2. Arche Seleukeia

3. Ptolemaioi

Always with one goal. To unite Macedonian empire again and kick Roman a...s :knight:

[Logarth]

Sweboz!

[QuintusSertorius]

Epeiros are great for doing a Hellenic migration campaign, since after 270 or so they were irrelevant and thus don't upset the historic balance of power in Greece by removing them.

[Swordmaster]

I only play Rome.


Epeiros are great for doing a Hellenic migration campaign, since after 270 or so they were irrelevant and thus don't upset the historic balance of power in Greece by removing them.

:yes:

[Aaldaemon]

Epeiros are great for doing a Hellenic migration campaign, since after 270 or so they were irrelevant and thus don't upset the historic balance of power in Greece by removing them.

Aye, very true, I'm thinking of relocating them to India for fun. My own version of an Indo-Greek Kingdom starting 272BCE. :2thumbsup:

[QuintusSertorius]

:yes:

People change, even me. :laugh4:

What's really worked is that Pergamon, despite being a Hellenistic Successor didn't use phalanxes. Plus they're in an interesting location.

[Swordmaster]

People change, even me. :laugh4:

What's really worked is that Pergamon, despite being a Hellenistic Successor didn't use phalanxes. Plus they're in an interesting location.

I'm sure phalanxes will become your mainstay once you become a Seleukid strategos. It's an acquired taste, much like horse archer-based warfare is, but a very rewarding one, too. Perhaps, one day, Quintus.

[QuintusSertorius]

I'm sure phalanxes will become your mainstay once you become a Seleukid strategos. It's an acquired taste, much like horse archer-based warfare is, but a very rewarding one, too. Perhaps, one day, Quintus.

Not sure I can see it. I've got a real loathing for pikes and phalanx-tactics. Something distinctly unheroic about them, which is kind of the point.

[||Lz3||]

Not sure I can see it. I've got a real loathing for pikes and phalanx-tactics. Something distinctly unheroic about them, which is kind of the point.


too true... I've never liked phalanxes either...

and about my faction.... I'll have to go roman :2thumbsup:

although there's something about baktria that keeps me interested in starting a new campaign (those late bodyguards...:cool4:)

[Swordmaster]

I didn't like phalanxes either, until I started playing with them. There's something tragic about seeing an elite phalanx being eaten up by pesky skirmishers, much like the Seleukids being eaten up by their pesky neighbours.

[||Lz3||]

why this was posted here?

we should make this a poll in the main page ,kinda like "what's your age" thread , it could bring interesting results :2thumbsup:

[Socy]

Definitely the Seleucids. I just love the idea of a huge Empire that houses a myriad of different cultures within its borders. And I've always had a soft spot for the orient and the "East". A faction wich have the strong, disciplined armies of Alexander mixed with local "persians" and locals is just kick-ass. And I love the roleplaying-possibilities with the Seleukids. With all the different ethnic groups and soldiers under your command the possibilities are endless! And ofcourse, the Hellenic governmental system. And, most important, the colours on their "uniforms". The black/white/gray/brown/red colours on the Hellenic units are just to die for :yes:. Makes them look "imperial" in a sense of way, in my opinion.

But the Macedonians are also pretty cool I think. I enjoy fielding armies of Pezhetairoi combined with Taxeis Triballoi and Thraikioi Rhomphaiaphoroi. The Pahlava are also pretty neat. They're also a very cool "eastern" faction, but with more focus on horse-archers and cataphracts, wich is fine by me! Besides, their horse-archer armies simply steamroll everything, awesome!

[Pinkkiller]

Saka :yes: they just slaugther every1 on the battlefield with their archers:2thumbsup: ...and Getai
:D

[Kuningaz]

Gotta stand up for Sauromatae right now^^. They're just awesome! I just love uniting the steppes from the black sea to the sakas first and then going down to the south and crushing all those hellenes from the east. Really awesome to sack and destroy all those huge cities you don't have to keep. (I made almost 100.000 mnai by looting Seleukeia!!). Besides I just like Sauromatae better than Saka, don't know why.
Other cool factions: Carthage, Sweboz, Arverni and Koinon Hellenion (really nice to kick those makedonians out and then 'rescue' the greek colonies all around the Mediterrinian)

[Tiberius Aurelius Cotta]

Romani...

since yesterday, the Pedites Extraordinarii make that faction totally worthwhile for me

[Chirurgeon]

I love the 1.0 Lusotannan faction. There are some new additions in 1.1 which I really would like to play

[Satyros]

Koinon Hellenon not for the obvious reasons , but simply beacuse I really enjoy the hoplite armies , mind you without the spartans in them .

I hail from the land of the helots .

I also enjoy very much the Arverni and the Aedui and Sweboz , my kind of "barbarian" warfare , and I recently realised that horse archer armies even though they are killer against the computer ( and I imagine in the MP also in the hands of a very skilled player ) are not my kind of thing . I enjoy more to clash head-on with masses of infantry, and depending on my mood I choose either the KH or the Arverni/Aedui/Sweboz .

If we're talking about cataphracts , well , that's another thing , I sure like cataphracts .

I also dislike the slow moving phalanxes of the Maks, Epeiros , Seleukos and Ptolemaios though as a KH player I envy the Makedonian cavalry . Besides , my peltasts shred phalanxes . yay .

Satyros

[Constantius III]

I'm definitely a Mak player, although Baktria is a close second. Phalangial armies and I just sort of go together - they're either a steamroller or they lock up a portion of the battlefield, and everybody just loooves the hammer and anvil. Makedonian ability to recruit those killer Thraikioi Rhomphiaphoroi right next to the homeland is really awesome too. Baktria I like because they have most of the great Seleukid units (except the higher-end phalangitai and those insane armored thorakitai monsters), plus they don't need a reform for their kataphraktoi, and their starting position is a lot easier for me to manage. I like to start small and get big; larger starting factions like the Qarthadastim, AS, and the Ptolemaioi are kinda hard for me to ease into.

[Atraphoenix]

Pahlava, but their cavalry reaaly very expensive .... but they worth :-)
and of course romans, there cannot be one who did not play with them...
two eternal enemy I like them both if I choose infantry playing romans if I bored with infantry I play with pahlava and watch how catafracts are deadly....

in history sassanids even managed to conqured the old achamenid empire they dominated the anatolia (asia minor) even captured egypt ....

parthia attacked and dominated syria and also anatolia but they were all temporary ...

sassanids compansated parthian weaknesses they used a standing army and revived immortal so I hope there could be a chance to play with sassanids in eb....

[Cambyses]

Lusotanna all the way, they just have so much character and a different style to anyone else

Baktria close behind due to their fun roster with access to Greeks, Easterners, Nomadic types and Indians...

Ive enjoyed all the factions Ive played with though, its great that you can role play the bigger empires also, it keep the logistics from getting boring. :oops:

[strategos roma]

AS, Macedon and epeiros.

[Che Roriniho]

1. Baktria - Like a 'Best-Of' for EB: Heffalumps, HAs, Phalanxes, and grest foot archers. Oh, and decent slingers as well. Almost the perfect faction.

2. Makedon - 2 words: Alexandros Megas.

3. Romani - I just like them. Great Infantry. Sadly missing any decnt cavalry though.

4. Saka - Like Baktria, a fantastic mix of units, and a well-protected starting position. Until I mod the Baktrians BG to use their bows, SR also have the best in that department as well.

[Bellum]

Can't say. They are all so well done, every one is interesting.

[kepta]

Aedui and Ptolemaioi. Ptolemaio have an awesome starting position without being to large to make the first few turns tedious to me like seleukeia, and a good unit roster with elite phalangitai galatians and good cavalary troops plus I always loved Egyptian history. I don't know why no one seems to care much for the ptolemaio as there always at the bottom of polls about favorite factions, europa barbarorum depiction of them is just far and away the best of any of the other mods out there as well, just superb.

[Chirurgeon]

Aedui and Ptolemaioi. Ptolemaio have an awesome starting position without being to large to make the first few turns tedious to me like seleukeia, and a good unit roster with elite phalangitai galatians and good cavalary troops plus I always loved Egyptian history. I don't know why no one seems to care much for the ptolemaio as there always at the bottom of polls about favorite factions, europa barbarorum depiction of them is just far and away the best of any of the other mods out there as well, just superb.
I really like the Ptolemai as well...I even wrote an AAR about em :) Good for you!

[Andronikos]

Baktria - because of their unit rooster, have almost everything, Indian units, elephants, HAs...,
KH - many types of units, possibility to field various types of armies, great roleplay possibilities - you can use armies dependant on nationality of your general, access to many nice regionals, you will fight enemies with different tactics, you can reclaim colonies, conquer Persia,
Makedonia - I like phalanx armies and factions that are not so big at start, my favourite diadochi kingdom,
Aedui - a lot of units, again various enemies - the game will not be boring, reforms, (I like them a little more than Arverni and Casse, but I like these two too),
Pahlava - my favourite eastern faction, I like their specific government system and units.

These 5 are the top, but all factions are apealing in some way

[schlappi]

Romani, because you get to ki... err, meet so many different cultures.
The 'barbarian' factions get a little boring in my opinion after you manage to survive the struggle in the beginning, which is very very nice since it provides many a challange and some nail-biting AI turn waiting :)

[burn_again]

Had a lot of fun with many factions, but my favorites are Aedui, Sweboz, Arche Seleukeia and Baktria, in no particular order.



The 'barbarian' factions get a little boring in my opinion after you manage to survive the struggle in the beginning, which is very very nice since it provides many a challange and some nail-biting AI turn waiting :)

It's sometimes even more challenging to maintain a large barbarian empire in the later game, as you're getting attacked from all sides and don't have the economy of the civilised factions.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Romani are my absolute favourite in EB, just as they were in RTW. My next best-liked factions are: AS, KH and the Carthaginians.

[machinor]

Baktria - very stylish ensemble of units with that exotic touch, I like the region and the overall uniqueness of the faction's culture too
Carthage - great unit roster with a lot of flexibility and i like the culture (will be even better when the Carthaginian voice mod is finally done!!)
Pontos - also very flexible unit roster and very very challenging starting position

[NickTheGreek]

Romani, Makedon, KH and bizzarely the Sabaeans, a real nice change to the northern factions if you ask me.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

I am sad now. So noone here like teh Sweboz? Ive only seen like 2 or 3 ppl of .org that do, it makes me feel sad and kinda alone:no::shame:

[johnhughthom]

I'm a fan of the Sweboz, only faction I have actually completed the VCs with. I do prefer Pahlava, the Romani and Saba though....

[kekailoa]

1. Arverni/Aedui
I love the fact that when you get enough reforms, you can rewrite history with your own Celtic legions of mail-covered Gauls and heavy cavalry. No more of the Gauls being run over by everyone. Celtic revenge.
2. Casse
Another Celtic faction? What's there not to love? (except chariots. not loving chariots.)
3. Lusotannia
It's ridiculously hard to spell, but a hybrid Ibero-Celt Empire washing across the world (especially Italy) makes me smile.
4. Sweboz
I just really love the barbarian factions. The fact that you have infantry from every tribe and they are all excellent, cheap line troops makes the Sweboz a very fun faction to play.
5. Carthage
It's just fun to beat up on the Romans.

I really like heavy infantry. And heavy cavalry. So if there was some sort of Sauromatae-Gallic cavalry, I think I would die of happiness.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

4. Sweboz
I just really love the barbarian factions. The fact that you have infantry from every tribe and they are all excellent, cheap line troops makes the Sweboz a very fun faction to play.


Umm a quick question? Do you know how to get troops like The Cherusi Swordsmen, Chatti Clubmen/Spearmen, and Gaut Spearmen? If so can u plz tell me???:help::help:

[iamphet]

how to get troops like The Cherusi Swordsmen, Chatti Clubmen/Spearmen, and Gaut Spearmen?
Cherusci are available in the province to the west of your starting one (factional MIC4), Chatti in Arctaunon (i.e. S-W, factional MIC2-3), Gaut in Scandinavia and Gotland (factional MIC3).

[icydawgfish]

1. Ptolemaioi
2. Kart-Hadast
3. Makedonia

Also, do any of you guys ever get the feeling that a faction is "evil"? I always get that impression about the Seleukids, not sure why though.

[Skullheadhq]

KH! I love to reconquer all the Greek colonies!

[SwissBarbar]

1. KH (Who does not like the Greeks)
2. Romanii (Large variety of Units and Reforms)
3. Hay (Challenge)

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Ok so i gotta build lvl 3-4 govs in said provinces?

[Ignopotens]

Getai - My first campaign in EB, and still my favorite faction. It's so much fun to conquer and subjugate those "civilized" Greeks. There's something satisfying in watching Drapanai cut enemy formations to pieces.

Saromatae - Once you get a good FM General your army becomes nearly unbeatable. Also there's just something awesome to having your entire army be horse-archers. Almost nothing can stand up to them.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

In my (painful) experience Sweboz troops tend to be far better than anything the Celts can field as line soldiers. Never expect to defeat them without a good deal of Neitos and other heavy troops because they are very tough, even if they don't look like it at first. If Gallic factions at least have this choice, the poor Casse will rely mostly on their low quality levies and their champions are often too small to be effective, so the outcome is predictable.

[kekailoa]

In my (painful) experience Sweboz troops tend to be far better than anything the Celts can field as line soldiers. Never expect to defeat them without a good deal of Neitos and other heavy troops because they are very tough, even if they don't look like it at first. If Gallic factions at least have this choice, the poor Casse will rely mostly on their low quality levies and their champions are often too small to be effective, so the outcome is predictable.

I don't know about that.

In my experience, I find the Gauls can more than hold their own with the right troops (at least when I've been playing them) and yes, while the Casse are a little disadvantaged, with the right set of tactics, the Sweboz are not unbeatable.

But I will agree with you that the Sweboz are gifted with a number of excellent relatively cheap line infantry that can stand up to pretty much anyone. Still, the Gallic infantry is not to be scoffed at.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

And im not saying that all other barbarian factions suck. I have played the Getai, BOTH Gauls, the Lusotannan and the Casse. However the only faction that i keep coming back to again and again are teh Sweboz. They are just fun to play.
It a slow start faction, allows for plenty of build time, and has VERY powerful infantry. Once u get their economy going you can pretty much steamroll everyone around you. Also, like most barbarian factions, almost all of their units throw stuff at your opponents.
All in all its a very cool faction to play as.

[Fennoskandian]

As'Sab'Yn Wal'Jah, without a doubt. Someone already said they are no match for their Syberian counterparts, but considering that almost every unit can be called as skirmishers and their incredible stamina makes them very versatile. But damn those enemy archers...

[iamphet]

Ok so i gotta build lvl 3-4 govs in said provinces?
I'm not sure what lvl 3-4 govs are. MIC stands for military industrial complex (barracks+archery range+stables). So, to build Chatti you need to build government type 1, 2 or 3 and upgrade your factional MIC to level 3. For Cherusci you need govt 1 or 2 and have MIC level 4.
When in doubts, you can use add_money and process_cq cheats to check in advance whether you will get what you need :laugh4:

[Maion Maroneios]

Just found out I haven't posted here at all:tongue:

So my favorite faction would be the Makedones. By far, that is. Just love to kick Romaioi butt and pillage Roma:evil3:

Maion

[Olaf Blackeyes]

I'm not sure what lvl 3-4 govs

Thats just how i say type 1,2,3,4 govs. Thanx for the tip btw.:beam:

[Cute Wolf]

My Favorite Factions:
1. Kardhastim = Great fan of recreating Hannibal, Good Iberian unit Rooster (especially the Iberian Caetrati) with some african troops...
2. Koinnon Hellenon = They dammned Spartans are too cool... Has good troop composition and could be easily roleplayed...
3. Romani = Who didn't love them?

[The Fuzz]

Baktria is so much fun to play as, so I have to go with them. Every now and then I role-play with mercenary units and send them to the Hindu Kush to die if they served me poorly. Nothing like a frontier post with earthquakes to lower costs!

[satalexton]

I like to play as the Makedones and crush Roma every few EB years...Oh I never -take- Roma...oh no. Killing them is fine, but why would a self respecting makedonian want to live in the barbaroi hive?

[Aemilius Paulus]

3. Romani = Who didn't love them?

:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Hehehe, everyone loves them; it's just that they are too bashful and scared to admit it. Heck, there are some people who do not play or hate Romani simply because everyone likes them and they are so popular. To not play them is to miss out the best part of EB, since the Romani had more work put into them than any five factions combined, at the very least. Just consider all of those units, reforms, triumphs, unique traits, elected offices, gens, voicemod, "This Year in History" descriptions, and etc, etc, etc. I am not necessarily saying that they are the most interesting ones to play as, as people do have varied tastes, but they should be the most interesting ones, being so complete.

They are my favourite too, of course. I also happen to like Epirius, which as I remember, seemed to be very popular sometime ago, just like Baktria, but not anymore as it seems. Unlike AS and Ptolemaics, Epirotes does not start out with already a gargantuan empire and unlike those two as well as KH & Makedonia, Epirotes do not have access to uber-elite units that make battles a walk in the park.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Every faction gets its "Year In History" pop-up. Stop playing Romaioi I say and get to know the marvellous other factions. :yes:

[The Celtic Viking]

In my (painful) experience Sweboz troops tend to be far better than anything the Celts can field as line soldiers. Never expect to defeat them without a good deal of Neitos and other heavy troops because they are very tough, even if they don't look like it at first. If Gallic factions at least have this choice, the poor Casse will rely mostly on their low quality levies and their champions are often too small to be effective, so the outcome is predictable.

This intrigues me as I have never experienced any trouble against the Sweboz when I've been playing the Celts. Is there any specific Sweboz line unit the Celts can't stand up against that you'd like to mention? I'm checking this out in custom battle as we speak, and it would be good to have some examples.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Every faction gets its "Year In History" pop-up. Stop playing Romaioi I say and get to know the marvellous other factions. :yes:

Bah, who do you think I am? A mad, babbling and drooling EB Romani fanboy savage? :laugh4: I have played other factions, and as I have stated, I enjoy playing Epirius. I know all the factions get the messages. What I was saying was that if you look at the "Year In History" pop-ups, half or even more of the stuff there is about the Romani. With the remainder about the Successor states. BTW, when do those messages end? I know there is a year when they do, but I forgot what it was.

[Subotan]

I'm obliged to say Epeiros, thanks to my ongoing AAR, but I really like Baktria. It's got flexible soldiers, easily defensible backyard (Get India to fuel your campaigns) and a mixture of intersting enemies, with Greeks, Nomads and Easterns within a javelins distance of each other. Nice colour scheme too.

[Aemilius Paulus]

This intrigues me as I have never experienced any trouble against the Sweboz when I've been playing the Celts. Is there any specific Sweboz line unit the Celts can't stand up against that you'd like to mention? I'm checking this out in custom battle as we speak, and it would be good to have some examples.

Yeah, you're right; I was wondering about that myself. I remember back in the early versions of EB, the Sweboz had loads of elite units that are now deemed as either ahistorical or too small in numbers to make a difference. Currently, the Sweboz have one of the weakest unit rosters, much stronger than Saba of course, but still weak. All they get are crappy spear levies pretty much and their Gaizoz Frije spam is only pathetic, albeit annoying. Slaganz possess AP attack, but they are still crappy, having low defence - the Celtic Axemen are much, much better, being an exceedingly effective unit worthy of being a "Surprisingly Good". Dugunthiz are woefully underpowered in comparison to the above-average standard line spearmen of other factions. Druhtiz Herusku are relatively nice, but once again, their defence is pitiful and they are available in only one province. Herunautoz are their only decent non-elite infantry, and those still have lower than average defence for their troop type. The only truly threatening Sweboz units are Speutagardaz, Thegnoz Drugule and the Herthaganautoz (bodyguards). But all of those are usually fielded in very meager quantities.

[Mediolanicus]

Bah, who do you think I am? A mad, babbling and drooling EB Romani fanboy savage? :laugh4: I have played other factions, and as I have stated, I enjoy playing Epirius. I know all the factions get the messages. What I was saying was that if you look at the "Year In History" pop-ups, half or even more of the stuff there is about the Romani. With the remainder about the Successor states. BTW, when do those messages end? I know there is a year when they do, but I forgot what it was.

I think it was around 212 they stopped.

I agree that the Romani are fun just because of the office traits and the triumphs etc...
I don't really have a favorite faction... I just like them all...

[The Celtic Viking]

Yeah, you're right; I was wondering about that myself. I remember back in the early versions of EB, the Sweboz had loads of elite units that are now deemed as either ahistorical or too small in numbers to make a difference. Currently, the Sweboz have one of the weakest unit rosters, much stronger than Saba of course, but still weak. All they get are crappy spear levies pretty much and their Gaizoz Frije spam is only pathetic, albeit annoying. Slaganz possess AP attack, but they are still crappy, having low defence - the Celtic Axemen are much, much better, being an exceedingly effective unit worthy of being a "Surprisingly Good". Dugunthiz are woefully underpowered in comparison to the above-average standard line spearmen of other factions. Druhtiz Herusku are relatively nice, but once again, their defence is pitiful and they are available in only one province. Herunautoz are their only decent non-elite infantry, and those still have lower than average defence for their troop type. The only truly threatening Sweboz units are Speutagardaz, Thegnoz Drugule and the Herthaganautoz (bodyguards). But all of those are usually fielded in very meager quantities.

I wouldn't say that they are that bad, but far better than the Celtic soldiers? Hardly. In my testing (which I admit wasn't too expansive, just a few select ones) the bataroas readily defeated the opposition - until I put them up against those Xenu-warriors, that is. You know, those Germanic swordsmen. They turned the tables before the Celts had time to shout "rabo"; but then again they're not supposed to be plentiful, and they really aren't. Haven't seen them in a campaign when I haven't played the Sweboz, to tell the truth. It's pretty much just Gaizoz Frije backed up by more Gaizoz Frije and then a general, as you say. :shame:

[Ibn-Khaldun]

I have couple of favourite factions.

1. Qarthadastim - I just love destroying Romani with them. I have started so many campaigns with them only because I want to go against Romans!:laugh4:
2. Arche Seleukeia - Always fun faction to play because of the many enemies and fighting styles they have(phalangists, horse archers etc)
3. Romani - From time to time it's nice to go and 'bring' civilization to unwashed barbarians.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Well, in my Romani campaign, the Sweboz are second, after me, in the military power graph. They have a truly gigantic military, more than 15 stacks :skull:. It is true that 40% of those stacks are levy spearmen, but the rest, the rest is much better. The Sweboz definitely have numbers on their side, but I have amassed six full stacks, half of them all elite, and the other half made up of still very good troops, veterans of my previous campaigns in Gaul and Iberia. I have also created swarms of spies and assassins, more than thirty agents total to sabotage, cause riots and open gates. Then after about 25 years of building up, I struck in one turn and taken 5 settlements in the same turn. I waited for two years, and captured four more. In between I was annihilating their numerous field armies. In the end, I destroyed the Sweboz in no more than five years!

So even with their crappy troops, they still pose quite a challenge. My Roman Empire was already at more than a hundred territories when I took on the Sweboz. I also had the benefit of the Marian Reforms and armies of Camillian Triarii and Pedites Extraordianrii. Not to mention that I heavily recruited Neitos, Cordinau Orca, Mori Gaesum, Iosatae, Balearic Slingers, Misthophoroi Phalangitai, and Merceanry Hellenic Generals as heavy cavalry to supplement my armies.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

It's not that the Sweboz line is incredibly strong. They're just... surprising. I once lost an entire stack of Cisalpine Gallic warriors against their Dugunthiz, levy spearmen and their uber general, but they had nothing more. I think their hardened and command star rich FM's are really the biggest difference.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Well, in my Romani campaign, the Sweboz are second, after me, in the military power graph. They have a truly gigantic military, more than 15 stacks :skull:. It is true that 40% of those stacks are levy spearmen, but the rest, the rest is much better. The Sweboz definitely have numbers on their side, but I have amassed six full stacks, half of them all elite, and the other half made up of still very good troops, veterans of my previous campaigns in Gaul and Iberia. I have also created swarms of spies and assassins, more than thirty agents total to sabotage, cause riots and open gates. Then after about 25 years of building up, I struck in one turn and taken 5 settlements in the same turn. I waited for two years, and captured four more. In between I was annihilating their numerous field armies. In the end, I destroyed the Sweboz in no more than five years!

So even with their crappy troops, they still pose quite a challenge. My Roman Empire was already at more than a hundred territories when I took on the Sweboz. I also had the benefit of the Marian Reforms and armies of Camillian Triarii and Pedites Extraordianrii. Not to mention that I heavily recruited Neitos, Cordinau Orca, Mori Gaesum, Iosatae, Balearic Slingers, Misthophoroi Phalangitai, and Merceanry Hellenic Generals as heavy cavalry to supplement my armies.

This right here is why my fav faction are the Sweboz. It takes empire of incredible sizes YEARS, not turns, YEARS to take them down.
Also this is probably the faction that the AI does BEST with, IMHO of course. I mean on all of the AI progress maps i have seen the Sweboz are the most consistent expansion faction. Even Aemilius's reporyt shows that. I mean 15 FULL STACKS, spawned from slow growth low start pop settements there gotta be SOMETHING to them right?

[Phalanx300]

My favorite faction, is ofcourse without a doubt the mighty Koinen Hellenon.

Why? Well the main reason is that Sparta is a member of them, I'm a extremely big fan of the real ancient Sparta, because of how they lived and their culture their stubbornness:sweatdrop:. Basicly everything about them.

Then you have the fact that it is made up of Greek city states, which I'm a extremely big fan off.:2thumbsup:

And then you have the Hoplites, which I'm also a extremely big fan off:yes:.

So its the perfect faction for me:whip:!


On the second place is the Sweboz, why? Well I have to admit, Patriotic reasons, as I have Germanic blood flowing inside me:beam:. Seeing as I'm Dutch (above the Rhine so probably quite some Germanic, and maybe some Celtic too).

[KozaK13]

Arche Seleukia becuase you can use the standard Phalanx army but each army has a regional style depending where they are made, plus there is some glee drived from being in a crisis, with Pahlava closing on Mesopotamia and fighting gruelling wars in Asia Minor.

Also Ptolemoi as they look good and have a mch more relaxed campaign in my opinion.

[Smeel]

Hmm, though I've played with Rome the most, I'd say KH and Sweboz. And Rome. And Macedon.

And Aedui.
Darnit, as long as you line up and run right into your enemy screaming, I'm good.

[HunGeneral]

I haven't been playing EB too long yet and I like most of the factions but if I had too say which I like most:

Makedonia: A good unit selection and many possibilieties of expansion (fighting Epeiros can become a true nightmare:dizzy2: if not killed rightaway) and after that peaceful growth before the next campaign. Problem is that to get the best pikeman you need the march of time event so you have to spare the romans:wall:( I have nothing against them but I wishI could avoid to run into thoose reformed Pahlav, Hai, Pontic or even Bactrian General Bodyguards later on - won't be easy).

Epeiros: very simmiler to Makedon except you can start blitzing with Phyross - he is one of the best starting Generals for any faction and his son is also a capeable heir:yes:. Later on you will also get very good troops - and you don't need the romans for it:laugh4: (add evil laugh).

Arche Seleukeia: I was always a Seleukid fan:yes:. I think there troop selection is the best in the hole game. Everything from the classical Alexandros style Macedonian Phalanx Army whith new Hellenistic units to Eastern light troops, Galatian "barbarian" armies all the way to Horse Archer armies with Heavy cavalry/Cartaphract support (my favourite:2thumbsup:). Start is a bit hard. Not to mention all thoose problematic neighbours:whip:
(My favourite plan was to take Europe with the Arche:inquisitive: - I know a crazy plan but I will try it anyway. They have the potential for it:laugh4:)
By the way does anyone know a possible Ancient Greek or Latin expression for "Europe of the Seleukids"????:idea2:

Baktria: much like AS just with a smaller starting position. (Ideal to create an eastern empire - no intentions to go far west).

Ptolemaioi: also like AS but with less troops (maybe more money but it depends).

I don't know the other factions enough to say anything new about them.

[Swebozpower]

Sweboz rules!!!!! When sprigning ambushes with their black-painted naked fanatics, they scare the crap out of... EVERYBODY! (even of the super overpowered romans!!!)

[Elcmar]

Makedonia, without a doubt, followed by Epeiros, then probably the Seleukids

edit: And all great for kicking barbaroi ass :charge:

[Jebivjetar]

1) Macedonia - Romanoi- killers :yes:
2) Chartage- Romanoi- erasers :smash:
3) Pontos- "always outnumbered never outmached" ;-)

[Maion Maroneios]

1) Macedonia - Romanoi- killers :yes:
2) Chartage- Romanoi- erasers :smash:
3) Pontos- "always outnumbered never outmached" ;-)
You, sire, are henceforth one of my favourite dudes around here. Ever bothered to take a look (and maybe join) my Social Group, the Romaioktonoi (Roman-Killers)?

Maion

[Prussian to the Iron]

1. As Sabyn Wal Jau
2. Epirus
3. Romani
4. Makedon

[Prussian to the Iron]

Sweboz rules!!!!! When sprigning ambushes with their black-painted naked fanatics, they scare the crap out of... EVERYBODY! (even of the super overpowered romans!!!)

wow, epic necro post!

[Aemilius Paulus]

wow, epic necro post!
Well, some threads are meant to be revived, especially if you are doing it for threads that have went to the bottom less than half a year ago. You really have not seen epic yet. I remember one 2002 thread surfacing in 2008. But that was necroing with malice and ill intent, unlike this case.

Then again, I doubt the Sweboz are as powerful as that "necromancer" said they were. To me, they always seemed like the weakest EB faction. Everyone has their own strengths but them. All they get is crappy, half-naked infantry. The pikemen they have stink and only the Germanic swordsmen are decent. But other nations get the same swordsmen at 100 men a unit, not 80 (Large Unit Size). Even those elite swordsmen with 60 men a unit are not that great. For a unit that has 60 men, they are surprisingly mediocre.

[Prussian to the Iron]

well, i guess gameplay wise they suck, but history-wise, they were obviiously significant enough to be put in, so they must have been really good or something....

[Aemilius Paulus]

well, i guess gameplay wise they suck, but history-wise, they were obviiously significant enough to be put in, so they must have been really good or something....
Significant is the key. The EB team does not care how good or how popular a faction is. Historical accuracy is the key. If the Romans were not significant enough of a power in 400 BC, then the EB team would most likely not put them if they made an Ancient TW. Also, despite their pathetic un its, the Germans were numerous and elusive in their arboreal homeland.

They were also fierce fighters, and since they bordered the Roman Empire, but when unconquered, they were a constant thorn on the side of the Romans. Thanks to the fact they bordered Romans, we know quite a bit about them, or at least more then we know about the Eastern European tribes who never made it to the game because no one bothered to write about them, or the writings simply disappeared.

[Prussian to the Iron]

right i said they were most likely significant to have been put in.