Which faction should I play first?

[theryo]

I'm sort of new to this game so which faction should I play as to were I won't have everyone in the world trying to kill me at once.

[Incongruous]

Try the Casse, you can take it nice and slow.
Or if you want a factional opponent, try eaither the Adui or the Averni. Apart from being fun these are also highly educational in the oft abused field of celtic history.

[The Errant]

Karth-Hadast. Excellent starting position. No nearby enemies. Great economy and a very interesting unit roster. For anyone starting the game for the first time, it's propably the best faction for an EB introduction.

[Owen the Mighty]

Ya, I'd have to agree with The Errant on this one.......although if you're looking for a challenge, try the Koinon Hellenon....they were the first faction I tried, and although they were tough to play as from the get-go, the military benefits that come later are worth it, such as the inhuman Greek Heavy Hoplite Phalanxes and the Spartans!

My current Carthaginian campaign is coming along nicely, so for stress-free play, try 'em out.

[Wolfman]

I most agree with Bopa and the Erant. Both the Casse and the Carthaginians have Excellent starting positions. But I would also recommend the Saba because they start at the bottom of the map on the arabian peninsula and start out kinda simiular to the before mentioned factions, but also provide a challenge because of the Arche to the North and the Ptolemies to the west. My other Choices are the Getai, Saka, Sweboz, Lusotannan, and both Gallic factions

[pansoiatr]

Try not to pick factions that are already engaged in wars and surrounded by enemies.So avoid epeirus,koinon hellenon and macedonia.Bactria is also very difficult due to great distance between the cities

[Fondor_Yards]

Nah Baktria is pretty easy. Very nice heavy inf/cav/missiles and rich due to the very wealthy area, and weak Saka and Parthians, your only real threat is the Seleucids.

[Veris]

Rome's military is super easy to use to a reasonable degree of efficiency and for awhile you will only be pacifying the rebel cities after kicking out the Epirotes. Changing the reforms to more reasonable dates will make this even better (I use 250/220/195).

The military of successor factions is not going to be as easy as the Romans or the barbarians.

Ignoring the more complicated Steppe factions, Carthage, the Getai, and the Sweboz have good continental start positions and reasonable military, though Carthage might be a bit tricky.

[Laman]

I say Rome is probably the best starting faction. Starts with good economy, easily defended position, no big nasty neighbors that one will have to fight immediately.

[QwertyMIDX]

Changing the reforms to more reasonable dates will make this even better (I use 250/220/195).

In what why are those dates more reasonable? They're certainly less historically accurate.

[Veris]

Oh they certainly are less historically accurate. But playing a 150+ year campaign is very lengthy amount of time considering how long turns take in a large empire, and it's something I don't have the time to do.

[Biggus Diccus]

Try the Casse, you can take it nice and slow.
Or if you want a factional opponent, try eaither the Adui or the Averni. Apart from being fun these are also highly educational in the oft abused field of celtic history.

I tried Casse on VH/M taking it slow and developing my economy. I disbanded my fleet and most of my army on turn 1 and planned to upgrade trade/farming/pop growth. But the rebels laid siege with half a stack of 2-3 chevron infantry around turn 10 so I just gave up.

[Shylence]

Yes I tried with the Casse as my first go on EB.

And i know what you mean about that army who sieges you.
Infact after the siege and the battle that comes after i was on a high it was a great victory. this was probably the 4th or 5th attempt at the Casse first VH/VH
then down to VH/M as the EB people suggest.

Heres what i did.
** Raised taxes to very high.
** Put everyone in town.
** Disband the navy.
Here is where it gets hazy i forget excatly what the army was. but i only disbanded a few units knowing the Caledonian army that lurks around would attack. i think it was the generals. 2 Southern gallic swordsmen and 2 Levy spearmen. maybe it was 4 swordsmen...i cant remember

When the battle begun, after the siege, The Caledonians had placed their rams infront of the door and to the side a bit. Now the town was laid out nicely. The side the Caledonians were attacking from had a clear view to the plaza. they would break through the wall and have a nice wide gap for them to charge straight up the small hill into the town center with a bulding eitherside. so this is how i met them..

I placed my chariots on the top of the hill where the plaza is. Set them to non skirmish and at the bottom of the hill i lined up my troops in a row. set them to guard and fire at will for the swordsmen. with the 4 units in a row that reached either side of the buildings So they could not flank without having to travel round the streets of the settlement. (Which they did not do)

The broke through and charged up skirmished a bit i took minimum caustlies and i basically through my javelins destoryed half the first unit of caledonians.

then they attacked my shield wall (as i called it) and while the first line was gettin choped up by my line the ones at the back were getting hit by the javelins from my chariots.

The battle went on........evntually a few broke and a charged with the chariots which is stupid because they are terrible in melee but it broke the res t and i cut them all down. I was so pleased with myself

My girlfriend wasnt as impressed :laugh4: :laugh4: