Baktria v. 1.1 Spoilers...

Hello All,

This is my first post to the site. So, first, let me just complement everyone here on an excellent mod. I have whiled away many an hour in the Middle East where about the only thing to do in my spare time is read or play computer games. So far, I've played through Makedon (v. 0.8), Sweboz (v. 1.0), and now Baktria (v. 1.1). One thing that I really like about this mod is that it rewards developing a strategy to fit the strengths of the faction. Also, I generally try playing the first couple of hours over again about 5 or 6 times before I hit on a strategy that works. I play on VH H. I do not play on VH VH as it just strains credulity at times. Here are some observations on what has worked (and not worked for me). The only Mod of the Mod that I use is the Barbarian Invasion mod.

1. I started off taking Kochen. I'm don't think that this was necessary, but it was an easy target, had a mine, and never seems to get attacked. Thus, it provided a steady source of income and a way of reducing troop levels while gaining experience. I was tempted to continue moving South and East, but each time, AS declared war on me. This left Baktria dangerously exposed with the bulk of my troops a year and a half or more of gametime away.

2. Baktria is surrounded by creampuff cities ripe for the taking. Concentrate early conquest on the AS cities in the immediate surroundings. The goal of this early conquest needs to be to Karmana. (I'm not sure of the spelling of this city.) This city has a fabulous mine and is a stepping off point for seizing Gabai followed by Zadrucka. (I know these aren't spelled right...my apologies.)

3. Build walls as soon as possible. For cities that will be the target of raids by the Saka and Pahlava factions, build stone walls ASAP as they will provide an excellent platform for your archers. Even a pallisade will give needed time to gather a response to a raiding group.

4. I've found Persian Archer Spearmen to be a great economical unit to use that also has versatility. Sure, their range is less than specialist archers, but they are very useful. Also, I have made liberal use of assassains. The purchase cost of the unit dropped down to 250 making them very economic. I send out the level one or two ones out right away in a sink or swim education approach. Assassain geniuses I keep back for training. I have found assassains particularly useful, which is interesting considering the entymology of the word. Presently, I have 3 Master Assassains. 2 along the AS border and 1 patrolling the steppes killing off new generals before the become bigger problems. Spies are also used liberally to ensure as much advanced warning off the coming steppe raiders, who can ruin your whole day.

5. Once you have stabilized the AS situation and seized Zadrucka, Karmana, and Gabai as well as the other cities in the surrounding area, it is time to concentrate your attentions on the Sak and Phalava. I seized Nisa very quickly to deny Pahlava of the mines there. Also, it was easily defensible and links up with Zadrucka. After that, I played defense against Pahlava and focused my attentions against the Saka. The reason for this is that I wanted to retain Pahlava as a buffer against Saur AND I wanted to secure my rear. The Saka conquest took longer than anticipated as they seemed to conquer one additional city after another. In all, it took roughly 10 years.

6. Currently, with Saka secure, I'm going to finish securing my rear and continue South to the Indus while continuing to play defense against Pahlava, which has been extremely quiet as of late, and AS, which must be having problems in the West. The secondary focus during this time is using my builder generals to consturct second generation mines, which should provide the economy with an unbeatable economic platform.

7. Sallying is your friend. As I've played this mod more and more, I've increasingly relied on sallying. My garrison troops are the afore mentioned Persian Archers, which make up 60% or more of the garrison with one unit of spear phalanx, and a general or other calvary unit. Generally, on the first sally, I focus on eliminating the soft targets. I generally don't go after the harder units until the second sally. Also, I use pre-emptive strikes whenever possible even when heavily outnumbered. The area outside of Gabai has been one killing field for AS. I seize the high ground and place my heavy infantry there. I then advance my archers and rain death and destruction upon the enemies. If the infranty starts coming, I retreat up the long hill. Exhausted, any troops remaining are cut down by my fresh infantry units.

8. Using my general as bait then retreating behind the phalanx was an extremely effective tactic against both Pahlava and Saka. With that said, I have found Pahlava to be much more effective aganst my methods than the Saka. While I win a majority of battles against each, my casualities are always appalling when facing off against Phalava.

9. Take the time to build watchtowers in strategic passess. These are invaulable and worth every penny.

10. When fighting against either Saka or Pahlava, make sure to have an army well stocked with Subeshi foot archers. The additional range can be a life saver.

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Here are a few open questions that I have:

1. Do different ethnicities impact where generals should be governing. I haven't noticed much impact from having the ethnic steppe/hellene general govern in the steppes. Also, would an Indus General do better governing in the Sind?

2. As of yet, I've seen no reason to build a single boat. They just seem too expensive and not worth the effort. Would anyone say anything differently given the strategy outlined above?


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That is all I can think about right now. Thanks again to everyone whose efforts went in to building an amazing mod.

1. Do different ethnicities impact where generals should be governing. I haven't noticed much impact from having the ethnic steppe/hellene general govern in the steppes. Also, would an Indus General do better governing in the Sind?

I haven't played Bactria yet, but I know that the different ethnicities will impact a general/governor's traits and ancillaries.

Likewise, I haven't played Bactria either, but I know that for the KH it makes a lot of difference what kind of town a character governs. Athenians and Ionians will become very unhappy and cause a lot of discontent in type I governments (which is the Agoge for the KH), while Spartans and Kretans don't do well in type II's. It's probably less extreme for other factions, but do pay attention to the ethnicity descriptions. I am not sure if a character can recognize where he is, though. If an Indian does better at type III governments, it will do so regardless of whether the type II is in India or on the Ionian see.

Fleets are cripplingly expensive, so unless you often need marine transport or are regularly fighting pirates/enemy navies, it's best to keep a minimal fleet. Remember also that a unit's upkeep is generally a quarter of their recruitment price, so if you have no use for them in the coming year it might be better to disband them.

Heh welcome. Baktria is one of my all time favorite factions.

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Originally Posted by Todd

8. Using my general as bait then retreating behind the phalanx was an extremely effective tactic against both Pahlava and Saka. With that said, I have found Pahlava to be much more effective aganst my methods than the Saka. While I win a majority of battles against each, my casualities are always appalling when facing off against Phalava.

1. Do different ethnicities impact where generals should be governing. I haven't noticed much impact from having the ethnic steppe/hellene general govern in the steppes. Also, would an Indus General do better governing in the Sind?

2. As of yet, I've seen no reason to build a single boat. They just seem too expensive and not worth the effort. Would anyone say anything differently given the strategy outlined above?

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8. Yea the Parthians have a much stronger roster and position then the Saka, *have access to much better armoured cataphracts archers, normal cataphracts that are all better and different types, more and better medium armoured archers, much better settlements population and income wise,* and definitely are the bigger threat.

1. IIRC, there are only three faction that have that problem, and it's like Ludens said, it doesn't matter the province but the type of government there. Just the makedonians, greeks, and the epeiros have that problem. In the actually ethnic trait it will say if they have a problem governing a type of government.

2. No, there is no need for a fleet. The sad little trade income you get from the persian gulf trade doesn't warrant the costs of a decent fleet to defend your ports. Your main income will come from land taxes and mines, and later you can make a pretty penny through land trade once you get the markets big enough. The only use I can see for a fleet is to launch an invasion force from India to strike at Babylon, Arabia, or Egypt.

I usually try and Eliminate Pahlava as soon as I can, or at least gain access to the Caspian. That way, I gwt a metric f*ckton of trade, and I can usually climb way out of debt within 5 years.

Incidently, why aren't thee any Baktrian AARs? Might have to do one myself...

cuz it's hectic, fighting a gajillion battles with a bundle of HA until a proper army can be fielded

Could one really take out Pahlava from Baktria in the early game? It strikes me as a bridge too far on the VH setting. I found my hands pretty full just locking horns with AS in the early game. Then, I chose Saka to target next because they were only expanding into me which brought us into conflict immediately. Has anyone successfully implemented this strategy in v. 1.1 on VH/H?

Todd