Ancient TW2: ATHENIAN FACTION (RoP)

Athens shouldn't need too much of an introduction, except to say that at the beginnng of the scenario it was still bit of a backwater compared to the huge empires in the eastern side of the map. Being in the heartland of the hellenic world, the faction begins with a purely Greek unit roster, and will need to expand its territory to pick up some more specialised or exotic troop types.

UNITS:

- early

• Enomotia hopliton (Royal)
• Archaic archers
• Polemiste
• Akondiste
• Rhodean slingers
• Cretan archers
• Hippeis
• Heavy slingers
• Athenian Hoplites
• Theban Sacred Band*

- high (changes)

• Athenian Hoplites (royal)
• Classical Enomotia hopliton
• Peltasts (replace akondiste)
• Toxotes (replace Archaic archers)
• Hippeis akontistes (replace Hippeis)
• Enomotia ekdromon
• Gastraphetes

- late (changes)

• Yficratian hoplites (royal)
• Xistophoroi hippeis
• Oxivolos
• Euthitonon

*This unit is available to all Greek factions in the province (labelled Aetolia, as it was originally defined for the Alexander campaign)

To the south are the Argives, and to the north there are two rebel provinces - Thessaly and Epirus. Thessalian cavalry are only available in their home province, so it looks like a good first move. However, at the beginning, even with the silver mines of Attica to draw upon, money will be tight. Epirus is a richer province, and benefits from copper deposits, allowing for a weapon upgrade. The trick is to get there before the Macedonians, and doing it in such a way as to not leave your home province looking too tempting for the Argives... It can also be difficult to take Thessaly before the Lydians do.

The Athenians, although not a naval power at the beginning, can fast-track their naval development by building new facilities at Piraeus (a new faction- and province-unique building), and they have a cost-bonus for pentikonters.

Expanding to the south means facing the Argives and then the Spartans, but their provinces are in the core Hellenic recruitment zone, allowing more facilities for training those hoplites etc. To the north, Greek units are available all the way up to Agriana, with Illyrian and Thracian units becoming available from Macedonia and further north. Looking further afield, there are a handful of overseas provinces suitable for establishing colonies which will be able to recruit both Greek and local units - but this will require a major investment in infrastucture. Taking a foothold in Asia Minor will also open up Lydian and Phrygian recruitment zones, along with further Greek zones in Ionia, Bithynia and Paphlagonia.