The factions with the best armies in EB

western hemisphere: close race between Quart Hadasht, Romani (gah), Makedonia (i love the pheraspidai).

eastern hemisphere: Baktria for sure. The variety of thier unit roster has arleady
been mentioned so i just add they all look very sexy ~D (the early baktrian bodyguard is the most beautiful and unique unit i´ve ever seen in a RTW mod, cant wait to see the late version).

And kudos to the baktrian FC(s), he (they) managed to create to the most impressive EB campaign experience IMHO (everything just feels right, there´s nothing that could break the immersion)

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Originally Posted by Krusader

...Hetairoi Kataphraktoi...

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hetairoi......KATAPHRAKTOI ?! omg...teh pwnz...

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Originally Posted by Bootsiuv

I'm fairly certain the missile protection for phalanxes is hardcoded, so there isn't much one can do. I may be wrong, though.

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I am not so sure about that, though. I've heard it claimed several times, but I've never seen tests that prove that phalanx had increased defensive values. Also, EB phalangites have higher shield values than units with similar shield to indicate the protective function of the pike hedge. To balance it out, they have a reduced defence value.

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Originally Posted by Bootsiuv

HA heavy factions like Pahlava and Saka Rauka usually have suck infantry (barring the Saka's Hellenic Reforms, which don't even work right in the current version IIRC), so they aren't amongst the best overall.

HA armies can be devestating in the field, but trying to take cities like Seleukiea and Antioch with Nizag Gund isn't ideal. I suppose you can use Mercenaries to supplement the HA's, but that's not really the Pahlavan military, that's the Pahlavan military with non-Pahlavan troops.

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There is no fortification so strong that money cannot capture it ~;)

But that's some Roman politician who got his hands cut off...

Well that's the thing really; A good Pahlava player will slaughter any army with almost minimal effort and with minimal losses, making them one of the most deadly foes in an open field battle (Well, they should be, but the AI is a putz); Especially later on fielding those lethal tanks, the AI is almost chanceless unless the player is incompetent. This is of course offset by the fact that the Pahlava, in difference to the Achaemenids and the Sassanids (Who were among the best in siege-craft) were unable to conduct offensive siege-craft (Which is weird considering their excellent fortifications).

As Pahlava you are forced to make use of a combo of heavy cavalry and horse-archers; Baktria has the potential of matching the Pahlava cavalry (And are the only other faction able to do so, with Hayasdan with a slightly weaker roster). Arche Seleukeia is a behemoth with both super-powerful cavalry and infantry, but do not have the "My little Ponies from hell" of Pahlava, Baktria, Hayasdan and Saka. AS is actually more comparable to the late Pontic army. I'd say depending on mentality, you'll either find the Pahlava armies to be extremely flexible and effective, or if you want the most complete roster, Baktria is a better bet than AS. The worst possible enemies against Pahlava will be Sauromatae but especially Saka; Baktria's worst enemy will be hubris :grin:

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Originally Posted by Krusader

Baktria can if they seize Gandhara and Paropamisadai have access to all units for any battlefield role of any quality, except elite pikemen. Which is actually pretty sick, considering they can field devastating armies for any task from only 5 provinces.
Elephants, skirmishers, archers, assault infantry, elite spearmen, heavy cavalry, super-heavy cavalry (Hetairoi Kataphraktoi, cavalry as armored as the Grivpanvar, hopefully you'll love 'em. We do ), Pezhetairoi, Thorakitai, horse archers, light cavalry etc.

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Gah! You leaked the name of the Baktrian beast :hmg:

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Originally Posted by The Persian Cataphract

Baktria's worst enemy will be hubris :grin:

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In game that goes for everyone... :yes: (And if you knew its other meaning...)

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Originally Posted by The Persian Cataphract

Gah! You leaked the name of the Baktrian beast :hmg:

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Drop the Jägermeister. :wink:
It has been mentioned before actually. But people have the memory span of a goldfish :laugh4:

Yeah apparently myself included :shame:

All I can say is if people were freaked out by the Grivpanvar, they will be pretty flabbergasted by the Hetairoi Kataphraktoi.

Saka has a pretty good unit roster after the reforms, it can match the bactrian one. The combination of hellenic and steppe military is almost invincible.

Well, I still like to see the Grivpânvar attack and fail against the Thorakitai Argyraspidai...
Now, so Persian Catraphact doesn't become too upset with me (and kick me out of the voicemod because of being a traitor to my voice :p) I can say they fail... with style... :smoking:

Hetairoi Kataphraktoi....**shudders at the thought of these guys caving in one of my flanks**..:sweatdrop:

oh well, you all have no clue what beautiful units we are going to include in the next EB....:laugh4:

most factions are powerful but i have to say cataphracts make a big difference, they just seem to have a charge thats literally 10 times better than other heavy cav. i think they are a bit too powerful in frontal charges though... losing 40% of a unit of elite heavy infantry who are prepared, shields up in guard mode seems a bit much. but i guess its this way to give people a reason to train spearmen.

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Originally Posted by Lysander13

Definately one of the Diadochi i would say, i'd go with the AS in particular. The army the "silver death" can potentially put in the field is just sick.

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I'm another AS fan. I personally judge the best army by how effectively it can destroy another army, and in doing so, incur the least casualties.

I have played most factions and found AS to have an excellent roster if their varius provinces(East & West) contribute, to make up the best all round force(they also overall look the best). Sarrisa based forces equate to few melee casualties(if protected properly) and can absorb lot's of firepower.

I don't rate Bakria over AS as they are light on the elite pikes and elite supports.
As for armoured horse achers, I would rather field fast horse archers(along side the Companions/Kataphracts) as they offer the versatility of their excellent pursuit during the route(few enemy generals escape them).

When fighting factions using horse archers, I prefer AS's Syrian foot archers protected by a pike wall, that and elite heavy cav units working in pairs usually equate to low casualties.

I hope the AS get an Agema cavalry unit... Seing as Livy and Arrian both mention them as a separate unit from the hetaroi...

Cheers...

And we AS fans will get much more new and wonderful units to play with in the next release... Oh yeah, you can completely abandon the phalanx based armies if you so desire. But of course nothing beats the combination of both the phalanx AND the new powerful units. :wink:

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Originally Posted by mAIOR

I hope the AS get an Agema cavalry unit... Seing as Livy and Arrian both mention them as a separate unit from the hetaroi...

Cheers...

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As far as we can tell, they were equipped the same as the Hetairoi. The only difference is in their name. Hetairoi for men of Greek/Makedonian origin and Agema for men of Iranian/Median origin. Having the other unit would be superfluous.

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Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios

And we AS fans will get much more new and wonderful units to play with in the next release... Oh yeah, you can completely abandon the phalanx based armies if you so desire. But of course nothing beats the combination of both the phalanx AND the new powerful units. :wink:

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Are we talking horsiemen or infantry, please enlighten us(even at the great risk to your goodself from the EB council, for giving to much away)

The Saka reforms are broken in 0.81a v2?

No they are not really broken: it's that somehow the Marian reforms (Vanilla, mind you) did not get removed. This is fixed in the next build; and currently you can either fix it yourself or you can go through all the requirements INCLUDING waiting till a city other than Roma reaches the 24k size.

The Lusotannans have acess to the Dosedastakeli, those guys are the most powerful unit in the entire game I believe.

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Originally Posted by Caveira

The Lusotannans have acess to the Dosedastakeli, those guys are the most powerful unit in the entire game I believe.

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Possibly, but that's only 1 unit, and it is very unrealistic to have an army of them.

Not to mention prohibitlivly expensive even for rich folks of the Iberian peninsula.

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Originally Posted by Digby Tatham Warter

Are we talking horsiemen or infantry, please enlighten us(even at the great risk to your goodself from the EB council, for giving to much away)

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Heliopolis Elephantes. Two elephants carrying a massive ballista on their backs. You can even set the missiles on fire.

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Originally Posted by Krusader

Heliopolis Elephantes. Two elephants carrying a massive ballista on their backs. You can even set the missiles on fire.

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Now I'm not sure if your being serious after all that mick take out of CA, what with their elephant cannon bearers in MTWII. C'mon Krusader, we're crusading for the truth here.

Even if you aren't telling pork pies, I bet they will cost about much as those top of the line fleets that Arche Seleueia sail the brimy seas in! Think about it EB prices(not cheap) +Nellies(expensive) +Artill(expensive)=(quess what) bloody expensive!

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Originally Posted by Krusader

Heliopolis Elephantes. Two elephants carrying a massive ballista on their backs. You can even set the missiles on fire.

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gee, whats next? The Hetairoi M1A2 Abramsioi? ~D

Nah, Thorakitai Chobamoi and Merkavai Hoplitai for KH...

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Originally Posted by Digby Tatham Warter

Are we talking horsiemen or infantry, please enlighten us(even at the great risk to your goodself from the EB council, for giving to much away)

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Both of course! :grin:

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Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios

Both of course! :grin:

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Thanking you kindly.

Ps, what about this Nellie artill contraption, was it in jest?