missiles and archers

**carbz** · 03-13-2008, 15:15

am cioming to the end of a rather fun campaign as selucid. I emean to say i have broken the scippi in africa and secured greece from the brutti, its only a matter of time now.

Im giving consideration to my next faction, and i want to play an missile heavy type campaign.

who would people reccomend?

parthians for horse archers?
egyptians for pharoahs bowmen?

someone else?

**Captn. James Crunch** · 03-13-2008, 16:36

Try the scythians

**Flavius Merobaudes** · 03-13-2008, 17:08

It depends on whether you prefer horse- or foot-archers. Egypt has arguably the best foot-archers, while Persia as well as Armenia ( Cataphract Archers

) are strong on horseback. Barbarian factions have their Elite Archer Warband.
I would advocate for the Scytians, too. Because they are very strong in both fields. Being Barbarian, they have a restricted building tree, but their starting position makes for an interesting and challenging campaign. Quite different from other factions...

**Quintus.JC** · 03-13-2008, 17:18

There are many factions with good missile troops. If you prefer horse archers, who are swifter then foot archers, then go for Scythia or Parthia, or maybe even Numidia. If you like traditional foot archers, then Egypt or Gaul could be good choice. I however will definitely pick Egypt if I want a missile heavy faction, who has a vast array of missile units, Skirmishers, Bowmen, Pharaoh’s bowmen, Chariot Archers, Camel Archers, Early Egyptian bodyguards and Camel Archers. Plus the siege equipments. Bowmen are good early choice missile troops, while later on you get Pharaoh’s bowmen who are no doubt one of the best archer unit in the game, they are also capable of holding there own ground in a melee. Chariot and Camel archers gives them more option as they are very speedy, Chariots have multi-hit points, while I’m not sure if camel archers have bonus against other cavalry, they aren’t expected to fight anyway. Their infantry is also quite impressive, Pharaoh’s guards can make the core while Desert Axemen are awesome against heavily armoured infantry, such as Roman Legions. Their cavalry is less impressive but they have a good variety of them (much better than the Greeks), plus the chariots, which could be a handful if used properly. Their economy is among the best early on due to their position which is also secure from multi-enemy attacks. I would no doubt recommend Egypt.

**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 03-13-2008, 18:24

I'm also inclined to say either Scythia or Parthia. These factions are not just missile heavy - missile units actually have to be a key part of their strategies - especially early on in the game.

**Spartan198** · 03-13-2008, 18:47

I would say Scythia or Armenia. Unlike Parthia,they have good infantry selection (Axemen for Scythia and phalanx-capable Heavy Spearmen and Legionaries for Armenia) as well as missile units (like those afore-mentioned Cataphract Horse Archers of Armenian origib). But Scythia,especially,is a unique experience,partly because they're fairly docile when under AI control and the player usually never conflicts with them (at least I've never been outright attacked).

**Emperor Mithdrates** · 03-13-2008, 19:09

Originally Posted by carbz

am cioming to the end of a rather fun campaign as selucid. I emean to say i have broken the scippi in africa and secured greece from the brutti, its only a matter of time now.

Im giving consideration to my next faction, and i want to play an missile heavy type campaign.

who would people reccomend?

parthians for horse archers?
egyptians for pharoahs bowmen?

someone else?

The simplest and by far the best are the greek archers which you can get in all hellenic and most eastern factions.

**Spartan198** · 03-13-2008, 19:12

And unless you've modded the number of turns for recruitment,Pharaoh's Bowmen can be frusterating to get in numbers.

**Quintus.JC** · 03-13-2008, 20:01

I personally doesn't like barbarian faction, Parthians are too reliant on cavalry (exact opposite of the Greeks). Armenia are good. I do like Pontus though. Their missile cavalry are of good quality, they can also deploy chariot archers.

**Emperor Mithdrates** · 03-13-2008, 20:53

Originally Posted by QuintusJulius-Cicero

I personally doesn't like barbarian faction, Parthians are too reliant on cavalry (exact opposite of the Greeks). Armenia are good. I do like Pontus though. Their missile cavalry are of good quality, they can also deploy chariot archers.

Totaly agree, Pontus are my favourite. Their so different. No one can imagine a barbarian empire, carthage, rome, greece and macedon empires are easy to imagine but Pontus is simply a forgoten eastern faction that deserves a mention.

**Quintus.JC** · 03-13-2008, 21:03

Pontus are my favourite Eastern Faction. Reason are good quality infantry and Cavalry.

**Praetor Rick** · 03-26-2008, 19:33

Originally Posted by carbz

am cioming to the end of a rather fun campaign as selucid. I emean to say i have broken the scippi in africa and secured greece from the brutti, its only a matter of time now.

Im giving consideration to my next faction, and i want to play an missile heavy type campaign.

who would people reccomend?

parthians for horse archers?
egyptians for pharoahs bowmen?

someone else?

No love for the Gauls? Their Forester Warbands are sweet, and available quite early on. Yeah, you need to use their infantry and cavalry too, but I don't see how anybody can win the game as Gaul without realizing that it's the Forester Warbands that win wars.

Of course, I'm a fan of archery heavy army builds anyway - I even stick a bunch of Roman Archers in my pre-Marius Roman armies, and Roman Archers are about as sad as they come.