1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

**PriestLizard** · 11-17-2008, 18:43

Young Baktria of mine at its climax of power. Around 260BC I found myself in war with all three neighbouring factions (Saka, AS, Pahlava). While the AS seemed to be busy with the Ptolemaioi in the west, the war against Pahlava pushed me into a campaign against their small empire. Using some bold moves (counter-attacking their lands while they siege Baktra), Theodotos managed to conquer their two cities and destroy the whole faction.

It wasnt much of help.

Later in 255BC the AS continued their expedition against Baktria and sent a full stack (almost 4000 men [huge]), conquering Alexandreia-Ariana and Antiocheia-Margiane. As this was not enough, the Saka also attacked with an almost full stack of horse archers and footmen, sieging Baktra several times.

I really dont know how you can prevail as Baktria on VH (campaign map). As you can see on the picture above, I have a fairly good battle record of 25-2... even though I had some hard times against Pahlava and their horse archers. Still, I almost end up in war with all three factions arround me which seems just too much! Maybe I was too risky this time... anyway...

In 251BC there was a full stack of AS near Baktra and a full stack from Saka sieging Baktra. I only had Baktra and Kophen left, no army, no allies, low economy... thats when I surrendered. Thats the result:

The seleucids had conquered Baktra and the rebels took Kophen. That happened when I moved one FM (Petrokles Marakandaios) from Kophen to Krete... with the help of some cheated money (my RPG goes that he used the private stash of Basileus Theodotos... as Petrokles was a very selfish and disloyal man) and mercenary, I took Krete to stay in the game and moved the capital to that island.

Now I have some kind of Observer campaign where I want to see where the game goes for a while... I will just try to keep my (Petrokles') personal island as long as possible and maybe even conquer some more if its possible...

Anyway, you guys have some advice which (serious) campaign I should start where I have a chance of actually finishing the campaign (means "victory")? I dont know whats my problem, either economy (build-up style) or diplomacy... its not about the battles, I'm doing OK with that. I thought about trying Epeiros again (I had a good campaign going before I switched to ALX.exe) or Seleucids because I really like them... I'm a little bit tired of successor armies though and Seleucids will be as hard as Baktria I guess (because of MANY enemies).

What do you suggest? I'm looking for a decent challenge... but also something where I can actually win the campaign.

Halps... :(

**Ignopotens** · 11-17-2008, 21:40

Try Getai, just take a city or two right away, then disband the army until you can get back in the black. You'll usually end up fighting Epiros, Mak, and/or KH, but usually not for a while.

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 11-17-2008, 22:21

That's a really cool story, PriestLizard! Take on the KH, and form yourself a Hellenic Empire again! Baktria in Hellas seems extremely funny to me.

**XSamatan** · 11-18-2008, 00:15

My ongoing AS campain, 270 BC, VH/M

At the first turn, Pahlava betrayed me. Third turn, I lost Sogdiane to the Rebels.

I took my remainig forces in this area and blitzted the Pahlave capital, nearly lost it the next turn against a 100% mercenery army

All levies from south gathered for a counter attack to Astauene, as they could not reach the besieged city in time, currently they lay siege (5 turns remaing)

Hayasdan and Baktria keeping peace, but Baktrix seems to be high mobile... they will take Sagdiane the next turns.

In the West, I decided to train as much levy phalangites as my treasure could afford, an marched against the holdings of Ptolemaio in Kilikia, with no bad losses i took them, This Army is currently on way to pontos, and will take this out, his army was 3 times near Mazaka, that is enough!!

To the south Ptolemaios made a serious mistake, he withdrew all tropps (except FM) from Sidon

, so I took this Invitation with pleasure!

so long, Update will follow...

XSamatan

**PriestLizard** · 11-20-2008, 15:37

Good luck with your campaign XSamatan. I plan to play an AS campaign too once my AAR is over. I'm curious though if its possible to succeed with AS on VH/M... and since you play on these settings I will eagerly follow your campaign progression. Make sure to post some updates now and then... :)

**XSamatan** · 11-20-2008, 22:17

An AS-Campaign is not easy, but you can't compare that to something like Hayasdan or Parthya, the difficulty is that you have from beginning on at least two fronts, against the Parhians in the east and against the Ptolemaio to the west and south. If the Hay and Baktrix attack you too, it will be your nightmare.

In my campaign (s. below) I have the luck that I have only two enemies, Parthia and Ptolemaio, so I can concentrate my troops.

UPDATE from my AS campaing 270BC

Europe:
Carthies&Lusos: typicall prgression so far, nothing extraordinary
Aedui&Arverni: many small battles between them, but no winner in sight
sweboz:normal expansion
romans: Whoa, they are blitzing through Italy and already have massalia and north dalmatia
Maks&KH&Getia&Epirus: cool Epirote expansion, but nothing far
Sauros:on their way to a local superpower

:took their kilikian holdings, captured Sidon and Hierosolyma, last turn I took Salamis from them, some fierce and large battles around Hierosolyma
Hay&saka: nothing to see, some saka armies wandering around my exklave, but no attacks
baktrix:damn, they will take the northest indian town the next turns, strong armies, and I have onlx levies in the east
parthia:currently sieging their last city, it will fall the next turn, bye bye, then I will reorganise the east, get a real army against baktria on the move, against saka I will remain in the defense as long I am not abel to recruit good HA

I had some serious trouble with spawning rebel armie, wha attacked my nearly undefended cities in the heartland of my empire, lost two cities and had to recapture them only with levy spearmen.

Treasery is always low, I make around 7-8000 bonus every turn, enough to build up my economy and recruit levy phalangites but not enough to build a miliary recruit centre in the east to begin with my expansion.

Next goals I want to achive is that I plan to raze Alexandria to weaken the Ptolemaio, attac kthe Hai and build up the defense in the east.

My young heir is at the moment in Asia minor, he will capture city after city, maybe i have to attack Byzantium, to get a good stand at my left flank.

I'm truly sorry for all of you who read this text, my english is not that good,

So long,

XSamatan

**Maion Maroneios** · 11-27-2008, 02:00

Makedonia campaign, 255BC. No real FD usage, except moving Epeiros from Taras to Pergamon. I've also been giving the Eleutheroi 120.000 mnai per turn, which is causing more slow AI expansion and aggressive rebels. Also been giving some cash to the Pahlavan, in order to induce them to invade Seleukid land.

Maion