wealthy places near AS

[artaxerxes]

being a rather inexperienced EB player who hasnt got EB in the vicinity right now, but still can't stop making strategies in his mind, I was wondering - Exactly what are the wealthiest regions (in the long run - after building up economies there) that are accessible for conquest by the AS early on.... I'm thinking, perhaps the mines of Asia Minor... But what of Egypt - historically it was fabulously wealthy, but is the wealth generated by a pacified and economically restored Egypt in EB really fabulous, or is it just more or less ordinary?

[Tellos Athenaios]

Due to the way RTW works, you will want to gain control over as many 'shores' as possible. Therefore, your war with the Ptolemaioi is not merely something 'to get your VC's'; it's probably one of the single most lucrative entrerprises your empire will embark on. There are a number of other such lucrative trading hubs: the Aechean, the Black Sea... Also, don't forget that the Persian Gulf and to a lesser extend the Red Sea and the Caspian Sea are not to be dismissed as too much of a hassle to bother either.

Apart from that, mines are always nice; so Baktria & surroundings; as well as the Indos valley and the Caucassus are good pickings too. Plus, if you are smart you can easily keep the Saka at bay with some well-placed armies; and if you control the Indos you can stick a few of those longbow-men for double-duty service too...

[artaxerxes]

Thx. I didn't know about the 'shores'-thing - Provinces with shores generate more wealth or? Is this something one can feel even without ports, and which ports then multiply, or is it only after building up the naval trade system, that it becomes a factor?

[Digby Tatham Warter]

Make sure you have all the trade agreements you can get, partic with factions with coastal cities.
Take Greece, both for the excellent trade and mines(partic pella-9,000 per turn). My own Seleukid campaign is only in profit because I have Greece, Empire is now big(with lots of large mines)and I am building up newly captured settlements, I have 3 very strong fields armies(with Nel's) and very expensive fleets(I am not loosing any of my vet armies at sea).

[-Praetor-]

Thx. I didn't know about the 'shores'-thing - Provinces with shores generate more wealth or? Is this something one can feel even without ports, and which ports then multiply, or is it only after building up the naval trade system, that it becomes a factor?

It`s because of the sea trade. It`s incredibly lucrative. Off course, you have to build ports and upgrade them later.

[Pezlu]

Also, shores inside small "closed" seas are far more lucrative, especially if you have multiple regions bordering that sea. For example the adriatic, the aegean, th black sea; even if you have only one city there, it will trade with a lot of neighbouring regions, and your trade income will be quite high.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Do what the Seleucids tried to do historically - take all the Ptolemaic coastal cities from Asia Minor all the way to Libya. Once you've got all their ports and sea trade, you'll be rich and they'll be poor.

Make peace with KH for lots more trade income. They're too busy fighting Macedon to be any threat to you.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Since nobody has mentioned yet....
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Apart from that, mines are always nice; so Baktria & surroundings; as well as the Indos valley and the Caucassus are good pickings too. Plus, if you are smart you can easily keep the Saka at bay with some well-placed armies; and if you control the Indos you can stick a few of those longbow-men for double-duty service too...

... you mean like that?