Which factions have you played campaigns as?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

It's been a while since we have done this and a lot of new folks are around the forum, so here is the question:

What factions have you played campaigns as? Not a 5 or 10 year campaign, but not necessarily one where you have fulfilled all victory conditions either. Let's say a minimum of 25 years or so (100 turns).

Multiple votes are possible!

[satalexton]

I'f you're talking about 1.1 then I doubt anybody has finished more than one yet, but I've finished a handful of 8.0x and 2 1.0 campaigns =]

[ServiliusAhala]

It's nice to see that everyone have played as Romani

[Cambyses]

This is interesting...

I also tried the Getai in 1.0 but didnt include them in my vote as I gave up reasonably early as it seemed broken with the unit costs and scrambling around with the family members in permenant skirmish mode.

Otherwise all my campaigns have been excellent - Lusotannan especially. I didnt really believe all that stuff about excellent ambushers etc and using that as a viable conquest tactic, but its really true! The style of fighting is totally different. All credit to the EB team for their excellent work.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Nah, pretty much in any version.

[Sarcasm]

I actually haven't played a single campaign or even custom battle of 1.1.

This new job is killing me.

This is interesting...

I also tried the Getai in 1.0 but didnt include them in my vote as I gave up reasonably early as it seemed broken with the unit costs and scrambling around with the family members in permenant skirmish mode.

Otherwise all my campaigns have been excellent - Lusotannan especially. I didnt really believe all that stuff about excellent ambushers etc and using that as a viable conquest tactic, but its really true! The style of fighting is totally different. All credit to the EB team for their excellent work.

Great that you liked it! Any suggestions on making it better for future incarnations of EB?

[Tellos Athenaios]

On that account (pretty much in any version) I would have to include Baktria, Koinon Hellenon, Ptolemaioi, Casse and Aedui. (Only voted for AS, as it's the only one besides the occasional 'hey my games ctds' saves of EB1.1 I have...)

[Cambyses]

re lusotannans.

Well, as you ask

IMO the change that would be of the most benefit is with government levels and AOR. The victory conditions are great and really make you work for your moment of glory. In order to eliminate Carthage, you effectively have to conquer and hold Africa, but cant build anything more than a level 3 govt or train much of anything substantial. Also, the same situation recurs in Gaul. I could see Brihentin and Gallic light cavalry as natives in the recruitment viewer, but actually can never train them due to govt levels.

This makes the campaign challenging and fun, but also quite slow going as all troops need to be trained in two provinces (lusotanna and sucum murgi) before being marched all around the place on basic roads. the Iberians are of course also useful as support. I know every faction - to a point - is in a similar situation, but I would say Lusotannan feels it more than most due to a combination of geography, infrastructure and victory conditions.

I might suggest some type of minor reform that allows some few basic native troop types to be trained outside of Southern Iberia, which represents what would have inevitably happened IMO if a credible overseas empire had in fact been established. (If these reforms would also allow a slightly better ship to be available that would be great as well.) That is Lusotannans developing their culture after more contact with foreign ways and their conquered subjects adopting some of the mannerisms of their conquerors. Maybe it would be easiest to implement if it could be tied in with the conquest of Ireland?

For example in west Africa, imagine recruiting an equivalent to Iberian Light/Medium Infantry - more expensive of course. The Carthies did it, the Romans did it, the Arabs did it, Im sure others did as well - so why cant the lusos train these guys to fight like them? Not to knock the Numidians or Celtic troops that can be recruited but they can only ever make up part of an army and consequently comes the ball-ache with the marching around.

Also, if you ever need to lose a unit from the roster, look no further than Iberian Medium Infantry, In 1.0 at least. They take up a valuable slot that could be better used elsewhere. The Scutari are far superior Medium Infantry to hold a battle line. Iberian Light Infantry can flank well enough (better) already and the Iberian Heavy Infantry are effectively the same price and are very superior in an assault role.

My favourite battle with the lusos was during the conquest of Africa on the plains half way to Carhage, where I met a large Qarthy army (1.5 stacks) with mostly elite troops, using the fact I could hide virtually every unit in my army (0.75 stack) in either long grass (even the heavy infantry!) or a small nearby forest, I was able to repeatedly ambush the superior enemy cavalry and phalanxes, eventually driving them from the field for a Heroic Victory

[Dhampir]

With 1.1, I've only gotten a significant distance in a campaign with the Romans, KH and Hayasdan.

[The Celtic Viking]

Casse, Aedui, Arverni, Romani, Pahlava, Sab'yn, AS, Epeiros, Baktria, Sweboz, and Getai. I've only completed the VC with Sab'yn, though.

[MonkeyLord]

I've played a Saka for a very long time, but aftr having destroyed Baktria and Pahlava, with India under my Control and my hordes in Babylonia my savegeme was bugged and I couldn't continue my campaign due to CTD's. It broke my heart to leave my hordes alone…

And Romani, I HAVE to play them. My mother is from Rome and I go there every year and its the most beautiful city I know. I just love to make the city the centre of the world ;)

[General Appo]

Serious campaigns as Romani, Casse, Sweboz, Baktria, Saka-Rauka, Hayasdan, Epeiros, KH and Sauromatae.
Romani are an obvious choice (though not my first one) and I just had to test the Neigh-Impossible ones. I really enjoyed Saka-Rauka, and so had to try their easier version the Sauro´s. I´ve always liked isolated nations, so Casse fited me well, and so did Sweboz. Baktria I don´t even know why I tried.
Only won campaigns as Baktria, KH, Romani and Sweboz. Damn close as Casse, but stuff and then 1.1 got in the way.

[Irishmafia2020]

I have yet to finish a game... Part of that is due to my refusal to kill off my fellow factions, as I would rather defeat them and place them in a single province, and I therefore do not meet the victory conditions often. I conquered enough territory in my Baktrian campaign to qualify, but I did not finish off the Saka. Also I am one of those people who builds their country into a nice regional power, and then starts a new game. I usually only play about 60 - 70 years into the campaign, and then I launch a new game. Even now I have a great 1.1 Mak campaign sitting on my hard drive, and I have started a desperate struggle for Baktrian independence. Now that Bactria is free with reasonably secure borders, I am beginning to imagine an ahistorical Sabyn empire stretching from Africa to India, and funded by raids into Egypt and Mesopotamia. Oh well, I suppose that we all enjoy the game in our separate ways... I have never played Romani though, I just suspect that the campaign is too easy, that your empire is too inevitable - am I wrong about this?

[socal_infidel]

I have never played Romani though, I just suspect that the campaign is too easy, that your empire is too inevitable - am I wrong about this?

I feel the same way. I can't bring myself to start a serious Romani campaign for this very reason - the inevitability of it all. That and I want to play it historically, but at the same time, the few times I have started one, I just feel too bound by history. That and I'm not a big infantry fan (horse archers & cataphracts FTW).

But yeah, I'm like you, once I survive the initial game and have built up into a nice regional power, I tend to get bored and start a new campaign. I really prefer the East - Hayasdan, Pahlava, Baktria, AS.

I'd be curious to hear the flip-side of this poll, which factions you don't play. For me, I have no desire to play the Casse or the Sabyn. Carthage, as well. I just can't ever imagine playing these factions.

[Fish-got-a-Sniper]

Why do so many people play Rome and only Rome? Well anyways, I've played as the Ptolemies, KH, Epieros, Kart'Hadast, Saba, and the Averni.

[QuintusSertorius]

Why do so many people play Rome and find Rome so fascinating?

Because I can play historical simulation and still have lots to do.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I'd be curious to hear the flip-side of this poll, which factions you don't play. For me, I have no desire to play the Casse or the Sabyn. Carthage, as well. I just can't ever imagine playing these factions.

I can't imagine playing the Getai or KH! Gauls don't seem very interesting to me too.

[Folgore]

I've played as: Romani, Karthadastim, Epeiros, Makedonia, Koinon Hellenon and Arche Seleukeia. I've only completed the Makedonia campaign though.

I only play with these factions because I have a great historical interest in them. I know their history, the people who led the factions and the way their units work. I hardly know anything about any of the barbarian factions, that's why I think I never play with them.

[Olaf The Great]

Casse-Awesome starting position, I got to the 230's after the time of soldiers and am still having fun(just haven't played that campaign in a while, after you get Remi Marepos the only thing you lack is line infantry(which you get with Celto-Hellenes)
Arverni-I prefer Aedui over them
Aedui-I prefer Casse over them
Sweboz-Got to the 240's and was not expecting to like them as much as I did, two problems arose though
1-Never got the reforms, I found out how though
2-Pikeman can't form a formation for crap, when told to do line formation that form a -_-_-_- rather than a ------- and they go zigzag walking styles.
Their limited infrastruction also is a bit annoying, fun campaign overall, I just haven't played them in a while
Lusotannan-I really want to play as them but the starting position and inflated unit costs keep me away from the 260's
Romani-Can't play them because I am forced to do a 3 line formatiion with bad cavalry, too historically motivated for me.
Karthadastim-Really want to play them, just haven't got to it yet.
Epeiros-Too green, and I prefer the KH anyway
Makedonia-Too black and I prefer the KH anyway
Koinon Hellenon-Got to the 220's with them, but my save got corrupted after I crushed italy, really just gave up hope after that.
Getai-Not really interested...
Ptolemaioi-Maybe someday, same as Carthage.
Sabyn-Really bad starting position, large provinces and bad units, also the "Incomplete" feeling of arabia is a tad odd. But I will play them some day.
Arche Seleukeia -Too powerful at the start
Pontos-Great units but Hayasdans Cataphracts keeps me away.
Hayasdan-Same as Greeks, got to the 220's but a bug kept me away for about a week and when I came back the save was corrupted, then I made another game but I saved it on quicksave...
Pahlava-Would rather play Hai, and the bodyguards at the beginning don't look "right"(the horse and man don't match the Horse/man of the pictures)
Baktria-Would like to play more than I did.
Saka Rauka-Played into the 240's and conquered most of the Arche, still playing it.
Sauromatae-...Would rather play the Saka

Over-all I voted the Casse as they were my first in 0.7 0.8 and 1.1(didn't play 1.0)

[Spartan198]

Completed:
Koinon Hellenon
Makedonia
Karthadastim

In Progress:
Koinon Hellenon
Romani

[DeathEmperor]

8.0 completed:
Epeiros
Baktria

1.0 incompleted:
Rome
Makedonia

1.1 campaign stats
Arche Seleukeia (h/m completed 192 bc)
Pontos (m/m in progress)

After fighting 596 battles (about 400 of them personally) in my Seleukid campaign I'm a bit tired of my favoured Hellenistic warfare so I decided to give Pontos a try and after it probably either Pahlava or Hayasdan.

[Ibrahim]

.8: Saba and AS (neither finished-EB 1 came a month after I got .81)

1.0: AS (completed)
Saba (got boring-no I was winning it easy)
SPQR (stated with it 2 weeks before 1.1 came out)

1.1: SPQR (just started)

[Karo]

from 0.75 till now I've played most factions
Alot with the hay, pontos, KH, AS, Saba, Phalava, Casse, Avreni, Baktria, Lusotannan

[hoom]

Have started out KH, Epiros & Makedon but probably not played enough to properly count. Maybe the KH one?

Carthage, Arverni, Getai, Lusotanan & Aedui campaigns are the ones I've gotten furthest with, 2 ended by new EB versions & at least 2 of the others by repeated CTDs (including at least one of the short ones)
Love the Gauls :)
Getai was sweet too.
Lusotannan was slow starting but was going pretty well but then I stopped playing about the same time as I was going to have to invade Italy against so many Polybian units, saved by EB 1.1 release.
Carthage is my favourite but I haven't played since I think .8.
Desert wars at the river crossing every 2 turns was very annoying & never felt that I could really expect to be able to take over the Nile. Even if I did, I'd just wind up with an even bigger grind against the Grey Death...

Would like to get a Ptolemaic campaign going but the one I tried failed miserably :(

Have little interest in playing Sabyn, Sweboz, nomadic factions or Rome (mostly because I can't be bothered with trying to work out how the whole consul trait stuff works).
Have been kinda gun-shy about playing one of the neighbours of the Grey Death but I think next comes a Baktria campaign.

Have never reached the offical victory conditions.
Wasn't far from it with Aedui & Lusotannan though.