How to make LOTS of money

[Korlon]

I might just conquer northern Egypt. But they're really not much of a threat anymore. And I don't think my army in Jerusalem/Bostra is particularly expensive: three Successor Medium Cavalry + six phalanx of that type with golden shields and red clothes (the one that's better than the ones merely in bronze) + three phalanx of the type that's even better (steel-coloured shields). They beat any Ptollie army :) - and I think the Ptollies have had so many defeats at the walls of Jerusalem that they've given up that war... I think - not enough to disband, though ;)

That might be part of the reason why you're not gaining too much money. Your army's expensive! Seriously, three units of Argyraspidai plus six of those what I'm guessing to be Klerouchoi Phalangitai is fairly high upkeep. You can do almost the same with those cheap Pantodapoi Phalangitai.

And you can probably go without a lot of that cavalry as well. I usually just use my general as my horses. Sometimes maybe another one, but usually not.

And if you have elephants, DISBAND THEM. Elephants are fun units for when you're rich, not when your income's only 3000-4000 mnai a turn.

Would more lvl 3 and 4 governments, as opposed to lvl 2s, be a good idea?

I usually just build as high as I can... I don't remember the economic advantages of each, but you should choose governments based on recruitment pools.

[artaxerxes]

That might be part of the reason why you're not gaining too much money. Your army's expensive! Seriously, three units of Argyraspidai plus six of those what I'm guessing to be Klerouchoi Phalangitai is fairly high upkeep. You can do almost the same with those cheap Pantodapoi Phalangitai.

And you can probably go without a lot of that cavalry as well. I usually just use my general as my horses. Sometimes maybe another one, but usually not.

And if you have elephants, DISBAND THEM. Elephants are fun units for when you're rich, not when your income's only 3000-4000 mnai a turn.

I think you guessed right :) ... Yes, I'm beginning to see what I'm doing wrong. As for the elephants - I have none. I want to be rich SO I can have some (and I promise, its the ONLY reason that I want to be rich :P ). Then i could transfer elephants to Asia Minor and invade Greece as a reborn Alexander coming back to haunt them (I know I may be expecting quite a lot from the AI ). I think I'll reconsider all my armies. My eastern ones may also be expensive, since I'm not used to Iranian cavalry, and some of it costs me a lot of money with me recruiting almost at random, even though Persian Archer/Spearmen win my every victory anyway.

[Korlon]

By the way, you can recruit elephants in Antiocheia. Well, when you get to the point when you have the cash to recruit them anyways.

[artaxerxes]

Ok :).... Exams have kicked in, so will be a while before I get a chance to try these things out, but between disbanding unnecessary border guards, placing my capitol better and making some development plan for the building of mines and stuff, I suspect that my problem will be solved. I hypothesize that border guards disbanding should bring in some 2-3000 Mnai, giving me a rather large sum = ability to build up my empire AND defend Asia Minor = more economic gains = Elephants!

thanks all

[Sygrod]

If I may be bold and interject. You have not mentioned the most lethal and cheapest units available: Slingers. Their upkeep is low, and they can really cripple a besieging army when you decide to sally. What you do is place them on the wall, except for the most experienced unit, which you send out to pelt the enemy in the back as they regroup. The ones on the wall should be lined up along their path. If you alter the army in Asia minor to include 60% slingers, 4 heavy melee units (phalanxes, etc), some Akontistai and a couple of cavalry units, you should be able to obliterate the next KH army.

Use the towers on the walls for extra free missiles and try to lure the AI to chase you around the wall. With some tricks and minimal direct contact with the enemy, you should be able to beat them with minimal losses.

Also remember that while the enemy is moving, they can't "return fire", attack enemy slingers, archers and skirmishers in that order with some sallying cavalry. The enemy slingers should be only a handful after their initial redeployment, since you concentrate archers (good Syrian ones) and slingers on them. Just keep the cavalry from making contact with their good units.

Once you have repelled a dozen or so attempts by the KH, your units should have some nice chevrons. Advance to Byzantion immediately after their most recent defeat. If they sally, use phalanxes to break enemy charges and whittle the rest down with slingers. Make sure that your cavalry can attack and finish off decimated enemy units.

Remember: Slingers are cheap and deadly. Just make sure to have some good melee units to protect them and save your cavalry for mopping up.

[pezhetairoi]

I fully agree with Sygrod on this. A good slinger army can eliminate the need for the heavy, heavy forces you are sending forward. In real life this would not have been practical, but this is EB, where the slingers are really very lethal and can appear in far larger numbers than in real life.

Against unarmoured barbarians your heavy troops will only need to do mopping up, and against Hellenic type troops, they will fall in rows in you catch them from behind or side.

[JRG]

Sorry this is slightly off topic, but same general question: What would you consider a good income? I consider 10000 mnai to be a pretty good and reasonable income. With this I can usually recruit all necessary units and have enough money left over to save or spend on buildings.