How do I nerf the Ptolemies - without conquering them?

[QuintusSertorius]

In regards to giving southern Egpypt to the Saba, be careful. I did the same thing in a Kart-Hadast campaign a little while ago and the Saba were unable to keep order and hold anything north of Meroe, the troops spawned from the rebelling cities actually ended making the Ptollies more powerful than when I started :(
Syria is a good place to start stealing settlements...
Cheers

I noticed this the turn after I'd given them away; I added some Hellenic Native Spearmen and once they'd stopped depleting the garrisons it stuck. Long as they hold the deep desert, I think that's enough. Especially since the Ptolemies also lost much of Syria too. And Cyprus.

Here's what I did to them:



I've also been moving their armies away from anything dangerous, like conquering Seleukid Syria or regaining the desert provinces.

[Sygrod]

Since you are moving their armies: Move some to deserted islands. You can even send some to Finland or Ireland. I am sure they would enjoy the vacation.

[QuintusSertorius]

Since you are moving their armies: Move some to deserted islands. You can even send some to Finland or Ireland. I am sure they would enjoy the vacation.

Isn't Finland connected by land bridge to Denmark? I recently put the Lusotanii in southern Ireland, so I'd be worried about what a Ptolemaic army there might do.

[General Appo]

Isn't Finland connected by land bridge to Denmark?

Don´t think so, but I believe they will still be able to walk into the lands of the Balts, though they´ll probably just begin the long journey home. Just put them in Terhazza or on the Horn of Africa (just south of Sab´yn).

[QuintusSertorius]

Don´t think so, but I believe they will still be able to walk into the lands of the Balts, though they´ll probably just begin the long journey home. Just put them in Terhazza or on the Horn of Africa (just south of Sab´yn).

The bugged Getai faction leader is on the Horn of Africa; don't want to put anyone else there in case it crashes my game.

Is there a danger of them attacking Terhazza if I put them there? Or is it generally impassable country that no one can move around in?

[pantsukki]

Isn't Finland connected by land bridge to Denmark? I recently put the Lusotanii in southern Ireland, so I'd be worried about what a Ptolemaic army there might do.

I believe that the connected country is Sweden. Finland lies east of Sweden, not Denmark. See for example this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Scandinavia.jpg

We're anything but Swedes!

[Jaywalker-Jack]

As far as I can tell a protectorate will only defend themselves, and attempt no expansion. So you could force the Ptolemies into this status. I'm not sure on that though, any protectorates Ive had have been small fry to begin with.

[General Appo]

I´m afraid it doesn´t work that, it only appears so because they pay you half their income (or something like that) which makes it hard especially for smaller nations to go on the offensive.
As for how historical it would be, I amnot sure. Rome allied with the Ptolemais already around 190 BC, and Rome gradually gained more and more power over them, but it´s hard to say when exactly it crossed the line between an alliance and a protectorate.

[QuintusSertorius]

I believe that the connected country is Sweden. Finland lies east of Sweden, not Denmark. See for example this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Scandinavia.jpg

We're anything but Swedes!

Sorry, that's sloppy geography on my part. I was thinking of the Sweden-Denmark land bridge. Which surely any unit placed in Finland can just walk round to. Those rivers have crossings, don't they?

[pantsukki]

Sorry, that's sloppy geography on my part. I was thinking of the Sweden-Denmark land bridge. Which surely any unit placed in Finland can just walk round to. Those rivers have crossings, don't they?

Well, yes. But in EB Finland and Sweden aren't connected, the map doesn't reach that far north. So it would take a *long* time to march from Finland to Denmark.