Getai Strategy?

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Well, this is focused on the Getai. But of course any tip on how to run a faction with little money, troops and infrastructure from the start is welcome, of course, since this is my main problem.

I just quit my previous Getai Campaign. The problem seems to be the nerfing of phalanxes such as Iphikratous and the Getai Light and Heavy Phalanxes; now there is nothing that will make me win as easily as before, especially against the heavy infantry guarding Thracian settlements. Disbandind troops and waiting for the money to come does not seem reasonable since the Getai earn so little, being landlocked.

I would like to know a viable way to make money: what places to conquer, how to fight efficiently, etc... Any advice would be useful.

[Power2the1]

It been awhile since I played a Getai campaign, but I recall it being honestly the most fun campaign ever. I fought every battle myself...do not risk auto calcing battles as you'll need every single soldier you can get (well you can, but you'll be sorry in the long run)

I focused on towns with mines and kept a few spies about for quick city takeovers if they could infiltrate and open the gates. Use plenty of light phalanx. A couple chevrons of exp for them and they are equal to the more expensive heavy phalanx. Try and concentrate on building markets and anything that helps trade like roads. I do recall reaching some crazy debt, so do not freak out (30k iirc) but you'll slowly inch your way out with the battles you win and the towns you take. Once you are out of debt, portions of your army should be well experienced. Once you get the Ischyroi Orditon (Elite Dacian Infantry) you'll rejoice at having your best men to send into battle


This overall scheme worked for me, and it was great once I got out of debt and could really rock and roll with the Getai

[johnhughthom]

I just started a new Gatai campaign today and haven't had any issues with money, in fact I didn't disband any troops and have been able to build something in every city, every turn. I took the faction heir and his army to Kallatis, and when I beseiged it the rebels sallied forth and were crushed. The faction leader took the rest of the soldiers north, beat the rebel army and then beseiged Sarmiszegethusa, taking it immediately as my spy had opened the gate. My financial situation was considerably improved by the fact Makedonia gave me 9000 for a ceasefire.
I intended to sit back and consolidate for a while as I try to keep a one city per family member empire and don't accept adoptions so had to wait a few years for a son to come of age. My plans had to be shelved when an Epirote city rebelled to me kicking off a war with them. It's now 256BC, I only have to take Nikaia to "unite the tribes" and I have only just raised another army after only using the opening troops to take my current possessions.
In terms of battle tactics, when attacking settlements you could seige them and wait until they sally forth. Few of the rebel settlements around you have armoured troops so your archers will get shedloads of kills while they are milling about getting into postion. The light phalanx can hold an enemy in place while you send your falxmen or Costobocii Axemen round the back to slaughter them. Your FMs are good for that too, just remember to alt-right click attack after the initial charge to draw their swords. I have been annhilating the Epirote armies attacking me and I haven't even built my MICs up to allow me Rhomphaias yet, nor have I been using any horse archers so they are far from difficult to use in battle, in fact I would even say they are too easy to use.

[Decimus Attius Arbiter]

Basic battle strategy is to shoot the enemy full of missiles and chop them up with drapanai. Wear and spread the enemy out. Keep your units hidden or moving. Keep your infantry out of the fighting unless you need to bail your missile throwing troops out. Komotai might be okay in melee, but I never use them against a well-armored professional army.

Others will have to explain the campaign strategy since I cheat a little. But when you get some extra money, I like having raiding parties of horse archers nipping at the enemy, especially their missile units and cavalry. They can also move a long distance, being good fast defenders. Also those mountains and forests dividing you from Greece are ambush central for any Hellenic army trying to invade you. Build forts too so they will "usually" only attack you from one or two paths. That's all I can think of right now.

[Hooahguy]

well, im playing on v1.0, so i may not have the same problems as you.
but two worsd for you- ROLE PLAY!!!!
lol

[Apgad]

Take Sarmiszegethusa ASAP, and only recruit from there. All other settlements should concentrate on developing your economy. Sarmiszegethusa has the sacred mountaing which gives your troops +1 experience, your government can give another +1, and some temples give +1 or +2. Pretty soon you can generate a steady stream of cheap but deadly falxmen to protect your empire and expand your borders.

I also agree with not auto-calc-ing. Epiros and Makedonia seem to always come out better than they should against Getai...

[Hooahguy]

I also agree with not auto-calc-ing. Epiros and Makedonia seem to always come out better than they should against Getai...

yeah- seriously-
the getic troops raise hell amongst the hellenic troops- even the good ones....

[Tartaros]

i also conquer first Sarmiszegethusa (goldmines and sacred mountain), then all the other independent tribes around. Kallatis has got steppe horsearchers(!) and Singidunum gauls (like to use Uirodusios and orcas)
money should be no problem if you conquer illyria and the danube-traderounds. don´t by to much expensive troops, you don´t really need them at the beginning.
my first amys composed with
infantry:Komatai Pelekuphoroi, Drapanai (Melee-Killers!), Thraikioi Doryphoroi (very good levy infantry) and one unit of Uirodusios (fearfactor)
bows: Komatai Agrianai (also good swordreserve and wide range)
cav: horsearcher (if possible) and family members
i try to finish the "uniter of all tracians" setting and later on, more and more high quality units
getai is fun! kick´n successor greeks ass

[hoom]

Lots of Drapani because they are cheap, easily available & annihilate heavy Greek infantry with ease.
Komatai for numbers & good javelin power.
Normally the starting Stratiotai are good enough for holding actions till later on.
Roaming band of horse archers for cleaning up rebels & preventing enemy armies from concentrating.

I go east to the coast early for the Sarmatian horse archers & Classical Hoplites.
Then south a bit to get Celts.
Then Sarmisgetuza for experienced troops.
Next, I want to head north east to get the Bosphoran Kingdom & its heavy foot archers but normally wind up heading south fighting one or more of the Greek mainland factions about here.
Then I often get the town across the dardanelles rebel to me & I have to divert a fair bit of effort to holding that.
The balkans are a tempting target when you have a chance but can drag you into war against the Romans. With the scripted Boii etc, the Sweboz aren't going to be knocking on your gates any time soon & they can cause good distraction for the Romans too so the West isn't that vital.

Thats about as far as I've ever gotten, wind up getting into a CTD situation shortly after getting mines online and being able to get the elite types.
Would like to get the chance to head north to the Black Sea to see what happens up there.