Help with Hayasdan

[SwissBarbar]

you don't need to abandon any units at the start, just try to conquer Mtskheta and Kotais with what you have at the beginning. You will go into minus with you cash, but thats ok for the beginning.

Very important: You can beat many small (4-5 units) armies with just 1 or 2 FM allone (and even greater ones)
even if they have heavy intfantery.

Just attack and withdraw. This fact will help you keep save most of your territory against most small AS attacking armies (at the beginning they don't send big armies up there) with just 4 or 5 of your Family members. Keep some light units in your towns, 1-2 units should do, and send the rest to sack cities of your enemies.

You can keep Trapezous and Ani Kamah, when you conquer them, but if you go into Seleukid territory, just sack their cities and move on. Kill all population, unlimber all their buildings, send them back to stone age. Oh, and raise the taxes, hehe.

First you go down this route:

- Karkathiokera
- Edessa
- Antiocheia
- if you want Damaskos or Tarsos

Most cities are not heavily protected. Of course you will lose them again, because you do not leave units to protect them. The most important thing is to move quickly! Don't lay siege longer than necessary on cities. Avoid great armies. You will gain a great amount of money! With that you build Mines and Markets where you can. Then retreat your army back home, dont fight great battles if you can avoid.

Now recruit new units and complete your invasion army. Now you go the other way down and sack cities.

- Phraaspa
- Ekbatana
- Susa
- Seleukeia
- Babylon


Now you've made it. These cities will give you enough money to build up a strong economy and a strong army with wich you can conquer parts of pontos. Conquer Asia Minor and then go back and conquer the Seleukid cities you've sacked before. This time you can keep them.

And watch out for Kabalaka, the Seleukids may conquer the city and send small armies from time to time from up there. I don't know if you get into trouble with the Sauromatae when you conquer this city, but anyway... if they get on your nerves there, do it.


PS: This is for VH/H (campaign) / M (battle) difficulty. If you play on battle - very hard i have no idea how to manage this unrealistic situation.