Bactrian Frustration

**V.T. Marvin** · 02-13-2009, 19:49

I dare to say that actually Baktria is so potentially rich that blitzing actually bring you more damage than benefit.
You can defend Baktra against anything the AI throw on you by a bunch of cheap Persian Archers + 1-2 Family members.
Save your money to build and upgrade mines there (as well as in other cities you take) - it takes time but afterwards you have assured steady income (unlike trade wars with neighbours do not impair it!).
Antiocheia-Margiane is a liability rather than asset in early game - no mine, exposed to attacks, will draw you to war with Pahlava prematurely. Kophen is where you should go!
Beware of India - you may look at my AAR (see my sig) what a beating I have got there! And it was only after I was swimming in cash (Baktra+Kophen+Propthasia+Alexandropolis - all mines upgraded!!!) and fielded a rather solid armies for the conquest.

Do not blitz! It makes crappy game anyway and as Baktra it is even to your detriment. Go slowly, develop the economy and enjoy the beauty of your elite units wich you will be spamming soon enough!!!

**BurningEGO** · 02-13-2009, 20:05

Pretty much diferent advise given here.

Although i can see everyone agrees mines are a must!

I just started a Baktrian campaign some time ago, and i must tell you this: Blitz all your way to Prophtasia in the south. Focus on getting provinces from the Seleucids that contain mines. They will improve your economy vastly. And leave the rebels alone! It is far easier to take provinces from the AI nations then from AI rebels!

But really, getting Prophtasia at the start is a must. Extremely weak garrisons in the south, with very profitable provinces. Prophtasia contains a mine at the start, and will make you rich!

I also do not take Antiocheia-Margiane since it will give me a common border with the Pahlava at the start, which makes things bad. Oh and another tip: remember that if Saka Rauka holds Alexandreia-Eschate for 4 years, they will get their so wanted reforms and will be a pain in the ass.

**mlp071** · 02-13-2009, 20:37

If you really want Prophtasia, ship your spies and assassin and cause enough unrest so it rebels , then take it.It reduces risk of AS declaring war on you right away slightly. Sometimes they are to busy with Pahlava, and you taking rebel city doesn't tick them off that much.

They will attack you soon either way.

After playing Baktria several times in several versions i can say from my view:

- Taking Alexandreia-Eschate = early war with Saka and sometimes with Pahlava or AS
- Taking Marakanda = early war with all of 3 factions
- Taking Antiocheia-Margiane = early war with Pahlava and AS

Neither of them is economically justifiable early on since you gonna need tons of units to hold on to them.Way more upkeep then income from it.

I usually support Pahlava , sign ceasefire and trade with Saka ASAP(never sign alliance with them ) and take Kophen. If Pahlava takes Marakanda then they end up in war with Saka first, rather any of them attacks me.If Saka gets their first , well then they will go after you most likely, although lot of times they prefer Khiva.

However , they all going to attack you as soon you upgrade your mine in Baktria, AI loves those mines i guess.

Never build road in Baktria province till you have good, strong garrison there that can beat anything that comes. And.. build mines and walls ..lots of it.

**Marcus Ulpius** · 02-13-2009, 21:06

Thanks for the advice that is given here. Many things are quite contradictory. So, apart from taking Kophen I've made every possible mistake

I think I'll restart my campaign completely and develop Bactra and Kophen while trying to rebel AS towns and support Pahlava.

That Indian town garrison is extremely strong. I've managed to damage their support units, but couldn't hurt their core units - Guild Warriors and especially the elephants. The general has 46 elephants and they also have 2 more elephant units which makes it nearly 80 elephants

They've cut through my native phalanxes like hot knife through butter.

**Raygereio** · 02-13-2009, 21:29

I'm with the take-it-slow crowd.
Take Kophen with your starting armies. Then spent some time saving up money and slowly build up an army to take the indian provinces.
Meanwhile the Seleukids will attack Baktria and probably Kophen; they never sent anything really threatening in my games. A couple of archers and some thorakitai can easily hold the walls.

Once you take the indian cities, you should be swimming in cash.

As for the indian cities.
Skirmishers do wonders against elephants, also archers can work.
When besieging the Indian city, I placed those units on an section of wall on the other site of city where the AI had put his men on the walls.
Then I lured the elephants to wall with my ranged units on it with an expendable unit and watched those poor beasts either drop like flies, or when the skirmishers were out of ammo, go bezerk of flaming arrows.

Guild Warriors I took out with my FM's. Charge, retreat, charge again, repeat until they rout.

**Banzai!** · 02-13-2009, 23:12

Man I can't wait to play EBII where there will be proper diplomatic AI instead of auto-war.

**Dayve** · 02-13-2009, 23:28

Originally Posted by Raygereio

I'm with the take-it-slow crowd.
Take Kophen with your starting armies. Then spent some time saving up money and slowly build up an army to take the indian provinces.
Meanwhile the Seleukids will attack Baktria and probably Kophen; they never sent anything really threatening in my games. A couple of archers and some thorakitai can easily hold the walls.

Once you take the indian cities, you should be swimming in cash.

As for the indian cities.
Skirmishers do wonders against elephants, also archers can work.
When besieging the Indian city, I placed those units on an section of wall on the other site of city where the AI had put his men on the walls.
Then I lured the elephants to wall with my ranged units on it with an expendable unit and watched those poor beasts either drop like flies, or when the skirmishers were out of ammo, go bezerk of flaming arrows.

Guild Warriors I took out with my FM's. Charge, retreat, charge again, repeat until they rout.

Skirmishers aren't actually any good whatsoever against those 3 units of Indian elephants in that one city on the edge of the map.

I sent 3 units of slingers and 3 units of akontistai to defeat them and even with all of them expending all their ammo they didn't kill a single elephant in all 3 units.

**Raygereio** · 02-13-2009, 23:36

Originally Posted by Dayve

Skirmishers aren't actually any good whatsoever against those 3 units of Indian elephants in that one city on the edge of the map.

I sent 3 units of slingers and 3 units of akontistai to defeat them and even with all of them expending all their ammo they didn't kill a single elephant in all 3 units.

What difficulty did you use? Peltastai on medium difficulty make short work of them.