For a long time I planned to start a Bactrian campaign. Bactria was one of the factions that I like nearly as much as Romans, but unlike Romans I've never tried that campaign. I've read all the advice this forum has to offer about Bactria and launched a campaign.
The first town I took was Kophen. It was not hard. Then I planned on taking Alexandropolis. Unfortunately the Seles got there before me. As I was slowly building my forces and economy, I've tried my best to stay allied with the AS. I supported them against Pahlava and Pontos (I even payed them 20 Mnai per turn to make it less likely to attack me). So far it worked.
With my faction leader, some missile troops and 2 native phalanxes I've marched to Taxi... whatever that town is called. I knew that I will lose, I just wanted to see how much damage I can inflict. Actually it was not that much as they probably healed most of the wounded. I've returned to Bactra and retrained my troops, added 2 more native phalanxes, heavy skirmishers and slingers plus 2 more family members. That stretched my economy to the limit as I started to lose money (I actually had to train a garrison in Bactra - 2x Pantodapoi and archers and all my other 3 FM's to protect the city against possible invasion).
I marched to that Indian town again, which took years, and layed siege. By that time I was with -4000 in my coffers. The AI didn't sally so I was preparing to starve the garrison. Unfortunately my army appeared to be starving faster. Seeing that I decided to attack. My native phalanx units were less than impressive on the walls. They were killed in numbers by medium Indo-Hellenic skirmishers and 50 Guild warriors on the other wall simply refused to die to 240 soldiers of my 2x native phalanxes, while slaughtering them in numbers. In addition to that elephants were cruising under the walls lowering rock bottom morale of my troops even lower.
I saw that the battle is probably going nowhere, ended it and reloaded with firm commitment to starve the garrison out no matter what. With 3 turns remaining and the number of defenders steadily dwindling (also with -6000 in my treasury) I've received "Betrayed" message. Damn Seleucids beseiged Bactra with half stack with another half stack moving closely behind. Another half stack moved from Alexandropolis to Kophen which was defended by my FM with 30 hetairoi and small remnants of Indo-Iranian cavalry.
I don't need to be a strategical genius to say that the AI will end my campaign in 3-4 turns.
What I did wrong in that campaign and is it possible to succeed without running fro help to the console?
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