I'm making the rounds with different factions, trying to get our of my bubble and "beat" the game w/ each faction. I started up a KH campaign and WOW is it different from Epiros or Rome.

That being said, what are your successful starting tactics when playing the KH? The Hoplitai Hoploi and even Spartan FM body guards suck compared to Phalangitai Deuteroi.

I tried two separate openings, here they are:

The first involves pulling the army from Krete and adding it with the forces in Athenai, then marching from the unseiged city (in HORRIBLE forested/mountainous terrain) to get rid of the Mak FL and his ridiculous force of impenetrable phalanxes. Of course, my units melt away like ice on a summer day without any phalanxes of my own to pin the enemy juggernaut. EPIC FAIL

The second tactic involves letting them seige Athenai hoping that I can conquer the city north of Sparte before the city falls, thereby making the Mak FL come down to relieve his other army. However, he doesn't do this and my smaller force (since the troops are still in Athenai) can't take the Mak city w/out getting obliterated themselves or Athenai falling.