Have several questions

[SwissBarbar]

1. No there isn't
2. The game starts in 272 BC. When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC he already had conquered Persia, so this faction does not exist in the form you seek. The Arche Seleukeia, who is one of Alexanders Successor-States, covers a great part of the former persian empire.
3. The Koinon Hellenon. I'm not sure, if the Makedonians and Epeirotes also can field Spartiatai Hoplitai after having conquered Sparta and installed a type IV governement.

[A Very Super Market]

No, only the KH has elite hoplites of anywhere. Syracusans, Massalians, Spartans are exclusive.


Persia is long gone by the time of the mod, but Hayasdan arguably has the most links to it. But you're a beginner, and Hayasdan is ridiculously hard, so don't try it. AS is also pretty hard for a beginner. Actually, you shouldn't be fighting Horse Archers anyways, so stick with Rome or Carthage for now.

[Ludens]

No, only the KH has elite hoplites of anywhere. Syracusans, Massalians, Spartans are exclusive.

I am sorry, but that is wrong on several counts. Massalians can be recruited by the Aedui and Averni as well. They are IIRC also available as mercenaries. Neither they nor the Syracuseans are elite: they are rank-and-file units. The KH is the only faction that can train Spartan hoplites, however the Carthaginians can use them as well, by bribing them or by a scripted event that allows them to recruit the Spartan mercenary general Xantippos. However, Carthage obtaining three units of Spartans is probably a bug.

There are also two elite regional hoplites available to factions other than the KH: the Bactrian Indohellenic noble hoplite and the Saka Agema Hellenikon.

[A Very Super Market]

Sorry, I didn't mean "elite" in that way. Maybe unique. Anyways, I got it wrong. Too much time playing Maks for me.