Epeiros

[Slaists]

It must be just me (since i keep seeing screens of people succeding) but i can't seem to get past the first 5 years when using epeiros. I take pella and occasionaly thessalia, but can never seem to kill the romans or even emigrate the army of taras into greece......
It's a shame, 'cause they seem like a very interesting faction, especially due to havin indian elephants in europe, so i was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on this.
thx in advance

Over the last few days I have played a couple decades of Epyros: a very fun campaign (at least at the beginning). Here are a few thoughts from my campaign:


TURN 1

1. In the first few years: forget about positive cash... The treasury WILL be in red.

2. Given #1 I realized I should use my starting cash to hire extra units on the first turn: since I wouldn't be able to do so until getting out of the negative cash flow problem.

3. Given #1: I disbanded my starting fleet sparing one vessel for transporting troops. In the first turn, I placed that ship in the most advantageous position to transport my coastal troops into Southern Italy. I do not remember if I succeed to transport them over in the first turn or the second.

3. One needs to be brutally efficient with Epyros. But then again: one CAN be brutally efficient thanks to Pyrrhos and his elephants. The task for the first turn: take Pella. Elephants can knock the gates down and soften the residing general after Pyrrhos with his cavalry have taken care of the Macedonian acondistas and slingers (dangerous for the ellies). After that: I enslaved the treaturous Macedonian scum! On the same turn, I queued up an hoplite unit in Pella and moved Pyrrhos' army (everybody) towards Dimitris as far as his remaining moving points allowed. I moved the other Epyros' army (cavalry + general) as close as possible to Pyrrhos.

TURN 2

4. Macedonians attacked Pyrrhos near the beach. Thanks to elephants adn Pyrrhos' own body guard unit the Macedonian army was destroyed... Dimitris fell and was speedily enslaved on the same turn. Any remaining cash after erasing the treasury debt was used to hire extra units. I used my diplomat to ask Macedonians for a ceasefire and trade rights. Since they're busy with the Greek Alliance, they agreed. After taking care of business in Dimitris Pyrrhos merged with the cavalry army and moved due West.

5. By this time, the Romans were besieging Taras. My sea-born army from across the straights attacked the Romans from the rear and duly destroyed them in a pitched (the Roman army has triarii units in it) battle. (It could have happened on the third turn though: I do not remember clearly anymore).

6. The ship moved back across the straights to pick up Pyrrhos and his army.

TURN 3, 4, etc.

7. Pyrrhos crossed the straights and moved up the Italian coast, becoming filthy rich enslaving Romans and establishing petty client kingdoms (fastest and cheapest occupation governments) one after another... The world was his oyster from that point on...

MANY TURNS LATER (around 240 BC)

Pyrrhos is pushing 80 but all of Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica + Segestia is his... By this time, the Greek alliance has destroyed remaining Macedonians and are eyeing Epyros' Greece possessions. Time to return home...

[Gourmet]

Ahhhhh ... it is good to see capable Greek Emperors bring their upstart ambitions to the ancient world. I wish to add to this mix of victorious Greek banter with my own tales of heroic Epeirote conquests. Dine yourselves on as much bread and drink as you like and carefully observe the exploits of Emperor Gourmet.



This is the extent to which the Aiakides family has expanded and even now, the Greeks march to secure the Mediterranean. Soon, we Aiakides will follow in Alexander's footsteps enslave the petty Seleukians and Ptolemaioi that inhabit Alexander's rightful empire ...

[Rilder]

If it was me playing that save it would of took at least 50-75 years to get that large. :p

[antisocialmunky]

It took 48 years.

[zig_zac]

Hello. I am quite new to this game, but just started to play Epeiros on VH/M. Must say, what many others say - there's no need to abandon Taras. I left upon the walls of Pella just enough troops to take it, which is simple, as there's no phallanx there. Elephants an most of army went from the beginning to Italy, and Pyrrhos just after taking Pella. I didn't take Demetrias, or go further to mainland Greece, as I would have to fight against KH and Makedonia. Now they take care of each other nicely. And elephants just plow through fearful Roman infantry, which allows to take one settlement from Romans every turn or two. Also it's good to build phallanx with starting money, as simple phallangitai deuteroi can stop elite roman troops.
I've now only two elephants, as they finally run amok thumping some consular cavalry, but it saved the day in battle, and I took Roma next turn - winter 271.

I actually regret I've lost my elephants, as I have some profit (edited: I wrote here 9500 minai, which was just because of heavy demolishing after taking Roma) and 13000 in treasury. I can afford them for sure.

But one thing worries me - namely lousy forms of government Epeiros has (baring the first form). I even think of building a lot of allied city - form 4. Which one do you build in Italy (or elsewhere on subjugation resource?)

[Blxz]

You revived a 2 year old thread to ask an almost non-related question. In regards to governments though, I build Type 2 on almost all subjugation resources. Unless I know there are better regional troops in a specific area. But I tend to play games as 'pure' as possible. So a greek faction uses almost purely greek units. Its your choice, but you might want to check the recruitment viewer.