Results 1 to 30 of 45

Thread: EB Online Faction Guide

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    EB:NOM Triumvir Member gamegeek2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hanover, NH
    Posts
    3,569

    Default EB Online Faction Guide

    I've created this thread so we can all post guides to the factions we have the most experience battling online with. First I'll group them into "faction" groups, then detail individual factions.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Hellenic Factions
    Makedonia
    Ptolemaioi (this may seem out of place, but their unit roster doesn't have too many Eastern levies)
    Qart-Hadast (this may seem out of place, but their unit roster is very similar to that of a Hellenic faction)
    Koinon Hellenon
    Epeiros

    The Hellenic factions prominently feature heavy infantry, especially pike phalanxes and other spearmen. They also feature strong heavy cavalry, and some decent but not particularly cost-efficient light cavalry. Most don't have very good missile troops, but mercenaries tend to make up for this.

    Romani

    The Romani are even more focused on heavy infantry than the Hellenes. Their cavalry is decent but somewhat lackluster, but their diverse and flexible infantry make up for this; like the barbarians, they feature both niche-filling units; like the Hellenes, they have strong mainline heavy infantry. Like the Hellenes, they often rely on mercenaries for missile troops.

    "Barbarian" Factions
    Aedui
    Arverni
    Casse
    Lusotana
    Sweboz
    Getai

    "Barbarian" factions tend to focus on heavy infantry with lower armour than those of "civilized" factions. However, their elite units tend to be savagely good, and they have strong niche-filling units as well. Their missile units aren't bad, and their cavalry, while nothing special, is capable of getting the job done.

    Eastern Faction
    Hayasadan

    Their heavy infantry don't stack up to that of the Hellenes, but do a respectable job. They have plentiful cheap but effective levies, especially their archers. They also pack some of the finest cavalry in the game, heavy cataphracts that can bowl opponents over, as well as strong horse archers.

    East Hellenic Factions
    Pontos
    Baktria
    Arche Seleukeia

    The East Hellenic factions are a hybrid between the Hellenes and Eastern factions - they feature the typical unit Hellenic roster, but they also have access to the cheap, cost-effective levies of Eastern factions. They also have cataphracts in addition to other types of Hellenic cavalry. While their heavy infantry aren't as strong, they have an overall more balanced roster and stronger cavalry.

    Steppe Factions
    Sauromatae
    Saka Rauka

    Together with Pahlava, they have the best cavalry in the game. Their mainstay units, horse archers, are invulnerable to heavy infantry except in rare circumstances. They have dual-role archer-lancers which can smash the enemy in a charge or pick them off at range. And they have cataphracts like the Eastern factions, able to bowl enemies over with a devastating charge. Their infantry tend to be poor and not very diverse, mostly levies, though their foot archers are easily on par with, if not better than, those of Eastern factions.

    Eastern/Steppe Faction
    Pahlava

    Together with the steppe factions, they have the best cavalry in the game. They don't have quite the diverse selection of horse archers that their steppe counterparts have, but they have access to the large pool of cost-effective eastern levies. Pahlava actually has the best heavy cavalry in the game, namely the Grivpanvar but also a large number of powerful noble cataphract units. They, too have archer-lancers, which can perform the roles of both units devastatingly well.

    Saba
    It's certainly possible to win with the Saba, but their units are of poorer quality than those of other factions. Think of their army as being entirely composed of Eastern levies, with no cataphracts.



    Qart-Hadast Guide

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Last edited by gamegeek2; 06-03-2009 at 01:09.
    Europa Barbarorum: Novus Ordo Mundi - Mod Leader Europa Barbarorum - Team Member

    Quote Originally Posted by skullheadhq
    Run Hax! For slave master gamegeek has arrived
    "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a desert and call it peace." -Calgacus

  2. #2
    Strategos Autokrator Member Vasiliyi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    839

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    This is good, but shouldn't it be moved to the Guides/aars section of the forum?

    4x
    1x

  3. #3

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Hayasdan, in a category of its own.
    EB Online Founder | Website
    Former Projects:
    - Vartan's EB Submod Compilation Pack

    - Asia ton Barbaron (Armenian linguistics)
    - EB:NOM (Armenian linguistics/history)
    - Dominion of the Sword (Armenian linguistics/history, videographer)

  4. #4
    Strategos Autokrator Member Vasiliyi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    839

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Saba
    These guys suck, don't use them in custom battles
    .

    Careful, that could offend someone.

    4x
    1x

  5. #5
    Guest Aemilius Paulus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Russia/Europe in the summer, Florida rest of the time
    Posts
    3,473

    Exclamation Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Quote Originally Posted by Vasiliyi View Post
    Careful, that could offend someone.
    Truth hurts. What he said is true. Only way he could change that is add some less-unflattering adjectives. Saba are like a handicap: you can still win, but with great difficulty. They are not unique. They are quite rotten. Employing "different tactics" is a euphemism for "they are lousy so I have to be very samrt and innovate greatly to win".

  6. #6
    EB:NOM Triumvir Member gamegeek2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hanover, NH
    Posts
    3,569

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Added Epeiros, fixed Saba description.

    Quote Originally Posted by Moros
    You just wait until AtB comes out and I'll conquer the whole world with my precious Sabaeans!
    AtB...we'll certainly add Sabaean cities, I'll give you that ;) You're certainly invited to the team...
    Europa Barbarorum: Novus Ordo Mundi - Mod Leader Europa Barbarorum - Team Member

    Quote Originally Posted by skullheadhq
    Run Hax! For slave master gamegeek has arrived
    "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a desert and call it peace." -Calgacus

  7. #7

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Pahlava really must be considered a Steppe/Eastern Hybrid (or Transitional) faction. In the early game, they play just like the steppen nomads, but after their military reform, have the same access to capable, if not particularly good infantry. They also gain access to the multitude of levies that other Eastern factions gain, and some of those levies are surprisingly effective if used properly.

    I'd consider Pontos more of a "Hellenized Eastern faction", as their factional units are mostly eastern. To gain their Hellenic units, some of their homelands must be "regionalized".

  8. #8

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    I totally agree with Merlinus, as Pontos is a persian empire run in an area of Anatolia known to be colonized by Greeks...I think it was Trapezous back in the day. Trebizond now. Nice place too.
    EB Online Founder | Website
    Former Projects:
    - Vartan's EB Submod Compilation Pack

    - Asia ton Barbaron (Armenian linguistics)
    - EB:NOM (Armenian linguistics/history)
    - Dominion of the Sword (Armenian linguistics/history, videographer)

  9. #9

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Poor Epeiros. It even gets forgotten from a guide thread...


    Classical history is interesting. Especially when accompianied by EB.

  10. #10
    Speaker of Truth Senior Member Moros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    13,469

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Quote Originally Posted by gamegeek2 View Post
    These guys suck, don't use them in custom battles.
    You just wait until AtB comes out and I'll conquer the whole world with my precious Sabaeans!

    Anyway while I can't say they have the strongest rooster, it's also true that they lack a few units which would have made them stronger.

    Either way, a good idea, hope to see some new information and new tips again.

  11. #11
    iudex thervingiorum Member athanaric's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Lusitania
    Posts
    1,114

    Default Re: EB Online Faction Guide

    Great idea, i've always wanted something like this!

    Saba
    These guys suck, don't use them in custom battles.
    While it's true that they have the weakest unit roster ATM, I wouldn't say they suck. You just gotta employ some different tactics with them, like with Casse or Swêboz (although the latter two are of course much stronger in woods and close combat).


    Quote Originally Posted by Moros View Post
    Anyway while I can't say they have the strongest rooster, it's also true that they lack a few units which would have made them stronger.
    What, they fielded roosters? Are there some cultural ties to the French?




    Swêboz guide for EB 1.2
    Tips and Tricks for New Players
    from Hannibal Khan the Great, Brennus, Tellos Athenaios, and Winsington III.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO