Favorite phalanx-based faction?

[Kevin]

After a bunch of multiplayer matches, I've realized that I like using phalanxes almost as much as legionaires. I've been thinking of playing a faction that uses phalanxes (so far, I've only played the Romans, Getai, and Pahlava) but there's so many of them. Which one do you like the best?

[Jebivjetar]

Epeiros.

[fleaza]

fatherland makedonia

[Julius Augustus]

Makedonia, of course. You get a cool blend of Hellenic and Western units, as well as getting access to Thracian elite rhompheia weilding killers.
Best of all, you be to kill off the Roman swine!
And you can get the satisfaction that can only be attained by debunking myths of Spartan invincibility. Farewell 300!

[J.R.M]

Julius is right. ecxept what he said about spartans, but oh well Maks rock, seriously Thracian peltasts and others plus some phalanxes (god bless Hysterois) is a pretty KICK ASS army. I alomost forget the Cavalry.

[retep219]

Personally, Epeiros is my favorite. Plenty of epic battles and fast expansion at the beginning, Phryrus as your king, elephants of course, and a nice Thracian AOR (Although Makedonia has that too, I think?) as well as an excellent starting location that provides for an interesting campaign. They also have more leeway on where you can go next, especially with regards to going west. (If I recall correctly, Makedonia needs to leave Rome alive so they can get March of Time?)

It's an excellent campaign, especially for one who likes to blitz. Elephants are fun, you can fight a large variety of enemies (Makedonian phalanxes, Konion Hellion's hoplites, Arche Seleukeia's Greco-Persian AI spam, the various "barbarian" units of the Thracian rebels and the Aedui of northern Italy, and of course Rome and its armies.) as you fulfill your reasonable victory conditions. Plenty of room for diplomacy, too, you do not HAVE to kill everyone in your way.

[Stycks]

Ok...
Carthy might not be a true phalanx faction, but their phalanxes KILL!!
and their unit roster has enough troops to satisfy all you flanking needs....
from spearmen, to light to heavy cav, to light and heavy infantry, or even them from spain that eat armor for dinner!
While other factions might have the same amount of flanking options....
of all i've messed with, carthy's units seem to be that much better than others....

remember, ur phalanx only pins the enemy, its up to the rest of the units on ur army (that dont have *too* long of a pointy object) to actually kill them!

so heres how it sould look....
(phalanx is the wall, smg = watever u wanna use to flank)

AND YES I RESTATE THE VERY OBVIOUS!
but yeah....
ur enemies are gonna have their own flanking units....
but carthy's are better (unless u stick in a few falx men )

[Mallios]

As far as I know, the Carthies only actually have one phalanx unit, the Sacred Band phalanx is not actually a real phalanx...

[Apázlinemjó]

As far as I know, the Carthies only actually have one phalanx unit, the Sacred Band phalanx is not actually a real phalanx...

They fight hoplite-like.

[Mallios]

Well, I've only fought that unit once, but from what I remember they used a formation that resembled a phalanx ( to the point that I thought they were a phalanx), but were able to switch to their secondary weapon very quickly (to my suprise after spending much time carefully flanking them). I think they share the same formation as Alpine phalanxes in EB 1.2.

[Apázlinemjó]

Well, I've only fought that unit once, but from what I remember they used a formation that resembled a phalanx ( to the point that I thought they were a phalanx), but were able to switch to their secondary weapon very quickly (to my suprise after spending much time carefully flanking them). I think they share the same formation as Alpine phalanxes in EB 1.2.

They are rare to encounter since they have small AOR and the AI likes the Elite Africans more.

[Arutima]

epeiros.

nice elite phalanx, elephants, most of makedon's roster etc

[Knight of Heaven]

Oh im afraid i got to say Arche Seleukeia is the better by far, i mean if you are up to the chalange, its very hard to play with them becouse the regions are very wide spread, and you have alot of enemys but i like the roster, include everthing. kataphracts, hetarioi, wide choice of phalanxes, very good heavy infantry, Syrian archers etc etc.
i hv been playing with Makedonia, and Epeiros. Epeiros is fun, and hard at the beginning. Makedonia is fairly easy.
The ptolomaoi there is no juice on the gameplay.
The best heavy cav in the game is no doubt Hetarioi. multiplayer gamers can vouch for that.

[Julius Augustus]

There is no real best heavy cav. It all comes down to the role you need it for. For instance, hetairoi will be owned by top teir catanks, but have more stamina. Molloson Agema can run circles around both, and can do more charges in the rear of an enemy line before tiring, but are more vulnerable to enemy attacks. Hetairoi are simply the most versatile(I prefer cataphracts though).

[Apázlinemjó]

And don't forget that the scythed chariots can eat the armored heavies for breakfast, if you know how to use them. :o

[antisocialmunky]

The super heavy cav will roll over chariots in a head on charge.

Also, I did some MP testing of the Molloson Agema and they are possibly THE best cav of the heavy cav/non cataphract class since they trade armor for pure defense. The most effective cav based anti-cav weapons are the charging lances(since it attacks so fast, has high lethality, AFAIK a mount bonus, and is AP but mostly the AP). But MA have hgih defense isntead of armor so they actually get a defensive advantage over say... Companions.

You can try it, they beat Companions head on.

[king of thracia]

ARCHE SELEUKEIA

The greatest throne in the world