Favorite phalanx-based faction?

[Aemilius Paulus]

Definitely Eperios. It is in my sig too . Their location and flavour is much to my liking. They are an underdog faction which has no history of empires/great victories (Maks, KH) nor an empire in 272 BC, unlike the Ptolies and AS. I do not know why I cannot stand Makedonia, but for some reason, I simply cannot. Perhaps it is because of my urge to create very alternate history. Makedonians already had their day. I do not know, but for some reason, I strongly disliked and still avoid Makedonians.

Baktria is another good choice, but I loathe their location. Too empty, too little history (that I know of) in the Baktrian vicinity, too unfamiliar in general, too many archers and nomads, and too little variety in general. Same meaningless city, never-ending steppe/mountains, lack of defining geographical locations/features. And really, my main grievance with Baktria is that it is on the edge of the map, where the only real solution is endless AS grind with intermittent nomad walloping. Not like the exciting and varied battles of the Mediterranean.

Northern Mediterranian is my favourite, preferably in the centre, such as the Romani and Eperios. Pontus is meh, because of its Asiatic flavour (I do not like Eastern factions) and mostly the AS grind.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

The part with "too little variety" in your statement on Baktria is really odd.

Epeiros sucks in the empire phase, because its government-types are not the best. They are too barbarian. They don't have the perfect mix of Hellen culture, ferocious strength and royal appeal like Makedonia.

[Aemilius Paulus]

The part with "too little variaty" in your statement on Baktria is really odd.

Sorry, I should have elaborated. What I meant was that there is too little variety in the enemies Baktria faces, the directions of its conquest (only west), the settlements (one meaningless AS town after another with same Pantodapoi Spearmen/Phalanx and archer spam), lack of defining geographical features (Mediterranean Sea with all its affiliate bodies of salt-water or even the Atlantic for example) - for Batria it is endless deserts, steppes, with a bit of mountains sprinkled in between.

And anyway, most of the other variety problems I have already mentioned. Baktria is a splendid nation in a lousy place. Unlike the hyper-central locations of Eperios, Makedonians, Koinon Hellenon, and even the Romani.

They are too barbarian.

Precisely why I like them. They are the ideal mix of "barbarian" and Hellenic in my personal opinion. Makedonia has strayed far from its wild roots, and after Alexandros and subsequent Diadochi, it is just another one of the many, with very little of its past days of a tribal culture. Eperios still retains the spirit of the fierce barbarian warriors, it is not yet corrupted with the "comforts" of "civilisation".

Just as the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues were when Romans arrived at Greece after the Second Punic War. Still retaining their fighting spirit, unlike the somewhat spoiled Makedonians and thrice more decadent Greeks, who all but abandoned their citizen militias in favour of mercenaries, the Qarthadastim way - which leads to a predictable ending of a loss. Even Hannibal knew this, which is why he chose to rely on regional indigenous recruits, mainly the Iberians, not independent mercenaries.

[moonburn]

kh cause soon enough you will discover the marvellous throkithai

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Epeiros sucks in the empire phase, because its government-types are not the best. They are too barbarian. They don't have the perfect mix of Hellen culture, ferocious strength and royal appeal like Makedonia.

Actually, Epeirote government is quite good. Better than the Satrapeia-Hemi-Autonomos and its whooping public order penalties at level three, while at level II the bonuses fairly outweigh the public order malus. If anything all Epeirote governments provide better benefits than their Successor counterparts, regardless of the first time appearances.

"Royal appeal", I guess no one beats Pyrrhus here ;~p. Otherwise, the Epeirotes are a fairly "plain" Hellenic faction, which makes your remark about "barbarism" a bit far off, unless it's just plain old Athenian bias .

[Apraxiteles]

The Epeirotes are the only "civilized" faction which can recruit Drapanai. If that doesn't make you kinda barbaric, I don't know what does.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Actually, Epeirote government is quite good.

Meh, I prefer my good ol' Roman ones. Although the Hellenic experience bonus the governments offer is quite nice, much better than what the Romans have... At the same time, without that experience bonus, the Ptolies/AS governments are crap IMHO.

[Apázlinemjó]

Pontos for me, because of the wide variety on the unit roster next to the phalanx units. (Galatian naked dudes and scythed chariots do nice insta routs together.)

But if I have to stick at a hardcore phalanx based faction, then it's Makedonia. Hysteroi Pezhetairoi (sp?) is just the best phalanx unit in the game, since they are much cheaper than the elites, yet they have almost the same stats. Also their high end units belong to the bests of the game.

[satalexton]

O Fatherland of Glory,
Vergina sun shines bright!
Sons of Alexandros,
All Hail Makedonia!!!

Truth in Father Makedonia,
Home of Megas Alexandros!
Glorious shine of the Vergina Sun!
All Hail Makedonia!!!

[AqD]

Baktria is another good choice, but I loathe their location. Too empty, too little history (that I know of) in the Baktrian vicinity, too unfamiliar in general, too many archers and nomads, and too little variety in general. Same meaningless city, never-ending steppe/mountains, lack of defining geographical locations/features. And really, my main grievance with Baktria is that it is on the edge of the map, where the only real solution is endless AS grind with intermittent nomad walloping. Not like the exciting and varied battles of the Mediterranean.

bah! The Greeks in Bactria and beyond have much more and longer history than those in the west. They survived in a terribly hostile environment, built great cities, and spreaded the greek culture to Indians and Sakas, and they kept the war-like spirit! While the greeks and macedonains elsewhere became soft and fell under Romans and Parthians.

[Mister V]

The Arche, of course. The attacks on the eastern front are quite tiresome, but if you don't mind auto to avoid fighting every little skirmish, it's all right. And you have a pretty good basis for an empire. They've also got an excellent unit roster (love the Thorakitai Argyraspidai) and can quickly add the rich lands of Egypt to their domain.