Favorite phalanx-based faction?

**Ca Putt** · 08-22-2009, 15:12

as favorite Phalanx based faction I would choose Makedonia for all the reasons mentioned plus the playercolor is black :D. second would be bactria with the most wide spread recruitment roster. still I rather play with KH as I'm not awfully good at makedonian style phalanx warfare, I always preffered good ole hoplite battles.

oh and the AS is the smallest problem the bactrians have! I had to abandon my campaign because the saka rauka Invaded my homeland with Horse archers.

**Andronikos** · 08-22-2009, 15:59

Baktria and Makedonia.
Baktria for their diversity in units (you have Hellenic infantry, HAs, cataphracts, several light and medium cavalry units, Indian units, light Persian units, including most beautiful unit IMO - Indohellenic noble hoplite), exotic touch and interesting history. As The General said, it is nice to control trade between east and west, spread Hellenic culture to the east and Buddhism and Indian culture to the west.

Makedonia is a prototype of phalanx faction, they have elite phalanxes, their unique reformed phalanx, great non-phalanx units as well (traditional successor elites, Thracians, Bosphoran archers...) several expansion possibilities, various enemies, glorious history behind them, so I have a feeling that as a Makedonian king I have to achieve victiories and glory to equal my ancestors. Morover from all successor dynasties I like Antigonids most.

I don't consider Pontos a phalanx-based faction, but they are one of my favourites too, because they join my three favourite cultures from EB - Hellenic, Eastern and Celtic and have beautiful units from all these cultures plus Scythian HAs. When challenge and interesting history is added, they make one the best factions. Other thing I like about Pontos (and Baktria too) is that they are unknown.

**Atraphoenix** · 08-22-2009, 16:47

Arche Seleukeia, because she has excellent cataphractoi to apply hammer and anvil tactic of Alexander. I have played with Seleucids for yors in RTW Vanilla but as it too easy in EB to play with them I play against her and to fight against AS is really a good challenge.
Baktria has, too but AOR issue limits her playability.

**GenosseGeneral** · 08-22-2009, 17:14

why does no one mention the ptolies? they got something many successors lack: good (not elite) heavy infantry: the Galatikoi Klerouchoi. If you manage to conquer Ankyra you are even able to recruit tidanotae (written correcly???) which are like gesatae. and of course you got all the standard phalanxes, although there might be some problems with the AOR of non-elite heavy cav (agema klerouchon hippeon), elite phalanxes and elite infantry. and they lack the light and cheap pantopadoi phalanxes.

BUT: you only need to fight to 1 front, and there will be nice battles on your way to seleukeia. you got access to the most disciplined and cheapest elephants in the game (though they are the weakest, too).

so all in all nice for all dont want to fight HAs in the east, but want to play a more "exotic" hellenistic faction than macedonia.

**Kevin** · 08-26-2009, 02:30

Makedonia won by 1 person

Epeiros was second

**The General** · 08-22-2009, 18:15

Originally Posted by Ca Putt

oh and the AS is the smallest problem the bactrians have! I had to abandon my campaign because the saka rauka Invaded my homeland with Horse archers.

Always keep a watchful eye for those nomads.

Counter their armies with (Persian or nomad) foot archers, your own horse archers or Baktrioi Hippotoxotai.

**General Aetius** · 08-22-2009, 18:29

oh and the AS is the smallest problem the bactrians have! I had to abandon my campaign because the saka rauka Invaded my homeland with Horse archers.

That's strange. I found Baktria very easy. The Parthians acted as a screen and all I had to do was guard one mountainous pass while I conquered India.

Back on Topic: I would choose Epeiros. They have the most interesting and different culture of all the phalanx nations. They also have a nice historical position, as a brand new kingdom, and a powerful king, Pyrrhos.

General Aetius

**The General** · 08-22-2009, 22:25

Originally Posted by General Aetius

The Parthians acted as a screen and all I had to do was guard one mountainous pass while I conquered India.

I've got a similar case in my Baktria save, I'm already besieging Susa, the last Seleukid holding east of Mesopotamia, and the Pahlavans and Saka Rauka are still engaged in a conflict for supremacy over the eastern Pontic steppe.