Favorite phalanx-based faction?

[Andronikos]

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]

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]

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.

[The General]

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]

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]

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.

[option]

Epeiros, Epirote Heavy Cavalry is GOD: they have the punch of Hetairoi with the speed of Illyrioi Hippeis. More often than not all that super heavy cavalry is too slow and gets tired too quickly, which is lame, but as Epeiros you have probably the most maneuverable shock cavalry in the world. Even if they are still likely to underperform in 1 vs. 1 combat vs. catanks, they can quickly run away and strike at will. And they take forever to get tired too, increasing their longterm battle efficiency.

Otherwise, plenty of Illyrian and Thracian units to use, just like Makedonia. Since you have to conquer Makedonia at the start, your mid-game phalanx roster will probably not be very distinct from them. You can only recruit Pezhetairoi in Makedonian provinces at the start, but at least you get Elephantes Indikoi right off Ambrakia with a better MIC. And from the start, you also have much superior light cavalry forces ranging from Hippeis Tarantinoi to Illyrioi Hippeis, while still having access to the powerful Successor medium cavalry and heavy infantry roster.

Overall, Epeiros is a bit indistinct from Makedonia on the military composition - They have a bit of a local touch to their troops, but the distinctions are less than the similarities. On expansion, you can choose a much wider expansion based on the Mediterranean, and you also don't get much from "March of Time", so you're better off putting the Romaioi scum to death. That's what I plan to follow next in my campaign - with Italia in your hands, you'll be so wealthy that even the Seleukids will pose no problem.

This. I too love the Molosson Agema, they're probably my favorite heavy cav in the game. Of the three phalanx-based campaigns I've played (Epeiros, Pontos, and AS), Epeiros has definitely been the most fun. I highly recommend them.

[Kevin]

Does anyone know how to edit a thread to have a poll. I think this one deserves to be one

[Apázlinemjó]

Does anyone know how to edit a thread to have a poll. I think this one deserves to be one

Uhmm, never tried on these forums, however if it's mechanism is similar to the ones I'm used too, then if you edit the first post, there you can add a poll too.

[Kevin]

Uhmm, never tried on these forums, however if it's mechanism is similar to the ones I'm used too, then if you edit the first post, there you can add a poll too.

nope that didn't work

[Torvus]

I almost always play a phalanx-based faction. Alexander had the right idea.
As for a good EB phalanx faction, I would say Makedonia or the Ptolemaioi. Ptolemaioi have the awesome heavy infantry mentioned earlier and the good successor selection of phalanx units but a lack of good cav besides the hetairoi.

Makedonia is essentially the basic Alexandrian phalanx army. they've got everything you need for a good phalanx battle. however, their selection of phalanx units is relatively narrow compared to the Diadochoi. they only have the levy, the pezhetairoi, and the agyraspides. you can count the hysterioi if you like, I generally don't. The Romani are too stupid to figure out the MOT most of the time for me.

[gamegeek2]

Ptolemaioi have a rather poor selection of units IMO. I love the Galatikoi Kleruchoi, but outside of the Makedonian basics you have rather poor elite units compared to Makedonia, Epeiros, and Arche Seleukeia.

I'd go with the Arche Seleukeia, mainly because you have access to many, many elite units, in addition to the bread and butter of the Makedonian roster. Baktria takes second, though Qarthadast is almost a Hellenic faction in terms of its roster (its missing cheap and medium phalanx units)

[Ca Putt]

oh thank you for intending to help me but the main problem was that they were too many at the wrong time(I had my troops elsewhere and they were "specialised"on elephant killing :/ plus I made a major mistake at the seige of the most northern indian settlement which costed me too much troops(I went for a pee while the battle was loading but forgot that sallys don't have a deployment phase thus I had guild infantry and Elephants in my lines, which is not a very good thing most of the time ) although i won the battle. the saka hordes were just the straw that broke the camel's back :( . I think I'll start a new baktria Campaign in EB2^^

[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.

[Kevin]

Makedonia won by 1 person
Epeiros was second

[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.

[Phalanx300]

I'd say Epeiros, my third favourite faction .

1) They have a dog as faction emblem, which happens to be a far ancestor of the Bull Terrier.
2) They have two nice elite units, the Chaonians and their unique Hetairoi. I like that cavalry the best of all Hetairoi since they are the most true to the Hetairoi which conquered Persia. And the Chaonians are very elite units and look great as well.
3) You have Taras, a Spartan colony.
4) Its great to fight for southern Italy with the Romans.
5) Elephants, Illyrians and Tracians as well.

I'm wondering about something though, are todays Albanians the ancestors of the Illyrians? I've always seen Greeks saying they aren't but there is not any proof for it unlike the Fyromians being Slavic (Only cannibal unit in EB).

[Bava]

Epeiros, of course!
Truely elite phalanx units to counter other phalanx-based armies and Thorakitai if you need more mobility (I tend to use a roman style army with 4 units of thureophoroi/4 thorakitai and 2 hypaspistai + regionals when I´m tired of hammer and anvil tactics). And you have the Molosson Agema, one of the best heavy cav in the game. Oh, and there are the thracian falx guys and peltastai

[Mallios]

I forgot to say Baktria's my favourite phalanx based faction.

Also wow,I never thought Epeiros would be this popular!

BTW, Phalanx 300 are you sure about the Bull Terrier thing? I was told that the Bull Terrier was a result of breeding the White Engish Terrier with the English Bulldog...

[Phalanx300]

I forgot to say Baktria's my favourite phalanx based faction.

Also wow,I never thought Epeiros would be this popular!

BTW, Phalanx 300 are you sure about the Bull Terrier thing? I was told that the Bull Terrier was a result of breeding the White Engish Terrier with the English Bulldog...

The Bull Terrier is a mix of alot of things, the Mollosian dog was a far ancestor which was imported to England.

[Torvus]

The Bull Terrier is a mix of alot of things, the Mollosian dog was a far ancestor which was imported to England.

unless Bull Terriers are related to Mastiffs, I find this highly unlikely. The Molossus is considered to be an ancient forerunner of the mastiff type dogs we know today.

which is one of the reasons I dislike Eperios, along with their lame green color. their emblem showing the hound looking like a greyhound just seems silly and unintimidating to me and their green color is not really something to inspire their troops.

that being said, I love many of their units and would play as them if they still had the 202 sized Thorakitai units like they had in 0.8x

[Phalanx300]

unless Bull Terriers are related to Mastiffs, I find this highly unlikely. The Molossus is considered to be an ancient forerunner of the mastiff type dogs we know today.

which is one of the reasons I dislike Eperios, along with their lame green color. their emblem showing the hound looking like a greyhound just seems silly and unintimidating to me and their green color is not really something to inspire their troops.

that being said, I love many of their units and would play as them if they still had the 202 sized Thorakitai units like they had in 0.8x

Well I have this Bull Terrier book which says so.

I don't know whats exactly in it, its quite a mess.

[Flavius_Belisarius]

I like especially macedonia, seleukia, greek city states, ptolmai and epeiros. At the moment i prefer epeiros 'cause of their excellent heavy cavalry which also has a great stamina if you compare them with hetairoi.

[Lysimachos]

My favorite Phalanx-based faction of course are the Lysimachids. Oh, wait, I've been defeated before EB starts.

Let's see then. I personally like combinations with distinct non-hellenic elements. I'm very sorry to say, this probably means for the great Makedons and Hellenes they come least in my list, because they are least barbaric...
Anyway, despite of all things that can be said about unit composition and skins, starting locations and cultural identity, at the moment I'd probably always end up with Seleucids on top of the list, just because of the intense role-playing experience I have with them, due to my AAR. However, this could change if I started another one.

[Arutima]

epeiros.

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