Overstretched AS Borders...... Where is the Optimal AS Borders?

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

VH battle difficulty? Then I'd say you dug your grave alone, so get out of it alone.

VH campaign difficulty? OK. I think first, your troops need more armour. Besides all the whining "Pantodapoi Ph. are as good as Elite Phalangitai", this is simply not the case. They aren't. Build your armies around Pezhetairoi and Thorakitai. Lots of Thorakitai and a few Foot-tankoi and Peltastai Makedonikoi.

Also, Phalangitai are not a good garrison. Especially for forts. To maintain an effective defence with forts, you should keep an army in the backyard to do the fighting. Fort garrisons aren't meant to fight, they are just meant to block the path. Garrisons fighting should only occur if you can afford at least a medium quality quarter-stack for every fort.

For Egypt, I'd say build a regional army and intercept the enemy. Don't sally, it takes an awful lot of time and yields more casualties to you.

For missiles, Kretan, Syrian and Bosporan archers and Rhodian slingers all do an excellent job. For example, 2 units of Bosporan archers and 2 units of Rhodian slingers in your army that shields your Kaukasos flank and the one protecting your Oxos flank should be very effective against the damn horse archers.

As for your borders, avoid open land and choose borders with choke points.

[gamegeek2]

#1 - Build mines. This is an important early investment, and funds your later conquests.
#2 - Invest in good medium quality infantry, such as Thureophoroi, and make these the backbone of your army, along with some number of phalanxes. The two form an excellent team.
#3 - Fight horse archers with horse archers. Recruit some Pahlava Shivatir, Skuda Uazdaet or other regional horsemen and use those to fight the Sauromatae.

Recommended Agemon Kaukasoi (Guard for the Caucasus)
6 Horse Archers
2 Cretan, Syrian, or Bosporan archers
2 Thureophoroi
2 Phalangitai (Klerouchoi or better if possible)
At least 1 Heavy Cavalry (FM, kataphraktoi, hetairoi, or merc general)
1 Medium Cavalry (lonchophoroi, prodromoi, medians)

Expect the HAs to take lots of casualties, minimize this by not being reckless with their deployment. Guard your foot archers carefully, you don't want them taking large amounts of melee casualties.

Do NOT use lightly armoured infantry to fight horse archers (except archers). These will simply be arrow fodder, and this is not a good use of your money, nor your population.

I highly recommend at least 1 unit of horse archers in all of your armies. They are great pursuers, can easily flank an enemy and shoot at his side or rear, and are unmatched at dealing with lightly armoured troops.