KH decisions/strat?

[AspisPhalanx90]

Hi all, Im actually quite new to EB (just got it to run on my mac, best mod ever btw) and ive been playing as KH. Ive managed to take Korinthos, Chalkis, Myteline, Thermon and Demetrias, so far, a decent start. However money is still an issue, i have a historically-traditional hoplite w/supporting infantry army moving towards Pella, but have a full stack of Makedonian and Epiriot armys waiting it seems for me to exit the mountain pass.

All in all, i managed to break out of Pelopponesos and into the mainland, but im stalled. my first question would probably be what is the best style of army in peoples opinion for KH to use? (hoplitai? phalanxes? mercs?). The finance system in EB is probably the hardest transition .any help on the best provinces to go for (such as kydonia) to get income up, as well as buildings would be really helpful. i think i have the army makeup id want to go for, but itd take years to train..if ever..on my current finances levels (only managing to keep around 1k per season =/)



ps. im at war with Epiros, Makedonia, and Rome (Massilia defected to me, lost after a few seiges)

[SwissBarbar]

Welcome

KH is a great faction. You have some of the best infantrymen there are. Your armies should rely on this heavy infanty, with support of cavalry (hammer-anvil tactic...). Alternatives would be mercenaries, but they are quite expensive. You seem to have quite a good start. Greece is quite rich. Build up your economy and raise high taxes if you must. Send a diplomat to everywhere and get trade rights with the AI-Factions. To expand, there are several possibilities for you, since you are quite in the middle of the map. Mikra Asia is extremely rich, it has many mines. But you will have to fight the Seleukids and/or Ptolemaioi, who will field vast armies of makedonian-style Phalangitai. You also could the other direction, and conquer Italy. Italy is very rich too and you will have to fight another faction, whose armies rely on heavy Inf - the Romans.

BTW, for your finances: If always keep the tax-level on "low taxes" until the city has reached 6000 inhabitants, and then raise them. The city will grow faster, and from that point on you get 1. more taxes and 2. can train armies without emptying the city fastly.

[AspisPhalanx90]

well for the moment im trying to figure out what would be the most cost-efficient unit to recruit, and still be able to take on makedonian phalangetai. would it be in my better interest to play it defensivly and slow and keep building my economy, or keep pushing into northern greece, to prevent the other factions from gaining too many higher quality troops?

[Duguntz]

Well, for the fun of it, when i play KH (pretty rarely as I'm a dedicated fan of Sweboz) I try to use only classical style army, maynot it's not very historical for the time period of EB, but I do believe they are much more fun to play...

[Arjos]

I'd suggest you to deal with Makedonia first, you will gain Pella and its mines.
Then keep in check Epeiros until you'll be able to recruit a decent army (Hoplitai and Peltastai or Akontistai).
Once you control all of Hellas you will have only the norther border to hold, while you can assemble a little navy and expand where you prefer...

[Burebista]

1. Take pella ..it has the best mines in the whole game
2. hoplitai haploi are very good , cheap battle holders
3 Sphendonetai are cheap and good
4 thrakioi peltastai mercs can be your flank killers (prob best in the whole game as infantry)
5 Dismiss the navy except 1 boat for transport
6 try to fight in advantageous points such as river crossings and mountains when defending

PS : greece is financially very easy to maintain and grow , so i think there are some probs in what units you take or what you do when conquering cities. Try Saka or Sweboz if you want an "interesting" financial problem

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Economy is key with KH. And I prefer to keep my citizens as tax-paying civilians, rather than recruit them into my armies.

So I try to recruit as little as possible, and hire mercenaries instead. Yes, they're expensive - but they have the advantage of not reducing your town population. Which, since I play on huge unit size, is very helpful.