EB 1.2 + CITY MOD b + Darth 16.2 for EB + Sinuhet 7.0 AI Battle Formations for EB

Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus

I like to follow this story, glad you finally decided to show a picture!

It really is exciting! I understand you really don't hold back in this game?

Some tips you may find useful:

On the AI:
- The AI will (especially on VH/) attack you like a berserker if you border them, if you however have a buffer between them (in this case Pahlava between you and the Saka), the enemy usually is peaceful and will gladly have peace with you or even an alliance.

On the East:
- As you have said yourself, taking back Persepolis is vital, but also is Karmana. It is an extremely wealthy city, especially with mines. With a good governor in there and developed buildings it can give a great boost to the economy. It will also remove Persepolis from the front border. Cities like Apameia and Hekatompylos (or even Asaak) have mines too, but not as great as Karmana. Maybe it is an idea to move along the ocean if that won't overstretch your resources, save for Pura, these cities are quite good economy. Even some further inland, like Alexandropolis or the richer Prophtasia, have mines, but these are too far out of your reach of course. Always remember to keep this buffer with the Saka. Only break that when you think you are ready for the beast beyond. If that would happen, archer spam is your friend.

On the West:
- It is good to hear that Antigonid Makedonia is still your ally, they should keep Europe of your back. Why did you not take Halikarnassos? It generates decent sea trade and won't affect much in that area. Be cautious of Pontos though, they might try to imitate a Haikakan trick if you don't watch out. Remember that the Anatolian lands are very vurnerable but profitable provinces.

On the North:
- That raid probably takes the Hai of your back for some time, maybe fit for repeating when they have rebuilded the ruins? I hope you did not destroy any wonders? Not taking Ani-Kamah is a good decision, it may have normal mines, but it will probably overstretch resources and the front line against the Hai. Plus provocative to the Pontic lords.

On the South:
- Hold the line at those cities, it will be the best shot you have at holding them, Antiocheia as front is too dangerous. You probably didnt take Palmyra to have the sons of Ptolemy to focus on Sidon and Damaskos. A break out to the south taking Hierosolyma can narrow the front down, although the fate of Bostra would be a problem. (Consider Saba who likes to walk from Carna all the way towards there because you border them then).
- Have you considered sailing for Kypros, once it goes to you it usually gets left alone and you can get some nice income from there.
- You don't have any spare resources anywhere, so it would be best to leave the east side of the Arabian peninsula alone. Taking the Persian Gulf could bring in some cash, but other places can use your resources better and the Sab'yns are always watching.

On other stuff:
- Just curious what your Basileus' role is in your empire? An active role or managing the capital?
- All these tips sound very expansionist and costly, I am just trying to give you a lot of ways to turn the wars into your favour.
- Sorry if I missed anything which you had covered already, I didnt read all of the updates.

The best of luck.

~Fluvius

On the AI:

The AI attack as a bersek on VH yes, so perhaps I need a strategy that can somehow counter that, by making peace somehow, or taking out the AI capitals around me, from start?

On the East:

The East, well, think Persepolis, Ekbatana and Susa should be focused from start of myh next campaign, as training and economy centers. Everything else in the east is only a bonus if I can hold it continously. Except should i choose the other AS-strategy that I read about in the forums, - going east - from the start. Evrything possible thrown at east, while pahlava is still being weak. Destroying Pahlava and the going for Baktria and Saka.


On the West:

Yes Macedonia did that very well. The reason I dident take Halikarnassos, was that my first stack-battle was when I tried to take Side from Ptolemi. My capture resulted in a Ptolemi offensive near Sidon or Damakos, cant remember anymore, so I had to move this Side stack to the damakos-Sidon front. After that a massive war contiouned on this front, until the very pause in 202 BC, except those few peaceful years between 220-215 BC.

No units availble to capture new cities over here basically.

Pontus never even moved forces close to my borders. In this campaign the most peacefull nabo out there, Pontus. Wouldent ally with me though. In fact I did everything possible to keep peace in the west, from the start to the pause.


On the North:

I did destroy the wonder up north. It gave me...some 10-20000 Mnai. I had no other option, cause i needed the mnai to build those mines, so I could boost my economy. I couldent afford loosing units every second turn.

Is there a scripted negative faction-factor, when destroying a wonder in a captured city?


On the South:

Thanks for the tip here. Hierosolyma did narrow the front, but it took all the heat at the same time, so I think thats why it fell so fast, almost every single turn was a siege.


On other stuff:

Manager role mostly, and so far not in the capital at all. Have been no chance for him to go there, all these battles all the time. Every turn some 4-8 battles. So moving long distances without a half-stack as escort is stupid. He would have been ambushed, as has so many of my forces been, while on the move.

Thanks for your help Fluvius Camillus :-)