I'm playing Epeiros-as-Pergamon once again (fifth time, it seems), and being stuck once more by how excellent the Hellenic roster is. It's available to a lot of factions, and seems to comprise a lot of cheap, yet surprisingly sturdy units. The absolute hero of this set is the Greek Levy Hoplite (Hoplitai Haploi), who cost very little indeed, yet with a decent general can stand up to a lot of tougher, more expensive troops. They're my default garrison troops, two units along with two of Akontistai. I remember a short-lived Pontos game where levy hoplites were better and cheaper than many other spearman options.
I just had a siege where my stone walled Nikaia was defended by that default garrison, plus a unit of Toxotai and one Levy Phalanx. With the machine gun towers (which destroyed the ram before it touched the walls) and the AI's attempt to rush the siege (it only had a ram and one ladder), they wiped out a larger force, comprising a couple of phalangites and some beat up (better quality) infantry. One unit of levy hoplites was killed almost to a man on the top of the walls, but never broke. After destroying most of their force on the walls (the bodies were piled high), they marched out and routed what was left.
A Heroic Victory because of the gulf in quality, rather than being slightly outnumbered:
There are other units worthy of mention, too. Peltastai are both good skirmishers and reliable medium infantry once they're out of ammo. Classical Hoplites are widely available and some of the best value flank-holding troops, or even line-holders in a pinch. Thureophoroi are good flankers, and again widely available. Even levy phalanxes are better value than elite ones, since they only need to be there to hold the centre while the rest of your army goes to work. If you've got access to a blacksmith, and better yet a Gymnasium (and perhaps the right type of government) you get experienced and tooled up troops which sweetens the deal still further. I should note, this group are for regular armies, where the first lot are garrison-only. Though I have found a place for Akontistai sometimes, especially if I'm roleplaying them as Mysian tribesmen or the like.
Sadly where the Hellenic roster falls down is cavalry, there's nothing to get excited about there. Fortunately, with the money you save using the above units, you can hire some good, versatile Curepos (who are again cheap, but very good value). There's really something to be said for economy armies that punch well above their apparent weight.
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