Which faction provides the biggest test?

[ReluctantSamurai]

I did say I was looking for a test.

Aye, you did. And tested you will be Jedi....

I wouldn't know that, would I?

I would've thought with your attention to detail that you'd have looked to see at what city level you get to build which barracks......

I'm not keen on attracting attention early by taking Seleucia unless I have no option.

I have seen Seleucia target Susa while in the midst of getting pounded by the Golden Horde, so keep an eye out for a backstab.....they are Greeks afterall

[williamsiddell]

Ha ha.

They don't know what's coming their way. And I'm trying to play Parthia as an innocent.

they are Greeks afterall

You just don't understand them.

I'm gonna start Parthia tonight. The GC VH/VH is too familiar. This might surprise you - it's playing easier. The AI seems to be eh, absent. I'm well ahead of where I would expect to be - mind you I've had to change strategy.

[ReluctantSamurai]

You just don't understand them

Oh I understand them, alright...scheming, dishonest, backstabbing S.O.B.'s Never, ever, trust a Greek faction. People like to comment that the Romans are never to be trusted...and that's true. But....

....the Greeks have backstabbing down to an art. I had a Carthage campaign awhile back where it seemed convenient to keep them around. I figured to use them as a temporary buffer against the Romans until I had completed my campaigning elsewhere. I gave them a couple of cities, some cash, and granted movement rights through my provinces so they could get from one to another of their split holdings without having to stop next to one of my cities. All well and good. They behaved themselves quite remarkably for perhaps a decade, and were actually doing what I had set them up to do....keep the Romans occupied for awhile.

When the backstab came, I guess I wasn't too surprised but what pissed me off even more was the way it was done. Not in a warrior act of courage by besieging a city, but a little chicken$%#@ port blockade by a single bireme that ran away the following turn. Needless to say, you can guess what happened next

[williamsiddell]

Oh I understand them, alright

Naw, naw. You just don't understand them - cos they speak Greek :)

Those dirty, sneaky, underhand, thick Greek gits!

Played the first five turns of Parthia VH/VH. Avert your eyes if you're finding this too radical :)

Spotted right away I was short of cash and lumbered with poor units. I'll explain my setup and then not bore again unless summat interesting happens.

Turn one. Largest costs associated with the army being too big. Disbanded all cavalry and slinger in Sakae and built a peasant. Left the general there for public order and 90 admin. Similarly in Susa. Formed my main army at Arsakia and headed for Phraaspa. Sent the spy north and the diplomat south. Emphasis on cash buildings and sold unneeded military buildings.

Turn end: Got rebels outside Susa so reloaded.

Turn two: Took Phraaspa. Concentrated one roads, ports, traders and markets. Built other peasants for Sakae and Phraaspa.

Turn end: Both Armenia and Scythia offered trade and maps for nowt.

Turn three: As above. Cash improving. Disbanded the boat. Kept my army in Phraaspa. Trade rights and alliance with Seleucids.

End Turn: Leader died so reloaded, but have to live with a rebel outside Susa that appeared. New general in Phraaspa. Built diplomat in Arsakia.

Turn four: Moved toward Artaxerta. Spy showed barracks no better than mine. Moved diplomat toward Armenia.

End turn: Armenia moved an army to block access by my troops.

Turn five: Bribed Armenan army and got two units then assaulted Artaxerta - gates open and taken. They had built a better barracks so now I can build hillmen. Oh joy. Enslaved and boosted Phraaspa, Sakae and Susa. Will now move my generals out and start building watchtowers. Heading for Kotais soon.

[ReluctantSamurai]

They had built a better barracks so now I can build hillmen.

Yeeesh. Hillmen are worthless, IMHO. All of the disadvantages, and none of the advantages of Eastern Infantry.

Bribed Armenan army and got two units then assaulted Artaxerta

I take it you snagged their Cataphract unit? It's what I do, if that's the case. Better to have the unit fight on your side than against....

[williamsiddell]

I take it you snagged their Cataphract unit?

Nope. I take it because I didn't own a qualifying stable. 262bc - Armenia long gone and making 4k per turn. Abandoned the idea of attacking Pontus so aiming south instead. Two things - I've built a large number of watchtowers to cover the huge area those few cities cover, and interestingly there is a group of rebels causing no devastation in Sakae. I think they were there from the start and they keep more away - so they stay.

[ReluctantSamurai]

Armenia starts with a single Cat...you should have started with two--designers decision. Has nothing to do with available barracks. You can't replace losses, of course, until you have the appropriate barracks.

Abandoned the idea of attacking Pontus so aiming south instead.

Keep an eye out (watchtowers or spy) along the road from Sinope to Kotais. It's Pontus' favorite invasion route if they don't try for Tarsus first. They will attack you sooner or later, but it will be later if they join the Seleucid feeding frenzy. After that, watch for a Pontus-Egypt alliance. Happens more frequently than not, so if you decide, at a later point, to attack them (or they attack you), watch out for Big Brother

[Vincent Butler]

Just hope the rebels do not take the towers over. If they move onto the tower you will lose the sight that tower gives. I don't know if that works for opposing factions as well. I don't remember, I thought Hillmen were better than Eastern Infantry. Why else would they be in a better barracks? One thing about Parthia, you don't have to invest in barracks, stables and archery range, just stables and archery range. That saves some money. Merc Hoplites would certainly come in handy for garrison duty.