Wrath of Sparta! impressions and discussion

[Bramborough]

Coming back to R2 after a long hiatus, still playing around with EE GC and the Augustus campaign. Just haven't gotten around to WoS yet. Will probably do so before Attila comes out. Looks fairly interesting.

[easytarget]

I'm enjoying it, playing as Athens is rather challenging, bit like stepping into a Realm Divide situation from turn one, only with a couple allies of your own (just the closest people nearby and even right by your capital are after you from the outset).

What my picture above shows is something I suspect prove a problem soon, while the Greeks are sparring with each other diminishing themselves the Persians have shown up on scene (orange above) and are rolling over the map currently (that expansion took place over like one year). I'd heard people say they won this w/o ever seeing them, I don't see that being a problem, but actually the reverse because I suspect the units they field aren't going to prove easily dealt with by what I've got.

[Bramborough]

I assumed that was Persia over in Asia. Obviously not having played WoS, I have no idea whether that's a problem or not.

I'm certainly no expert on the period, but from what little I've read, one might expect a significant proportion of Greek mercenary infantry among the Persian order of battle. Apparently they started doing this pretty regularly not too long after the Marathon-Plataea period, at least in that part of their empire. In other words, the Persian armies might not be THAT much different from your own (assuming CA's representation is historical...which is a big assumption).

[easytarget]

That's potentially good news then, I suspect before this campaign is over I'll get the opportunity to inspect the makeup of the armies they field rather closely on the battlefield.

[hoom]

Persian unit roster http://www.honga.net/totalwar/rome2/...=pel_persia&i=

Looks like the classic Greek vs Persia sort of thing:
Persia has pretty weak Spear/Melee infantry but should be able to afford lots of it.
Lots of Cav, lots of Missile & probably better than the Greek cav/missiles.

Greeks get tough Spear Infantry but not much else & probably will have smaller numbers.


So sit in the open & get missiled to death, same if you chase them around the map.

But if you can bring them to close combat the Greek infantry should win handily.

There are no Mercenary Hoplites.