Ahh... the Sassanid Empire.

After testing the waters with the WRE (disaster zone), the Franks (Nice units) and the Vandals (Hording away), I decided to begin a proper campaign with these Persian aristocrats. Needless you say you start off rich, and stay rich. Two or three of your frontier garrisons are on the brink of rebelling, but mainky because they are Pagan states. Demolish their shrines and build your own zoroastrian temples, and you should see public order jump almost 60%..

But that's obvious.

The Sassanids come up against the ERE, and just to make sure you attack them and not go wondering off up north, your goals for domination are to hold 20 settlements plus Constantinople, Jerusalem and Alexandria. Tough assignment, but one that can be accomplished with an initial three pronged strategic assault on Antioch (ERE's second city), Sinope, and Petra (rebel stronghold near Alexandra and Jerusalem). Attack using choke points.. Take Antioch then Jerusalem, then Philadelphia, then the city below Sinope... Then take Alexandria.

At Alexandria, the WRE, who'd just been kicked off Carthage by the Berbers, had an army waiting near Alexandria. I quickly took Alexandria, then allied with WRE. Interesting thing was, when the ERE attacked me again, by bockading my port at Antioch, the WRE remained neutral. A positive development. By now I had control of the East, and am ready to push on towards Constantinople..


The key to playing the Sassanids on the battlemap (I play on VH/M) is to master the horsemen, particlualry your Horse Archers, as most of your Cav (Clibinarii, Catapracts), as well as the unbelievably expensive mercenary units will be HA. Training Generals (Clibinarii Immortals) takes four turns. Most importantly, train lots of specialist archers.

Sassanids are fun. A good balanced intro to BI.