Pontus

[Kaidonni]

Doing a Pontus 1.3 H/H campaign right now (well, not this instant to be exact ). The year is 258BC, Winter. I have Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, Ionia, Phrygia, Bithynia, Lycia and Rhodos - all in order.

I started by sending most of my troops under Pharnaces to conquer Galatia. I used my diplomats, training extra ones where necessary, to sell map information, get map information and broker trade rights and alliances. SELLING MAP INFORMATION IS IMPERATIVE! It gets you a nice amount of money to spend on mercs, etc. I conquered Ancyra in 269BC, Winter. At one point, around 266BC/265BC, my income was just about to go negative...then, I conquered Ionia 265BC Winter, and ended a 2-turn war with Seleucia - and got a nifty 10,000 denarii (large undisclosed sum passed under table is the watchword). 264BC I attacked Pergamum in Phrygia and assaulted after 1 turn, then got a ceasefire with Greece. 263BC/262BC came the turn of Nicomedia in Bithynia. 261BC saw Harlicarnassus fall to me. 258BC was the second Pontus-Greek Cities war, which also lasted 2 turns, with me capturing Rhodes on the island of Rhodos.

For some reason, just blocking the bridges by Mazaka and Sinope deterred the Armenians from attacking. Not to mention these two armies are my police armies (well, a unit of Sarmatians at the Sinope bridge, and my main police army at the Mazaka bridge). I have left Cilicia for now. Egypt doesn't seem interested in the Seleucids there - but they seem to POSSIBLY have their eyes on Hatra in Assyria (the Armenians are attacking the settlement...hmm, perhaps Egypt and Armenia can enter a war, get pre-occupied...then BAM).

I intend to co-ordinate a conquest of Antioch and Salamis from Egypt. I will try to build two full-stack armies consisting of Phalanx Pikemen and a good range of cavalry, and attack the settlements simultaneously, possibly taking Tarsus in Cilicia first. I will basically blitz the Egyptians. Key to that is also preparing Peasant armies to garrison the cities so one can move on.

And I will attempt to investigate that conveyor belt system for Scythian HA mercs! Scythia has failed to take the Bosphoran peninsula, so that means more fun for me. And in that case, with nice merc HA armies, I can easily slaughter Egypt and Armenia. Perhaps I could take Armenia first...then hit Egypt with a massive offensive...

[Tzar Dusan of Serbs]

First i must apologize to everyone who want to read this because my english is a bit rogh,i'm only 17years old and I am a real fanatic of RTW.

First i want to say that i played my campaign on vh/vh.IN the start I advise to every one to take care off rebel city on the west coast of asia minor,than to prepare for war against armenia.I find that if war I give them to much space they become real pain in the ass,because of their horse archers(I hate them)!!!!So i atack them early on and i bribe every army i could.I take both of their cities and than built fortres in the frontier with Pathria.Ofcourse i send all of my diplomats to sell trade rights as high as they can(this is extremly usefull).I never go in the alliance with Egypt becouse they are real back stabbing faction.I help the seleucids in their war with Egypt so I dont have to worry about hordes of Egyptians armies on my frontier.Also I build fortres in every mountain pases in asia minor.Interestly even with one unit of pesants in my fort,Egyptian never tried to take it from me.After few turns Greeks atacked me in Nicomedia,it wasn't a problem becuse their hoplites are to slowe for pontus cavalry,after two battles in open field I siege and sucessfully take greeke city(Pergamum).Than I conqure Halicarnasus,this was vital because Greeks have very strong fleet and I do not build ships so with Halicarnasus I can do a sneak Atack to Rodes and take colosus.After that I go with my small fleet and take Salamis from Egyptians.
Then I build up my amries and go into open war with egyptiens also with army of merceneries I took Sardis from my formel allyies seleucids.

This is for now,what do you think about my strategie??

I'm very happy if I help someone,please respond

[Kaidonni]

Funny...in 1.3, H/H, just placing an army, even one unit, on the bridges by Sinope and Mazaka discouraged the Armenians from attempting to start a war with me. So far so good.

[Ludens]

Welcome to the Org, Tzar Dusan of Serbs .

Your strategy sounds interesting. I agree that Armenia must go, but then I would focus on the coastal cities, as they bring in cash. I would also prioritize war with the Egyptians over war with the Seleucids. The Seleucids tend to get wiped out anyway and the Egyptians pose a far bigger threat. Ally with the weak against the strong; the Seleucids may seems strong, but their strenght is divided over many borders. Also, Egypt is a very big prize: if you can weaken them by wiping out their veteran troops and then launch an amphibious invasion, you may get some of the richests provinces of the map.

[Tzar Dusan of Serbs]

Well I agreed with you Ludens,but I like to help Seleucids becouse I don't want Egypt on my border early in the game,I find them very anoying couse sometimes I thout that they have unlimited full stack armies.So I like to Help Seleucids to hold off Egypt in Tarsus,Pergamum,Sardis and Halicarnasus are my main objective in early game(of course after destroying Armenia).I find that merceneries in that area are very profitable becouse once I established my empire in the east I like to take Athens.Athens is very rich city and if you have 2cretan archers in garrison you can broke every siege atempt.I find that AI is very sttupid when they lay a siege,becouse when I sally for meet them they just wait and let me shoot them with my createn Archers drom my stone walls.Athens and later Corinth is so easy to defend.I know That Egypt is very rich,but my Strategy is always fast and furious atack by beseging their best cities and destroy their greatest army when they come to help besegied city.In War with Egypt I didn't find that is possible so it's really war of nutrition and I don't like it.So I Take their city of Salamis and than build two Armies,one to send straight Egypt and one to Send In Byblos,so I thoght(and of course I succed at this atempt)to cut off Egypt Armies from their mainland.This is very good for later sneak atack on Memfis if you take it,Egypt will colapse becouse of piramids....

i will say more some other time