Defensive Game?

[MadSpazz]

I know this probably sounds weird, but I want to play a more defensive game, developing an economy and a large army. I was just wondering what faction you would suggest to play this kind of game. I want to have all of my territories connected, and if at all possible, not be a barbarian civilization. Thank you for putting up with me, I couldn't find a forum search button.

[econ21]

I would recommend Seleucia - lot of land, lot of aggressive neighbours and a nice long tech tree to work up.

For more of a challenge, trying to survive as Carthage or Gaul without taking the fight to the Romans might be interesting.

[Dooz]

I think Greece or Macedonia are great for your needs. But then again, I'm just a monkey on smack.

[Colovion]

I'm going to TRY that Carthage idea. I might have to take over Sicily though.

[Basileus]

Greece, evryone will want a piece of you heh..same scenario with Gaul evryone will attack you. Your goal should be not to lose a singel province and if you do you should.. get it back with in atleast 5 days or you lose heh, i think i´ll try it aswell havent played much lately

[QuantumEleven]

... and the "Search" button is at the very top right-hand corner of your screen. It's run by Google - select the "Forums" option if you just want to search through past posts, and voilà!

HTH

[Paul Peru]

Greece and Carthage haven't exactly got their territories connected, so Seleucia sounds like a likely candidate. Both of the former will give you a huge challenge if played strictly defensively, though.

[Bhruic]

Selecuia is pretty strung out. You could play Egypt, but you'd be in a rather easy situation.

I'd probably recommend someone like Thrace. Most of the neighbours aren't too aggressive at the beginning, so if you take Byzantium, you'll have a nice little section of land.

Bh

[Baiae]

Pontus isn't bad for that either. I prefer to play like that and Pontus is one of my favourite factions. You can make peace with the Seleucids and then you only have to worry about the Armenians. The Seleucid position is a bit hectic to try to play purely defensively.

[The Stranger]

Greece and Carthage haven't exactly got their territories connected, so Seleucia sounds like a likely candidate. Both of the former will give you a huge challenge if played strictly defensively, though.

that's the reason why you should pick them. it is hard to run an defensive network with an country that's barely connected.

[The Stranger]

i always run defensive games cause i'm no good as attacker

[Darius]

I prefer the Macedonians when going for a really nice defensive army style. Those Phalangites will be unmatched in a straight up head to head clash as almost nothing short of an elephant charge or a massive cavalry strike can break their formation, especially if you overlap more than one unit. Due to their extra reach they can take out hoplites before they get more that a couple hits in and any other unit basically has to throw themselves on your sarissa's and endure innumerable strikes before they can even get an opportunity to start attacking anybody.

Add to that the impressive cavalry that they come with to ensure your flanks remain secure, as well as their standard skirmishers and archers, and you got the building blocks for an unmovable wall of troops. Add in the fact that they are located in a region in which you can gain fast and easy access to Thracian Merc's for a nice medium infantry, bastarnae for shock troops, Merc Hoplites in case of an emergency to extend your line, cretan archer's to provide unparalelled archery, mercenary skirmisher's for a decent javelin unit, and illyrian Mercenaries who are abnormally good skirmishers and have an attack and defense value that makes them almost on par to some pre-marian foot troops.

To add to it's value, unlike Selucia who has vast territories to defend with very few geographical defense points, the Greek Peninsula is absolutely littered with hills and mountains that can provide innumerable defensive staging points. Plus it happens to be almost all coastal provinces, meaning you will make an insane amount of denarii through trade on both your coasts.

[m4rt14n]

I hate Egypt, even when I play as them!

[jimmyM]

could try playing Carthage "historically" (hopefully without the losing at the end and being massacred or sold into slavery bit) - give up sicily as Rome advances (not without a fight) gain peace, then start the war again as you march a huge army under your best general up through northern iberia and south france, thorought the alsp and on to the Roman heartland...

[Dooz]

I doubt Rome will give you peace once the war has begun. I still say Greece oughta be your best bet. Give away all the far away provinces and just stay on the Greek mainland. Take Corinth from Macedonia (and maybe Athens for good measure) and you're set. Now defend your head off.

[NightStar]

Give up Rhodos.....I wouldn't recomend that

[hrvojej]

I tried to play defensively as Seleucia, but in the end I just had to take out Egypt. They just wouldn't leave me alone to be happy in my defensiveness. Once that is sorted out, however, you can take your time.

[Dooz]

I began my Macedonian campaign with the defensive game mindset... kinda hard to keep up with it when i keep getting attacked and inadvertently take over provinces... I now control 3/4 of the known world.... phooey...