Sassanids (BI faction)

[Unregistered]

I played the Sassanids for about 20 years on hard/hard and I consider the game won. The ERE lies in shambles before me. Byzantium is under the hun. The east is mine.

I started a 2-pronged attack. I took all the troops I had from my nothern cities and the chief of the army to go for Sinope and a younger general to go for Antioch. "In war, we need to be speedy" has always been my maxim, especially with factions I don't have experience with. Building up a nice powerbase asap is important. I did not go for any rebel cities, as the real enemy is ERE, so weaken them fast.

As Sassanids hate christians, I mostly wiped them out, sometimes enslaved. This makes your life easier, as you can convert them faster.

Next target was Tarsus. Antioch and Tarsus are very near of each other and can support themselves if necessary with troops.

In the north, my offensive stalled as the ERE sent about 3 stacks, one after the other to besiege it. The sieges were quite close affairs, but fun.

Antioch/Tarsus got attacked from the South. Caesarea is a nice target, as it can support Sinope and straightens your frontline.

Then I went south, down the coast, conquering and pillaging as I went. Build ports here, and money rolls in.


I tried to be fast, and even ignored ERE stacks wandering around. I went straight to Alexandria. This is a very very large city. I enslaved them and the brought me quite some trouble, as I always skirted on the edge of rebellion. But I couldn't put that Basilica down! My young governor has some fun with christian harassing and hunting (traits).

Siege weapons are essential imo to deal with the strong defenses of these large cities. Some even have epic walls! In my experience the AI takes its time to repair damages to the walls, so its possible to break the walls/towers on one attack, and then withdraw to attack again in the next turn. I had 4 onagers in my main army. Try to destroy all towers that might be shooting at you as you march through the city to the square. It's surgical strikes!

Units-wise, I find armored horsemen to storm a city is very effective and fast. Spearmen are sufficient in large numbers. They take heavy casualties against the comita...whatever but suppored by cats they do well. And they can be retrained EVERYWHERE. Archers, as always, a must.

[cunobelinus]

my first campaign was these guys and i am at war with the huns and the vandals are coming .These have some nice units and i am enjoying it but u have 2 strong and factions around u and this is ganna be a fun but challenging campaign .I will say more when i play more.