Pontic eb 08

[Tuuvi]

Well I think if they could have built paved roads, then they should be given the ability in the game, even if they didn't historically.

[Fondor_Yards]

Build local MIC's as pontus, that were all their good units come from. Chalkaspidai, classic hoplites/other greeks, all galatians/celts, the only real nice unit you get from your MIC's are kappadocian cavalry and the pantodapoi pikemen, which you only need a lvl 2 or 3 for.

[HFox]

Finding Pontus interesting to play because of this lack of upper end unts. You have to mix and match well and focus more on economy and gold to fund mercenary army's. Not sure how historical this is.

As to roads....I always assumed not, except fairly localised to cities due to firstly historical notes noting the reliance on the sea to move anything. Secondly the histories of Alexanders conquest and the difficulties of movement/supply he encountered. If the persians didnt build them at the hieght of their power...would the greeks find it any easier?

Is there a half way house maybe in terms of roads, a not fully paved version that doesnt help movement but improves trade maybe?

Also in terms of Pontus....I havent noticed any references to the silk road.....doesnt this pass through the peninsular?

[Barnabas]

Finding Pontus interesting to play because of this lack of upper end unts. You have to mix and match well and focus more on economy and gold to fund mercenary army's. Not sure how historical this is.

As to roads....I always assumed not, except fairly localised to cities due to firstly historical notes noting the reliance on the sea to move anything. Secondly the histories of Alexanders conquest and the difficulties of movement/supply he encountered. If the persians didnt build them at the hieght of their power...would the greeks find it any easier?

Is there a half way house maybe in terms of roads, a not fully paved version that doesnt help movement but improves trade maybe?

Also in terms of Pontus....I havent noticed any references to the silk road.....doesnt this pass through the peninsular?

There are several trade roads that pass through southern cities in Asia minor. Of course all are in enemy hands at the start of the game. It would be great though if Pontus could build a road that is in between the basic dirt roads and the paved roads. I completely agree that they did not have paved roads except on short strecthes near and in major cities, but surely there could at least be the capability of some kind of in-between road.

As to the lack of upper end units, it actually is fun at the middle of the game, but becomes quite a chore when you are forced to either keep "refilling" your few lower-end units that have silver or gold chevrons continuously, and are reliant on mercenaries which you cannot refill (most of the time). I've taken most of Greece over via cavalry mercenaries and troops garnered from Ancyra (the Gestatae are AWESOME-- maybe a bit too awesome!), but to the east against the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, I've defenitely found my low-end (upgraded) troops to be sorely lacking against the awesome troops of Seleucia and the Ptolemies.

Pontus should (and later will, from what I hear) have upper-end units, but historically, Pontus in its prime was a conglomerate of people-groups constisting of Galatians, Kappadocians, and Black-Sea Greeks, as well as some "Easterners" to a certain extent.

The only lower-end unit that is worth much from Pontos is are the Pantodapoe Phalengetai (sp?) if they are properly supported, and the kappadocian meduim cavalry (though they have to be retrained fairly often). Outside of that, troops from Ancyra are probably your best bet, though the mounted archers and persian archers of the East are excellent. The persians seem to be better than Cretian archers.

All in all, yea, Pontus is very challenging in the late game, especially if you didn't expand rapidly at the start.

[olly]

Just curious, does anyone know if the higher end units will turn up in 0.81 or will it be a later patch?

Their campaign is fun (but I do wish they would stop declaring war everytime that a greek city gets attacked because its getting me in trouble) but I've only done 10 years and will leave it if the faction is going to be more complete soon.

[Moros]

A later patch, I believe.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Best single piece of advice for someone trying to play as Pontos: Don't accept the Ptolemaioi offer of a ceasefire. It's tempting, but you are at war with them and an ally of the Seleucids. It will cause the Seleucids (who are at war with them) to get angry and you can count on them attacking you within a couple of years after that. Use that time to build up your cities instead of going to war and losing pretty quickly. Anyway you wouldn't get any trade with them for a while (Ptolemies) since you aren't close enough.