I always like to take Trapezous early on, just for the fact the Hai seem to like it aswell and you really cant afford to have them getting too powerful. When the AS do decide to kick your arse you need as many coastal settlements as possible and you really dont want their smaller allies being too powerful either. Spies are also very useful, send loads down to southern Asia Minor, Antioch and Damaskos, just to cause unrest and to force the Seleukid's to garrison these places pretty heavily.
Also, I bloody love Pontos, easily my favorite faction.
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