Short Getai guide (first moves)

[Warmaster Horus]

When taking Naissus, why do you recommend letting the enemy come at you? Seems better from a financial POV to attack directly. Meaning you can disband your troops faster (ergo not lose so much money).

[Rex_Pelasgorum]

Indeed, but you may loose many troops in the process, or even worse - risk loosing the battle. The decision depends heavily on the ammount of troops you have left after taking Sarmizegetusa and Callatis.... if you are able to take the city or not in a direct assault.

[MoROmeTe]

Well, I am beginning a bit differently... Playing on medium battle and very hard campaign difficulty (the game seems balanced this way)...

Turn 1: Take everything out of Buridava, make out for Naisos. The other army near Buridava should be sent towards Sarmisegetuza. Your army nearer to Olbia should go towards Kallatis. The spy near it does not move. The diplomat moves towards Pella.

Build as many Komatai in Buridava as many allows (I reckon about 7)...

Turn 2: Assault Naisos. It can be a pretty hard fight. Try and not loose to many soldiers. use the slingers and the javelin troops as much as you can. The worst part is the moment you have to assault a unit, usually a phalanx, entrenched in the town square. for some strange reasons, the avenues of attack there are limited and even multiple sides attacks are prone to heavy casualties. once you have the town move south to Serdike. Set the taxes to very low. You can also move the first Komatai produced in Buridava south towards Naisos.

Lay seige to Sarmisegetuza. Build a ram and wait one turn. Also move the other army closer to Kallatis. Insert the spy. Hope he does not get killed. Using the diplomat get a ceasefire and trade rights from the Makedonians. Move towards the Epeirotes.

Turn 3: Assault Sarmisegetuza. Conquer it. Leave a Komatai garrison, take taxes down to low and move your army towards Singidunum. This is a good time to move your capital to Sarmisegetuza and save the game. For some strange reason Eleutheroi tunr CTD's are frequent right about now.

Assault and conquer Kallatis. Leave a Komatai garrison and send the rest of the army to Buridava.

Lay seige to Serdike. Your army there might be a bit depleted so you might wanna wait it out, instead or assaulting. Be wise. By now the economic decline should be rather small.

Next: Take Singidunum. Leave garrison. By now your armies should all be fairly depleted and your economy slowly going towards the green. I usually leave garrisons and then I combine my remaining forces and take Ak-Ink and the settlement right north of Sarmisegetuza (Carondunum?)...

Then it is smooth sailing... Go for Tylis, Byzantion, Nikaea and leave and army in that area to deal with the Maks and Saleukids, maybe even Pontic armies that might engage. Go for Olbia, Pantablahblah and the other town in Crimea.

By now you should have a great array of troops you can field from Buridava and Sarmisegetuza. Go take out the Maks, Epeirotes and then KH. Engage the Sweboz for the last notdic settlements you need and then go after Patavium and Mediolanum.

Be sure to be ready for a real fight with the Romans or the Aedui, whichever gets the upper hand in Northern Italy...