Pontos or Epeiros

**Ravenic** · 07-13-2007, 05:10

I tried to keep them as my best buddies for as long as possible. All hell broke loose in Asia Minor though, and I was prepared so I quickly secured Ipsos, Ankyra, Sardis, and anything else AS had, pushing their frontier to Antioch, which conviently bordered Ptolemaic Tarsos, meaning they had trouble even getting to me. It allowed me to take the remaining rebel towns like Haliknarnassos, Pergamon, etc. at a leisurely pace

The key really is securing Asia Minor, getting Egypt in your pocket, and then expanding around the Black Sea was relatively safe and profitable.

**CutLunch** · 07-13-2007, 05:42

You could play Epeiros now and Pontus when the next release (and fancy new general) arrives.

**AntiochusIII** · 07-13-2007, 08:36

I don't know, Pontos doesn't feel...complete?...to me. Their upper-tier unit roster is currently quite lacking IMO. Better wait for the next version for more units or for EB to axe the Imperial Roman units to give more spots for Pontos. [/runs like hell

]

Personally I'd go with Epeiros -- and instead of blitzing play slow. Uncle Pyrrhos Needs You!

**The Errant** · 07-13-2007, 09:41

Go for Pontos. The Epirotes are a lot of fun, but the Pontics are more challenging. Especially since they have such a limited unit roster. Not to mention a pretty useless generals bodyguard.

Even so with the galatian, scythian and eastern auxilary units they become a powerhouse. Besides with just the mining income from Asia Minor alone, you will be beating the rest of the world in no time.

Oh. And Grab Ani-Kamah early. Install a level 3 gov and build your Regional MIC up to level 4. That should give you some nasty HA to teach those arrogant Seleukids a lesson.

**Tellos Athenaios** · 07-13-2007, 11:44

If you'd want excitement - Pontos. I'd try Pontos.

**Elminster12** · 07-13-2007, 13:27

Nothing quite like trying to figure out what to do when the grey death sends the stack of elites your way

That was fun, by the way. The trick is getting off the ground with Pontos, but their recruitment did improve a patch ago, IIRC.

**Musopticon?** · 07-13-2007, 15:15

Chalkaspidai and Kuarothoroi are pretty awesome. Also, the whole Iranian-Euxinian-Galatian-Skythian mix is a powerful and interesting combination. I don't think there's a faction just like them anywhere else in the map. Maybe Qarthadastim is near there with sheer versatility and original mix of units (African-Punic-Italic-Ibero-Celtic anyone?), which is funny since IIRC Pontus is using Carthages faction slot. Pontus also has a very unique situation, they're perhaps the most cornered of all the factions initially under Seleucia's heel, but still once the Black Sea opens to them, possibilities are nearly limitless. It's not unheard of that a player has successfully taken e.g Getai homelands with their incredible mines and stood ground on the massive Arche offence. It's a challenging and in the long run an incredibly satisfying faction.

That said, Epirus is still more finished and now that the Italic recruitment problems are somewhat over with, it's well worth playing. Especially if you don't get cheesy like me and blitz Macedonia. Instead, take Megale Hellas and bask in the sheer coolness of taking Sicilia and making Rome and outpost again.

Me? I'm trying to gather enough courage to take on the Brythonic Eleutheroi and eagerly wait what the next patch brings for Pontus, my favorite faction.