The Seleucids

[LorDBulA]

Thoughts?

Its not really realistic.
In real world you would most likely got assassinated if you try to force this.

Give up half of our territories? NEVER!

[Perturabo]

Change the capital to Susa immediately, then build law related buildings in cities until they are reasonably stable, then build mines, as many as possible. Removing corruption is every bit as important as building mines at the start.

In asia minor (modern turkey), give the Ptolies a kicking until they go home. Ensure that Galatia rebels to the gauls with help from your spies (if taken by Pontus). Do NOT send spies to upset Baktria, Parthia or the Armenians. Tribute of 100-200 Dn when possible seems to help. I have reached 230BC with not a single incident with those groups. At one stage the Armenians had a full stack with faction leader next to one of my northern cities (chasing rebels) guarded by a client ruler and skirmisher, and didn't even look like taking interest in it.

Naturally all the time, build up armies in problem areas. Initially native phalanx, a general, 2-3 units of slingers and 2 peltesta should be more than adequate for any threat. Have one of these in the east, west and south (antioch). Pushing the Ptolies back out of Judea is a priority as they simply will not leave you alone. Take Cyprus, and if you do not keep it, give it to a good ally who is at risk of being punted early on. Usually I try to help the Maks who have been cripplied in EB1.0.

Along the way, all should settle and the world is your oyster.. enjoy!

[mrdun]

Sounds a fun mod, thoughts?

[kambiz]

I have a really amusing and good Seleukid campaign (Hard/Hard). I managed to destroy Bakteria ,Pahlava and Hayasdan within first 10 years of my campaign ! All you need is some courage and to be aggressive.
I successfully implemented the Blitkrieg tactic for my both Pahlava and Seleukid campaigns. Neutralising as much threats as possible at the beginning.
Now I'm a billion manoi(dollar) emperor

[-sKy-]

My Tactic for Seleucids:

Give up the 4 or 5 cities in the Northeast that are revolting, destroy every building there, destroy the few soldiers that camp around there and start creating mass-armies in Sardis and Antiocheia, who are going to rush ptolies...

If you crush them before they get their freaking galatians and elite-pikeman you will be fine, and able to re-conquer your towns in the east.

Next kill the Pontians... they will treat you as soon as they can... leave the Hayasdan as a client vs. the sarmatians, and then go to greece ^^

well thats my tactic for seleucids ^^

[Tellos Athenaios]

Problem with those 'freaking galatians' is that, in fact, the Ptolemies start with the MICs to recruit them IIRC.

[-sKy-]

Problem with those 'freaking galatians' is that, in fact, the Ptolemies start with the MICs to recruit them IIRC.

Rly? In my last 5 games the Ptolies send masses of Galatians after 2 years or so... until then alexandria must have fallen ^^

[Thaatu]

Problem with those 'freaking galatians' is that, in fact, the Ptolemies start with the MICs to recruit them IIRC.

Alexandria has MIC 3, but Galatians require a 4. It's just a matter of a few years in which the AI upgrades them.

[marodeur]

I never change the location of my capital (only exception would be a loss of it to invaders - but that never happened so far ). I know that it will help you a lot, especially with the Seleukides, but I think you imbalance the game by doing this because revolts in the east and west are the main difficulty in playing the - all in all oversized and too powerful to be interesting - seleukids. Otherwise it's too easy and - in my humble opinion - a bit boring. I can also agree with LorDBulA

Its not really realistic.
In real world you would most likely got assassinated if you try to force this.

Give up half of our territories? NEVER!

This is especially true because many of the secondary troops of the Seleukids are locals, and many of your Phalangites (klerouchoi and the natives) are also committed to the area they come from because they have been given land (a so called kleros) of which they make their living and pay their equipment. So my advice is: let the rebels come against you. You still can cut your losses and make a forced retreat, but don't give up without a fight.
But there is also an argument for your tactic: the Seleukids (Seleukos I himself) once gave away large part of his territory in india (Gedrosia, Arachosia) to Chandragupta, an indian king, but only in exchange against about 500 war-elefants. So probably, if somebody makes you quite an offer... . With about 500 elefants one could care about the - at last, if you are more lucky than Selekos I.