Impossible to win

[konny]

Yes, forgett the times of the old Pontic hippakontistai-bodyguard. I first encountered the new one playing Makedonia: levy phalanx is just an obstacle for them, not an enemy, attacking them with Hetairoi bodyguards is a certain one-way ticket to Hades, and even anything of Pezhetairoi or above needs a second portion of luck to survive an encounter with these Eastern tanks.

[ibleedgrenchese]

Yes, forgett the times of the old Pontic hippakontistai-bodyguard. I first encountered the new one playing Makedonia: levy phalanx is just an obstacle for them, not an enemy, attacking them with Hetairoi bodyguards is a certain one-way ticket to Hades, and even anything of Pezhetairoi or above needs a second portion of luck to survive an encounter with these Eastern tanks.

I wouldn't diss the Hetairoi bodyguards they fellows are my bread and butter in winning battles only if the AI was smart enough to attack from the rear or flank man what a genius idea to bad CA didn't see it that way but they did give us RTW

[Rilder]

I'm an infantry commander by blood and even I can't deny Pontos' calvary uses.

[Sygrod]

As has already been mentioned: Get rid of expensive units as soon as you can (after taking Sinope and Nikaia). In the beginning, you will get along famously with Family Members, Levy phalanxes and ..... slingers. Cheap, deadly units. As long as you stay behind walls, the enemy can't touch you. Pelting them with rocks from behind a defensive wall (phalanx included) can cause a lot of damage. There is no reason whatsoever that you should lose more than the odd battle. If you run short on cash, sell a building that you can spare and rebuild later.

[Havok.]

To win as Pontos, you need to do more or less this kind of thing in the early battles



AS on that battle was using + or - 1800 phalangites(mostly medium ones and the rest natives) and skimishers, what made the difference on that battlefield was some rocks, i used as a cover, and bingo, i slaughtered them to the ground



not hard at all

[tapanojum]

Very impressive Havok, although you do have 5 FM's..well had =D

I find it fun to have a max of 2 FM's and roleplay, although that sometimes makes it a bit too hard.

Those FM's kick some serious ass man!

[konny]

I wouldn't diss the Hetairoi bodyguards they fellows are my bread and butter in winning battles only if the AI was smart enough to attack from the rear or flank man what a genius idea to bad CA didn't see it that way but they did give us RTW

So why, even Equites Consulares can be a battlewinner - if you know how to use them.

[Havok.]

@Celticpunk: There was this rock on one side of the map, i aligned my Pandatapoi phalangites on a side, at the left of it, i aligned my the few phalangites i had on the side of it, putted my general behind 'em, and hided all the others FM, when the loads of AS phalangites skimishers and thureophoroi came, part of it fought the my phalangites, the other part tried to surround my troops, my hidden FM pwn down with their mighty mistic charge the part that was trying to surround, and then destroyed the ones that were fighting my phalanx, basicly was this

[Satyros]

Wow , I remember my own frustration when I first tried a game as pontos 0.8x VH/M . I was furious !

I tried a couple of times , I even tried a blitz campaign with all 3 starting armies grouped together in an attempt to gain me some cash . It failied horribly even after I sacked Babylon .

Then I started over .

And tried to do the unthinkable ; Attack AS and take each of these three tiny armies and try to besiege a city . It actually worked ! I was amazed . And had three cities by the 3rd turn , I think . Oh , if you choose to do that , skip Ankyra for now , they're tough .

You will also need : a) to defend against AS from the south and east by the river outside Mazaka ( assuming you got Mazaka on the 2nd turn ) b) 'to kick AS out of Ipsos and Sardeis as soon as possible ( say, 2-5 turns more after the capture of your first three cities Mazaka , Sinope , Nikaia ).

If you manage to do these things ( I do not say it is easy , only that it is possible , you will get sick of winning heroic victories , there is no other way I'm afraid ) you will have cash , a nest for your empire , crumbles of an army ( until you retrain ) and -the fun part- AS as an enemy ! But thanks to the known diplomacy bug it will have almost no allies , if you have attacked first .

I do remember this campaign fondly for two reasons , the one because of a book that inspired me to it , and the other becasuse it felt as if I "gained a level" ( you know , the good ol' rpg way ) in the RTW game .

After 1.0 was oute and they said it was "Nigh Impossible" I was almost genuinely proud . Heh .

I really have to start over this campaign man ....

Good luck mate .

Satyros

P.S. Q Pontos , I totally forgot about Pontos .... Screw the Horse Archers ....
P.P.S. : I was advised also when I was frustrated such .