Considering Ptolomai campaign at some point

**Brave Brave Sir Robin** · 01-10-2012, 06:00

I think one of the Nile regions gets mines, Memphis or the settlement south perhaps? Also you get crazy tax income and trade income from Alexandria and the Eastern Mediterranean is incredibly profitable. I recommend attacking Rhodes early and then re-allying with the KH.

**seleucid empire** · 01-12-2012, 09:18

Originally Posted by Brave Brave Sir Robin

I think one of the Nile regions gets mines, Memphis or the settlement south perhaps? Also you get crazy tax income and trade income from Alexandria and the Eastern Mediterranean is incredibly profitable. I recommend attacking Rhodes early and then re-allying with the KH.

you dont get trade income cause the trade routes from alexandria go to sidon and antioch which the seleucids control (sidon gets bribed)

**Blxz** · 01-12-2012, 10:36

Trade routes are not fixed. They will go between whatever coastal cities they can find that are eligible. If need be just get trade rights with the Macedonian and KH. Problem solved.

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 01-12-2012, 13:13

Originally Posted by seleucid empire

you dont get trade income cause the trade routes from alexandria go to sidon and antioch which the seleucids control (sidon gets bribed)

I found making peace with the Seleucids very early on in the campaign can be just as profitable as taking towns from them, since Ptolemies don't need a huge army if they are not at war with Seleukia. Giving me time to build up my towns. I took Damascus very early, and then made peace for a while, waiting until they attack me again.

**Blxz** · 01-12-2012, 16:08

Originally Posted by Titus Marcellus Scato

I found making peace with the Seleucids very early on in the campaign can be just as profitable as taking towns from them, since Ptolemies don't need a huge army if they are not at war with Seleukia. Giving me time to build up my towns. I took Damascus very early, and then made peace for a while, waiting until they attack me again.

Force diplomacy?

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 01-12-2012, 18:36

Originally Posted by Blxz

Force diplomacy?

Yes, usually. I try to recreate the history of the numerous Syrian Wars and have the wars ending on the historical dates. I like lots of short wars with the AI, instead of one long war.

**seleucid empire** · 01-13-2012, 08:33

i really dont like using fd, it tempts me to cheat and make parthians my protectorates. i used to use it on carthage cause i saw no reason that they should attack cyrene when they have 4 provinces in span and own all of sicily. and also i just build 8 untis of pandopti phalanx and autocalc when they attack cyrene. they are now gold chevroned and have beaten about 20 full stacks of carthage. the carthage ai is srsly retarded

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 01-13-2012, 09:27

I think using FD is best used as a reasonable, sensible trade-off. I get peace with the AI whenever I want, but in return, I don't blitz or destroy them. So although as Ptolemies I get peace with Seleucia using FD, in return, I don't take Antioch off them. Which for Seleucid AI is a big advantage, since that is a rich city with excellent recruitment.

I don't use FD as a means of saving myself when the AI is about to wipe me out - that's cheating. Only strong factions are entitled to have good diplomatic outcomes - the weak must suffer.

I've never tried making an AI faction a protectorate - but if I did, I would then have only minimal garrisons on its borders, so that the AI would be tempted to betray me in the future.