What Eastern campaign to play

[Marcus Ulpius]

I thought about Hayasdan campaign too, they seem to be a very interesting faction to play. But what would be the best strategy for them? Attack the AS as soon as the Pahlava attacks them, or try to be at peace with them for as long as possible and grab those rebel cities?

[V.T. Marvin]

As I generally do not like blitzing, especially those unfortunate Seleucids, I would recommend to stay in peace with them (and make peace with Sauromatae too) as long as possible and try to unite those "rebel" provinces in Caucasus first, thus opening way for Pan-Caucasian reforms, which in turn make your eventually inevitabe confrontation with AS much easier and role-playing-wise more elegant.

Do not forget to read through this guide and try to be true to the spirit of it in your gameplay progression.

[Fluvius Camillus]

Baktria or Hayasdan would be my suggestion, Hayasdan is less phalanx-hetairoi combo. More conservative eastern (maybe Persian) warfare.

Baktria is the mixture of Alexanders army, indian troops and local units. I have never played them but I think they will be quite challenging.

If you prefer a completely different fighting style you can always try Pahlava or the harder Saka Rauka.

~Fluvius

[/Bean\]

The nomad factions like Pahlava or Saka are almost completely different from Western civilisations, so be warned.

[seienchin]

Baktria plays really like AS on the Battlefield. You dont get the indian units somewhere outside india and that makes them useless most time of the game, so you fight like AS just with even more Levies. With Hayasdan you need Force Diplomacy or to blitz AS.

[d'Arthez]

Hayasdan. Quite different type of warfare, since they are not phalanx-based (unlike AS, and Baktria to a lesser extent).

[satalexton]

Baktria. They carry with them the dream of Megas Alexandros.

[Marcus Ulpius]

I've started a Hayasdan campaign. Working on the first set of reforms now. By the year 269 I control Egrisi and Kartli plus homeland Hayasdan of course. The economy is making a small profit, but I think the AS are going to hit me very soon. They have 1/3 stack closing in on Mishketa. So far they didn't attack and are just moving around, but I'm sure it'll happen soon. I have an army capable of defeating it, but if they start sending more troops it'll be a problem. I hope Pahlava and the Ptolies will give them some beating so they won't be concentrated on me that much. I'm also preparing a couple of spies to try and cause rebellion in their neighboring provinces. Time will tell if it'll work.

[ziegenpeter]

I thought about Hayasdan campaign too, they seem to be a very interesting faction to play. But what would be the best strategy for them? Attack the AS as soon as the Pahlava attacks them, or try to be at peace with them for as long as possible and grab those rebel cities?

I'm deep in a Hai campaign too and they are just great.
They've got everything except Sarissas and Eles: HA, Heavy Ha, Cataphracts, Heavy Inf(Swords and Shields), and a great choice of Archers.
Strategy: Sooner or later the grey death will attack YOU!

[Yossarian]

The Hai is definately my favourite faction, and by some distance too! The unit roster, the very tough and useful general unit, the reforms as well as the difficult starting position all contribute to making it really exciting.

You've gotta be ready for the AS when they come for you, and they will. I mostly fight them with four to six Scythian Horse Archers (or as many as I can afford) lead by a couple of family members. This highly mobile force can take on most AS half stacks easily but may need support when fighting larger forces. I Got my faction leader up to six command stars leading this type of force and fighting his way through Phraaspa, Ekbatana and later Karkathiokerta before he died a very unfortunate death when charging a phalanx unit in the rear, many heroic victories later.

I've now established a solid empire from which to launch a serious offensive to take the rich cities of Seleukeia, Babylon and Susa. Mazaka was pillaged, ruined and gifted to Pontos to let them worry about AS forces coming out of Anatolia while Arbela has already fallen and Edessa has been left a smoking ruin...