Where to expand next [Greeks]?

[Centaurion]

I need suggestions on where to expand next. The year is 515 Ab Urbe Condita, and this is my current Greek Empire:



A little background on my current campaign
Difficulty setting: H/VH

At the start of the campaign I allied with Epirus and wiped the Macedonians off the map, by a short and successful blitz. After several years of peace, during which my Greek Empire prospered, I was betrayed by Epirus, who launched a surprise attack on Pella. After heavy fighting and assassinating their family members, I managed to knock them out of the Greek mainland.

I secured my northern borders, and concentrated on building up my trading empire. But it wasn't long before the call of the east lured me into an invasion of Anatolia. I secured my western border by forging an alliance with SPQR. The invasion of Anatolia started out with an attack on the city of Mytilene. It was defended by two stacks of Free People, but they were no match for the superior Greek forces. I allied with the Ptolemaic Empire, and declared war on Peragrium (sp?). After several years of intense fighting they were finally destroyed.

During this time, I was betrayed by the SPQR. Those roman dogs backstabbed me by a sea invasion against my coastal cities. I allied myself with Carthage and together we launched a joint operation. The punishment was a swift retaliation by sea invasion on the southern shores of Italy with my faction leader, while my faction heir attacked them from the north.

I sacked their capital and looted every city except for two cities located in southern Italy. They came begging for a ceasefire, which I granted them. Next I was attacked by the Gauls. After ambushing several of their armies in northern Italy, I managed to get them as my protectorate by offering them lots of gold.

My current diplomatic relationships are as such:


There exist an uneasy peace with the Gauls, as I'm sure they will backstab the very first chance they get. The same goes for Carthage.

I have gathered enough troops for five armies on the shores of Italy:


Greek Army I


Greek Army II


Greek Army III


Greek Army IV


Greek Army V



So my question is: Which way should I expand?

Should I start of with a preemptive strike against the Gauls? Against Carthage? Or follow in Alaxenders footsteps and set sail for the east?

[Tesla]

nice empire
p.s why didn't you post this in the 'Post your empires' thread ?

[rory o'kane]

finish off Rome, then drive the ptolemies out of the south coast of asia minor. take cyprus and the crimea (leave sarmatia to finish off the bosporans). then, if you're feeling really adventurous, take britain and ireland, and start a war with gaul in italy. land forces from britain in northern gaul and squeeze them between your gigantic pincer movement!

[ReD_OcToBeR]

This is an awesome Empire, Nice armies too. I would kill Rome and go West for something "different"..Fight off the Gauls and hordes of barbarians. Get to the Pillars of Hercules like Alexander wanted to lol.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

This is an awesome Empire, Nice armies too. I would kill Rome and go West for something "different"..Fight off the Gauls and hordes of barbarians. Get to the Pillars of Hercules like Alexander wanted to lol.

Awesome empire? Awefully small isn't it?

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Awesome empire? Awefully small isn't it?

Take the number of cities he has and count them up, he has alot under his control.

[Centaurion]

Cool suggestions guys!

I think I'll wait finishing off Rome. They seem pretty busy with Carthage, as Carthage is going nuts with sea invasions. I'm afraid that our fragile alliance won't hold if I finish off Rome. Carthage might just turn on me then. I followed Rory's suggestion of sailing east and kicking out the Free People and the Ptolemaic Empire out of Anatolia.

The Great Greek Army set sail from Italy to conquer Anatolia. But unfortunatly one of the fleets was attacked by pirates, and I lost my faction heir, Echemus the Conquerer:




Damn the pirates! Once I've conquered Anatolia, I'm going to issue a pogrom on them and destroy every single one of them!

The rest of rest of the journey from Italy to Anatolia was without further events, and my faction leader, Nikandros the Butcher - lusting for blood to revenge the death of his heir - set out to subdue the Free People of Ephesus:


But first, a new heir was appointed:


After several battle with the Free People, Ephesus was finally taken and the troops lined up for the assualt on the the Ptolemaic Empire:

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Oh man, this is gonna be epic! Post screenies destroying those Ptolemaic dogs!.. lol

[von Lüttwitz]

Expand east for the rich resources and You might need to mark your ground on north africa +D good job

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

Finish off Rome and then head east..I would also recommend the coastal provinces in North Africa/Southern Iberia.

[von Lüttwitz]

that was pretty much what i said lol..

[Evocati Vorenus]

I would take sicily and the two islands to the east of Rome, never can remember what there called. But I wouldnt go for Africa. Might be just me but i hate Africa, never any money in it.

[cnaeus]

go west....GO WEST!!!, those dreadfull horse archers shall be avoided.(i hate those couwards)

cnaeus,

[von Lüttwitz]

yes yes but horse archers arnt the worst of his worrys hes the greeks ,... well i guess alexander the great did it soo he can do it.. i .. guess...

[cnaeus]

haha if alexander the great could do it it doesnt make many people capable of doing it

[von Lüttwitz]

=/ True i was meaning that he could do it lol

[Wolfshead]

If you don't finish off Rome you will regret it.. Just as Hannibal did. Rome always seems to find a way to survive..

[Ketchup]

Take over the ptolemaic lands.

[Leeham991]

Epic... Just epic...

[Brusilov]

I think I'd take Rome out - at least then you have Italy secured. At worse I would put them into a single settlement between you and Carthage and make them your ptotectorate (they can then become a tourist attraction as they did to Sparta in real life). I would then expect a war with Carthage. If you want to commit to a mult-front war I'd attack the Ptolemaics by heading for the Nile delta - that is after you've removed them from Asia Minor and Cyprus.

Don't forget the more countries that you have new borders with the increased chance of a multiple front war will be. Sometimes it's best to secure yourself from that before it gets out of hand.

Also, the mines in Iberia are worth having a hold of. Are they at war with anyone?