Armenia - campaign advice

[Publius Quirinus]

I will likely start an Armenia campaign soon as my Baktrian campaign winds down, but I have never played Armenia before. And Armenia has a reputation for being a tough campaign. So... any advice on general strategy and troop composition?

1. Should I blitz Pontus or should I keep them as trade partners for a while?
2. Should I go for the Seleucids early?
3. Should I just defend or take the fight against the Scythians when they attack?
4. I usually play on M/M/reduced-bonuses, what difficulty should I play Armenia with?

[silentsam74]

I usually play on M/M/reduced-bonuses

That's the way I started mine, but I played with full bonuses. It was fairly easy mopping up the two or three rebel settlements around to the east. It wasn't bad until everyone decided to go to war with me at once. So, it probably will get difficult but I wouldn't know the extent since I haven't worked my way out of or through it yet.

[DimeBagHo]

I played H/H full AI bonuses, a couple of versions back. It should be a little easier now. I don't know if this is the best way to go, but it worked for me. Very early I captured Campus Legae and gave it to the Independent Gauls. That meant the Scythians could only come at me one way, towards Kotais. After taking the surrounding rebel settlements the Seleucids were the first to come after me, followed by the Scythians, so I broke the Seleucids while holding off the Scythians. After that I attacked Pontus but I didn't destroy them completely. Instead I pillaged the Scythian coastal settlements and gave them to Pontus.

[Publius Quirinus]

I started the campaign yesterday, had a marathon gaming session. It is now 256 BC.

I started like you said. After taling the nearby settlements, I took Campus Legae and gave it to the Indie Celts. I sent an army to sack Tanais as well, but the army was intercepted and destroyed. I did sacked Tribus Siracae though and gave it to the Indie Celts as well.

Around four years back the Seleucids and Pontus betrayed me together... since my main army was in Scythia when they betrayed me, I did not have any significant forces.... and now I've spied a Parthian army snooping around as well. It's going to be a hard decade ahead.

It's been a while since I fought the Scythians, and, damn, they are hell to fight. The only way I've been able to win is to utilize high ground or catch them in the woods. On open, level ground my army doesn't stand a chance. I've taken heavy losses nevertheless. Any suggestions on a more effective troop composition? I've been using lots of heavy (?) infantry (Georgians) and horse archers, and I've been taking 50-70% casualties on these troops when I win.

A couple of things I noticed:

[1] I've not been able to hire any sort of auxilarries from my lands-- I conquered Trapezus in anticipation of being able to hire Greek units, and Phraaspa in anticipation of Median cavalry. Is it just that these regions simply do not have these auxiliarries, or is it that Armenia cannot hire them?

[2] The mercs I hire, like Eastern spearmen and Eastern horse archers, seem identical to my own sparabara and horse archers. But I am unable to retrain/combine them because they are different units. Is this intentional? I find it a bit offputting.

[CaesarVincens]

Some areas you won't be able to train any auxiliaries because they will be eastern auxiliaries and as such mostly copies of your own troops; however, in the case of Median Cavalry, I believe those were switched to the main barracks. Once you have a third or fourth level barracks in Ecbatana (your main problem now that I reread your post), you will be able to recruit Medians.

As for the differences between mercenary and faction troops, I don't know if anything can be done about that, the difference may be necessary.

[Publius Quirinus]

Some areas you won't be able to train any auxiliaries because they will be eastern auxiliaries and as such mostly copies of your own troops; however, in the case of Median Cavalry, I believe those were switched to the main barracks. Once you have a third or fourth level barracks in Ecbatana (your main problem now that I reread your post), you will be able to recruit Medians.

Ah, I see now, thanks. Makes sense, my Georgians are recruited through the main barracks too. Will Armenia be able to recruit anything through the auxiliary barracks? Is there anywhere I could check?

As for the differences between mercenary and faction troops, I don't know if anything can be done about that, the difference may be necessary.

What I meant was, couldn't Armenia just have Eastern infantry and Eastern horse archers as recruitable, eliminating the need for sparabara and horse archers (Armenian) and freeing up two unit slots (or vice versa)?

[CaesarVincens]

Will Armenia be able to recruit anything through the auxiliary barracks? Is there anywhere I could check?

Yes, Armenia can recruit auxiliary troops in many places, Greece, Italy, Africa, India, most of Europe really. To check if auxiliaries are available in any region, look at the building browser scroll, and right click on various levels of the auxiliary barracks.

What I meant was, couldn't Armenia just have Eastern infantry and Eastern horse archers as recruitable, eliminating the need for sparabara and horse archers (Armenian) and freeing up two unit slots (or vice versa)?

I'm not sure why it's set up his way, one possibility is that there wouldn't be a way to set faction colors (not a big loss), or else it's just a balancing issue or something. You can compare it with Greek Hoplites which are the same as mercenaries and "faction" troops.

[silentsam74]

I'm not sure why it's set up his way, one possibility is that there wouldn't be a way to set faction colors (not a big loss), or else it's just a balancing issue or something. You can compare it with Greek Hoplites which are the same as mercenaries and "faction" troops.

I had messaged DBH about this as well though I was asking about the Thureophoroi as pertains to the GCS. I think your theory about the faction specific skins is on track. Although, like you, I wouldn't mind either if the mercs and recruited units were combined so to be retrainable.

[GoldShield Guard]

Ah, I see now, thanks. Makes sense, my Georgians are recruited through the main barracks too. Will Armenia be able to recruit anything through the auxiliary barracks? Is there anywhere I could check?

I had the same query about the AOR (auxiliary) units, so the answer is here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=203447

[Publius Quirinus]

Thanks, GoldShield Guard. Looks like Armenia has a pretty restrictive AOR, which is a pity, since they only seem to have a handful fo units of their own... ah well, as long as I have my Medians and Georgians I'm a happy camper. =D