GCS first turn strat

[Total Roach]

So after my Macedon campaign stalled I have installed the new XGM update and am going to start a new GCS campaign.

Anyway, what do XGM players do for the 1st GCS turn, build anything or just recruit as many mercs as possible and head for Corinth?

[DimeBagHo]

Build ports anywhere that doesn't have them already. Otherwise buy mercs and attack Corinth, and then Thebes straight away. You can pause at Thebes for a while if you want to but I usually don't.

[silentsam74]

So after my Macedon campaign stalled I have installed the new XGM update and am going to start a new GCS campaign.

Anyway, what do XGM players do for the 1st GCS turn, build anything or just recruit as many mercs as possible and head for Corinth?

Here is what I usually do in the very beginning. I normally buy all the mercs available and merge everything I don't need for garrison purposes into a single army. My building strategy then becomes whatever I can afford.

Merging armies

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The setup

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Macedon takes the bait

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Battle Deployment

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Down the front of the hill

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Panoramic view

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View from the top

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The Macedonian view

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[Sextus Molestus]

I usually head straight for Corinth, using the relatively-good spy provided at the start of the campaign.

[stormer]

I would get all the troops from the Sparta, Athens and Patras apart from a family member in each and I besiege Corinth with those. When you have Spartan Royal Guards you can't lose can you?

[Total Roach]

Thanks everyone, took the advice and launched a new campaign. So far it has gone well, Macedonia has been defeated in several battles and expended the last of their large armies outside Larissa.

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Campaign has moved on another 20 years or so now, time to attack Asia Minor having taken the whole of Greece.

[Unknown Soldier]

Nice one, last night I dusted off RTW/Alexander and played the opening turns of the GCS.
My spy opened Corinth's gates the first turn, and it fell to the Greek army easy.
Then I besieged Thebes. The Macs put in a large field army and the garrison sallied, Wiped and Routed the Mac army and Thebes was mine. Only problem now is lack of pikemen. The Macs have a full stack to the north with 8 phalanx units in it including their elites. I intend sending the spy to larrissa to see if can open the gates.....