Bactria

[Nicodemus]

Simple question...how to progress ?

So far I have tried via capturing Sind, but the financial deficit is so high...

After 3 turns I am 21.000 in the red with no apparent chance of rectification.

Am reviewing the build policy and also attacking rebels ( although see bug report ) but although by 275 I control Taxilia, both the Eastern Kingdoms & Seleucids are attacking and the end is inevitable.

Heading North to Campus is also difficult ( barbarian culture ). I think the key is luck. If the Eastern Kingdoms attack Seleucia then you have a better chance !

Additionally, I notice that my generals have Western tendencies, but the towns are Eastern...so far seems to bo OK, but will this cause issues ?

[Zarax]

I haven't played Baktria in quite a while so I can only give generic advice here.

First of all: you don't need armies as big as in XGM or Vanilla, AI is less aggressive, at least until you play H or VH.

After that: always privilege economic and infrastructure buildings to military ones at start, you've got a small kingdom and cannot support more than a few units until you build up.
Privilege rebel owned territories when you can and try to keep as many trading partners as possible.

About generals and towns: there is a small unrest penalty but nothing too big. Just remember that converting towns in your area is a difficult and expensive process so leave it for later.

[Kara Kolyo]

Disband the heavy bactrians, capture Taxila. Don't bother with the northern settlements in this version. Then either wait for the seleucids to convert their towns to western civilised, or just start taking seleucid towns from the start.

[Nicodemus]

I've had better luck with the disband and attack Seleucia policy, but despite building for economy rather than military after capturing Merv and Phra the Seleucids roll up and eventually over the Bactrians.

In fact, this appears (year 261 BC ) to be OK. I have captured ( and hold ) Phra and Neh(?). The economy is very fragile though. If any of my towns is besieged, then despite raising it next turn, the money lost is crucial, dropping me to a deficit.

I still think a lot depends on Seleucia. In my case, they are absorbed in a war ( that they are winning ) vs the Ptolomaics. I guess this means they don't send stacks of troops to me.

BTW, I had a character who was "Blind from Birth". This gives a massive -6 command, plus other negatives. Could the trait not have some offset ? maybe large religious zeal, inspirational leadership or something ?

[Suppanut]

Bactria is one of the hardest faction to play in XC and impossible to win if player didn't know about mechanic of XC, especially on traits and retinues engine, which made XC unique from other mods in aspect of strategic planning. Here are some tips for Bactria.

- Taking Taxila is the first priority for Bactria campaign due to it is richest rebel city in region and other thing, Education. Taxila has special temple that will provide special education for sons of fathers those really care for their son. If your character have trait of "Educator Father", put him into Taxila or other settlement that give special education then he will have chance to gain trait indicate that he will send his sons for education aboard instead of hire tutor at home. Their son when coming of ages will came with many good and crucial skills(which will often made their son start with some bonus in three main stats) that will made your family prosper for generations to come as he also automatically send his sons to the school he graduated too. Taxila also military important too for EK, if you lost it to EK then you would have serious problem later to take them especially in future version.

- Temple of Buddha is important to Bactria as it is tool for economic boost from trade and law bonus, although it may turn your characters into pacifist sometimes. Area in Persia and east of it are not naturally rich like eastern mediterranean except you invest highly on infrastructure and economy. Manage economy in XC is far more significant thing than what in other mods so spare money for investment on economy and good governors who good at extract money out of the settlement are always important here, as your faction is smaller so you need more efficient extraction. You don't need to build of EXP or forge temple in beginning, temple of Anahita in Bactra is enough for this in early game.

- Choose your faction leader wisely. XC have different system from any other mod as faction leader will have effect to all character under his command except settlements with no governor and captains, good leader will made you run empire easier while suck leader will made everything worse, especially on corruption. This element judge by 3 stats of faction leader and his trait. So you must choose your heir wisely. I think one of many reasons for your bad economy here would be your faction leader have Management less than 5 which will made corruption rampant.

- Forget about blitzing without cause like most of other mods...as here is XC. You need more money and settlements than vanilla or even XGM to support army at the same size and culture system is not the thing that made act of second or third Alexanders are wise things to do especially for 5,000 greek in middle of load and load of easterners. Before attack anyone you must know what going on out there, spy on others and take adventage of situation would be crucial especially for minor power like Bactria. Don't fear to waste your spy, as longer the spy stay in enemy settlement, the more better he infiltrate enemies is.

- Train soldiers is not the only way to prepare for war. Constant flow of fund, stability of domestic politic, intelligence on situation aboard, and war experience, and training for next generation leaders are also important. XC design for long term game with a lot of strategic and political decisions, not brief American's style game though. So play as ignorance ruler who know nothing about outside world in XC is suicide. XC is mod aiming for realistic in strategy though.

[Nicodemus]

Thanks for the extensive and informative reply.

At the moment, I have given up on Bactria as it is too hard for me. Fun while it lasts, but every time I see the inevitable Seleucid stacks turn up, and though I can beat one ( or two ), armies with 4 elephant units are a bit tough....

I actually did choose the Buddhist temples for Bactria, so I'm pleased I had something correct !

The info on traits is very interesting. I may well re-load some old Bactria games and check attributes.

I have, however, used this with my current Egypt/Ptolomaics game, and made sure that my leader has 5+ management, likewise the heir ( switched twice so far ). This does seem to have beneficial effects. I now know where the large unrest comes from.

Doing this check does reveal that the management value does vary, which surprises me. My leader, for example, reached a level of 8, but then started dropping as he aged, to a value of 3 when he died. I suppose this is realistic, but it does become problematic, as things begin to deteriorate rapidly.

Maybe it would be worthwhile having a delay in passing on leadership management changes. The game is instant, but in reality a change at wherever the leader is would not be instantly reflected in a part of empire that is some months travel away ?! Just a thought.

While monitoring these, I also noticed what seems strange behaviour. My leader gained the trait 'Mastered Pythagoras', but then next turn was merely 'Studying Pythagoras' a change that affected his Management skill drastically. Surely, once mastered, some skills do not drop...Maybe some of the traits either need to have a 'no going back' level imposed, or else the descriptions changed to allow less misunderstanding.

The education trait ( gained via the centres at Alexandria etc ) is also crucial, your leader needs that, as it really does seem to provide better traits. If I'm not mistaken, it also seems to require the leader to stay in the cities more, if he wants to gain them. Also, it probably means that his sons are more likely to be chosen ( by the player ) as an heir. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if playing without Loyalty ( as recommended ) then the Management skill is the most crucial, whereas RTW chooses an heir based on maximum influence.

I would add, that the traits system here is very good. The only thing possibly lacking is an explanation of how it works ( ie trait inter-dependancies and effects ) so that it can be used by the player properly.

If you have any more advice on using the trait system, please post :it will be welcomed.

When I try Bactria again ( with your suggestions ) I will re-post.