Which Faction is the most "Persian"?

[removeduser_052420]

Hey guys, I was thinking about starting a new campaign, and wanted to know, which faction in the game is the most "persian"? As in, which one would be the best for recreating the persian empire, etc. If I remember correctly, hayasdan and pahlava are the closest contenders. What's the difference between the two factions, and which one should I use?

[ISA Gunner]

Hayasdan has a specifically designed government system for recreating the Persian Empire where you have to conquer and develop certain regions to gain access to better forms of government and units. So in that sense, they are basically designed for you to restore the Persian Empire with them. Parthia has the potential but you would just be creating the Parthian Empire, rather than the classic Persian Empire of old. The classic Persian armies were infantry based with supporting cavalry from the corners of the Empire where soldiers were trained specifically to be potent heavy cavalrymen. So again, Hayasdan would be more suitable for this.

[Mediolanicus]

You could also take a look at the thread on this page with almost the same thread title as yours (and the same answers as ISA Gunner).

[removeduser_052420]

Oh crap, my bad guys. Thanks for the answer, IGA. + rep.

[ISA Gunner]

Here is a detailed description. http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=115198

[Visarion]

pahlava

[removeduser_052420]

pahlava

Why not Hayasdan?

[persianfan247]

Well as a people the Pahlava are the closest ethnically because they are both Iranian people while the Armenians don't even speak an Indo-European Language, but the Armenian armies are probably closer to the Archaemenid armies, though what would a Persian army look like if the Archaemenid Empire had survived and the Pahlava are seen as continuing the Persian Empire.

[Xerrop]

and the Pahlava are seen as continuing the Persian Empire.

But only because they have conquered Media and Persia. They started as a nomadic tribe in an area never effectively controlled by the Achaemenids. Furthermore they were a nomadic people while Persians were a settled/agriculture community.

The successors of the Persians were the western kingdoms and dynasties of Cappadocia, Pontos, Hayasdan and Media Atropatene. They shared achaemenid traditions, culture and blood lines with the old nobility. And they opposed Alexanders heirs in the Diadochi Wars by securing their lands and becaming a refuge for achaemenid nobles, warriors, loyalists and former median/persian settlers of Asia Minor. A period much closer to (and even ongoing after) the starting date of EB.

[Mediolanicus]

Well as a people the Pahlava are the closest ethnically because they are both Iranian people while the Armenians don't even speak an Indo-European Language, but the Armenian armies are probably closer to the Archaemenid armies, though what would a Persian army look like if the Archaemenid Empire had survived and the Pahlava are seen as continuing the Persian Empire.

Yes, well, but the fact that Hayasdan claimed to have rights on the Persian throne themselves, because the royal house had Achaemenid blood, and the fact that their armies were closer to Persian armies than Pahlava's nomads, makes Hayasdan more Persian at the start of EB.

Pahlava had no links whatsoever except occupying Parsa and Medea. They were seen as a continuation of the Persian Empire once their own little empire took shape though IIRC.

[Trax]

while the Armenians don't even speak an Indo-European Language

Yes, they do.

[athanaric]

It's just a weird, archaic one, like Greek or Albanian

[Faramir D'Andunie]

When the campaign begins there isn't a faction that can claim the Persian title outright. Sure both Pahlava and hayasdan have their links. Even Pontus does in a certain degree. But as you progress into your game you get the chance to claim that title through a series of reforms.

I would say that the way events unfolded affects our judgement but from that first turn you play at 272, the game switches to alternate history. Sure Pahlava did follow a certain route in real history, but can we really call the Persians when them game begins?

[Horse Archer]

To be fair, both threads I saw heavily featured Armenia before armen posted, but we need to remember how easy it is to sound harsh on the internet, especially with little pieces of text like this.