Help for Pontic campaign

**pietromicca1677** · October 20, 2012, 05:34 AM

As the title says, i've decided to start a campaign(H/H) using Pontos, but I always end in financial troubles or backstabbed by the Seleukids (just when I was starting to build something after the economic troubles). I've tried both conquering Sinope and not doing this, but in any case i end sieged by Seleukids(due to Bythinia alliance). Any advice? Thanks all

**Stath's** · October 20, 2012, 06:36 AM

Loud and clear. Attack Seleucids right away, take Mazaka, Sardeis, Ipsos. Play all the battles yourself. Aim to make as many battles as you can early, coz' later they will be too strong. After those 3 cities, I also took Side and then Tarsos, when i felt ready to confront the Seleucids for Antioch.

Ignore the money deficit at the start, recruit as many as you can to take these cities from the Sels. You will be back on + soon, if you take them.

**RedGuard** · October 20, 2012, 07:05 AM

i would give the same advice to any smaller faction bordering the seleucids be it pontus, hayasdan or parthia, they always attack within the first ten or so turns

**Boriak** · October 20, 2012, 11:17 AM

I've had success with Pontos but I always fail with Hayasdan. Pontos has enough army at the start to simultaneously attack all three Seleucid cities in Asia Minor. Once they are yours, you can guard against them on a bridge.

Hayadan doesn't have that luxury, at least in my experience. You lack bridges or phalanxes to guard them. I tried going after the Eleutheroi cities around Hayasdan but before I take two, Seleucids come romping in with a full stack.

I'm planning to use money cheat next time just to get the campaign off the ground.

**seleucid empire** · November 05, 2012, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by Boriak

I've had success with Pontos but I always fail with Hayasdan. Pontos has enough army at the start to simultaneously attack all three Seleucid cities in Asia Minor. Once they are yours, you can guard against them on a bridge.

Hayadan doesn't have that luxury, at least in my experience. You lack bridges or phalanxes to guard them. I tried going after the Eleutheroi cities around Hayasdan but before I take two, Seleucids come romping in with a full stack.

I'm planning to use money cheat next time just to get the campaign off the ground.

For the hayasdan problem

A lot of people choose to attack the seleucid city immediately to the south that begins with kark and has a really hard name to remember. Apparently that eases things for a while since it almost cuts the empire in half.

Personally tho, I like to rush those rebel cities and build an army of horse archers Asap. I defeat the first seleucid stack that comes using all my generals put togehter and the horse archers plus whatever troops you have left after taking those cities.

I just repeat that like twenty times slowly building until I can afford an offensive army which I attack Syria with. Oh but if Seleucids take phraaspa then that's my immediate priority. I do not want Seleucids having two bases which they can attack me from. Hope this helps!

**Slaists** · November 05, 2012, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by seleucid empire

For the hayasdan problem

A lot of people choose to attack the seleucid city immediately to the south that begins with kark and has a really hard name to remember. Apparently that eases things for a while since it almost cuts the empire in half.

Personally tho, I like to rush those rebel cities and build an army of horse archers Asap. I defeat the first seleucid stack that comes using all my generals put togehter and the horse archers plus whatever troops you have left after taking those cities.

I just repeat that like twenty times slowly building until I can afford an offensive army which I attack Syria with. Oh but if Seleucids take phraaspa then that's my immediate priority. I do not want Seleucids having two bases which they can attack me from. Hope this helps!

What difficulty you playing on?

**pietromicca1677** · October 20, 2012, 12:55 PM

Thanks all for the help, I've conquered the 3 Seleucid cities, my economy it's slowly getting better and for now i'm pushing back the attack from East.

**seleucid empire** · November 05, 2012, 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by pietromicca1677

Thanks all for the help, I've conquered the 3 Seleucid cities, my economy it's slowly getting better and for now i'm pushing back the attack from East.

You can also destroy that wonder at Sardis which gives you a lot of money and allows you to get your economy into shape straight away

**Slaists** · October 30, 2012, 11:00 AM

I remember folks from the EB team posting on Pontus a while ago at .org. Basically, their take was: Pontus is nigh-impossible on VH campaign difficulty due lack of cash at the start and the super-high cash bonuses that the AI gets (which allows it to hire the merc pool outright). I see, you're playing on H: maybe that will allow you to survive, but even on H the AI gets significant cash bonuses. I think, rushing the Seleucid cities from the start is the way to go. The barb cities do not attack you after all: can leave those as a a buffer for later taking...