Epirus tactics/strategy

[Lord Dakier]

So I've been feeling an Epirus game, but the problem is on hard it's just too hard. Normal is always too easy once you stop the initial struggle. I'm looking for some strategies as to what to do ideally on hard campaign and normal battles. Athens DoW's turn 1 and their combined force of Sparta and Athens just overwhelms me before I can ideally pump out some phalanx.

[EpicFrench]

Hey Man !

I did a Let's play on this, anyway it's in french, but you should secure diplomacy with Athena, or destroy Spartans in the first turns, that's the only way ! Firstly you should get your whole troops all together and then you can defend, attack properly.

I was able to defending like 2 or 3 assaults, and then after crushed them !

Also don't forget that you can have pretty easy ally with Antigonidai !

[tjx34]

I've always loved epirus, favorite faction. I'll keep it short and simple, declare war on the people you want to ally with so they look upon you more favorable and will accept nonagression and trade agreements. Elephants work wonders vs athens and sparta as long as you don't let them die to javelinmen, they make short work when flanking a hoplite phalanx. Seems to be hit or miss on whether or not rome wants to crush me immediately. Usually takes me a few tries before I can live past like the 4th turn.

[tjx34]

Athens always declares way on me too no matter what I do, but I always play on legendary.

[Lord Dakier]

Yeah problem is I don't really have that much money to force agreements.

1. Pay for non-aggression pacts with Macedonia and Athens
2. Muster forces in south Larissa
3. Build up full sized army.
4. Invade Sparta
5. Invade Greece, Illyria, Italy or Sicily

[Summary]

The best part of an overly aggressive AI that has only one route of attack is .... you know where to place your ambush. Leave your city Larissa ungarissoned (public order is all the more reason to do so come 0.95). Station your troops in the nearby forests in ambush stance an use another army to recruit (muster stance). Any Athenian army that comes towards you will be crushed.

When the momentum changes you can do a constant siege on Athens because your borders is so close to Athens. Just circle two armies every turn to siege Athens while the others stays close by on the border to stay as a reinforcement and replenish from siege attrition. In between swapping armies make sure your agent gives a shot at poisoning the garrison. They wont be able to replenish and they won't be able to recruit new units. While your army stays about the same.

Eventually Athens will roll over and you can take Athens. Sparta will lose their only trade partner and you can place raid parties near the Spartan border close enough for your garrison in Athenai to support. You need to play very defensively and make sure you are on the offensive (i.e. fighting battles in their land) as soon as possible.

This is if Athens declares war on you if not then just proceed to take on Sparta.

One of the best positions to be against Sparta is guarding that crossing along the Gulf of Corinth. Before every campaign or load game, I actually go to custom battle to load battle map and select areas within my vicinity to study the terrain. From this I learn where to position my army to gain the maximum terrain advantage. This spot is the only spot from which Sparta can enter Larissa without the need of military access from Athens. And if they are engage in this spot, they have to fight on an extremely uphill terrain.