Which Empire of Sand Faction I Should Play?

[beatles300]

Hey whats up Attila players! I'm here asking you guys to recommend me which new DLC faction i should start a new campaign with. I've been playing a Langobards campaign when the Empires of Sand DLC came out which i bought, and i said after i finished the Langobards I'll go ahead and play one of the new DLC factions. So far Himyar seems really cool cuz of the dam, and it's position seems a bit challenging, since its below a desolate region. Also it's units are really unique and has some crazy infantry, as well as how Judaism and Semitic Paganism plays a factor into the campaign. Aksum seems cool too since the trading stuff would help, and Aksum has a lion. It's a lion. Plus it has some unique spear units that have..charge? Lakhmids (free LC, I know) seems kinda meh tbh, since it starts off as a satrapy and it seems too much alike to Sassanids. Finally, the Tanukhids seem like it would be a super challenging campaign, but their units and ability to recruit legionary and palatina defectors is cool. Which one is best?

[Darios]

Go for Axum, those spear and archer units are going to become your best friend once the Sassanids start throwing endless hordes at you. The spice ports are extremely valuable because if you start taking the cities of the Sassanids in their "soft underbelly" you will find that you can quickly create Spice Warriors and Marz Archers in order to rapidly continue taking the fight to them. It's a very fun campaign to play.

I'm currently playing as Axum myself and I have managed to wipe out all of the Sassanid satrapies while the Sassanids themselves have fled for their lives into Western Africa begging for peace. I dominate the East now. I also have a LION...

[Lugotorix]

Yeah, Axum and Himyar are fun. I got deterred as Axum once it started to be stack after stack of Sassanids and their vassals. If you're looking to just relax and play a traditional campaign I'd recommend Himyar. Less stress.

[Sebashaw]

I'm playing with Lakhmids now, at the beginning it's really hard to survive.

[douglas]

I really like the Tanukhids, and the Himyar. Both are challenging and a lot of fun.

[Kraut]

I like Himyar best. You start in a quiet corner of the map, with a clearly defined enemy (Axum) for the early game, you can plan and build before taking on the bigger challenges (i.e. ERE or Sassanids).