Re: Desert Kingdoms Tactics and Strategy Discussion
Good topic, I appreciate everyone's useful ideas!
I'm at an early stage in my Kush campaign. My early goals are simple:-
1. Go south to take Aksum, securing my southern border
2. Make trade agreements with as many nations to my east as possible, for income and to secure my eastern flank
3. Expand north in a war with Egypt. In the initial phase, take Diospolis (for the iron and a defensive position by the river) and Myos Hormos (for the port). Keep my two armies close to those cities, while my 'champion' agent trains one of these armies, both armies add new cheap units and one army replaces the losses it received because of a plague at Myos Hormos.
Like darkludus, I'm amazed by how cheap the basic slave infantry and slave slinger units are. After I took Aksum, Egypt declared war. Even with very cheap units, affording armies which can beat Egypt is a challenge. Egypt is assembling several armies in Memphis, if they attack now (especially after the plague caused many casualties in the army led by my Queen) I might not be able to hold them back - this is a challenging and enjoyable moment in my campaign!
Experienced players will, I'm sure, already have anticipated my suggestions and may well have better ones. In case any new players want ideas on developing the economy of Kush in the early game, this is what works for me: (i) My two armies rely mainly on cheap units (slave infantry and slave slingers), with about two each of cavalry (to defeat enemy skirmishers), spearmen (to defeat enemy cavalry) and swordsmen (to defeat enemy melee infantry), (ii) Trade agreements with factions east of Kush and capturing slaves after battles (as darkludus said, above); getting three trade agreements fulfilled a quest objective, providing a small but useful cash bonus, (iii) Capture Myos Hormos and build a harbour, (iv) Upgrade the gold mine in Aksum (v) Research Logistics and Signalling in the military tech tree (both technologies reduce unit upkeep).
If people have more ideas for Kush - or for any Desert Kingdoms faction - I will read them with interest.
Last edited by Alwyn; March 21, 2018 at 12:58 PM.