hints for playing Seleucids?

[Dustman]

I'm still learning EU:Rome, changing countries quite often. While Rome, Carthage, Macedonia and Egypt looks really straightforward, Seleucids pose quite a challenge. With their abysmal manpower original war with Egypt is extremely difficult and looks more like a gamble. Even if I win it, my manpower pool is depleted and further prospects are dim. Hell, even Ephyrus fighting both Rome and Carthage is easier.

Killer-stacks from Egypt simply walk over my armies, with luck strangely enough being on their side most of the time (like winning 5 out of 6 battles with similarly sized armies). This is extremely annoying. Even with my armies combined, leading to numerical superiority, few victories are rather pointless, since attrition will destroy my troops faster than Egyptians, since they have bigger manpower pool to replenish losses.

The only way I see to crash Egyptians is to somehow destroy both of their 30k stacks and lay sieges to as many provinces as possible while trying to patrol their countryside with horses. Again, main obstacle is manpower. A break in hostilities to conquer several Greek minors would be nice but size of the country makes eventual stability recovery extremely expensive.

So, how you do this?

 

[delra]

Separate your armies after the win to reduce attrition and only join them together for another battle?

 

[Lofman]

While winning the first war is nice, it may be best just to reduce your losses as much as possible and accept maybe ceding Phoenicia if necessary (try to avoid losing Damascus or Antioch). After that go and conquer the greek minors of Asia Minor, that will help your manpower as you have greek culture (Seleucids do start with a core on Pergamon IIRC, so can attack them (or if they have been conquered, whoever did that) with impunity). Colonization can be used as well. Usage of mercenaries should be considered as well. And don't worry too much about stability, it is cheaper to recover at lower levels, and if you maintain armies in each general region the potential rebellions that might occur should be dealt with not too much trouble.

 

[Cheexsta]

Agreed with Lofman. The Seleucids have the potential to be an absolute powerhouse, and even though the AI seems to consistently win the initial war you may just need to cut your losses and recover.

 

[RHKINC]

The Seleucids have an annoying start but the losses are manageable. They have a major tax base for economic expansion after the war, which easily pays for removing the Armenian nuisance. From there the world, as they say, is yours.

 

[Dustman]

Thanks for replies. I've managed to win first war and played for 30 years. Main reason behind success was reliance on horse archers mixed with bit of cavalry and usage of Civil Duty idea. Due to high mobility I could position my troops for defensive battles prior to Egyptians, and captured lost provinces as soon as they left them. Even with slight numeric inferiority to Egyptians, I managed to defeat both main stacks and got Lycia in peace settlement.

Next war was a relaxed walk over Egypt, since I managed to create a killer stack of 14 HA and 8 C led by 10 military general, that was a key factor in prompt destruction of two of opponent's 30k stacks. Wars against Armenia and Greek minors were much easier. Now the only real opponent left is Rome.

 

[unmerged(218780)]

In the initial War (and subsecuent wars with a low manpower based nation with decent income) dont shy away from using mercinaries either. They cost a lot to run. But dont become loyal (less trouble for you with a popular general or 2 later on) They are slow to reinforce. (you dont burn all your manpower reinforcing units you dont need)

Also in Rome remember "Retreat is Attrition" (not dishonour) but if the egyptians are throwing a 30k stack of men at you let them fight towns and suffer attrition. Eventually you will be able to catch them on low morale or seriously Attrition weary cohorts with your army you have kept away from the fight.