Seleucids

[Gray Fox]

This was too easy. I took out Antigonids army and then got peace. Then I crushed Maurya off the map. At turn 50, I have the lead in Legacy. The regions take a lot of micromanaging, because they start so small and poor. I chose the Persis province for my arsenal and built military structures as much as possible in those 5 regions. By turn 25 I was able to train level 3 medium and light cavalry and level 2 phalanx. Here's turns 25 and 50.

https://we.tl/t-yJ2FSmWaBa

[Gray Fox]

I will resist the temptation to grow large this time. So maybe, less than 100 regions. Thus, I have not crushed "Aunty Gonads"...yet.

The main surprise for me was the change from my last game as Carthage. I barely have any fleet at all. From lots of lands isolated by the Med to one big land mass.
A Maury army shows up every now and then, only to be slaughtered.

Here's turn 100.

https://we.tl/t-FSxXu4blhW

[Gray Fox]

One new thing I'm trying is to create a sort of arsenal province. Persis in the center of my empire has all my military buildings other than walls. So far I have three Academies and a Provisioner. I read that up to 3 of the same building can be used in a province to add their benefit together. I may have overdone it with the Barracks. Anyway, my infantry start with 38 xps and the cavalry 48 xps. Also, one unit per turn gets Noric steel too for +1 defense.

[Gray Fox]

https://we.tl/t-lbxqQXNBct

Here's turn 151. I conquered some more of Antigonids and gave most of the regions to my Client State Bactria. I have the largest army consisting of 7 Battle Groups (BG) of 8 Cataphracts, 16 improved Heavy Infantry and 16 improved Light Cavalry. For rough terrain, I can divide a BG into two equal parts, or two Divisions.One is enough for the frontage 8 of Hills or smaller frontage. Larger formations need a lot of food, so the BG is my biggest grouping. For regions with unrest I make a stack of 8 Light Cavalry. This reduces unrest by 1% and usually keeps the peace indefinitely. The military term for a formation like this is Flying Column.

[Gray Fox]

I have such a lead in everything that I just started pumping out military structures. This shot my expertise up over 5. Then I got a very good military ruler and it was just time to crush Antigonids one more time. Here's the victory turn.

https://we.tl/t-5L4b96kpJe

[Gray Fox]

Antigonids has collapsed! I stayed at 100 regions and it seems that I will win in about 20 turns.

https://we.tl/t-nBRXegxCLd

[Gray Fox]

https://we.tl/t-syWm0kPbJY

Victory! This was the shortest game yet. Seleucids is probably a good place for beginners. You don't have a lot of enemies and you have a lot of regions to practice developing.

[ShahMat]

Victory! This was the shortest game yet. Seleucids is probably a good place for beginners. You don't have a lot of enemies and you have a lot of regions to practice developing.

Thanks for sharing!

I am falling in love with FOGII and I guess this game will be the next...

How about the MP here? Do you play strategic turns on FOG:E and tactical ones on FOGII?

[Gray Fox]

I believe that MP can only use the in game combat system. In single player you can use FOG 2.

[ShahMat]

Ok thanks, maybe the game would be too long for a MP match.

[Jagger2002]

Victory! This was the shortest game yet. Seleucids is probably a good place for beginners. You don't have a lot of enemies and you have a lot of regions to practice developing.

I have to disagree, definitely not for beginners. There are way too many provinces for a beginner. Also most would fail in getting out of the startup decadence trap. And if playing multi-player and if facing human controlled Antigonids, Mauryans and Ptolomies, most would be picked apart quickly.

As a beginner, I played Seleucids twice and found them overwhelming. I have never played them again since. However, they are an interesting and at least initially, a very powerful nation. With the patches and my current level of experience, it might be time to try them out again vs AI.