Surviving as the Ptolemies

[kvnrthr]

Within a few turns I was happily sending my big starting army against the Antigonids when the Kyrenes attacked. Then the Nubians and Blemmye. Now I can't possibly support that many armies in terms of manpower. Not to mention the aging penalty when my army is much larger than my navy, which is essentially always true since my fleet is sitting at port without any actual opponents.

Small armies tend to get annihilated (waste of resources!) without even slowing the enemy down, so I have to build up large armies against everyone, then slowly wait for years as they get to the front.

I honestly don't even know what approach to take. Any other Ptolemy players care to chime in? Should I spend the first turns building up a lot of large armies in anticipation of these guys messing with me? Maybe I shouldn't even attack the Antigonids and just stick to defense?

[devoncop]

Within a few turns I was happily sending my big starting army against the Antigonids when the Kyrenes attacked. Then the Nubians and Blemmye. Now I can't possibly support that many armies in terms of manpower. Not to mention the aging penalty when my army is much larger than my navy, which is essentially always true since my fleet is sitting at port without any actual opponents.

Small armies tend to get annihilated (waste of resources!) without even slowing the enemy down, so I have to build up large armies against everyone, then slowly wait for years as they get to the front.

I honestly don't even know what approach to take. Any other Ptolemy players care to chime in? Should I spend the first turns building up a lot of large armies in anticipation of these guys messing with me? Maybe I shouldn't even attack the Antigonids and just stick to defense?

There are definitely challenges to playing the Ptolemaics but in beta testing I am aware they were pretty powerful in the MP games at least.

First thing I would ask is why is your fleet not being used ? Even if it is engaged in blockading enemy ports to interrupt trade it is doing something useful.

Secondly Egypt can make a lot of money and a decent sized army in the west, and the main army in the North East until you can force a peace with Antigonus can easily be maintained. Some countries who are themselves neighbours of the countries you are having problems with may be amenable to alliances so it is worth checking out other nations views on say Nubia or the Cyrenes. If you find they don't like them too much send an insult to Nubia or Cyrene or whoever which will impress their neighbour more and then try for an alliance.

I am playing the Ptolemies in a big MP game starting this Thursday....I will see how I go now you have worried me

[kvnrthr]

Thanks for the tips. Did not know that fleets could block enemy trade, I might try that in the future although I'm not sure how well that would work.

After posting this I restarted my Ptolemy game. Ended up essentially leaving some skirmishers in a starting fort to block Antigonid movement and letting the Nabatenes do what they wanted. I knocked out the Cyrenes in my first few turns before they could become a threat, then built up training infrastructure in the south in preparation for a Nubian attack.

Sure enough, they attacked and I fought them off then got a peace. I think I realized it's easier to build up a new army where you need it (once you have the infrastructure) than moving armies around, especially across land. A large army of Nasamones then appeared from the desert and I spent quite a few turns fighting them off. Then, peace with the Antigonids.

Unfortunately the Nabatenes and Judeans ended up getting the Antigonid owned objectives, but honestly I think those would be too tough to defend and it's easier to get progress tokens from stable, rich culture producing areas. I like having the Nabatenes as a buffer and would rather not deal with any other Diadochi. Did take Cyprus since the Antigonid AI doesn't defend it very strongly.

Now in this more stable game, I realize that I'm not sure how to deal with all the Desertic independent forces that like to show up sometimes. I think what I'll do is maintain good training grounds everywhere so I can build an army when it is needed, without sapping my resources.

[devoncop]

Thanks for the tips. Did not know that fleets could block enemy trade, I might try that in the future although I'm not sure how well that would work.

After posting this I restarted my Ptolemy game. Ended up essentially leaving some skirmishers in a starting fort to block Antigonid movement and letting the Nabatenes do what they wanted. I knocked out the Cyrenes in my first few turns before they could become a threat, then built up training infrastructure in the south in preparation for a Nubian attack.

Sure enough, they attacked and I fought them off then got a peace. I think I realized it's easier to build up a new army where you need it (once you have the infrastructure) than moving armies around, especially across land. A large army of Nasamones then appeared from the desert and I spent quite a few turns fighting them off. Then, peace with the Antigonids.

Unfortunately the Nabatenes and Judeans ended up getting the Antigonid owned objectives, but honestly I think those would be too tough to defend and it's easier to get progress tokens from stable, rich culture producing areas. I like having the Nabatenes as a buffer and would rather not deal with any other Diadochi. Did take Cyprus since the Antigonid AI doesn't defend it very strongly.

Now in this more stable game, I realize that I'm not sure how to deal with all the Desertic independent forces that like to show up sometimes. I think what I'll do is maintain good training grounds everywhere so I can build an army when it is needed, without sapping my resources.

The Nabateans are actually a very useful client state of a bit overly aggressive on occasions

It seems clear that aside from Palestinae Province the Antigonid holdings around Judea are more trouble than they are worth to Egypt.

As far as the desert dwellers in the South are concerned I can see myself buying them off ....I don't want to be career in off into that hellhole all game