Dealing with Persia

[WingedIncubus]

I'm currently playing Macedonia, Balanced Difficulty level.

It seems that Persia AI is out of control, and I'm having trouble deadling with them. First, they turned the Athenians into a client-state early in the game (we cannot ask in peace deal to release a client-state?) and use them as springboard to colonize even inside the Balkans in the Danube region. I'm allied with the Spartans and have my own client-states with the Barbarians north of my frontiers... but I cannot manage to beat their armies, even on mountainous terrain!

Plus, they seem much, much more stable than expected. Even at the bottom tier of the CDR with two negative token, they remain a Glorious Empire (in Yellow, this means Golden Age?). No revolt, no satrapies who desire independence.

Do you have some strategies or tips when you deal with Persia, as a Hellenic country? I'm already beginning to understand a few things, but more of your strategies are welcome :

1. Target their objective regions to trigger additional negative token.
2. Have a strong navy, even in being, to harass and destroy their army convoy before they land.
3. Mercernaries. Macedonia is rich, but low on Manpower.
4. Never, ever leave Athens alone against the Persians.
5, Remain a Kingdom, so to Raid their coasts with the Navy.

[USGrant1962]

Try becoming their client for a few decades while you build up. That’s what I did as Sparta when Athens cowardly submitted to Persian rule rather than be defeated by me.

Got my economy and army going, then broke the client state.

[Surt]

In the games I have won against Persia (not as Macedon) the key seemed to be having a strong fleet to sink their unescorted armies.
Select defensive terrain they will have to go through and having troops with bonus in that terrain, note they seem to always march to your capital.
Having an army that can fight multiple rounds, ie. enough inf/cav to change some of them between rounds.
Allying with Lydia and try to keep them around a some turns longer might be a strategy.

[WingedIncubus]

Well, on turn 217 the game ended with an automatic victory for Persia - even though it had nowhere near a 3-to-1 lead on Egypt. I was in the middle of invading Egypt to grab my Objectives and humiliate it into giving me her Legacy.

Anyone understands why I lost and Persia won here? Quick victory was not selected in the Options.







As my own, personal feedback on this first game with the DLC, it seems to me that Persia is way too stable, culture-wise. While I understand that it has the advantage militarily, it's armies are enormous and everywhere. Even with Usurper revolts and high revolt-risk provinces it was constantly in the top CDR as a Stable Empire during my game. And this was at Balanced diffculty. Imagine what advantages it must have on later difficulties.

Also, Hellenic countries like Athenai are way too eager to accept becoming their Client-State. Persia thrives on keeping Athens and Sparta apart, but if Persia becomes too strong the Hellenic AI should try to work it together at least sometimes

I hope that AGEOD will take a good look into Persia for the next patch, to take her down a peg or two.

[Surt]

Reflects my experience in the first 10 games ...
The scenario only last 217 turns, something about some Alexandros doing something awful.
Engaging the Persians much earlier depriving them of Egypt or Lydia seems to be the key in a military strategy.
Beating them in culture is a struggle uphill you need to have around 20K legacy in 217 turns.

[Surt]

See my play through of Babylon in the AAR section of how you could defeat the Persians and win the game.