How to play as Sparta in the Grand Campaign

[Ragnarok]

Ok, so i looked up a guide. It tells me to take Athens. What it doesn't tell you is that Macedonia is allies with Athens and when you attack Athens, they come and kiuck your butt with a superior army. So what am I supposed to do??? Let Athens live until later on in the game?

[Jeff]

make allies with surrounding kingdoms to close in on athens and macedon (if you can )

[Sargeist]

Athens and Macedon don't like each other so its not hard to get Athens to side with you. You could conquer Epirus first then attack Macedon. Early game they tend to send their armies to fight in Thrace leaving their home cities undefended so it can be quite easy.

[Jigsaw]

You could also try to bring athen and epirus in a war with each other so that you can attack athen after a few rounds with theese 2 cities you can push through to epirus

[Lao Dan]

Originally posted by Shrek:

Ok, so i looked up a guide. It tells me to take Athens. What it doesn't tell you is that Macedonia is allies with Athens and when you attack Athens, they come and kiuck your butt with a superior army. So what am I supposed to do??? Let Athens live until later on in the game?

iirc: You can talk Athens into breaking it's client state relationship with Macedon fairly cheaply, but I haven't played Sparta on this patch yet.

[Teh_Diplomat]

As mentioned above, on turn one you can pay Athens to break their client state status with Macedon, then attack Athens immediately after.

Even if the Athenians decline, you can simply declare war with them.

I wouldn't worry about your diplomatic standing (if you become untrustworthy for example) as you'll be fighting Epirus, and Macedon shortly after you extinguish the Athenians, as that is your natural expansion lane as it were.

[Ape-tier Buffoonery]

Just have Athens go to war with epirus.

They usually move their armies out to attack epirus, then you just take the cities and towns they conquer from behind.

[Teh_Diplomat]

Originally posted by Not getting out of this chair:

Just have Athens go to war with epirus.

They usually move their armies out to attack epirus, then you just take the cities and towns they conquer from behind.

Now that you mentioned that I remember recruiting on turn 1, and that gave me several more units to then lay siege to Athens as they tend to go directly for Epirus.

[bbolto]

It's tricky. Ideally – this happened for me – Athens will lose Athenai to someone they're at war with and you can take it back without ruining your reputation by backstabbing the faction. Otherwise you'll have to backstab.

[kevin]

i have taken athenai but i havent unlocked sparta in the grand campaign

[wjpower2003]

Originally posted by kevin:

i have taken athenai but i havent unlocked sparta in the grand campaign

Have you taken Sparta?

[Canadian Ninja]

Originally posted by kevin:

i have taken athenai but i havent unlocked sparta in the grand campaign

You don't unlock factions the way they are in Rome 1. It's unlocked via the Greek Cities DLC pack.

[2GenL]

You are at war with epirus from the start. So, dont start a war with athens and maccies as well.
Kill off epirus first, then deal with athens ect

[Sam]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.