BEST NON-ROMAN FACTIONS BY PLAY STYLE IN ROME: TOTAL WAR (CAMPAIGN)

[damien888888]

With the release of Rome Total War - Remastered (I know, late to the party), it seemed good to start a thread for people new to the game -- or those who need a refresher. Here is my definitive and totally objective advice on the best (non-Roman) campaign factions I wish I had received when I first started.

(Please note, this list is about military play style, not about opening move options. It does not factor in the relative starting difficulties of position, city population, money, etc.)

BEST HOPLITE WARRIOR FACTION OVERALL: CARTHAGE
There are only two true hoplite factions, The Greeks and Carthage. Carthage has better overall mainline hoplites (Poeni spearmen (Carthage) = Armored Hoplites (Greek), Sacred Band (Carthage) = Shock and Awe with Spear or Sword). Actually, the versatility of Sacred Band infantry (try them out in phalanx, non-phalanx spear, non-phalanx sword modes) make them my favorite overall infantry in the game.
It is true that Spartans (Greek, of course) are superior to Carthage's elite Sacred Band, but not by enough to compensate for the triple whammy that Spartans are insanely expensive, take two turns to build, AND can only be recruited in two cities.

The Greeks' lack of decent support cavalry tips the balance in favor of Carthage's Long Shield Cavalry and Sacred Band Cavalry (one of the best cavalry units in game, if not the best), and let's not forget, Elephants.

Cons: No native archer units. NBD, recruit Cretan Merc Archers.


BEST MOUNTED ARCHER FACTION OVERALL: ARMENIA
This one is less easy to call. Basic Armenian HA are inferior to Scythia's, though not by a ton. However, Armenia has the strongest armored HA and--unlike Scythia--actually has heavy shock cavalry. Scythia's armor-piercing Head Hunter Maidens can take on heavy cav, but cannot survive sustained melee nearly as well.

The final point in Armenia's favor is its vastly superior infantry offerings: Heavy Spearmen and Armenian Legionaries. Just because I love some HA action doesn't mean I hate being able to storm the walls of my enemies, or to go toe-to-toe with Roman Legionaries once in a while.

-----Parthia is also a HA faction which exists in the game. Enough said about that here.


BEST MACEDONIAN-STYLE PHALANX FACTION OVERALL: PONTUS
Just going by phalanx quality, Pontus is the clear winner. Their tougher-than-average Phalanx Pikemen can hold their own for quite some time against elite Royal Pikemen (Macedon), and have higher armor than elite Silver Shield Pikemen (Seleucia) while being both astronomically cheaper AND taking one less turn to build than either.

Pontus also features the some of the most versatile cavalry in the game. Armored javelin cavalry partnering with the best light jav cav (these guys can melee surprisingly well), heavy shock cav, and chariots? Stop, hammer time.

But, wait, "WHAT ABOUT SELEUCIA?," (or MACEDON, for that matter) the pro-Seleucia (or Macedon) people are asking? I have dedicated a separate section to the 'Why Not Seleucia?' question below. It also mentions Macedon.


BEST BARBARIAN FACTION OVERALL: I actually have to create two sub-categories here, in answer to the question I would ask, "What do I really want from a Barbarian campaign?"

- ROLLING TIDE OF HACK & SLASH: GERMANIA
Not even a contest. Use phalanx-style spearmen to pin your enemy in
place while Screaming Women, Night Raiders, War Dogs, and Berserkers
shatter their morale and formations. Obliterate what is left with axemen,
armored archers, and Gothic Cavalry--the best heavy cav among the
Barbarian factions.
CONS: No armored melee infantry. Break well-equipped enemies' spirit fast,
or accept heavy losses.

- MOST BALANCED BARBARIAN MILITARY: DACIA
It's the ONLY Barbarian faction which offers BOTH armored infantry AND
armored archers. They are also the ONLY western barbarians with access to
siege equipment (Ballistae and Catapults). This army can go toe to toe on
with a comparably outfitted Roman army, and (possibly) win.
CONS: No truly great cavalry. Pair what you have with War Dogs and those
fast moving Falxmen to compensate.


MOST VERSATILE FACTION OVERALL: EGYPT
The only things Egypt DOESN'T have is heavy shock cavalry (no, chariots don't count) or armored elephants. However, their axe-wielding desert cav and infantry cancel armor, so giving them heavy lancers with their roster would just be cruel and unusual punishment. To top it off, they also have the BEST chariots in the game, absurdly good elite archers, pikemen with both stats approaching Sacred Band quality AND longer spears.


BEST 'DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS' FACTION OVERALL: SCYTHIA
A skirmish-focused campaign (picking off enemies a few at a time, retreating rather than risking heavy losses) is absurdly time-consuming, but I find it strategically stimulating and satisfying, if one has the time for it.

Scythia has two (2) infantry selections, Axemen (don't bother) and Chosen Archer Warband. They have no heavily armored cavalry, though they do have axe-wielding Maidens who can soften up or finish off heavy cavalry very well.
You COULD train up an army of Chosen Archers for street fighting, as they are excellent archers AND decent swordsmen, but the bulk of your imperial levy will inevitably be swift, lightly armored cavalry.

They are also the only barbarian faction (other than the Dacians) capable of building CATAPULTS. Investing in these can speed up and simplify your campaign considerably.

-----Parthia should get an honorable mention here. This happens to be their default strategy in early campaigns, simply because it is the only one capable of working. What makes Parthia preferable to Scythia or Armenia, though, is when you've just got to experience commanding an army of HA + Eles, in which case, Quick Battle, maybe?


NOW, WHY NOT SELUECIA?
I know, I know: they have everything; that's the problem. Seluecia's ROSTER has everything a player could want (apart from Horse Archers), but the player won't get it all within the reasonable span of a campaign. Selucia's tech tree is SO MASSIVE that by the time it has grown out, your ACTUAL CAMPAIGN is long over; you've just been twiddling your thumbs, letting your once-upon-a-time rivals sweat, just waiting for those silver shield troops to show up so you finally see them in use before the end.

Here is the deal, though: Every basic troop-pairing dream Seleucia offers can be yours in a much more satisfying, less time-consuming way if you just ask the question, "What tactical style of play do I REALLY WANT from Seleucia?"

- Phalanx and legionaries? Go ARMENIA

- Phalanx and heavy shock cav? Go ARMENIA/PONTUS

- Phalanx and chariots? Go PONTUS/EGYPT

- Phalanx and excellent lancer cav? Go MACEDON/CARTHAGE

- Phalanx and elephants? Go CARTHAGE

- Scads of epic legionaries? What was the name of this game, again?

- Elephants and Archers and Chariots and Legionaries and Pikemen and
Lancers and Heavy Cavalry? Okay, you've got me there.

END
So there it is. My totally irrefutable, unquestionably scientific list of the best non-Roman campaign choices in Rome: Total War.

I know some people love Briton, Thrace, et al. I've even heard of people loving Parthia. Thoughtful counterpoints and and recommendations are very welcome for the sake of the people who just want insight into how to choose a faction .

Valete, omnia.

[NekRon99]

This is a nice basic description of what a players faction choice could end up looking like. By keeping it strictly limited to possible army composition one can glimpse a basic skeleton of what your army may aspire to become. For the new players however you shouldn't expect that this is how your faction will start.

There are other variables the author deliberately left out which are highly impactful to your choice of a starting faction. He has chosen to leave them out so I will honor the restrictions he has imposed. I will state though that these descriptions are in a vacuum. You wont be fielding sacred band or catapults early on. If you survive long enough and expand you may eventually have them, but by that time you will have used other means to get there.

Carthage for example does not start out as a phalanx faction to me. It relies on the power of cavalry and elephants, and one could continue to utilize them as the core of your army if you wanted to (sacred band cav, armored eles) as they only get better.

It is apparent the author really has enjoyed this game and desires to assist others in doing the same. I can only really add that one needs to have an idea of the other variables that will affect your choice of faction. Add to that the fact that army composition is adaptable to what your enemy is fielding against you and you are not limited to one style of warfare.

[Lasac]

pink pajama men > everything else

[TangoBravo]

When playing Egypt I once managed to buy an elephant unit early on and it completed my army well, having one unit just plowing through the enemy's flank while it is locked with the spearmen. Compensated the missing heavy cavalry and shows why the designers made a good balancing choice not giving them any.