Total War: Sherden
| Total War: Sherden | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Sherden |
| From Game: | Total War: Pharaoh |
| Culture: | Sea Peoples |
| Playable: | Yes |
Sherden is one of the playable factions in Total War Pharaoh, led by Iolaos.
Overview
Iolaos leads a migratory band of the Sea Peoples, the Sherden. His Sherden axemen and swordsmen cause fear in nearby enemy units, and their Nuraghe harpooners reduce the effectiveness of enemy shields. The Sherden faction is suited to raiding, looting and razing; it can also settle and trade, but nearby factions tend to be hostile.
Starting Position
Iolaos and the Sherden begin on the coast of Canaan. As a migratory faction, the Sherden begin with no settlements - their starting army is both a collection of units and a mobile settlement. After defeating the army which starts next to you on the campaign map, you can loot or raze the nearest settlement.
As a migratory faction which start with no fixed settlements, your resources are likely to come from wining battles and from raiding, looting and razing, at least in the early campaign. Razing minor settlements can provide a lot of resources, but if you keep doing this you will be at risk of being caught by large armies.
Strategies for the Sherden
The main choice for Iolaos is your direction of travel, after winning your initial battle against the army which starts nearby. If you travel south, there are several settlements which can be lucrative targets, however you will be at risk of desert attrition and being trapped by large armies sent by Irsu. A better option may be to travel west to the island of Cyprus. Cyprus has three settlements - Paphos, Kition and Alashiya - and Paphos is a one-settlement faction, making it a suitable place to start your conquest of Cyprus. To capture the capital, Alashiyam you may need to raid or attack outposts to draw the enemy army out of the capital, allowing you to defeat the garrison afterwards. Control of Cyprus can provide both food and bronze, providing most of resources needed to for the upkeep of the migratory band led by Iolaos. Occupying settlements in Cyprus also allows you to recruit native Canaanite units, including Syrian archers (the faction roster of the Sherden includes some useful short-range skirmishers such as the Nuraghe harpooners, but it lacks long-range skirmishers).
The Sherden can build a special outpost, Nuraghe Towers, providing food and reduced upkeep for units. They can also build smugglers' markets in port settlements, which provide increasing amounts of food as the civilisation level decreases from prosperity to crisis and collapse. After occupying settlements, you have the option of converting the migratory band led to Iolaos into a simple army (removing the buildings so that it will no longer be a mobile settlement). This would reduce the upkeep, but would also remove the advantages of a mobile settlement.
