Seleucid Empire (RTW Faction)

Seleucid Empire General's Bodyguard.

The Seleucid Empire are one of the playable factions in Rome: Total War. They can be played after successfully completing a campaign as a Roman faction or if unlocked by modding / cheats.

Game Play

The Seleucid Empire is a fun and challenging faction, recommended for players who want a wide variety of troops and like different types of warfare.

Starting Position

The Seleucid Empire begin in a very vulnerable position, just south of Pontus, in what is modern day South Turkey. They are bordering and surrounded by Pontus, Egypt, the Greeks and the Parthians, and are usually defeated early on because of this.

Win Conditions

The Seleucids win the game by holding Rome and 49 other provinces. Their win conditions in a short game are to destroy or outlast Egypt and control 15 provinces.

Units

The Seleucids have a vast array of units, combining both Greek and Eastern units into a very flexible and powerful force. Their arsenal includes pikeman, cataphracts, elephants, chariots, companion cavalry, and even legionaries.

-Infantry- Peasants Militia Hoplites Levy Pikemen Phalanx Pikemen Silver Sheild Pikemen Silver Sheild Legionaries

-Missiles- Peltasts Archers Onagers Heavy Onagers

-Cavalry- Militia Cavalry Greek Cavalry Cataphracts Companion Cavalry Sychied Chariots

The Seleucids have several advantages that connect the best units of the ancient world:

-Companion Cavalry, which only Macedon has. -Cataphracts, only Armenia and Parthia had it else. -Elephants, only Carthage has it else. -Chariots, only Pontus and Egypt have it else. -Elite Phalanx from the Hellenistic factions. -Hephaestus temple for golden armoury, only the Scipii had it else. -Legionaires from the Romans.

So this all comes together in the Seleucid faction.

Strategy guides

The Seleucid Empire have indeed the potential of becoming an unstoppable power. The only barrier standing between them and world domination is their very vulnerable beginning position. All your neighbours will declare war on you eventually and most of them in the very beginning. Egypt will attack Damascus and Antioch, Pontus will try to invade Tarsus and Sardis, Parthia will try to take Seleucia, Armenia wants Hatra and if this is not enough, there's a little extra: the Greeks will try to take Sardis too.

The most powerful enemy will be Egypt as the Eastern factions armies are made up mostly of Hillmen and Eastern Infantry, units that rout easily. Now, the Seleucid Empire is very likely to be destroyed, and very early on too! And indeed under AI control it is destroyed very easily. No wonder, as the only units you have early on are Peltasts, Militia hoplites, Militia cavalry and Levy pikemen, units that are no match for the spears and chariots of Pontus and Egypt and the horse-units of Parthia and Armenia.

The Seleucid Empire have one advantage from the beginning of the war, together with Egypt. Their power lies in their treasury. Therefore, the key to surviving the beginning of the assaults is wealth. Armenia, Parthia, Pontus and especially Egypt (which is their weakness) are all easily bribed and they don't even ask huge amounts of gold. Only faction leaders and heirs will not give in to being bribed. Therefore, use this wealth. It is easy to bribe all the armies sent against you, therefore assaults will become rare, making it easier for your settlements to improve and evolve, making your treasury even greater. Put diplomats at all the weak spots, which are basically all settlements.

Meanwhile, you can evolve while your diplomats hold the foreign assaults at bay. Get City barracks AND a stone wall as fast as possible in Antioch so you can train some decent troops and have a good defense for your capital. You'll have to put up with Militia's and Levy's in the beginning but make sure you hire mercenaries too when you see an assault coming (for example and Egyptian faction leader that doesn't want to join you and goes straight for Antioch). Bribing the enemy armies makes your enemies weaker so the eventual conquest of their lands will be easier. Bribing enemies doesn't hurt your treasury very much and remember, it's only temporary because soon you will have new units.

Here unfolds the Seleucid power: the most diverse troop type in the entire campaign. You'll be able to flood your enemies with Elephants, Cataphracts, Chariots, you name it. Only be patient and careful in the beginning. Bribe the enemy at all cost and keep your settlements at all cost. Upon reaching your powerful units, the conquest of all the realms that troubled you will be easy indeed. Start with Asia Minor. Take Sidon at the same time and then move to Salamis. Leave Egypt for that time and move on to Armenia and Parthia in the north. Conquer the entire east, but not (yet) Egypt, since it is very likely to revolt! Cross the sea to Greece and invade it. After all you have now reached the 'unstoppable-status'. Not even the Romans will be able to hold you off for very long.

History

The Seleucid Empire was originally formed by Seleucus, after Alexander the Great's death. He held the babylonian states of the empire, with the capital being Seleucia.

See Also

• Factions in RTW

RTW Factions
Armenia | Britannia | Carthage | Dacia | Egypt | Gaul | Germania | Greek Cities | The House of Brutii | The House of Julii | The House of Scipii | Macedon | Numidia | Parthia | Pontus | Scythia | Seleucid Empire | Senate | Spain | Thrace | Rebels