Total War: Pharaoh Hanigalbat

Total War: Pharaoh Hanigalbat
Name:	Hanigalbat (Assyrian kingdom)
From Game:	Total War: Pharaoh
Culture:	Assyrian
Playable:	Yes

Hanigalbat is an Assyrian playable kingdom in Total War Pharaoh Dynasties.

Overview

Ninurta-Apal-Ekur, the king of Hanigalbat, is an ambitious ruler who wishes to expand, but who might understimate the difficulties which will be involved. His kingdom was known as Mitanni before it was absorbed into the Assyrian Empire. His faction roster includes club and khopesh infantry, which are lightly armoured, and decent archers, which can easily destroy poorly armoured infantry (sucn as two-handed axemen). He can recruit native spear cavalry, which are effective when charging the flanks and rear of light units, and when pursuing fleeing enemies. In the late campaign, Hanigalbat's roster includes elite spear infantry and two-handed club infantry (both well-armoured), composite bow infantry, horse archers and medium melee cavalry.

Ninurta-Apal-Ekur, the king of Hanigalbat

Starting Position

At the start of the campaign, Ninurta-Apal-Ekur controls three of the four regions of Hanigalbat province and is at war with the owner of the remaining region. Your starting regions provide food, wood and stone, but not bronze or gold. To the south of your starting province is the Euphrates, a major river which provides fast movement and a good supply of food for settlements along its banks.

Strategies for Hanigalbat

Ninurta-Apal-Ekur is somewhat similar to Ramesses - both factions seem to be intended for rapid expansion, but for both factions there are difficulties as you expand. Your first goal will probably be to take Sangaritu (the remaining settlement in Hanigalbat province), to the south of your starting position. In early battles, your cavalry can destroy enemy skirmishers, and can help your melee infantry break enemy lines by charging the enemy rear, falling back and charging again.

After taking control of your starting province, you are free to expand in any direction. Faster movement along the Euphrates can help you to take territory quickly. When you want to move armies along the Euphrates, it works better to left-click the army, and right-click and hold (rather than right-clicking on the location you want to go). If you right-click and hold, you can move the cursor to choose between different routes - the default route is often along the land, which is slower than using the river.

Your faction lacks the standard building which increases happiness, so you may have more rebellions than other factions, particularly in newly conquered regions. However, some of your buildings increase happiness, for example an upgraded guard tower in a major settlement. Also, if you research the Royal Decree which unlocks the slot allowing your faction to worship a second god, you may want to choose Ishtar - her shrines and temples increase happiness. As well as the usual shrines and temples, Hanigalbat can construct religious Dwellings, providing Favour with a god and other benefits (for example, a Dwelling of Ninurta provides extra ammunition for ranged units on recruitment).

You may also be drawn into Assyrian civil wars. If you expand quickly (building up Legitimacy by winning battles and conquering sacred lands) and if you accept an offer from Assyria of adoption into the ruling dynasty, you might become the supreme ruler of Assyria earlier than you expected (when the current ruler of Assyria, who adopted your faction leader, dies). Becoming the Assyrian ruler has advantages, but it can also lead to a civil war. In a civil war, several other Assyrian factions may declare war on Hanigalbat at the same time. If the player's faction leader becomes the supreme ruler, you cannot avoid participating in a civil war, and you cannot engage in diplomacy with the other factions participating in the civil war until it ends. You can avoid being forced into in a civil war by declining Assyria's offer to adopt your faction leader. Even if you are not drawn into a civil war, other factions such as Emar (to the west) may try to invade your home regions. After you become the supreme leader of Assyria, you can reduce the risk of civil war by increasing your Legitimacy - the page on civil wars includes ways to do this.

Desert attrition may be difficult to manage for Hanigalbat, as (unlike Ramesses) his generals don't have access to the Sand Walker title (which provides immunity from desert attrition). However, if you expand west along the Euphrates, you will be able to recruit native units which are immune to desert attrition - including camelry (camel riders).

Legacy

You can choose between Hammurabi the Lawmaker and Sargon the Great. Hammurabi the Lawmaker allows you to gain passive buffs for your empire by creating laws (this is similar to Royal Decrees). Sargon the Great allows you to acquire abilities through completing ambitions, and also offers grand ambitions.