06-17-2009, 03:16 AM
Hyrkania's troops aren't that great. I wrote some spotlights I wonder if they could be carried over?
Hyrkania was one of them. I should really read over the turns and buff up on the game, but I remember the need for MI superceeded MCA's for most of the game.
I raced towards Kusan initially, in case he was hostile. We became allies, but he dropped later in the game. I was in 1st place before he dropped, but I got so many provinces from him after he dropped, I really wonder what would have happened if he had stayed. He was close in rank too, real close, like 2nd or 3rd.
My advice is to stay on the eastern side of the Vilayet, good advice for any eastern kingdom unless you can get a free ticket to the southern kingdoms as Vendhya. Iranistan is a tough nut to crack though, real tough. I pulled it off in 748 before I had to drop due to military deployment.
Hyrkania can rip the shit out of most of what it meets in the east, but as always, I think Kusan is the real wild card. Kusan can screw with anyone's plans, and yes, their court really IS that good. I got scanned copies of Kusans court in 780 and it is friggin incredible. They will peace who they want, avoid who they want and have their way with you PIP'ing till the cows come home.
So, if Kusan isn't friendly, get him EARLY. Gun right for him. Hyrkania also needs to limit Khitai's expansion, so I gunned towards Kusan, then North. Try to get 228 for sure first, then 269 if possible. Cut off that northern route, This leaves you everything west to the Vilayet for yourself.
Vendhya will progress slowly at first, so you have time to get Zasporoska first. That will allow you to have all the EVIL provinces as well and round you off pretty good. Your treasury will be sitting pretty at this point.
Also, don't try to field too many IA's initially. I think I just kept 3 running and it was tough. I think I also conscripted after the first turn to supplement what I was raising. If you try to field your newly formed IA's in the first set, you'll just be failing more invasions. 3 armies will get you a lot of provinces initially.
The number of starting warseasons is also a HUGE factor. THIS is one of the biggest factors in what will determine whether or not you will win a game of Hyborian war. Had the first warseason not been 9 turns with Cimm in 774, the entire game would have been different and a lot more difficult. I was able to own all but 1 province of Pictland because of this and 2 provinces of Aquilonia in the first warseason. That's one hell of a start.
With Hyrkania, the NPK's around you can raise a shit ton of troops. NPK's in the east are far different than NPK's in the west. They are a lot tougher. If you have a long first set, you'll be a beast the rest of the game. The NPK's are the weakest, obviously, in the first warseason.
Zaporoska and Khorbul are tough initially. I got lucky and invaded Khorbul right after Zaporoska did. That tells you something else about the east, the NPK's are aggresive. Zaporoska has black death to boot.
As you head south, you'll need more MI, as well as when you clash with western kingdoms.
In the north and east to Khitai, it'll be Steepe terrain and such and your MCA's will fare better.
It's a good kingdom, as are most in the east. I really like playing east of the vilayet, but I always run into massive amounts of western kingdoms.
With Hyrkania it was a massive Shem and Corinthia.
With Khitai it's Turan, Raja, Zamo, Punt.
Western kingdoms, with the exception of the southern, can do far more with less troops than you.
Anyways, Hyrkania in a nutshell.
Hyrkania by General Tzu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom Spotlight for Hyrkania
Beginning
The land of Red Sonja has been handed to you for your control. You don’t start off with many resources and it’s critical you know which direction you wish to head. I chose not to conscript troops, because of the rebellion factor, but you shouldn’t have a problem conscripting the following turn. You start with 3 armies and I suggest you don’t try to use any more than that for the first set. It’ll be hard enough to keep them rolling effectively.
Court
Court sucks.
Military
I have found that the all cavalry army has it’s place, but so does the MI. The surrounding provinces of Hyrkania, everything north of Azweri all the way to Khitai are cavalry armies areas. When you head south, or west of the vilayet (on the northern side), it becomes infantry area. You’ll definitely want to head into Vendhya with a lot of MI.
For cavalry units, the seasoned horse archers appear the best, but I have found no reason to raise any other unit that the Hyrkanian Irregulars. I find the 7 movement rate supercedes anything the other units have to offer. I’ve seen no difference in the irregular’s v.s. seasoned in combat.
Your imperial troops are:
Kossak Outriders LCA
Missile Combat Ability-Good
Melee-Good
Morale-Excellent
Movement 6
Imperial Horse Riders
Missile-Excellent
Melee-Good
Morale-Superior
Movement 6
I never raised any of these beyond what I initially got. They simply aren’t worth the gold.
Treasury
Your treasury is easily established, which was surprising. After the first war season, it was superior and has lasted through very long war sets. Getting off to a good start is essential, contrary to what others have said that Hyrkania is forgiving. It is, to an extent, but if there are other competent players in the east, well, it shrinks rather quickly.
Treasury is imperative, cause once you have it, only then can you contend with the others in the east. You easily begin raising ridiculous amounts of troops on top of your huge levies. HUGE levies. And the quality of your troop? No complaints, they perform. Just put the right type of troop in the right type of terrain, i.e. cavalry in wide terrains, infantry in constricted. Nothing new.
Initial Push
As for your initial sightings, I would focus on cutting off Khitia’s access in the north, racing him to the Loulan Plateu, taking Kuigar Tundra as backup. I had one army race towards Kusan, in case of hostilities you can limit his expansion, even border his home province. You’ll have to decide what provinces are your focuses. Whatever you do, don’t cut yourself off; be sure you can always invade a new province. You need a massive land grab to start off with.
I started with Wigur Steepes, Kuigar Nomads and Windy Deserts. A lot of options are open from there. I would do the same should I take Hyrkania again. Ranking also comes easy, and feeds itself as your momentum does too.
Final Thoughts
I cannot stress how important who you ally with will affect your nation. Of the eastern kingdoms, I believe only Khitai, Vendhya or Hyrkania will survive. Do everything in your power to make alliances with the smaller nations. Kusan and Kambulja can take out Khitai, as Hyrkania, Kosala and Uttara Kuru can take out Vendhya. Talk to your brethren in Turan, should he head east as an ally, Hyrkania is in a golden situation.
Get off to a good start and Hyrkania is a powerhouse very quickly.
http://grimfinger.net/hw780%20final%20map.PDF
Map link at the end of the post above this. Also remember I had to fight Picts, Vanir and Zingara.
Hyrkania was one of them. I should really read over the turns and buff up on the game, but I remember the need for MI superceeded MCA's for most of the game.
I raced towards Kusan initially, in case he was hostile. We became allies, but he dropped later in the game. I was in 1st place before he dropped, but I got so many provinces from him after he dropped, I really wonder what would have happened if he had stayed. He was close in rank too, real close, like 2nd or 3rd.
My advice is to stay on the eastern side of the Vilayet, good advice for any eastern kingdom unless you can get a free ticket to the southern kingdoms as Vendhya. Iranistan is a tough nut to crack though, real tough. I pulled it off in 748 before I had to drop due to military deployment.
Hyrkania can rip the shit out of most of what it meets in the east, but as always, I think Kusan is the real wild card. Kusan can screw with anyone's plans, and yes, their court really IS that good. I got scanned copies of Kusans court in 780 and it is friggin incredible. They will peace who they want, avoid who they want and have their way with you PIP'ing till the cows come home.
So, if Kusan isn't friendly, get him EARLY. Gun right for him. Hyrkania also needs to limit Khitai's expansion, so I gunned towards Kusan, then North. Try to get 228 for sure first, then 269 if possible. Cut off that northern route, This leaves you everything west to the Vilayet for yourself.
Vendhya will progress slowly at first, so you have time to get Zasporoska first. That will allow you to have all the EVIL provinces as well and round you off pretty good. Your treasury will be sitting pretty at this point.
Also, don't try to field too many IA's initially. I think I just kept 3 running and it was tough. I think I also conscripted after the first turn to supplement what I was raising. If you try to field your newly formed IA's in the first set, you'll just be failing more invasions. 3 armies will get you a lot of provinces initially.
The number of starting warseasons is also a HUGE factor. THIS is one of the biggest factors in what will determine whether or not you will win a game of Hyborian war. Had the first warseason not been 9 turns with Cimm in 774, the entire game would have been different and a lot more difficult. I was able to own all but 1 province of Pictland because of this and 2 provinces of Aquilonia in the first warseason. That's one hell of a start.
With Hyrkania, the NPK's around you can raise a shit ton of troops. NPK's in the east are far different than NPK's in the west. They are a lot tougher. If you have a long first set, you'll be a beast the rest of the game. The NPK's are the weakest, obviously, in the first warseason.
Zaporoska and Khorbul are tough initially. I got lucky and invaded Khorbul right after Zaporoska did. That tells you something else about the east, the NPK's are aggresive. Zaporoska has black death to boot.
As you head south, you'll need more MI, as well as when you clash with western kingdoms.
In the north and east to Khitai, it'll be Steepe terrain and such and your MCA's will fare better.
It's a good kingdom, as are most in the east. I really like playing east of the vilayet, but I always run into massive amounts of western kingdoms.
With Hyrkania it was a massive Shem and Corinthia.
With Khitai it's Turan, Raja, Zamo, Punt.
Western kingdoms, with the exception of the southern, can do far more with less troops than you.
Anyways, Hyrkania in a nutshell.
Hyrkania by General Tzu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom Spotlight for Hyrkania
Beginning
The land of Red Sonja has been handed to you for your control. You don’t start off with many resources and it’s critical you know which direction you wish to head. I chose not to conscript troops, because of the rebellion factor, but you shouldn’t have a problem conscripting the following turn. You start with 3 armies and I suggest you don’t try to use any more than that for the first set. It’ll be hard enough to keep them rolling effectively.
Court
Court sucks.
Military
I have found that the all cavalry army has it’s place, but so does the MI. The surrounding provinces of Hyrkania, everything north of Azweri all the way to Khitai are cavalry armies areas. When you head south, or west of the vilayet (on the northern side), it becomes infantry area. You’ll definitely want to head into Vendhya with a lot of MI.
For cavalry units, the seasoned horse archers appear the best, but I have found no reason to raise any other unit that the Hyrkanian Irregulars. I find the 7 movement rate supercedes anything the other units have to offer. I’ve seen no difference in the irregular’s v.s. seasoned in combat.
Your imperial troops are:
Kossak Outriders LCA
Missile Combat Ability-Good
Melee-Good
Morale-Excellent
Movement 6
Imperial Horse Riders
Missile-Excellent
Melee-Good
Morale-Superior
Movement 6
I never raised any of these beyond what I initially got. They simply aren’t worth the gold.
Treasury
Your treasury is easily established, which was surprising. After the first war season, it was superior and has lasted through very long war sets. Getting off to a good start is essential, contrary to what others have said that Hyrkania is forgiving. It is, to an extent, but if there are other competent players in the east, well, it shrinks rather quickly.
Treasury is imperative, cause once you have it, only then can you contend with the others in the east. You easily begin raising ridiculous amounts of troops on top of your huge levies. HUGE levies. And the quality of your troop? No complaints, they perform. Just put the right type of troop in the right type of terrain, i.e. cavalry in wide terrains, infantry in constricted. Nothing new.
Initial Push
As for your initial sightings, I would focus on cutting off Khitia’s access in the north, racing him to the Loulan Plateu, taking Kuigar Tundra as backup. I had one army race towards Kusan, in case of hostilities you can limit his expansion, even border his home province. You’ll have to decide what provinces are your focuses. Whatever you do, don’t cut yourself off; be sure you can always invade a new province. You need a massive land grab to start off with.
I started with Wigur Steepes, Kuigar Nomads and Windy Deserts. A lot of options are open from there. I would do the same should I take Hyrkania again. Ranking also comes easy, and feeds itself as your momentum does too.
Final Thoughts
I cannot stress how important who you ally with will affect your nation. Of the eastern kingdoms, I believe only Khitai, Vendhya or Hyrkania will survive. Do everything in your power to make alliances with the smaller nations. Kusan and Kambulja can take out Khitai, as Hyrkania, Kosala and Uttara Kuru can take out Vendhya. Talk to your brethren in Turan, should he head east as an ally, Hyrkania is in a golden situation.
Get off to a good start and Hyrkania is a powerhouse very quickly.
http://grimfinger.net/hw780%20final%20map.PDF
Map link at the end of the post above this. Also remember I had to fight Picts, Vanir and Zingara.