Well, it was the first game I played, period.
Difficulty: Easiest
I was playing the Alexander the Great CTW. I decided to make Thrace my first conquest.
I (of course) move my First Army from Macedonia to Thrace, and begin the battle.
I started with the capital, right in the middle of the map, and a second outpost city way off in the east. Initially I do some negotiating with my Thracian allies, and start (slowly) building up my economy. I send the First Division (which was what I named my starting army) to help them capture a city.
I stay out of the fighting, but badly mismanage my economy (because I'm not yet used to the game). Focusing solely on the capital and not the outpost, my outpost city is repeatedly attacked by raiders. I build one Tower to defend the city, but have lost interest in the East. Besides, my main target (the Purple Thracians) are in the West.
I send the First Division into Purple's territories and swiftly conquer his eastern-most city (Dilos, I believe). I capture it and begin establishing my economy, but make a horrible mistake and push onwards to the capital (at the time, I thought Purple was just one of three main kingdoms). At some point, the Scythian Merchant arrives, and I buy his map, having a surplus of Wealth and not feeling like fighting or exploring. (I also discover, upon the scenario's conclusion, the secret reward for doing so).
The "Barbarian" units quickly annihilate my army, including Alexander. Strangely, they do not raid Dilos and, even when they do send troops into that territory, just diddle around. In fact, I never lost Dilos the entire game. However, it's lost all importance to me.
My economy is good, except for Food: I never have enough to it, and thus have to buy from the Market (which isn't a problem, as I have masses of Wealth). I quickly build a force of Phalanxes, Catapults, and Supply Wagons, which I name the Second Division, and attack Purple's Capital again.
Purple somehow destroys my Catapults first, and just tears the Second Division to shreds (by now, he has founded a city east of the Capital and north of Dilos). I get pissed off and focus on my economy again.
I construct a second city north of my capital, and use it entirely for Food collection, balancing my economy. I then take the time to construct another Division of Phalanxes, and send it off to attack Purple while I built up the Fourth Division. The Third Division walked right over Purple, who must have been beaten up from the previous assaults, and easily took the two cities.
Now, the Fourth Division walks straight into Green territory and razes the Stables to the ground. Macedonia stands as the only power in Thrace, and is now planning on invading Greece and Rome.
Difficulty: Easiest
I was playing the Alexander the Great CTW. I decided to make Thrace my first conquest.
I (of course) move my First Army from Macedonia to Thrace, and begin the battle.
I started with the capital, right in the middle of the map, and a second outpost city way off in the east. Initially I do some negotiating with my Thracian allies, and start (slowly) building up my economy. I send the First Division (which was what I named my starting army) to help them capture a city.
I stay out of the fighting, but badly mismanage my economy (because I'm not yet used to the game). Focusing solely on the capital and not the outpost, my outpost city is repeatedly attacked by raiders. I build one Tower to defend the city, but have lost interest in the East. Besides, my main target (the Purple Thracians) are in the West.
I send the First Division into Purple's territories and swiftly conquer his eastern-most city (Dilos, I believe). I capture it and begin establishing my economy, but make a horrible mistake and push onwards to the capital (at the time, I thought Purple was just one of three main kingdoms). At some point, the Scythian Merchant arrives, and I buy his map, having a surplus of Wealth and not feeling like fighting or exploring. (I also discover, upon the scenario's conclusion, the secret reward for doing so).
The "Barbarian" units quickly annihilate my army, including Alexander. Strangely, they do not raid Dilos and, even when they do send troops into that territory, just diddle around. In fact, I never lost Dilos the entire game. However, it's lost all importance to me.
My economy is good, except for Food: I never have enough to it, and thus have to buy from the Market (which isn't a problem, as I have masses of Wealth). I quickly build a force of Phalanxes, Catapults, and Supply Wagons, which I name the Second Division, and attack Purple's Capital again.
Purple somehow destroys my Catapults first, and just tears the Second Division to shreds (by now, he has founded a city east of the Capital and north of Dilos). I get pissed off and focus on my economy again.
I construct a second city north of my capital, and use it entirely for Food collection, balancing my economy. I then take the time to construct another Division of Phalanxes, and send it off to attack Purple while I built up the Fourth Division. The Third Division walked right over Purple, who must have been beaten up from the previous assaults, and easily took the two cities.
Now, the Fourth Division walks straight into Green territory and razes the Stables to the ground. Macedonia stands as the only power in Thrace, and is now planning on invading Greece and Rome.