India

Strategic overview

India is a hard realm and not one for a first game: large, but poorer in deposits than almost any other, with only two kinds of tribe, both on foot. It lies in the south-east corner of the map, with the map edge to the east and south. All three land neighbours are barbarian: the Scythians to the north, the Kushan to the west and China to the north-east.

As a barbarian realm you raise Tribes, up to 5 a month, the last two of them at a surcharge. Your troops are cheaper and more numerous but of lower quality. You can only form a friendship with other barbarian realms.

What to watch

• Friendship is possible with each of your neighbours, and you need it. The Scythians are your longest neighbour: an early peace with them keeps your longest front quiet.
• You have neither food nor salt deposits. Food only grows in Latifundia on your plains, and without salt your population grows only half as fast. Your neighbours have salt, the Kushan most of all; myrrh and amber are what you pay with.
• Your tribes fight on foot. The riders among your unit types, the cataphracts included, fit none of your tribes; the war elephant is the only one you can field, and like every mounted man it needs a horse per man, which you have to buy. In return your light foot troops cost little.
• Only one of your cities lies on the coast, and you may build warships only up to the liburna. Your weight lies on land: hills carry a good population density, and your forests supply the wood for your growth.