How to play Ptolemies?

[Deicide4u]

Their only non-metal options are pikemen, slingers and Camel archers. For literally anything else, you will need a lot of metal. All siege weapons are available, but all except the Siege Catapult also cost metal.

Any tips other than the obvious? I'm thinking getting Serapis Cult early will help, but you need to survive by then. Early farming techs can help to barter food for metal, I guess.

[Classic-Burger]

You only need slingers, camels and champion cavalry.

Pro players do not use melee infantry.

[Deicide4u]

Honestly, how many replays of good players have you watched? 

In all of the games I've watched, the players had a mixed composition of melee and ranged units. Mostly basic CS, almost never champions.

This is for 1v1, not team games. 

[ffm2]

-Don't get housed. It's way harder punished because houses take longer, but are cheaper. 

-Pikes are a valid unit. You need all basic, pikes, slingers. Pikes tank good, slingers deal good damage.

- Camels depending on if there's fauna. Camels need to harass a long time. They are weaker, so they need to be in action longer and live longer. Back them up regularly. Learn to split groups.

-If it comes to late game, their champ cav are a valid option. The good spear cav champs with the 1.75x bonus vs. cav. Only the pers + sele have stronger with nisean war horse tech.

-Serapis cult isn't popular (expensive and pays of very late)

-Almost all siege

So you have many options and can also adapt if one resource is rare. If you made many pikes go for Ptolemeny IV otherwise Cleopatra (preferably). She can shoot save from far and has good bonus.

[Deicide4u]

Thanks. 

23 minutes ago, ffm2 said:

Serapis cult isn't popular (expensive and pays of very late)

It costs 300 metal, so it pays itself after 150 in-game seconds (+research time). But, I agree that's a bit too long in a 1v1 match. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Deicide4u

[ffm2]

+300 food. And stands at a popularity of 8%. So thats 600 res. So 300 seconds while trickling + 60 for research. That's 6 minutes until you start to profit from it. You delay yourself 6 minutes.

1. Its bad for itself.

2. If something is somewhat decent, you need to include it to your game play. This takes up head space. You would neglect other stuff. This is a bit the problem of healers. They are ok and contribute a bit. But you have another thing to worry about. Sometimes you are better of with going a more simple approach (until your 1800+ and decide again). But again this is not even the case for this tech.

3. If you have will to fight and all other normal upgrades, full pop and are floating res, go for it.

On 28/02/2025 at 5:32 PM, ffm2 said: