The Seleucid Empire

2022-09-10 · Tarnholm

Hello and welcome back! The release date for 0.5 is getting ever closer, which means yet another developer diary. The new update will come with plenty of new features, of which our all-new unit models and the brand new massive map are the most prominent. Speaking of massive, today's DD is about the largest Empire on our map, the Seleucids!

The Seleucid Empire covers the largest area of any starting factions in 270BC. From the border with the Antigonids in the west, across the central Anatolian cities to Cilicia, further still into the Syrian and Mesopotamian heartland, then onto the vast Iranian region, all the way to the ends of the civilised lands and the borders of India.

This is not only a massive undertaking for any player, be it a novice or an experienced one, in terms of stabilising what you own but also because of the multitudes of challenges that face you on your borders, where dozens of other factions await to exploit your weakness. From the very start, you will be at war with Bithynia (the historical war between Antiochus and the Northern Alliance of Bithynia, Heraclea Pontica and other city-states), but others may follow…

You control a heterogeneous empire. Dozens of different cultures live with and by another, and maintaining public order will be a recurring task across your campaign. And as per the historian Nymphis of Heraclea, restoration or even just maintaining the borders of Seleucus' empire was a monumental task worthy of being passed down for posterity. "Antiochus in many wars, though with difficulty and not in its entirety, restored his paternal kingdom." (Brill's New Jacoby, Memnon 434 F1 9.1)

With an empire as large and culturally diverse as the Seleucid Empire, a mighty army is very much needed, and that's what we will focus on right now.

Greek Peltasts:

Greek Archers:

Greek Slingers:

Akontistai:

Light skirmishing infantry is a vital part of any successor army, and thus it won't be a surprise that the Seleucids got plenty to offer on that front.

Mercenary Cretan Archers:

Mercenary Thracians:

Mercenary Galatian Thorakitai:

An Empire the size of the Seleucid, must rely on mercenaries to bolster its armies.

Elephant Archers:

Scythed Chariots:

Chariots and mighty elephants were not a common sight on the battlefields, but the Seleucid armies were one of the few that fielded them. They are both sure to bring some extra fear to the enemy soldiers!

Chalkaspides:

Chrysaspides:

Argyaspides:

Hypaspists:

The core of the Seleucid army is, of course, made up of able-bodied phalanxes and traditional hoplites to cover the flanks.

Thorakitai:

Thureophoroi:

Argyraspides Swordsmen:

More mobile units are also at the empire's disposal. The Argyraspides is being reformed into a sword unit unlocked later in the campaign.

Prodromoi:

Xystophoroi:

Seleucid Cataphracts:

Seleucid Early General:

Seleucid Late General:

Access to Cavalry isn't an issue for the Empire, having everything from light harassment riders to super heavy Cataphracts.

And with these extra battle shots, I bid you all farewell for this time, but fret not. Our developer diaries will be back again very soon with some more sneak peeks of what's to come in RIS 0.5, our largest and most impressive update to date!

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