Lacedaemon/Strategic Overview

Faction Overview	Strategic Overview	History
Strengths
*Entire roster is available with the least teching required.
*Very strong melee infantry, if not the best in all of the mod.
Weaknesses
*Mediocre land army weakened by lack of good light infantry and cavalry.
*Retarded cultural growth and lack of good Wonders restricts your ability to achieve non-military victories.
In ancient times, the kingdom of Lacedaemon in ancient Greece was a major military power and for centuries could make itself felt in regional affairs. At the head of Lacedaemon stood the city-state of Sparta, followed by several other cities which were dominated by Sparta herself, and bound together by a harsh and rigid constitution which was meant to ensure that Sparta would always dominate, both at home in peacetime and abroad in the field. Alexander’ Lacadaemonians are designed to reflect all of this history and the militaristic posturing of the Spartans. 
As such, not only do they get a strong early game advantage in heavy infantry, they also can train almost all of their roster's units from the beginning of the game, just like Persia, thus they are early impossible to rush early on. Of these, one unit must be given mention: Neodamodes Hoplitai. Even though they are "slave" units, the Lacedaemonian Neodamodes come close to the strengths of a late-game Hoplitai, albeit with less armour, but in comparison with the more primitive promakhoi units of the Greeks that weakness doesn't translate into a real handicap, especially since the Lacedaemonians have several other Spartan units to use, most notably the Spartiatai Hippeis and the Homoioi which are trained from the Boulë and the Syssiton respectively. In addition, the Lacedaemonians are not restrained by politics — while other factions must pick either Oligarchy (for the Noble Residence units and the Logades) or Populism (to unlock mercenaries, Symmachoi Hippeis and Hoplitai Haploi)
However, therein lies the problem with the Lacedaemonian faction: it is all too dependent on one single unit class seizing the day. While there can be no question of Sparta gaining the upper hand early in the game, it is not so in the mid-game or the late-game especially if other factions can boom fast enough. In the long run, the Lacedaemonians will be outperformed by other Greek factions, even as an intelligently led Persian or Boioi army, with their variety of units, can easily crush the Spartans. Any faction with good cavalry or missile units such as these two non-Greek civs can easily best the Spartans.
As much as the Spartans do have a small naval and artillery component, they are still no match even for more developed factions, such as Athenai or Magadha who have a plethora of different units, and are thus more flexible than the Spartan military system which is heavily dependent on heavy infantry. Spartan cavalry itself is near to useless, except for one good unit — Tarentinoi Hippeis. However, this is a mercenary unit, meaning that vast outlays of Wealth (something that does not come easily to a Spartan player owing to the lack of higher level Taxation techs) will be required, meaning that Sparta simply cannot field cavalry sufficient neither in size nor quality. In which case, then, Lacedaemon must fall back upon her cultural bonuses which all led themselves to early rushing — Border shoving, not Pushing, more extensive and deadlier Attrition fields, along with the ability to destroy more Baggage Wagons using light cavalry are all other cards a Spartan player can bring to the field to even the odds against other factions. Even so, Lacedaemon unlike the Russians of vanilla Rise of Nations  are woefully unequipped to fight long wars despite their legendary Border Push abilities, and are easily out-teched, so even a vast Spartan army will be suffering for want of proper unit counters. One faction a Lacedaemonian player should always be wary of is the Skythoi, for they have excellent heavy infantry counters and can bypass Sparta's attrition fields with little damage to themselves, technology willing.
As a result, Sparta is best used on small- to medium-sized maps which host medium or higher concentrations of blue water — the smaller the map size the better to help close the walking distance required by her most famed units, the Homoioi. Early rushing and border shoving matches with an eye to acquiring enemy settlements thus is a must, in order to deprive opponents of the means to out-boom or out-tech the Lacedaemonian nation, as well as end the game through the Spartans' preferred choce of strategy — force of arms.
==Faction summary==
*Highly militaristic heavy infantry rusher adept at commanding land superiority.
*What's the Rush? — Rushing your enemy early on is the way forward with Sparta; use your more powerful Homoioi to take on your enemies' infantry and then conquer their Settlements.
*Passing the Test of Time — Lacedaemon does not hold well against enemies who have successfully teched up: keep them from doing this at all costs.
*A Fistful of Pelanors — Ensure you have enough resources at all times to train units, especially Wealth, to buy mercenaries.
*Throwing Shade — A good faction with ranged or cavalry advantages such as the Saka, Boii or the Achaemenids are the best counter for Lacedaemon.
==Best Ages==
Archaic, especially if the map is medium-sized or smaller.	Strengths
*Entire roster is available with the least teching required.
*Very strong melee infantry, if not the best in all of the mod.
Weaknesses
*Mediocre land army weakened by lack of good light infantry and cavalry.
*Retarded cultural growth and lack of good Wonders restricts your ability to achieve non-military victories.
In ancient times, the kingdom of Lacedaemon in ancient Greece was a major military power and for centuries could make itself felt in regional affairs. At the head of Lacedaemon stood the city-state of Sparta, followed by several other cities which were dominated by Sparta herself, and bound together by a harsh and rigid constitution which was meant to ensure that Sparta would always dominate, both at home in peacetime and abroad in the field. Alexander’ Lacadaemonians are designed to reflect all of this history and the militaristic posturing of the Spartans. 
As such, not only do they get a strong early game advantage in heavy infantry, they also can train almost all of their roster's units from the beginning of the game, just like Persia, thus they are early impossible to rush early on. Of these, one unit must be given mention: Neodamodes Hoplitai. Even though they are "slave" units, the Lacedaemonian Neodamodes come close to the strengths of a late-game Hoplitai, albeit with less armour, but in comparison with the more primitive promakhoi units of the Greeks that weakness doesn't translate into a real handicap, especially since the Lacedaemonians have several other Spartan units to use, most notably the Spartiatai Hippeis and the Homoioi which are trained from the Boulë and the Syssiton respectively. In addition, the Lacedaemonians are not restrained by politics — while other factions must pick either Oligarchy (for the Noble Residence units and the Logades) or Populism (to unlock mercenaries, Symmachoi Hippeis and Hoplitai Haploi)
However, therein lies the problem with the Lacedaemonian faction: it is all too dependent on one single unit class seizing the day. While there can be no question of Sparta gaining the upper hand early in the game, it is not so in the mid-game or the late-game especially if other factions can boom fast enough. In the long run, the Lacedaemonians will be outperformed by other Greek factions, even as an intelligently led Persian or Boioi army, with their variety of units, can easily crush the Spartans. Any faction with good cavalry or missile units such as these two non-Greek civs can easily best the Spartans.
As much as the Spartans do have a small naval and artillery component, they are still no match even for more developed factions, such as Athenai or Magadha who have a plethora of different units, and are thus more flexible than the Spartan military system which is heavily dependent on heavy infantry. Spartan cavalry itself is near to useless, except for one good unit — Tarentinoi Hippeis. However, this is a mercenary unit, meaning that vast outlays of Wealth (something that does not come easily to a Spartan player owing to the lack of higher level Taxation techs) will be required, meaning that Sparta simply cannot field cavalry sufficient neither in size nor quality. In which case, then, Lacedaemon must fall back upon her cultural bonuses which all led themselves to early rushing — Border shoving, not Pushing, more extensive and deadlier Attrition fields, along with the ability to destroy more Baggage Wagons using light cavalry are all other cards a Spartan player can bring to the field to even the odds against other factions. Even so, Lacedaemon unlike the Russians of vanilla Rise of Nations  are woefully unequipped to fight long wars despite their legendary Border Push abilities, and are easily out-teched, so even a vast Spartan army will be suffering for want of proper unit counters. One faction a Lacedaemonian player should always be wary of is the Skythoi, for they have excellent heavy infantry counters and can bypass Sparta's attrition fields with little damage to themselves, technology willing.
As a result, Sparta is best used on small- to medium-sized maps which host medium or higher concentrations of blue water — the smaller the map size the better to help close the walking distance required by her most famed units, the Homoioi. Early rushing and border shoving matches with an eye to acquiring enemy settlements thus is a must, in order to deprive opponents of the means to out-boom or out-tech the Lacedaemonian nation, as well as end the game through the Spartans' preferred choce of strategy — force of arms.
==Faction summary==
*Highly militaristic heavy infantry rusher adept at commanding land superiority.
*What's the Rush? — Rushing your enemy early on is the way forward with Sparta; use your more powerful Homoioi to take on your enemies' infantry and then conquer their Settlements.
*Passing the Test of Time — Lacedaemon does not hold well against enemies who have successfully teched up: keep them from doing this at all costs.
*A Fistful of Pelanors — Ensure you have enough resources at all times to train units, especially Wealth, to buy mercenaries.
*Throwing Shade — A good faction with ranged or cavalry advantages such as the Saka, Boii or the Achaemenids are the best counter for Lacedaemon.
==Best Ages==
Archaic, especially if the map is medium-sized or smaller.	Strengths
*Entire roster is available with the least teching required.
*Very strong melee infantry, if not the best in all of the mod.
Weaknesses
*Mediocre land army weakened by lack of good light infantry and cavalry.
*Retarded cultural growth and lack of good Wonders restricts your ability to achieve non-military victories.
In ancient times, the kingdom of Lacedaemon in ancient Greece was a major military power and for centuries could make itself felt in regional affairs. At the head of Lacedaemon stood the city-state of Sparta, followed by several other cities which were dominated by Sparta herself, and bound together by a harsh and rigid constitution which was meant to ensure that Sparta would always dominate, both at home in peacetime and abroad in the field. Alexander’ Lacadaemonians are designed to reflect all of this history and the militaristic posturing of the Spartans. 
As such, not only do they get a strong early game advantage in heavy infantry, they also can train almost all of their roster's units from the beginning of the game, just like Persia, thus they are early impossible to rush early on. Of these, one unit must be given mention: Neodamodes Hoplitai. Even though they are "slave" units, the Lacedaemonian Neodamodes come close to the strengths of a late-game Hoplitai, albeit with less armour, but in comparison with the more primitive promakhoi units of the Greeks that weakness doesn't translate into a real handicap, especially since the Lacedaemonians have several other Spartan units to use, most notably the Spartiatai Hippeis and the Homoioi which are trained from the Boulë and the Syssiton respectively. In addition, the Lacedaemonians are not restrained by politics — while other factions must pick either Oligarchy (for the Noble Residence units and the Logades) or Populism (to unlock mercenaries, Symmachoi Hippeis and Hoplitai Haploi)
However, therein lies the problem with the Lacedaemonian faction: it is all too dependent on one single unit class seizing the day. While there can be no question of Sparta gaining the upper hand early in the game, it is not so in the mid-game or the late-game especially if other factions can boom fast enough. In the long run, the Lacedaemonians will be outperformed by other Greek factions, even as an intelligently led Persian or Boioi army, with their variety of units, can easily crush the Spartans. Any faction with good cavalry or missile units such as these two non-Greek civs can easily best the Spartans.
As much as the Spartans do have a small naval and artillery component, they are still no match even for more developed factions, such as Athenai or Magadha who have a plethora of different units, and are thus more flexible than the Spartan military system which is heavily dependent on heavy infantry. Spartan cavalry itself is near to useless, except for one good unit — Tarentinoi Hippeis. However, this is a mercenary unit, meaning that vast outlays of Wealth (something that does not come easily to a Spartan player owing to the lack of higher level Taxation techs) will be required, meaning that Sparta simply cannot field cavalry sufficient neither in size nor quality. In which case, then, Lacedaemon must fall back upon her cultural bonuses which all led themselves to early rushing — Border shoving, not Pushing, more extensive and deadlier Attrition fields, along with the ability to destroy more Baggage Wagons using light cavalry are all other cards a Spartan player can bring to the field to even the odds against other factions. Even so, Lacedaemon unlike the Russians of vanilla Rise of Nations  are woefully unequipped to fight long wars despite their legendary Border Push abilities, and are easily out-teched, so even a vast Spartan army will be suffering for want of proper unit counters. One faction a Lacedaemonian player should always be wary of is the Skythoi, for they have excellent heavy infantry counters and can bypass Sparta's attrition fields with little damage to themselves, technology willing.
As a result, Sparta is best used on small- to medium-sized maps which host medium or higher concentrations of blue water — the smaller the map size the better to help close the walking distance required by her most famed units, the Homoioi. Early rushing and border shoving matches with an eye to acquiring enemy settlements thus is a must, in order to deprive opponents of the means to out-boom or out-tech the Lacedaemonian nation, as well as end the game through the Spartans' preferred choce of strategy — force of arms.
==Faction summary==
*Highly militaristic heavy infantry rusher adept at commanding land superiority.
*What's the Rush? — Rushing your enemy early on is the way forward with Sparta; use your more powerful Homoioi to take on your enemies' infantry and then conquer their Settlements.
*Passing the Test of Time — Lacedaemon does not hold well against enemies who have successfully teched up: keep them from doing this at all costs.
*A Fistful of Pelanors — Ensure you have enough resources at all times to train units, especially Wealth, to buy mercenaries.
*Throwing Shade — A good faction with ranged or cavalry advantages such as the Saka, Boii or the Achaemenids are the best counter for Lacedaemon.
==Best Ages==
Archaic, especially if the map is medium-sized or smaller.	Strengths
*Entire roster is available with the least teching required.
*Very strong melee infantry, if not the best in all of the mod.
Weaknesses
*Mediocre land army weakened by lack of good light infantry and cavalry.
*Retarded cultural growth and lack of good Wonders restricts your ability to achieve non-military victories.
In ancient times, the kingdom of Lacedaemon in ancient Greece was a major military power and for centuries could make itself felt in regional affairs. At the head of Lacedaemon stood the city-state of Sparta, followed by several other cities which were dominated by Sparta herself, and bound together by a harsh and rigid constitution which was meant to ensure that Sparta would always dominate, both at home in peacetime and abroad in the field. Alexander’ Lacadaemonians are designed to reflect all of this history and the militaristic posturing of the Spartans. 
As such, not only do they get a strong early game advantage in heavy infantry, they also can train almost all of their roster's units from the beginning of the game, just like Persia, thus they are early impossible to rush early on. Of these, one unit must be given mention: Neodamodes Hoplitai. Even though they are "slave" units, the Lacedaemonian Neodamodes come close to the strengths of a late-game Hoplitai, albeit with less armour, but in comparison with the more primitive promakhoi units of the Greeks that weakness doesn't translate into a real handicap, especially since the Lacedaemonians have several other Spartan units to use, most notably the Spartiatai Hippeis and the Homoioi which are trained from the Boulë and the Syssiton respectively. In addition, the Lacedaemonians are not restrained by politics — while other factions must pick either Oligarchy (for the Noble Residence units and the Logades) or Populism (to unlock mercenaries, Symmachoi Hippeis and Hoplitai Haploi)
However, therein lies the problem with the Lacedaemonian faction: it is all too dependent on one single unit class seizing the day. While there can be no question of Sparta gaining the upper hand early in the game, it is not so in the mid-game or the late-game especially if other factions can boom fast enough. In the long run, the Lacedaemonians will be outperformed by other Greek factions, even as an intelligently led Persian or Boioi army, with their variety of units, can easily crush the Spartans. Any faction with good cavalry or missile units such as these two non-Greek civs can easily best the Spartans.
As much as the Spartans do have a small naval and artillery component, they are still no match even for more developed factions, such as Athenai or Magadha who have a plethora of different units, and are thus more flexible than the Spartan military system which is heavily dependent on heavy infantry. Spartan cavalry itself is near to useless, except for one good unit — Tarentinoi Hippeis. However, this is a mercenary unit, meaning that vast outlays of Wealth (something that does not come easily to a Spartan player owing to the lack of higher level Taxation techs) will be required, meaning that Sparta simply cannot field cavalry sufficient neither in size nor quality. In which case, then, Lacedaemon must fall back upon her cultural bonuses which all led themselves to early rushing — Border shoving, not Pushing, more extensive and deadlier Attrition fields, along with the ability to destroy more Baggage Wagons using light cavalry are all other cards a Spartan player can bring to the field to even the odds against other factions. Even so, Lacedaemon unlike the Russians of vanilla Rise of Nations  are woefully unequipped to fight long wars despite their legendary Border Push abilities, and are easily out-teched, so even a vast Spartan army will be suffering for want of proper unit counters. One faction a Lacedaemonian player should always be wary of is the Skythoi, for they have excellent heavy infantry counters and can bypass Sparta's attrition fields with little damage to themselves, technology willing.
As a result, Sparta is best used on small- to medium-sized maps which host medium or higher concentrations of blue water — the smaller the map size the better to help close the walking distance required by her most famed units, the Homoioi. Early rushing and border shoving matches with an eye to acquiring enemy settlements thus is a must, in order to deprive opponents of the means to out-boom or out-tech the Lacedaemonian nation, as well as end the game through the Spartans' preferred choce of strategy — force of arms.
==Faction summary==
*Highly militaristic heavy infantry rusher adept at commanding land superiority.
*What's the Rush? — Rushing your enemy early on is the way forward with Sparta; use your more powerful Homoioi to take on your enemies' infantry and then conquer their Settlements.
*Passing the Test of Time — Lacedaemon does not hold well against enemies who have successfully teched up: keep them from doing this at all costs.
*A Fistful of Pelanors — Ensure you have enough resources at all times to train units, especially Wealth, to buy mercenaries.
*Throwing Shade — A good faction with ranged or cavalry advantages such as the Saka, Boii or the Achaemenids are the best counter for Lacedaemon.
==Best Ages==
Archaic, especially if the map is medium-sized or smaller.
Category:Spoiler
Category:Lacedaemon