Larissiotai/Strategic Overview

Faction Overview	Strategic Overview	/History/
* Strengths: Strong economic bonuses, good cavalry traditions. A potentially good rush faction.
* Weaknesses: Technologically backward military, lack of Policy research hampers technological advancement, lack of Boulë hampers defence, very predictable gameplay.
The first things to come to one's mind when the Greek region of Thessaly is considered are usually horses and grain. In fact, Thessaly historically was the breadbasket of ancient Greece, and this fact looms large in how the Larissiotai (named so after Thessaly's most prominent city, with Pharsalus and Pherae being major contenders) are to be played in Alexander. 
Cavalry is the very lifeblood of the Larissiot faction. Some of the best units of Greek cavalry are to be found in Larissa's roster, with three units making the top of the list - Somatophylakes Strategou, which can be trained early on once a Frourion is made available, as well as the Hippeis Thessalikoi, and the Prodromoi which are shared with Macedon, Athenai and Thebai. In fact, the Somatophylakes Strategou could well be a game winner, being so powerful, that although costly, Larissa faces fewer difficulties in raising it, owing to its strong agricultural potential, so long as the Larissiot imperium continues to grow (the Food bonus can't trigger unless your national borders encompass a land mass of sufficient size).
Unfortunately, all this agricultural wealth engenders several undesired outcomes - corruption, complacency and immense elite competition. And these have found a way into the Larissiot tech tree, removing your access to some important high-tier upgrades, as well as access to Patriots and Officers. Although other factions such as the Sabaioi and Sauromatai do suffer too from the inability to build and access a Boulë, they are far less crippled owing to their access to the Polemarchos. 
As a result, in the field the Larissiotai are an acquired taste - those who like mindless rushing with no refinements through micromanagement with an Officer's help may not mind using them. On the other hand, the lack of Officer units and the existence of factions with better cavalry often mean that the Larissiotai may function well in games featuring all-Greek factions, but struggle outright with other factions that pursue non-Greek traditions. After all, Somatophylakes Strategou may be stronger than Steppe Lancers, but they are not cost-effective. Nor are they as powerful, either, as some of the stronger cavalry units that the Achaemenidai or Skythoi can churn out. The rest of the Larissiot army, too, is not great either — aside from some strong early game cav units, Larissa suffers in comparison to the more developed armies of Sparta, Macedon and Athens. It would thus seem that Larissiotai is best used in small-to-medium sized land maps with as little water as possible.
====== Notes ======
Hoplon design for Logades?
Lions and Horses. Scavenge Uthum's work for units to unsert here.
Category:Spoiler
Category:Larissiotai