Arcoscephale is an old kingdom that once ruled much of the known world. With the fall of the Old Kingdom centuries ago, tradition was the only thing that remained to the population. Mystics and priestesses of the old cult still serve the kings of Arcoscephale. The infantry and cavalry are still hopelessly archaic, but the Awakening of the New God has brought some changes. Some traditions have been abandoned and the cavalry has been improved. Skilled and lightly armed phalangites are starting to replace the heavier hoplites and the cardaces. Although the wise Astrologers who aided past kings were killed or disbanded, a new breed of seeresses called the Sibyls has appeared. The Sibyls offer great help in maneuvering the once-mighty kingdom to a powerful platform for the Awakening God. Priestesses with great knowledge of healing are trained in ancient temples built during the peak of the Old Kingdom. The priestesses are able to scry upon enemy troops and provinces that are located within the God's Dominion. The former conquest of the known world has led to an acceptance of strange cultures and beliefs. The Arcoscephalian population are quick to adopt foreign cults, but only to incorporate them into their own belief system. The Awakening God is viewed as the Master of All and all other gods are just aspects of the Great One. Temples and religious sites of other faiths are converted and the faith of the Awakening One is imposed upon newly conquered lands.

"Arcoscephale is together with Pythium the first nation conceived in the creation of Dominions. After having played GMT's Great Battles of Alexander and S.P.Q.R. I got fascinated by ancient warfare, and the hoplites were among the first units to appear in Dominions. At first the two nations were one, with a troop rooster of ancient units, while Man and later on Ulm had troop roosters with a more medieval touch. Soon, however, it became clear that Pythium and Arcoscephale should be two distinct nations. Arcoscephale is heavily influenced by ancient Greek city states and Hellas. The Golden Age is influenced by the mythical past and the archaic age. Later ages boast Hellenic and Mesopotamian influences: elephants, mysteries and Chaldean astrologers." -Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (Rare 4) 2 2 2 2 2 (Rare 3) 2 2	Heroes 111122 Summons 3 (req. 4) 11 (req. 2 & GoR) 121 (req. 3 & GoR)	Heavy, Spear-Armed Infantry Elephants Companion Cavalry Ape Warriors	Formation Fighter Healer Fortune Teller Carcass Collector	Standard Forts Labs cost 300

Capitol Gems: 13

Order Limit + 1

Scry: Arcoscephale will scry on all provinces under its dominion. This scrying is very accurate and will also reveal enemy units that are using the glamour ability to hide. The information gained from this will be available to disciple players as well.

Syncretism: Enemy temples are not razed, but converted if a priest is in the army. God starts with one additional divine title.

• Curse Tablet (Conjuration 3)
  1 and 3
  Commentary here.
• Rhapsody of the Dead (Thaumaturgy 3)
  1
  Commentary here.
• Rhapsody of Life (Thaumaturgy 3)
  1
  Commentary here.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

LA Arcoscephale has the right paths and crosspaths for all the major boosters, (except Robe of the Magi,) but getting enough of the correct boosters is tough.

Highest Starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8)

Skull of Fire
11 Orphic Mystic (1 in 8)

No national access.

The hero, Orokestes - Hierophant has 1. With one level of empowerment, it might make the unique Tome of High Power.

Highest Starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8)

Trident from Beyond Unique
12 Sibyl (1 in 4) +

Orb of Atlantis Unique
11 Mystic (1 in 16) +

Highest Starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8)
The Astral crosspath it has requires many, many boosters to be useful.

The Tome of Gaia Unique
11 Orphic Mystic (1 in 8) +

Highest Starting: 4 Astrologer (1 in 4)

Coin of Meteoritic Iron
12 Astrologer (1 in 8) +

Technically, a 1 Astrologer (1 in 4) or a 2 Mystic (1 in 8), with many boosters, can create the unique The Forbidden Light. It's a lot of boosters.

No national access.

Forest Troll Tribe
2 Mage, (there are many,) + Nature
Troll Shaman has 1.

Highest Starting: 2 Many different mages.

Contact Naiad
11 Sibyl (1 in 4) or Orphic Mystic (1 in 8) +
Naiad has 3.

Moonvine Bracelet
22 Sibyl +

The Tome of Gaia Unique
11 Orphic Mystic (1 in 8) +

The Copper Arm
11 Mystic +
Allows a Nature mage to hold a Thistle Mace and a Treelord's Staff.

Highest Starting: 2 Orphic Mystic (1 in 6)
Needs a level of empowerment to get to a booster.

Mirage Crystal
11 Orphic Mystic (1 in 6) +

The Sword of Many Colors Unique
11 Orphic Mystic (1 in 6) +

No national access.

Awaken Treelord Limited Amount, Stationary
2 Mage, (there are many,) +
One in three chance of Treelord (stationary), who has 1.

First step, summon the Ker: Bind Keres
2 Orphic Mystic (1 in 6)

Second step, make the Ker a commander: Gift of Reason
2 Mage, (there are many,) +
The new commander Ker has 1. Kers are units, that, when made into commanders, have magic paths.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia