"That Also Works" Achievement

[Mesix]

"Find another way to win Marathon scenario (Heroes of the Aegean 1)"

Has anyone done this? I played it through two times. The first time I fought the full Persian force in Athens and won. The second I killed the first army in the limited number of days available. These two paths to victory did not produce different results.

 

[Mesix]

I figured it out on the third go. By not putting troops into four defensive spots, the first task is failed and Persia attacks. By winning a defensive war you can trigger the achievement.

 

[Solver]

Wait, how'd you even manage to fight the full Persian force without failing the first task (not defending the passes?)

 

[Mesix]

After the runner reaches Sparta, there is an event where the Persian fleet takes the cavalry around. You are given a short period (perhaps 5-6 days IIRC) to kill the infantry and archer units. I played around trying to line up multiple injured units for my chariot units and failed to take them all out (one injured archer left at the time limit). At this point, the cavalry land on the Athens side. I mopped up the cavalry on my first play through.

On the second play through, I took out the army within the time limit and the cavalry never landed. No achievement for this.