View Full Version : Roman: Scipii
frogbeastegg
09-28-2004, 10:10
Guide
Doug-Thompson
09-30-2004, 15:45
The Scipii have the most clear-cut mission of any of the Roman factions. Their job is to kill the Carthaginians. The also need to solidify their control of Sicily, but that's part and parcel of the overall mission.
Carthiginians are easier to destroy sooner than later. Kick them right off of Sicily and don't be shy about enslaving the Greek city of Syracuse and committing massacre in Lilybaeum. People like to preserve those cities for good troops and income, but that is a mistake. Your true goal is to build up as big an army as you can and get it across the water into North Africa as soon as this can be done. You don't have troops to spare for a big garrison. I've even hired mercenaries after a failed siege, which is a no-no with other Roman factions in the cash-tight early game.
If the Sentate gives you a mission in Greece, take the town, massacre the inhabitants and take your army right back to the war in the central Mediterranean.
A note about Mount Etna, the volcano near Messina. It will erupt. You don't want to have troops or fleets near it when that happens. Bring new troops and leaders from Italy to the point of land behind Messina and disembark them there. Use your full movement allowance next turn to march armies past Mount Etna. If you're besieging, take care that you don't lose a battle and have to retreat to the vicinity of Mount Etna. You will lose troops and you could lose generals if it erupts.
After securing Sicily, it's time for the main event: The invasion of North Africa. Collect your forces in Lilybaeum and invade in one jump. I've even invaded North Africa before the final conquest in Sicily, when the Senate ordered me to take Thapsus.
One thing to notice about moving across the sea against the superior Carthaginian fleet: Don't move beyond horizon range. Move to the limit of your fleet's visibility range when making the all-important invasion crossing. Take another look around, then move some more, avoiding enemy fleets. You want to get across the strait into North Africa in one turn and disembark your troops, a diplomat and your best general without accidentially bumping into anybody.
You will probably have to commit massacre to at least one of either Carthage or Thapsus in order to have enough troops left over from garrison duty to take the other.
Once you take Carthage and Thapsus, you can forget about the Carthaginians in Spain. They're a remnant, at least for now.
By now, the Brutii, Greeks and Macedonians are having a big brawl. Build up your troops and fleets and backstab the Greeks in Sparta. Chances are you'll get at least two of Sparta, Corinth and Athens. You'll now have a new, very nice base in Greece.
Go over to the other Greek cities in Asia Minor. Be on the lookout for Greek armies led by generals that you can bribe to add talent to your faction. It can be very expensive, but notice that you can bribe a general, then often hire a lot of mercenaries, which I assume were his recently disbanded troops.
The Greek provinces in Asia Minor, including Rhodes, have three wonders of the world. Taking them grants enormous prestige. They're also rich provinces in their own right.
By now, you're probably at war with Egypt. Keep it naval. You will need to soften them up a lot, probably, before dealing any knockout blows.
The rest is up to you.
Doug's strategy works extremely well for Scipii but i'd like to add a couple of notes.
1) For me the volcano on Sicily erupted in 261. Don't keep any family members or important units in Messana until after this happens because they can get killed.
2) A good approach to conquering Carthage is this. Don't take Lilybaeum right away. Make 2 armies, with 2 good generals. Send the larger force with the best commander by boat to Carthage. Form your second army on the border between Syracuse and Lilybaeum. (be sure to bribe any remaining greek armies out of the way) Once both armies are in place, attack Carthage and Lilybaeum on the same turn. The reasoning for this is so you don't have to declare war on Carthage before shipping your troops. Early in the game they have a very strong navy which can give you trouble transporting forces. Once Carthage is taken their economy is crippled and you will see most of their ships disappear. After this Thaspus will fall easily and you can mop up any roaming armies.
metatron
10-05-2004, 07:08
I recommend a cavalry force of heavy cav if you're fighting the Numidians. Their provinces cover alot of ground, and they have particularly light forces. It has worked for me well.
However, when it comes to the Spanish, be careful.
Phill Davies
10-05-2004, 14:52
My Empire is now pretty big, I own all Africa and a good portion of Asia Minor, Greece and Londinium (Hey, I wanted a little piece of home:tongue2:)
I found keeping the citizens happy a problem in the former Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Thebes. I had to transfer my Capital to Athens which is a nice central point on the map.
Solved the problems of unhappy citizens in one go.:)
Doug-Thompson
10-05-2004, 15:12
A good approach to conquering Carthage is this. Don't take Lilybaeum right away. Make 2 armies, with 2 good generals. Send the larger force with the best commander by boat to Carthage. Form your second army on the border between Syracuse and Lilybaeum. (be sure to bribe any remaining greek armies out of the way) Once both armies are in place, attack Carthage and Lilybaeum on the same turn. The reasoning for this is so you don't have to declare war on Carthage before shipping your troops. Early in the game they have a very strong navy which can give you trouble transporting forces. Once Carthage is taken their economy is crippled and you will see most of their ships disappear. After this Thaspus will fall easily and you can mop up any roaming armies.
Nice!
~:cheers:
Err, this is probably obvious to most, but I missed it: at the beginning of the campaign (at least on VH/VH) you have a nice army sitting in your fleet.
I didn't know about it till about turn 10 or so when I needed my fleet to transport an army to Carthage. I was (pleasantly) surprised to see it contained a bunch of Hastati. Of course, had I known about it, I would have gotten to a much better start!
Torqemada
12-11-2004, 16:38
A quick note.
The Samanite Spearmen have the same base stats as Triarii. I've found them incerdibly useful as an early roman spearwall. Alot better than worthless townwatch. Although town watch isn't as worthless as Iberian Infantry.
Odysseus
12-11-2004, 19:18
Don't leave Carthage alone in Spain. I have had them expand and nip me in the ass one too many times.
Herakleitos
12-12-2004, 01:11
A quick note.
The Samanite Spearmen have the same base stats as Triarii. I've found them incerdibly useful as an early roman spearwall. Alot better than worthless townwatch. Although town watch isn't as worthless as Iberian Infantry.
I always thought they were really crap... Do you know how their morale is?
@Phil, about Egypt; if you have Memphis all the Egyptians love you because you control the pyramids!
Some steps to help you begin:
Move all your troops to your province in Sicily. Leave only a young and able governor on Capua along with some peasants or town watch (if you don't have any, recruit some). Start beseiging Syrcacuse as soon as you can so that you don't run out of turns and become forced to Assault it. Syrcacuse will be your main troop production area, so I recommend setting to be your Capitol and quickly upgrading your unit production buildings. Once you have archers, build a few of them (3-5), some Principes (I recommend 7 units), and maybe 3-4 Equites. As always, make sure you always build your own temple after destroying their temple to decrease cultural penalty(?). Don't bother building the Balista, it sucks since it can't shoot from behind your lines, and will constantly cause you trouble since enemies will tend to cavalry charge it and you usually won't be able to move troops in front of it to intercept quickly enough. Just wait until you get heavy onagers. Now, take the western Carthaginian province in Sicily once you have the troops. Build it up and retrain. At this point, make sure you have a large and well-trained fleet because you will get TONS of blockade missions. Start building a second similar army in Syracuse.
At this point, the Senate may have given you the mission of taking Thermon. If they haven't, they probably will. I recommend sending your second invasion army to take it. Make sure you send a diplomat and spy with them to bribe away armies! Once you take thermon, expand eastward into athens and southward towards Sparta. Once you control the lower lands, head towards Macedonia and take Macedon out of the game. If you don't they will keep pissing you off with small invading forces. Set up garrisons and build the cities up. Make sure you have 1-2 large armies in that Greek area to be sure you don't get invaded. You won't have time to quickly get an army from Syracuse to Greece. It's basically fairly easy from here on out. Just expand into Crete, Rhodes and the mainland provinces north of Rhodes to finish off the Greeks. If you don't, their strong fleets might slow you down and maybe cause you to get angry, but they will be too weakened to do anything at this point. You are done here, for now.
Meanwhile, send your army in Sicily to invade Carthage. Take their capitol (carthage) with the army that you kept in Sicily and expand south-eastward, taking those two settlements. Then, build up Carthage (this will be a MAJOR money make for you) and make two more armies. Leave the current army to guard carthage! Send one army South-east to take Sahara and the other Numidian provinces, all the way to Lybia. Send the other army to attack the south-western Numidian and Spanish provinces. Once done, keep that army there to guard that area to prevent Carthage and Spain from retalitating against you and retaking their southern provinces. Don't worry too much, though. They will be reluctant when attacking across the sea. Next, expand towards Egypt. Memphis, Thebes and Alexandria are all very close and will be easy to guard. Take them and don't expand farther for now. You will have to capture lots of land before you get to any settlements worth taking. Plus, they will be difficult to defend because the settlements east of Memphis and Alexandria are huge and will be very hard to defend. At about this time (or maybe before?) there will be the Marian reforms. This is why stopping the expansion when you have such easy-to-defend borders is important! Build up armies in your good settlements (I recommend using Legionary Cohorts as they are easy to retrain). Stay away from Praetorian and Urban Cohorts. They are a little bit better than Legionary Cohorts, but will be a pain to retrain.
From here, there really isn't anywhere left to go other than expanding north towards Spain and Gaul (assuming Julii didn'y take the settlements already). Once you have your post-Marian armies upgraded, expand that way. Then, you have those huge settlements to the east. Just send armies from Sparta and Rhodes eastward and armies from Memphis/Alexandria north-eastward to box those settlements in. Your main goal will be to expand ALL the way up into that "choke point" in the mid-eastern region. Once you isolate that area, you will be fairly safe from attack in the east and almost completely protected from attack in the west (let Julii handle the other Barbarians).
Some important tips:
- You will mostly be taking coastal provinces, so build up your dockyards/ports to make sure you are getting the maximum trade revenue.
- Temple of Neptune (I think) will pay off by giving you Deceres and another very good ship.
- Don't wait to build your VERY BEST troops (Urban Cohort). They will be difficult to retrain and aren't THAT much better.
- Don't bother destroying the Greek and Egyptian fleets. They are VERY rich and will just create ships faster than you can destroy them. Just take their cities instead and the ships will slowly disappear.
- Build heavy onagers as soon as you can. Unlike infantry, this unit is actually worth waiting for since it won't see much action and won't need regular retraining.
The reason why I think Scipii are the easiest of the Roman factions is because their expansion is almost always (in the beginning to middle, anyway) towards very big and profitable settlements. Plus, they have better ships. Meanwhile, the Brutii have to fight through the small settlements before they get to Macedon and Greece (assuming Scipii haven't taken them yet). The Julii will also seem perpetually poor because their expansion is generally north toward's the Gallic and German small and poor towns/cities. I found the Carthaginians to be extremely weak. They even lost Carthage to the Numidians in my game (I had to attack Numidia despite Senate's orders because of this, ah well, I'm playing short campaign anyway). Basically, once you get to Egypt, you will control the lands of two of the three richest factions (Greece and Egypt). I haven't gotten to the Civil War, but I just don't see how the other two Roman factions will be able to outspend you without having their economies tank.
Have u ever seen all the money Brutii can get with Awesome Temples (or Pantheion) of mercury?? Scipii Carthage holdings are good, but too spread apart on islands. Unless u have an awesome navy, it's really hard to compete with Brutii. (Assuming u dont use the bribe thingy).
Well, as Scipii, it's hard to NOT have a strong navy. From the start, you have to move troops to Sicily and thenl almost immediately, to Greece and Carthage. Meanwhile, you have to blockade ports and fight off enemy ships. Plus, you have the Deceres. You get so much cash you might as well just have a large army guarding each area. No, I haven't played Brutii much. I might try it, since I played Brutii back when I didn't know the game too well (I didn't even know how to change capitol). Also, what bribe thingy?
randomn00b
12-19-2004, 09:55
Also, what bribe thingy?
When you get enough cash, you can bribe enemy Roman captains/family members to join your army. Not only do you gain a helluva lot of strength, they lose it too. Made the Roman Civil War much easier than it would have been. I pretty much finished the game using entirely bribed armies.
BlackStrider
12-23-2004, 23:53
My Tips for Playing as Scipii (Medium Difficulty)
-The Senate are not so bright and ask you to attack weak but devastating cities. If you go straight ahead and attack Thaspus with your army, The captured city of Syracuse is vunerable to Carthaginian attack with elephants and mass infantry. It helps to control all of Sicily before even thinking of attacking Carthage and Thaspus.
-In order to tackle Carthage straight on, you will need a strong navy. You should build up a strong navy first and control Carthage's Port before building up your forces. If you can capture Thaspus First, that helps even more, as you can build troops from that settlement rather than shipping them across from sicily.
-If you suffer in anyway against Carthage in your attack, I suggest allying with Numidia(This may only seem necessary on a harder difficulty). They have large army in Cirta and if convinced, should help you battle the fearsome Elephant-Riders. You can always backstab them once you have control over carthage ~;)
*WARNING!* Be carefull with the Numidians if you dont have lots of cav, 2 units of equites is NOT enough!
randomn00b
12-25-2004, 07:11
*WARNING!* Be carefull with the Numidians if you dont have lots of cav, 2 units of equites is NOT enough!
You need to be able to deal with cav Archers. Your Hastati may be one of the best infantry in the world at the time, but they still lose to any and every cav archer.
thats what the "*WARNING!*" was for...
randomn00b
12-27-2004, 07:26
thats what the "*WARNING!*" was for...
Just explaining the rationale behind the warning. Cav Archers in this game are real nice...
I was playing my fist game with Scipii. And I think it's pretty easy on medium.
As a first thing I gathered all aviable troops in Mesana including all aviable marcenaries (1 turn). In Capua I left just a family member (and I was producing unit of peasants). So in Mesana and just by mesana on a ship I had really lot of units.
Scipii are poor in the beginning but if you ask other roman fractions (especially SPQR) for money for attacking fractions (first Greek and in the second turn Carthage - they had to gather some money) they will give you just what you need ;) I'ts more than enough for early battles.
In the 2nd turn I killed the Greek army outside the city and after that i took Syracuse in the same turn I think (because of my spy who opened the gates). If you can't take it in one turn in the other one it will belong to you ;) Other possibility is to attack an army standing just by the city and let the garrison help them in the battle - but you cannot let them withdraw from battlefiled - kill as many as you can and rout ALL the units. Syracuse was just enslaved (in about 5 years they became my new capital).
In 3rd turn Cartaginians came in the range of 1 move - so I coudn't let them wait ;) In the meantime greek diplomat asked for casefire - they just lost a city for me and.. is I asked for money they gave me a lot so why not to sign peace treaty and even trade rigths ;) With tah money I was able to hire new mercenary hoplites who just appeard by Syracuse. Cartaginians had elephants but I had much more forces - I think they even retreated in the first move so I got a new star for my general ;) The battle was bloody (because of damn elephants - skirmishers work quite good against them) but of course I smashed them ;)
After that It was a piece of cake - besieging and taking Lybaneum and just after that landing in north africa. Thapsus fall first because there was no walls ;) A smaller army landed in sardinia in the same turn when Julii did it but it was my general who attaked the city. With a free allies support I took the city I think just with the general and 1 unit of hastai ;) And the Julii army was standing there for 20 years after that, till their general died and I birbed the army.
After taking Carthaginian cities in Africa the game became quite easy. Most importand thing is that I had a LOT of money. Next target was Greece and Asia Minor, after that Aegyptus ;) Carthage still have one city in Spain but.. who cares. I just killed all Julii family tree - and took the rebel provinces ;) Brutii leaders have too many stars - I have to wait a bit, but I don't know if I have entough patience. Now I have 46 provinces - SPQR and Brutti will give me another 4 so.. should I wait??
And I started new campaign with Seleucids ;) ~:cheers:
Sir Toma of Spain
01-25-2005, 02:08
I have played a few games as the Scipii but have only won a single short campaign. Whenever i try to keep going i always run out of money just after i start to conquer greece. Is there any thing i'm doing wrong???
Claudius Maniacus Sextus
02-15-2005, 19:31
This guide is for a really easy game and paralization of the brutii.
1)Use the units near and in capua to attack appolonia.
2)Use the sicilian forces wisely because u wont get many reinforcements.
3)attack syracuse,dont delay with siege just assault.
4)take the town S of appolonia.
5)attack Lylybaeum.
6)Next target is thermon
7)Attack sparta
8)leave chartage alone focus after the distruction of Greek's on macedonia.
9)take athens,larrisa and at end thesalonic and bylazora.
10)anihilate Grek C. by taking pergamum,rhodes
11)Get halicarnasus.
12)Assemble 3 armys:
-2 with 12 Inf. 4 Cav. 3Arch. 1Balista
-1 with 5 Inf 3 Cav. 2 Arch. 1Balista
13)the 2 big armies use in an sincronysed attack on alexandria and memphis.
14)the small one thebes.
Buildings:1.Roads
2.Farms
3.Trade Buildings
4.Temples
5.Health
6.Military and Other
Unit Recruiting:-Mostly from capua but some cav. and arch from sicily.
-hire ANY merc's u can,u will need it.
Tactics:Against phalanx it is best u attack them.against egypt it is best u let them attack u because u are much beter in defence against them.
Conclusion:the brutii only have their 2 starting prov. soo their easy money,but they still have 2 big armies just standing around.a quick strike and their done.
PS:i have in an quick 4 armie strike killed pontus because i besieged all their towns,so i cap. the cities before their big(wandering) armies can lift the siege.
then an 3 armie(all bruttii Briebed armies in their homelands) quick strike and captured carthage,thapsus,and lepcis magna.
By now u could have started the civil war but i recomend training 7 armies,2 for brutii 1 for rome and 4 for julii.
This is just a small guide,it really happend much more....but u wil see.
Good Luck!!! ~:cheers:
General Carnage
03-07-2005, 22:26
I find the best way to take Carthage is to go for the Jugular. As soon as possible, ship everything you have to North Africa, hire mercenaries until your slots are full, and attack Carthage. This will be a bloody battle, you will lost a lot of men and probably a General or two, but you will have taken Carthage. At this stage, you have to rebuild defences and train as many troops as possible to prepare for the counter-attack. Once this is defeated, the rest is quite easy.
scipio the even younger
03-16-2005, 19:49
Military: early
1. Attack Syracuse, with army made from the hasti in the ships and messana, family member from messana too.
2. Enslave Syracuse, build army in Capua, and rebuild army in messana, ship family members to be governors of messana and Syracuse. Try to get trade agreement from Carthage.
3. Send spy to libaeum,send diplomat to SPQR asking for money and in return you will attack carthage. Send army,led by family member, from capua north to the Gaul city’s north of Julii.
4. Attack libaeum and hopefully have your spy open city gates.
5. Try to make peace with Carthage, build a strong navy, capture a Gaelic place and try to sell it to either Julii or SPQR for however much.
6. After you sell your Gaelic place, head south and put them in ships. Put your Sicilian army on a boat too.
7. Send your weaker army to Thapsus and your stronger army to Carthage.
Military: middle
1. Make peace with Egyptians and get trade rights with as many country’s as possibl’
2. Wage war on Numidia and don’t stop till they’re completely destroyed.
3. Head north into Spain and hunt down the last remnants of Carthage.
4. Conquer all of Spain except the little town on the north-west side of Spain providing the Spaniards own it. Blockade the entrance and demand regular tribute + become their protectorate. If they refuse ATTACK!
5. Now turn back for the moment and go beat the Egyptians.
6. Do the same to the Egyptians as you did Spaniards except don’t become protectorate and leave a thin line as a buffer between you the selucids.
7. Now go back to Spain and demand huge tribute before you attack and annihilate them. Go north now and attack Gaul(chances are you’re all ready at war with them thanks too the Julii) and keep going north till you either meet the Britons, germainians or the English channel.
8. Now go east and conquer Germainier while building ships in the English Channel.
9. As your armies march back you need to win control of the English channel.
10. Now , after the channel is yours send a army to Ireland and 1 to England . Conquer the British isles.
Military: late
1. Now you’ve got the power to defeat Rome :duel: single handedly.
2. As your border in Gaul will most likely be next to the Julii , why not attack them first.
3. Just head south and don’t stop till you reach Rome.
4. Now you have Rome just pursue the Julii till their gone.
5. The only large contender now is the Brutii who, as they have Greece a rich place mark my words, will have pretty large armies and good generals.
6. Once their gone you will win and if you don’t, just keep going,no out there is a challenge any more so happy hunting… ~:cheers:
P.S. I used the bribe technique quite a lot but forgot to mention it, it helps a lot against the bruti.
Heres Beefys guide to the Early stages of the Scipii.
Get your Troops onto Scilliy straight away, yo will be told to take syracuse anyway so do it anyway!
This will now be your Troop Supply city (for the moment) . Build Better barracks, Stables here etc. Then move over to take Lilybaeum. This will be your money maker. Build traders ports and roads here to get the dosh flowing in!
As for you capital build it up gradually and build units there (just in case things go pear shaped)
Prepare for the crossing to North Africa. Get a lot of ships, Pile all your troops on from scilliy (just leave pheasants, townwatch behind in cities you will get no trouble from scilly regarding rebels etc)
THE VOLCANO WILL ERUPT IN 261BC.
Do the leap to NA in one swoop to catch the Carthaginians with their pants down. Take your massive armies (buy Mercs if needed) and (this is what happened to me) Destroy the massive Carth army that was waiting for you.
You are now free to take Carthage and Thaspus (the senate tells you to do this anyway). I slaughted all the people in Carthage and that will become your MASSIVE money maker. Also your new Troop Production city. By now you should be having Principes in your armies with Cav auxillia etc
So what to do now?
Take Carlais (really easy) this will just to nothing this city, dont even leave a general there.
Now Walk West Wards with your massive Blue mean machine and take the coast for your self. These cities wont really offer anything for you before or after you encounter them.
Now if you feel like it hope across to spain finish off the Carthagians and start a campaign in spain. (should be easy against the weak spannish)
And thats as far as ive got so far.
Craterus
03-30-2005, 12:16
i've beaten a campaign as Scipii (short not long) so I didn't bother taking Greece, no point is there?
I took all of West Africa - as far as Lepcis Magna and then I went and took most of Spain.. easy.
cunobelinus
04-03-2005, 18:46
the romans are one of the strongest infrantry groups i dont find them very exciting they have no challenge really
Craterus
04-03-2005, 18:54
the romans are one of the strongest infrantry groups i dont find them very exciting they have no challenge really
There's always a challenge, I bet a long campaign with the Romans would be quite challenging for me. (lack of early decent cavalry) ~D
Just finished Scipii campaign VH/VH on 1.2 patch.
I have one valuable lesson to pass on that contradicts some of what has been posted here:
Carthage has elephants early. There are no early Roman troops that can handle elephants in the open. It's rout city. I lost several stacks and generals trying and ended up way behind my usual growth pace.
So, know where the Elephants are and try to fight them with some walls between you and them. Eventually I caught the elephants inside a city and shot them with arrows from the walls.
AntiochusIII
04-11-2005, 23:14
Actually Velites works well against Elephants.
It needs a lot of expertise, but skirmishers works well as they ran across the map, tiring the beasts out - the elephants rout or run amok very easily if they're exhausted. Even if they don't soon, a hail of fire arrows or two ends the trouble.
Craterus
04-12-2005, 20:54
Velites and some Libyan skirmishers..
Carthage will have elephants early on VH campaign! Duh! Makes it harder? Yes. On Medium, they don't build the beasts until later on.
Velites and some Libyan skirmishers..
Carthage will have elephants early on VH campaign! Duh! Makes it harder? Yes. On Medium, they don't build the beasts until later on.
Well, OK then. Believe it or not, imparting information such as this is entirely the point of having a Scipii strategy guide!
When I first landed near Carthage I encountered a full-stack Carthaginian army with no less than 3 units of elephants. Arrow shooting elephants to boot. You need to be prepared to beat them. If you plan on doing it with Velites, they better eat their wheaties.
pezhetairoi
04-14-2005, 05:24
The only elephants I have EVER encountered in the game (believe it or not) in all my campaigns are the single unit of pathetic low-tech elephants that Carthage fielded to defend their capital, which were promptly taken apart by my blue hastati without much significant loss. Hm. So much for elephants. *thumbs nose at Carthage*
However, that's not to say I don't have problems. Do you have any idea how annoying it is when you have two armies bribed out from under your nose, and a city with it? I don't know how much Carthage was spending, but I got a little pissed off and switched to Germania after Carthage bribed a) Thapsus in turn 10+ with 10 units still in there preparing to move on Leptis Magna, and b) Carthage 4 turns later with an almost-full stack in there waiting to embark for Sparta! *screams*
I thought the AI diplomats were supposed let themselves get bribed and just stand around doing nothing. Hmmmph.
Diadochoi
04-17-2005, 06:29
I've conquered about 75% of the world as the Scipii... I never once saw an elephant unit fielded against me by carthage, although I defeated them early on (by 250 bc or so) so maybe thats why.
In fact, the only two elephant units that I've seen in the game at all were the two I was able to hire as mercs, only 1 available in Africa, and one near Damascus. Really cool to use, although I made the mistake of using the elephants to storm a city once and they ended up panicking and taking out a huge cut of my own troops :furious3:
tibilicus
04-17-2005, 12:03
Both the factions that can train Elephants NEVER last long in campaigns. Ever noticed that? That may make you ask whats the point in even giving them elephants.
Actually it does not matter the campaign difficulty level. Carthage gets a unit of forest elephants in their army in Sicily. Just see the descr_strat file.
It makes a big difference if the human is Carthage or if you are plaing Romans on VH battle difficulty. The former makes the Carthaginian blitz strat possible by using the elepant as mobile ram for spectacular smashing ability up and down the Italian penisula. The latter makes certain that the ele actually wouldn't rout from falme arrows before hitting your battle lines and will actually plow through. However, with reasonable tactics, the ele will still die relatively quickly.
I;m loving the Scipii Campaign, most fun out of all 3 roman factions
you get to fight Carthage, Numidia, Eygpt, and spain all with different styles!
At the moment its 190BC and i have All of africa down to Alexandria, i ahve Sparta Rhodes and Crete all of Spain and of course sciliy!
ITs sooo much fun! and theres shed loads of money in the Scipii way of life!
tibilicus
04-17-2005, 20:58
Dont forget killing spain aswell. I have curently although not played this campaign for ages. Sout greece, all original carthage provinces, nearlly all the Numidian ones i think, most of spain and im to populer with the senate not reached egypt yet allthough they attaked me i will sort them out. Any way having acsess to such a good Navy and being tiped on Sicly from the start theres so many possible routs to win and it very easy to overshadow your fellow Romans glory aswell. dont know why they play so bad as the A.I. So i agree with you Beefy there fun to play with, very fun to play with. ~D
Craterus
04-17-2005, 21:32
I;m loving the Scipii Campaign, most fun out of all 3 roman factions
I haven't played Brutii but I think Scipii is more fun than Julii.. I had fun with them anyway..
What's their elite boats called? ~:confused:
pezhetairoi
04-18-2005, 05:33
Decere? Corvus quinquereme?
Craterus
04-18-2005, 18:13
Is there two? Cool. :cool3:
yeh its the Corvus quinquereme then the Decere which are both nigh unstopable!
Is it me are do the Scipii produca a lot more kids?
tibilicus
04-18-2005, 18:34
Nope just you lol. Im always short of generels as them.
Craterus
04-18-2005, 18:55
Take care of your generals? Or charge them head-on with spearmen? lol :laugh3:
Imperator
04-18-2005, 23:34
You get the Corvus Quinquereme frome the Awsome Temple to Neptune and the Decere frome the Pantheon to Neptune.
pezhetairoi
04-19-2005, 01:13
Decere (drool).
But I'm not a very naval person so my fleets are usually Biremes. Hoowee. Hmm, I think generals reproduce best when you let them know beforehand that they'll be imminently sent into a charge at a spear phalanx the next battle round. XD
Brutii are better as their temples are superior. Giving 3 xp and morale bonus is significant for combat. Although the Scipii's Vulcan pantheon with xp and armor/weapon bonuses is also good. Mercury also gives loads of money. Juno proides health and I believe halfs the culture penalty.
I also managed in my Brutii game to beat the Julii to Caralis, the Scipii to Lilybaeum and Syracuse as well as the other factions to Carthage and Thapsus while expanding into Greece.
Scipii have a harder time expanding in all directions. The best they can manage is beat the Brutii to Thermon when I played them.
The unique Scipii ships are cool though but they require a dockyard in addition to the temple requirements.
Imperator
04-19-2005, 02:17
This question may be totally out of context, but does anyone know if you can modify what units you start out with? If so, how?
pezhetairoi
04-19-2005, 05:07
In the descr_strat file in the /data/world/campaign/imperialcampaign. The part of the file that details your faction defines what units they start out with, how much their starting treasury is, and what cities and economic assets you have. Change those, and you change the game.
crazybastard
06-02-2005, 04:24
I've just recently conquered Cathrage, the heart and capital of the annoying Carthgenians. But when I look at the city details, I was, in fact, shocked. The population growth rate is freaking 8.5%!! Even though I exterminated the original population when I first arrived, I soon have a pouplation of 10,000 in no time! AND the public order is dropping like shiznits because there's simply too much people and the squalors (the little mice thingy) are increasing like crazy!!!! What should I do?!?!?!?
orcorama
06-02-2005, 05:05
build sewers/baths
then turn up the tax level
if it gets too bad then move all your soldiers out of the city and turn the taxes up to very high
then wait for it to revolt then you can take the city again and exterminate
crazybastard
06-02-2005, 07:15
Right now I'm the Scipii and it's 230 BC and the Marius reform hasn't taken place yet! Why is that? When I was Brutii and Julii the reform started like at 245 BC or something...(confused major)
Craterus
06-02-2005, 11:14
Reforms shouldn't take place until you have an Imperial Palace on mainland Italy and the year is after 220BC.
orcorama
06-02-2005, 17:43
Reforms shouldn't take place until you have an Imperial Palace on mainland Italy and the year is after 220BC.
in the 1.2 patch
in previous patches (1.0 and 1.1) you just need an imperial palace anywhere
cunobelinus
06-03-2005, 12:57
i think they should have more reforms like they did in history they just didnt suddenly reform they had a few small reforms and on big one that should be included in the game .
Virtute71
06-04-2005, 13:08
Marian reforms kicked in 214BC for me.
I've faced elephants in Sicily and in Carthage. The hard part is having a AI General in an elephant unit waiting for you in the town center. I took out Carthage and their last province was in Palma. Carthage is gone but Numidia is a thorn on my side. I can't wait to fight Egpyt. Not sure right now though. I might go up to Spain first.
Garvanko
06-07-2005, 17:03
As soon as I took Carthage and Thapsus, I made an Alliance with a very weak Carthage. They'll keep Numidians humble for the next few years I suspect.
@Virtute71, how did they have an elephant general? Was it a captain?
CMcMahon
06-07-2005, 21:13
Here's what I did (some might be wrong, but this is pretty much what I remember):
1) Load a general and another hastati onto your fleet and send them towards Messana. Send your diplomat to Rome. Send one of your generals and units directly to the west of the Carthaginian border on Sicily. Train a bireme on your mainland city (I forget the name), build a barracks in Messana, and expand your mainland farms.
2) The Carthaginian army should be in Greek territory now. Join up your second general and your extra hastati, and break into Carthaginian territory towards Lylcaneum (sp?). Train hastati on the mainland.
3) The Carthaginian army should be seiging Syracuse now. So put a siege on Lylcaneum. Train hastati in your exisiting cities, build up your farms in Messana, and build a Temple of Jupiter on the mainland.
4) The Carthaginian army should have given up its siege of Syracuse to go back towards Lylcaneum. Take over Lylcaneum, exterminate the populace, repair anything that's damaged, destroy the temple, build a Temple of Jupiter, and train velites. In your other cities, train more hastati.
5) The Carthaginian army should be close now, so take them out, and send a general and units towards Syracuse. The Greek general should be the only unit in the city, with the rest of the army roaming around somewhere; they're not at war with you yet, so your objective is to take the city before they have a chance to attack you. Load your ships with hastati and send them to Messana. Send your hastati from Messana to siege Syracuse. Train more hastati on the mainland, a diplomat in Messana, and velites in Lylcaneum, build a port in Messana, and build roads on the mainland.
6) Join up your general and his units with the hastati sieging Syracuse, and proceed to kick ass and take names, and then enslave the population. Send your diplomat to the remaining Greek army, and offer a ceasefire and trade rights, which they should accept (this will keep their army from devastating your land, and - although still on Sicily - prevents them from attacking any of your three cities, although their diplomat on the island will keep trying to bribe your faction leader in Messana until the day he dies). Build up another bireme on the mainland, train hastati in Messana and Syracuse, and more velites in Lylcaneum. Build stables in Lylcaneum.
7) Carthage should have just dropped off a faction heir and some soldiers right next to Lylcaneum. Kill them. Send your ships to Messana, load up tropps from all your cities, and build. You should have gotten a mission to capture the Carthaginian city south of Carthage (once again, I forget the name - sorry). Keep training hastati and velites. Build to expand trade.
8) Join your ships together just south of Lylcaneum; train equites there, expand your farms, and load all your velites onto the ships. Keep training just like before.
9) Put your equites on your ships, send your ships south of Carthage. Train equites and hastati for later. Practice range in Syracuse, roads in your other cities.
10) Unload your troops, siege the city, and blockade the harbor. Buy mercenaries. Keep training like in #9.
11) Take over the city, exterminate the populace, destroy the temple, build a Temple of Jupiter, and train velites. Send your ships back to Sicily. Keep training troops and building up your trade there.
12) Load up on Sicily, and send them towards your troops in North Africa. Keep training and building like before.
After this, it's pretty straight forward: Take Carthage (3 turns), kill the populace, destroy their temple, build a new one for Grandpa Jupiter, train train train, ally and get military access from Numidia for trade rights and map information. Send ships from Sicily loaded with troops to the small island south of Gaulic territory. Send assassins into Numidia and wreak havoc while moving your own troops right next to their unsuspecting cities, and then take them out in just two or three turns. At this point, ally with Egypt, and send a force into southern Spain to take out the last Carthaginian stronghold (which should have, oh, one or two units in it due to them geting beat up so badly by both you and Spain, who you should also ally if possible).
edit: I forgot to mention this, but after you have a secure hold on Carthage, make it your capitol. Your old capitol will be pissed for a few turns on the mainland, but whatever. Screw 'em.
crazybastard
06-07-2005, 23:09
:balloon2: Playing on H/H as Scipii, I realized several things.
First, that the chance of SPQR electing one of your family member to be part of their little circle of power in Rome is microscopic. So far only my heir has been elected as the lowest rank (Praetor or something concerning $) and is kicked off the next year, only to be replaced by the Brutii.
Second, equites are pretty useless against long shield cavalry
Third, I think it's best to delay your mission to conquer Carthage for as long as possible. Carthage itself grows like a mofo (+8-9% pop. growth each turn) and doesn't have much of an income, and soon the squalor also increases like a mofo and the income drops like a mofo. I guarantee that it'll start losing 3000 denrarii in no time. I'm having trouble with maintaining it myself. Tried the leave-the-city-then-reconquer-it-and-slaughter-all-those-sorry-asses-inside plan but it backfired. (Carthage returns to Carthigian with full stacks of elephants and Poeni's and long shields)
But if you're good enough, you should be able to re-massacre Carthage over and over and over and over again till those sorry asses stop complaining.
Anyway here's how I did:
Take Syracuse. This seems obvious but move all your units and slaughter the Greeks inside the city, enslave it (to boost income...mmm...denrarii...good) and meanwhile build a milita barrack in Messana to train additional hastaii. Hastaii are your secret weapon in the early game. But Principii are just as good if you can get them.
Then build up an army loaded with Hastaii and your best general, and conquer Lilbayeum (or something) and again, enslave the pop to boost your income.
And now the senate would probably ask you to blockade a few Greek or Macedonian ports over at Asia minor. DO IT. You want the Senate to like you. To love you, to...(go figure)
Meanwhile gather a few hastaii and ship them over to Caralis, the big island just west of your Italian capital (Capua) and besiege it. Take it over. Put a governor in it if you want to make money fast. This island is very crucial to your state finance since when it grows it'll obtain ports and dockyards which in turn will connect trade routes to Capua and Sicily and boost up your economy like a mofo.
Then at this time, the Senate will asks you to conquer the Carthiginan city of Thapsus. Do it. Enslave or masacre the city. (Up to you; I enslaved it) and build pave roads or highways IMMEDIATELY. Africa is vast so you need to save time by moving your legions on highways, not just ordinary roads.
Build up your legions and ship them over to Africa. The Carthaginians will constantly send troops to harass you. Build watchtowers if you like.
If you're lucky, the senate will asks you to conquer Lepics Magna before going onto Carthage. (I wasn't so lucky though) Take it. Late build port to monopolizes your Mediterrean sea trade. (mmm....($)($))
Then it's the final ho-down with might Carthage. Get your best general, get as many hastaii and roman archers and any other experienced troops you can spare, and besiege the city.
Usually with a hugh city like Carthage it'll take it 8 full turns to surrender. HOWEVER if there are roaming carthaginian armies outside the city they might attempt to break up the siege and attack you. This is to your advantage. Use it wisely. I found out that my hastaii and principii are no match even against their Libyen Spearmen on the wall. So it's better to pepper the living shizs out of them with pila and missiles out on the open and THEN slaughter them.
After Carthage is yours, just sit back and relax for a bit. (I'm still coming up wit the second half of this strategy, heheh)
Peace
@crazybastard, are those Libyans experienced?
On H/H, if you use siege towers, principes can take on Libyans without much problem at all. Make sure you keep a steady stream of units up the tower though.
crazybastard
06-09-2005, 23:51
those libeyan spearmen were in fact three or two bronze chevroned, and I guess spearmen have an advantage combating on walls.
Garvanko
06-10-2005, 20:16
:balloon2: Playing on H/H as Scipii, I realized several things.
First, that the chance of SPQR electing one of your family member to be part of their little circle of power in Rome is microscopic. So far only my heir has been elected as the lowest rank (Praetor or something concerning $) and is kicked off the next year, only to be replaced by the Brutii.
Second, equites are pretty useless against long shield cavalry
Equites are pretty useless against anything IMO.
As for the senate offices list, I held all the offices except Consul a couple of turns back last night. As long as you keep you faction leader and key generals conquering...
Spearmen have no advantage on walls. Their superior experience is the thing. Also, you may not be streaming guys up steadily. Your troops need many buddies coming up behind to not panic.
Defenders always has a slight advantage on the walls just from attrition due to towers on approach, fatigue, and also that even siege towers doesn't necessarily deliver the whole unit at once.
Deus ret.
06-12-2005, 15:28
Equites are pretty useless against anything IMO.
don't underestimate them. Historically, Romans were a very infantry-heavy faction, as were the Greeks; now compare Equites to Greek cavalry (which is one level higher) and I bet you're lucky to have them. Of course, their usefulness is rather limited, but then again wait for the post-Marian units.... awesome. and extremely unrealistic.
Not true. Equites are quite overpowered for the Romans. They already have killer infantry and equites aren't much worse than longshields in stats.
They can eat greek cav and roundshields. Romans should not have access to such good cavalry. Realistically, the Roman cav should be their native heavies with something like Gothic cav mercs available at very steep price.
nameless
06-15-2005, 17:24
Not true. Equites are quite overpowered for the Romans. They already have killer infantry and equites aren't much worse than longshields in stats.
They can eat greek cav and roundshields. Romans should not have access to such good cavalry. Realistically, the Roman cav should be their native heavies with something like Gothic cav mercs available at very steep price.
Unfortunately the Romans need some sort of calvary unit in the game. Roman Legions are good but their not that good, they need help when it comes to dealing with phalanx units and calvary/chariots. THey don't have anything else that can run after fast units(Arcanis are expensive and long to make) Spartans and Sacred bands can still beat back legions themselves. One time I had 4 Hastati encircling a Spartan unit and they lost alot of men despite circiling them.
Though regardless of the situation I always keep a good number of calvary anyways. They basically determine the outcome of most of my battles.
On M/M in my Scipii campaign I found myself a little overstretched with Corinth, Carthage, Thapsus, Scilli island, Athens, and Sparta and Crete in the first part of the game. Not sure if this has been noted but is it a good idea if you have infantry set to loose formation when dealing with calvary, chariots and elephants? I tried javeliners at times but it just doesn't work, chariots move way too fast for the javeliners to track and elephants just rampage through them. I'm beginning to think Fire/Archers are the only way and maybe wardogs and pigs.
I think the romans should've been given a unit that can lay down obstacles that ruin chariots, at least that's what I heard they did back then.
crazybastard
06-16-2005, 06:12
nameless, force attack your infantries (alt+right click) on the chariots and elephants w/ at least groups of three of four principii (or cohorts at a later game) and cross your fingers and pray. Or bring your best general behind your infantries and they wouldn't rout that easily.
Deus ret.
06-16-2005, 13:32
to let units fight in loose formation usually is not too good an idea. Ok, they cover more area and the immediate losses particularly vs. elephants are lesser, but units fighting in loose formation get a morale penalty. This penalty, although slight, undermines what most units are made for: hold their position and kill as many as they can before they die themselves or rout. If they rout, which they will do more likely on loose, only they (and not the enemy) will suffer more casualties.
Additionally, the chances of killing those elephants are better if the beasts are forced to run into a thick wall of, well, preferably spears. Against chariots try everything to keep your formation together; they will whoop it up anyway but if your men stay close they will most likely win through.
nameless
06-16-2005, 17:57
Wow imagine playing on ARCADE MODE
Speaking of which, are Mirmillo gladiators actually stronger than Samnite gladiators? Last I checked the Samnite has 14/14 while the Mimillo has 12/14, is there something I'm missing?
Craterus
06-16-2005, 19:00
Samnite (Julii) - 14 attack, 14 defence
Velite (Brutii) - 12 attack, 14 defence
Mirmillo (Scipii) - 12 attack, 14 defence
In conclusion, Samnites are better, unless they have a worse charge bonus? I don't know all the particulars.
@craterus, the mirmillos are fast. The velites are just most accessible on the tech tree.
Grouping units and packing em tight is optimal. Stop the charge cold and you have pretty much killed the chariots/elephants.
Use all your pila. Velites are nice. Just mass em.
nameless
06-17-2005, 02:56
When you meant fast do you mean like they run fast or they have a faster attack rate? :huh:
Velites have a bonus against calvary units though so their good spearmen, better than the typical roman spearmen but I would still go for the Auxilla, better than nothing.
Another goody thing about the Scipii are that they have those special boats which come with Neptune, man when you look at it the Scipii are probably the strongest out of all the roman factions. Julii is like the third.
EDIT: I just checked out the stats for the Mirmillo and Samnite
Samnite 14/14
Charge Bonus - 4
Mirmillo 12/14
Charge Bonus - 7
This makes the Mirmillo's attack 1 point higher if both charge.
Not sure if this is correct but do please correct this if its wrong and if there's anything else to add.
So the tip of the day guys who play as Scipii is make sure your Mirmillo's charge to get their butt kicking skills in place. ~:cheers:
Deus ret.
06-17-2005, 09:55
"fast" usually refers to a unit's movement speed on the battle map.
if I'm not making a mistake myself, velites get a bonus against only one type of horses... those pulling a chariot. And elephants of course. Ever tried taking a heavy cavalry charge w/ velites? I bet you wouldn't have many of them left afterwards. Seriously, what reasonable way would there be to kill them if they had a bonus against your cavalry, which is most likely to catch them?
Apart from that, your observations are correct. Gladiators are great units if you don't wait too long to build them.
They are fast in movement on battle map. Thus, better for flanking.
Velite glads don't have bonus vs. cav and their small unit size gets them killed against a cav charge in the open.
However, gladiators in woods are quite able to slaughter waves of cav.
nameless
06-24-2005, 04:13
173 BC on my campaign, my empire streches from the North of Spain, the last spanish city as a protectorate, to the southern borders of Africa and all of the islands through Egypt right in front of Antioch. The Julii have conquered Northern Europe with the Brutii from Thermon (I had Athens to Sparta), all the way into Scythia terrority. Fortunately the Brutii have suffered several gladiator revolts which the sentate sent me to take out and have captured a few of their cities.
I'm hoping the Julii will move into England and the Brutii will continue expanding until they reach Armenia. I have the Selecuids, Pontus, and the Parthians to deal with which I haven't yet due to their alliance with Spain.
I'm hoping that the civil war will start once only the SPQR, Julii, and Brutii are left standing. Another thing to note is that the Brutii's standing with the Senate is REALLY down, like 1 point(I'm highly favoured by the Sentate since I've been doing their dirty work...for now), can they get outlawed by the senate?
Ah the scipii...
I have to say Im enjoying this faction a good bit at the moment. I am playing on VH/H and normal sized units I believe (though dont quote me on that).
I didnt have any particularly amazing strategy but it has turned out to be a very interesting game so far. I was, of course, told by the senate to attack saracuse right off the bat. I left a family member in Capua to keep an eye on things and sent everyone else off to sicily. They arrived on the second turn and joined the army which I then sent off to sit on the greek border for a turn, the concept being to see if one of the other two would do something stupid ~;) The greeks sent a small army to the carthaginian border and to my surprise the carthginians took thier army off of sicily entirely when I got trade rights from them. So I sent in my spy to saracuse and the army followed right after only to have him open the gates for me. So I charged right in and took the city and then exterminated the population. I of course started building temple of vulcan in all of my towns and preparing for the thrust into Lilybaum. I scouted the area carefully a few turns before and learned a valuable lesson about recon. ALWAYS DO IT! Because I found a sizable carthaginian army in ambush. However once again I waited a few turns and the army went away ~:confused: So I attacked Lilybaum, put it to seige and on the next turn took it enslaving the population. I then made peace with both the greeks and carthage and aquired trade rights and sat back to grow some armies.
The senate kept trying to get me to go blockade carthage but I ignored all of these silly ideas. I built an army and sent with it a few generals and landed the army on the coast of Sparta. My timing was once again perfect (though I would expect nothing less ~D ) and the Greek army in sparta has just gone and lain seige to Corinth. On that same turn the macedonians sallied forth from Corinth and spanked the Greek army hard elimiating the only threat to my seige of Sparta. So I attacked Sparta which was only defended by a single unit of Spartan hopolites. I took down the gate and ran through the city to the city center where the Spartan Hopolites were and I let my archers have at them for a little while. I admit that I played the AI for a fool here much to my everlasting shame as I brought up my calvary from the other end of the plaza and had them set foot in the plaza every time the hopolites approached my archers thus turning the hopolites around to go after my calvary. As soon as they were close enough I would then have my calvary step out of the plaza and the hopolites would then start the long trek back to my archers. All of this however was simply a stalling tactic till my hastati could get there. When they did I simply lined them up on either side of plaza and had the calvary set foot in the plaza once more and set my hastati on 'fire at will' mode. Sure enough the AI told the Spartans to march straight for my calvary between the lines of hastati who then used thier pila to exterminate them. The Spartans died with out causing me a single casulty. I occupied the city of Sparta and began setting about making it my primary troop producing city in Greece.
The Greeks however were not done and managed to capture Corith which I quickly took away from thier belugred forces. Alas the city was infested with plauge. The first son of my original faction heir died sonless of old age and the second and last son died of the plauge before he could even marry finishing off a whole section of my family tree. I allied myself with the Macaedonians who then obliged me by taking thier armies to go fight the remaining Greeks in Thermon and eventually the Brutii. For thier troubles they lost Athens but eventually agreed to a ceasefire and trade rights helping my coffers out a good deal. The Greeks after being pushed out of Thermon no longer had a foot hold on southern greece but randomly managed to drop a full stack of armored hopolites with a general and archer support near Corinth. The stack was full of units that all had 3 chevrons of xp or more and almost all of them had bronze armor and weapons. I quickly raised an army of my own partially from the front lines and partially from the city garrisons and stood in front of them waiting for them to attack. The did not but rather moved back into the penisula to the south of the isthmus and waited. I pushed foward into thier red zone and again waited for them to attack. After four turns, and the coming and going fo a fleet twice, it became apparent that they were not going to attack but neither were they going to leave. So I was forced to attack them. Unfortunatly my army only conisted of my general, 3 equites, 10 pricipes, 2 hastati, and 4 archers. However the units all had at least one chevron of xp and most have 3 bronze with a few scattered silvers. They also had silver weapons (except the archers who were gold, yay temple of artemis! ) and bronze armor. I played this battle a bit different and I think it bears repeating here because of how much fun it was ~:)
I made a line of my calvary in the center and put my archers out in front of them. Then I made two long lines of the pricipes and the hastati on either side of the Greek line almost but not quite perpendicular to the Greeks in the hopes of drawing them into breaking thier wall of hopolite spears. The AI being a bit smarter than the last time saw no reason to break a perfectly good line of spears and held his ground. So I began to slide my units up along his flanks to encompass his line and moved my archers into range and put my calvary right behind them. The archers were, as expected virtually useless shooting armored hopolites from the front. However soon the AI realized that exposing his flanks to my infantry was an untennable postion and broke his line into 3 smaller ones to face my three lines. Each line had about 5 or 6 hopolites and turned to face my lines respectively. What ensued was the biggest game of cat and mouse I have ever played. I used the speed and mobilty of the legions to out manuver and pick off the hopolite units one by one. It was by no means a simple task however. I started by taking my infantry lines and breaking them up even further. I had six infantry in each line and the two on the left broke away and tried to run around the flank as did the two on the right, while the two in the center feignted toward the spear heads and then dropped back without engaging, just to see what the hopolites would do. And sure enough true to form the units broke up and began to chase the seperate units. From then on it was just a matter of out mauvering the hopolites and managing to smash 3 or 4 units into the flanks and rear of one hopolite to make them route and going back to manuvering around the others. I assisted the left flank of the battlefield with my calvary who were playing a similar game with thier line of hopolites only they were not actually engaging the line as equites get eatin alive in a slugging match with heavy infantry. Meanwhile the archers had skirmished away from the enemy line and were simply standing there pounding on anything in range. :duel: The right flank was complicated somewhat by the fact that the Greek general and the archers were conentrated here. The general found though that his charge got stopped by my pricipes and they did not route so he was eventually slain on his third charge into my troops. This did make manuvering harder and my infantry on that flank suffered as I manged to get a couple of units pinned on hopolite spears once or twice. I simply smashed the flanks and rears of the hopolites and they soon let go of my belgured units. The enemy archers were the last to route as I left them till I had the hopolites on the run. Soon they were all routed and pushed into the sea. This was by far one of the most fun battles I have played in this game yet.
Back to the campain... I built up a silver armored silver weaponed army in sicly and took Carthage and Thaspus and crippled the Carthaginians. I then lowered the taxes and made as many growth related buildings in Capua as I could to induce growth and make a race for an imperial palace and hopefully the Marian reforms. I have also torn down the temple of Vulcan in Saracuse and have put in temples of Neptune for those glorious ships. I have made the temple of law (I forget the god's name) in the Carthaginain cities because... well they need it, badly. I am however somewhat troubled as I dont have enough governers for my cities. I have heard of a tactic of 'farming' generals but I dont know how to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. :help:
My plan after this is to expand further into greece and from there I am undecided. Once the reforms kick in I should have no trouble with just about anyone out there and I will continue on to my goal of covering the whole world in scippian blue ~:cheers:
Jason the Newb
Deus ret.
06-28-2005, 23:06
you don't need governors in every settlement. In fact, putting a family member on the dead track as governor of a minor provincial town will greatly contribute to his degeneration, provided he remains there. use them strategically, e.g. to calm down a newly captured larger town for a while with his shining influence or the like.
having less governors also means more heavy cavalry to throw into battle...even if they are of no use for anything, they make formidable units.
anyway, if you need more family members, go and fight some decent battles with captain-led armies. Go for heroic victories if possible and watch your captains become "men of the hour" and thus a worthy addition to your family. If they suit you and are not too old, adopt them. note, though, that his new brothers might not be too glad to have another competitor for father's heritage (or the faction throne), and develop bad traits (see the character development guide for that).
sometimes a message will propose you a "suitable candidate for adoption". this generally happens when your number of family members is rather low, so don't rely on that.
pezhetairoi
06-29-2005, 01:04
Me, the only time there are governors in my settlement is when a new factioner comes of age in my capital, or when I've jsut conquered it with a general-led army. Otherwise, I've always been able to pacify them with a generous building programme of law and order and a generous dose of Town Watch/Militia/Barbarian Peasants/Eastern Infantry.
The only reason I like to keep governers in all my cities is that the AI managment scheme tends to drive me into debt for some reason. They use up all the money on every turn (not really a bad thing when it comes to building buildings) and then build army units (usually ones I dont really need) until my budget cant support any more. This doesnt really stop me from doing as I like but it is really an annoyance. And of course the slider that tells the AI not to spend anything doesnt seem to work :furious3:
Jason the Newb
Franconicus
06-29-2005, 15:54
Jason, you can manage all your cities all by yourself w/o governer there. You have to mark it when you start a campaign.
Use this option. It is a lot of work but it pays! :deal2:
Jason, you can manage all your cities all by yourself w/o governer there. You have to mark it when you start a campaign.
Use this option. It is a lot of work but it pays! :deal2:
All of the sudden I feel really stupid....
Of course being a profesional Newb I know this feeling very very well ~D
Thanks Franconicus, I will do this on my next campain. In the mean time I will do my best to salvage this one because... well Im just a glutton for punishment ~D
Jason the Newb
pezhetairoi
06-30-2005, 05:01
Managing all your cities on your own is crucial. I manage all my settlements myself, so in my campaign record notebooks I actually can plan development schedules for individual cities, ensuring construction crews are kept busy every turn. You should do the same. It's a lot of work writing down every building and units commissioned and completed, but it's enabled me to raise full-stacks of good troops in minimum time, and keep my cities developing nonstop.
Yes managing your cities is very important which is why I always had goveners in each one until the mighty Franconicus showed me the error of my ways.
At this point I am doing what I like to call 'regional development' rather then the far more impressive and complicated empire planning you do Pezhetairoi. I pick a fast growing (or already largely upgraded) city in a particular region and I give it the works. For the scipii this is the temple of vulcan (or neptune depending on the situation, sometimes I even switch over if the regional production center is far enough behind the lines) and all the blacksmith lines and anything else that can improve my units. This then becomes the city that produces all my units for the area.
Ex. Saracyuse is my regional production center for Sicily. It has a temple of vulcan and all the upgrades and I take population off the top of other cities and ship them to Saracyuse so it will grow faster. This city is always getting first priority in the area. Saracyuse is the production center for the entire area of Sicily and for my invasion of Carthage. However once the city of Carthage is taken *it* becomes my regional production center for that section of the front and Saracyuse gets the temple of neptune for ship production (which also get all the benefits that the land troops got minus the temple of vulcan).
All the other cities in the area only get what is needed to keep them relatively happy. Greece however is an odd setup as I have a production line of cities rather than one regional production center. When I captured sparta it had a large temple of Nike, which I left for the valor it gives the troops that are produced there. The missle troops are produced in Corinth with the captured temple of artemis that gives them gold ammo. Then everyone heads up to Athens where I have the temple of Vulcan and everyone gets the weapon and armor upgrades. Its a long drawn out process but the troops you get as a result are almost all 3 valor, silver weaponed (except the missles which are gold), silver armored troops who can lay the beat down on just about anyone ~D
What amazes me is how much money everyone seems to have all the time. Perhaps Im just doing something wrong but the AI never seems to want to buy anything have to offer. The only way I get large 'donations' from other factions is senate missions, exteriminating cities, and if I make them pay large tributes for a ceasefire. How do you guys come up with all that money? :help:
I also run by the general rule of thumb about armies and thier costs. I have worked it out that a generally balanced army (1 general, 3 archers, 2 veleties, 2 triarii, 3 equites, 8 pricipes and 1 onager) cost roughly 4.5k (pre-marian) to recruit and about 3k to upkeep (12k to recruit a similar make up post-marian and about 4k to upkeep). Using that general rule of thumb its easy to see when you can afford another army. When I double that amount of income I usually put together another army and send them out to harass my enemies. Those numbers do not include the upgrade costs of course but those are one time charges (and I dont have any numbers on them) so I dont really count them.
Jason the Newb
gardibolt
06-30-2005, 16:35
What's a good way to take on the Numidians? I just got slaughtered by a near-full-stack of their missile cavalry without even giving them a scratch. They're led by a family member so bribing isn't an option.
Only solution Ive found to numidian calvary and horse archers are your Roman Archers or Archer Auxillia (or cretian archers if you have them). They have a longer range and the hourses make good targets for your archers.
Mahrabals apprentice
06-30-2005, 17:20
In my scipii campeign i sent a useless, well insane, family memeber and a couple of units of hastati to invade the crimea, where they send back a nice stream of horse archers and samatian cavalry :charge:
Welll atm they are all helping out my invasion of pontus, but you can get a stack over to numidia and give them a taste of their own medicine
Garvanko
07-01-2005, 09:39
I tend to concentrate on regional development too.
Deus ret.
07-01-2005, 18:56
What amazes me is how much money everyone seems to have all the time. Perhaps Im just doing something wrong but the AI never seems to want to buy anything have to offer. The only way I get large 'donations' from other factions is senate missions, exteriminating cities, and if I make them pay large tributes for a ceasefire. How do you guys come up with all that money? :help:
Jason the Newb
well, in the first place it's about consequently building and upgrading your trade buildings. Not only trader, market etc., but also better roads for land trade and (more importantly) ports for sea trade, your real cashcow. The rule of thumb is: the closer two ports are, the higher the amount of trade between them will be. This is why areas with separated provinces, i.e. islands, usually are extremely profitable. E.g. the strait between Lilybaeum and Carthage is able to generate a nice amount of trade. Capturing Rhodes will give you a nice wonder for sea trade.
Concentrate on the construction of these buildings in a good part of your cities, and as long as you have overseas trade routes, your finances will flourish. Also make sure to get trade agreements with whomever you are not at war with, it will increase trad considerably as long as your main trade lines are not running within your empire.
Of course, it also depends on your general spending policy, but I don't think you're keeping excess garrisons which considerably feed on your income.
For a more in-depth analysis of economics, see Secion VI of Frogbeastegg's Guide here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=38382
good hunt ~:cheers:
Rome:Total Slayer
09-05-2005, 03:51
a usful tip on defeating elephants in a large city.
Use your far supirior infantry to capture the gate. Then batter it down us a group of fast, cheap infantry to run in and get the all to eager elephants to follow you back though the gate (which is now yours) and boiling oil will finish them off. ~D Yes its not the quickist way but it is enteraining ang reletively cheap for a new aspiring empire. :bow: ~;) ~:cheers:
However, that's not to say I don't have problems. Do you have any idea how annoying it is when you have two armies bribed out from under your nose, and a city with it? I don't know how much Carthage was spending, but I got a little pissed off and switched to Germania after Carthage bribed a) Thapsus in turn 10+ with 10 units still in there preparing to move on Leptis Magna, and b) Carthage 4 turns later with an almost-full stack in there waiting to embark for Sparta! *screams*
I thought the AI diplomats were supposed let themselves get bribed and just stand around doing nothing. Hmmmph.
Hello there,
Oh my first post here, how exciting. ~D
Anyway, I read around 2 pages or so without that beeing mentioned, so I wanted to take action and tell you what I did against all this bribing:
I had totally the same problem in an earlier game, so I developed something that was easy, though effective. Using assassins, I killed every diplomat in cartage, and that was the begin of my empire. No more bribing, no more big unit losses.
Now I control half Spain, the Gauls, Carthage,Numidia, Sicily of course and I'm about to get the other half of the world aswell, in form of Egypt.
But somehow that game got a bit colourless so I stopped and began another game. :)
regards,
Arcanum
pezhetairoi
10-28-2005, 03:30
Haha, I'm playing the Scipii now in Mundus Magnus, and it's been highly entertaining. Seeing as I have plenty of time to waste as it is, I shall regale you with tales.
I formed my first grand army, as is my wont, at Croton (in MM you start with Capua and Croton), to cross over to Messana as was the senate mission. Taking it, I proceeded to manhandle Lilybaeum, and Syracuse. I was expecting the Senate to send me on to Hadrumetum (Thapsus) next, but lo and behold! They sent me to Salona. Fascinating. I thought they were just trying to break up my contiguous empire, so I just took it, thinking NOW i can get back to that planned assault on Carthago I had in mind...
But NO! The Senate had other plans for me. They sent me to *drumrolls...* Patavium! Now why the hell is that? That's Julii territory! Then I looked, and I saw the Julii floundering around in blood as red as their tunics, so I took it for the Julii, and kept it. Leaving my little patch of Illyricum to build its paved roads and markets, I left for Carthage. Then halfway down the Adriatic in my little fleet (which has grown into a nasty 10-bireme affair by now, in turn 15 mind you) I am told to turn east to Greece and take Athens, since the Brutii are so inept they haven't done anything about it. Sigh. I figured at this point that my invasion of Carthage was pretty much done for, and since Greece was bloody rich, I decided to lock my 1st Legion into Greece as a regional force. I began a second one on Sicily for Carthage.
1st Legion had a nice hard fight with the Macedonians and Greeks, eventually taking the whole Greek area up to Macedonia itself and Sardica (RTW Bylazora). In this conflict I tackled no less than 5 full-stacks, but eventually came out tops. Thankfully, thanks to newly balanced MM faction characters, Macedonia no longer churns out LL like nobody's business.
2 Legion swept through Carthage's territory with great ease, until it arrived at Lepcis Magna where two fullstacks attempted to contest the town with me (their last African foothold) from opposite direction. It was quite a battle, as my army prepared to face one then the other, only to discover that they opted instead to join into one line and come at me from one corner of the map. So I played along and shattered their infantry line while my cavalry rolled them up from the flank, though admittedly not without some trouble.
Things started going pretty fast now. 1st Legion left for Asia Minor to take out Seleukeia (they declared on me, as did the Ptolemaics, because I bribed Halicarnassus, Side, Ipsus and Sardis from under their noses in 4 turns. :P). Numerous fights led to the capture of all southern Asia Minor all the way to Antioch. 2nd Legion left for Egypt, which had initiated hostilities, and, meeting only 12 units' worth of resistance spread over 3 armies on the way, it took Alexandria and Memphis in a dazzlingly quick campaign. Leaving one diplomat to guard the approaches from Thebes, 2nd Legion leaves for the Levant to take out Egyptian possessions there.
Meanwhile, new armies have been formed, 3rd Legion in Greece and 4th Legion in Patavium. These march eastwards. 3rd Legion was formed just in time, as Thrace launched a heavy assault with one fullstack on Sardica. (Wow.) It was a hard fight that destroyed a fifth of my army, but 3rd legion won, mauled by Thracian militia cavalry (which I stupidly gave 7 melee attack) that made up the bulk of the full-stack. While Thrace shook in its boots and 3rd legion retreated to lick its wounds, 4th legion systematically took Aemona, Iuvavum and Aquincum, the last one by bribe. Singidunum fell to the glitter of gold a turn later.
Meanwhile 3rd Legion had taken Naissus, one of the linchpins of the Thracian defence. It now crossed the black sea to attack Mazaka, which was threatening undefended Asia Minor. 1st Legion was moving for Hatra at this time, after fighting off 3 consecutive Seleucid armies threatening Tarsus. Dunno what they saw in a depopulated town that doesn't even have a militia barracks yet.
4th legion took up the responsibility of the campaign in Thrace, while 5th Legion was formed in anticipation of an Egyptian attack on Lepcis Magna, which seemed the logical step to do since west Africa was undefended. Three turns later Lepcis Magna was taken and assaulted by the only Egyptian fullstack I have ever seen in the whole damned game. I let them have it, because although I could have relieved the siege, I preferred to have an army trapped in a city rather than outside it.
5th Legion besieged Lepcis with numerical inferioprity, and the Egyptians sallied out quickly. Very quickly. They were also routed equally quickly. Can someone explain why MM Nile Spearmen LOVE forming phalanx in LOOSE FORMATION?
After recapturing Lepcis Magna 5th marched on to Cyrene. By now 1st Legion had taken Hatra, 3rd had taken Mazaka and was going on to attack Pontus (which had really always been at war with me but never had enough troops to do more than make me laugh and give my diplomats target practice) at Sinope. 2nd Legion had been spectacularly successful in the Levant, taking Sidon and Jerusalem by storm and Damascus by bribe, and Petra after a pretty dry march.
At this point in time I began catching many spies from my erstwhile ally Numidia in Carthage, so I figured this was the time when I started a campaign against them to pre-empt. But they pre-empted me, trapping the Carthage units of 6th Legion in the city. Unfortunately, the remaining units from Lilybaeum, Messana, Syracuse and Hadrumetum of my all-cavalry 6th Legion were enough to massacre them. Pathetic javelin-men.
The campaign therefore ends with 1st Legion in Thebes, about to move on to Pselkis, 2nd Legion just leaving Hatra in ruins on the way to Arbela, 3rd Legion just taken Sinope and wondering what the hell to do with it (since it has only 450 population). 4th Legion is sitting around Seutopolis with the last Thracian full-stack grand army trapped inside it (it is scared of the excessive numbers of militia cavalry it sees in the city). 5th Legion has cleared the Aegean Island provinces as a pastime while waiting for Cyrene to complete its militia barracks and stables. 6th Legion is about to embark on a punitive expedition on Cirtan, with a pleasantly singing complement of 3 hastati trailing a turn behind to man the rams. I have 5 full-stack fleets of triremes, quinqueremes and corvus quinqueremes floating around in the sea.
Looking good. I'm going to focus my efforts east, now. Onwards to Susa!
Tricky Lady
10-30-2005, 10:27
I just (well, three weeks ago actually) finished a Scipii campaign with the MM mod too. It was particularly fun.
My first stage of expansion went along the lines that the Scipii usually expand in the vanilla game too (so first Sicily, and then Hadrematum, Carthago and so on). I ignored a few senate missions to blockade Greek ports or to conquer provinces up north. The early battles against Carthago were okay but not particularly hard. Their cities fell with ease. One thing I was pleasantly surprised by was the strength of some rebel cities. I actually lost a young promising general in the siege of Syracuse, ending a direct Scipio bloodline from its beginning.
I also allied with Numidia at this time. This was an alliance that would hold until they decided to backstab me just after I conquered Rome, and got to 50 provinces. Nasty neighbours!
When the war against Carthago seemed to become a cakewalk, I decided to listen to the Senate, and go for Sparta. I noticed that the Brutii had a foothold in Northern Greece too (present-day Albania) so I decided not to lose too much time and I conquered Greece up to Thermon and Athens (the Brutii having conquered Larissa, and all continental Macedonian possession in the meantime).
When the Carthagians had lost their most important African provinces (their "empire" consisted now of Cyrene and Corduba), I loaded my most promising general with his stack in a fleet and set sail for Corduba. When I conquered that city, I gifted it to the Iberians, only to see it rebel 3 turns later (and switching back to Carthago). I didn't check the garrison, but I am quite sure they were all peasants. Nothing to worry about; they'll go rebel when I conquer their last town (Cyrene).
Around 230Bc the Egyptians started crossing my desert border in the Lepcis Magna province, so I thought they'd declare war soon. They didn't so I took the initiative and attacked one of their full stacks. That was the beginning of a long and bloody war. I conquered the last Egyptian stronghold (in Arabia at that time) around 190Bc. During this time I had to withdraw once from their territories as they had depleted my only campaigning army to less than half of its original strength. I licked my wounds, and came back with a vengeance. I noticed that, once I captured their Nile cities, their empire collapsed entirely. From that moment on I haven't fought chariots or pharaoh's bowmen anymore.
At the same time that I started a war against the Ptolemies, I did some Aegean island-hopping too, conquering Crete, Rhodos and that small island north of Athens. As I was waging war against the yellow armies in the south, I landed an expeditionary force in Minor Asia too (Egypt having conquered all former Seleucid possessions in Minor Asia). Their cities didn't put up a huge fight. The only problem I ran into was when I had to fight a few stacks in one turn when I was sieging Side (had to fight 3 battles in a row). When I conquered Tarsus, after a hard battle, my young general (who had gained a couple of battle-hardening retinues and two or three additional stars) was slain by an Egyptian assassin. That was a tough moment :wink: As I always put a general in charge of my armies, the expansion was stopped until a new general arrived.
Something nice I noticed during this game. Egypt expanded at cost of the Seleucid Empire, conquering up to Seleucia, but our grey friends striked (stroke?) back. Yes! So I decided to send a diplomat and gift them some denarii, hoping that they'd built up their armies.
So now my empire stretches from Sicily to Greece, Minor Asia, part of the Middle East, Africa and Aegyptus. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to try to conquer the Julii and Brutii too... :thinking:
pezhetairoi
10-31-2005, 06:41
...your grey friends *struck* back :D But grammar aside, pretty interesting, Carthage actually made it to Cyrene... o_O They are always pushovers in my game, because by the time they've finished hurling themselves at Syracuse, they've killed off all their elephants.
But yes, the good thing about MM is that their rebel cities are really good. Some you have to crack by starvation or storm, and some you can fight in the field. But they are all, each of them, challenging in the right geographical locations.
Lanemerkel1
01-05-2006, 17:05
I had to transfer my Capital to Athens
how the hell do you do that?
how the hell do you do that?
Open the city window of the city you want to be the new capital, go to city details and press the middle left button (with the black castle). It takes one turn to reach effect.
Lanemerkel1
01-05-2006, 19:20
Open the city window of the city you want to be the new capital, go to city details and press the middle left button (with the black castle). It takes one turn to reach effect.
thank you :bow:
hellheaven1987
02-02-2006, 05:55
Mmmm... I have played Scipii very successful in the beginning, but my biggest problem is Spanish and Gaul... The other Rome fictions are not my problem because everytime I play, the babarien always build up a great empire and block every Rome invasion! So I don't worry about that. From thr middle of game, my biggest threat actually come from my own home, the rebel. Every time I have the problem of rebel. All of my cities have rebelled unless five times and sometime I really tire about fighting with rebel, and the worst is the tax will decrease! So can anyone tell me how to increase public order and stop squalor?:help:
So can anyone tell me how to increase public order and stop squalor?:help:
Garrisons
Temples
Public improvements like colloseums and public baths
Good governors (not just high-influence, but not to many disturbing vices either)
Central location of capital
There is nothing you can do about squalor except keeping population down. Therefor it is oftentimes not advisable not to build farming upgrades. Upgrading the governor's house reduces squalor, but this will increase population growth so the problem will come back to haunt you again. Population growth may seem a good thing, but too much of it will really decrease public order.
I did not have much problems with squalor since the 1.2 patch, but maybe this is because I have learned to manage population growth.
hellheaven1987
02-04-2006, 20:09
Garrisons
Temples
Public improvements like colloseums and public baths
Good governors (not just high-influence, but not to many disturbing vices either)
Central location of capital
There is nothing you can do about squalor except keeping population down. Therefor it is oftentimes not advisable not to build farming upgrades. Upgrading the governor's house reduces squalor, but this will increase population growth so the problem will come back to haunt you again. Population growth may seem a good thing, but too much of it will really decrease public order.
I did not have much problems with squalor since the 1.2 patch, but maybe this is because I have learned to manage population growth.
Then if don't have enough time? I mean, there is not enough time for me to build up anyone of things you list out.
And for the population growth... I have find a good solution. That's is, purposely let the city rebel and send new train troops to crush them, after recapture the settlement, slay the city or slave the people... It seems cruel but effective... (but my Greek cities don't have these type of problem! In fact, I conquer Rome, Macedon and Gaul within 50 years!)
hellheaven1987
02-04-2006, 20:14
Garrisons
Temples
Public improvements like colloseums and public baths
Good governors (not just high-influence, but not to many disturbing vices either)
Central location of capital
There is nothing you can do about squalor except keeping population down. Therefor it is oftentimes not advisable not to build farming upgrades. Upgrading the governor's house reduces squalor, but this will increase population growth so the problem will come back to haunt you again. Population growth may seem a good thing, but too much of it will really decrease public order.
I did not have much problems with squalor since the 1.2 patch, but maybe this is because I have learned to manage population growth.
Then if don't have enough time? I mean, there is not enough time for me to build up anyone of things you list out.
And for the population growth... I have find a good solution. That's is, purposely let the city rebel and send new train troops to crush them, after recapture the settlement, slay the city or slave the people... It seems cruel but effective... (but my Greek cities don't have these type of problem! In fact, I conquer Rome, Macedon and Gaul within 50 years!)
hellheaven1987
02-04-2006, 20:36
Hello there,
Oh my first post here, how exciting. ~D
Anyway, I read around 2 pages or so without that beeing mentioned, so I wanted to take action and tell you what I did against all this bribing:
I had totally the same problem in an earlier game, so I developed something that was easy, though effective. Using assassins, I killed every diplomat in cartage, and that was the begin of my empire. No more bribing, no more big unit losses.
Now I control half Spain, the Gauls, Carthage,Numidia, Sicily of course and I'm about to get the other half of the world aswell, in form of Egypt.
But somehow that game got a bit colourless so I stopped and began another game. :)
regards,
Arcanum
Bribing? I never face this problem, probably because I finish Carthage too fast! (in 10 turns) Anyway, using assassins is really a good way. I have mention before the Spanish, and I finally finish them by using assassin to kill all the family members! And I did the same thing for Gaul (and they should thanks me because I save their territory from Julii-keep them for myself.), Julii and Brutii (from other Rome factions, I simply use them as my assassin's training tool.) It's quite effective as the faction without any family members would simply go rebel, and it's much easier to take them. And one advantage for assassins is the faction won't declare war to you, so just simply kill anyone you don'y like!
Then if don't have enough time? I mean, there is not enough time for me to build up anyone of things you list out.
If there is no time to build anything, it is already too late, and the best thing you can do is move in garissons fast. But that may not be enough. You have to anticipate overcrowding.
Xenophon the youngest
02-25-2006, 08:36
Hello guys,
I desperatly need your help!!!!!!
Ok, well i have read quite a bit of this thread.
This is totally awesome!
I never knew that you could change how the game starts with the scipii starting with Capua and Croton!!!!!
Thats awesome!
How do you do it???????
I really want to know!!!!!!!!!!
Please tell me.
Thanks
Xenophon the naive
I never knew that you could change how the game starts with the scipii starting with Capua and Croton!!!!!
Thats awesome!
How do you do it???????
Capua and Croton? Unless you mod the game, the Scipii start with Capua and Messana, while Croton is in the hands of the Brutii. If you want to change that, you'll have to mod some game files. If you post your querry in the Modding Questions forum (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=73), they can tell you how to do that (or better yet, read the appropriate threads in the Scriptorium (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=77)).
Welcome to the Org, BTW ~:wave: .
Avicenna
02-26-2006, 15:52
I recommend a cavalry force of heavy cav if you're fighting the Numidians. Their provinces cover alot of ground, and they have particularly light forces. It has worked for me well.
However, when it comes to the Spanish, be careful.
There's no need to commit a huge force to destroy the Numidians. After wiping out the Carthaginian presence in Africa, take and exterminate Cirta and Tingi, while wiping out the huge Numidian armies usually present in the area. The southern part of Africa in the game is usually deserted and easily taken by a few units of equites recruited from Carthage, which gives you a few general promotions as well.
Numidians can be taken care of pretty easily with a small army of about 3 archers, 4 roman calvary, and 4-5 Legionary Cohorts or such.
Divine Wind
03-11-2006, 05:50
Once youve taken Carthage, you have an excellent base in which you can build strong troops. The numidians arnt worth worrying about. There vanilla spearmen get beaten by most roman units, and the skirmishers cant do (pardon my french) sod all! Once i take carthage one army to take the numidians is enough, concentrate your forces to the east and the eventual rise of the pharoahs.
fallon144
04-03-2006, 11:29
I think its essential that you take greece and the northern italian provinces as soon as possible since the brutii and the julii then have to travel further to expend their territory.
once you expand your empire around italy (greece, southern france, austria and swiss) then you can easily take the senate once you're ready without having to ship your troops from all over the map
rotorgun
04-17-2006, 02:40
Hey there fellow Scipii players,
Started a new Scipii campaign this weekend. It is only a short version played on Med/Med, version 1.6 patch, as I haven't played in a while and just wanted to sort of "get back in the saddle" before taclkling a major game. It also fits my crazy work schedule for the time being. The only reason I've been able to play so much recently is due to my recovering from a bit of minor surgery. But...that is my life, such as it is.
So far the campaign is going well. All of Sicilia belongs to my faction and I've already captured Thapsus, Lepcis Magana, and Carthage. Most of the battles have been rather straight forward, with sieges being the majority. Only one large Carthaginian army has made an appearance in Tripolitania up to this point. It was a twenty card force consisting of mostly town malitia from Lepcis Magna. It also contained 3 Round Shield cavalry, and 1 or 2 Iberian light infantry.
The Roman order of battle consisted of 8 Hastati, 2 Equites, 2 Generals (incuding a 4 star 2 exp. commander), 1 Velite, 1 Archer, 4 Numidian skirmishers, and 2 Numidian Skirmisher cavalry. As at least half of the Roman sodiers had at least 1 or 2 experience levels, it was a fairly decent legion for this early on. It was really no contest for this battle.
The Roman setup area was divided by a large rock formation which allowed me to hide my 2 Numidian cavalry, 1 Equite, and second in command General in a group behind it. Using this terrain feature as an anchor for my infantry line's left flank, I sort of wheeled the whole Hastati group in one line around it. Behind them where my Numidian spearchukers. To my right flank I positioned 1 Equite with the Velites in suppot. My commander was about right center, behind the infantry.
The Carthaginians, who were positioned in the center of the battlefield on a slight rise, immediately started to reposition their line in response to my manuever. Their line was similar to mine really, just a long line of Town Malita with the cavalry at each wing, General in the middle. Curiously the AI had the presence of mind to keep the Iberian infantry in resereve. I was impressed. Perhaps the 1.5 and 1.6 patches have added some tactical nuances to it's repitoire. All seemed to be going to plan for Carthage.
Advancing my infantry line at the double to within pila and javelin range of theirs, I stopped my battle line. As I had all these units in defend/fire at will mode, they began to pepper the Carthaginian Malitia grunts. Soon the calls of "Were under attack!" began to go up and down the line. While this was going on my right flank began to position itself for a charge into the enemies left flank. The Carthaginians began to attack my line. The enemy cavalry seemed uncertain about what to do. Two of them began to make their way to the left of their line, anticipating my right flank probe.
Just as I saw one of their Round Shielders charge my little combined arms team on the right flank, I sprang my surprise. Suddenly my hidden left flank cavalry group rode around the promontory and attacked the rear of the Carthaginian army. My Numidians rode hard for the Iberians and engaged them with a shower of javelins. My Magister Equitum (Seamus Fermanagh) led his bodyguard elites and the other Equites outfit straight at the Carthaginian commander, who was in the act of trying to shore up his crumbling right flank Town Malitia. The surprise was total, the slaughter was great, and the rout came quickly. His Iberians held out for a little while, but when they saw their General flee, along with about half of the Carthaginian right falnk, they folded up as well.
On the Roman right, my Equites reigned surpreme, driving off the first Round Shield riders quickly. They could not pursue yet as they came under attack by the second Carthaginian cavalry unit sent to that flank previously. They began to inflict casualties on my Roman light horsemen, despite their being supported by the Velites, who I even commited to the melee as their pilum were beginning to strike their own comrades. They didn't have to fight long however.
Seeing his soldiers so hardpressed, the commander, taking advantage of the gaps developing in the Cathaginian line, rode through a gap in the center and wheeled about to charge the Round Shield cavalry in the rear. Soon these began to flee. When they saw their left flank horsemaen rout away, the rest of the Malitia fled as well. The rout was now complete.....only three Carthaginian units escaped destruction. The General and one of the Round Shield units managed to rally, but were soon sent fleeing again by the Roman cavalry. Of these, only the General and a few of his followers escaped.
After this battle Carthage was besieged. It was a battle not worth mentioning in any way. Soon after her fall, a small Roman force was sent to destroy a rebel army in the deserts around Lepcus Magna, Carthage has only two provinces left, Baetica and the Island of Palma. When I last checked, Corduba was under siege by my Spainish Allies. As soon as an invasion force can be assembled, I plan to invade Palma.
On the diplomatic front, I have trade agreements and alliances with Numidia, Hispania, Gual, Germany, and Greece. I narrowly avoided a war with Greece over Syracuse, only because the Carthaginians took it first. That was alright with me because she had practically destroyed her army from Lilybeaum in the process, including weakening her precious elephant unit down to three animals. (I killed these off easily during ill advised attack by Carthage on my legion from Messana on the beaches outside of Syracuse) That was how I was able to take all of Sicilia so quickly in the first five years of the game.
All in all, it is a fair beginning. I am having a blast. I hope everyone doesn't mind my going on so much about that battle. I realize that it was no real great feat to win against such a force. It was that the tactics went so well, text book really, that I had to share a little of the drama with everybody. I've never seen such a large army fold up in such a way (except my own). I was impressed with how long some of the Town Malitia held out to be honest. I am just relieved that they weren't Libyan spearmen supported by Carthage's Long Shield cavalry with Elephants, led by one of the Hamilcar family. It would have been a rather different outcome indeed!
Alexanderofmacedon
04-17-2006, 03:17
Hey there fellow Scipii players,
Started a new Scipii campaign this weekend. It is only a short version played on Med/Med, version 1.6 patch, as I haven't played in a while and just wanted to sort of "get back in the saddle" before taclkling a major game. It also fits my crazy work schedule for the time being. The only reason I've been able to play so much recently is due to my recovering from a bit of minor surgery. But...that is my life, such as it is.
So far the campaign is going well. All of Sicilia belongs to my faction and I've already captured Thapsus, Lepcis Magana, and Carthage. Most of the battles have been rather straight forward, with sieges being the majority. Only one large Carthaginian army has made an appearance in Tripolitania up to this point. It was a twenty card force consisting of mostly town malitia from Lepcis Magna. It also contained 3 Round Shield cavalry, and 1 or 2 Iberian light infantry.
The Roman order of battle consisted of 8 Hastati, 2 Equites, 2 Generals (incuding a 4 star 2 exp. commander), 1 Velite, 1 Archer, 4 Numidian skirmishers, and 2 Numidian Skirmisher cavalry. As at least half of the Roman sodiers had at least 1 or 2 experience levels, it was a fairly decent legion for this early on. It was really no contest for this battle.
The Roman setup area was divided by a large rock formation which allowed me to hide my 2 Numidian cavalry, 1 Equite, and second in command General in a group behind it. Using this terrain feature as an anchor for my infantry line's left flank, I sort of wheeled the whole Hastati group in one line around it. Behind them where my Numidian spearchukers. To my right flank I positioned 1 Equite with the Velites in suppot. My commander was about right center, behind the infantry.
The Carthaginians, who were positioned in the center of the battlefield on a slight rise, immediately started to reposition their line in response to my manuever. Their line was similar to mine really, just a long line of Town Malita with the cavalry at each wing, General in the middle. Curiously the AI had the presence of mind to keep the Iberian infantry in resereve. I was impressed. Perhaps the 1.5 and 1.6 patches have added some tactical nuances to it's repitoire. All seemed to be going to plan for Carthage.
Advancing my infantry line at the double to within pila and javelin range of theirs, I stopped my battle line. As I had all these units in defend/fire at will mode, they began to pepper the Carthaginian Malitia grunts. Soon the calls of "Were under attack!" began to go up and down the line. While this was going on my right flank began to position itself for a charge into the enemies left flank. The Carthaginians began to attack my line. The enemy cavalry seemed uncertain about what to do. Two of them began to make their way to the left of their line, anticipating my right flank probe.
Just as I saw one of their Round Shielders charge my little combined arms team on the right flank, I sprang my surprise. Suddenly my hidden left flank cavalry group rode around the promontory and attacked the rear of the Carthaginian army. My Numidians rode hard for the Iberians and engaged them with a shower of javelins. My Magister Equitum (Seamus Fermanagh) led his bodyguard elites and the other Equites outfit straight at the Carthaginian commander, who was in the act of trying to shore up his crumbling right flank Town Malitia. The surprise was total, the slaughter was great, and the rout came quickly. His Iberians held out for a little while, but when they saw their General flee, along with about half of the Carthaginian right falnk, they folded up as well.
On the Roman right, my Equites reigned surpreme, driving off the first Round Shield riders quickly. They could not pursue yet as they came under attack by the second Carthaginian cavalry unit sent to that flank previously. They began to inflict casualties on my Roman light horsemen, despite their being supported by the Velites, who I even commited to the melee as their pilum were beginning to strike their own comrades. They didn't have to fight long however.
Seeing his soldiers so hardpressed, the commander, taking advantage of the gaps developing in the Cathaginian line, rode through a gap in the center and wheeled about to charge the Round Shield cavalry in the rear. Soon these began to flee. When they saw their left flank horsemaen rout away, the rest of the Malitia fled as well. The rout was now complete.....only three Carthaginian units escaped destruction. The General and one of the Round Shield units managed to rally, but were soon sent fleeing again by the Roman cavalry. Of these, only the General and a few of his followers escaped.
After this battle Carthage was besieged. It was a battle not worth mentioning in any way. Soon after her fall, a small Roman force was sent to destroy a rebel army in the deserts around Lepcus Magna, Carthage has only two provinces left, Baetica and the Island of Palma. When I last checked, Corduba was under siege by my Spainish Allies. As soon as an invasion force can be assembled, I plan to invade Palma.
On the diplomatic front, I have trade agreements and alliances with Numidia, Hispania, Gual, Germany, and Greece. I narrowly avoided a war with Greece over Syracuse, only because the Carthaginians took it first. That was alright with me because she had practically destroyed her army from Lilybeaum in the process, including weakening her precious elephant unit down to three animals. (I killed these off easily during ill advised attack by Carthage on my legion from Messana on the beaches outside of Syracuse) That was how I was able to take all of Sicilia so quickly in the first five years of the game.
All in all, it is a fair beginning. I am having a blast. I hope everyone doesn't mind my going on so much about that battle. I realize that it was no real great feat to win against such a force. It was that the tactics went so well, text book really, that I had to share a little of the drama with everybody. I've never seen such a large army fold up in such a way (except my own). I was impressed with how long some of the Town Malitia held out to be honest. I am just relieved that they weren't Libyan spearmen supported by Carthage's Long Shield cavalry with Elephants, led by one of the Hamilcar family. It would have been a rather different outcome indeed!
Elephants = javelins if you want to kill them.:2thumbsup:
Random, I know, but if you're facing Carthage you should know.
GeneralHankerchief
04-17-2006, 03:22
Ave Rotorgun, it seems like you have an interesting campaign going on so far. The battle you described reminds me of Zama, where Scipio Africanus Major's Numidian cavalry chased off the Carthaginian horses and then slammed into Hannibal's rear. Good job. :balloon2:
I'm curious as to who your main general was for that battle. Usually for my Scipii campaigns I bring out Julianus (faction heir at the start of the game) but I know some people use other guys.
As for the Greek situation, you lucked out with the Carthaginians taking Syracuse first but be advised that you will probably have to make war with them sooner or later. The reason for this is that all of the Carthaginian/Numidian provinces (minus Siwa, which the Egyptians are pretty quick to take) and Syracuse do not equal fifteen, the desired goal for the short campaign. Unless you were to turn on the Spanish (or any other barbarian allies but the Julii usually control that portion of the Mediterranian by then) the only real target remaining to you will be the Greek territories, such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Peloponessian mainland.
I'm assuming you will have to betray Numidia eventually to finish the game, so good luck on that. I generally find them to be tenacious when you take Cirta, their capital so best of luck there.
I look forward to more progress reports, this is turning out very interestingly. :bow:
~General Hankerchief
Seamus Fermanagh
04-17-2006, 04:10
North Af from LepMag to the PofH equals 7
Sicily Equals 3 (assmuing the Carths take SYra, then you have no greek war)
Add Palma and we're up to 11.
I'd try to add Caralis before the Julii can get there.
I'd try for Cordoba or Carth Nov with the army that nabs Palma.
Then all you need is 2 of the following 3 (Kydonia, Halicarnassus, Cyrene) all of which are rebel at start and tend to stay that way for a while. A few choice bribes and a quick garrison and you're in.
rotorgun
04-17-2006, 04:36
Ave Rotorgun, it seems like you have an interesting campaign going on so far. The battle you described reminds me of Zama, where Scipio Africanus Major's Numidian cavalry chased off the Carthaginian horses and then slammed into Hannibal's rear. Good job. :balloon2 Appreciate it. The main diferences were no elephants present, and I had a way to hide my strike cavalry. What a stroke of fortune to have a big rock promontory to hide them behind.
I'm curious as to who your main general was for that battle. Usually for my Scipii campaigns I bring out Julianus (faction heir at the start of the game) but I know some people use other guys.
One Quintus Scipio, age 52 - three command stars, 2 management pillars and 6 influence wreaths. I like to develop all my leaders if possible. This gives me better choices for faction hier if I need to change them.
As for the Greek situation, you lucked out with the Carthaginians taking Syracuse first but be advised that you will probably have to make war with them sooner or later. The reason for this is that all of the Carthaginian/Numidian provinces (minus Siwa, which the Egyptians are pretty quick to take) and Syracuse do not equal fifteen, the desired goal for the short campaign. Unless you were to turn on the Spanish (or any other barbarian allies but the Julii usually control that portion of the Mediterranian by then) the only real target remaining to you will be the Greek territories, such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Peloponessian mainland.
Indeed. Unless the Greeks attack me first (they still have a small force stationed camping outside Syracuse), or the Senate orders me to attack them, I shall try to take Palma and use it as a staging area for an invasion of Hispania. I may have to to finish off Corduba if the Spaniards fail to take it. I shall use the pretense that the Spanish failed to properly support me against Carthage by allowing the rebel pirates to attack my ships. I will do the honorable thing and cancel my treaties with them first (no Pearl Harbor trauma here). I also have a plan lurking in the dark recesses of my mind....something involving the dread Egyptians perhaps? An early strike at them, before they can become a powerhouse, and when they are engaged in a war with Parthia, Selucia, or Pontus, etc. is a consideration.
I'm assuming you will have to betray Numidia eventually to finish the game, so good luck on that. I generally find them to be tenacious when you take Cirta, their capital so best of luck there.
I will do so as a last resort, only after due consideration of previous events with Spain, etc. I will definately need them in my corner if I invade Egypt!
I look forward to more progress reports, this is turning out very interestingly. :bow:
~General Hankerchief
I'll send them. Thanks for the support. :2thumbsup:
rotorgun
04-17-2006, 04:51
North Af from LepMag to the PofH equals 7
Sicily Equals 3 (assmuing the Carths take SYra, then you have no greek war)
Add Palma and we're up to 11.
I'd try to add Caralis before the Julii can get there.
I'd try for Cordoba or Carth Nov with the army that nabs Palma.
Then all you need is 2 of the following 3 (Kydonia, Halicarnassus, Cyrene) all of which are rebel at start and tend to stay that way for a while. A few choice bribes and a quick garrison and you're in.
Hello Seamus! I didn't see you sneak in there. Good advice about Caralis; the opportunistic Julii already grabbed it when I was involved with a small naval war with Carthage and the Pirates.
As for Nuevo Carthago, my alleged Spanish allies have taken it already, and have failed to offer it to me for a gift. Imagine! The nerve of these Cabrones!
Kydonia is very do-able. I hadn't thought of that to be frank. Go idea. Cyrene is in the hands of Macedonia no doubt! Very odd. That wouldn't stop me from taking it, as I will need it as a base if I move against the Pharoh's dominions.
Bribes.....hmmm. I like it!
It's good to speak to you again comrade. As always, good advice from my Magister Equitum.
Craterus
04-17-2006, 17:49
I don't know about the latest patches but the Julii are usually extraordinarily slow at taking the Gallic settlements at the northern end of the penisular. Why not sail round Italy and add those to your count.
Segestica? Salona? The Brutii sometimes take those, sometimes not. Beats sailing out to Anatolia for the final province..
rotorgun
04-17-2006, 21:31
I don't know about the latest patches but the Julii are usually extraordinarily slow at taking the Gallic settlements at the northern end of the penisular. Why not sail round Italy and add those to your count.
Segestica? Salona? The Brutii sometimes take those, sometimes not. Beats sailing out to Anatolia for the final province..
Hail Craterus, mighty leader of the Cyber-phalanx!
That is a definate possibility that I'll watch for. I'm curious how the AI performs with the 1.5 & 1.6 patches myself. It certainly hasn't honored the Carthaginians very well. I coul be that I'm only playing a Med/Med campaign. I probably should have went of Hard/Hard, but I wanted to see how the game feels with the new changes. (I've always been a bit cautious that way, a lil' like Ol'e Pete Longstreet of the Confederacy)
Appreciate the come back.
Craterus
04-17-2006, 21:56
Cyber-phalanx? You have me confused with someone else. Cav is my speciality. ~;)
rotorgun
04-17-2006, 22:39
Cyber-phalanx? You have me confused with someone else. Cav is my speciality. ~;)
I forgot that I'm afraid. It's just that the name of Craterus is so identified with the Macedonian Taxis. I think he commanded the Companions once as well, no? Perhaps I might interest you in becoming another of my Magister Equitum such as is Seamus Fermanagh? :laugh4:
Craterus
04-17-2006, 22:53
Craterus did start out commanding infantry, but went on to command the (in)famous Companion cavalry. Enough with the history lesson...
I'd be very happy to accept that title, thanks rotorgun. ~;)
rotorgun
04-18-2006, 00:33
Craterus did start out commanding infantry, but went on to command the (in)famous Companion cavalry. Enough with the history lesson...
I'd be very happy to accept that title, thanks rotorgun. ~;)
Your welcome, as I am kind of an infantry guy, I offer my services as Polemarch of the Taxis to you. :juggle2:
Take care, I'm going to get back to the campaign for awile.
Alexanderofmacedon
04-18-2006, 00:51
Your welcome, as I am kind of an infantry guy, I offer my services as Polemarch of the Taxis to you. :juggle2:
Take care, I'm going to get back to the campaign for awile.
Infantry for me too. Give me a phalanx!:2thumbsup:
GeneralHankerchief
04-18-2006, 00:53
Infantry for me too. Give me a phalanx!:2thumbsup:
...navy? ~D
Rome:Total Slayer
04-24-2006, 02:44
phalanx for defending and romans for attacking:laugh4: :laugh4:
rotorgun
04-30-2006, 04:40
This will be a short update of the current campaign for those who are interested. It is about 240 BC, my Scipii legions have conqured all of Sicilia, Byzacium, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Kydonia, and the Baliares. I did control Africa, but the Carthaginians revolted and I had to besiege the city again. They have about five turns left until starvation forces a surrender. I would take the city by storm except for the three Elephant units inside, :elephant: so I am weakening them down. Most of their other units are a mixed bag of peasants and town malitia. The only province left to Carthage is Baetica and they are in a death struggle with the Spanish there. :duel:
On the diplomatic front, I have trade rights and alliances with Greece, Gual, Spain, Germania, Macedonia (after I took Cyrenaica from them), Thrace, and Dacia. I had a good treaty with Numidia, but they broke it when they attacked my fleet off Palma. They were a little upset that I captured Palma before they could, as they had an army there for that purpose. :furious3: Se la guerre I always say. I captured Palma, drove his navy away, and obliterated his few soldiers with a small legion sent from Carthage. Er....that was probably why it revolted.
:oops:
Haven't had any real great battles in this last round. It should be interesting to see what Numidia will do now. I face the possability of a two front war with a rebellious population to attend to as well. Hmm....shades of Iraq? It ought to prove an interesting phase in the campaign. Any good suggestions on fighting the Numidians?
GeneralHankerchief
04-30-2006, 05:32
Rotor: Sounds interesting so far, keep up the good work. If you're looking for decent battles with Numidia, look elsewhere. The best armies to take them out are mobile, easily flexible ones. Size is not a must, but you'll be doing a lot of marching through the desert. Also, since Egypt almost certainly has Siwa by now, they have only two coastal provinces; their capital and Tangier (forget the actual name but it's something like that). Blockade them. You could probably defeat Numidia by attrition and have them become your protectorate, now that I think about it.
As far as the Carthage City situation goes, it's smart just waiting for them to starve, although they may sally at the last possible instant. Be ready. When you finally do take the city, exterminate. Otherwise you'll be dealing with problems throughout the game. Don't forget to demolish that Temple of Baal and replace it with Saturn or something along those lines.
I'd let Corduba be, the Spainiards will finish it off eventually. Unless you plan to break your alliance with Spain, in which case I recommend taking it for yourself. Good luck.
rotorgun
04-30-2006, 05:59
Appreciate the advice GeneralHandkerchief, I'll probably take some of it in my campaign. As for Siwa, it is currently Numidian, but it is cut it off from relief by my control of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania. I have no idea yet what strength he has in Siwa, hence my fears of a two front war in this region. I surmise that he is not too strong, but will send a spy or a scout there soon.
Good advice about Carthage. I'll let them starve until they come out to fight, then crush them! There is no way for them to be relieved, unless Numidia attacks me from Cirta, but I don't think they'll risk it. I'll have to keep a watch for them, so I've a line of watchtowers along the border. As far as Corduba goes, I may not have to worry about it if the Spanish finish it off first. If they don't, I will send a force from the Baliares to do so, as it will give me an inroad to the Iberian penninsula. Much will depend on how things shape up in the east.
Greece is developing into quite a power in this game, and it looks like they have consolidated their hold over Hellena. Macedonia is left with only their homeland, and the Brutii are having some difficulty establishing a foothold. The Senate has already ordered me to blockade Sparta, which I did, but the Greeks immediately sued for peace on the next turn, which I accepted. It was sweet as the Senate rewarded me with a Bireme at Capua, and I was able to keep peace with Greece, which should give me some breathing space to improve my lot on Kydonia. I would like to develp the island into a trade colossus/staging area.
Seamus Fermanagh
04-30-2006, 16:46
The Numidians have a toughness that's suprising.
Desert Infantry is surprisingly high morale -- do not treat them like Eastern infantry -- they're more like weak triarii.
Do not go chasing off after the Numid Jav-cav, it's high stamina and faster than yours (but do enjoy sandwiching them with two cavalry from opp directions, their knife-work doesn't hold up).
Make sure you have long-ranged archery available as your missile troops. The numidians are flexible, but lack any long rangers.
rotorgun
04-30-2006, 17:35
The Numidians have a toughness that's suprising.
Make sure you have long-ranged archery available as your missile troops. The numidians are flexible, but lack any long rangers.
Thanks Seamus, but what do you mean by long ranged archers? At the early stages, the only archers available to the Romans are their unarmored "Roman" type. The better auxilary aren't to be found until the Marian reforms.
Seamus Fermanagh
05-01-2006, 00:41
Thanks Seamus, but what do you mean by long ranged archers? At the early stages, the only archers available to the Romans are their unarmored "Roman" type. The better auxilary aren't to be found until the Marian reforms.
Step right in to my humble Kydonian office oh noble scion of house Scipii. Let me inform you of my brand new rent-a-cretin --oops! -- Cretan option. Guaranteed to make your gens capable of getting someone's attention from a very long way away.....and all available for the paltry some of 800 denarii -- a trifle to such a worthy as yourself. Of course, there is the inevitable upkeep....but let us seal the deal with a dash of retzina, no?
rotorgun
05-01-2006, 03:51
Step right in to my humble Kydonian office oh noble scion of house Scipii. Let me inform you of my brand new rent-a-cretin --oops! -- Cretan option. Guaranteed to make your gens capable of getting someone's attention from a very long way away.....and all available for the paltry some of 800 denarii -- a trifle to such a worthy as yourself. Of course, there is the inevitable upkeep....but let us seal the deal with a dash of retzina, no?
I quite for got about the Creshan Arrsherers available there! (He slaps his forehead ~:doh: ) I'll have to send a family member back there to hire some pronto. It may be a bit difficult as I am running out of family members battles and natural causes. It may also be a wasted effort considering that I have reduced Numida to the two landlocked provinces of Gaetulia and Sahara. Thanks just the same. :bow:
A quick update on the campaign seems to be in order. In a strange turn of events, I managed to recapture Carthage, taking GeneralHandkerchief's idea of starving them out. On the last turn they came out fighting, got routed, and I chased them through the burning oil at the gates. After a moderate amount of casualties ~:smoking:, I managed to get a unit up on the wall to capture the gates. Needless to say, I exterminated the population. :shame:
After this, it was a mad dash to the city square :charge: to eliminate the Carthaginian general and his remnants. I had to look over my shoulder as a Numidian army went rampaging past Thaspus on its way to besiege Lepcis Magna. I sent a task force under my victorious commader from the Carthage operation, and with some added reinforcements from Thaspus took the Numidians from the rear. While I was able to send them packing, enough of this force escaped to cause me to pursue it back towards Dimiddi. This turned out to be a diversion as my watch towers soon picked up a sizable force moving on Carthage from Cirta. I redirected through the mountain passes and chased this force into Cirta where I besieged the settlement. All was going well on this front.
Not wanting to miss an opportunity to take a stab at Corduba, I sent a light legion from my island home of Palma, which was my original plan. I should have taken GH's advice and left this to the Spanish. As it happened I badly botched the timing of my siege, and attacked the city at the same time that the Spainiards too were besieging. I managed to take the city in a costly attack, thinking that if I got to the town square before them that I would gain the spoils.:stupido3: I forgot about my alliance with them and, to my surprise, had to hand it over to them. No amount of bartering would get it back either. (Cabrones!)
I cut my losses, embarked the troops, and headed for Tingi. This town had only one lonely family member as a garrison. I later found out why, but for the present I took Tingi on the next turn. I thought that I was doing pretty well when......back on the ranch at Cirta, my besieging force, which was a full card outfit, was, out of the blue, attacked by a full-sized Numidian army that could only have come from Tingi! To top it all off, they also had the garrison as reinforcements as well. The odds for the fight were 1-1, believe it or not, so I decided to risk all on the open field. It was a great battle, with the Numidians deploying in a strange formation. They placed their missle cavalry in the center at first, while the desert infantry were split on each wing and intermixed with some archers and javelinmen. I had to quicly regroup my available hastati to meet each threat, choosing a sort of modified L formation with my velites deployed in front to delay his skirmishers. My Numidian cavalry was deployed on each wing along with a unit of Numidiam skirmishers each. This way they could use a bit of combined arms tactics. My General and my cavalry was deployed in the center as a reserve.
The battle developed with the advance of his missle cavalry first. These briefly engaged my line of velites to push them in. Once that was done, the enemy cavalry seemed to swarm towards my right flank. I was ready for them there with the Numidians on that flank and a big skirmish ensued. Meanwhile, the main infantry lines began to close, first on my left flank, then my right center. The hastati began to throw their pilum to great effect, stopping the enemy infantry in their tracks. After one more volley, I charged the them on my left, while whipping my left flank Numidians around to envelop their archers and skirmishers. On my right, which was echeloned back slightly, I managed to beat off the enemy cavalry momentarily. As his left flank infantry trying to close with the Numidians, I saw a gap appear in his line. I now threw my three hastati on this flank into the gap and directed them to engage individual units within charge range. Soon the melee was general along the whole front. The enemy commited two of his generals to my right center as I had opened up my own gap when the hastati charged. That is when I commited my reserve equites and my own commander. It was a pell mell fight and in a few moments his generals were both killed. It was at this time that I lost Quintus Scipio, my ablest commander. Although it was a blow to my troops, they valiantly began to route the desert infantry that they had been fighting. The enemy began to give way all along the line.:horn:
It was at this point that I lost control over the battle. I got so tied up in chasing the enemy that my formations began to break up. I should have regrouped and waited for the enemy reinforcements, but my blood was up, and I almost lost the battle then. Thankfully, I gathered my wits and reorganised just enough to take them on and beat them. As Wellington said at Waterloo, "It was a close run affair" or something like that. As I could not catch them all, due to my army being in some disorder, the enemy remnants retreated to Cirta. I besieged that settlement in about three turns, and it is now a Scipii country villa. Just as I sat down to enjoy a little coffee break :coffeenews:, the city of Thaspus, now denuded of all but four town watch, revolted, and is now occupied by a force of about seven Iberian infantry along with three Roundshield cavalry, and couple of Lybiansoearmen as well. But that is another story.
To think that this was supposed to be a quick update. :sweatdrop: I went on a bit too long again. I hope that it was entertaining.
Thanks to all for lending me your eyes. ~:rolleyes:
PS: Stand by for the saga of Thaspus!
GeneralHankerchief
05-01-2006, 22:43
~:eek: That is quite possibly the strangest campaign I've ever seen, with the Numidians leading you everywhere through the desert. I must admit I did not expect them to have such a sizeable force, perhaps this was because you took care of Carthage early. And I have no idea why they haven't been kicked out of Siwa yet.
Congrats on your victory at Cirta, but too bad about Quintus. I'm sure he'll be missed. If I read correctly you destroyed two full stacks at the battle so Numidia should be all but dead, especially since you took two of their richer provinces. As for Thapsus, Iberians are pathetic but Libyan spearmen are somewhat toughter. I'd attack immediately if the walls are wooden, starve 'em if the walls are stone. Make sure you have siege engines (preferrably ladders or towers) if it is stone so you don't have to lose anybody to the oil in the sally attempt.
Too bad about Corduba. I have a question about that: did you initiate the final assault? Because the person who takes the city is the one who gives the order to attack. It also works this way in a sally/relief force effort, the person who gets the city is the one whom the besieged/relief force targers. If the Spanish took you along for the ride then you should have just stayed back and prayed that the attempt failed.
I look forward to where you will go next since Spain is pretty much closed and Numidia is all but finished. Best of luck. :charge:
rotorgun
05-02-2006, 03:38
~:eek: That is quite possibly the strangest campaign I've ever seen, with the Numidians leading you everywhere through the desert. I must admit I did not expect them to have such a sizeable force, perhaps this was because you took care of Carthage early. And I have no idea why they haven't been kicked out of Siwa yet.
I have actually already taken Siwa. I guess in all the excitement of my last post I forgot to mention it. It has already been the target of the Egyptians, but I beat them off in a small, but interesting engagement. They came at my force of 4 Hastati, 1 Equite, and 2 Numidian Skirmishers in a street fight. They had 2 Desert Axemen, 3 Pharoh's Bowman, 1 Pharoh's Spearmen, and 1 Heavy Chariot, all level 2 experienced and up-armored a little. Not wanting to get pummeled by the bowmen in a stand at the walls, I opted for an in-depth street defense. The 4 Hastati were arranged to intercept the enemy in the narrow streets leading to the town square. My Skirmishers and Equites were kept in a central reserve to be thrown wherever needed during the fight.
The enemy came on with their rams and broke through. It seemed that the AI had a few moments of indecision, but soon sorted out his forces. He sent one Axe unit to try and outflank me with the Charoits, while the Others made a dash around my other flank. They had no choice as the streets of Siwa were arranged this way in relation to their axis of attack. My right flank Hastati easily routed the Chariots, which don't care for melee with good infantry, and then routed the Axes as well. (I'll have to pin a medal on that unit commader's chest) I destroyed the entire Chariot force, which for some reason had routed towards the center of town, with my Equites. These helped to finish off the routing Axemen and then doubled back to the main square. Meanwhile the entire force of Bowmen with the remaining Axemen was enticed to chase one of my Hastati down a narrow passage. The Hastati turned to fight and threw their pilum. As they engaged the enemy Axes, one of my Skirmishers worked around to the rear of the unsuspecting bowmen. These were engaged, and I could see an immediate drop in enemy morale, as they were now trapped in the narrow alley between my units. As this fight commenced for real, the enemy Spears now tried to make an appearance. These were charged by a hidden unit of Hastati and flanked by the other Lybian unit. The Spearmen never stood a chance, and soon were routed.
With the fight in the narrow street becoming desperate, I sent all available reinforcements to aid my hard fighting soldiers. Soon another Hastati, the one that had run off the Spearmen, added its strength to hit the bowmen, while the now free Equites hit the Axemen engaged with the first Hastati unit. In a matter of minutes the enemy's unit flags began to turn white. I had the whole force on the run. As I had sent the unengaged Hastati unit running toward the gate, not a single enemy unit escaped. It was a total victory, and from what intelligence I can gather, the Egyptians will be some time in organizing another expedition.
Congrats on your victory at Cirta, but too bad about Quintus. I'm sure he'll be missed. If I read correctly you destroyed two full stacks at the battle so Numidia should be all but dead, especially since you took two of their richer provinces. As for Thapsus, Iberians are pathetic but Libyan spearmen are somewhat toughter. I'd attack immediately if the walls are wooden, starve 'em if the walls are stone. Make sure you have siege engines (preferrably ladders or towers) if it is stone so you don't have to lose anybody to the oil in the sally attempt.
As for the victory at Cirta, it was actually about a stack and a half. The reinforcements from Cirta where a mixed bag of troop types. The main army was the force to beat, as I described in my post. If they had been able to maul me any worse than they did, I would have lost the battle. I was really quite lucky to have pulled it off.
I regards to Thaspus, I waited until they had about three turns of starvation, and then hit them in strentgh. I was really impressed the way that my own Town Malitia held up. As I only had 3 Hastati and 2 Principes, I had to use them as the main assault force. I used the Legionaries as a reserve to attack the main square. My Cavalry was saved for the end fight with the enemy Cavalry. It was really a straight forward siege. I broke through with 4 Rams, beat off the delaying force at the walls and gate, followed them when they routed, and engaged the enemy reserves in the main street leading up to the square. It was a bit touch and go here for a few minutes, but I soon had them on the run again. Their General made a terrific stand at the square, charging directly into my Principes, but the entire enemy force was soon surrounded and destroyed. I have already re-equipped this force, and it is now on its way to take Nepte. (After a skirmish or two with some rebels along the way)
Too bad about Corduba. I have a question about that: did you initiate the final assault? Because the person who takes the city is the one who gives the order to attack. It also works this way in a sally/relief force effort, the person who gets the city is the one whom the besieged/relief force targers. If the Spanish took you along for the ride then you should have just stayed back and prayed that the attempt failed.
As it happened, the Spanish were besieging the city when I arrived. I added my force to the siege, forgetting that we had an alliance. The Carthaginians sallied out to attack us and in the process were able to beat off one of the Spanish forces. I saw my chance, and made a dash for the town square, where I destroyed any Carthaginian units attempting to retake it. After the last of the enemy was destroyed, the computer handed over the city to the Spanish. I guess that this was because they were the first to besiege it. On reflection, I should have done exactly what you advised, but I just could not resist trying for the city. I was indeed taken for a ride. Oh well, live and learn, eh? :laugh4:
I look forward to where you will go next since Spain is pretty much closed and Numidia is all but finished. Best of luck. :charge:
Well, I have to take out Dimiddi, and Nepte. After this, I will attack the Nile Delta cities in reprisal for the attacks of the Egyptians on Siwa and my peace loving Navy. They won't like the Corvus Quinqerimes that I am now building in Syracuse!
PS edit: Thanks BTW for your compliments. I look forward to reading of some of your exploits as well.
Alexanderofmacedon
05-02-2006, 04:16
taking GeneralHandkerchief's idea of starving them out. On the last turn they came out fighting, got routed, and I chased them through the burning oil at the gates. After a moderate amount of casualties , I managed to get a unit up on the wall to capture the gates. Needless to say, I exterminated the population.
I have a suggestion. Now this will take longer and you may not be wanting to do this, but instead of starving them until they attack you do this:
Hold them under siege with a good amount of troops. When they finally (after loosing many troops) sally all you do is retreat. You don't have to worry about winning the city. After you retreat they will either: A) Let you retreat and stay in their settlement or B) Take a portion of their troops and attack the sieging army. Either way you're at advantage. With plan A) you can re-siege the settlement causing even more starve casualties. With B) you don't have to worry about the enemie's towers and gates helping out and you take out the enemy piece by piece.
I have to go now, but I hoped that helped.:2thumbsup:
rotorgun
05-07-2006, 22:13
Hi all,
I haven't been able to get back to the campaign until the yesterday, so it's been sometime since I posted. Hmm...where to begin? I guess I should start off with the current situation and work from there. It is 216 BC and the Marian reforms are in full swing. This means that my army is in a state of transition (I must sound like Donald Rumsfeld) and is a mixed bag of new and old style unit types. I have 18 provinces to my credit. These iclude Capua, all of Sicilia, Sardinia, the Baliares, every province in North Africa except Geatulia, Crete, and lastly, Thebais, Middle Eygypt, and the Nile Delta. Still, victory elludes me. Numidia, holding out in Dimmidi with a full stack army, is the key. Unfortunately, due to my war in the east with Egypt, I have had to shift rescources there which has slowed my buildup in the west-two front wars are a niusance. Capturing Alexandria, Memphis, and Thebes has been costly.
Around 225 BC or so, my navy began to suffer attacks from the Egytians. At first it was only a niusance, but by 220 BC they had began to blockade my port on Crete. On land, they had attempted to take Siwa and failed, as I accounted in my earlier post. Not able to build up much of an army in Lybia and Cyrenaica, the only provinces close enough to respond, I chose to send a full legion from Syracuse aboard my three newly constructed Corvus Quinqiremes. Having these vessels available proved its worth, as they were attacked off the coast of Lybia by the Egyptians. They were driven off with minimal loss. Having muscled my way past the Egyptian patrols, I disembarked my legion into Lybia near the Egyptian border, poised to strike for either Memphis or Alexandria. I sent a small detachment from Siwa in support to protect the southern flank of my operation.
In no time, I detected a sizable Egyptian army that had crossed the border south of Alexandria also being supported by a similar detachment, probably from Memphis, within striking distance. I decided to slip around the larger force and take out the detachment first. After a bit of tap dancing, I was able to trap it between my two armies. It was a slaughter, with only a few pitiful remnants able to crawl back to Memphis. On the next turn I engaged the larger force. This was a force of about 17 units, made up in typical Egyptian fashion: 3 Spearmen, 3 Pharoh's Bowman, 4 Desert Axmen, 3 Skirmishers, supported by 3 Heavy Chariots, incuding the General's Bodyguards, and possibly 1 Archer Chariot. All in all, it was a formidable force.
Having manuevered them into accepting an attack from two directions, I was able to dominate the action. I had a force of 7 Hastati, 3 Principes, 2 Velites, 2 Equites, and 2 Family Member Heavy Cavalry. Unfortunately I only had 1 Roman Archer (no match for the Pharoh's Bows), but I had taken the time to hire 2 Libyan Missle Cavalry and 2 Numidian Skirmishers to counter balance this. My plan was to advance at speed and quickly close the range before his Bowmen could take a toll. I grouped 6 of my Hastati in my main line, supported by the Velites and my Archers, With my commander behind to stiffen their morale in the charge. On each flank I positioned my Numidian Horse and Foot Skirmishers, grouping them together for mutual support. As the Numidian Javelin can almost keep up with the Cavalry in a run, their job was to range ahead and harrass the enemy Chariots with missle fire. Behind this screen, I positioned my remaining Hastati and General on the left, with the 3 Principes and both Equites on the right. My intention was to move the whole army at a run toward the Egyptian line, slipping my Hastati main line a little to the left, engage the enemy right, and thrust hard at the enemy's left flank with my Principe/Equite force in a combined arms attack. All the while being screened by the mercenaries on each flank. The General on the left flank would take his small force into the enemy back field to take out the Skirmishers. Once the Principes on the right had hit the enemy line, the Equites would go for the Bowmen.
The battle developed pretty much as planned. I had to do a bit of juggling to deal with his Chariots, but the speed of my attack took them by surprise. Expecting me to make a more methodical advance, 2 of the Chariots were caught up in the malestrom in the front line, one of them their General, who was soon killed by my brave commander. The Desert Axemen put up a good fight on the flanks, but the combined arms approach tied them up with my infantry, while the Cavalry flanked them. Soon they were destroyed or routed. The Archer Chariot got involved in a running fight with my Numidians on the left, and never was a factor in the battle. The remaining heavy Chariot seemed to hover in the rear until my Equites came thundering down on the Bowmen, who by now were also being engaged by my right flank Skirmishers. As the enemy's infantry line began to break up, some of my hard fighting Hastati attacked the Bowmen as well. This was when the Chariot held in reserve commited. It was a desperate fight at this point, but enough of my infantry began to swarm the Charioteers that they were routed. After that, the bowmen really stood no chance. Soon the whole enemy force was on the run, not all broken, but trying desperately to escape, that's when my reinforcements finally got on the scene. With only 3 Hastati and 1 Equite, they were not enough to sway things greatly, but they did put the pressure on the Egyptians. I was able, with some satisfaction, to destroy well over 2/3 of his force. This was a boon to my strategy to take Alexandria, Memphis, and Thebes afterwards.
I won't go into great detail about the capture of these three cities. I am sure that many have had greater sieges to tell of. The rest of the campaign against them consisted of the sieges, interrupted occasionaly by vain attempts by the Egyptians to relieve them from distant Jeruselam and, I think, Petra. I must have caught the Egyptian high command by surprise, because their response was peicemeal and uncoordinated. Alexandria fell first in about three turns. The enemy tried to send a relief force from Jeruselam, but as my navy had detected it coming down the coast, I was able to meet them at the bridge east of the city. It was a slaughter, as you know how bridge battles can go. I also had one tense moment in the battle for Memphis when they managed to send a decent force through the Sinai to attempt relief, but it was beaten off with heavy losses. The garrison, now even more weakened from sallying forth as reinforcements, was easily eliminated on the next turn during the storming of the city. After this it was the turn of Thebes. Having destroyed half of its garrison in the first battle of the campaign, I really had little trouble taking the city. It fell, as did Alexandria, in about three turns with little loss to my forces.
My next goal is too consolidate my gains in the east to keep Egypt at bay, while shifting my focus to the taking of Dimmidi. This should, if the Gods smile upon us, give victory. It's getting a little challenging economically, as the naval war and its effect on my trade, as well as the high cost of the Egytian campaign, has reduced my treasury immensly. Many cities are feeling the strain and have rioted due to my lack of funds for building. Things are looking up, however, and I should now have a little breathing space to rectify the situation.
I hope I haven't bored everybody. My posts do tend to go on a bit, but I enjoy sharing my tales with good listeners. We have a few good ones in the Org. :listen:
GeneralHankerchief
05-08-2006, 02:20
An economic suggestion if it wouldn't be too out of the way would be to take Rhodes. It's a natural trade spot and the 40% increase on trade income due to the wonder will solve some financial problems. I also don't know your policy on extermination, but just the killing off of the population would be good for some quick cash. An alternative would be to just wait. The Nile is a cash-rich area, so money should be flowing in soon.
Once your money problems are solved, I would begin to construct a mini-army in your North African provinces (infantry-heavy) in order to take Dimmidi. After all, you now have ultra-powerful units at your disposal. A 3/4 stack should easily finish the Numidians off.
If all else fails, concentrate your effort on the East, whose provinces on the Mediterranean are all rich. Eventually you should be able to overwhelm the Numidians. Best of luck.
Seamus Fermanagh
05-09-2006, 00:23
Rhodes is always a bit of a plum -- and does not seem to draw too many counter-attacks unless Macedon is still active. Egypt is the only other faction I've seen try for it -- and I suspect you'll be keeping them busy elsewhere no?
As to keeping Egypt at bay, you might consider a series of coastal strikes using your fleet and army. Hammer and cripple Alex, Jeru, Sidon, Antioch, and Salamis (esp if you've got onagers aboard for instant attacks) in a series of strikes over about 8-9 turns and then take Rhodes afterwards for rest and refit. And by strikes, I mean take, enslave (extirm if you do that), raze buildings and up stakes. You don't care if you're creating multitudes of Eggy peasants and you get to support the People's Front of Judea into the bargain. This should slow them down a bit, but not strap you with the take, conquer and rebuild stuff.
rotorgun
05-10-2006, 03:50
Victrix! Nike!
Thanks to all for the great advice, and for taking the interest in this campaign. I have taken Dimmidi and won glory for the Republic. The settlement, for I would daresay call it a city, fell in a sally battle on the final turn of the siege. It was a rather anti climactic affair, to be honest. The Numidians came out of the gates and rather leisurely set up in a battle line. I was only too happy to oblige as time was on my side. It kind of surprised me, to say the least, because I expected them to try to use their superior mobility to try and work around my flanks while showering my army with missles. They just came out and set up in front of thier walls. Maybe the AI didn't know that I had seen the movie Troy, where the Trojans did the same thing in the first battle. I wasn't about to play Agamemnon to their Hector and move out into all that arrow fire from the walls.
So there we sat, niether side wanting to strike a blow. The clock was tick, tick, ticking.
Suddenly there was a flurry of movement, as the enemy began to shift units around in the line. I saw his General gallop pell mell for my right flank, and then.....they stopped! No movement. I sent my archers to seek out his, and as mine outranged his, they were wiped out to a man. Still no movement. Tick...tick...tick went the clock. Another flurry of sudden movement, but no attack. So I moved forward about a hundred (scale) feet, and waited. Still no attack. My army inched forward about fifty feet more. Finally, as the hourglass was about 3/4 full, they came on. I was expecting a full scale assault, but only the right flank of the enemy attacked. They were easily repulsed by the Auxilaries stationed there, supported by my Roman Cavalry and my Missle throwing light infantry. I did not follow the routers. Then the enemy tried my other flank, but they were met by a hail of missles from my Numidian mercenary Cavalry and Foot. I had to throw my Equites in to run off an attempt by their General to influence events. He was soon routing back inside the gates.
After a short period of reorganization, the Numidian army finally attempted a frontal assault across the whole line. It was easily beaten off by my mixed front line of Hastati, Principes and Auxilia. They were ably supported by the Velites, Light Auxilia, and Mercenary Skirmishers behind them. My Cavalry shifted from flank to flank as needed to aid a struggling infantry unit, or throw in with their Cavalry. Soon the entire force was running for the gates. Again I did not follow, and once more they came on after regaining their courage. It was in vain. In the final engagement, and the only one in which I was the aggressor, the enemy Cavalry was caught outside of the walls on another front. I actually attacked them with the Mercenary horse to draw out the General, and once he commited, I retreated this group. As they followed in pursuit, they were ambushed by my entire contingent of Cavalry. Thier gallant General went down in the struggle, and as he was the sole remaining Numidian family member, victory was mine. I accepted terms.
Well, that should rap up my reports, as I was only playing a short campaign. Had I played on, my goals were to move on the Egyptian coastline as Seamus, always a helpful advisor, recommended. I hadn't thought of making raids on their cities until he mentioned it. That would have certainly disrupted their "center of gravity" , as Von Clausewitz would say. Perhaps there is a bit of a Guerrilla fighter in you sir. I thought it was interesting that General Hankerchief and you advised the taking of Rhodes, as this is what the Senate had ordered me to do two turns before I won. Have either of you ever considered the military as a profession? The Pentegon could probably make use of your talents. :knight: :viking:
Thanks to all once again. I'll be attending my annual training on Saturday, so won't be able to begin a new campaign until June. What faction do you recommend? I've played all the Roman factions already, along with the Greeks. A BI faction perhaps?
Craterus
05-10-2006, 16:46
You could go for BI, or you could go for an eastern faction and use cav-heavy horse archer armies *drools*. Try Scythia or Armenia. It's a completely different campaign to the one's you've tried already.
Best of luck whoever you choose.
GeneralHankerchief
05-10-2006, 20:46
I'd go with Carthage, there's so many options for starting out. Do you blitz the Romans? Hunker down into your core territories? Pack up and move to Spain or Crete? The possibilities are endless.
(Oh, plus, you get elephants :elephant:)
Interesting close to the campaign. The final battle proceeded almost exactly as a recent one I had when I was sieging a Gallic settlement with a full-stack inside. However, when they were engaging me fully I snuck a battering ram into the city and pounded away. All of a sudden there was this massive barbarian army that was regrouping. They were easily crushed. :2thumbsup:
Congrats and thank you for the Pentagon recommendation. However, I find military strategy much easier when it is 2,000 years out of date. ~;)
Craterus
05-10-2006, 20:54
Congrats and thank you for the Pentagon recommendation. However, I find military strategy much easier when it is 2,000 years out of date. ~;)
Modern warfare is a completely different kind of strategy (if you can call it that). Boring stuff though. I prefer Ancient warfare too. :2thumbsup:
rotorgun
05-10-2006, 22:11
Congrats and thank you for the Pentagon recommendation. However, I find military strategy much easier when it is 2,000 years out of date.
Agreed. LOL :laugh4:
Modern warfare is a completely different kind of strategy (if you can call it that). Boring stuff though. I prefer Ancient warfare too.
Very true. I sometimes feel as Patton felt....there is no glory, nothing is affirmed. No Brad, in the next war were all going to have to be pencil pushers and aministrators as well as soldiers. (Patton) How prophetic, just look at Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.
:juggle2:
Well General Hankerchief, Carthage it will be. I think it a very apt suggestion. I'll start up the campaign over Memorial day weekend. An appropriate time to begin, no?
Finished my second Julii campaign and decided to play the Scipii again. I restarted once not realizing how aggressive the Julii AI is towards Carthage now in v1.5. They took Caralis and Palma while I was busy with Carthage and Lilybaem. This was unacceptable so I restarted and sent groups of 3 hastati with a general, if available, to both Palma and Caralis. Caralis was a close one but I was able to make the first attack with the Julii as reinforcements. Of course, I let the Julii take the brunt of the attacks. After most of the Julii had been routed, I mopped up the remaining enemy cavalry and militia scattered about. That setback actually made the game better though because I had to really use my turns wisely. I have to say the Julii are the most boring Roman faction, it's just too easy. The Scipii so far seem to be the most fun because there are so many different options available.
Pontifex Rex
06-20-2006, 03:14
Greeting, fellow Romans,
I am about to emabark on my first Scipii campaign nearly 2 years and thought I would post every five years or so to give you ladies and gentlemen a chance to comment,...or laugh your togas off.
I play with a few self-imposed handi-caps to give the AI more of a chance to provide a good game and make my own life more difficult. They include:
i) no peasant garrisons, minimum acceptable are Town Watch. We can't have the lowly 'mob' being policemen,...very un Roman.
ii) no hide and seek tactics. If I get a small army caught in the open I don't run around the map until the clock runs out. Stand and fight,...they are barbarians!
iii) no massive assassination campaigns against the Senate or other Roman factions. I don't mind messing with them strategically but there must be honour amoung Romans.
iv) no taking adavantage of glitches and/or 'cheats'. My ego can take a few lost battles.
Five year plan for 270-266 BC
My stratagy this time will be somewhat different as I will swing eastward from the very beginning. I hope to secure Salona, Appolonia and Kydonia as quickly as possible and develop their trade and mines. I am a big fan of mercs and play the high tax/slow growth game (required for large merc legions). With luck the Greeks and Carthaginians will fight each other for a while in Sicily and I can get the three territories painlessly. I'll be building ports, traders, then missile and cavalry facilities. Diplomats will strike out to set up as many trade routs as possible. Priority will be on securing the "wonders" if the first 5 years goes well.
Back in few hours with the results of the first 5 years (hopefully).
GeneralHankerchief
06-20-2006, 05:27
Is your game patched to 1.5? If it is, your game won't cripple the Brutii as much because they'll just swing over to Sicily and take it for itself (Or do I have it in reverse and do the Scipii go for Greece? :dizzy2:)
Interesting strategy you have going. I have my doubts about whether Appolonia can be taken but if you get it before our green friends than more power to ya. Best of luck. :2thumbsup:
If you're able to take Salona and Appolonia then good luck, otherwise I would suggest you wait until the Brutii have landed and are in the middle of wiping out the Greeks, then go after them in Southern Greece. I recommend you attack Syracuse to start the war, then create a force of hastati to take over to Sparta and Corinth, try to grab Athens if you can, but by then the Brutii should have taken Thermon, Larissa and Thessalonica. This not only gives you the richest cities in Greece, but some of the most advanced in the game at that point. The Brutii will then strike North into Dacia and Thrace, leaving you, their trusted Roman ally right in their exposed underbelly with their legions in the barbarian north. Ideal for when the civil war comes and you can use a few armies to capture the Brutii cities in Greece, leaving them with only the poorer, less developed cities in the wilderness :laugh4:
Eagle Ranger
06-20-2006, 20:49
If you're able to take Salona and Appolonia then good luck, otherwise I would suggest you wait until the Brutii have landed and are in the middle of wiping out the Greeks, then go after them in Southern Greece. I recommend you attack Syracuse to start the war, then create a force of hastati to take over to Sparta and Corinth, try to grab Athens if you can, but by then the Brutii should have taken Thermon, Larissa and Thessalonica. This not only gives you the richest cities in Greece, but some of the most advanced in the game at that point. The Brutii will then strike North into Dacia and Thrace, leaving you, their trusted Roman ally right in their exposed underbelly with their legions in the barbarian north. Ideal for when the civil war comes and you can use a few armies to capture the Brutii cities in Greece, leaving them with only the poorer, less developed cities in the wilderness :laugh4:
Yes, good strategy Rex and Dominii. It helps alot if you have a toe hold in Greece for the later game to cut the Romans in two. I too did that. I also went out a captured all of the greek islands like you plan to, they are extremely rich and provide naval conrol.
Pontifex Rex
06-21-2006, 01:22
*NB* addendum to self imposed handicaps -
v) No city walls. That is, if the locale has some sort of city walls when it is taken they can/will be repaired. However, any village town without walls will not have walls or pallisades constructed. Adds to the fun.
Report to the Senate, 465 BC
Greetings, fellow Romans,
I have both good news to report and a some potentially damaging bad news. The good news is that Salona, Appolonia and Kydonia have fallen and are being developed. A cavalry facility has been complete at Capua and our troops in Sicily are being reinforced with the first units. A 'Practice Range is about to be completed in Messana and will provide a few missile troops for the I Legion. The three Greek colonies are currently getting their economic houses in order and Appolonia is now able to produce a few Town Militia to garrison itself and Salona.
The bad news lays in the arrival two pirate fleets off the coast Sparta (50 ships and 75 ships) and south of Kydonia immediately after its capture. Depite attempts by our squadron of 20 biremes to evade, it was intercepted by both fleets and lost along with two cohorts of Hoplite Mercenaries, one cohort of Hastadi and one cohort of Cretan Archers. Further, General Quintus Scipio and the remnants of II Legion (one cohort of Hastadi and one of Roman Archers) are now marooned on Kydonia. The balance of our fleet (20 Biremes) is off the coast Campania shuttling Cavalry to Sicilia Romanus.
Five Year Plan for the years 465 - 461 BC
More ships are under construction at Capua and the plan is to gather some 80-100 ships and sweep the seas between Athens and Rome of any enemy ships while at the same time reinforcing the army in Greece. With some luck, Salona and Appolonia can continue on the economic track for the next five years while building up their population.
In the meantime, General Gaius Scipio is raising a third legion (III) of mainly mercenaries in Epirus with the intent of marching on Corinth. It is coinsidered wise at this point to join the Brutii there before they break into the city and take possession of the wonder. Syracuse has fallen to the Carthaginians but we feel we are currently strong enough to hold our own on Sicily. Messana will follow its construction of the 'Practice Range' with 'Stables', which should make the city self-sufficient for troop training in the near future. Capua, after finishing its paved roads will construct an 'Archery Range' and will become the factions main supplier of archers for now. Infantry forces will either come hiring mercenaries (Samnite or Hoplite) or the raising of a few Hastadi cohorts.
If events unroll as we hope, the next 5 years should be fairly calm with Corinth falling into our hands. Next report in early Spring 460BC.
Ave Roma!!
Tellos Athenaios
06-21-2006, 22:37
As the Scipii you don't have to worry much about the Julii in v 1.5:
they do take Caralis and Palma but these are relatively slow growing military unimportant cities.
Instead they leave the far more interesting regions of Narbo Martius and Massilia over to anyone who doesn't mind killing of a few Gauls for the sake of his empire. I actually found the Julii in the middle of a rather 'stupid' war: they landed near Osca, atacked the Spanish, got slaughtered, retried to capture the place and were busy doing that while a blitz campaign of mine enabled me to take: Narbo, Massilia, Lugdunum, Mediolanium, and Patavium. :inquisitive:
Also: my Greek campaign meant that my Faction heir, now Leader leaded an army from Syracuse to Greece taking every settlement the Brutii had been busy weakening there. This resulted in me controlling virtually all of Greece, my Faction Leader becoming eventually a 10 star general when I sent him on a quick campaign in Illyria and the settlements the Gauls had conquered while the Julii didn't take care of the Gauls.
Instead of caring about those two regions on top of this post, I'd say focus on Greece and Southern France if you can - there are the strategically most important regions if you want to 'contain' your allies within your borders for as much as possible - and grab those very rewarding provinces!
When I play the Scipiones, my usual strategy is to build a diplomat in Messana and consolidate my entire military force there. I capture/enslave Syracuse, destroy the greeks that are out in the field, and then make peace with the greek diplomat on the island. A little rebuilding while my diplomat moves over to Carthage, and then I take Lilybaeum, destroy any Carthaginians on the island, and make peace with them. After that I swing east. The Bruti have taken Appolonia by that point, but I'll swing in and take Kydonia and Halicarnassus (Byzantium was still rebel at this point the last time I played), and afterwards go back to war with the Greeks, taking Rhodes followed by Sparta. If the Greeks own Athens, I'll take that too, but that gives me a great economy with growth potential and I can go wherever circumstances dictate from that point.
Pontifex Rex
06-24-2006, 20:26
War! War!! War!!!
Report to the Senate 260 BC
Hail, and well met, fellow Romans,
The last five years have witnessed a quantum shift in the political and military efforts of not only our faction but that of the Roman Empire as well.
The plan to rush troops to Corinth to try and steal the city and the 'Wonder' failed as the Brutii did not wait to starve out the Macedonian garisson but assaulted as soon as their seige engines were ready. In order to forestall any further moves north the III Legion (Gaius Scipio) was directed to Thessalonica, where we entered the war against the Macedonians in the spring of 263 AD. After the briefest of seiges and moderately heavy casualties to our Samnite mercenaries, the city fell.
In the meantime the II Legion (Quintus Scipio) on Crete was fleshed out somewhat by mercenaries and sent to join III Legion in Greece. Our squadron of 20 Biremes defeated a small squadron Macedonian ships off the coast of Crete and reopend communications with the mainland. Before the two legions could link up, however, the Greek Cities declared war on our faction in the winter of 262 AD but was defeated in the field near Larissa (Thessalia) by elements of III Legion, now under Captain Secundus. II Legion was marched north from near the Macedonian city of Athens in the spring of 261 BC while III Legion laid seige to Larissa. Then, in the fall of 261 BC the pernicious Carthaginians, despite being in combat with the Greeks near Syracuse also declared war on us and have laid seige to Cornelius Scipio (our beloved leader) his I Legion and Messana. In Greece, a large Macedonian army marched south from Piaonia and has laid seige to Gaius Scipio and the garrison in Thessalonica. As of the time of this report, our faction is now at war with Carthage, the Greek Cities and the Macedonians.
Five Year Plan for the years 460 - 456 BC
We actually have a few miltary options but there are some risks involved. At Messana the I Legion (Cornelius Scipio w/ 24 Heavy Cavalry, 2 Hastadi, 2 Town Watch, 2 Veletes, 2 Equites) can either strike immediately at the Carthagian army (9 Iberian Infantry, 3 Skirmers) or wait for some reinforcements from Italy in the form of Lucius Scipio's column (1 Hastadi, 1 Samnite Mercenary, 1 Equites) which will march south into Bruttium and link up with our fleet of 60 Biremes. The relief of Messana would take place this fall. The decision on this will wait for 24 hours while those who wish to give advise may do so.
While events began to unfold in Greece and Sicily, Flavius Scipio had been sent north to recruit barbarian mercenaries from the Gaulish territories when he was commanded by the Senate to take the town Segestica. Unfortunately, when Flavius reached the town he found it already seiged by the Dacians, who look quite capable of successfully concluding the conquest. The column under Flavius' command (2 Barbarian Mercenaries, 1 Barbarian Cavalry) will now move as quickly as possible down the Dalmatian coast to reinforce our legions in Greece.
Captain Secundus (III Legion) will abandon the seige of Larissa and march north to Thessalonica and, together with the garrison, raise the seige, hopefully destroying the Macedonian army there. Quintus Scipio (II Legion) will hire what infantry are avalable near Thermon and harass the Greek troops in the region or perhaps draw the Greeks away from Appolonia by laying seige to Thermon. Desius Maecenas, governor of Kydonia (Crete) will also raise what mercenaries are available and send them to Greece to aid II Legion.
Ave Roma!
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/Scipii265AD.png
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3585/imperioescipiones1kf.jpg
I hope it not to crush your screen :oops:
I think it's not a huge empire, it's my first game...
At first I conquered Sicily, then, I defeated Carthague. After that, the Senate send me to Termon so I took Termon itself, Sparta, Athens, Thessalonica... Everything until Campus Getae. Next, I went to Turkey and took it all, to defeat the Greek Cities, and conquered some Ponthus settlements like Artaxarta and Kotais... I also sent an army to Africa to take Siwa, Cyrene, Lepcis Magna... And now i'm defeating the egyptians and their rebel cities. I'm playing in normal-normal. I have 41 regions... I want to finish it, and start another campaign...
Is my money normal? I could not spend it in my whole life! I would know if someone else has got this amount of money, I don't think I am the only one, there are players who are much better than me here!
That looks fairly typical for the Aegean Sea. The exact number vary with population levels and port levels; I assume Halicarnassus is very large while Athens is probably the smallest in terms of current population level. But that area generates an OBSCENE amount of money, and it's even more productive in the hands of the Bruti, since they have a temple that increases trade goods.
Oh I see... What you said about Athens... The matter is that Athens is my capital :smiley: And Halicarnassus is "ill" (sorry, do not know how to say it in English)
Is not Aegean Sea a bit unfair? Is there any other zone similar to that?
Severous
06-29-2006, 20:02
@ SWT
I see famous battle markers in the sea. !!
Ive never seen that before. Do you recall any battle that caused such markers ?
I have never seen that much money either.
I missed the skull icon. The term in english is "plague". I don't know if there are any other differences between the different language versions, but in my North American version, most of those would have reached "Huge City" sizes, because of the city appearance I can tell an Imperial Palace has been built there. However, the maintenance costs are distributed in proportion to the current population. Assuming there aren't any other differences like Athens being the only one of your cities to have a dockyard or the market levels varying a lot between all these towns, the reason Athens is making so much more than the others would be because it has a lower population. Any city with plague has money problems, as pretty much all trade stops as long as the plague is active. I once had plague break out in 3 cities at once; it was a severe economic hit.
As to your other question, the eastern med is pretty good (Antioch, Tarsus, Salamis, Sidon, Jerusalem and Alexandria), as is the area right around Italy (Tarentum, Croton, Messana, Syracuse, Lilybaeum, Caralis, Carthage and Thapsus).
Got it Quillan, thanks! Yes, Halicarnassus had a plague in the picture :smiley:
Corinthio has less population than Athens, but I think the matter is that Athens is the capital of my empire, so maybe that's why Athens earns the most money.
Another strange event has happen... Byzantium gives me the same money as Athens now!... It suddenly grew up from 2800 denarii per turn to 6500 denarii!
The same happened me with Carthage, Tapsus and whole Sicilia... They were giving me losses and now they all give me more than 3000 denarii per turn!
Severous, I have 3 famous battles markers in the sea, all of them in Aegean Sea. I think my boats' golden weapons, armours and chevrons helped to make an epic victory (In spanish it is "Victoria Épica", the biggest type of victory, I don't remember how is it en English... "Crushing Victory"?) and that's why I got it, I made Crushing Victories at sea...
I wish there are playable naval battles in next games...
rotorgun
07-01-2006, 03:33
Hey there SWT, Rotorgun here.
I couldn't help but notice the huge amount of income that you have generated in your empire! At first it was almost unbelievable, that is until I noticed that you have a virtual monopoly of the Agean, the eastern Medditeranean, and the Black seas. I also noticed that most of your ports are very well developed. You must be, in the tradition of the Armada, an Admiral de Los Mares de todo El Mundo, a veritable Don Medina Sedonna. I am very immpresed, as I am a proponent of the big navy strategy as well. How many ships do you posess in total? Do you use them to blockade your enemy's ports?
I was also wondering how one says plague in Espanol? I imagine it to be La inferma del muerte, or perhaps El muerte negro or words to that effect. I speak a modicum of La Lingua myself, and am always trying to learn palabras nuevas.
Muchos felicidades en Su strategia muy victoriso!
:laugh4: Thank you very much Rotorgun. I could teach you some spanish if you want, you can see my MSN Messenger in my profile.
"Plague" would be literally "Plaga", but it is not the term we use. "Plaga" can be used for every illness, but in the game, the illness is called "Peste" or "Peste negra". I am not a doctor, but I think it is the illness that makes your skin get grey and high fever, and then you die in a few days...
Yes, my ports are fully developed. I don't use to block many ports... Only if I am at war :2thumbsup: I began to build a lot of ships when I started the war against the Greek Cities... They had a lot of ships! So I built another lot :laugh4: I have about 5 fleets, all them with the full-coloured sail and at least one thousand men each one. So... About 5000 sailors. I don't know if it is a lot, but it's enough to dominate the Eastern Mediterranean :smiley: Now I'm building Deceres, they are great! :2thumbsup:
Oh, another thing! The translation of "Admiral" is "Almirante" :P So it would be "El Almirante de los mares de todo el mundo", but your spanish is quite nice I think.
¡Muchas felicidades por tu correcto español! ~;) I cheer you to learn more! :cheerleader:
Pontifex Rex
07-01-2006, 19:07
It looks like the Brutii will be your toughest opposition in the march on Italy. Hopefully the AI will give you a good fight. :2thumbsup:
Pontifex Rex
07-02-2006, 01:44
Report to the Senate - Spring 255 BC
Expensive victories.
Cornelius Scipio led I Legion through the gates of Massena in the spring of 260BC after a small relief force of mercenary Hoplites and Samnite Warriors landed north of the city. After a bloody fight the Carthaginians army was defeated and driven from the field. Unfortunately, Cornelius would not live long after his victory and died in the fall of 260 BC. II Legion laid siege to Thermon and withstood a relief attempt by a Greek field army, unfortunately the garrison was too strong to be overcome by the legion after the relief force was defeated. III Legion marched north from Larissa and lifted the siege of Thessalonica in another major field battle that saw the Macedonian army retreat to Bylazora. III Legion followed up its victory by laying siege to the Macedonians at in their last northern city. Meanwhile at sea the navy traded victories and defeats in a war of attrition against the Greek Cities, the Macedonians and Pirates.
The years 259 – 258 BC proved to very challenging ones for the Scipii. I Legion (now commanded by Lucius Scipio) marched west to the border of Carthaginian territory where it fought and won 3 major field battles though it suffered quite heavy losses. Despite casualties, the legion maintained itself in the field and 258 BC ended with young Lucius facing the decision of striking for Lilybaeum or Syracuse. All this time II Legion, while suffering many casualties takes Thermon and then marches on Larissa and places the city under siege. A reinforcing column of archers, slingers and infantry was dispatched from Crete to aid II Legion when 2 major Greek armies were landed east of Larissa in an attempt to regain control of northern Greece. In a series of field battles and on and off again sieges, Larissa is taken and the remnants of the Greek armies driven back to the ships. III Legion, although badly outnumbered by the garrison of Bylazora, maintains the siege lines while absorbing what few reinforcements could be spared from the south.
257 – 256 BC were largely dominated by naval battles off the east coast of Sicily and Crete. Admiral Nero, with 40 improved Biremes, destroys 14 Carthaginian and 47 Macedonian ships for a loss of 14 of his own near Syracuse. Six months later, Admiral Asinius’ fleet is defeated northeast of Crete losing 17 of 40 ships while sinking only 4 belonging to the Greeks. Thankfully, the first Trireme units join the fleet at Messana adding much needed firepower to the navy. On land, Lucius Scipio and the I Legion lay siege to and take the city of Syracuse and then destroy a small Greek army outside the city. Aulus Ovidius, a Scipii agent near Lilybaeum, discovers two Carthaginain armies massing near that city. II Legion, after absorbing replacement marches on Athens and at the time of this writing is laying siege to the city. Up north the garrison of Bylazora, facing starvation and surrender, sorties and is destroyed by III Legion. The city is sacked and the larger portion of the legion set off for Byzantium, still thought to be held by a rebel king.
Five Year Plan for 255 – 251 BC
Priority will be given to finishing the campaigns in southern Greece and Sicily. It is planned to expand the army from three legions to five to meet both combat and patrol needs of the growing Scippi possessions. IV Legion will be raised in southern Greece to aid II Legion in the conquest of Attica and Laconia before crossing the Aegean to take Rhodes, Ionia and Phrygia. III Legion will finish the conquest of Byzantium and then prepare to drive the Thracians north of the Danube while I Legion will cross the Mediterranean to take the city of Carthage. XIII Legion will be raised in Greece for garrison duty and will be broken into four ‘Patrol Groups’ and the navy will be expanded to some 180-200 ships, primarily Triremes.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/Scipii255ADGreece.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/Scipii255ADSicily.png
That fast-Greece-conquest is nice, you will ensure it for the rest of your game! :thumbsup:
I am finishing my campaign... I will show you some picture, too :smiley:
Pontifex Rex
07-03-2006, 22:23
Report to Senate – Spring 250BC
The period 255 – 251 BC saw numerous successes for the Scipii faction in expanding Romes power in the Mediterranean. In Greece, Quintus Scipio and the II Legion took the cities of Sparta, Athens, Rhodes and Halicarnassus, destroyed the Macedonians, was granted the title of Conqueror and adopted the name Quintus Victor. II Legion is now regrouping in Lycia and establishing watch towers and a patrol force before setting off for Pergamum, the last Greek city. III Legion, under Gnaeus Scipio also took Byzantium during this period but the good general died mysteriously in 254 AD of an unknown malady. His legion, now commanded by Captain Tiberius is marching through Illyria in preparation for driving the Dacians north of the Danube. XIII Legion (garrison/patrol) continues to mobilize as resources allow.
IV Legion (Flavius Scipio), though newly raised and far under strength repelled a Gaulish invasion of Dalmatia and pursued the defeated Gauls all the way to Patavium. At Patavium, the lead cavalry elements of IV Legion aided the Julii in taking the city but the cavalry was badly mauled and sent south to Capua for rebuilding. The remaining elements of IV Legion are regrouping in northern Dalmatia awaiting the arrival of III Legion before launching the attack on the Dacians. A new V Legion (Captain Manius) is forming in northern Paionia with the mission of watching our new allies, the Thracians. In Sicily, I Legion (Lucius Scipio), after receiving heavy infantry and missile reinforcements, has finally defeated all the Carthaginian field armies or driven them back into Lilybaeum, which is now under siege.
At sea, after numerous naval battles, especially in the seas between Sicily and Africa, the Romans have attained a certain degree of naval superiority. The Macedonian and Greek fleets have been destroyed and only the Carthaginians still manage to maintain any ships at sea in the central Mediterranean. While the Scipii fleet managed to sink over 320 enemy ships, including 75 pirate vessels in a single battle, it lost some 140 vessels of its own and has struggled to maintain 160 vessels around Sicily and the Aegean Sea.
Five Year Plan for the years 250 – 246 BC
Finances are finally becoming more stable as we dominate the Aegean and central Mediterranean trade aided by the conquest of Rhodes and the ‘Wonder’ that improve naval trade. Priority will be given to continued economic development of the cities with the army drawing its major strength from mercenaries. Roman units will be raised as needed, in particular archers and cavalry and smaller patrol groups of garrison legions. Naval expansion will continue with the goal of maintaining a fleet of between 240 and 300 vessels.
On land, I Legion will complete the campaign in Sicily and prepare to cross over to Africa and the Carthaginian capital. II Legion will be tasked with taking Pergamum and destroying the power of the Greek Cities. If possible we will avoid war with the Pontians and Seleucians but the decision between war and peace will be theirs. III and IV Legion will invade Dacian and Gaulish territory and add the provinces of Illyria, Pannonia and Noricum to our holdings. V Legion will stand on the Thracian border and make it known we will brook no interference.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/ILegion250AD.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IILegion.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IIIandIVLegion250AD.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VLegionConcentrates250AD.png
Pontifex Rex
07-08-2006, 03:18
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/Scipii245AD.png
Reaching for an Empire
Report to Senate – Spring 245BC
The previous five year period saw less military action for the Scipii although the international scene in the near east has become quite critical. The Egyptians, Pontiians and Parthians have all but destroyed the Seluecid Empire and the Egyptians stand poised to break into Asia Minor. Whether or not Pontus will oppose the Egyptian moves or try to finish the Seleucids is unknown. The Brutii have moved into Africa taking the Carthaginian capital and the province Byzacia. We continue to block their attempts to move eastwards through Europe. The Julii are continuing to drive back the northern barbarian tribes and have taken Venitia, Cisalpine and Transapline Gaul.
I Legion (Lucius Scipio) has successfully finished the campaign in Sicily while II Legion, now under Daecius Maecenus, has taken Phrygia and is marching to the borders of Ionia waiting orders on what to do next. The III Legion (Luca Ahenabarbus) struck deeply into Dacian territory after the Dacians refused our financial offer to them for surrendering Illyria and Panonia. After a brief seige Luca's legion took Aquincum and is preparing to move south. IV Legion (Flavius Scipio) after taking the province of Illyria is now marching northwest to take Noricum. V Legion (Captain Harennus) continues to mobilize in Paionia while XIII Legion is almost complete in its garrison positions throughout Greece.
Young Publius is untaking a special mission up in the barbarian northeast. He has been recruiting as many Sarmatian heavy cavalry and Scythian mercanries as he can find and sending them to the coast of Scythia where our transports then carry them south to our terrotories in Asia Minor. Finally our fleet has reached a total of 268 ships which are mainly concentrated in the eastern Mediterranean. It is planned to expand the fleet something near 350 ships in order to be able to fight the navies of both Pontus and Egypt should the need arise and to blockade their harbours.
Five Year Plan for the years 245 – 241 BC
Considering the threat that both Pontus and Egypt pose to Europe the II Legion will most likely be directed to take the city of Sardis should the Seleucids refuse our offer to become a protectorate of Rome. II legion will have to form the main force in resisting and move by Pontus or Egypt to move against Phrygia, Ionia or Lycia. Quintus Victor, currently enjoying semi-retirement on Rhodos, is now raising the VI Legion which will be used to strike at Cyprus when the seas have been swept clear enough of Egyptian ships. I Legion is already enroute to Cyrenaica and will establish a Scipii presence there before moving east to Alexandria and the Nile.
Over in Europe, V Legion will be shipped across to Phrygia while III and IV Legion consolidate the line of the Danube and the eastern passes through the Alps. All crossing points will be blocked to prevent foreign agents from entering our territories or other Roman factions from making trouble north of the Danube. Any foreign agents currently south of the Danube will be hunted down and eliminated. Finally, it is planned to expand the fleet to something near 350 ships in order to be able to fight the navies of both Pontus and Egypt should the need arise and to blockade their harbours.
Guyus Germanicus
07-10-2006, 18:55
Those are the most amazing map screens I've ever seen, both in terms of the campaign conquests and the money amounts. Jaw-dropping money amounts?!?!
Wow, SWT. Amazing. . . .
Pontifex Rex
07-29-2006, 20:39
Consolidating an Empire
Report to the Senate Spring 240 BC
There was little major action in the previous five year period and the Scipii faction have limited there expansion to Noricum, Ionia and Cyrenaica. This means that the Scipii have secured the entire length of the Danube (except for Thrace) as well as the exits from the Italian pennisula to the northeast, north and northwest, only the pass through the Alps between Cisalpine and Transapline Gaul remain open to non-Scipii traffic. A brief foray north of the Danube into Bohaemum was successful and that province was turned over to Germania in order to buffer those tribes against the larger and more aggressive Britons now driving deeper into northern Europe.
The army now consists of five mercenary (I, II, III, IV and VI) and two Roman (V and VII) Legions. I Legion is currently in Libya, tasked by the Senate in capturing Siwa. While it was hoped to avoid war with the Numidians, the capture of Siwa will put the Scipii in a good position for attacking the heartland of the Egyptian Empire when the time comes. II, V and VI Legions are in Asia Minor, III Legion is in Paionia near the Thracian border, IV Legion is currently withdrawing from Bohaemum and VII Legion is completing its concentration in Sicily. The fleet, some 280 ships is currently concentrated mainly in the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea with small squadrons in the Black Sea and the western Mediterranean.
Five Year Plan for the years 240 - 236 BC
I Legion will complete its conquest of Siwa and then position itself to be able to strike at either Middle Egypt or Nile Delta. II, V and VI Legions will invade Pontus in support of our Thracian allies. This may draw in the Egyptians who are currently fighting Parthia and Armenia but it is hoped to avoid war if possible. III Legion will watch the Thracian border and be ready to strike at Tylis if the Thracians betray us for moving into their sphere of influence. IV Legion will watch the upper Danube and defend the northern border against either Briton or German incursions. Finally, the VII Legion will complete its concentration in Sicily before be transported to Spain to hem in the Julii's offensive there.
There is currently no plans to expand the army further as the seven main legions (I - VII) and three garrison legions (XI [Danube], XIII [Greece] and XIV [Asia Minor]) are all that is needed. Casualties will be replaced in Roman formations and mercenaries hired to replace losses among those formations. The fleet will be expanded only if war with Egypt breaks out.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/Scipii240AD.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IVLegioninBohaemum240AD.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/TheArmyinAsiaMinor240AD.png
CountMRVHS
07-29-2006, 20:56
Pontifex Rex, great write-ups! I notice you allow the AI to run your non-governed cities. How do you find that works? I often think about doing that, especially since I tend to find the city-management very tedious in the late campaign when you've got dozens of cities. Might also be fun for realism, as you'd need to get a governor installed in order to force production down a certain route.
Pontifex Rex
07-30-2006, 01:49
Pontifex Rex, great write-ups! I notice you allow the AI to run your non-governed cities. How do you find that works?...
Thanks very much.
It works quite well, actually, I 'guide' the cities by clicking off the AI and directing production when necesaary but otherwise set the slider to 'save' rather than 'spend'. Sometimes I'll 'uncheck' both AI production boxes and run the city w/o a governor. This allows for more fiscal planning and less silly purchases. I use governors when and if the strategic situation allows for them.
The plan for using mercenaries has worked quite well thus far but is very expensive. It will be a long time before I will be able to break 25,000 denari.
Cheers.
Roman_Man#3
08-02-2006, 16:26
:2thumbsup: Hey, I started a scipii campaign and thought id leave my thoughts and what-not. I started by taking sicily (sorry about lack of detail, i did it a while ago and i forget now), then i landed a relativly large army, divied it up into 2, and attacked Thapsus and Carthage simultaniously. Then i took Lepcis Magna. I then waited a while, regrouped and launched an attack at patavium and mediolanium. Having lost in battle at mediolanium multiple times and experiencing heavylosses but also inflicting some, i attacked with barb mercs to start the sige be4 the main force got there. The enemy general sallied and i annhilated him :laugh4: :2thumbsup:. so ive secured a place in the barbaric north, and because i know when the julii tech up and the civil war comes, Ill have some pretty good cities at the north of italy so i can sandwich the romans between them and capua :2thumbsup:
I plan on attacking the greek cities soon, hitting sparta and then moving north from there...
ill notify u if anything happens
Roman_Man#3
08-05-2006, 04:18
sry, wont be telling anyone what hapens! I had to reinstall my game and i lost the save file. sry
l8er:2thumbsup:
Roman_Man#3
08-05-2006, 04:22
Her Pontifex,
i find ur strategy and professionalism using and keeping track of the legions very cool. i love reading ur posts informing us of ur plans and stuff.
its so awesome to read!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work
l8s:2thumbsup:
Roman_Man#3
08-05-2006, 16:54
:2thumbsup: hey,
:2thumbsup: i just started another scippi campaign. so when i started, i filled the boats near capua with the trrops there, leaving a governor and one unit of hastati. i sent the boat full of troops to the coast of thermon. my troops on sicily waited in messana. u realized that carthage had taken syracuse, so theyre army was a little weak. i split up my troops and attacked syracuse and lilybeaum. i sent a spy to syracuse before i attacked, and he let me in. once i captured it i enslaved the populace. i then sent the spy to lilybeaum before my other army. he let them in and i enslaved the populace.i thought it was pretty awesome. meanwhile, across the ionian or whatever. i took thermon and appolonia in the same turn. i waited a couple turns then i took troops from lilybauem and syracuse. i got me a full stack, and i transported them to africa and took thapsus, im in the middle of taking carthage. i dont know what im gonna do next, probably take some more settlements on the greek peninsula.:2thumbsup:
later,
roman_man#3:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Pontifex Rex
08-07-2006, 22:17
Her Pontifex,
i find ur strategy and professionalism using and keeping track of the legions very cool. i love reading ur posts informing us of ur plans and stuff.
its so awesome to read!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work
l8s:2thumbsup:
Cheers to you Roman Man#3. Stay tuned.:book: A new chapter is ready to go.
Pontifex Rex
08-07-2006, 22:20
Marching through Asia
Report to the Senate - Spring 235 BC
Much to the reief of the leaders of the Scipii faction Pontus declared war in the spring 240BC after a failed assasination attempt against one of their family members. The Scipii army in Asia immediately struck deep into Pontian territory with a three prong offensive. V Legion in the north attacked and took Nicomedia and then marched along the north coast to Sinope. The fight for Sinope was bloody but the facilities their have since allowed V Legion to begin a major refit and regrouping effort with improved armour and weapons. The center thrust was carried out by the smaller mercenary VI Legion who easily took Ancyra and defeated two rebel armies. Most of VI Legion cohorts have been transferred to make up losses in the II and V Legion and it is now reconstituting as a mixed Mercenary-Roman legion near Sardis. The southern thrust was carried by II Legion which fought three major field battles and two seige battles which resulted in the conquest of Cappadocia and Assyria, thus finishing off the Pontian kingdom.
Meanwhile, down in Libya, I Legion was denied the prize of Siwa when the Egyptian arrived at the city first, laid seige to it and then captured it. The Egyptians also attacked Parthia at the same time and are currently laying seige to Seleucia. Egypt is developing into a major threat and will need watching. Finally, the small VII Legion landed in the Balieres Islands and have captured the city of Palma. Its commander, Servius Scipio is about to land on the island and raise mercenaries to flesh out the legion before it sails for Baetica.
Five year plan for the years 235 - 231BC
The entire army in Asia is in need of at least one more year of rest and refit but the situation in Babylonia and elsewhere may not permit any delay. II legion will march to the relief of our allies at Seleucia while V and VI Legion move to the borders of Cilicia. If Seleucia falls it will mean war with Egypt and these two legions will drive south to Judea while II Legion captures Egypt's eastern territories. I Legion will attack Siwa and then push on to Egypt proper supported by reinforcements from Greece brought by sea.
III Legion is still on the borders of Thrace while IV Legion has moved west to the borders of Lugdinensus in preparation for attacking the Gauls in support of VII Legion. VII Legion will carry out the landings in Baetica with the objectives of Corduba and Numantia in order to cut off the further conquests of the Julii faction (who are getting far too powerful).
The Scipii factions popularity with the mob has grown substationally over the past 5 years and some have mentioned the possibility of seizing power and forming a dictatorship. At this time it must be stated that the Scipii are and always have been loyal to Rome and to the Senate, any other declarations are scandalous lies.
_______________________________________________________________________________
II Legion prepares to depart for Babylonia. The troops to the southwest are 7 bands of Scythian mercenaries while those to the northwest are replacement Hoplite and Thracian mercenaries to reinforce the II Legion.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IILegionatHatra.png
V Legion continues its refit at Sinope. It will depart for Cilicia in the fall of 235 BC
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VLegionRefits.png
VII Legion prepares to depart Palma while Servius Scipio arrives to take command
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VIILegionatPalma.png
Roman_Man#3
08-07-2006, 23:24
hey:2thumbsup: pontifex,
on the world map or whatever its called, i noticed what i thought was the dacia was up in Locus Gepidae. is it really them? ive never seen them that north. just wondering.
l8s:2thumbsup:
ps. oh and good job in the turkish theater.
Pontifex Rex
08-08-2006, 02:16
on the world map or whatever its called, i noticed what i thought was the dacia was up in Locus Gepidae. is it really them? ive never seen them that north. just wondering.
Yes, that's them. If you back a few posts or to the top of the page you can trace just how big they got. At one point they got as far as west as Noricum.
CountMRVHS
08-12-2006, 03:57
Ok, now I have to ask: how on earth do you keep track of your individual legions by number? I can keep track of certain family members, and remember which army I've got with Gaius the Killer, but II Legion, VII Legion...? Is there some feature I'm missing whereby you can label your armies, like the renaming cities feature in BI? Or do you keep track of it with a notepad?
You do a great job with these writeups, so I'm naturally curious how you go about recording it all. Keep it up!
CountMRVHS
Pontifex Rex
08-12-2006, 21:26
Ok, now I have to ask: how on earth do you keep track of your individual legions by number? I can keep track of certain family members, and remember which army I've got with Gaius the Killer, but II Legion, VII Legion...? Is there some feature I'm missing whereby you can label your armies, like the renaming cities feature in BI? Or do you keep track of it with a notepad?...You do a great job with these writeups, so I'm naturally curious how you go about recording it all. Keep it up!
I usually do it by the name of the commander and by breaking the action every 5 years (ten turns) for the right up and to let the scribes make their notes. If the action gets hot and heavy a few notes on the side can be kept. The garrison legions are set and deployed by geographical regions, i.e. XIII (Greece). Its four patrols are stationed about 1.5 turns apart and do not move unless they spot a rebel group or are shipped off to another legion (very rarely). Finally, once a legion starts driving in a ceratin direction, it will likely keep going, so its easier to keep track that way as well.
Being a bit anal about things doesn't hurt either. I like a tidy empire and a tidy battlefield. I also do not mind spending the time necessary to keep track of the story,... I'm in no rush to finish a game. ~:)
Pontifex Rex
08-19-2006, 00:27
Crisis of Empire
Report to the Senate - Spring 230 BC
The campaign in Asia against the Egyptians began much as had the one against Pontus, agents moved out in advance of the armies to gather information and assassinate any unwary army commanders and royal family members. A failed assassination attempt against the heir, much as had happened with Pontus, brought an Egyptian declaration in the spring of 235 BC. Unfortunately for the Egyptians their armies were not placed to advance against the Scipii holdings in Asia as they had just been defeated in Babylonia.
II Legion (Asinius Marcellus), having just finished refitting in Hatra, had planned on marching to our Parthian allies aid but instead moved southwest and took Palmyra, although at a heavy cost, after two field and one seige battle. Unfortuntely, while laying seige to Damascus, plague broke out in the city, and though an Egyptian attempt to raise the seige was easily destroyed but the II Legion could not escape the effects of the plague as the city fell in 231 BC. This once powerfull legion has been slowly decimated over the last year by the effects of the pestilence. Damscus is currently under Imperial Quarantine.
Meanwhile, V Legion (Decius Victor) closely followed by VI (Vibius Sejanus) wheeled inside of the march path of II Legion and struck for Tarsus and Antioch. By the time both legions had cleared the mountain passes three Egyptian armies had arrived to do battle. The could not save Tarsus but did pose a threat to V Legion as it marched through the narrows between Antioch and the mountains. Much of the pressure was relieved when the horse archer host of Scythian mercenaries attacked the Egyptian columns from the east and V Legion went on to take both Antioch and Sidon and has just finished refitting in southwestern Syria. VI Legion boarded ship in Cilicia and crossed over to Cyprus, quickly conquoring the island. VI Legion is now regrouping in northern Phoenicia, preparing to march on Jerusalem.
Lucius Scipio, the Scipii faction leader, was leading the I Legion in the campaign in Libya when, in the fall of 232 BC, a delegation from the Plebian class, posing as merchants, approached him outside of Siwa. They mentioned that the people of Rome and of the empire had grown to admire his miltary skills greatly and were growing restless under the thumb of the Senate and its corrupt ways. While stopping short of treason the delegates intimated that should Lucius make a bid for power he would find mind much support from the citizens of the city. Lucius replied carefully, as he feared a possible Senatorial trap, stating that he was a loyal citizen of the empire and that any changes in Rome would have to come through the legal means of senate reform, he would not consider military action. Using the excuse that he had a seige to run, Lucius thanked the delegates and sent them on their way with the promise to listen to their grievances in more detail on his return to Capua after the Egyptian campaign had been successfully concluded.
After the plotters had departed, Lucius send word to II, III and IV Legions to begin moving towards Italy. Unknown to Lucius at the time, II Legion was trapped in Damascus by the plague but III Legion immediately began to march from the borders of Thrace heading for Segestica and IV Legion withdrew from raiding rebel bands in Germania and is now camped in the Alpine passes leading from Noricum to Venetia. If the plague in Damascus contiunues, V Legion may be given orders to return to Campania in its place. Over in Iberia, the VII Legion (now under Captain Amulius) took the city of Corduba but young Servius Scipio fell in the battle when he was run through by a Carthaginian lance during a melee. Sextus Scipio is en route with Hoplite and Samnite reinforcements and will take command of the Legion and continue to attempt to block further Julii expansion.
With growing political instability within the empire it was decided to begin raising three new legions to cover both current Scipii holdings, fight the war against Egypt and be prepared for in case civil war broke out. Quintus Sextus is currently raising the VIII Legion from barbarian mercenaries up north in Germania and Scythia, Captain Augustus has begun training the IX Legion in Sicilia and Numerus Scipio has undertaken the raising of the X Legion in Campania.
Five Year Plan for the years 230 - 226 BC
Lucius Scipio, known as "The Killer" for his ruthlessness with enemies, is currently on the Libyan coast marching westward to rendezvous with a naval squadron that will carry him back to Campania where he will take command of the IX Legion when it arrives. Placus Nigidius is on his way to Siwa from Greece to take command of I Legion. In Asia, VI Legion along with II Legion will continue the campaign against Egypt. VII Legion will move north in Iberia and disrupt, as mush as possible, the plans of the Julii. VIII legion will back up the XI (Danube) and XII (Thrace) garrison legions. V Legion will board ship in Syria and sail for Italy where it will join with III, IV, IX and X legions and stand ready to ensure the survival of the empire and the dominance of Rome against all her enemies.
_______________________________________________________________
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/DamascusPlague230BC.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IIILegionMarches230BC.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IVLegionPrepares.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/XLegionConcentrates.png
Pontifex Rex
09-03-2006, 04:12
Civil War!!!
A message to the people of Rome from Lucius Victor, leader of the Scipii:
Citizens of Rome, we have been betrayed. I have brought my armies to these shores to prevent Rome and her empire from slipping into the hands of the wicked and corrupt. The Senate has debased itself, its members more interested in gaining wealth and power that performing their duties of governing, it has lost its moral authority to rule. The Julii and Brutii, rather than aid us in this noble cause of righting the wrongs of those appointed above us, have formed an alliance to overthrow the empire and establish the rule of selected families, perhaps even a monarchy.
When this crisis has past,...and it shall pass,...my armies will withdraw and the people of Rome will again be masters in their own homes. On this point, I give you my word as a Roman.
Civil war has to come to the empire. This spring the Senate declare both the Julii and Brutii outlaws as well as turning against our family. Lucius Victor had hoped to avoid war but the rot had sunk too deep. III and IV Legions immediately struck at Brutii and Julii positions in Venetia destroying a Brutii legion on the borders of Dalmatia and laying seige to the Julii city of Patavium. Patvium was liberated when the garrison attempted to break the seige with the aid of a relief column.
Meanwhile, in the south of Italy, V and IX Legions landed by sea and marched to Croton and Tarentum, laying seige to both cities, both cities fell in prepared but bloody assaults against trhe walls. X Legion stands on the border of Latium, prepared to defend Capua against the armies of the Senate should they move against us. In Spain, VII Legion destroyed a Julii legion, ending the attacks against the Spanish and opening the road to Numantia. Finally, II Legion, final free of the plauge, has begun its march on Bostra while VI Legion captured Jerusalem. Unfortunately for VI Legion, plauge has broken out and the legion is now under quarantine.
Immediate plans for the years 227-226 BC
V and IX legions will march north to assist X Legion at Rome while III and IV Legion will destroy the Julii forces in the north. With five legions in Italy it is hoped the campaign will be short but the Julii are strong and are bound to strike back. VII Legion will continue to harrass the Julii in Spain while I, II and VI will continue the campaign against Egypt. XIII (Greece) Legion, currently laying seige to Corinth will attack the city shortly and completely remove the Brutii from European territory. The fleet, now some 300 ships, will be tasked with preventing the Brutii from sending more troops to Italy from Africa. VIII Legion will continue to patrol in Germania, interfering where possible with Thracian attempts to expand further.
______________________________________________________________________
III and IV legions in Venetia
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IVLegionatPatavium227BC.png
V Legion regroups at Tarentum and IX Legion at Croton
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VLegionatTarentum227BC.png
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IXLegionatCroton227BC.png
VII Legion in Spain
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VIILegioninSpain227BC.png
II and VI continue the drive in Asia
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/TheArmyinAsia227BC.png
Roma Victor
09-03-2006, 22:50
As the Scipii I would first send down most of you units from your capital towards The Scilian Island and start making more as soon as possiable. The take lilybeam and Syacuse as quick as you can. When you take syracuse i would make it your capital city because of the all the trad routs and incomes it gets plus it will later become the central part of your empire. Also I would try to beat the juli to the island just north of charthage for future western expansion. Then build up a huge army of hasti and calvary and about 3 generals to take charthage main two cities. I always take Thapus first and then go for charthage. While you are doing this you are building more troops to take on the eyptians and numbia. I always take the western route so When I ake on egypt I cover my backside. Because usally spain leaves you alone. Don't worry about charthage after you take their capital just hunt down the remaining ones on the North African coast try to bribe any of their generals because you need them to be commaders and governors. While taking egypt I take all the eastern island so I don't have to ship troops so far. I also take the southern part of greece so as soon as I can I am next to my roman brothers to backstab them. If you have te money and troops build a couple of forts by their capitals and rome with a full garrison. After egypt i use the red sea as a stopping point, I head back west to take out the spainish. I usally stop at the spain-france border. By this time I can take out the julii and the bruti. I always sack their cities so if i lose them the are worthless. Well take is how i took down rome and her alllies.
Roma Victor
"As he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him".
Roman_Man#3
09-03-2006, 23:03
very interesting roma, but lacks a lot of detail.
GeneralHankerchief
09-12-2006, 03:09
I return to the Guides forum after a long absence.
How many of your RTW games have lasted 100 years? Well, my Scipii game has just passed that mark and the Civil War hasn't even started yet!!! :fainting:
Started out pretty generically - I take Sicily, island hop, Western Africa is mine. Crete and Rhodes are also nabbed before those nasty Brutii can take 'em. Anyway, here's where things start to get interesting. The Brutii, having taken all of Greece, decide to expand north and into Eastern Europe. So they leave me with two big empires to take down: Pontus (Asia Minor and the Parthian/Armenian territories), and good ol' Egypt, which owns the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean.
So the conquering begins with a man named Secundus Dolabella leading a half-stack and taking Pergamum, finishing off Greece in the process. Cue up the Pontic full-stacks. Army after army dies at the gates of Pergamum, without success. They breach the walls, they break the gates, but they just can't take the streets! It was some of the toughest defensive fighting I've done, and loved it. The highlight was when there were two full-stacks attacking from opposite directions. Obviously, one of the gates were gained but I had my Arcanii run all the way across the city and ambush the attackers who were making their way up the streets. Heroic victories were common.
After reinforcements arrive there are dual armies making their way through Asia Minor, killing stack after stack of Pontic troops. Secundus dies as faction leader with something like ten command stars, six heroic victories, and a lot of influence.
Meanwhile an effort is made to capture the Nile, with success. The Egyptian stacks are even more numerous though, but luckily enough troops were brought over so that the generals weren't forced to remain in a city at the mercy of the enemy.
It takes forever, but Egypt and Pontus are conquered and driven deep into the desert. Meanwhile, back at home things look ok. There is an obvious rivalry between the Scipii and the Brutii with the Senate favoring us. The Brutii are the more powerful faction in terms of military, but the problem is that all their forces are out in the middle of nowhere or assisting the incompetant Julii in driving the Britons out of Europe.
At the moment, it is 170 BC and there are four non-Roman factions left: Spain, Brittannia, Pontus, and Egypt. Spain is about to be conquered by the Julii. Brittannia is fighting valiantly but losing their grip in Europe. Pontus, bled out by Dolabella, hasn't been on the offensive in twenty years. Egypt is the only faction that can threaten, but they no longer have a financial advantage. So the time has come to attack the other Roman factions.
The brass in the Scipii family, Julianus the Killer and Lucius Scipio (until recently, the only actual Scipio left), have decided to do a three-pronged attack. Large, powerful Roman armies will strike Tarentum, Corinth, and Byzantium simultaneously. Everyone waits in anticipation as the long rivalry is about to be turned up a notch...
(The storytelling baton is passed back to you, Pontifex Rex. Hope you don't mind that I interrupted.)
Pontifex Rex
09-12-2006, 06:22
Hope you don't mind that I interrupted
Nah,...go ahead. I'm off to wargame tournament in a couple of days and may not have time to post the next chapter beforehand.
GeneralHankerchief
09-19-2006, 23:45
Good God, this is a refreshing change, I'm in the fight of my life here.
When we last left off the civil war was about to start, with me preparing to strike Tarentum, Corinth, and Byzantium simultaneously, along with continuing to finish off Egypt. The results were mixed.
Tarentum - taken without difficulty. This was the first strike. Seeing as how the culture was Roman and was close to my capital (Syracuse), I occupied. After five turns of constructing the typical starting garrison - two archer auxilia, two legionary cohorts, one Roman cavalry - I moved on to Croton. As soon as it's taken, the Julii amphibiously land a medium-size force consisting solely of Praetorian and Urban Cohorts. Wow. I do the best I can but am hopelessly outnumbered and outclassed. Tarentum falls and they exterminate it. As soon as that happens the army in Croton hires mercenaries to garrison it and immediately resieges Tarentum. It is retaken and that's where the army is now.
Corinth- The Wonder was a huge boost for my Eastern settlements. I was expecting a Brutii effort to reclaim it but none came. I figured that this would be my primary expansion point in Greece, while Byzantium held off the brunt of the armies. Boy, was that silly of me. All of a sudden the Pelloponessius is clogged with Brutii troops. Good ones, and lots of 'em. The reinforcements trying to help were defeated soundly, but luckily both generals survived. The army trapped in Corinth is extremely high-tech, but I don't know how much more they can take.
Byzantium: This is the new Pergamum. The poor troops in the city lost their 65-year-old general before the first Brutii assault, so they had to repulse it without a leader. I had to bring Decimus Scipio, Lucius' son, all the way from Memphis to help out. More battles have been fought but this army, unlike the one in Corinth, is in good shape. Once this last siege is repulsed I think I'll go on the offense.
Egyptian front: Two armies are making their way through the desert, little by little whittling away at the Pharoah's power. The Egyptians have been completely cut off from water (including the Red Sea), but it's been costly. Lucius' son Titus in his first action, was killed by an Onager in the taking of Petra. That hurt, but my heir himself died in a massive battle for Bostra sometime later. Right now Lucius' former army is bloodied, in a city not high-tech enough to retrain, and with several large Egyptian armies nearby. I'm sending the other force to assist, but it's going to be hairy.
Future plans: Gentlemen, this is where I'm stumped. A new army in Sicily is being created but that's a little off. I'm thinking about sending the Italian army to Western Greece to help out. Anyone have any other suggestions? I'm really enjoying this campaign right now and don't want to lose. :2thumbsup:
Seamus Fermanagh
09-20-2006, 00:22
Fight defensively against your fellow Romani and level Aegyptus. Might want to build one amphib strike force to single-turn land and destroy their coastal towns -- economic war. Or send a youngling out to get Horse archers and then play mongol with that half stack. In general, keep them distracted while you consolidate Aegyptus and rebuild class armies.
GeneralHankerchief
09-21-2006, 22:26
Thanks for the advice, Seamus. Not much has happened since I last posted, but the Brutii have suffered. I have a blockade of all their cities in Greece going, which is playing havoc with their economy. Secondly, Athens is mine. I think I've finally bled them out in Lower Greece, but now I have to worry about all their northern armies shifting down from fighting the barbarians. Luckily, this is having an effect as much of their northern territories have rebelled.
The bad news is that the Julii have now taken an active interest in Tarentum. My plans of sending that army to relieve Corinth have been delayed. Looks like the new army will first see action in Julii territory to distract them a bit. Meanwhile one of my forces in Egypt is on the march to Seleucia, where they can rebuild. My navy is being kept busy with the blockade of Greece and ferrying young generals to where they need to go.
As of now, things aren't looking too bad. The only two variables are how many men the Pharoah has around Seleucia and how focused the Brutii will be on Byzantium.
Roman_Man#3
09-22-2006, 01:05
do u have any screenies
Pontifex Rex
09-24-2006, 00:26
The Power and the Might
A Report to the Senate of Rome - Spring 225 BC
Greetings Senators, you are welcome to the new Senate and the Emperor looks forward to a successful term of governance with you as we rebuild the shattered political institutions of Rome. As Lucius Victor Scipio is currently campaigning he has asked that the following be passed on to the people of Rome through you.
Since the ourtreak of civil war some two years ago the legions of the legal government of the people of Rome have been successful and it is hoped the war will be ended before the next time we meet. Too, there has been treachery as Thrace, casting off her long alliance with the people of Rome, have declared war and even know march on our Danubian provinces. They too will have to be dealt with.
I Legion (Captain Herius) is currently finishing its campaign in Egypt and its lead elements have closed on Thebes. II (Asinius Marcellus) and VI Legions (Agustus Ignatius) have broken the power of Egypt in Asia, although the cost was high. VI Legion is completing a refit in Jerusalem after the latest round of plague claimed its share of victims. VII Legion (Sextus Scipio) in Spain has taken Numantia and is pressing northward against continued Julii resistance while a new garrison legion (XIX Hispaniae I) is being raised to secure the liberated regions.
Along the Danube XI (Danube) Legion is being strengthened with cavalry and the two young generals (Vibius Manilus and Spurius Paulinus) have been dispatched with their escorts to reinforce the Danube and Balkan provinces and to raise barbarian infantry to expend against the Thracians. XII (Thrace) garrison legion has been ordered to concentrate its patrols and eject the Thracians from their home province, driving them north of the lower Danube. Meanwhile, VIII Legion (Quintus Sextus) has moved south from Germania to engage the Thracian army most directly threating the frontier.
In Italia, III Legion (Luca Ahenobarbus) after a serious mauling is now refitting near Mediolanium while IV Legion (Flavius Scipio) lays seige to the city. V Legion (Decius Victor Scipio) has just finished destroying the largest of the former senatorial armies and is now pursuing the remaining elements near the mountains to the north of Rome. IX (Lucius Victor Scipio) is refitting in Capua while X Legion (Publius Scipio) is doing the same in Rome.
Finally, the fleet has all but swept the eastern and central Mediterranean of enemy ships while the remnants of a once powerful Julii fleet still harras us in the west. The Thracian fleet numbers some 100 ships and currently out numbers our own squadrons in the region which could cause some minor difficulties for trade and the movement of the Scythian and Sarmatian barbarian troops to Asia. Our fleet totals some 513 ships but is somewhat scattered at the moment as a result of running down enemy squadrons.
Five Year Plan for the Years 225 - 221 BC
I Legion is to finish up in Egypt and then take ship along with VI Legion to Tripolitania where they will begin the subjegation of the Brutii provinces. II Legion will remain in Asia and move eastwards to ensure that Parthia is not destroyed by the ever growing Armenians. XVI, XVII and XVIII (garrison) Legions will be raised to ensure the peace in the Asian provinces. In Spain, VII Legion will continue to harrass the Julii taking the opportunity to capture any provinces except those of the Spanish. In the Balkans the VIII Legion will take the fight to the Thracians turning over any captured provinces north of the Danube to the German tribes (as a balance against the Britons).
In Italia, III and IV Legions will push through the northern Julii provinces with the goal of Cisalpine Gaul while IX and X Legions push northward through the Julii home provinces. V Legion will be moved by sea to Sardinia and then to Masillia to link with III and IV Legions. The fleet will reorganize and finish off any opposition at sea, ensuring the freedom of navigation for Roman grain ships and merchants.
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I Legion pursuing the campaign in Egypt. The legion is spread between the three cities.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/ILegionClearsEgypt225BC.png
IV Legion leads the seige while the weakend III Legion waits for reinforcements
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/IVLegionatMediolanium225BC.png
V Legion surpresses the senatorial rebels in Latium.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VLegion225BC.png
VI Legion, after the plague in Jerusalem, refits before shipping out for future campaigns against the Brutii
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VILegionPreparesforAfrica225BC.png
VII Legion in Spain has its hands full but is playing a vital role.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VIILegionmovesnorth225BC.png
VIII Legion marches to protect the Danube provinces
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VIIILegionEngagestheThracians225BC.png
Tellos Athenaios
09-24-2006, 12:38
The Power and the Might
A Report to the Senate of Rome - Spring 225 BC
Greetings Senators, you are welcome to the new Senate and the Emperor looks forward to a successful term of governance with you as we rebuild the shattered political institutions of Rome. As Lucius Victor Scipio is currently campaigning he has asked that the following be passed on to the people of Rome through you.
Nothing related to the actual topic, but: any report from a military commander to the senate would begin with 'I and my army are well'.
Good luck with the next bit of your campaign.
Pontifex Rex
09-24-2006, 15:56
Nothing related to the actual topic, but: any report from a military commander to the senate would begin with 'I and my army are well'.
Thanks for the tip, perhaps in the next Roman campaign I'll use that format. This campaign is its final stages since the fall of the Italian cities along with Thebes and Bostra should meet the fifty province requirements. The only hope for the AI is if both the Julii and Brutii strike hard but I doubt they will be able to much at this point (unfortunately).
Roman_Man#3
09-25-2006, 01:44
question.
in my current scippii campaign, carthage has turned into a huge city. but the marius event didnt happen. when the imperial palace is built, doesnt that trigger hte marius event? its been a awhile since its been built. an urban barracks has already been erected/ no mairus event. this may be a problem or seomthing. plz help
GeneralHankerchief
09-25-2006, 02:25
It needs to be in Italy or Sicily to happen.
Pontifex Rex
09-25-2006, 05:05
Victory!
Romans!!
The war is over, the empire is secure. The Julii and Brutii have submitted to the lawful rule of the Senate and of Emperor Lucius Augustus. The emperor has declared a general amnesty for the surviving members of the other houses and commands that all efforts turn to defeating the foreign barbarians that surround the empire.
Ave Roma!! Ave Lucius Scipio, Augustus, Emperor of Rome and all the civilized world!!
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V Legion prepares to launch the final assualt at Segesta
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/TheFinalBattle223BC.png
The good citizens of Segesta open the gates to Decius Victor Scipio
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/VLegionattheGates223BC.png
Lucius Scipio, Augustus, son of Cornelius Scipio, Emperor of Rome.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/Gerryp1/LuciusAugustus223BC.png
Roman_Man#3
09-25-2006, 21:02
It needs to be in Italy or Sicily to happen.
ok, ill wait for that, but im pretty sure in an earlier gme, carthage has triggered the event, but it might be vrs.1.0. and thx for the reply
Seamus Fermanagh
09-25-2006, 21:38
ok, ill wait for that, but im pretty sure in an earlier gme, carthage has triggered the event, but it might be vrs.1.0. and thx for the reply
I play 1.0, and its Italy only -- but not Roman only.
In my current game, only the Bruti were left alive and I owned Italy/Sicily from the Alps to Lilybaum. The only city that I conquered without lots of smashing/extermination was Capua -- acquired as a rebel city when the Scip faction leader died of old age. Upon building a Carthaginian Royal Palace in Capua, I triggered the Marian reforms for the Bruti in Greece. 3-4 years later and they had 25+ marian units in the field and are now, less than 10 years later, fielding 80%+ marian forces.
So, if you want to stop Marian reforms, you have only two alternatives:
Wipe out every Roman faction entirely before 230BC.
Conquer Italy and then allow each city to rebel and murder/enslave the inhabitants anytime a city population goes over 20k or so.
Roman_Man#3
09-25-2006, 22:43
my current scippi campaign.
my vangaurd army
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3919/0016gg1.th.jpg (https://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0016gg1.jpg)
the enemy
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4055/0017kc1.th.jpg (https://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0017kc1.jpg)
the results. even though i lost, i inflicted massive damage
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9615/0018dc1.th.jpg (https://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0018dc1.jpg)
the main army
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1440/0020uz4.th.jpg (https://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0020uz4.jpg)
the results. i sent my hastati on their flank by themselves. they got decimated. but inflicted a lot of damage.
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5513/0021lq2.th.jpg (https://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0021lq2.jpg)
Pontifex Rex
09-26-2006, 02:09
So, if you want to stop Marian reforms, you have only two alternatives...
There is another way. In the campaign I just finished I kept the taxes at the maximum sustainable even though it meant larger garrisons. The high taxes automatically lowers growth of cities and one can also avoid the improvements that grant increases in Population growth. My major Italian cities had actually reached a population near 24,000 but ground to a halt with 0% growth. When the campaign ended in 223 there had still been no Marian Reforms. :shrug:
Handicapping oneself makes for a better game, too.
Empirate
09-26-2006, 10:13
Same for me, I almost never build farm upgrades, because you can't get rid of them. But in my current Julii campaign, I'm using temples of Ceres to get cities up to a useful size, then destroy them and replace them with Jupiter temples. This seems to work very well up to now. Of course, if you take a very small town and enslave/exterminate, it'll be a village of a mere 400 guys. If you play out your campaign at a halfway decent speed, this settlement will never grow big enough to cause you pains.
GeneralHankerchief
10-03-2006, 01:44
Short update on my campaign.
In addition to the forces already in enemy territory, I've entered two more Julii hornets' nests - Corduba and Massilia. Corduba should especially be interesting as Iberia is just loaded with Julii armies. The goal of these were to take the pressure off of Tarentum - which worked, that army is now headed toward Rome itself. Senate battles should be interesting.
Greece isn't going so well - I've lost Athens and Larissa is under immense pressure. On the plus side, Corinth has successfully repelled an assault with a much smaller force. Operations in Byzantium have halted due to plague.
I've checked out financial statistics, and the Brutii are either at zero or close to it. Which basically means that what they have military-wise is it. I guess the blockade of Greece really hurt them. The Julii however, are another matter. The burden of having to battle my armies will soon shift to them.
As far as Egypt goes, they're down to only Dumantha on the mainland, with an army en route. Once that's taken, I can finish them off at Cyprus at my leisure (assuming that they're not down to one family member).
Interestingly enough, I have made peace with the Rebel faction and even have trade rights with them! I've pushed for an alliance but it seems as if only they can initiate negotiations.
GeneralHankerchief
10-07-2006, 01:27
Anybody want to play a part in this one? I'm deciding on where to send my latest army. Here are the details so far:
Army composition: One general, four Praetorian Cavalry, three Archer Auxilia, two heavy Onagers, and about seven Praetorian/Urban Cohorts (yes, I use Urbans. You can lynch me). All have very good weapon/armor quality. They're going to be shipped out of Sicily.
Byzantium Front: The plague finally ended, and I'm confident enough to advance the army. They're headed for Tylis under the command of Decimus Scipio, the faction leader. When I last quit the game, they were about to fight a huge battle with the Brutii.
Greek Front: Larissa is currently safe. Brutii still control Athens. There's one more army of significance in the area, with another lurking around Thermon somewhere. I don't know whether to send the main army back to Athens, or have it go west while Corinth builds up a force to take Athens (not heavily garrisoned, but the trick is holding on to it).
Italian Front: After two battles, Rome is mine. In the process of garrisoning it. Some Julii armies are in the area but pose no immediate threat. I'm probably going to move on Arretium soon.
Alpine Front: Julii have lost 4,000 men in two turns trying to take my bridge at Massilia. My guys have a momentary breath before they come under assault again.
Iberian Front: Kind of static. The Julii have Corduba under siege, but I can repulse the eventual assault (this campaign has really made me proficient at siege defense :2thumbsup:). They have large armies in Iberia, but none near Corduba.
So the question is: Where do I send my new army? I'm thinking either Western Greece/Illyria and work my way to Patavium, or Northern Iberia to relieve both Corduba and Massilia. Another option would be to take Caralis and Palma before hitting Northern Iberia.
The new army will depart after I fight the battle in Tylis. Advice would be appreciated.
General Hankerchief
Roman_Man#3
10-07-2006, 17:35
in my experience and of others that ive read, brutii take greece(duh) so they tend to be richer, and thereofre have better armies. i would send the new army to greece and totally decimate the brutii. then you can send it across the aegean where egypt will probably have expanded and there you can use it to beat down egypts armies.
goodluck,
rm3
bedlam28
10-09-2006, 11:42
:help:
Quick question: Do I need to wait for the reforms to get Heavy Cav ? (please tell me I get Heavy Cav !!!)
I have taken Spain / Africa and now working 3 fronts - against the Brits to the West - Pontiac to the north - Egypt to the East.
But I've just been massacred by 5 stacks of Egyption Heavy Chariots, who rode through my Infantry like a knife through butter, set everyone routing; my equites wet themselves just seeing these chariots coming.
I need some equality power here.:help:
Roman_Man#3
10-09-2006, 16:21
hey bedlam, to answer your question, you do need the reforms for better cavalry than equites, although you can hire sarmation heavy cavalry up near the red or dead sea, i forget, well, near scythia. onbce reforms kick in, you get roman cavalry alot like equites, but i think a bit better, legionary cavalry, which are crazy good especially for such and infantry heavy faction like the romans, and preatorian cavalry, which are, IMHO, a little cheap. they are way to powerful, its a little cheesy. but for you every day needs against chariots, try triarii or the spearmen you can hire as mercs near the brutii town, merc hoplits, or legionary cavalry. if you use spearmen and good cavalry, you will be able to decimate those egyptian chariots.
bedlam28
10-09-2006, 17:40
Thanks Roman,
you will be able to decimate those egyptian chariots.
Ohh, thats what I wanna hear !!
I'm going shopping for Hoplites :2thumbsup:
Seamus Fermanagh
10-09-2006, 22:24
Thanks Roman,
Ohh, thats what I wanna hear !!
I'm going shopping for Hoplites :2thumbsup:
Spears are your best choice, but not solo.
Have velites in front, race the velites behind the hoplites as the heavy chariots come up, let the chariots hit the spears. As they hit, give the velites the command to charge with alt weapons so that they'll hit the chariots just as the chariots come to a halt before swirling. This will give you lots of kills with the velite bonus -- which only seems to work when the velites attack as they get chummed too quick if they await the charge. Scythed chariots are deadly while moving but not too scary at all on the moments they are still -- so hit them then.
Do NOT use cavarly against eggy chariots unless you must. The scythe blades will ruin your troopers and they can't take those casualties and stay viable. Cav can sometimes catch them from behind when tired and this seems to kill fewer of your horse troopers.
Eggy archer chariots you should shoot -- preferably with rental cretans. Don't bother with flame, their morale is excellent, but they can't take a hit for beans. They almost always deploy in skirmish mode so you rarely get to hit them with foot troops. Sometimes they will charge, but usually only when they can cheap shot a unit while you're busy with other attacks. If you have anybody close, try to hit them just as they stop from the charge just as you did with the heavies.
Thanks Roman,
Ohh, thats what I wanna hear !!
I'm going shopping for Hoplites :2thumbsup:
The hoplites, they are good including for Elephants, but the problem is a bad rear.They are nothing in hand to hand combat, think twice if you are going to send the hoplites to hand to hand combat.
If the chariots come to a frontal charge, it becomes an total fail for the chariots, they will have too many losses and you will lose noone, max 3 or 4
Guillaume le Batard
01-05-2007, 16:10
Playing my third RTW campaign ever, as the Scipii, on M/M.
I am currently calling my campaign the "sitzkrieg," as I have become more or less bogged down in North Africa, c. year 220 BCE.
I immediately took Sicily in its entirity, Carthage, Thapsus, Lepcis Magna, and Cirta. No serious problems economically or militarily, a couple of somewhat hairy battles with the Carthaginians, but nothing too serious.
Having played as Egypt previously, I was prepared for population growth problems, and of course realized that my first serious opponent would be Egypt, due to their massive wealth.
However, due to a combination of factors, I am really wondering whether I will ever be prepared to take on my fellow Roman factions, particularly the Brutii, who have taken all of Greece, Macedonia, and Eastern Europe at this stage.
Here's my problem: Economically, my finances have taken huge hits from restlessness in my N. African settlements. Despite following conventional advice (e.g. building Roman temples, slaughtering large cities I capture, etc.) I have had to put significant resources into maintaining large garrisions (town watch) in many of my "foreign" settlements. The fact that I was down to four family members for a while (gah!) really did not help my management efforts.
Militarily, I did not consider that the vast distances in N. Africa would end up creating such a problem in my wrapping up my campaign against the Numidians. Makes Greece look like a walk in the park. Stupid Brutii. Anyway, in the midst of marching all over the continent to conquer their remaining cities, the Egyptians (who had taken most of the middle east, plus a good portion of Asia Minor) decided they wanted Lepcis Magna, while three of my cities went to blue or red due to squalor.
Now, I have enetered into a massive naval war with ethe Egyptians, just to keep them from blockading my ports, and am winning thanks to my Quinqueremes. But the cost is killing me!
I have also taken Cyrene (sp?) from the Egyptians, and am slowly making my way towards Siwa... but in the process I'm facing year after year of multi-stack waves from the Egyptians -- it appears they have no other enemies at this point. I am winning every battle, but my offensive stacks are continually being ground down... I have probably killed 15 of their family their members in battle in the last 25 or so years.
I have no problem winning battles, but I am starting to question whether I will conquer Egypt in time to rebuild my finances, and grab what's left of Asia Minor before the Brutii take that, too. The Brutii are simply huge at this point.
So should I just start a new campaign, or slug it out and see if I can't ramp up quickly enough to take on the other Roman Factions and win? I certainly won't quit until I have wiped out the Egyptians - as I have now come to loathe them :furious3: !
PS - When does the game actually end? What year?
Thanks,
Guillaume
I have no problem winning battles, but I am starting to question whether I will conquer Egypt in time to rebuild my finances, and grab what's left of Asia Minor before the Brutii take that, too. The Brutii are simply huge at this point.
The Brutii are biggest, they are faster in conquering lands.
PS - When does the game actually end? What year?
Year 14
to Guillaume
first, try to snatch Halicarnassus if the Brutii didn't; it'll give you an edge in upgrading your cities quicker than your Roman rivals.
then, on your way to Egypt, conquer the mediterranean islands, Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus; they are money makers and you can use them as bases for futures conquests. If they are already under Brutii rule, send a couple of spies and assassins, and make them revolt before conquering them. (of course, have an army stationned nearby)
That's more money making for you and less for your rivals/enemies.
Cyrene and Salamis are great positions from where to take the Nile valley; from Salamis, you can launch an assult on Alexandria and disrupt the egyptian supply line along the shore. From Cyrene, you can either support the assault on Alenxandria or siege Thebes, the Pyramids will help you to keep egyptian cities under control.
If you can get the Brutii to help you in taking out Egypt (in Asia Minor I guess) so much the better; you should not suffer cultural penalty once you take them back from the Brutii during the civil war
Create unrest in the Nile valley too, every egyptian city which goes rebel is one less which builds units to attack you.
If you can send a plagued spy into those cities, that's usually a hard blow for the Ptolemees. It means you won't be able to take them (at least taking them with a family member) but it will buy you time to launch a campaign against them.
Likewise, keep a spy in your cities to prevent other's spies from creating unrest.
In North Africa, your priority should be to build highways wherever and whenever possible. Highways, a cavalry force (or two), and watch towers are the keys to holding Africa; it lets you enforce quickly the (trampling) Pax Romana.
...
pretty much all I can think at the moment.
Edit:
hum? promoted to member, yeah !
very important: Beat them, and beat them hard !
And thanks to whoever promoted me
Guillaume le Batard
01-05-2007, 18:02
Caius Flaminius:
Thanks. That gives me another 200 turns to win, which even someone with my limited skill set shoud be able to do! :yes:
Okay, time to do some damage to those Egyptians. :egypt: :whip:
Guillaume
Seamus Fermanagh
01-05-2007, 22:17
Use your naval superiority to gut Egypt at one stroke.
Construct 2 Assault armies and 3 occupation groups.
Assault 1: Gen, 2 Hvy Cav, 2 Onager, 5 Light Infantry (Glad, Peltast, Libyan, Slinger/Archer), 10 Sword.
Assault 2: Gen, 2 Hvy Cav, 3 Onager, 4 Archer, 10 Sword.
Occupation: 1 Rom Cav, 3 Archer, 4 Aux, 6 Peasant/Town watch.
Let the Eggies come forward to take back Cyrene. Make them bleed, but don't worry about keeping it.
Fleet all the offensive forces to Alexandria area. Take Both Alexandria and Memphis simultaneously with the assault armies, then stick the Garrison armies into the cities. Move out the strike armies first.
Rebuild one strike army while re-arranging all the whole units into the other. Send it to Thebes followed by one occ group. Take Thebes and occupy.
This will rip up the Eggies badly as Memphis is their lynchpin. Two wonders to you.
Re-arrange the field forces as follows:
Eastern Army: General, 3 Hvy Cav, 4 Archer, 1 Onager, 10 Sword, 1 your choice from slingers/peltasts/rental hoplites.
This army will defend Egypt from the forces streaming inward to retake it. Using the bridges you'll have a reasonable task.
Revenge Army: General, 1 Hvyy Cav, 4 Onager, 10 Sword, 4 your choice.
Put this army on a moderatlely powerful fleet and then smash every coastal town held by the enemy. Raze and sell off buildings. Should up your funds hugely. Jerusalem, Sidon, Damascus, Antioch, Tarsus, & Salamis are all in easy range of this force for one turn strike, sack, and destroy missions. Can even pause and conquer one or two (islandss are lucrative) if you see fit. This force should be poised near Rhodes to do the same thing to the Brutii when war breaks out.
Conquer Siwa, and any you've lost at your leisure.
this is somehow off topic
In English, how do you call the [guerre en accordéon] phenomenon ?
It describes the fact that in desert fighting, the further you get from your base, the weaker you get, because you are further and further away from your supply line and run more often out of ammo, fuel and men while the exact opposite happens for your opponent ?
just curious.
I have had to put significant resources into maintaining large garrisions (town watch) in many of my "foreign" settlements. The fact that I was down to four family members for a while (gah!) really did not help my management efforts.
Try replacing your town watch with peasants, the peasants are cheaper to recruit and are bigger so will give you a bigger garrison bonus per unit (i.e. less units to get the same effect)
Guillaume le Batard
01-09-2007, 20:24
Thanks for the advise, Squid -- you're absolutely right. However, I generally prefer to use Town Watch beacuse I just can't stand the thought of peasants being used as guards. It's a peculiarity of mine -- but I just hate peasant units.
But on the topic of unit prices - I noticed something a little unusual recently. Mid-campaign (about 30 turns ago), I switched my game settings to "Huge" unit sizes (I had been playing at the "Large" setting). Nothing happened. I didn't think anything of it, I just assumed that you cannot change unit size in the midst of a campaign, and carried on playing, quite happily.
Anyway, I noticed later that my unit descriptions now reference Huge unit sizes, and Huge unit prices. I double checked, and I *am* being charged at huge unit prices. :oops:
This may explain why I have been struggling financially in my campaign for so many years! The difference is sizeable in unit cost, but I can't remember what the difference is in upkeep... has anyone else seen this??
Guillaume
Negator_UK
01-15-2007, 14:03
this is somehow off topic
In English, how do you call the [guerre en accordéon] phenomenon ?
just curious.
We refer to "longer lines of communication", but this does not do justice to your phrase, which seems to translate "war of accordion" which is a musical instrument that extends and contracts.
If so then "Guerre en accordéon" is a fine expression and there is no english equivalent that I'm aware of. Bravo to the french for such a fine concept - I'll be including it in my (english) repertoire from now on.
Merci !!~:cheers:
de rien !
that's too bad, I was eager to learn a new, highly specific word, in order to appear as a bombastic person in social circles.
Aemilianus the Younger
01-31-2007, 05:30
When playing as the scipii, i always try to plan ahead to the civil war by taking cities in the theaters that are originally designated for the julii and brutii.
for example:
i usually try to take either Narbo Martius in southern gaul or pavatium&mediolanium to prevent further julii expansion further north.(requires lots of effort and needs to happen quite quickly if you are going to succeed, before 255 BC)
i also attempt to take some of the cities in Greece. If the brutii beet you to Apollonia then get thermon, Corinth, Sparta and whatever else you can grab because this is a very rich region of the map.(this should be a bit easier but you will still need 2-3 good generals to act as governors and generals for the more difficult cities. start this campaign in Greece immediately if you hurry you can beat the Brutii to Apollonia, but if you dont, no sweat, just land a bit further south neat Thermon... before 265 BC)
Of course you cant forget about the Carthage/Numidia/Spain Theater either.
When attacking Greece and Gaul, you can afford to stall a bit. I would recommend taking Caralis, Palma, Narbo Martius in this order asap. Use Gaius Scipio who starts out as an able commander and use him in three simultaneous amphibious assaults. Use your faction leader, Cornelius Scipio and his son Quintus Scipio in tandem in defence against the Greeks and Carthaginians on Scicily attacking an army or ungaurded city when possible. I always send Julianus Scipio or his son to Greece with as many units as possible as soon as possible. No delay should be taken. pick up any available units in Messana on your way. Once Southern Greece, specifically the Pelopennessus, has been taken, head over into Asia. Sardis and Halicarnassus and eventually Rhodes will give you some much needed advantages with their wonders.
Then it is completely your choice of where to head off to next. I prefer the Syria/Palestine area so you csn jump in between the Seluecids and Ptolomies. This is always fun and becomes interesting once you take Antioch/Sidon/Damascus/Jerusalem. Cyprus should be taken before the landing in Syria so iyou can have an area to regroup and retrain your troops in the case of a defeat.
But who knows, the Pontus dudes always get interesting. I have heard that Thrace and Scythia are alternatives too. never tried it.
But make sure not to forget about the brutii in Greece and the Julii in Gaul. Once you have made a bridge head you must not forget to mop-up.
And those retarded Elephant Riders will always be a pain in the ass until they are completly destroyed.
I play the scipii on H/H.
455trt43trg
02-05-2007, 17:07
How do I get legionares with eagle, first cohorts?
I have all buildings built.
They are recruited in Roma.
Or, you can gat them after a successful mission, sometime...
455trt43trg
02-05-2007, 22:38
Thaks for advice.
Finally has came my time to conquer Rome. :yes:
Do you have enough popular supoort to march on Rome ?
455trt43trg
02-07-2007, 07:57
Yes I have, but I probably need to train more troops before I attack.
Seamus Fermanagh
02-15-2007, 05:13
No need for more troops. If you have one good army, move it to the ford just outside the city. The Senate army can't resist attacking you there, so you get them and the Rome Garrison coming across the ford into you. Have fun.
I want to add to Seamus Fermanagh's advice. For best effect, stand on the ford with a slightly smaller army, because the AI cannot resist attacking a smaller army and it does not matter in practice if your army is smaller. Defend with your units in guard mode and fire at will, deploying them in several layers to cover each link of the unit in front. Guard mode is important because they will be less fatigued while doing as much damage to the unit that is attacking them and tiring themselves. A frontage of 3 units should be enough to defend the ford, with 4 in the second line, and another 3 or 4 in the third line. Put your general at the back to inspire your men while not exposing himself to danger.
455trt43trg
02-22-2007, 16:50
No need for more troops. If you have one good army, move it to the ford just outside the city. The Senate army can't resist attacking you there, so you get them and the Rome Garrison coming across the ford into you. Have fun.
I have very annoying bug against senate, game always crashes when senates army flees. I had to autocalc battles against senate. :help:
I have very annoying bug against senate, game always crashes when senates army flees. I had to autocalc battles against senate. :help:
Had you modded the game?
455trt43trg
02-22-2007, 18:07
Only made few normally non playable factions to playable.
Pannonian
02-22-2007, 21:47
I'd just like to add that I agree with every word Ray has said. Our thinking is so much alike, it's almost as if we're the same person.
dukehenry
02-23-2007, 17:41
Hello all, I have started playing RTW for a few days off and on and thought I would have some fun and play as the Scipii.
Anyway, I am playing on M/H and it is a truly challenging game. Anyway, I wanted to share an interesting turn of events that has occurred in the game I am currently playing.
It is around 125BC, and I have had some decent success in the game. I have Sicily, North Africa (excluding Libya, Cyrene, and eastward), the various western med. islands, and have started into Spain. I have taken Corduba, the town to the east of it, and am prepping to take Oslo.
The interesting part is that around 200BC both the Brutii and Julii went on the warpath, and really secured about 20 provinces each in their regular spheres of influence. The Brutii took the core Greek states, and plunged northward into the HUGE Thracian empire (which had taken over Macedon, Germania, etc.). The Julii conquered Gaul in short order and started to attack Thrace as well.
Well, once Thrace was gone, the two really sat tight for a while. While this was happening, Spain apparently decided to go on the offensive and they started to attack as well. They removed the last Gaulish center in Hispania, and then started attacking the Julii. And, winning convincingly. Gaul is in Spanish hands, and they successfully attacked Segestica, Mediolanium, and Arretium.
I was surprised to see the Julii get pounded so easily, I am sure they overstretched their resources and are now paying for it, but I guess it is working out well for me. I have been ordered to take back both and have been able to accomplish that task. Now, I think I am going to put my attacks on Hispania on hold somewhat to attack the traditional Julii targets so that I can grab up those provinces.
I would like to note that Spain really does like to fight at sea. With Egypt recently attacking me in North Africa, I am fighting battles requiring probably 500 ships per turn, and although I think I am wearing them both down, it really makes the game challenging!
Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?
guineawolf
02-24-2007, 03:29
Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?
no,i do not,you are the 1 having fun.Coz normally the julii will defeat the spain.And i never see Thrace expand that far,the germania are poor,it is acceptable,but the macedonian????i try scipii when i first played RTW coz i love that wolve logo and blue/white legion:yes: ,but i played it with small unit size,the size do affect alot,what unit size you played on???:inquisitive:
Seamus Fermanagh
02-24-2007, 05:16
I'd just like to add that I agree with every word Ray has said. Our thinking is so much alike, it's almost as if we're the same person.
Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!:devilish:
Seamus Fermanagh
02-24-2007, 05:21
Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?
That was a fun combo. I've seen Spain gathering quite an empire before. They actually do rather well against the Romans -- especially pre-marian -- when they start having lots of Bull Warriors in the mix.
Thrace usually gets snuffed, but if they turn the corner on the Dacians, they can end up with a lot of territory.
Sounds like Gaul bled Germany early in your game and left them both weak for the others.
How about Britain? Their chariots usually do well in comp v. comp?
Pannonian
02-24-2007, 06:21
Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!:devilish:
The game's over. Ray and I suffered from multiple personality disorder in the Mental Institution game, which was abandoned as a scum victory thanks to non-participation from the players. Ray's posts here were my attempt to create a non-Mafia background for him - not much point really, since the other players didn't post enough to make a game of it, and Ray and I weren't going to post any more than the others and draw attention to ourselves.
dukehenry
02-26-2007, 22:17
How about Britain? Their chariots usually do well in comp v. comp?
Britannia was actually doing quite well before I intervened. They had most of Germania locked up, and the Brutii had most of the northeast provinces rebel, and couldn't handle both simultaneously. The Julii were in bad shape, and were about to lose all of their Italian centres but I had to jump in. I took Segestica and another from Spain, and then Spain shifted all of its forces to deal with me.
Then, the Julii attacked Britannia and kicked them off of the continent. Of course it is interesting that the Julii are almost completely removed from Italy without the civil war breaking out yet...
Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!:devilish:
:bounce:
cough The_Don cough
Hasdrubal
03-13-2007, 05:16
The Scipii kick butt! I especially love rolling in the dough.
Beware of getting too overextended. I had a butt-kicking general (8-star) who rolled up Carthage and went on to Egypt and captured Alexandria - which promptly revolted and killed him.:skull: Not a good way to die.
pockettank
03-25-2007, 06:40
the way i did it proved VERY good:
1.take over sicily then caralis then ceasfire with carthage.
2.move in on the greek cities take out sarta/thermon then slaughter macedonia along with conquering salona/appolania
3.finish off greek cities on rhodes/pergamum ally with Thrace
4.next attack pontus/seleucid empire then armenia ally with parthia (if they still excist :beam: )
5.now kill thrace dacia and move into germania.
6.i didntfinish ff germania instead i assulted britannia
7. then i had about 40 provinces and 2million gold
8.took southern italy and rome then bought ast few provinces from julii for about 1.5mil owned 50 provinces exact -VICTORY!!!- damn slavery/extermination is fun w/ other romans ;P :whip:
guineawolf
03-29-2007, 08:33
i played as Scipii VH/VH at huge size,i think since this is my favourite faction(wolve logo),then i decide to played as what i want to be.First i didn't follow the senate orders to take sicily ,i go to greece instead,the apolonia is taken by brutii,then i decide to take salona first then Segestica,for supply...
then i found out i underestimate the AI,the Carthage take my Messana(it is ok,coz i oredi decide to abondoned it anyway),but then the Gauls come to my Segestica with 3000 men,i successfully defeat them with my family members bodyguards lost 1 FM(Family Member).Another 3000 men we get overwhelm by numbers coz those FM go to Salona,only 160 townwatch left.Segestica lost......:embarassed:
The Gauls didn't stop ,they come again to Salona with 1 more 3000 men army,
Salona lost......
Now what left is my Italy province,Capua,i got to used all i got to take greece.I search for weak spot when i recruiting new army,i decide to take Thermon since only 3 squads garisoning that city,i lead that only army 1500 men to siege Thermon.I take it down at second siege.
When i fortifying my Thermon,the Macedonians comes,2000men,my garrison army can handle that.The siege begun,Gneaus Scipio(last of the Scipii family)
and his 1500 men reinforce the defenders.We defeat the Macedonians,but i also lost the last of Scipii Blood:wall: (at the same time,the Gauls invade italy,
They sack Segesta,Arretium,the Julii left only the Ariminium and Caralis,if Ariminium and Rome lost,my Capua will be next..:sweatdrop: )
After the siege of thermon(Macedonians oredi own greeks,and the Greek cities left only Rhodes,Sparta and Pergamum),the Macedonians concentrate their army on Brutii since Brutii keep attack their Bylazora and Thessalonica.I take the chance when the southern Greece is weak and the Macedonians is busy with Brutii,i take Larrissa,Athens,Corinth then Sparta with only taking heavy casualties from 480 Spartans that garrisoning Sparta.I finally have a base supply line.:2thumbsup:
Since the trade is concentrate on greece,i set my Capitol at Athens,then i will have to take east of greece to assure maximum profit from the naval trade.
Until now -80BC i own 7 wonders,58 provinces form Cyrene,Siwa north to old Scythians provinces,and Damme,Batavodurum,Bordersholm and old Britons provinces,treasury 1.6 million(plus the 4 million if it do not lost at that force become protectorate bug) and net income of 50k per turn,8 Full stack legions,6 full stack mercenaries at least.the last foes of Romans-Armenians is exterminated,my current stand at Rome,senate is 6,people is 10,the Civil war ain't start yet,what i gonna do????:juggle2: :help:
There is no more land to conquer.....Any suggesttion from you guys??????
Severous
04-07-2007, 21:19
Hi guineawolf
I forget to look in this thread when I visit here. Its a great resource though and very helpful for advice and tips on particular factions.
Do you have a screenshot of your position?
It sounds as though you should be able to start the civil war. Popularity with the people is high enough thats for sure.
Scipii is who ive playing every now and then in the past few weeks. Only 20 years into it and its going OK.
At the top of this image is the Gaul Capital.
https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8656/a6da6.th.jpg (https://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a6da6.jpg)
Scipii will walk in and exterminate the population. Was it the heroic victory or the infamy of the extermination...whatever..the history books will remember it for a 100years by marking the map with crossed swords.
A factor in this campaign is our cultivation of Carthage. We are deliberately aiding Carthage. The remnants of a once mighty Scipii army here besiege Tinji.
https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7091/a7ln0.th.jpg (https://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a7ln0.jpg)
We want to capture and gift it to Carthage like so many cities before. Hope for some mighty battles against Carthage later in the game. Sacred bands and elephants with swarms of cavalry...will make a change from the stacks of town watch Carthage normally put up.
guineawolf
04-08-2007, 04:36
how do i get my screenshot?and how do i upload it?:sweatdrop:
i know i can start civil war oredi,with such resources i got.It just matter of time to overwhelm those fellow romans with my Wolve Legions.They dun attack me,I just feel not right to attack them,hah..:sweatdrop: .
Since i am playing at VH/VH,i think i am gonna play as Campaign VH/Battle Medium next time,coz my Wolve Legion get defeated very easily if they don't have a general,i try play it normally right then...:yes:
Hi! First, what i do - i sent my spy to Sirakuzi (sorry for my English). He open the gate and i get the city at the same turn. I masakre citizens and build bireme. Then i load one general and 2 gastat to my ships and sent them to Lilibaum. My spy go there too. At the secon turn my ships find the only one carphage bireme with great army with elephant aboard. I attak them and win. After this I have no problem to get all Sicilia to my hand and some time later to get Carphagen and Phaps, becouse bigest army of my anemy was destroied in the sea:laugh4: I train a lot of ships and get the sea domination. It is very easy.
doombringer
07-03-2007, 21:44
a little help:
i have taken n africa, most of spain and expanding east through mespotomonia from byzantium and coastal cities
pontus are eastern superpower, any tips for deafeating them?
Seamus Fermanagh
07-05-2007, 21:00
a little help:
i have taken n africa, most of spain and expanding east through mespotomonia from byzantium and coastal cities
pontus are eastern superpower, any tips for deafeating them?
Do not worry about their infantry. They have a decent force, and their legios give them some of your same skills, but they don't have the morale base to go toe-to-toe with your legions and win.
Their missile troops are pretty generic, and your archer aux out range them.
Their cavalry is good, and all of it shoots missiles (mostly javelins). It is not particularly faster than you are, though, so your cavalry can close and will do better in the hand-to-hand.
Their chariot archers are a pain in the posterior. However, your AA outranges them and, if they get stalled, an infantry swarm attack will cripple them quickly. Just don't charge them with cavalry if you can avoid it -- scythes cut up horsies too quickly. Pila tear them up if he's dumb enough to close.
doombringer
07-05-2007, 21:53
cheers for tips, generally they keep sieging me with full stacks, im defending pretty well with auxilia and legionary walls.
taking an opportunistic approach to taking their cities, smash n grab basically
thanks
doom
One thing to go along with the over-all campaign...enslaving is okay but just occupying a captured setlement isn't enough...your best bet would be just to exterminate the population of every settlement you capture so you don't need to go back to that settlement while punching say...Egypt in the face...extermination is the way to go...it's helped a lot and keeps me focused on taking out the next man in line...you can do what you please but this hint might help...good luck everyone
gardibolt
07-25-2007, 19:11
Extermination is often good policy in Egypt, where population grows at an uncontrolled, insane rate and the people are difficult to control (at least until you seize the Pyramids). But it's terrible policy in places like Numidia, which will never recover from an extermination due to their miniscule growth rates. The game is not one-size-fits-all.
Sonicdahedgie
07-28-2007, 01:25
Amen, Gardibolt! I made the mistake of slaughtering Nepte. Now it just kinda sits there, producing absolutely nothing, except a few denarii eaach turn.
I created my own little strategy, which I kow could be executed with either Scipii or Brutii houses.
I concentrated all my resources on getting through Sicily, and then taking North Africa. Once I had taken Carthage and Thapsus, I began to look for new fronts to fight on, since those cities are the powerhouses of North Africa. Then I hatched a little plan.
I remembered someone mentioning that AI tend to not attack islands. So, I used Sicily as a manurfacturing plant (all those cities that close together are PERFECT for making quick armies), loaded the stack onto my ship, and sailed east.
The only islands I don't control are Rhodes, the big island just north of North Africa, and Ireland and Britan (naw duh.)
Oh! Just thought of something! Which is better for your economy, islands or a concentrated blob of cities?
Seamus Fermanagh
07-28-2007, 02:29
Best for your economy is any city with ports/roads/markets and trading partners.
As to a slaughtered Nepte: Any turn you are not making "real" troops in Syracuse and Carthage -- where people breed like rodents -- you should be making peasants and marching them to your de-populated towns. Disband upon arrival and goose up the population to a productive level.
Red Spot
07-29-2007, 06:03
personally, not being near Roman cities as a Roman or Barb. towns as Barbarian etc etc, I'd say kill em all ....
you can give those slow-growing settlements a boost by sending some true Roman peasents over and disbanding them, and as you killed all the rotten non-Romans and populated the city good Roman people there is little problem in controling the place ..
G
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