My First Experience with EB

[procopius1980]

Off and on, I've been a total war player since December 2002. I had heard of EB off and on over the years, but I've never explored it until now.

In 1-2 hours of playing time (and much more reading about features), here is what I think:


I love the 4 seasons per year concept. I originally saw that feature in Lord's of the Realm II (still a good game), and I've preferred it above all. I am especially pleased that you are penalized for having armies on the field in Winter - excellent!
I read where faction leader and faction heir terms are being replaced with tradional ones, but my Casse family still has FL/FH. I did run the advisor script, so what did I overlook?
From fighting battles at the Greeks (sorry, RTW has me spoiled) and the Casse, I see that battles fight at a speed equal to MTW I. I much prefer the longer battles, as that allows for more time to fret about the outcome, and it gives you time to do something about it. Excellent work.
It's a nice feature that all the units speak their own language, although my wife remarks that the Casse sound like a bunch of mooing cows then I click on several units. It's still better than RTW's barbarian voices; they were poor in my opinion.
Speaking of which, it's a shame the units on the strategic map didn't get modified as well. I am guessing this is hard coded.
I love the more complicated building structure and governmental system.
Also the homeland idea is excellent as well.
This mod has an exceptional amount of documentation, and the new map looks fantastic. Thanks to everyone who has made this dream come true!


It is my tradition, if applicable, to always play the British first in any RTS/Turn Based Strategy Game. I have, therefore, elected to play as the Casse in spite of EB's stern warning that only those proficient with EB should try.

From the looks of things, I see two distinct and potential strategies for at least getting started:

The first is to sail the diplomat to the mainland to start a trade alliance with the Aduei. Upon moving the diplomat, disband that ridiculously high priced fleet. With an immediate defecit of 1300, taking 800 off is critical since the Casse's first objective, as I see it, is to conquer Britain.

Next, disband all the non-family units in order to start building an infrastruture and obtain the funds to field a large enough army to take the neighboring provence. The obvious disadvantage there is that chariots manuver well in the open field, but I don't think they'll be able to defend a gate or a wall. If the neighboring tribes want, they can take me about at will.

The second option is one I tried last night. We marched the army straight to the city and laid siege. The next season saw the enemy sally forth. Sadly, I lost both of my family members, but not before I slew most of their midland heros and sent many others scurrying. It looks like an adjustment is needed in terms of the chariots and infantry. Provided infantry take the brunt of the hero's attack, the chariots are excellent flankers. -- This option still included disbanding the ship once my diplomat was on the other coast.

I think I'll try the latter approach again. A well fought battle will bring a second province and enough wealth to defend both cities.

I'll use this thread as something of a blog. Comments are always welcome, and I'll let you all know how I do this evening.

[||Lz3||]

glad you like it , indeed it's my fav mod by far also , not a single other mod that I know is as complete as EB :2thumbsup:



and about your campaign I've never played casse myself but... I've read that if you disband all your troops you're exposing yourself to be attacked by eleutheroi :book2:

good luck! cheers :medievalcheers:

[Reverend Joe]

It's odd that the strat-map soldiers look the same; all of them have been changed.

Also, how exactly do you use chariots? I have always found them difficult to use, even in flanking; I usually reserve them for morale boosters or javelineers. Do you just charge and retreat, like any other cavalry?

[Senshi]

Yup, the first Eleutheroi encounters are the toughest one for the Casse.

The "economic" approach is senseless, with only one city, no matter your infrastructure, it will be very hard and time-consuming to pay a whole good army.

My approach with the Casse: Diplomat shipped to mainland, disband fleet (not affordable at all in the beginning, as you noticed too), diplomat then makes trade alliances etc.

With the starting money, I recruit all the troops possible so I can field every possible man, while my starting armies turn west and take Ictis, which in my opinion is not so hard defended. With the recruited troops replenishing my armies, I then take on the next settlements.

The settlements on the British mainland tend to have an excellent economy, and once you have three or four settlements, the money really starts to roll in.

Conquer all of the Islands and you are unstoppable, granted. You get a sh*tload of money every turn, have a completeley safe region and can fully concentrate on your campaign in Gaul.:yes:

The most difficult part really are the first turns...

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I think he means diplomats, spies, and assassins, because the generals and soldiers on the strat map have been changed. We just didn't have the FX people or time to do it honestly (outside of basic coloring of their textures). I actually did the only real changes on them I think - the sabaean diplomat and spy texture changes.

[procopius1980]

It's odd that the strat-map soldiers look the same; all of them have been changed.

Also, how exactly do you use chariots? I have always found them difficult to use, even in flanking; I usually reserve them for morale boosters or javelineers. Do you just charge and retreat, like any other cavalry?

My mistake. I was referring to the voices, not the appearance with regard to the strategic map units.

As to chariots, I am not very good with them. The first unit of midland heroes fell quickly by using facing them at the front with British Shortswordsmen. I then flanked the heroes with my chariots. While chariots may give a morale boost, they also scare infantry. Unfortunately, it took a while for the heroes nerve to give, but their eventual rout took another unit of spearmean with them. My mistake came when the second unit of heroes arrived. Instead of waiting for my shortswordsmen to get into position, I hit the heroes to the front with my general (the heir) and to the flank. While the heroes were eventually obliterated, the general was slain.

From there, the enemy routed. My men chased them back to the gate, where a unit of midland spear held firm. It was here that my second family member perished. In truth, I knew I didn't have time for a full game, so I was just experimenting. In a real battle, I would have pulled the chariots back sooner than I did. When I did pull them back, the spearmen sallied forth, but the morale was already so bad with my men that several units routed. It's definately a winnable battle in the second turn, I will just have to get used to some of the adjustments. (playing on H/VH BTW)

As stated in other posts, building up with one settlement will fail due to the time it would take and the eventual invasion. I will use my spy to march east and check out that city tonight.

[Swordmaster]

It's odd that the strat-map soldiers look the same; all of them have been changed.

Also, how exactly do you use chariots? I have always found them difficult to use, even in flanking; I usually reserve them for morale boosters or javelineers. Do you just charge and retreat, like any other cavalry?

I use the chariots to ride through the enemy line from one side to the other (that's from left to right, not front to back). That makes big gaps in their line, through which my swordsmen storm. I put the chariots in a square-like formation for that.

[Senshi]

Tell me if you find a city to the east of Camulosadae on the island :2thumbsup: or are you searching for Atlantis? ;)

I think you mean west...:juggle2:

Chariots are absolutely useless in frontal assault or close combat encounters.

Use them almost the same way as you use standard cavalry: Hammer and Anvil.

Assault the enemy with infantry head-on, go around with your chariots and smash into them from the rear, better: smash THROUGH them from the rear! Most of the enemies will fall in the moment of impact, given the huge Charge-Bonues of your chariots combined with their mass, and the rest of the formation will be completely messed up as your chariots push them aside and cause giant gaps for your infantry to fall in. But as soon as the enemy starts to defend himself (especially if they are spearmen) your chariots will fall like flies.:viking:

If you repeat this tactics for some time or have additional scary-factors like superior numbers, flaming arrows etc. the enemy will rout very quickly when your chariots smash into them.

Cheaper levy troops rout almost immediatly (at least for me) the moment of impact when 10+ soldiers die in less than a split second.:smg:

The run-them-through-from-left-to-right tactic is also quite good, by I noticed heavier losses and easier routing if I smash from the rear (but of course that only works if you have the room to surround and not if the enemy fields thousands of men):smash:

[Foot]

Chariots are there to disrupt not to fight. Use them and their javelins to whittle down the opponents infantry but be careful of enemy skirmishers, archers or slingers as they will tear your chariots apart. Chariots are generally good against cavalry. Against light infantry they'll die quickly so don't even approach them. Their uses against heavy infantry are generally to push through the formation, disrupting it and making holes, which you can then fill with lighter troops. Once a unit of heavy infantry is out of formation it loses a lot of its strength.

Generally, melee with chariots is a mistake.

Foot

[Bouketsu]

Tell me if you find a city to the east of Camulosadae on the island :2thumbsup: or are you searching for Atlantis? ;)

I think you mean west...:juggle2:


On the map, East = -> That way
West = <- That way.
To the East would be Gaul, to the West would be water, or Ireland. :P

[The Celtic Viking]

Chariots are there to disrupt not to fight. Use them and their javelins to whittle down the opponents infantry but be careful of enemy skirmishers, archers or slingers as they will tear your chariots apart. Chariots are generally good against cavalry. Against light infantry they'll die quickly so don't even approach them. Their uses against heavy infantry are generally to push through the formation, disrupting it and making holes, which you can then fill with lighter troops. Once a unit of heavy infantry is out of formation it loses a lot of its strength.

Generally, melee with chariots is a mistake.

Foot

What he said. The Celtic chariots, the Cidainh, are easily amongst my favourite units, and that's not solely based on their good looks or general coolness. Any cavalry foolish enough to expose themselves to these guys will be obliterated in a matter of seconds. There's not even a contest: chariots will win you a flank. Once they've done that, they'll be a nightmare for your enemy when they get around their backs.

Of course, in a melee against anything but cavalry, they'll die, just like they will if put against any ranged unit worth it's salt. They're expensive and extremely poor fighters in towns (though they have their uses even there, by giving your own men courage and striking fear into the hearts of your enemy), so they're not without weaknesses. Still worth it, though, if not in too great numbers.

[procopius1980]

I tried exclusively flanking with Chariots this evening and it's quite nice.

I was at Ictus (which takes way too long to reach). I made the mistake of trying to reinforce my army before entering the field. That ended with me being caught in winter and my men's morale suffered thanks to rationing.

I tried a second time by using my boat to transport my army faster. I still tried to bring in more men that I created at my one city, but they didn't make it to the fight before the Ictus garrison sallied forth. My heir was slain in personal combat against the garrison general. He was to have been supported by a unit of Celtic spearmen, but they didn't work up the courage to charge until after the our general was slain. From there, I moved that unit of spearmen back with the Gallic shortswords and the other unit of spears. The Gallics swords took a beating from the spears thrown before the charge, but the remaining general (2 in this army) did so much damage running from right to left that several units of the Ictus garrison routed. I followed up by charging all infantry and allowing the chariots to pursue the routers.

The battle ended when all units on the field routed. I suffered 48% casualties to their 50%, but bear in mind they outnumbered me 2 - 3. I am very happy with chariots, but I miss the glory of the cavalry charge!

Lesson learned: By using chariot flanking tactics, I can defeat the entire Ictus garrison on VH/VH with just my two generals, 2 Celtic Spears, and 1 Gallic sword.

I ran into a little technical problem whose solution I have read on this site, but I've read so many things that I cannot remember where I read it. I made the mistake of loading a save point without activating the EB script. Since doing so, I am passing a year and two turns, and there's no movement penalty in Winter. If someone doesn't mind telling me what to do, I would greatly appreciate the help!

[procopius1980]

Tell me if you find a city to the east of Camulosadae on the island :2thumbsup: or are you searching for Atlantis? ;)

I think you mean west...:juggle2:

Chariots are absolutely useless in frontal assault or close combat encounters.

Use them almost the same way as you use standard cavalry: Hammer and Anvil.

Assault the enemy with infantry head-on, go around with your chariots and smash into them from the rear, better: smash THROUGH them from the rear! Most of the enemies will fall in the moment of impact, given the huge Charge-Bonues of your chariots combined with their mass, and the rest of the formation will be completely messed up as your chariots push them aside and cause giant gaps for your infantry to fall in. But as soon as the enemy starts to defend himself (especially if they are spearmen) your chariots will fall like flies.:viking:

If you repeat this tactics for some time or have additional scary-factors like superior numbers, flaming arrows etc. the enemy will rout very quickly when your chariots smash into them.

Cheaper levy troops rout almost immediatly (at least for me) the moment of impact when 10+ soldiers die in less than a split second.:smg:

The run-them-through-from-left-to-right tactic is also quite good, by I noticed heavier losses and easier routing if I smash from the rear (but of course that only works if you have the room to surround and not if the enemy fields thousands of men):smash:

Hey! I know my directions, I just somethings get them confused in my head when I speak or type them.

Speaking of Altantis, perhaps you should try reading Stephen Lawhead's Taliesin since you subscribe to the theory that Atlantis could have been near Britain... or perhaps that's why you said it!

[Apgad]

Also check out this thread https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=104695 for more ideas when playing as Casse.

Welcome, and make yourself comfortable, you'll be playing EB for a while...

[bovi]

If you activate the script again, it should fix what has been wrong. The AI's finances may be broken for a while though.

[Senshi]

On the map, East = -> That way
West = <- That way.
To the East would be Gaul, to the West would be water, or Ireland. :P

Don't get your point. That was exactly what I was getting at. East is no Gaul, there is the Germanicum Mare. And I think everyone is familiar with the magnetic directions on a world map (at least I hope so...):book:

[Ludens]

Lesson learned: By using chariot flanking tactics, I can defeat the entire Ictus garrison on VH/VH with just my two generals, 2 Celtic Spears, and 1 Gallic sword.

Just in case you overlooked it: recommended difficulty for EB is VH campaign, M battles. Any battle difficulty above M will give A.I. troops large stat bonuses. VH doesn't make the A.I. more clever, it just allows their militia to beat up your veterans. Using a frail unit like chariots at VH is always going to be difficult.

Some people argue you should also use H or M campaigns, because then the A.I. factions are more willing to negotiate.

[part_time_player]

Playing as Casse recently on H/H, I sent the diplomat to Gaul and disbanded the fleet, spent all my cash on building roads and 1 or 2 extra units of men then on turn 2 marched everyone I had to Ratae (North of Camulosadae) and took the town. I lost enough men in the battle to reduce my upkeep to a level which allowed me to spend several turns building up my infrastructure in both settlements, concentrating on roads, farms etc. As this point I had an enormous stroke of luck, my leader Barae was wandering the countryside by himself to avoid the boredom of city living when he was attacked by the half stack rebel army that had been hanging around. Unable to withdraw, I auto-calced the battle and won! He wiped out their entire force and gained several excellent traits. With that threat removed I was free to leave both my settlements with a minimal garrison whilst a newly re-trained half-stack of spearmen, swordsmen and slingers marched around taking each settlement in turn. I concentrated every settlement I took on economic and growth buildings and with only half a stack in the field, and one levy spearmen for each garrison my economy was very strong. By the time I took Ivernis in southern Ireland I had a fleet built in Ictis (Cornwall) ready to ship the army back to Camulosadae for re-training and then across to Gaul to take the one settlement that was still rebel so I could establish a foothold without breaking any alliances. When the Aedui betrayed me and layed siege to the settlement, I fomed an alliance with the Sweboz, who are also allied with the Arveni (we are the anti-Aedui league) to keep my back safe and started to march my now full-stack of troops into the heart of Aedui territory.

Chariots have been very effective in my games also when I have used them correctly and I don't have much to add to whats already been discussed, my only other tip would be to make sure you make full use of your troops javelin throwing ability. I have won many battles with minimal casualties thanks to the enemies tendency to flee when over a quarter of their unit is wiped out in one combined volley from my entire force (especially with chariots nearby). You can then run forwards, finish off the last of the fleeing men before they can re-group and then re-group yourself to deal with the next lot. This is helped by the enemies tendency to attack in waves, just be careful their second wave doesn't catch you with your backs turned when you're finishing off the first.

Good luck, I hope you find it as much fun as I do!

[Hax]

Chariots can indeed be very useful. I use them in my Arche Seleukeia campaigns to slaughter enemy heavy cavalry.

[procopius1980]

If you activate the script again, it should fix what has been wrong. The AI's finances may be broken for a while though.

I hoped doing so would fix that, and I was early enough to start over, so I did. I'll start over a few times as I get used to some of the adjustments. Anway, I started over, activated the script, and it was Winter every other turn! I've read somewhere that you can mess up a registry setting by failing to activate the script everytime you start a new campaign or load a game.

I'll try it on VH/M if you all say so. I am just thinking, however, that I beat Ictus on VH w/ just 5 units, so why make it easier?

Thanks for the welcome. I can tell you guys love this, and I am loving it too!

[Swordmaster]

One thing you shouldn't do is start the script more than once in one gaming session. So if you quit one campaign and start another, you should restart the game.

[procopius1980]

One thing you shouldn't do is start the script more than once in one gaming session. So if you quit one campaign and start another, you should restart the game.

Excellent! Does that advice apply if you only load a save point as well?

[Redmeth]

Excellent! Does that advice apply if you only load a save point as well?

As long as it's the same faction you should be OK (you might get a few oddities if you save and load after a turn where you previosly loaded like 2 winters in a row, but with only one being real winter the other just looks like that on the strat map).

[Swordmaster]

Excellent! Does that advice apply if you only load a save point as well?

Yes, it does.

[procopius1980]

Chariots can indeed be very useful. I use them in my Arche Seleukeia campaigns to slaughter enemy heavy cavalry.

I remember playing vanilla RTW as the Gauls back in Fall 2005. Unfortunately, I didn't look deep enough to learn to pit skirmishers agaisnt chariots. Instead, I fought a horribly bitter war against my northern neighbors. Provided they had no chariots, my warband/swordsmen tore into the Briton's infantry, but any battle with chariots went to the enemy. I was amazed at just how bad cavalry lose against chariots.

With all those ports, and an excellent defensive position, it looks like the Casse are going to be able to field a powerful army. The only problem I see is that the army upkeep looks more like BI in terms of cost. At least that gives one the option of choosing lots of levies vs. elite units... something the barbarians didn't deal with in BI. As I recall, there was very little difference in terms of upkeep between the levy spearmen and Franciscan Axemen.

I've heard other people talk about a feature (if even possible) to allow levy units to be raised and active within the same term. I don't know much about the history of this time period, but I know this would have been a historically viable means of calling men to arms in the medieval period, and certainly in the Saxon fyrd system. I imagine this is a hard coded limitation as opposed to a gaming decision. These levies should have minimal movement points (just enough to move in their home territory), and they automatically disband at the end of the seaon.

From what I know of this period, most soldiers were also farmers. It was only the local nobility who had the wealth to pay men to be in their household and train with arms all the time. I know CA knew this, but they elected to rush MTW:II out the door rather than take the time to revamp it.

[Olaf The Great]

I remember playing vanilla RTW as the Gauls back in Fall 2005. Unfortunately, I didn't look deep enough to learn to pit skirmishers agaisnt chariots. Instead, I fought a horribly bitter war against my northern neighbors. Provided they had no chariots, my warband/swordsmen tore into the Briton's infantry, but any battle with chariots went to the enemy. I was amazed at just how bad cavalry lose against chariots.

With all those ports, and an excellent defensive position, it looks like the Casse are going to be able to field a powerful army. The only problem I see is that the army upkeep looks more like BI in terms of cost. At least that gives one the option of choosing lots of levies vs. elite units... something the barbarians didn't deal with in BI. As I recall, there was very little difference in terms of upkeep between the levy spearmen and Franciscan Axemen.

I've heard other people talk about a feature (if even possible) to allow levy units to be raised and active within the same term. I don't know much about the history of this time period, but I know this would have been a historically viable means of calling men to arms in the medieval period, and certainly in the Saxon fyrd system. I imagine this is a hard coded limitation as opposed to a gaming decision. These levies should have minimal movement points (just enough to move in their home territory), and they automatically disband at the end of the seaon.

From what I know of this period, most soldiers were also farmers. It was only the local nobility who had the wealth to pay men to be in their household and train with arms all the time. I know CA knew this, but they elected to rush MTW:II out the door rather than take the time to revamp it.

If you may notice right now, theres a building called "The time of Freemen" in your settlements, watch closely(if you have the script on, the advisor will tell you) you will eventually see that marker replaced by "The Time of Bondsmen" and Eventually "The time Of Soldiers" I would wait until the time of Soldiers to start invading Gaul.

BTW you might want to look up how to recruit 'Dosidataskeli" as the casse, you need to mod it in to be able too.

Basically they're the most heavily armed and armoured foot units in the game.

[procopius1980]

It's 262 and the Casse control all of continental Britain; only Hibernia/Ireland remains.

I only fought a single battle in the open fields. It was against a Silurian general who commanded several Silurian warbands, a unit of Celtic Axemen, and one unit of Celtic Archers. My FL mowed down their army and immediately laid siege to Yns-Mon.

After several reinforcements came, my army commenced attack. In spite of besieging the city for several seasons, I did not have the foresight to build multiple rams. When I discovered how thoroughly trapped my men were near the entrance to the city, I send a unit of Gallic swordsmen to retrieve the ram and open a second hole. In essence, my men were being attacked on both sides of the gateway. Fortunatley, my men had the discipline to turn to face their attackers before the hammer and anvil was complete. With their backs being covered by their friends, my men were in no grave danger, but the stalemates was likely to take a great toll on my men. With the ram in position, we were able to open a second front and perform the hammer and anvil on the Silurians. This succeeded and routed one side (the smaller side) of the defenders, thus giving my men room to manuver. My naked spearmen led the charge up the hill. After routing several units of midland spears, my small diversionary force was attacked by the enemy general. His chariots suffered a crushing defeat, and the morale of Yns-Mon's defenders suffered as a result of their general's death. My exhausted Gallic swords marched around the hill to attack the defender's rear. Their midland spears turned to face the new threat while the 2 units of Druids and their Silurian allies continued to batter down the main part of my army still near the entrance. Although we suffered many casualties, it was now evident that we would prevail in the end.

The battle was lost, however, when my chariots, and their pathetic pathfinding, stumbled into a fresh unit of spearmen guarding the center of the city. I did not order them to attack the unit, but their bodyguard became spread out over the entire city. Of the 2-3 chariots that fell, naturally my FL was one of them.

I try not to reload battles or turns once I get a campaign started, but I could not let this be. The AI cheated as far as I am concerned. If I were a real iron man, I would have employed the same tactics as before, but I did not. This second battle saw three holes punched into the walls and most of the main defenders were slain after the general fell and the Silurians routed. From there, the druids (oh such good fighters), were mercilessly slain by their faster, lighter, advesaries. In the end, I think I lost 40% of my men, and I got to watch a heroic last stand where 13 druids and a handful of skirmishers and midland spears fought against hopeless odds. The final druid did not fall until I ordered my entire army to javelin him.

Ictus and the norther city of the Caledonians fell with greater ease, so the bards have few heroics to tell of their struggle.

I must say that I regret fighting on medium at this point. The battles appear too easy. Hopefully the fighters on the mainland will change my mind.

My capital city still only has 2200 ish citizens, so we have a ways to go. I still have no ability to build ships, so I will look over the tech tree with my laptop the next time I pull up the game. I prolly won't have anything new to report until the weekend.

[Olaf The Great]

It's 262 and the Casse control all of continental Britain; only Hibernia/Ireland remains.

I only fought a single battle in the open fields. It was against a Silurian general who commanded several Silurian warbands, a unit of Celtic Axemen, and one unit of Celtic Archers. My FL mowed down their army and immediately laid siege to Yns-Mon.

After several reinforcements came, my army commenced attack. In spite of besieging the city for several seasons, I did not have the foresight to build multiple rams. When I discovered how thoroughly trapped my men were near the entrance to the city, I send a unit of Gallic swordsmen to retrieve the ram and open a second hole. In essence, my men were being attacked on both sides of the gateway. Fortunatley, my men had the discipline to turn to face their attackers before the hammer and anvil was complete. With their backs being covered by their friends, my men were in no grave danger, but the stalemates was likely to take a great toll on my men. With the ram in position, we were able to open a second front and perform the hammer and anvil on the Silurians. This succeeded and routed one side (the smaller side) of the defenders, thus giving my men room to manuver. My naked spearmen led the charge up the hill. After routing several units of midland spears, my small diversionary force was attacked by the enemy general. His chariots suffered a crushing defeat, and the morale of Yns-Mon's defenders suffered as a result of their general's death. My exhausted Gallic swords marched around the hill to attack the defender's rear. Their midland spears turned to face the new threat while the 2 units of Druids and their Silurian allies continued to batter down the main part of my army still near the entrance. Although we suffered many casualties, it was now evident that we would prevail in the end.

The battle was lost, however, when my chariots, and their pathetic pathfinding, stumbled into a fresh unit of spearmen guarding the center of the city. I did not order them to attack the unit, but their bodyguard became spread out over the entire city. Of the 2-3 chariots that fell, naturally my FL was one of them.

I try not to reload battles or turns once I get a campaign started, but I could not let this be. The AI cheated as far as I am concerned. If I were a real iron man, I would have employed the same tactics as before, but I did not. This second battle saw three holes punched into the walls and most of the main defenders were slain after the general fell and the Silurians routed. From there, the druids (oh such good fighters), were mercilessly slain by their faster, lighter, advesaries. In the end, I think I lost 40% of my men, and I got to watch a heroic last stand where 13 druids and a handful of skirmishers and midland spears fought against hopeless odds. The final druid did not fall until I ordered my entire army to javelin him.

Ictus and the norther city of the Caledonians fell with greater ease, so the bards have few heroics to tell of their struggle.

I must say that I regret fighting on medium at this point. The battles appear too easy. Hopefully the fighters on the mainland will change my mind.

My capital city still only has 2200 ish citizens, so we have a ways to go. I still have no ability to build ships, so I will look over the tech tree with my laptop the next time I pull up the game. I prolly won't have anything new to report until the weekend.You can only build ships in the southern Hiberian province and Ictis

Has anyone noticed that the last man in a unit is always the hardest to kill?

[procopius1980]

You can only build ships in the southern Hiberian province and Ictis

Has anyone noticed that the last man in a unit is always the hardest to kill?

TY

Now I fully appreciate why everyone suggested taking Ictus first, which I did not.

[Apgad]

Also, make sure that you take Ynis Mon and train all of your FMs there for a while (if you aren't already). They get more Druid attendants to give them extra traits and abilities. Their traits say something like "Ynis Mon - Training" initially, and then "Island of Darkness" when they've finished. I think it's about a year that they sit around learning, but well worth it!

[procopius1980]

Also, make sure that you take Ynis Mon and train all of your FMs there for a while (if you aren't already). They get more Druid attendants to give them extra traits and abilities. Their traits say something like "Ynis Mon - Training" initially, and then "Island of Darkness" when they've finished. I think it's about a year that they sit around learning, but well worth it!

I noticed that on my FL yesterday, but I didn't put two and two together. Thanks for the info.

I got to play some last night (a wife and three kids does reduce playing time). I've consolidated my hold on Engladn and I am buiding the Warrior's Hold (governmet building) in Ictus. I'll have a ship in a few seasons to make my way to the Emerald Isle.

[Apgad]

I'll have a ship in a few seasons to make my way to the Emerald Isle.

You don't need a ship! Just head north and you can walk across over Iona or Isle of Man or Arann or something like that. (Sorry, my geography skills regarding north-western English island-hopping to Eire is a little patchy... correct me if I'm wrong).

[procopius1980]

Doh! I knew you could do that in Medieval II at the Bosphorus straights, but not on RTW:EB.

BTW: I've done some research on building ships at Ictus, but I am still running into a major fail.

According to the tech tree on the EB homepage, and the building browser at the city itself, I need a level 4 (Casse Allied Tribe) government and a market #2. I have both of those now (tore down me level 1 goverment), but there is still no option to construct a building capable of recruiting ships.

Methinks I'll go hop on EB right now and march my army north of Yns-Mons.

[Apgad]

There's a few land bridges in EB that aren't there in RTW. There's 2 between the Med and Black seas, and another at the western edge of the Crimea. Sicily to "the toe" is the other obvious example. There are also some canals that allow shipping throught that you don't get in Vanilla. The Corinth Canal in Greece and the Red Sea Canal in Egypt are 2 I can think of.

Oh, I forgot the land bridge at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth, and across to Euboia in southern Greece. And maybe some more in Scandinavia, I'm not too sure about those.