Epeirote Recruitment in Italy

[edgaraurelius]

I'm currently doing an Epeiros campaign where I am in possession of all of Italy (SPQR has been destroyed, I did a big Pyrrhos conquering spree and my gains since his death have been minimal). I have Latium, Etruria and Campania as Allied States (level IV government) with level 5 regional MICs. Unfortunately, it seems this doesn't really do much for me since I can only recruit Hastati, Rorarii, Equites Romani and in Capua only, Samnitici Milites.

So my question is: is that it? I know I destroyed Rome before they got Polybian reforms but I don't get access to their other pre-Polybian units such as the Principes and Triarii?

And since I'm curious, if I had conquered Italy AFTER the Polybian reforms, would my unit selection/availability in Italy be much better?

This is where I wish I was able to use the recruitment viewer (I'm on a Mac). As such, I recur to you all and I appreciate any responses.

[Arjos]

No, only the Romani can recruit the full SPQR roster...
Reforms in other factions don't influence you in any way, other than facing stronger opponents...

Only thing about SPQR connected to other factions is the "March of Time", triggering when the SPQR faction builds a huge city in Italy (not counting Roma itself), which unlocks some units to other factions...

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Once Epirus conquers Rome, the best thing to do with the city is either enslave the population, or expel them to boost the populations of the cities to the south. Roma becomes a military backwater once conquered. Taras and Capua become the primary cities of Hellenized Italy - Roma is reduced to a pale shadow of its former glory, kept weak so it cannot rebel and recover its old position. Then Taras and Capua provide the elites for the Hellenic army in Italy, while Roma provides only expendable fodder, appropriate to Roma's subordinate position in the Hellenic world.

You don't need Roman Principes if you've got Samnite Heavy Infantry from Capua and Arpi, and you don't need Roman Triarii if you've got Thorakitai (Hellenic Heavy Spearmen) from Taras and Rhegion.

[Basileus_ton_Basileon]

Here, please take this balloon :balloon3:. Your healthy hatred for the Romaioi Barbaroi is commendable.

[edgaraurelius]

Thank you Arjos and Titus. The terribly limited roster selection in most of central Italy hadn't been an issue before (been occupying Italy for roughly 30+ years) but I started panicking a bit when Karthage declared war on me and started dropping half-stacks near Rome and Capua.

[team_kramnik]

But the utter lack of of libyan and liby-phoenician recruitment options is an oversight. With the dislike of their cities regarding Carthage and their lack of citywalls recuiting their soldiers would have been Pyrrhus first act after coming ashore. And taking control of Punic Africa was after all a key objective of Pyrrhus.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

But the utter lack of of libyan and liby-phoenician recruitment options is an oversight. With the dislike of their cities regarding Carthage and their lack of citywalls recuiting their soldiers would have been Pyrrhus first act after coming ashore. And taking control of Punic Africa was after all a key objective of Pyrrhus.

Yes, it is very strange that nobody except Carthage can recruit Libyans. I wouldn't expect the elite Liby-Phoenician units or the elite African units, but the basic Libyan spearmen should be available to everyone who conquers the region. I might try to mod that in my EDU.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Might be a model issue with Thureophoroi.

[team_kramnik]

Might be a model issue with Thureophoroi.

Liby-Phoenicians would be the better option anyway as IIRC they were professional mercenaries with their own equipment while the Libyans got theirs from Carthage. Abuse the merc-slot and sacrifice Lonchophoroi cav and Epirus can get the cavalry, basic hoplite and both elite africans. Plus Numidians and Deuteroi and you'd have a balanced roster in Libya. Though I would use that to make an Epirus campaign more unique not give it to everyone.