Problem with HTW mod, need help

[Simovek]

I've just tried the Hellenistic Total war mod, it would be fun except its nearly impossible to get your income into the positive range and impossible to keep it positive.

I start the game out with an income of anywhere from -2000 to -6000 a year. How the hell am I supposed to do anything with that>???
Now I could just disband my armies and put me into positive, except for the fact that the provinces rebel a butt load easier than in MTW. If I disband the armies too much then I have every province rebelling. Same goes if I try and invade other provinces to make more money. After taking a few provinces my men are spread to thin and everything rebels. If I try and lower taxes to stop rebellion then I just go further into the hole.

I try to trade to get my economy up. Problem is every single year someone just randomly attacks my ships and sinks them. Even if I am at peace with everyone they just go and sink my ships. Its impossible to get trade routes up.

So what the hell do I do????

[Servius]

I haven't played this mod, but from the rebellion standpoint, Spies and Priests help keep the people happy in MTW, so if HTW has the equivalent you might be able to use them to help keep your populace more happy, thus allowing you to keep tax rates higher. As for the shipping I have no idea what the problem is, though it sounds like a bug if you friends/allies can attack your shipping without declaring war, and it also sounds like a bug that you're starting out with negative cash.

But like I said I have't played this mod so I'm sorry my answers couldn't be more specific.

[Coldstream]

With what faction are you attempting to play? I think the mod is geared so that if you are one of the large factions like the Dalmations, rebellions are almost guaranteed.

HTW seems to favour the city-states like Athens, Sparta, etc. I personally enjoy this quite a lot because I'm not the type that needs to go out and CONQUER THE ENTIRE KNOWN WORLD11oneone. I'm perfectly content to sit at home in Athens (HTW) or Denmark (MTW, NTW, MedMod - yes, I have a LOT of MTW installations http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif ) and take over one other province every 15 years or so, but enjoy the spoils of my peaceful ways with a massive treasury http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-toff.gif even if my generals are bored stiff. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/handball.gif

I suggest you start a new campaign as the Lakedonians (Spartans) or the Athenians. While the Spartans don't have the economy that the Athenians can brag about, they're just cool because they're the Spartans Right off the bat you should build your watch tower, and merchant ships. Just pump out shipping like there aint no tomorrow because if you don't, there won't be. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif

Check to see the sea areas that have the most ports and drive for them. Press V on your keyboard to quick-check which sea zones you have shipping in. It works exactly like the Shift key for checking province loyalty.

After your economy has been secured by trade, build up your secondary resources like agriculture and mines. At it's peak with most or all available trade routes open and with an excellent governor, Attika (Athens) will churn out a whopping 10,000+ florins per turn With entire Hoplite formations costing a mere 500 florins (or more expensive Athenian Hoplites for you big spenders out there http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-toff.gif ) you can field a mighty army from just one province

Hope this helps you ravage and pilliage and burn your way to success

Coldstream http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-surprised.gif

[Simovek]

Thanks guys. I was playing as the Spartans or normal mode. I started a new campaign as you suggested and I went for trade. I've been lucky so far as no ones has attacked my ships and I am now making money rather than losing it :)