Gallic Economy

The situation:

It is 268 BC, the Averni have been destroyed, I have marched my army south into Italy, sacked Arretium and Rome. In doing so I have brought my economy into the black with a surplus of 2,000 mnai. I have also managed to get a ceasefire from the Romans.

However, despite my initial success I am worried. I know from experience that the Romans will bound back very quickly and it is only a matter of time before they go on the offensive and my yearly profits are only 400 a year. What I really need is a fast growing economy so I can finance the forces I need to keep the Sweboz at bay and turn the tables on Rome.

Any tips?

I allways wonder when i hear about lack of money when playing a Celtic faction. Sure, at the beginning it´s quite tough, but if you´ve managed to destroy Arverni so soon, the whole Gaul lies to your feet, and Sweboz aren´t a threat at all before about 20 years into compaign, at least from my experience. The only reason i can imagine for your faction beeing "poor" are way too many armies, especially if consisted of expensive sword units, and lots of Leuce Epos. Normaly, i´m trying everything to avoid destroying Romans too early, since i want to have a challenge, and also some Polybian legions to fight with.
Well, some ideas for your campaign, perhaps:

1. Bagacos should be your "place to stand" when the Sweboz have finaly conquered the Eleutheroi settlments alonge your boarders. Build up Batatoci armies, supported by some Melnaht and light cavalry; all you need is one FM managing the town and an army to engage, once the enemy has crossed the boarder. Untill then you simply build up economy there, you won´t need heavy garrison to maintain peace, nor to fight skirmishing parties of the Sweboz in the beginning. AI mostly sends armies which are "apropriate" to fight the force it has scouted in the settlement. Hide your main army in the ambush near Bagacos, and keep only a couple of troops inside the town to be able to deal with unexpected attacks.
2. Take all the rest Eleutheroi settlements in Gaul, starting with the large towns and build infrastructure ( wait until Rebels build up mines in Tolosa, then take it asap ).
3. If you know that you are going to fight Romans in the not so distant future, simply try to acchieve the second Celtic reform and get Neitos - then your problems will be solved.
4. In the time of peace disband all levy troops:
a. You could boost up population in smaller settlements
b. You´ll get rid of upkeep balast
5. If you´ve allready driven the Romans into core Italy, Massila would be a good recruitment center for the Kelto-Helenic hoplites, and Emporion would provide you some tough Celtiberian troops too.

I was able to afford two smallish field armies as the Aedui. One south of the Alps which consisted of about 8 units for dealing with the Romans, and one north of the Alps which ran back and forth taking Eleutheroi settlements and defending against the Sweboz attacks. I eventually just used the northern army to attack Germania and wipe them out completely which got me in the black. Or alternatively, you can stage an invasion of Britain which will net you tons of money, even if it does come at the cost of your alliance with the Casse(not that they are good for much anyway). What you don't want to happen is have Rome and Sweboz still around when the Lusotann come knocking. They are the real threat once they get going IMO as they will flood you quickly.

never had problems in my keltik campaigns the mines in the alps should help you bounce back

also build forts in the river passages so the sweaboz can´t surprise you

the belgium troops are great for flanking and the carnutes are deadly and ofc the northern keltik swordman is a must have as your core army units they´re your rank and file troops like the roman legionaires

take the mines build roads markets and harbours (armorica with their amazing galleon type ships are your secret to a long and lasting rule of the northern sea ) if sweabos come just block their harbours

also britain is an amazing place to build an empire and ensure that you can sustain 3-4 armies and 2-3 fleets once you control all of gaul and britain northern italy is a must have and ofc you can always send an army or 2 and get an alliance with the epirotes wich should help you keep the romans in check (once you take patavium you get a mission to take ank ink and another city )

build plenty of forts in all major passages the last thing you want is a war with the lusotan and the sweaboz at the same time

I was never much of a gallic player, just never got really warm with them... but from numerous Casse campaigns I can confirm the british isles are a goldmine :)

I find that the best thing to do with both Gallic factions after the inital defeat of the rival Gallic faction is to disband as many units as possible, and have really small standing armies, made of cheap units like slingers and Lugoae levy spearmen. No real army at all, just garrisons and family members. But I have forts with one-unit garrisons at river crossings (preferably badly-depleted units) to stop anyone from surprising me. Especially I want to stop enemy family members getting in.

This lowers my army upkeep to absolute minimum, so I can spend money on my economy, and also save up at least 50,000 mnai. When I'm finally invaded, I aim to have enough mnai in the bank to hire a full stack of Gallic mercenaries in one go from the mercenary pool - since hopefully I've prevented any enemy FM from hiring the merc units.

So, with 50,000 mnai saved up - hey presto, I can have an instant army when I need one! And an army I haven't wasted thousands on upkeep on when it's not doing anything.

nice one scato but i only do that army massive recruiting with the makedonians or the kh or the epirotes when i disband i actually disband the levy´s and keep a functional 5-8 elitish or just stronger troops to keep moving around and conquering a few other rebel city´s the upkeep of such a small forçe normally never passes 5k mnai but they allow me to conquer a new setlement every 5/10 turns wich ofc in the long run pays itself up

particulary playing a gaulish faction makes no sence not to take avaricum lemonum tolosa and the likes of it the mines the marlets the harbours are well worth it and if you play on huge seatings the huge population helps alot (leave tolosa and the alps for later let the eleutheroi pay for the mines)

in eb2 it might be diferent ofc with the boii fighting you for the alps the arevaci pressing you from the south faster (they´re closer then the lusitanians and they will probably start as allies ) the possibility of a "landish" bridge for the pritanoi to get into the continent or a belgium/chatii faction in the game far closer to your borders

The trade triangle of Camulosadae+Bratosporios+Bagacos is the best in northern Europe. Just taking Bratosporios and building a L1 coastal trade, which is buildable immediately, will open up around 1000 mnai per turn in trade with the Casse and Cenabum.

Other than that capture Toulouse and "reclaim" the treasure wrongfully buried in the lakes, it nets you a cool 20,000.

Toulouse + Massilia + northwest Italy coastline esp. Arretium is also a good trade zone.

You did sack the capitol of Rome right?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geticus

The trade triangle of Camulosadae+Bratosporios+Bagacos is the best in northern Europe. Just taking Bratosporios and building a L1 coastal trade, which is buildable immediately, will open up around 1000 mnai per turn in trade with the Casse and Cenabum.

Other than that capture Toulouse and "reclaim" the treasure wrongfully buried in the lakes, it nets you a cool 20,000.

Toulouse + Massilia + northwest Italy coastline esp. Arretium is also a good trade zone.

You did sack the capitol of Rome right?

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I did indeed.

Torsola is a good port, it has mines and is the link to trading with the carthaginians... i allways conquer it before 250, its a very neat and easily defendable habour :)