Carthaginians

I chuckled a little reading that someone only saw himself playing 2 campaigns before an expansion released. I've now played 8. Having just played Carthage, my 2c worth is:

1. they are not underpowered. The real problem is the Roman obsession with taking them out. I stood my ground in Sicily and Caralis and found that to pursue relentless attacks on me, the romans gave up campaigns in Greece and Gaul. Once I fought them off, my reak opponents were Gaul and the Greek cities.

2. the lack of foot archers hurt, but nothing cavalry couldn't compensate for.

Hello markpoll. Welcome to the Org ~:wave:

We look forward to more of your input, especially in the Colosseum forum.

Hint: Balearic Slingers. They are awesome....just dont put Sacred Band Infantry in front of them.

I had a difficult time with the Carthaginians the first time around.

In my first game I had decided to build up my navy and attempt to resist the Roman onslaught, and build up alliances with anyone who were enemies of Rome as well. After all the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?

That strategy never quite worked out, as all of my allies betrayed me, even as Rome was nipping at their heels. On land my forces were spread out from scily to africa to spain, and my navy was barely able to keep the fleets of the four roman factions, gaul, spain, greece, and numidia in check.

So I started a new game, no close up allies.

I let the Romans take the Greek town on Scility, and when they did I took the Scipii town, then the Greek one. I build up my navy and kept the Roman navy under firm watch, blockading their ports so I could watch them grow.

Then once I had built up a decent sized land force, I asked the Romans for peace, both the Scipii, and Brutii for several turns. They refused, and it was clear they would not stop until I was completely destroyed.

So I moved my armies into the end of the Itailian pennensula and over the course of about three years went to each remaining Scipii and Brutii cities, first conquered them, then destroying each of the buildings (most importantly all of the ports) raising taxes and leaving. Then I took my army home back to Carthage and disbanded the units I no longer needed

It's now about 30 years later, the Scipii and Brutii no longer exist, instead the everything south of Rome on the itailian pennensula is owned by rebels, which the Julii have been trying to kill off for the last 10 or so. The fleets of Rome consists of small groups of low tech ships, although the senate sends out a decent few ships every once in a while. I've several allies, and the only thing I have to worry about are a few skirmishes with Gaul near my colony on Spain, and Numidia sending small bands around Carthage every once in a while.

Finally I'm able to sit back and let the amazing Carthage economy do its thing. :)

The real fun starts when it becomes "Carthage vs the World". The Spanish team up with Gauls and send combined forces into your Spanish collonies. The Roman fleets blockade most of your ports. The tidal wave of soldiers endlessly setting foot on North Africa and Sicily. The Egyptians approach from the East, and the Numidians betray your alliance and lay seige to your cities.

Ah.. the satisfaction of "extermination"!