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Yeah, as Macedon, I've put serious effort into building mines, and between Pella (21000+ a turn, just from mines), Nikomedia, Pergamun, Dalmatia, Sardika, I make 60000+ a turn, all cities at low taxes.
I love it, but mines definately need to be nerfed. I can afford to hire full stacks of mercenaries and spend 90000+ to bribe selucid armies. Even with 3/4 of the mine income, I would still have enough to upkeep my armies (most of them), and with higher taxes, hire most of the mercs
I would have provided a screenshot from my current game, but I've really no idea how, so if someone wants to see, just tell me how to take one/upload it here or whatever. But here's a summary if anyone's interested.
Anyway, in my game it's about 260, and the Casse are still in their first province, or at least whatever position they start with. I kid you not, in 12 years, they've not moved a metre. Which is weird, because recently they had (I think) upwards of 60k in their treasury. The Sweboz have gained a settlement or two, but their war machine is really kicking up now. with a city or two under siege. They might even go westwards and attack the Aedui, which will make my job of conquering Mediolanum and Patavium(Aedui's) that much more easier. Same thing with the Arvenni, only now are they beginning to seriously expand, is it supposed to be like this?
Cause in about 12 years, I've managed to take all of the settlements in the Italian Peninsula, and only Mesaana remains in enemy hands in Sicily. Nice thing is that after having taken Lillibeo, my treasury just literally shot up. I'm making at the very least 5k a turn, and I'm in the mid70ks now. And I haven't even finished building the mine in Syracuse. Is this a good thing or am I somehow exploiting a bug? And one of my generals(Cotta) acquired the nasty little habit of having rarified tastes(-3 management/+1 influence if you don't remember). Anyway I can cure him of that, I was intending to use him as my next heir after Blasio(my current Princeps) dies and that guy that starts out in Capua replaces him.
Anyway, from what I see, there are like six or seven regional powers forming, with two established superpowers. The two established ones are of course the Ptolemies, and the Seleucids(they're not at war, I think, oddly enough). The forming ones are of course Rome(me) with all of the Italian Peninsula/Sicily, Carthage in western North Africa and southern Spain(they're allied with the Ptolemies). The Macedonians and the Epeirotes, but I think they're in a war and duking it out, was thinking I might invade Epeiros' capital city several years after I am done with Mesaana, or at least before they get too strong. The Getai directly north of the Macedonians and expanding like crazy. The Aedui in Mediolanum/Patavium, who've managed to sandwich Arvenni territory, and pretty much all of France/a bit of the Low Countries. And possibly either the Arvenni, the Sauromatae or Baktria.
I was trying to get the Arvenni and the Sweboz to attack the Aedui, I've even tried bribing the buggers(5k each), but they don't bite. Tried the same with Iberia, trying to get them to attack Carthage, but again they didn't bite.
Any recommendations? Should I cool down the horses after Mesaana's taken and sorta expand my cities and develop them? Or should I just take a brief respite and attack either northwards against the Aedui, eastwards against the Epeirotes or in Spain against Iberia/Carthage?
Ok, so I've had to break off the siege of Mesaana I started and send my troops north to Segesta after the stupid Aedui sieged it. Broke the siege with my 'northern force', and then after building up some more troops for that force, I've decided to wage a little punitive campaign. Mainly, a series of battles, and now I'm sieging Medolanium to get back at those barbarians. I'll just raze it afterwards and let the rebel scum take it, I might even help out the Arvenni with their passive war with the Aedui.
Anyway, I've decided to follow some advice I've picked up earlier. All my family members under the age of 30 are sent to Rome to study until they become military tribunes, and then they're shipped off to one of my two armies for about 5 years, and then they'll go back to Rome to gain some influence, but more importantly learn how to be good governors. And then, depending on how good they are, they'll either go to one of my cities and 'apprentice' themselves under a governor there, and after a couple of years usually take over. Or they'll go back to the front with the troops. I'm also reconsidering my heir, since I've a guy with more influence of him (the more influential "should" be my next heir right?), but isn't as good a governor as the current heir.
I've taken another family member with a full stack and after allying myselves with the Macedonians, offered to help them with their little Epeirote problem, landed at their capital(Epidamnom I believe). If I capture it, I'll rest up for a turn, post some garrison troops there, and move on south that way. The Epeirotes have the city just south of their capital, Thermon, and Athenes. The Greeks dared cancel their alliance with me, if they're still in Sparta(their sole remaining mainland possession) by the time I get to Athenes. I'm gonna take the city, raze it to the ground and give it to Macedon.
I've solved my cash overflow problem...somehow, just not sure. Also, does anyone know how I can rid my family members of certain traits, like 'lazy' or 'extravagant', or anything the like? Also, how can I gain new positive traits. Obviously, to get command-stars I need to fight, but are there specific things I can do? And also, what should I do to up influence/management? And lastly, I think I'm moving far too fast, it's about 256bc, should I really slow down my expansion rate?
Any advice/answers/comments/suggestions/whatever would be greatly appreciated/
The answer is really simple: keep them busy and don't set them somewhere where they have access to large amounts of cash. The EB trait system is complex, but logical. I like to send them into the field to force them to keep fit. Mind you, if they are naturally indolent or selfish this may not have an effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by aleh
Command stars are notoriously hard to get in EB. You need to fight many battles against the odds and win by a large margin, and even then if your general is stupid or uncharismatic or lazy there is a good chance it won't help much. Command stars aren't awarded immediatly either, but once a general has gotten a chance to reflect about the previous battle.Quote:
Originally Posted by aleh
About the slow expansion of the A.I., at which campaign difficulty are you playing? Are you sure it is not the save-load bug?
No kidding! In my most recent campaign as the Aedui, I had a bloodthirsty, war-monger family member who had to "See the Elephant" before he got his 8 or 9 command stars or however much he had at age 50-something. Even then he had an Archer and Mercenary Captain in his retinue.Quote:
Command stars are notoriously hard to get in EB.
Because command stars (and cash) are so hard to come buy, you really have to pay attention to your retinue. Before EB, I'd just click on the scrolls at the side, "yeah, yeah, more retinue more traits, whatever." But now if I give my trading, mining, high-management family member a Mathimatician, Spice Trader, and Civilized Slave, put him in a large-port town or a mining town, I can afford another (desperately rare) half-stack of troops!
Wow 8 or 9 command stars, consider yourself lucky.
WOW my best guy had like 4 command stars after razing asia minor and the nile :dizzy2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mujalumbo
That must make Malrubius and the rest of the EB team and traiters so happy and proud. That's what they're working for, exactly that type of play and attention to detail. For some reason, I'm glad the system is being used apporpriately... like some of kind of weird, dillusional "parent" of a child that isn't his...... huh......Quote:
Originally Posted by Mujalumbo