Aedui or Arverni

[madbriton]

I want to start a new campaign in Gaul, but which faction is better/more fun to play. Also which difficulty level is recommended for them (I am not a particularly good player so not VH)

[Moosemanmoo]

I remember asking the same question a while back

It depends if you prefer to play a more democratic faction (Aedui) or a monarchistic one (Arverni)
I always see the Aedui as the more sophisticated of the two factions, plus I prefer the darker green
So I'd suggest Aedui

[Scud]

I can't remember correctly, as I haven't played as either of them, but doesn't only one of them get paved roads?

[J.R.M]

I thnk both get paved roads, the only diference i remember is that Aedui get Carnute Cingetos, that unit is awesome! i think it´s some kind of battle druid?. The Arverni just get Arjos (arverni nobles?). That´s the diference i think ... you now what! i´ll try a campaign with Aedui..

[athanaric]

This is one of the units worth playing an entire campaign for. They are absolutely nightmarish enemies, especially if they are placed on a wall. So I suggest you play Aedui (although I have more sympathies for the Arverni). Other reasons are: some special bonuses from unique structures (like Carnac) and a lot of loyalists all over Europe waiting to join you.

[Kevin]

It depends if you prefer to play a more democratic faction (Aedui) or a monarchistic one (Arverni)

I don't see how that realy affects the gameplay?

This is one of the units worth playing an entire campaign for. They are absolutely nightmarish enemies, especially if they are placed on a wall.

Playing as the Romans, I hated those guys more than the Gaesatae. Their chanting makes them somehow seem..less barbaric and more brave than the other units.

[bobbin]

I don't see how that realy affects the gameplay?

Its more for people who like to role play their games.

As for the difference between the two, apart from the already mentioned slight unit roster difference the Aedui's expansion regions are more focused towards Iberia and Britain while the Arverni's are more focused towards the east.

Also the Arverni have a better starting position as well because if you kick the Aedui out of gaul they can function as a nice buffer state between you and rome.

Finally the Aedui start out allied to Karthadast while the Arverni do not.

[The Celtic Viking]

I think you should head over here and check out how the Aedui and Arverni skins look, and choose which ones you like the most. Some aren't updated there though (such as the Arverni Neitos, and the Mori Gaesum), but most are still the same. I am personally in love with the Arjos, they are so sweet looking. Possibly the best looking unit in the game, IMO.



Oh, and by the way, the Arverni get paved roads as well, and their leader - god-king as he is - got his position through election too. The "more monarchist" remark might make it seem like he didn't if you don't know this already.

[The General]

I am personally in love with the Arjos, they are so sweet looking. Possibly the best looking unit in the game, IMO.

They do look (very) good, it's a shame that you really don't need them as Solduros/Neitos cover the heavy infantry spot. Carnute Cingetos bring something a little more unique to the table, and they don't look bad either. Also, the idea of elite warrior druid troops chanting support for their fellow soldiers fits the idea of a more developed Celtic army, imho.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

The Kuarothoroi are better than the Arjos, but I liked to think of the Arjos as a Western Kuarothoroi.

[Owen Glyndwr]

Better yet: Pick the Casse and then just conquer Gaul

But if you really must, I prefer the Aedui.

Or, you know, you could play 20 turns of each and see which you like better from that point.

[The Celtic Viking]

They do look (very) good, it's a shame that you really don't need them as Solduros/Neitos cover the heavy infantry spot. Carnute Cingetos bring something a little more unique to the table, and they don't look bad either. Also, the idea of elite warrior druid troops chanting support for their fellow soldiers fits the idea of a more developed Celtic army, imho.

The Arjos are very similar to the Solduros, yes, but there are a couple of differences in the Arjos' favour; namely, they cost ~1000 mnai less to raise, ~300 mnai less in upkeep and have more soldiers per unit. This comes at a price of lesser quality, of course.

Compared to the Neitos they have an equal amount of men, but a better shield and better morale, switching javelins for a melee spear. They are also slightly cheaper.

I agree that the Carnutes have a much more unique role on the battlefield, but they are not irreplaceable either. An Arverni god-king can, if he so chooses, cross the channel and get some Drwdae instead. The Arjos have a pretty good balance between cost, unit size, equipment and skill IMBO.

Whether or not the Carnutes Cingetos do more for the Aedui than the Arjos do for the Arverni is not so important a question to me anyway. Actually, they're completely irrelevant to why I prefer Arverni; I do that because they have the strength and the wealth to rule Gaul, while the Aedui are weaklings who stopped the Belgae and Germanic invaders like the house of straw stopped the big, bad wolf. The Aedui do not deserve to rule, they cannot rule, so it's perfectly right and correct for the Arverni to take the rule from them.

[Moosemanmoo]

Actually, they're completely irrelevant to why I prefer Arverni; I do that because they have the strength and the wealth to rule Gaul, while the Aedui are weaklings who stopped the Belgae and Germanic invaders like the house of straw stopped the big, bad wolf. The Aedui do not deserve to rule, they cannot rule, so it's perfectly right and correct for the Arverni to take the rule from them.

I like this justification, makes me want to start with the Arverni

[HunGeneral]

because they have the strength and the wealth to rule Gaul, while the Aedui are weaklings who stopped the Belgae and Germanic invaders like the house of straw stopped the big, bad wolf. The Aedui do not deserve to rule, they cannot rule, so it's perfectly right and correct for the Arverni to take the rule from them.

I like that remark - as an Arverni supporter I think I'll make a note of this. Really great reasoning

[ARCHIPPOS]

The Aedui are located into two non-adjoining pockets with the Averni in between and the Romans on their South- East ...this provides the Arverni with a safer,better starting position using their internal lines edge to successively engage the two Aedui halves ... and enjoy peace with the Romans for at least a few years ...

[The General]

The Aedui are located into two non-adjoining pockets with the Averni in between and the Romans on their South- East ...

... which provides them with the ability to attack the Arverni from two sides.

In my current Aedui game I first destroyed an army marching south from Vesontio and laid siege there while another army assaulted Viennos and marched immediately towards Gergovia, destroying the bulk of remaining Arverni forces in a pitched battle before laying siege to the rebel capital itself. Gergovia capitulated a few months after Vesontio fell. The Battle for Gaul was over before it really began.

[Subotan]

I find the Arverni to be slightly harder than the Aedui at the start of the game, and the usual outcome of the Gallic Wars by the AI seems to confirm that.

[Meneldil]

As the Aedui might very well have been the reason why Caesar won the Gallic wars, I'd be tempted to say 'play the arverni, conquer the aedui weaklings and sack Roma'.

The Aedui are indeed a bit easier, but not by much. All in all, they are quite similar factions, though each one has its own flavor. As said you can have a look at each faction's units on EB website, and try both of them for a few turns before you make up your mind :)

[Finn MacCumhail]

Of cause Aedui! They have a boat between modern France and UK, so I like to put my army on this boat, and go to the Britain. Casse are too weak in the beginning. Also Aedui have nice color and their banner looks like Vanilla Gauls had.

[athanaric]

Also Aedui have nice color and their banner looks like Vanilla Gauls had.

Yeah but the Vanilla Gauls sucked. Especially against the neighbouring factions...

I tend to use the starting fleet for shipping diplomats around, rather than blitzing...

[HINT] If you play as the Romans, usually it is possible to move your starting fleet to Calais during the first few turns (before it gets destroyed by pirates), and then pick up your diplomat there, let him establish trade rights etc. with the Casse, and move him back onto the continent in the same turn. At least I pulled this off two times. Very nice for role playing purposes.[/HINT]

[Finn MacCumhail]

The only thing I do not like about Aedui is that their starting FMs don't have surnames. I remember in my Romanii campaign Lvcivs Cornelivs Scipio and Quintvs Avrelivs Cotto gained surname “Africanvs” . Their children had these surname too. Is it possible for Celtai FM to gain this surname fighting on the African land? It would be funny.

[athanaric]

The only thing I do not like about Aedui is that their starting FMs don't have surnames. I remember in my Romanii campaign Lvcivs Cornelivs Scipio and Quintvs Avrelivs Cotto gained surname “Africanvs” . Their children had these surname too. Is it possible for Celtai FM to gain this surname fighting on the African land? It would be funny.

Only Romans get Roman names. Gallic generals, OTOH, can get funny surnames like "oi Neamha" which means something like "the Berserker" (dunno what exactly).

[Finn MacCumhail]

Thats a pity. But it explains Arverni surname oi Lugous as their shrine of Lugous in the capital. If I'm not mistaken.

[keiskander]

Why not play one campign with Aedui and then one campign with Arverni?

[Beefy187]

Arverni is much more challenging. And I like challenge.

[SwissBarbar]

Of course the Arverni are the best! Aedui are weak half-roman inbreds, who can't stand an Arverni attack for one second. ARVERNI RULE

Remember. It was the Arverni who fought Caesar, the Aedui were the ones who called him to help against the Helveti ;-) Weeeaaak.

[Macilrille]

Just as the Averni had to call in the Suebi under Ariovistus when the Aedui were beating them up...


The conclusion must be that Res Publica Romana and the Sweboz PWN!!!

[Lysimachos]

Why not play one campign with Aedui and then one campign with Arverni?

That's right, save the time one would spend debating and play two campaigns instead

[Kikaz]

Aesthetically, I definitely prefer the Arverni. Gameplay wise, once again, prefer the Arverni because their start location can be a bit difficult (translates to fun.) The Arverni also seem to weigh more heavily on Alpine expansion, which is another reason I prefer them. And, Vercingetorix, need I say more? (pronounce it Ver-sing-jet-or-ix and I kill you)

[JeffSteel]

I would say the Averni, simply because their generals have impeccable taste in terms of their battle wardrobe. I mean, who can withstand anyone who wears a giant swan helmet and dons the imperial purple?

On a perhaps related note, have been playing an Averni game, and on one turn my adviser popped up with a message from the Epirotes. They apparently wanted me to take a couple of Illyrian cities in exchange for vague promises of friendship, and I was suddenly allied to them when I accepted the offer by pressing on the advisers face. Is this some sorta timed mission or something? Might be another reason to go (or not go) Averni.