Arverni Campaign

[anubis88]

Well the Arverni are quite easy to play, if you don't care about leaving the Aedui to survive.
If you want, you can easily destroy the Aedui in Transalpine Gaul. Just attack them the first turn, take Bibracte, and after that Cenabum. Then you can disband most of your army and eventually (very soon) you will be able to have a lot of money.

Also, the cavalry is very expansive, so try to disband them the moment you don't need them

[WinsingtonIII]

I think that taking that settlement from the Eleutheroi was bit of a mistake. At the beginning of either an Aedui or Arverni campaign, your first priority should be to wipe out the opposing Gallic faction, and then only start taking Eleutheroi settlements after that threat is gone. I've personally found that the Aedui have it easier, because the Arverni are centralized and thus easier to destroy. But as the Arverni you can use your greater centralization to your own benefit. Move quickly to take out the Aedui settlements that are nearby yours (in transalpine gaul) and once this is done you can disband some units and start to build up your economy, as the only settlement the Aedui will have left (in cisalpine gaul) is not particularly close to you, and they will have to be dealing with the Romani over there soon anyways.

The key is to move quickly, the more time you take to destroy the Aedui in transalpine gaul, the more debt you will incur, because you cannot really afford to disband any units. In your first turn, when you actually have money, my advice would be to spend it on Bataroas. Some may disagree with me, but in my opinion, since you're going to be debt until you defeat most of the Aedui anyways, you might as well use the money you have to train some of the best infantry available to you at this point. I would probably disband the Leuce Epos light cavalry (but only if it looked like I could raise enough infantry before going broke). They're expensive and I don't find them to be good for much at this point other than acting as a diversion. If you fight defensive battles where the Aedui is forced to attack you, you probably won't need them anyways. Also, if you have a navy (I know the Aedui does but I don't recall if the Arverni do) disband them immediately. There's no need for them now and they cost a bunch.

If you can defeat the Aedui in transalpine gaul, then you can relax and disband units and build up your economy (focusing on farms and roads first), unless, that is, the Aedui have managed to build up a powerful cisapline gallic empire. But I doubt that they will be able to considering the Romani will soon be knocking on their door. It may be advisable to get on good relations with the Romani during this early period of the game. You will have to fight them eventually, but right now they can provide sea trade if you get your ports up and going and they can help you destroy the Aedui in cisalpine gaul.

[lionhard]

Simply as meantioned above, the best defence is a good offence

[seienchin]

Thats kinda sad, that EB forces you with some factions to blitz every enemy in sight. I rarely play those factions, though the gaul campain is still fun, unlike pontos or pahvla.

[Commander]

Well guys, I've followed your advices.

First of all, I restarted the campaign, I had really no hope. I started as you suggested, and I attacked the Aedui in the second turn (the movement restrictions didn't let me attack in the first one) with almost all I had.
With the main army I obliterated an Aedui army with a Heroic Victory, very near their capital (Gallic for Alesia maybe?), so I took it some turns after that.
There were some reinforcements who were suposed to meet the main army, but got attacked in the way, and I kept retiring until I got very near the second transalpine Aedui settlement. I obtained a Heroic Victory against an army of them once again (thanks to the Gallic Light Cavalry... I really like that guys, although as you say, are very expensive to mantain), and then I took that settlement.

BTW, I didn't assaulted the walls... I just let them come out for me... I usually do that... is that completely wrong? I know I lose a lot of time, but it assures me the victory.

I left the Cisalpine Aedui Settlement, so they're still alive, and I don't plan to attack them anytime soon. But even though they have just one settlement, they just don't want to become my protectorate , maybe I'll have to put an army outside their doors.

Now I have a doubt, about the Reforms of the Celts... is the Lv 4 Market the one that costs like 6000 mnai, or one even larger? And will the other Celtic factions help me with that? I mean, I know they build up their cities and everything, but I'm not counting on them

And, what are the units you get in the first reform? Neitos and Arjos?

Thanks a lot again guys

[athanaric]

Now I have a doubt, about the Reforms of the Celts... is the Lv 4 Market the one that costs like 6000 mnai, or one even larger? And will the other Celtic factions help me with that? I mean, I know they build up their cities and everything, but I'm not counting on them

You don't have bigger markets than lvl 3 (6130 mnai). At least I have never seen bigger ones around among Gallic factions. Better try to accelerate the reforms yourself - although in my Casse campaign, they were triggered by the other factions and I was mightily surprised.

And, what are the units you get in the first reform? Neitos and Arjos?

First reform (Time of Bondsmen):

You gain Gaelaiche (decent light spearmen), and Sotaroas (Gallic archer-spearmen). Gaelaiche are a slightly tougher unit than Gaeroas, and, unlike the latter, recruitable in all of Gaul. You should start replacing your Lugoae with Gaelaiche, because these guys are twice as good as Lugoae.

Second reform (Time of Soldiers):

You gain Neitos () and Arjos IIRC. You lose Lugoae and Cidainh (chariots). (not that you needed chariots in the first place)

[WinsingtonIII]

Well guys, I've followed your advices.

First of all, I restarted the campaign, I had really no hope. I started as you suggested, and I attacked the Aedui in the second turn (the movement restrictions didn't let me attack in the first one) with almost all I had.
With the main army I obliterated an Aedui army with a Heroic Victory, very near their capital (Gallic for Alesia maybe?), so I took it some turns after that.
There were some reinforcements who were suposed to meet the main army, but got attacked in the way, and I kept retiring until I got very near the second transalpine Aedui settlement. I obtained a Heroic Victory against an army of them once again (thanks to the Gallic Light Cavalry... I really like that guys, although as you say, are very expensive to mantain), and then I took that settlement.

BTW, I didn't assaulted the walls... I just let them come out for me... I usually do that... is that completely wrong? I know I lose a lot of time, but it assures me the victory.

I left the Cisalpine Aedui Settlement, so they're still alive, and I don't plan to attack them anytime soon. But even though they have just one settlement, they just don't want to become my protectorate , maybe I'll have to put an army outside their doors.

Now I have a doubt, about the Reforms of the Celts... is the Lv 4 Market the one that costs like 6000 mnai, or one even larger? And will the other Celtic factions help me with that? I mean, I know they build up their cities and everything, but I'm not counting on them

And, what are the units you get in the first reform? Neitos and Arjos?

Thanks a lot again guys

Awesome! I'm glad it worked out for you. Yeah I just personally don't like the Gallic Light Cavalry because I find skirmisher cavalry in general to be a bit underwhelming in EB. But that's just my personal opinion, and if they work for you then great!

I don't think there's anything wrong with starving out the enemy and letting them sally out to you. Some people like to attack because it is harder then defending, but personally, I think in the situation you were in, starving them out and ensuring victory instead of risking it all with an attack was the smart thing to do. Keep in mind, though, that the longer your troops are in enemy territory, the lower their morale in battle will be, as they start to ration and starve.

I'm glad we could help you out! But I'll leave the reforms to someone more qualified to explain them than me, plus, I think Athanaric may have already answered your question.

[NeoSpartan]

Awesome! I'm glad it worked out for you. Yeah I just personally don't like the Gallic Light Cavalry because I find skirmisher cavalry in general to be a bit underwhelming in EB. But that's just my personal opinion, and if they work for you then great!

....

Gallic Light Cavalry has a nasty AP spear and pretty good charge.... it is a good deal for $1900+

[The Celtic Viking]

(not that you needed chariots in the first place)

Hey! Cidainh are awesome! They're excellent cavalry-killers and they scare enemy infantry (which made them instrumental in my defeating Jebivjetar in our MP battle - without them I would have suffered a crushing defeat). If you know how to use them, and properly protect them, they'll make life so much easier for your Gallic heroes, just like they have for me.

The Celts knew that intimidation is the strongest weapon an army can wield, and the Cidainh are intimidation put on wheels. Together with Uirodusios and/or Gaesatae, you'll have the enemy run home crying in no time.

[athanaric]

Hey! Cidainh are awesome! They're excellent cavalry-killers and they scare enemy infantry (which made them instrumental in my defeating Jebivjetar in our MP battle - without them I would have suffered a crushing defeat). If you know how to use them, and properly protect them, they'll make life so much easier for your Gallic heroes, just like they have for me.

Yeah I use Cidainh too, as Casse, but I generally find them too much trouble (pathfinding issues). And the Arverni get great cavalry anyway (with Leuce Epos and Brihentin/Remi Mairepos, the only thing you'll be wanting is HAs). But the Cidainh voice is really awesome.


BTW one of you Aedui/Arverni players could try to assemble a "fear army", composed only of Cidainh, Gaesatae, Tindanotae, Worgozez, Uirodosios, and Vojinos, and post pictures of it. I'd really love to see that (alternatively it could be done with Carthage, and elephants instead of chariots).

[NeoSpartan]

Simply as meantioned above, the best defence is a good offence

In the real world??????.......

...no


In RTW world???..... hellz yeah