New To Rome Total War

[ReluctantSamurai]

The best way for me to explain is perhaps to use an example: Germania

Trier, Damme, & Mogontiacum get the Temple of Woden. This is for the exp. bonus and to recruit Gothic Cavalry later on. Bordesholm, Vicus Gothi, Vicus Marcomanni, Batavodurum, Lovosice, and Samarobriva all get the Temple of Freyja......to start. Obviously, I've fast-forwarded a bit to include territories I can conquer rather quickly. Once the latter six reach 2k, I switch the temple to either Woden or Donar (I don't see the benefit of Beserkers over Chosen Axmen so it's usually Woden). All provinces get the max allowable farm upgrades for town size. Taxes in the low population provinces are set to low, to encourage growth. I can usually get 4-5% growth out of the small villages and I don't train any troops unless absolutely necessary.

With taxes set to low in most provinces and small populations, I don't need governors. The Germans get very few family members with management traits anyways, so there's nothing to lose there. Within 20yrs., (give or take a few), my small towns can start turning out troops in earnest. I usually have at least one port so I can train a small fleet to keep Britannia confined until I've dealt with the Gauls as far as I'm comfortable expanding (usually Alesia, Condate Redonum, Lemonum, Lugdunum).

At that point, I invade Britannia and eliminate them. At about the 40yr mark, the Julii have about cleaned out the Gauls and begin to sniff at my borders. Unless I've made some horrible mistakes, or had very bad luck, they will be facing Chosen Archers (I keep the Abnoba temple in Alesia for the archer bonus if the Gauls build one), Chosen Axemen, Spear Warbands, and Gothic Cavalry. At this stage of the game, against Hastati, Velite, and Principes, it's no contest

Nearly every one of my cities is at ZPG, and my main training centers in Damme, Mogontiacum, Trier, and Alesia produce most of what I need. The other towns will train as needed, and maintain enough garrison to keep things quiet. Most towns are 'yellow' loyalty, a few 'green', and maybe one or two 'blue'. I have no rebellions to put down, and governors in Damme and Mogontiacum only (or as available).

Unfortunately, I erased my last Germania save-game or I'd post a screenie. I might have one from Scythia....same story, different area. I'll look to see if I have one.