Rome 2 Tips and un-/under-documented features

[Slaists]

Patch 7, Seleucids, turn 34, VH campaign

Any sense of danger?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Bramborough]

Looks like you're doing pretty good to me. I guess that's your point...

[Slaists]

Looks like you're doing pretty good to me. I guess that's your point...

No, my point is... it's too easy. On VH. Still. Patch 7...

Actually, patch 7 spoiled Seleucids for me in a sense.

Before patch 7, I was oblivious to diplomatic reputation consequences since whatever I did, I was still showing as "steadfast" with everyone except my immediate target. So, my first action as Seleucids, pre-patch 7, would have been to declare war on Cyprus (or Egypt, depending on my mood). This would result in a cascading series of events (my Eastern satraps declaring war on me; some Greeks declaring war on my remaining satraps, etc.). It was exciting that way.

Post patch 7: I discovered that actually, there was a pre-exising truce with Cyprus; this, by extension is a truce with Egypt (since Cyprus is a satrapy of Egypt). So, fine, i decide to play 'by rules': no DOW on Egypt for 10 turns. No truce with Quidri (a truce with Quidri also results in a hit to diplo reliability and satraps as well).

The result you see: a very boring Seleucid game. All my Eastern satraps are still satraps some 30 turns into the game; Egypt I have conquered (waiting for 10 turns to do so); I have a bunch of extremely friendly Greek allies, etc.

I guess, the only way to have a fun game is to break all truces, DOW anyone you see :)

[Jacque Schtrapp]

The result you see: a very boring Seleucid game. I guess, the only way to have a fun game is to break all truces, DOW anyone you see :)

I haven't opted into the latest beta, so I can't guarantee it will play out the same way. Try Carthage as the Barcid family. They have a moderate diplomatic penalty with ALL factions. I played about 50 turns over the weekend on VH. The entire time was spent running low on funds and rushing half stack armies between cities in an attempt to stave off the latest invasion. The only faction willing to trade was the Etruscans. Everyone else declared war shortly after we met. I fought well over a dozen battles just to defend Qart-Hadasht. I finally gave up when faced with a turn that would have cost me Carthage and Lilybaeum.

[Slaists]

I haven't opted into the latest beta, so I can't guarantee it will play out the same way. Try Carthage as the Barcid family. They have a moderate diplomatic penalty with ALL factions. I played about 50 turns over the weekend on VH. The entire time was spent running low on funds and rushing half stack armies between cities in an attempt to stave off the latest invasion. The only faction willing to trade was the Etruscans. Everyone else declared war shortly after we met. I fought well over a dozen battles just to defend Qart-Hadasht. I finally gave up when faced with a turn that would have cost me Carthage and Lilybaeum.

@Jacque Schtrapp Been there, done that (Barcid, VH, post patch 5): got to around the same turn mark you had (50), but... had an extremely boring campaign. The difference was: the first thing I did was evacuate Qart-Hadast. Went after Sicily (an easy kill); then proceeded into Southern Italy. In these wars, I managed to drag Lybia along and as a result, they grew very friendly (no separation of that vassal); I also supported them in a war against some desert minor and that cemented our relationship even further. I guess, as a result of that power balance, the other desert tribes became friendly too, asked for NAP's, etc.

Ironically, it turned out, my troops sitting in Qart-Hadast were a trigger for AI's aggression there. Once my troops were gone, Spanish AI sued for peace and paid 5000 for it... by turn 50: no one has even bothered to take a peek in my empty Spanish province.

By the way, as Carthage, no one wants to trade with you mostly because you do not have any trade goods to trade (dunno why they made it so for a merchant nation). Once you conquer Italy, you have plenty to go around. Suddenly everyone wants to trade.

As to keeping Seleucid vassals friendly: the key seems to keep declaring small, manageable wars on anyone and dragging the satraps into those wars. As long as you beating up on the same enemy, satraps are happy. The satraps love when you behead captives, poison your enemy's wells, etc.

[Mhantra]

Suebi.

Impossible.

Go for THIS IS TOTAL WAR acheivement (declare war with every faction immediately when meeting them, including on the first turn, declare war on everyone).

Enjoy the challenge.

[Slaists]

Suebi.

Impossible.

Go for THIS IS TOTAL WAR acheivement (declare war with every faction immediately when meeting them, including on the first turn, declare war on everyone).

Enjoy the challenge.

That would do it I guess. Just would throw the diplomacy part of the game out the window :)

[Hooahguy]

Suebi.

Impossible.

Go for THIS IS TOTAL WAR acheivement (declare war with every faction immediately when meeting them, including on the first turn, declare war on everyone).

Enjoy the challenge.

Initially it wouldnt be terrible. Until you got to the Romans and Hellenistic states which have much better units than you do.