Italian Tips

[YAKOBU]

Hi Sir Toma

Try this thread as a starting point:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=31285

[Servius]

Italy, at least the way I play, requires a garrison for every province save Corsica and Sardinia. You need to garrison Genoa, Milan, and Venice to defend against attacks from Germany and Austria. You need to garrison Tuscany too against attacks from the Pope. I also take Naples ASAP, so you need to garrison that too against attack from Sicily.

All of that costs a bunch of money. Italy is lucky in that it has very good farmland on the mainland (though Corsica and Sardinia suck for crops). Thus it's very important, as early as possible, to build up to the 40% crop upgrades. Italy is also lucky in that it has lots of trade goods, a shipyard right off the bat, and a discount on building Galleys. All of these things encourage the creation of a vast trading network. That trading network will be necessary to maintain the large standing army Italy requires to hold it's hodgepodge provinces, especially in High and Late when the units and buildings become so expensive.

For building order, I recommend...

a) 1st and 2nd towers, because Italian provinces are quite unruly.
b) 20% farm upgrades everywhere, 40% farm upgrades in Genoa, Milan, and Venice, and 1st mines on Corsica and Sardinia, because you need the money ASAP. Build a Fort in Tuscany after the 20% farm upgrade. You need that a bit quicker because you want the +1 Valor Urban Militia quickly, so you can take Naples before the Byz can build it up.
c) Fort
d) Town Watch

Milan builds spears (going for Italian Light Infantry)
Genoa builds archers (going for Genoeese Sailors)
Venice builds ships at first, then Feudal Sergeants and Italian Light Infantry
Corsica, Sardinia, and Naples build ships ASAP, then Italian Light Infantry
Tuscany builds swords and cavalry (becaue it has Iron)

GENOA
While you're builiding Genoa up to Genoeese Sailors, build tons of Peasants. Make those who have 4+ Acumen the governors of your provinces. Send some others to beef up your garrisons in Genoa, Milan, and Venice.

VENICE
build ships. first ring the boot so all your provinces are connected. Then start extending your trading network towards the eastern Med. where there are lots of provinces with ports. Foreign ports (so long as you're not at war) = trade income. The more ports in a single sea zone, the more cost-effective it is for you to have a link there.

TUSCANY
Build Urban Militia. First build enough for them and your King to sail to Naples and take it from the Byz. Be sure to stockpile a bunch of useless Peasants from Genoa because you'll need the girth to keep the populace from revolting for a bit. Peasants also make good grenade fodder and they're decent at attackign from the rear. You'll need 2-3 Urban Militia to pin that single Byz Infantry unit in Naples, maybe 1-2 more to flank it. Some Peasants and your king can hit it from the rear. If they've built a fort by the time you attack, make sure to kill them all so you don't have to siege or assault their Fort without missile troops. You should take Naples within the first 5-7 years probably.

IN GENERAL
If you bulk up your northern garrisons a bit with Peasants from Genoa, you won't be attacked quickly. Use the time they buy you to build farm upgrade buildings first, before Fort and troop buildings, cause you'll need the money ASAP.