Killer provinces

**Dorkus** · 09-24-2004, 23:08

So are there any killer provinces in RTW?

With no provincial titles or unit bonuses, and nerfed trade, it seems that a lot of the world map strategy from MTW has been eliminated.

Venetia seems like an ok province. But nothing like an early game constantinople blitz in MTW...

I'm kind of disappointed in the game at this point.

**andrewt** · 09-25-2004, 00:41

I'm playing the Julii right now and just conquered Venetia. It's great. Etruria, the capital, has good trade income.

We probably won't know which provinces are very powerful until late in our first game or after our first few.

One thing that annoys me is that income and expenses per province is not listed in the city tab anymore.

**Dorkus** · 09-25-2004, 02:30

yup venetia is a good province, as it was in mtw. Egypt starts out around 10000 population, but it's obviously quite a trek to get down there.

I'm thinking about loading up a brutii army right from the start, making a quick stop off in greece to get the temple of zeus (20% bonus to order in all cities!!!), then going straight for egypt.

Velite glads in the first few turns would be quite impressive :)

Anyone else find a high pop early province? Seems to me pop is more important than money.

**Colovion** · 09-25-2004, 03:17

Originally Posted by andrewt

One thing that annoys me is that income and expenses per province is not listed in the city tab anymore.

It's a little more hidden now. In the Settlement Details scroll/button.

**Dorkus** · 09-25-2004, 16:35

the province with the temple of zeus is corinth, and is actually macdonian.

good trade income, decent pop, and the temple. Well worth the investment in the early game. (i attacked it 3rd turn with my faction leader) Also can be a nice springboard to strike at the 3 wonders across the aegean.

**Praylak** · 09-25-2004, 16:49

What about that Gallic city just north of the start Julii lands, Pavarium? I conquered it in just a few years and it had a population of 17000. Not good for trade, but it's where I'm making all my troops now. I kept the tax rate low for a long time (occupied it) and it's population just boomed to crazy. It's got a really bad squalor rating now. Can't build the sanitation structures fast enough to keep up with it. City details show like 21 rat icons, and people are pissed. I guess it means they can't find a place to hang a dump, and it's getting pretty gross in there? I'm currently building the aquaduct, hope that helps.

**Dorkus** · 09-25-2004, 16:56

Originally Posted by Praylak

What about that Gallic city just north of the start Julii lands, Pavarium? I conquered it in just a few years and it had a population of 17000. Not good for trade, but it's where I'm making all my troops now. I kept the tax rate low for a long time (occupied it) and it's population just boomed to crazy. It's got a really bad squalor rating now. Can't build the sanitation structures fast enough to keep up with it. City details show like 21 rat icons, and people are pissed. I guess it means they can't find a place to hang a dump, and it's getting pretty gross in there? I'm currently building the aquaduct, hope that helps.

Not seeing a city by that name on the map. Can you check again?

**Praylak** · 09-25-2004, 17:13

Originally Posted by Dorkus

Not seeing a city by that name on the map. Can you check again?

Yeah, I suspected I had spelt it wrong. It's not Pavarium, but its "Patavium"

**Dorkus** · 09-25-2004, 17:18

oh that's venetia.

That IS a good trade province. I think it starts out around pop 3-4k, though?

**Praylak** · 09-25-2004, 17:32

Originally Posted by Dorkus

oh that's venetia.

That IS a good trade province. I think it starts out around pop 3-4k, though?

Yes, Venetia.

I not sure how to explain it, but I arrived there around my 10-12th turn and I could swear it's population was over 10k. It's 232BC now I think, and it has a population ok 34k. I have been recruiting all my troops from here for 2 decades now and it doesn't seem to effect it much. My next highest population center is Ariminium at 13k. Any way of explaining that, other than Gauls breed like fish?

EDIT: Just found this post by Marius.....

"Another note-- Notice your Julii capital starts off having the most in population of your two provinces, and if you conquer Patavium to the north, you will find that even though they have half the starting population of your capital, in a mere 5-10 years it will already surpass your capital due to the fact that population boosts so damn high.

Now i know that natural fertility of a land is a factor, but dont you think it's a bit unfair at some points...?"

It's fertility is 5.5%, which is quite high.

**Dorkus** · 09-25-2004, 19:13

No doubt. it's a great growth province.

**Dimeola** · 09-25-2004, 19:31

The Greek cities are good....Larissa esp....and the colonies in Lydia etc are good. In fact I had to make good with Seleucia for the Senate....but Lydia was all rebels and netted a very nice city. Its a different world to be sure, but there is still candy to be had.
D

**andrewt** · 09-25-2004, 19:31

Natural fertility seems to affect 2 things, growth and base farm income.

I'm thinking maybe it's a much better idea to delay conquering Patavium a little bit. Conquer a few Gaul lands first, then enslave Patavium's population. They'll recover quickly, anyway, and you get a good population bonus on the low growth Gaul lands.