Roman: Julii

[Ariplatostophanes]

And another question: Last night I got the "People are sick of the old men and ready for you" message. Any thoughts on this. I am pre-Marius at the moment but I'm playing 1.0 and just started building the final palace tech level in Patavium, so my understanding is the reforms will occur when that is complete in six turns. I am at 24 provinces after giving two to my British ally so Civil War hasn't begun. Should I wait or should I storm Rome now? What conditions would make a difference?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

At least two schools of thought on this.

1) With only 24 provinces, you should delay civil war while building yourself up to the point where smashing Italy gives you the win. Your opponents will build up, but your overall econ base should be bigger and stronger.

2) If the Brutes and Skips aren't built up too much then blitz the whole place. This should leave you with 35-40 provinces and a relatively simple war against the Germans or Dacian/Thracians for the win. This is riskier, however, if the Senate cripples your field armies (win or lose) and sets up a good Brute/Skip counter.

Seamus

[Garvanko]

Wait six turns for the reforms. Build up your army. Wait to be outlawed.

[Sand]

Id say go for it. You dont get any benefits from taking Rome (other than a nice city obviously) but why wait? Once you get the Marian reforms your army will be obsolete ( wont be able to retrain Hastatii etc) so use them up taking Rome/Italy over the next 6 turns and then replenish your legions with the brand shiny new Marian troop types. Also it increases the challenge of fighting and defeating the Senate army, which should be a highpoint of the game rather than overkill.

And for your first question, I wouldnt encourage the Bruttii to get out of Italy. Easier to beat them when they only have two cities. The AI can break down when you leapfrog their objectives. I took Libyeuam and Syracuse as Julii, before the Scipii did. They sat in their cities for the rest of the game, most likely because holding Libyeum was a condition for invading North Africa.

[Ariplatostophanes]

Aye, thank you one and all for some great replies.
Sand, you're definately and emphatically partially right (just prodding you friend ) on the second point. I stole Carthage and Thapsus from right under the Scipii's noses in about turn 5-6. Carthage was particularly a tough fight but I held on. That left them Sicily, which they took pretty early from Carthage and Greece. Since then they've just been sitting around, inhaling lava fumes. But the Brutii, I just don't know. They had years to march thru Greece and Thrace but never did. So they have their starting two and Appolonia. I may have created a problem for them early on by allying with Macedonia. The Macs have somehow held on. Last night, after a turn, Cyrene in N Africa turns Mac orange and black. It was like yeah, go little Mac go. They had been down to just one region along the Aegean coast for years.

I'm also realizing that I currently don't have a requisite army to take Rome anywhere nearby. I would either have to build one, which seems silly being now 4 turns away from the reforms. Or I need to ship one over, which screws up my other bigger plans. I think I will ride it out for awhile as Garvanko and Seamus suggest. It's only 229BC so there's lots of time.

How about encouraging the other Romans to attack Egypt? It would give them something to do and something to spend their money on. I only have one small border with Egypt in Asia Minor so I'm not too worried about invasion in my own lands. Egypt is already at war with Numidia, Seulucids, and Parth I think. To be frank, they are tho only faction I have any fear on these days.

[GreatEmperor]

That might be a good idea however, there's only a small chance that they will accept it. You should always try though. If you can get the other Roman Factions to fight the Egyptians that would really be great for you because you've got the time to concentrate on your bigger plan and eventually make a big army so you can take Rome.



BTW Sorry for all the double posts but something went wrong on my computer.

[Ariplatostophanes]

So who can advise me on this one? I want to end the war with Germany so I can properly wage war on Spain. By the time Spain is done it will probably be Civil War time so I don't want any distractions then either. I want to end war with Germany so that Britain can continue fighting them and I won't have to deal with either one for awhile.

After taking now 5 succesive towns from them, my first attempt was: Ceasefire and you pay tribute 5 turns/ 2000D. Turned down as "We have nothing to offer in return." I figured, ok, I asked too much.

Second attempt was Ceasefire and pay lump payment of 1000D. Turned down, same reason.

The final attempt was simple Ceasefire with nothing in return. Turned down again as "We have nothing to offer in return."

What does that mean? Are they simply not interested? My final alternative is going to be an Accept or we will attack Ceasefire, but that would mean I have to move a good army even deeper into Germany. I think they have only 2 regions left now but I can't be sure as I can't see the extreme northeast of the world map. This has been a very easy and rather boring war for a well-rounded Roman army and I really don't want to have to move on Britain and have to deal with transporting, etc. I've actually been gifting Britain regions to keep them afloat for just this reason. Any ideas or alternatives?

[Ariplatostophanes]

Me again with two more questions:

1. How come I only think of these questions when I'm at working and getting paid by someone else to do something else? Is this game consuming me after only a week or so of playing?

2. I noticed around Carthage there are little camels around. The cursor says I can recruit camel mercs here but I haven't seen any yet. I have a old and rather spiteful governor sitting in Carthage. If he sits outside near the camels long enough, will he eventually be able to recruit some or are they only for the Carthage faction? Frankly, I don't know if I'd have much use for them as all of my fighting has been on the European continent so far. Mostly I'm just curious.
Thanks.

[Deus ret.]

1. How come I only think of these questions when I'm at working and getting paid by someone else to do something else? Is this game consuming me after only a week or so of playing?

Because having to work usually is not one of the things designed to keep you mentally entangled in it, not to speak of interested....don't worry, others share the same fate.

2. I noticed around Carthage there are little camels around. The cursor says I can recruit camel mercs here but I haven't seen any yet. I have a old and rather spiteful governor sitting in Carthage. If he sits outside near the camels long enough, will he eventually be able to recruit some or are they only for the Carthage faction?

Nope. One of the game files deals with the chances of appearing of mercenaries. Some are quite common and easily replenished (e.g. Eastern Mercs in vanilla) while others may virtually take centuries to show up (like elephant mercs).
If I remember correctly, though, camels were among the more common mercenary types around, at least in the Egyptian/Palestinian area in vanilla.

[littlelostboy]

Yep, Eypt always have a knack of surviving, no matter what. That is why you need to crush them hard by taking their captial and major cities with full-stack armies and always use a extremely large navy to blockade every single port of theirs. Trust me, it worked in RTW h/h when I played as the Selucids. (Almost had a nervous breakdown, well not true, but almost).
But this is a Juli guide so I'll stick to Juli. As a Juli, your main aim is not to worry to much about those African factions, Numidia, Eypt and Carthage (although as a Juli you would come into contact with them early in the game). Leave this people to your brother (and soon to be enemy) Romans, the Scipii. Instead, lay waste to Europe! Most important is to control the whole of Spain, central and Western Europe. With that, you will have two fronts secure, with the Alantic Ocean covering your backside, (and no, there is no case of an Alantis faction yet, not in my case anywhere) and the North sea and the isle of Britainnia covering you head, all you have to worry about is the east and the south. So remember, when playing as the Juli, remember this maxim:

North and West good, South and East bad

Simple.

Now

that you had those two fronts covered, concentrate on the east because there lies those hungry Thracians who are willing to eat your lands! Not to mention those Brutii in Greece. By then, you should have over 40 regions under your control. Baby Senate would feel threatened and would ask your faction leader to commit sucide. (NO!) So you, of course, decline and immediately you would be outlawed. No worry, relax, all is not lost. Before the Senate had sent you that message, you should move two full stacks army with your very best generals and surround Rome. Also, the majority of your troops should be stationed near the East to prepare for the onslaught by the Brutii. Use forts to block all narrow roads, send in the ASSASSINS! Yes, you heard it right, assassins are good, they'll make things easier by killing off some of the generals first so you can have a nice, easy fight later.

Diplomats

are important, they can bribe whole armies away and you can get extra troops. Now that you are prepared, you can fight the Romans. Don't care about the Scipii because they'll be too busy trying to save their skins fighting the Eyptians. And this is just part I, II coming later.

I know that there is a guide but this is just a very condensed and simplified guide for all those beginners all there on how to fight back you enemies and remain the Imperator!

At your service, LLB.

[Garvanko]

North and West good, South and East bad

Why do you say that?

Going south for Carthage is actually a excellent strategy - slow down the Scipii, gain a rich province and a foothold in Africa. Great for your economy, especially if you get Lilybaem as well.

East? Well, again depends what your overall objectives are.. Dacia, Thrace, eventually Macedon.. where there is tons of denarii, anyway.

Why restrict yourself to poor Gauls and weak Spanish?

[littlelostboy]

Why do you say that?

Going south for Carthage is actually a excellent strategy - slow down the Scipii, gain a rich province and a foothold in Africa. Great for your economy, especially if you get Lilybaem as well.

East? Well, again depends what your overall objectives are.. Dacia, Thrace, eventually Macedon.. where there is tons of denarii, anyway.

Why restrict yourself to poor Gauls and weak Spanish?

I don't really mean to say that ignore North Africa totally. What I've meant is that you should not be so engross with North Africa when your Northen, Eastern and Western borders are covered with full of hungry factions. As I said earlier, as a Juli, you would come into contact with Carthage early in the game. So I suggest taking that island near you, taking Carthage itself and yes Lilybaem too. Basically, YOU will be responsible for destory Carthage because when you take over Spain, you are going to take over one of Carthage regions too.

Therefore, I recommend taking the two Carthagians cities in North Africa and their two small island so that you will have total control over the whole of the Western Midderterrran! Don't worry about Numidia, let the Scipii deal with them. But becareful about the Eyptian, they might want to attack you!

At your service, LLB,

[littlelostboy]

Okay, now Part II: To become the Imperator

Senario: Whole of Europe Conquered, Alantic Ocean Guarding Your Backside, North Sea Guarding Your Head. East boredered with Thracians and the Brutii in Greece. Senate and the other factions in Italy all aiming their legions at you. South is surrounded with the Brutii, who should by now capture most of North Africa except the two Carthagians regions that you are holding.

Okay, so as I said in the earlier post, you have to send most of your army to the east because that is when the Brutii will start pouring their armies in. Send diplomats and assassins so as to bribe some army off and also to kill the generals. Italy should be fine as long as you send your best armies with your best generals to take Rome and the other factions' cities in Italy. But the major battle is in fact, fought at sea.

Yes, the blue blue sea.

Land battles are not everything. If you had build up a huge navy, you are a force to be reckoned with. Cause with your navy, you can blockade the ports of all the other Roman factions and by doing that, you will cripple their economy and with less money, they cannot churn out many troops. So remember, navy is just as important. But don't forget, the other factions will try to do the same and so reserve some pow-wow ships to fight with those ships that are trying to blockade your ports.

Now it is logistics, you have to ship some of your troops to North Africa. I recommend doing that way before the Senate outlaw you so as that when you fight the Scipii, you can strike hard and fast.

Remember the big picture, you want to be Imperator. I always think in that way when playin the game so that all the decisions I make, is to help me become the Imperator (or shall we say, Emperor?)

Now that the pieces are set, the wheel of war will start turning and it will be showdown time. I can assure you that you will conquer the whole of Italy and also North Africa because the Scipii have to fight on two fronts, one with you and another with Eypt. The Brutii are a lot harder to crush since they are secured in Greece. So to crush them, after the war in Italy, send some armies through the land to attack them from the west and another bunch of armies through the seas to attack them from the south. In that way, they have to defend two fronts. It is best to ally with Thrace (if you had not wipe it out yet) so that Thrace MIGHT (i say might because the AI make notouriously poor allies) help you in your war against the Scipii.

That's it, the condensed and way way simplifed version of the Juli!

LLB,

[TimStarboy]

Being a fan of MTW AND Roman history I couldn't wait to get RTW. But my very first attempt for Julii made me give up the game for half a year. Cos like on 15th turn I took Carthage. And it was sooo disappointing (easy!!! it should never had happened so easy!!!) that I gave up the game for half a year.

Now I am back and I decided to play as a "loyal" "history-based" player. Alas I haven' t read the guides so my style was very different from the ones mentioned here.

1. I strictly went to Gaul as I was supposed to - not blocking other Romans, so I expect a fun ending.
2. No bribes policy.
3. All senate missions are fullfilled
4. No extermiantion or enslavement.
5. Cities growth is my priority so low tax and farming. (I didn't know of maximum size of the city problem - well I'll have to deal with it)
6. And vs Gauls I found very useful to use velites and archers and pilums of my hastati. I mean... it really works. Gauls never get a chance to properly engage - I beat them from the distance and who cares about heavy infantry size 12 men?


So. here are several questions:
1. Since missle troops are so important for me, I enjoy a Gaulish temple in of my cities in charge of production of velites and archers cos I get a bonus for all missile troops produced there. Do you think it is worthy of it?
2. I split the production of units - say in one city I develop legionary infantry, in another missile, and the third is producing cavalary. Actually it comes from MTW time when I place the apporiate baracks in the provinces that game bonuses to this or that unit produced in it) Do you think it is a nice idea?
3. I never storm cities, always wait out. Am I wasting time? Or am I safing lives which will be probably lost during the storm?
3. Brutii and Scipii factions are doing pretty well. Will I be able to compete with them if they have rich Greece and Africa and me only poor North-Western Europe?
4. Is there a chance that Brutii or Scipii will rebel against the Senate ealier than me? Will I be able to fight together with Senate against them? What happens after Senate and I get rid of them?