Roman: Brutii

[Doug-Thompson]

I agree -- strategy should be specific to one's particular position. In my case, I saw that had I killed the population, I would have earned ~3,600 dinarii. Enslaving and selling brought in ~1,300 immediately, but the additional ~2,200 people increased my income ~500 a turn. The long-term benefits are that both my Italian cities crossed the 6k population mark many turns before they otherwise would have, thus giving me a tremendous head-start.

Hmmm. The numbers do appear to be on your side.

The fact that next turn after my conquest and abandonment the Senate gave me the port blockade of Carthage as a mission and I got to re-conquer Lilybaeum was just a gravy

I'd rather be lucky than good, but I prefer being good and lucky.

... War dogs are great units to flank with, as well as to pursue rioters. Just keep them away from heavy cavalry and make sure they don't get Winded -- if they do, they will become uncontrollable and will start attacking all enemy units around them.

Unless I am mistaken, war dogs main purpose in real life was to pursue routers.

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The other good tactics you describe are helpful in making the conquest of Greece more effective and less costly. Now, on to the very pleasant topic of what to do with Greece once you have it.

First off, use the Brutii faction's "Temple of Mars" boosts, of course.

Second, I've found that the combination of colesseums for loyalty, taxes for population control and money, peasants for use as settlers and upgraded shipyards for trade and movement to be a very potent one.

You can march across Asia Minor, wiping out the poplations, and use peasant units from Greece to garrison them. Disband the peasants and -- poof -- instant new citizens.

Squalor in the Greek cities is reduced. Population in the growing East booms, added to by your loyal transplanted peasants. Naval superiority and rich trade is assured by your multiple Greek shipyards.

Wait for the Reform of Marius, and then kick everybody's rear.

I didn't go to war with Thrace after conquering Macedonian. I'm pretty sure by now that was a mistake. I'd have an almost-complete land bridge to Asia Minor for my settlers if I had Byzantium.

The Brutii have a huge head start in their ability to conquer all of civilized Greece before the other Roman factions get a chance.

[Tzar Kaloyan]

DT: "Unless I am mistaken, war dogs main purpose in real life was to pursue routers."

I am not sure about the historical usage of dogs. After some more experience with them, though, I see that I have used the war dogs unit incorrectly so far! What I see on the map are a bunch of dogs running for the enemy and getting slaughtered. To save them, I was being forced to rush my entire army into a rapid attack, thus incurring extra casulties. Thus, I felt incredibly stupid when I finally realized what is going on! Turns out that the war dogs unit is made of handlers and dogs. The dogs themselves are expandable -- i.e. think of them as the limited number of arrows or javelins that the missile troops have. As long as the handlers survive, they will get more dogs for the next battle. My error was that when I see the dogs running around, I start trying to control the unit, thus getting the handlers in trouble -- i.e. killed And since the war dog unit costs a very high 680 dinarii, you can imagine my unhappiness ... I wish there was a good explanation somewhere of the war dogs unit.

I like your description of the peasant strategy! Wil have to try it -- the Greek cities are very hard to control and tie up large garissons to keep the peace.

[TinCow]

I wish there was a good explanation somewhere of the war dogs unit.

Use the wardogs as a one-shot attack. Hold them behind your main infantry line and then send them in just before the initial clash. After your handlers have released the dogs, pull the handlers back and keep them safe, do not use them to attack anything. The dogs will keep killing and attacking until the battle is over or they are all dead. You cannot control them once they are released, but they'll go after anything they see.

I always try to have 2 wardog units in my main armies. They are extremely useful in breaking up enemy lines when combined with a pilum volley. They also prevent many casualties to your men from the initial clash of arms and can be very useful at disposing of routing enemies.

[Doug-Thompson]

I like your description of the peasant strategy! Wil have to try it -- the Greek cities are very hard to control and tie up large garissons to keep the peace.

It's the cure. It's especially effective on large unit size and, presumably, even better on huge.

Any unit will reduce population, but peasants reduce population by 120 for $100 dinarii in initial cost and $100d for upkeep. That makes peasants dirt chip for moving population around.

I like to use Sparta as the gathering place for "settler" going overseas. Although a land bridge would be nice, Sparta is much harder to blockade that Athens. Thessolonica is even easier to blockade.

By the way, did I mention that the fact that NEUTRAL ships block your path really chafes me?

Trouble is, Sparta takes two turns to get all the way across to Asia Minor and unload. It's safe, though. The fleets can sail along the coast of Crete.

I'll have to see if Larissa is better placed. If it can make the trip in one jump and isn't easily blockaded, that may be the best choice.

[Inuyasha12]

First off, use the Brutii faction's "Temple of Mars" boosts, of course.

[Tzar Kaloyan]

Thanks Tim, excellent explanation on using war dogs!

[Doug-Thompson]

WARNING!: If you are not a Brutii fan, you're about to be depressed.

You have been warned.


Temple of Mars: +1 Valor to all units produced in that town. This includes peasants and, I believe, ships.

Large Temple of Mars: +2 Valor

Awesome Temple of Mars: +3 Valor.

Greek cities are the greatest center of population and wealth on the map with the possible exception of Egypt and the rest in that corner. Therefore, you have the money and city-size to build awesome temples, and have a bunch of them in one compact mass that happens to be one very short boat trip from Italy.

My search for a favorite Roman faction was, well, rather short.

(Note: Edited and corrected. Temple is needed, no shrine.)

[The_Emperor]

Now thats a pretty nifty temple bonus! I think i'll play them next, (after I conquer with the Greeks first)

[Lonewarrior]

Which way should I go, west into spanish territorry or up north?

[LestaT]

Unless I am mistaken, war dogs main purpose in real life was to pursue routers.

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I'm not sure about war dogs but my idea is to charge into pack shield wall. It sure disrupt formation in real life situation, but in the game terms..

[Vikings]

I would say Brutii is my favorite faction of all. Why becuz they have nice Temple bonuses but too bad not the Neptune. Having a few Mars Temples for recruiting, one for Juno to train your governors/generals then the rest is Mercury.

Mercury have nice bonus on trade depend on traffic conditions and cities populations.

Amazing seeing Macedon's Artemis:Hunting with a whopping +5 missile upgrade for missile type units. They are very handy Temples indeed, esp defending a fort or mega city.

I usually let out pack of spies and diplomats to search for other good leaders and if they are not protected well enough and that leader has good skills like Retinues, bribe them and take that skill that you cannot possibly have.

Maximum of 8 Retinues is what i heard, but nice to have all that bonuses on governors and generals. Btw, watchout for leader faction besure not to leave any valueable Retinues on him, if he dies it all lost.

-Vikings

[Slon]

Just a note about defeating Egypt:

By the time you get to these guys, they will be VERY powerful. I find that the best way to defeat them is to start training Legionaries, some cavalry and archers. Heavy onagers won't hurt (if you have them), either. If you don't have them, don't worry. The Egyptian cities are fully upgraded and you can train them after you take the first city, as well as retraining your elite troops in Egypt. While your troops get ready to attack, send LOTS of spies and assassins to the main Egyptian cities (memphis, alexandria, thebes). Send at least 10 each. Then, train your spies a little bit in spying by spying on some of the diplomats/roaming armies. Do the same with your assassins by killing off enemy captains over and over again. Then, infiltrate thebes with ALL of your assassins and start blowing up public order-increasing structures with your assassins. Before you know it, that city will revolt and Egypt will lose control of it. This will allow you to move in and take over the city without actually declaring war on Egypt! Or, if you're really rich, you can buy some of the Egyptian settlements. However, don't do this unless you're really desperate, since Egypt will use that money to push you back once you attack.

Once your armies (I recommend two huge ones) land in Egypt, beseige Alexandria and Memphis in one turn. They will fall at the same time (probably) and be a crushing blow to Egypt. If the enemy attacks, your powerful Legionaries will have no trouble holding the enemies off from a hilltop. Once you take Egypt, there will no longer be any powerful enemies for you to compete with. I also recommend attacking Pontus at the same time since they can attack your other cities if they are allied with Egypt. By this time, cash should really be pouring in if you kept building Mercury temples. Also, I recommend taking the Pontic cities early because there are two Juicy wonders right there, waiting to be captured!