Roman: Scipii

[Guillaume le Batard]

Caius Flaminius:

Thanks. That gives me another 200 turns to win, which even someone with my limited skill set shoud be able to do!

Okay, time to do some damage to those Egyptians.

Guillaume

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Use your naval superiority to gut Egypt at one stroke.

Construct 2 Assault armies and 3 occupation groups.

Assault 1: Gen, 2 Hvy Cav, 2 Onager, 5 Light Infantry (Glad, Peltast, Libyan, Slinger/Archer), 10 Sword.

Assault 2: Gen, 2 Hvy Cav, 3 Onager, 4 Archer, 10 Sword.

Occupation: 1 Rom Cav, 3 Archer, 4 Aux, 6 Peasant/Town watch.

Let the Eggies come forward to take back Cyrene. Make them bleed, but don't worry about keeping it.

Fleet all the offensive forces to Alexandria area. Take Both Alexandria and Memphis simultaneously with the assault armies, then stick the Garrison armies into the cities. Move out the strike armies first.

Rebuild one strike army while re-arranging all the whole units into the other. Send it to Thebes followed by one occ group. Take Thebes and occupy.

This will rip up the Eggies badly as Memphis is their lynchpin. Two wonders to you.

Re-arrange the field forces as follows:

Eastern Army: General, 3 Hvy Cav, 4 Archer, 1 Onager, 10 Sword, 1 your choice from slingers/peltasts/rental hoplites.

This army will defend Egypt from the forces streaming inward to retake it. Using the bridges you'll have a reasonable task.


Revenge Army: General, 1 Hvyy Cav, 4 Onager, 10 Sword, 4 your choice.

Put this army on a moderatlely powerful fleet and then smash every coastal town held by the enemy. Raze and sell off buildings. Should up your funds hugely. Jerusalem, Sidon, Damascus, Antioch, Tarsus, & Salamis are all in easy range of this force for one turn strike, sack, and destroy missions. Can even pause and conquer one or two (islandss are lucrative) if you see fit. This force should be poised near Rhodes to do the same thing to the Brutii when war breaks out.

Conquer Siwa, and any you've lost at your leisure.

[Poulp']

this is somehow off topic

In English, how do you call the [guerre en accordéon] phenomenon ?

It describes the fact that in desert fighting, the further you get from your base, the weaker you get, because you are further and further away from your supply line and run more often out of ammo, fuel and men while the exact opposite happens for your opponent ?

just curious.

[Squid]

I have had to put significant resources into maintaining large garrisions (town watch) in many of my "foreign" settlements. The fact that I was down to four family members for a while (gah!) really did not help my management efforts.

Try replacing your town watch with peasants, the peasants are cheaper to recruit and are bigger so will give you a bigger garrison bonus per unit (i.e. less units to get the same effect)

[Guillaume le Batard]

Thanks for the advise, Squid -- you're absolutely right. However, I generally prefer to use Town Watch beacuse I just can't stand the thought of peasants being used as guards. It's a peculiarity of mine -- but I just hate peasant units.

But on the topic of unit prices - I noticed something a little unusual recently. Mid-campaign (about 30 turns ago), I switched my game settings to "Huge" unit sizes (I had been playing at the "Large" setting). Nothing happened. I didn't think anything of it, I just assumed that you cannot change unit size in the midst of a campaign, and carried on playing, quite happily.

Anyway, I noticed later that my unit descriptions now reference Huge unit sizes, and Huge unit prices. I double checked, and I *am* being charged at huge unit prices.

This may explain why I have been struggling financially in my campaign for so many years! The difference is sizeable in unit cost, but I can't remember what the difference is in upkeep... has anyone else seen this??

Guillaume

[Negator_UK]

this is somehow off topic

In English, how do you call the [guerre en accordéon] phenomenon ?

just curious.

We refer to "longer lines of communication", but this does not do justice to your phrase, which seems to translate "war of accordion" which is a musical instrument that extends and contracts.

If so then "Guerre en accordéon" is a fine expression and there is no english equivalent that I'm aware of. Bravo to the french for such a fine concept - I'll be including it in my (english) repertoire from now on.

Merci !!

[Poulp']

de rien !

that's too bad, I was eager to learn a new, highly specific word, in order to appear as a bombastic person in social circles.

[Aemilianus the Younger]

When playing as the scipii, i always try to plan ahead to the civil war by taking cities in the theaters that are originally designated for the julii and brutii.
for example:
i usually try to take either Narbo Martius in southern gaul or pavatium&mediolanium to prevent further julii expansion further north.(requires lots of effort and needs to happen quite quickly if you are going to succeed, before 255 BC)
i also attempt to take some of the cities in Greece. If the brutii beet you to Apollonia then get thermon, Corinth, Sparta and whatever else you can grab because this is a very rich region of the map.(this should be a bit easier but you will still need 2-3 good generals to act as governors and generals for the more difficult cities. start this campaign in Greece immediately if you hurry you can beat the Brutii to Apollonia, but if you dont, no sweat, just land a bit further south neat Thermon... before 265 BC)


Of course you cant forget about the Carthage/Numidia/Spain Theater either.
When attacking Greece and Gaul, you can afford to stall a bit. I would recommend taking Caralis, Palma, Narbo Martius in this order asap. Use Gaius Scipio who starts out as an able commander and use him in three simultaneous amphibious assaults. Use your faction leader, Cornelius Scipio and his son Quintus Scipio in tandem in defence against the Greeks and Carthaginians on Scicily attacking an army or ungaurded city when possible. I always send Julianus Scipio or his son to Greece with as many units as possible as soon as possible. No delay should be taken. pick up any available units in Messana on your way. Once Southern Greece, specifically the Pelopennessus, has been taken, head over into Asia. Sardis and Halicarnassus and eventually Rhodes will give you some much needed advantages with their wonders.

Then it is completely your choice of where to head off to next. I prefer the Syria/Palestine area so you csn jump in between the Seluecids and Ptolomies. This is always fun and becomes interesting once you take Antioch/Sidon/Damascus/Jerusalem. Cyprus should be taken before the landing in Syria so iyou can have an area to regroup and retrain your troops in the case of a defeat.

But who knows, the Pontus dudes always get interesting. I have heard that Thrace and Scythia are alternatives too. never tried it.

But make sure not to forget about the brutii in Greece and the Julii in Gaul. Once you have made a bridge head you must not forget to mop-up.
And those retarded Elephant Riders will always be a pain in the ass until they are completly destroyed.

I play the scipii on H/H.

[455trt43trg]

How do I get legionares with eagle, first cohorts?
I have all buildings built.

[Poulp']

They are recruited in Roma.
Or, you can gat them after a successful mission, sometime...

[455trt43trg]

Thaks for advice.
Finally has came my time to conquer Rome.

[Poulp']

Do you have enough popular supoort to march on Rome ?

[455trt43trg]

Yes I have, but I probably need to train more troops before I attack.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

No need for more troops. If you have one good army, move it to the ford just outside the city. The Senate army can't resist attacking you there, so you get them and the Rome Garrison coming across the ford into you. Have fun.

[Ray]

I want to add to Seamus Fermanagh's advice. For best effect, stand on the ford with a slightly smaller army, because the AI cannot resist attacking a smaller army and it does not matter in practice if your army is smaller. Defend with your units in guard mode and fire at will, deploying them in several layers to cover each link of the unit in front. Guard mode is important because they will be less fatigued while doing as much damage to the unit that is attacking them and tiring themselves. A frontage of 3 units should be enough to defend the ford, with 4 in the second line, and another 3 or 4 in the third line. Put your general at the back to inspire your men while not exposing himself to danger.

[455trt43trg]

No need for more troops. If you have one good army, move it to the ford just outside the city. The Senate army can't resist attacking you there, so you get them and the Rome Garrison coming across the ford into you. Have fun.

I have very annoying bug against senate, game always crashes when senates army flees. I had to autocalc battles against senate.

[Caius]

I have very annoying bug against senate, game always crashes when senates army flees. I had to autocalc battles against senate.

Had you modded the game?

[455trt43trg]

Only made few normally non playable factions to playable.

[Pannonian]

I'd just like to add that I agree with every word Ray has said. Our thinking is so much alike, it's almost as if we're the same person.

[dukehenry]

Hello all, I have started playing RTW for a few days off and on and thought I would have some fun and play as the Scipii.

Anyway, I am playing on M/H and it is a truly challenging game. Anyway, I wanted to share an interesting turn of events that has occurred in the game I am currently playing.

It is around 125BC, and I have had some decent success in the game. I have Sicily, North Africa (excluding Libya, Cyrene, and eastward), the various western med. islands, and have started into Spain. I have taken Corduba, the town to the east of it, and am prepping to take Oslo.

The interesting part is that around 200BC both the Brutii and Julii went on the warpath, and really secured about 20 provinces each in their regular spheres of influence. The Brutii took the core Greek states, and plunged northward into the HUGE Thracian empire (which had taken over Macedon, Germania, etc.). The Julii conquered Gaul in short order and started to attack Thrace as well.

Well, once Thrace was gone, the two really sat tight for a while. While this was happening, Spain apparently decided to go on the offensive and they started to attack as well. They removed the last Gaulish center in Hispania, and then started attacking the Julii. And, winning convincingly. Gaul is in Spanish hands, and they successfully attacked Segestica, Mediolanium, and Arretium.

I was surprised to see the Julii get pounded so easily, I am sure they overstretched their resources and are now paying for it, but I guess it is working out well for me. I have been ordered to take back both and have been able to accomplish that task. Now, I think I am going to put my attacks on Hispania on hold somewhat to attack the traditional Julii targets so that I can grab up those provinces.

I would like to note that Spain really does like to fight at sea. With Egypt recently attacking me in North Africa, I am fighting battles requiring probably 500 ships per turn, and although I think I am wearing them both down, it really makes the game challenging!

Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?

[guineawolf]

Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?

no,i do not,you are the 1 having fun.Coz normally the julii will defeat the spain.And i never see Thrace expand that far,the germania are poor,it is acceptable,but the macedonian????i try scipii when i first played RTW coz i love that wolve logo and blue/white legion ,but i played it with small unit size,the size do affect alot,what unit size you played on???

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I'd just like to add that I agree with every word Ray has said. Our thinking is so much alike, it's almost as if we're the same person.

Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Has anyone else seen such interesting faction gains when playing as the Scipii?

That was a fun combo. I've seen Spain gathering quite an empire before. They actually do rather well against the Romans -- especially pre-marian -- when they start having lots of Bull Warriors in the mix.

Thrace usually gets snuffed, but if they turn the corner on the Dacians, they can end up with a lot of territory.

Sounds like Gaul bled Germany early in your game and left them both weak for the others.

How about Britain? Their chariots usually do well in comp v. comp?

[Pannonian]

Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!

The game's over. Ray and I suffered from multiple personality disorder in the Mental Institution game, which was abandoned as a scum victory thanks to non-participation from the players. Ray's posts here were my attempt to create a non-Mafia background for him - not much point really, since the other players didn't post enough to make a game of it, and Ray and I weren't going to post any more than the others and draw attention to ourselves.

[dukehenry]

How about Britain? Their chariots usually do well in comp v. comp?

Britannia was actually doing quite well before I intervened. They had most of Germania locked up, and the Brutii had most of the northeast provinces rebel, and couldn't handle both simultaneously. The Julii were in bad shape, and were about to lose all of their Italian centres but I had to jump in. I took Segestica and another from Spain, and then Spain shifted all of its forces to deal with me.

Then, the Julii attacked Britannia and kicked them off of the continent. Of course it is interesting that the Julii are almost completely removed from Italy without the civil war breaking out yet...

[Caius]

Pulling a "stranger" eh? Good luck using both of them in the Gameroom!

cough The_Don cough

[Hasdrubal]

The Scipii kick butt! I especially love rolling in the dough.

Beware of getting too overextended. I had a butt-kicking general (8-star) who rolled up Carthage and went on to Egypt and captured Alexandria - which promptly revolted and killed him. Not a good way to die.

[pockettank]

the way i did it proved VERY good:

1.take over sicily then caralis then ceasfire with carthage.
2.move in on the greek cities take out sarta/thermon then slaughter macedonia along with conquering salona/appolania
3.finish off greek cities on rhodes/pergamum ally with Thrace
4.next attack pontus/seleucid empire then armenia ally with parthia (if they still excist )
5.now kill thrace dacia and move into germania.
6.i didntfinish ff germania instead i assulted britannia
7. then i had about 40 provinces and 2million gold
8.took southern italy and rome then bought ast few provinces from julii for about 1.5mil owned 50 provinces exact -VICTORY!!!- damn slavery/extermination is fun w/ other romans ;P

[guineawolf]

i played as Scipii VH/VH at huge size,i think since this is my favourite faction(wolve logo),then i decide to played as what i want to be.First i didn't follow the senate orders to take sicily ,i go to greece instead,the apolonia is taken by brutii,then i decide to take salona first then Segestica,for supply...

then i found out i underestimate the AI,the Carthage take my Messana(it is ok,coz i oredi decide to abondoned it anyway),but then the Gauls come to my Segestica with 3000 men,i successfully defeat them with my family members bodyguards lost 1 FM(Family Member).Another 3000 men we get overwhelm by numbers coz those FM go to Salona,only 160 townwatch left.Segestica lost......

The Gauls didn't stop ,they come again to Salona with 1 more 3000 men army,
Salona lost......

Now what left is my Italy province,Capua,i got to used all i got to take greece.I search for weak spot when i recruiting new army,i decide to take Thermon since only 3 squads garisoning that city,i lead that only army 1500 men to siege Thermon.I take it down at second siege.

When i fortifying my Thermon,the Macedonians comes,2000men,my garrison army can handle that.The siege begun,Gneaus Scipio(last of the Scipii family)
and his 1500 men reinforce the defenders.We defeat the Macedonians,but i also lost the last of Scipii Blood (at the same time,the Gauls invade italy,
They sack Segesta,Arretium,the Julii left only the Ariminium and Caralis,if Ariminium and Rome lost,my Capua will be next.. )

After the siege of thermon(Macedonians oredi own greeks,and the Greek cities left only Rhodes,Sparta and Pergamum),the Macedonians concentrate their army on Brutii since Brutii keep attack their Bylazora and Thessalonica.I take the chance when the southern Greece is weak and the Macedonians is busy with Brutii,i take Larrissa,Athens,Corinth then Sparta with only taking heavy casualties from 480 Spartans that garrisoning Sparta.I finally have a base supply line.
Since the trade is concentrate on greece,i set my Capitol at Athens,then i will have to take east of greece to assure maximum profit from the naval trade.

Until now -80BC i own 7 wonders,58 provinces form Cyrene,Siwa north to old Scythians provinces,and Damme,Batavodurum,Bordersholm and old Britons provinces,treasury 1.6 million(plus the 4 million if it do not lost at that force become protectorate bug) and net income of 50k per turn,8 Full stack legions,6 full stack mercenaries at least.the last foes of Romans-Armenians is exterminated,my current stand at Rome,senate is 6,people is 10,the Civil war ain't start yet,what i gonna do????

There is no more land to conquer.....Any suggesttion from you guys??????

[Severous]

Hi guineawolf

I forget to look in this thread when I visit here. Its a great resource though and very helpful for advice and tips on particular factions.

Do you have a screenshot of your position?

It sounds as though you should be able to start the civil war. Popularity with the people is high enough thats for sure.



Scipii is who ive playing every now and then in the past few weeks. Only 20 years into it and its going OK.

At the top of this image is the Gaul Capital.

Scipii will walk in and exterminate the population. Was it the heroic victory or the infamy of the extermination...whatever..the history books will remember it for a 100years by marking the map with crossed swords.

A factor in this campaign is our cultivation of Carthage. We are deliberately aiding Carthage. The remnants of a once mighty Scipii army here besiege Tinji.

We want to capture and gift it to Carthage like so many cities before. Hope for some mighty battles against Carthage later in the game. Sacred bands and elephants with swarms of cavalry...will make a change from the stacks of town watch Carthage normally put up.