Germania

[Viking]

Harass with armoured eles? You mean use eles as horse archers? LOL.

Ah damn my english

I like to smash the legions with my eles

[pezhetairoi]

Germania is too overpowered, given its early ability to katank Rome, its unbreakable phalanxes and its awesome unit roster. I have decided to mod its spear warband stats down so it becomes a standard warband, strip it of its phalanx capability, and make it 7-7 instead of 9-8 attack. After all historically I'm sure CA justified their giving of the Germanic phalanx by the accounts of the Germanic battles at Aquae Sextiae where under Marius, the Germans formed a shieldwall with spears, and at Strasbourg where historians reported the Germans adopted a 'semi-phalanx'. But nowhere was it a real phalanx. If based on this they would give the Germans the phalanx, then they should give the same to Gaul and Britannia. Ergo, Germania must lose its phalanx--its people should not be disciplined enough to stay in the shieldwall.

Anyway. I don't know where this came from. But do you think it's a wise move given your campaign experience of Germania?

[Skott]

Howdy All. I'm an old timer having come back for more Total Warfare. I been playing again for almost 3 weeks now. Yesterday I started a German campaign. Playing it on VH. For strategy I decided on take out Britain and Gaul first before moving south against the Roman Legions.

As everyone knows the hardest part about the German factions is that they are poor. So I built roads first, then markets, and then farms. Basically get money into my treasury. Then I started on the temple stuff. Mostly Freya to get population going but added a couple to Donar and Wotan on some for variety and extra bonuses.

First I attacked the Denmark settlement and pushed east till I butted up against the Scythians. I also pushed south and southeast till stopping before modern day Italian and Dacian borders.

In the west I made alliances with Gaul and took the continental British town in the modern day Normandy area. Then I took the Gaulish captial. Then I marched on the town in modern Brittany that has a port. And thats where I am now in the game. My next move will be to invade the Brittish Isles and then turn my attention south against the Gauls and then the Romans.

Sorry about not using the actual town names. I'm at work and dont have my game map with me to read them off.

All of the rebel towns I just occupied outright since their population is low. Alesia and the British town I enslaved the population to help out my own German held towns. The northern Gaulish town that has a port on the English Channel I exterminated the population because I needed the money badly.

I havent been bribing because I dont like giving the gold to the enemy. Better to not give them a means to fund more units at this point. Besides, I need the gold more than they do. Normally when I do bribe in this game its usually to quickly move a rebel army out of my pathway so it doesnt slow me down or I'll bribe a army that might be planning to attack a army or town of mine that I feel I cant beat. Generally I dont bribe though.

So far my family of generals is sufficient and has a fairly steady supply of new members coming in so my leadership is looking pretty good.

I have my diplomats roaming the world making alliances and selling map info as fast and as much as I can. This has been a big help so far. Once I get to the point of having archers I will be set for world conquest. When playing these campaigns its pretty standard tactics. Have a solid line of spear, pike, or hoplites (hastati, principes, or legions if a Roman faction) out front, some archers for artillery support behind the front line, and some cavalry to screen, flank, and run down routing units.

So far my strategy is fairly straight forward in this current campaign. Spears out front. Keeping them 3 to 4 ranks deep. If I have swordsman or axemen I keep them on the spear flanks and then cavalry on their flanks and ranged units in behind as artillery support. March them up to the enemy line till the ranged units in back are in range. Once they start throwing that generally triggers the enemy AI to attack and I let the enemy waste themselves on my spearpoints. Then I use my cavalry to flank and pursue when the enemy flees. When on defense its the same setup and strategy except I let the enemy come marching to me.

[pezhetairoi]

Skott, the faction you bribe doesn't receive the money you give to the army. Just because you bribe them doesn't mean they will have more money, just that their upkeep falls somewhat. Bribe by all means. It only weakens the enemy, not strengthens it.

Germania is poor, but has a distinct military advantage (I'm sure you noticed). It also has incredible fertility for an infertile place, since you get factioners on the average of 1 every 5-6 turns, which is incredible.

You would be able to build up archers much quicker if you went straight for a decapitation strike on Rome. My style is to throw my line back and play defensive, forming a ring or semicircle, with my cavalry guarding the rear and my archers in the empty space in the centre, and let my enemy waste himself. But warning, this is not a good idea to be used against enemy hoplites. Attacking wise, I advance in the formation of my defensive ring, enough to lure the enemy to me, then I rotate units into the defensive ring and wait. Once they start routing I unleash my cavalry on a rampage.

[Skott]

Wow, all this time I thought the bribe money went into the factions' treasury. I knew with rebel armies it didnt matter but just figured giving the enemy troops money was later used to build more units or buildings against me. In any case with the German campaign money is too hard to come by to part with for bribes anyway IMO. Although today I did bribe away three different armies to give myself time to build up. I hated doing it but it was necessary to buy me time.

Anyway today I got an army over onto the British Isles and captured Londinium. Managed to get a ceasefire with the Gauls while I take out the Brits. Once I conquer the British Isles I'll start again on the Gauls and probably the Romans.

I read that blitzing the Romans early on was possible and a sure fire way to get lots of fast cash but I opted not to. Decided to go the slow way via Brits and Gauls first. Maybe next time I'll try a blitz into Northern Italy.

Actually I'm currently running two different campaigns. My German campaign and today I started a Egyptian campaign. These campaigns can be long and boring at times so my attention can shift alot. Running two at the same time gives me some variety to break up the monotiny.

[pezhetairoi]

If you're already in Britain, consider capturing Deva-Tara and Londinium-Samaro at the earliest opportunity. These are excellent trade pairs whose trade income is OMG wonderful. It'll give a huge boost to your economy especially fi you build every trade-inducing building you can in them.

[LestaT]

Have played Germania vanilla before on M/M . Easy win , if I remembered my empires spans until the nile valley.

Now in RTR 5.41 will play again , after I finish my Armenian campaign. BTW when I was playing Macedon (RTR version) I'm at war with Germania but I found that they're an easy picking with my hoplites armies. Don't have much cav use except my Companion generals.

How does it fae in RTR ? Anyone played it yet ? Any advice ? Maybe any new units / tactics ? Is spearwarband still have the same stat ?

Cheers.