The Senate.

[Shottie]

Yes, we have all heard of it. Some people might like it, but I hate it. I can never complete the missions, Im not fast enough. I will have all of my units near one city to take, and the time I take to move them there and build them up the turn is over and I have to move them somewhere else. The question that is plaguing my mind is, Can I turn off the Senate mission, or just choose not to them? If I choose not to do them what will happen? I have hardly played the Romans do to the Senate, I like to take my time and Conquer at my pace, but this Senate is stopping me. Thank you guys.

[AngryGerbil]

Ignoring the senate is totally viable, I do it often.

As long as you keep the people happy by continuing to expand your empire, you'll be ok. I mean, the civil war will happen eventually no matter what, so there is no long term reason to listen to what the fools in the senate tell you. You can fight the civil war early or late, it doesn't really matter does it? Nope.

Keeping the people happy though will buy you more time before the Senate demands you to pay 10,000 denari and kill your first born.

[sapi]

just don't ignore them when they offer consequences instead of rewards :)

[Magraev]

Keep fleets stationed at different point near enemy ports so you can do the easy blocade missions to keep the senate off your back. It's difficult to do every conquest mission though, and it's no big problem to miss a few.

Edit: remember to drop the blocade immediately so you can do it again later...

The other day I conquered Petra for the senate in my last mission before the civil war. I managed it 1 turn before the limit. If I didn't do it the senate would "reveal my secret". They get rather nasty as you grow bigger.

[Divico]

Sometimes I'm too late as well, but most of the time I succeed. My "compliance ration" ist something like 7:3.

[Havard]

Speaking of the Senate... I'm in my first game now, and I've been trying to placate them as best I can and have a decent record of completing missions. Now they hate me anyway (presumably because I've gotten to powerful), and has just demanded my faction leader's suicide or I would be outlawed.

Just browsing the manual I found no good expalnation on the concept of being outlawed. Does that mean I will come in a state of war with SPQR and the other factions?

[Magraev]

in short: yes

it's inevitable if you want to win.

[Havard]

in short: yes

it's inevitable if you want to win.

As I just found out...

Not really being prepared for the civil war, I decided to take no bullying from the Senate (after all, the People loves me!) after all, so I plunged into a war with SPQR and the other factions (I'm the Julii). So far I've taken two Brutii cities in Greece, killed the Brutii heir in battle and won two out of three major battles (lost one to the Scipii in Libya getting caught with a detachment there).

I'm, kinda overstretched in the Brutii neighbourhood in Asia Minor (I hold Pergamum, Nicomedia, Ankyra and Tarsus) so I wonder if I can keep on to Tarsus... I have superioriry in Greece by now (4/7 cities), pretty even in Italy (but I keep bringing reinforcements in) and and even match in N.Africa with the Scipii.

I have a couple of armies stuck in Egypt (Scipii territory), but I think I can break though

[Khorak]

Will the meter showing the peoples love for me be directly proportional to the loyalty rating I'll have in Rome when I conquer it? So if the people totally love me, I can conquer Rome and not have to flatten the place because of unrest.

[footman]

i squashed senetes as sooon as im big nuff

[R3dD0g]

Ignoring the senate is totally viable, I do it often.

As long as you keep the people happy by continuing to expand your empire, you'll be ok. I mean, the civil war will happen eventually no matter what, so there is no long term reason to listen to what the fools in the senate tell you...

My first campaign, I really struggled to comply with the Senate. Even pulling troops out of cities that later rebelled and I had a big problem keeping up with their demands. This campaign I've managed to fully comply with all the blocades, except the on on Londinium (that's a far boat ride!!!). And if the conquer mission is already somewhere in my plans, I'll alter an armies path to accomodate the Senate, sometimes the rewards are worthwhile.

But, as far as I can tell, being in the Senate's good graces doesn't get you anything tangible and after all, you will have to knock 'em off sooner or later. So, don't endanger your territory to please the Senate.

[LestaT]

I'm in the year 190 BC, just send an expeditioanry force to Greek and manage to conquer one of the 7 wonders. Now the people are begging me to march to Rome and overthrow the Senate ? Is it the right time ?

I do have large armies but but my Julii legions are spread all over europe and the british isles. (I've conquered Gaul, Britons and Spanish while Germans are under my protectorate.) I'm building a large high tech army in Italy but they are all 'green' unit (no war experience).

If I draw all my forces back from far flung region, it will open up for rebellion. Shall I wait the builup further ? Or will other faction atack me first ?

[R3dD0g]

...
I do have large armies but but my Julii legions are spread all over europe and the british isles. (I've conquered Gaul, Britons and Spanish while Germans are under my protectorate.) I'm building a large high tech army in Italy but they are all 'green' unit (no war experience)...

In my first campaign, I used a brand new, never blooded army from the northern cities to conquer Rome. It was as strong as I could make it. Urban cohorts, Praetorian Cav, Samnite & Arcani. It was tough and full. But, it did the job with a lot to spare for the southern Italy battles.

I don't know that the army of Rome is veteran. Does anybody know what experience that army has when the civil war starts?