I LOVE the Scipii faction, I must admit it :P

[g3n]

The Scipii faction is just great, first of all you can get the most powerful gladiator in the game, the Mirmillo or whatever they are called. The Julii and Brutii have weak gladiators. Second of all you can get those 2 powerful ships which only the Scipii can get, I think they are called the Corvus and the Deceres.

Then we can go onto some other things, like how much easier it is to start off playing as the Scipii than the other factions. You don't have to deal with the Gauls in the north like the Julii's do because they are an incredible pain at the beginning of the game, and plus you have the Julii towns and Rome serving as a barrier from them.

My only complaint, no Silver Shield Legionaires like the Seleucids, no Cataphracts, and no Spartan Hoplites. But the good news is, you can hire them all as mercenaries anyway so it isn't a problem!

So basically the Scipii faction is perfect for me, dunno about what your preferences are on Roman factions but based on my experience they are definitely the best.

[amazon77]

Hi and welcome to the forums

The Scipii, as all the Roman factions are indeed powerfull. You're correct about their late ships. They also get the mirmillo gladiators. However, i don't believe they are the best of the three, for a number of reasons: they are weaker than the Julii samnite glad's. They don't get a bonus vs elephants and chariots as do the Brutii one's. Finally they cost more and come late to the game, thus u need a much larger settlement to produce them. The only area were they are better than their counterparts is their charge value. They do have the best graphics tho.

As far as the Cataphracts u'r right, but then again no romans get them. However they do get all the roman cav's including the powerfull Praetorian cavalry. Concerning Silver SHields, you do get them. In the form of Legionary Cohorts. By the way, you can't get cataphracts, silver shileds nor spartans as merceneries.

On the starting position, i also believe the Scipii have the most difficult position, as their cities are divided and in Sicily they have to battle against the elephant carth unit and a strong greek city state army. Assaulting the greek city is tough as well, as it has stone walls. After taking the island you are set, but you still have to trans ur troops to africa to attack the carthage homelands, which can be a tricky trip due to the powerfull carthagianian navy. The gauls can be taken by storm, not too hard for a julii commander.

Personally, for the above reasons i find the Scipii the hardest. However, if we were talking about a human vs human campaign, i'd give them the advantage because of their ships and god. If you are interested there was an excellent comparison among the 3 roman factions some months earlier. You could try digging that post out. My preference goes to the julii.

[VAE VICTUS]

i find them the easiest of the roman factions.two cities within easy reach,big plus the vulcan temple upgrades.also carthage is a skip away,i like to take it and exterminate it then vacate and let it build up again,then take it again.

[Slug For A Butt]

Personally, I prefer the Julii. I like to take the gauls sea ports while also beating the Brutii to the Northwest Greek cities. Good income, and it's easy to fend off the Gauls early in the game while you concentrate on beating the brutii at their own game.
Just my opinion for what it's worth.

[pezhetairoi]

I prefer the Brutii. For difficulty I suppose the Julii are best, but the Brutii get the richest regions ingame really fast (Greece, Asia Minor). The Scipii take Carthage and Sicily, and then...what? Desert oblivion. It'll take you forever to get to Egypt, and Numidia just isn't worth the time though they keep irritating you. Whereas the Brutii have got cities within one-two turns of one another with paved roads, and access to the best mercenaries ingame. If you want to talk about good mercs, take a look at Asia Minor. I'd say for game experience the Brutii are probably the most profitable to play as, but I daresay Julii pip all the others for colour scheme, gladiators notwithstanding.

[Conqueror]

The Scipii take Carthage and Sicily, and then...what? Desert oblivion. It'll take you forever to get to Egypt, and Numidia just isn't worth the time though they keep irritating you.

Which is why you don't push further into Africa after you've taken Cathage & Thapsus. You build ships in Messana and set sail to Greece. The AI Brutii are slow to conquer and often make alliance with Macedon which slows them down even more. If you didn't waste time with your initial conquests (Syracuse can be taken very early, you just have to know how to assault fortified cities) then there's still probably plenty of Greek/Macedonian cities left to grab. And you'll definetly beat the Brutes to Asia Minor. Going to Egypt doesn't take "forever" when you first capture the island of Crete and use it as a base to launch an ambiphious assault.

[IliaDN]

I prefer the Brutii. For difficulty I suppose the Julii are best, but the Brutii get the richest regions ingame really fast (Greece, Asia Minor). The Scipii take Carthage and Sicily, and then...what? Desert oblivion. It'll take you forever to get to Egypt, and Numidia just isn't worth the time though they keep irritating you. Whereas the Brutii have got cities within one-two turns of one another with paved roads, and access to the best mercenaries ingame. If you want to talk about good mercs, take a look at Asia Minor. I'd say for game experience the Brutii are probably the most profitable to play as, but I daresay Julii pip all the others for colour scheme, gladiators notwithstanding.

If you the first turn your sent your from Capua to conquer Appolonia - than you will dominate in Greece, because Brutii will stupidly stand near your city waiting for something ( Appolonia is the first city they are to conquer ).
Then you ( if you are quick enough ) can continue your expansin on Greek's lands without much interfearence from Brutii.