ROMANI: The MOST powerful and easy faction...

[Rodion Romanovich]

In the new victory conditions, does protectorate owned province count as owned province, i.e. if the objective is hold region ABC, isn't it enough if the protectorate faction holds that province or do you have to hold it personally?

BTW I'm sure the game won't be finished by 200 BC. I've already taken all easy grabs, now the hard part remains. However when I attacked my ally Iberia my diplomat managed to make them a protectorate, which made my economy flourish so I can build plenty of temples and better roads in Gaul. After some thinking, I decided not to conquer Greece and instead send the legion intended for Greece to Africa, to eliminate the Karthies as a threat together with my general Africanus. I only need to take one more settlement to the west, then their influence in Africa is confined to their Saharan and southeast African settlements, which will simplify things a lot. In the meantime, the legion in Iberia will be sent through the Iberian territories and south to crush the Carthaginian influence in the peninsula.

At the same time, the Getai gave me an offer I couldn't refuse - alliance and map information, the latter revealed that they had expanded A LOT - almost 10 provinces or so. Even better - they were at war with the powerful Sweboz, and I had previously noticed how karthies, getai and sweboz had been allying with each other forming some kind of pact against me with the Aedui, before Aedui were eliminated. This alliance quite effectively crushed the pact plans.

[The_Mark]

In the new victory conditions, does protectorate owned province count as owned province, i.e. if the objective is hold region ABC, isn't it enough if the protectorate faction holds that province or do you have to hold it personally?

No, they don't - we can't do anything when it comes to protectorates. Except bug them so that they generate infinite amounts of money for the protector.

[Chester]

After some thinking, I decided not to conquer Greece and instead send the legion intended for Greece to Africa, to eliminate the Karthies as a threat together with my general Africanus. I only need to take one more settlement to the west, then their influence in Africa is confined to their Saharan and southeast African settlements,

How was the Carthagian resistence? Did the PTolemaic armies march in on you while your troops were in Africa?

I found Carthagian armies much more difficult in battle than the barbarians. The phalanx is more difficult to beat than Gallic heavy infantry, imo. My Triari phalanx merely held a tight line for the barbarian's to fall against, then my peltests, positioned behind my triari, just fired javellins on them unmercifully.

I could route entire Avernii Armies with minimal losess. I'm talking about 2000 kills to 100 losses.

[SwordsMaster]

How was the Carthagian resistence? Did the PTolemaic armies march in on you while your troops were in Africa?

I found Carthagian armies much more difficult in battle than the barbarians. The phalanx is more difficult to beat than Gallic heavy infantry, imo. My Triari phalanx merely held a tight line for the barbarian's to fall against, then my peltests, positioned behind my triari, just fired javellins on them unmercifully.

I could route entire Avernii Armies with minimal losess. I'm talking about 2000 kills to 100 losses.

I'm enjoying killing the barbarians too (Getai in my case) although I take a more traditionally roman approach as opposed to phalangites. I do fear proper phalanxes though, my wars for Sicily and the first punic war were very dear.

I used Leuce Epos. They are almost perfect, as they are heavy enough to charge after the javelins are expended. The trick is to engage your infantry but keep them from dying for long enough... Another good trick is to use roarii and such to charge the phalanxes' sides while your hastati are frontally engaged. Or some mercenary Gaesatae.... So beautiful

[Rodion Romanovich]

How was the Carthagian resistence? Did the PTolemaic armies march in on you while your troops were in Africa?

I found Carthagian armies much more difficult in battle than the barbarians. The phalanx is more difficult to beat than Gallic heavy infantry, imo. My Triari phalanx merely held a tight line for the barbarian's to fall against, then my peltests, positioned behind my triari, just fired javellins on them unmercifully.

I could route entire Avernii Armies with minimal losess. I'm talking about 2000 kills to 100 losses.

Strategically, the carthaginian resistance is really difficult, with all their settlements, good economy and quite good troops. Their phalanxes are great, but since they lost their key settlements in North Africa they've only been able to field quite crappy troops in Africa (elephants being an exception - but sotaroas with fire missiles handle them pretty well) so they've been quite easy in the battles, but they have some good troops in Iberia, which I'm about to face. The Ptolemaioi haven't interfered yet, probably because I've still not gone further east than Kart hadast (and the settlement just south of it) itself, but I intend to do so now that I landed a second legion in the region.

So, in total I have 3 legions and one half army (of auxiliaries and mostly cavalry) engaged in fighting the carthies, whereas I could handle the Arverni with 1 legion, and the Aedui with 2 legions. I expect to be able to deal with Iberia with 1 legion, maybe 2 if I can afford it, and when the time comes, Epeiros, Macedon and Greece with 1 or 2 legions. So I can say the carthies are probably the toughest opponents of the Romani.

The gauls were easier to beat in battle, because like you said they're fairly easy to rout. Leuce epos, equites and general's bodyguard to their rear works very well after pinning with infantry. I managed to destroy the Arverni before they managed to field any better troops, but the Aedui were tougher. In one battle I faced an army with 3 gaesatate but leuce epos and sotaroas are great . If they concentrate all their fire on the gaesatae, they often inflict enough casualties to make for a quick rout once the close combat starts, and a cavalry charge hits the gaesatate.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Two questions question:
- there was some talking about early and late principes/triarii before the OB release. How are the late principes/triarii unlocked?
- after the marian reforms, are the reformed legionaries available for recruitment also in level II governed settlements?

[cunctator]

1. Currently late Triairii etc. are unlocked after 209 BC but this will change too.

2. They should be and will be but I think currently they are not.

[Chester]

Ya reforms hit some time during the 209 season, although Rome in my campaign can't built any.