Questions about Rome Total War

[econ21]

1. I've played RTW for several weeks now and it seems the game is much more random that MTW (which I played for years)... Anyone have the same experience?

Honestly, no. I thought MTW was more random. But I know BI has a substantial random element.

2. Squalor. ...At about 5000-7000 population, I'm usually running about 20 to 25% squalor. Question: Is that high? Should I try to fix (and thereby increase my population rate) or just make little collars for the rats and call them pets?

I don't worry too much about squalor. I have the impression Rome, Carthage etc can reach 80%+ squalor in the late game. "Fixing" squalor seems only temporary - public health investments just seems to increase population and bring the squalor back eventually. I do build public health buildings fairly promptly to avoid plagues but even that is more of an aesthetic thing than a gameplay one (unless it's a key troop producing or frontline settlement). I just build a lot of happiness buildings to offset squalor and think hard before I build anything (esp. farms) that increases population growth.

3. Negative income streams. ... Question: should I worry that my cities are losing TOO MUCH money? Should I try to fix it? Is this a common experience or am I missing some key element to the game..

The city balance figures are totally useless, IMO, as the troop support costs are not really tied to any one city at all. Cities with negative balance are probably your big earners, as they have more people, so more tax revenue.

But what I've started doing is looking at the city details when I queue a building of economic value (e.g. a port) to see how much the income is projected to rise (the greyed icons on the income line). Sometimes you find an investment is incredibly profitable and sometimes it will have zero effect (e.g. if the trade partner of your city is your enemy). Also, as Braden says, keep an eye on your governors too - try to set taxes to high and keep your faction's balance below 50k to avoid economic vices.

[bedlam28]

Welcome to the org spidey,

Not much to add, other than to give the best advice I found when getting done by squalar;

1) never get farms past land clearance - you cant destroy them and whilst they surge your population to start, the surge continues until your city is rebelling at every turn.

2) try to avoid the Temples etc that promote the same, as its far more beneficial to choose better Trading or War than growth, you will get slaves at each city you take, and you can move men from a big city to a struggling one by making peasants and walking them to the needy city and dispersing them.

If anyone has alternative advice I'm still learning too...

Good luck and if you see a white rat in amongst the blacks his name is Bob - look after him