House Rules

[Specialist290]

Do any of you more experienced players here ever use self-imposed limits to make their game a little more interesting? If so, what kinds of "house rules" do you use?

[Arciel]

How about not bribing the heck out of the other Roman factions to ensure that you get a challenging endgame? Or maybe try going the historical route and only going to war against those who first declared war against you?

[ByzantineKnight]

I don't bribe, and have no navies (give or take 2 or 3 biremes).

[econ21]

Some houserules I tend to follow:

1. Historial army composition- particularly limiting use of elites; archers and cav.
e.g. for Romans, it may be 2 archers max; 2 cavalry max per stack (plus velites:hastati:principes:triarii in the ratio 2:2:2:1 & maybe half "allies", eg. mercs).

2. No extermination: extermination is just broken, IMO

3. No retraining (apart from ships and full strength units to get upgrades): with retraining, you can instantly make good your losses after a bloody battle, reducing the problem of logistics; also you create an uber unit from a single surviving vet, unbalancing future battles; both things are broken and AFAIK, the AI does not retrain.

4. Naval transport: 1 unit/ship

5. Don't start any wars (just finish them): no rushing; give the AI time to build

6. Demolish enemy troop building facilities (so you can't instantly recruit reinforcements)


These rules are mainly to make things more historical, but also tend to make it a little more challenging.

I am currently trying playing with fatigue off - as the AI can't manage it. It has some downsides - marching up hills etc becomes less of an issue and you may as well always run. But it does make defending tougher.

[Braden]

When I was playing using Vanilla:

1) I would never start a war, I would have to be forced into one.
2) Try to use a "historical" make-up of armies (but difficult post-Marian)
3) No extermination
4) Only specific settlements would be enslaved (i.e. Only "Barbarian" cultures)
5) Post-Marian armies must have at least two mercenary units.

Basically, the more you impead and slow your own expansion down the better.

Still starts getting boring once you get past 35 regions though.

Haven't had a chance to play my own campaign in RTR yet but I have high hopes for that.

[Caius]

I am currently trying playing with fatigue off - as the AI can't manage it. It has some downsides - marching up hills etc becomes less of an issue and you may as well always run. But it does make defending tougher.

fatigue off?It affects the campaign map in the way of moving soldiers?

[econ21]

Fatigue only affects the battlemap. But often if you set up far from the AI, its troops may be exhausted by the time they reach your lines. I suspect exhaustion has been penalties on unit stats, so they are crippled before the fighting even begins. The player can often manage fatigue - by not running, by resting etc - but the AI does not. I've only just tried switching fatigue off (I think it was recommended in the XGM mod) but it does seem to improve the challenge. As the AI approaches your lines all fresh and ready to fight, it is now a little scarey - whereas before it was reassuring to see how tired they were.

[Marius Dynamite]

I wanted to start a Topic about this but I don't have the permissions.

I made myself a few rules in RTRPE to make the game more fun and even more realistic. I also made these rules to help me win the game. They stop me making silly mistakes and keep an organized Empire. These are some rules as Rome.


Roman Legion

A Roman Legion (in my Rome) is a 20 unit army consisting of at least 6 Principes, A Family member, 2 Hastati minimum, 2 Triarii minimum, 2 Roman/Italian Cavalry minimum and missile support. Army must be 20 units. It can contain mercenaries and other units like Italian Swordsmen as long as all else is correct. Such an army is known as a Roman Legion to me. Basically it must be realistic to a Roman army. I am good at using armies like this to win battles with minimum casualties.

Generals Guard

In my first Campaigns in RTR alot of my Generals were dying in battle. AI is clever in RTR. The enemy can flank successfully and go for the General.

Now All my Generals must have a unit to guard them. All Generals must have at least one unit of Equites to guard them in battle. Alternatively, If the army contains Triarii, the general does not require Equites but the General must always stay directly behind the Triarii. This rule was very successful. Having The Equites meant I could keep my General very close to the frontline. The Equites spread fear in the enemy Infantry while my General Inspired my own troops. Similarly, I never engage with Triarii unless it is a must. They are the last line and therefore can be used to protect my General if I am flanked. This rules is required before any of my armies can invade an area. It is excluded in military crisis.

Navy

I Never made many rules about navy. As I conquer new lands, some tend to have large Ports. While I am creating Auxilia Pase 1, 2 and 3, I build Warships. Then I transport my meny back and forth to retrain. When I have my Legions ready to Invade, I build large fleets to transport and support them.

Invading

Invading doesn't mean beginning War. I mean Invading as in initiating attacks on major enemy settlements or attacking areas such as the Gallic settlements in north Italy or Invading Africa. Usually when I invade on Vh/vh in RTR PE, The enemy I am invading have armies ready to take back what I conquer. To counter, I made the Roman Legion system of Invading. When I invade, it must be with a full Legion and when invading across water, It must be with full naval support. Also, when Invading, recruiting for reinforcements must be queued. Using this rule stops me making the stupid mistake of attacking the Gauls, winning a settlement, then being driven back and crushed by their superior numbers. This rules also stops me sending over 2 units of principes and a spy and taking Carthage when it has 1 unit in it. I don't use this rule in Military crisis (like at the start when the greeks must be forced out of Southern Italy).

Those rules help me when I play as Rome in RTRPE. I have a few more but those are the ones I always remember when I am recruiting.

[econ21]

I wanted to start a Topic about this but I don't have the permissions.

Are you sure? That used to be the case. But check the permissions information on the topic left of your screen. I think TosaInu allowed juniors to start posts in game related forums yesterday.

A Roman Legion (in my Rome) is a 20 unit army consisting of at least 6 Principes, A Family member, 2 Hastati minimum, 2 Triarii minimum, 2 Roman/Italian Cavalry minimum and missile support. Army must be 20 units.

Did you see the "Quintus' guide to be a true Roman" thread on the RTR forums? It gave some interesting ideas on how to make a historical army. Yours has too many principes relative to hastati: they should be 1:1. Also, half the army would usually be allies. It proposes viewing a half stack as one legion + one alae (a Praetorian army); and a full stack as a Consular one.

BTW, if you like Rome and RTRPE, why don't you join in our PBM over in the Throne Room?

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=65972

[professorspatula]

A house rule I often employ is no wearing dirty shoes on the carpet, but it doesn't really apply to RTW.

I've replied to these threads so many times, I can't be bothered to list all my self imposed rules again, but the no retraining one is the best of the bunch. Any unit under 90-95% strength won't be retrained, unless they are only 2 chevrons or less experienced. That way you appreciate your veterans, even putting them behind the front rows to preserve them until the time is right to deploy them to best affect - ie when they won't just get completely slaughtered in the first wave!


Alternative '(Mostly Untested) House rules':

You must wear a toga when playing as the Romans, or at least sacrifice a goat or bull before playing.

To increase battle difficulty during night time battles, player must switch the monitor off to simulate the affects of fighting on a really dark night whilst blindfolded and against an army of night-vision equiped troops.

Wardogs must have their attack skill edited and reduced to 1 as vicious pups shouldn't be out without a muzzle on when they're not a leash.

At least once every campaign you must send a massive army of peasants out to ravage the countryside. Hey, it's fun!


Plagues are best shared, so it is only kind to send your plague infected spies to your neighbouring faction's cities at every possibility. It would be rude not to.

(Drinking Game Rule): When playing as a Greek faction, everytime an advisor or unit says, 'Yes Strategos' you must have a sip of beer. Without the hour you'll be somewhat drunk, and by 3 hours, comatose.

[ByzantineKnight]

A house rule I often employ is no wearing dirty shoes on the carpet, but it doesn't really apply to RTW.

Alternative '(Mostly Untested) House rules':

You must wear a toga when playing as the Romans, or at least sacrifice a goat or bull before playing.

To increase battle difficulty during night time battles, player must switch the monitor off to simulate the affects of fighting on a really dark night whilst blindfolded and against an army of night-vision equiped troops.

Wardogs must have their attack skill edited and reduced to 1 as vicious pups shouldn't be out without a muzzle on when they're not a leash.

At least once every campaign you must send a massive army of peasants out to ravage the countryside. Hey, it's fun!


Plagues are best shared, so it is only kind to send your plague infected spies to your neighbouring faction's cities at every possibility. It would be rude not to.

(Drinking Game Rule): When playing as a Greek faction, everytime an advisor or unit says, 'Yes Strategos' you must have a sip of beer. Without the hour you'll be somewhat drunk, and by 3 hours, comatose.

[Ciaran]

The only self-imposed rule I adher to is to fight manually only when a family member is present, battles with Captains in command get auto-calced.

[Caius]

I use mercenaries and try always have a family member in settlements

[The Spartan (Returns)]

well i usually just use higher camp. and somtimes battle difficulty.

[red comyn]

House rules for me are no silly units, eg arcani(sp?) fire a forget war dogs. No spamming spy assasin combos all over the map, and no peasents as garrisons.

[Roman_Man#3]

basically the rules i play to is no peasents as garrison, town watch or in the game for that purpose. or use peasents in armies. i try to have a family memeber with each army or in a city.