Please help me with my Rome Total War!!! Any help would be VERY appreciated~~

[Death Match]

Hello!! This is my first post!!

Set the time back to year 214BC, and there you have my House of Julii.

It has over 38 provinces and has funds at about 12000 denarii.

My 4 major cities (and only these 4 can recruit good units): Mediolanum [urban cohorts], Patavium [praetorian cavalry], Arretium [urban cohort], Ariminum [praetorian cavalry, archer auxilla, onagers]

Here are two problems, though, which I need help with.

1) I am thinking of going and taking all the enemy provinces back at the Italian peninsula. The problem is that Brutii has more than DOUBLE of my military ranking, and their units are not a joke. My navy is not what you would call "strong", but they are adequate enough for some purposes. [Navy total: 1 FULL navy (20 triemes, not biremes) 2 navies (3 triemes in each) {NOTE: I have not been outlawed yet}

2) My finance is going down for some reason. I am building as much financial buildings as possible, but it is still at -1000 per turn. (I have one full squad [of 9 urban cohorts, 4 praetorian cavalry, 4 archer auxilla, 2 onagers] and one squad [of 6 legionnairy cohort, 4 legionnairy cavalry]

Please help and give me some ideas about what to do!! I will update my situation every few days!! Any help would be APPRECIATED.

[CrossLOPER]

I have no experience with RTW, but it sounds like all you have are some typical TW in-game issues.

1. Being surrounded by strong enemies is never good. Being surrounded with few lands (and a crappy economy) is worse. You need to take some weaker land so that you have a foothold and gain an "attack absorbtion" factor, so that you will have a chance to respond in case of attack. How's your situation up north? You could also go ahead and attack the south, despite the odds. Some good commanding and one good victory could do it for you.

2. You said it yourself. You are building way too much and you have a large army that's draining all your resources. Use the army. You are probably keeping it to protect yourself from the south. Well, if there's no south, you don't really need an army, at least not for the moment.

Once again, these are just some basic thoughts to consider.

[Ciaran]

The Brutii tend to be strong, since they get to conquer all the rich Greek provinces, complete with many trade goods and short trade routes, while the Julii mostly get those landlocked, poorly equipped northern lands with huge distances for trade, it´s normal.
I´d say that navy of yours is a bit too strong, you´ll hardly need a full stack navy, for me, a maximum of five ships (quinquimeres, preferably, though trimeres will do) are more than adequate.
When you talk about financial buildings, I do hope that includes roads and ports, as trade buildings only won´t suffice, they need the means to get the trade goods about as well.
What are yor city garrisons like? Maybe you can find units better suited for garrison duty that what you´re currently using (I suggest peasants or town watch). For 38 provinces (which precisely? Thirty-eight provinces in Gaul, Germany and Hispania isn´t the same as thirty-eight provinces in Greece, Asia Minor, Middle East and Egypt - the latter selection is richer by far), two full-stack armies are a rather small military force, actually.
Then, what are the taxes? You don´t need every town to be happy, yellow is desireable, but a blue face will do, so stack up taxes a notch and reduce entertainment. Shuffle Ancilliaries and governors about, those with high influence and management shouldn´t lead the armies and those with high command and little less shouldn´t govern cities. Put the best where it´s most profitable (Patavium is rather rich, if I recall correctly, as is Massilia, you´ll want high-management guys there).

[ByzantineKnight]

The Brutii don't know how to use their units, they get huge stacks of Early Legionary Cohorts and Legionary Cohorts and still lose.

You just need a few Urbans to rout them, put Hastati and Principes (Cannon Fodder) in the middle of your line and Urbans and Praetorians on the flanks, as soon as they charge, bring your heavy flanks in and send your cavalry to hit them from behind, it routs them everytime unless they have velites, you should get rid of those first with your cavalry.

Good Luck

[Death Match]

When you talk about financial buildings, I do hope that includes roads and ports, as trade buildings only won´t suffice, they need the means to get the trade goods about as well.

Yes, it does include financial roads but not ports. Thank you very much about mentioning it and I will get to work straight away!

What are yor city garrisons like? Maybe you can find units better suited for garrison duty that what you´re currently using (I suggest peasants or town watch). For 38 provinces (which precisely? Thirty-eight provinces in Gaul, Germany and Hispania isn´t the same as thirty-eight provinces in Greece, Asia Minor, Middle East and Egypt - the latter selection is richer by far), two full-stack armies are a rather small military force, actually.

I totally agree with your suggestion. I have too many of good quality troops in remote areas, and that is probably why I am losing so much money. With my 38 provinces, these include all of Spain, Gaul, Britannia, Dacia, Scythia, and 3 of Egyptian cities. And with your idea that two full-stack armies are rather small force, how do you build heaps and maintain good finance?

Then, what are the taxes? You don´t need every town to be happy, yellow is desireable, but a blue face will do, so stack up taxes a notch and reduce entertainment. Shuffle Ancilliaries and governors about, those with high influence and management shouldn´t lead the armies and those with high command and little less shouldn´t govern cities. Put the best where it´s most profitable (Patavium is rather rich, if I recall correctly, as is Massilia, you´ll want high-management guys there).

My taxes are mostly set on "normal". With Patavium, I am losing roughly 2000 denarii per year. (it is filled with 10 squads of Town Watch). In my remote areas, unless I give them daily games and low tax, they won't stop revolting. (yes, I have exterminated the population when I conquered them. Thank Ciaran, for your excellent and helping comments.

The Brutii don't know how to use their units, they get huge stacks of Early Legionary Cohorts and Legionary Cohorts and still lose.

You just need a few Urbans to rout them, put Hastati and Principes (Cannon Fodder) in the middle of your line and Urbans and Praetorians on the flanks, as soon as they charge, bring your heavy flanks in and send your cavalry to hit them from behind, it routs them everytime unless they have velites, you should get rid of those first with your cavalry.

ByzantineKnight, you rule! You just opened a new world to me now. One problem is that they always come with at least 3 Urban Cohorts per army...

2. You said it yourself. You are building way too much and you have a large army that's draining all your resources. Use the army. You are probably keeping it to protect yourself from the south. Well, if there's no south, you don't really need an army, at least not for the moment.

CrossLOPER, I will think of this, as I think that I need to bring my good units from remote areas and fill it up with just Town Watch. I think it will save money.


Thank You for all of your comments!! Any more will be also greatly appreciated.

[ByzantineKnight]

ByzantineKnight, you rule! You just opened a new world to me now. One problem is that they always come with at least 3 Urban Cohorts per army...

Cool, i've never seen that. Mabye I should go back to Vanilia .

Are you winning?

[Death Match]

I think that a picture is better than one thousand words.

Here is my saved file... It's a .ZIP file.


Download it here