Rebels

[mkirchner]

Just a few questions about rebels. I am playing as Egypt on hard/hard. Is there any way to reduce the appearance of rebels. Does the placement of watchtowers help (I have eliminated all black spots in my empire). Also do the rebels armies block off trade caravans on the roads thus reducing my trade $$$$$.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi mkirchner,
Good news! Yes, it most certainly is possible to stop rebel spawn rates, both technically, and non-technically.

In game to make sure your rebels don't appear you can make sure that your loyalty is above 100% - this often prevents any filthy rebels spawning at all. Also, having Unrest in provinces, this is debated by some, increases the rebel spawn rate, so it would be best to remove those horrible Unrest causing governors. As a final note, as you have said, Rebels like to appear out of your line of site, so situating Watchtowers, although this is debated, or Forts in a province can reduce their spawn rate and manipulate where they are spawned.

Ouside of the game, in modding terms, you can prevent rebels from appearing by going into either "C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Rome - Total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\descr_strat.txt", if you have Gold, or "C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\descr_strat.txt" if you have a standard edition, not Gold. On line thirty-six/thirty seven change the spawn rates for Brigands/Pirates to your personal preference. I, think, the higher the number the lower the rate, but I'm not too sure on that one, sorry.

Hope this helps, cheers!

[I of the Storm]

Yep, the higher the number the lesser the spawn rate. 99 in both cases does reduce them significantly. Eliminating them is impossible though. But you need to start a new campaign for the changes to apply, unfortunately.

Edit: if you're feeling scientific, go read here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=50327

[Celt Centurion]

Rebels certainly do disrupt your trade.

If you are armoring your own armies at every opportunity, try this.

You see a band of rebels. Go to the nearest city, take 1 cavalry, 2 infantry, and one slingers or archers, and attack the rebels.

Even autoresolving, you should beat them, and may even get a man of the hour.

Meanwhile, the rebels are gone, and the trade route is open again.

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion

[Stuperman]

I usually try and have offinsive armies of 8inf/4mis/4cav and then defensive armies to clean up rebels in 4 or 5 regions that are close together. Depending on how many regions the defensive armies are assigned to 'gaurd' usually 3-4inf/3-2mis/2cav. Then garrison with town watch

For example if I'm julii I'll put one defensive army near the po river (northern Italy) to get rebels in Mediolanium, Segesta, Patavium, Ariminum, and Arretium.

[Plebian#10]

Just an observation - I will use those pesky rebels to increase the rank of my junior generals.

[Celt Centurion]

Just an observation - I will use those pesky rebels to increase the rank of my junior generals.

That's a good idea there. If I did that, I'd have more experienced generals. Instead, I keep trying to get another man of the hour.

I have a few 10 star generals around, but they are usually in cities that get besieged every turn, meaning that they get a battle nearly every turn.

I think that from now on, I'll send out a young general to get more experience half the time, and hope to get a few more men of the hour on the other half.

Thank You!

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion