EB 1.0 Balance

[Mouzafphaerre]

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2. The Seleucids ALWAYS get crunched by Ptolemies.

In my Lusotana M/M they are ruling the world. Ptolies are a petty kingdom in Ethiopia.

I'd love if you guys made over-expansion harder for both the player and the AI. Seeing such AS and KH expansions while trying to behave as realistically as possible makes me feel weird:



I suggested some emphasis on the faction leader (thus making another unfeature a feature) but flatly refused. Maybe distance from homelands or something like that can be done, I don't know.
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[Pharnakes]

You sure I can't tempt you?

Not even shadow factions for the deaths and MTW style FLs?

Admit it. Your tempted.

[Callicles]

Interesting points from everyone. Achieving balance, playability, the chance to change history, and historical realism must be extremely difficult. I applaud the EB team for continuing to strive for perfection.

My largest frustration comes from Baktria. I would like it to be more of a toss-up between the Parthians and Baktrians to see who dominates in the East. I have only rarely seen Parthia dominate. For some reason, it seems that Baktria is just an economic powerhouse (likely because of the rich cities they begin with). Also, I think they get a huge benefit by being able to use the Seleukid MIC's. It explains their steamroll into the west, whereas Parthia has to slow down and develop each city before moving on.

But regarding the Taras question that seems to be dominating this thread, is it possible to make a script that gives Taras to the Romans if the player is any factions other than Rome or Epeiros?

[LordCurlyton]

I don't see why that's necessary. Check my KH campaign in the faction progression thread (it seems to have been missed b/c it preceded one of Soggius' massive updates). Playing with BI, AI Rome declared war on Carthage less than 10 years into the game and conquered Taras in roughly 2-3 years. They took Alalia, Karali, and Messana before Carthage mustered up troops and pushed back, retaking the isles and making all of Sicily Punic. As it stands the Romans and Punes are furiously fighting over Rhegion, in fact, it is a rebel city right now as the Carthies took it and promptly had it rebel. The Carthies are also engaged in the Sand Wars with Ptolies, who are 2 for 2 so far in crushing AS, though they just signed a peace with Ptolies and got Kyrene, so I don't see it lasting too long. Plus the Aedui have gained the upper hand in the Great Gallic Civil War.
I really think the conquest of Taras is the result of lucky battle roll for Romani, as if it had any phalanx units they will tend to kill a disproportionate amount and since the AI doesn't manually fight battles....the devs have really done all they can to encourage Rome to go after Taras and to their credit, teh Romans usually do. Its just that they don't attack with a real force and lose repeatedly.
EDIT: And Baktria only can use the regional MICs of AS, not factional. Its the Ptolies who truly benefit from any AS falterings since they can use Factional and regional MICs of AS IIRC.

[CirdanDharix]

Regarding Ptolemies/AS: excluding heavily tweaked games, I've had one game where the AS went on a rampage, and crushed the Ptolemies, taking also several Eleutheroi provinces and Pontos on the way there. In another the fight was pretty historical, with the Ptollies eventually taking Coele-Syria after a long struggle.

Regarding Rome: my big problem here is that the Punic Wars basically do not start. Messena can be trampled by either Rome or Carthage, without a war starting. I've seen Carthage in Southern Italy, and they're still the best of friends with Rome. IMO there should be a script to tirgger the Punic Wars as soon as either Rome or Carthage expands in Sicily.

But IMO, the worst unhistorical expansion is by the Sweboz. They always end up an all-conquering superpower. 50 years into any game and they're guaranteed to be in Gaul.

[Pharnakes]

Umm, there already is a script, if the romans take Messana, then the Qarthadastim will declare war on them.

[CirdanDharix]

But not vice-versa. And in EB its is much, much more likely that Carthage will take Messana first.

[Pharnakes]

[Danest]

In my Hayasdan campaign, Carthage is invading Italty from Sicily and has captured the toe of Italy, with some signs that they'll move on for more if not stopped. Rome has made significant progress the the north, and I believe they're directly bordering the Sweboz.

[woirble]

One thing that occurred to me as a means of encouraging historical growth and decline would be to have the money script change based on the year. In years particular factions were growing, they get larger bonuses. In years they were declining, they get less. Is that possible?

[konny]

One thing that occurred to me as a means of encouraging historical growth and decline would be to have the money script change based on the year. In years particular factions were growing, they get larger bonuses. In years they were declining, they get less. Is that possible?

Yes, that is possible, but wouldn't make much sense because you can't know in advance when, for example, the Romans will face Pontos, the Germanic push into Italy or Karthago starts her conquest of Spain.

[L.C.Cinna]

I'd like to help the Pathians somehow. In all my campaigns from 0.7x onwards I NEVER saw them win anything.

I'd love to at least once come across a strong parthian empire which I could fight.


I think it's ok that Carthage doesn't do too much. after all they are traders not soldiers...and btw I saw them expand in Spain up to Massilia and they like to fight the Ptolies for Cyrene.

[Jurdagat]

Yes, Phavala never lived long in any of my campaigns.
I've also very rarely seen any big Parthian empires on the Faction Progressenion thread.

Then again it's the wierd Hayasdan goes into the wasteland phenomenon, instead of going south.

Otherwise everything else seems to be quite smooth at the moment in my oppinion.

[Pharnakes]

Its hardly suprising, the AS is south.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Copied from my post at EB Tweaks:

Fourthly, right now I'm experimenting with adding pop growth penalties to the unavoidable governor buildings, and it makes getting your cities huge much more challenging. I might increase the costs and build time on some buildings, as well.

Awesome idea! The AI seems to upgrade too quickly -due to the pop and money boost from EBBS maybe- and that makes expansion into different culture land a great pain. While expansion by itself being pain is good it forces the human player into blitzing; taking whatever before reaching the max town size.

So, while slowing pop growth and increasing the building time of the ridiculously indestructible palace buildings, adding law and happiness penalties in a fashion of enforcing town upgrades would make expansion both more stable and more challenging at the same time.
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