Minimum provinces for civil war?

[DerekBaker]

Last time (Julii, Hard/Hard) I had 33 provinces when the civil war started.

This time (Julii, Very Hard/Very Hard) I'll hit 23 when I take the last Briton province. Plus this time I have a land border with Scipii as well as Brutii.

Do I really have a chance in the war?

[Caius]

Do I really have a chance in the war?

Valour is superior to numbers.

[The Wandering Scholar]

"Do not advance on sheer numbers alone"

[Paradox]

"Do not advance on sheer numbers alone"

I think it's more like "Do not advance relying on sheer military power", if you're referring to Sun Tzu's quote.

[The Wandering Scholar]

Possibly, that rings a bell.

[Charge]

post pic of your map without fow ;)

[Quirinus]

Really depends on how many regions they have, and which lands you own. For example, having Athens, Corinth and Sparta is different from having, say, Vicus Gothi, Domus Dulcis Domus, and Vicus Venedae.

[DerekBaker]

post pic of your map without fow ;)

'fow'?

[Quirinus]

Fog of War. That's the shadow that prevents you from seeing your rivals' lands. Just press ~, type in toggle_fow, and then enter. The whole map should be revealed to you.

[DerekBaker]

Thanks.

But now I can't get a screenshot. They're all black even though I've turned AA off.

[DerekBaker]

Never mind. After some trial and error with AA, I got some screenshots.

Just waiting now for a registration email from ImageShack

[DerekBaker]

[Charge]

Nice expantion AI shows there :)

You have almost no money, so get powerful army and march through Italy to greece exterminating every city on the way, and secure gaul with other army first.

[El Diablo]

I would also try and get an alliance with Egypt and perhaps one of the other Roman factions so you can concentrate on the other.

It may work??

[DerekBaker]

Charge, yeah, Scpii caught me out by expanding into Europe rather than east along the African coast. If I don't win this time, next time I'll race to southern Spain at the very start to block them.

The money shown there is a little deceiving. That's at the end of a turn. Next turn, total started at just over 18,000. Gross income is about 56,000 a turn; I'm hoping to grow that somewhat before the start of hostilities.

Your plan's not entirely different to my thinking. Last time I more or less held Brutii in Europe, while gaining Italy and Greece. This time I have fewer resources to support 3 fronts rather 2.

El Diablo, I don't know whether Egypt will still be there when the war starts, but attempting to ally with one of the other Roman factions sounds good.

The only question now is when the war will start. Last time I got the 'a chance for power' message at 33 provinces; this time I stymied at 23. Could try for the Egyptian territory, but it's a long way from home and would involve me in another, probably two front, fight.

Is it guaranteed that the war will break out every game?

Thanks.

[Charge]

In my games I got 8 pop-standing after taking your current territories + rest of gaul and spain, so you need to take some provinces first before you can start. Other romans wont be able to do that too untill they defeat egypt so you have a lot of time here (AI usually attacks next turn after getting 8 points)

Think you'll have to take asia minor first - you'll have trusted allies behind, only enemy in front of you etc. + then will secure coast will have lots of money, easy conquering greece

[Quirinus]

Whoa. The world is carved up between four factions......

I've never seen the Scipii go to Spain before, though admittedly, the Scipii don't normally do much more than conquer Sicily as AI. Also, it's quite curious-- you went for Germania first?

Don't worry about the money-- I go through most of my games assidiously staying below 50000d. Other than not being able to bribe big armies, I cope just fine.

Is it guaranteed that the war will break out every game?

Pretty much, since you have to take Rome to win.

[DerekBaker]

In my previous games the Scipii always conquered North African and headed east and north from there. That's why I was so surprised when they hit Spain.

I went for Dacia first to block the Brutii.

[DerekBaker]

North African = North Africa.

[Quirinus]

Though you were too late, right? The Brutii spilled over to conquer the Scythian lands. How is that that you have Dacia in the middle of Brutii territory and not Campus Iazgyus which would join your territories?

[DerekBaker]

No, I was just aiming to keep them out of Western and Central Europe.

I had Campus L., but it rebelled and Brutii got there first.