Roman: Brutii

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Plan seems strategically and tactically sound. Nice attack in Anatolia -- who knew how quickly they'd fold after some casuaties.

Only add on might be a couple of raiding armies to distract Julii and Scipii response. These would be 10-14 card cavalry only armies sent to ravage and distract -- isolating the SPQR even more. Not worth it to weaken your main effort though, this is for "if resources allow."

[rotorgun]

Plan seems strategically and tactically sound. Nice attack in Anatolia -- who knew how quickly they'd fold after some casuaties.

Only add on might be a couple of raiding armies to distract Julii and Scipii response. These would be 10-14 card cavalry only armies sent to ravage and distract -- isolating the SPQR even more. Not worth it to weaken your main effort though, this is for "if resources allow."

Hello Seamus! It's good to hear from you again. Sorry for not replying to your posts sooner; work, holidays, and home projects have been the order of the day.

Your advice seems sound. I was actually considering such a possibility, but never entertained the idea of cavalry raids....how intruiging! It puts me in mind of the tactics of Nathan Bedford Forest and Jeb Stuart during the War between the States. They were masters of the cavalry raid. These techniques were used to great effect by one Betrand Du Guesclin of Brittany during The Hundred years War as well. It was called Le Chevauchee, which means cavalry raid in French. It was highly effective in tying down the forces of the English as they tried to prevent them. I thank you. I will attempt to implement them in the final phases of this campaign, which, if "providence doth not hinder", will commence tomorrow.

What campain(s) are you engaged in now? Are you still playing a Brutii game, or are you moved on to another. How is your French war going in MTW? I'll look for your posts about that in the MTW threads.

Thanks a great deal.

[gardibolt]

Tried a Brutii campaign in 1.5, after having done a bunch of barbarians and Carthage; I was amazed at how easy these guys are after that experience of shoddy troops and worse economies. They're like printing money. I'm building everything I can, hired every mercenary in sight, never exterminate, and I'm still having trouble keeping under 50,000d. The Greek Cities melted away before me and now Macedon is doing the same. Everyone on the map is terrified of me and I get offers every turn of alliances. Really, really a weird experience.

That will all change, I expect, once the civil war comes, though right now at 20 territories I have high popularity with both the Senate and the people, thanks to ravaging everything and obediently doing all the Senate missions quickly. The Julii and Scipii have both expanded substantially (though I messed up the Julii by taking both Patavium and Mediolanum; I would have gotten Marsila too except I had to put down some rioting in Mediolanum and the Germans offered me Iuvavum in exchange for a ceasefire and I had to go stock it with troops). The civil war is likely to be long and bloody, especially since I no longer seem to have the option to bribe other Roman troops, no matter how much money I have. When did that disappear? I used that to great effect in 1.0. Will I get that back once the civil war starts?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

MTW campaign was played for a stretch. France was absorbed, then war with the HRE netted me all of the low countries, Saxony and Switzerland -- while defending the south against Spain -- when a rapid double civil war smashed me back to the North French coast and cost me half of England itself. Not quite back to my borders on that one yet.

The current RTW for me is a Scip campaign. Trying to get the Jollies outlawed first, but they keep hanging at one pip. Senate missions for me are annoying -- no Hyperboria (yet) but Carthago Nova when fully deployed against the Eggys.

How'd the Brutes finish up for you?

[gardibolt]

Still in progress. The Macedonians in their last stand gave me some trouble---they had a ton of cavalry in their final army of 2000 and I had too many missile units in the army I sent after them, which was less than half that size, so I got soundly whacked. A better-proportioned force went after them the next turn, I assassinated the faction leader and they fell like dominos.

Thrace then foolishly attacked me and is paying the price. They put a stack on a boat which I promptly sank (I rule the seas) and I'm heading over to Carthage, which the Scipii seem to be ignoring (It's now owned by Numidia, somehow). My Machiavellian plan is to take western Africa, forcing the Scipii to get involved in a mutually destructive war with Egypt. Brittania has eliminated Gaul, so I expect they will be tackling the Julii.

I'm up to 238 BC and am hoping I don't get the same 237 BC crash I got with my Carthage game; if I do, then I'm done with this game for good.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Sorry to be unclear, I was responding to Rotorgun.

Gardi', your campaign seems to be following a clear pattern, so I have had little comment.

[rotorgun]

MTW campaign was played for a stretch. France was absorbed, then war with the HRE netted me all of the low countries, Saxony and Switzerland -- while defending the south against Spain -- when a rapid double civil war smashed me back to the North French coast and cost me half of England itself. Not quite back to my borders on that one yet.

The current RTW for me is a Scip campaign. Trying to get the Jollies outlawed first, but they keep hanging at one pip. Senate missions for me are annoying -- no Hyperboria (yet) but Carthago Nova when fully deployed against the Eggys.

How'd the Brutes finish up for you?

Sounds like an interesting situation developing in both of your campaigns. I shall seek further developments in future posts.

As for me, it is currently 29 BC in the campaign. I am still in the final preparations for the planned invasion of Latium. I had to perform my monthly military duties for the National Guard, which, unfortunately, put my gaming hobby on a bit of a hold. I've taken your advice and am now about six turns from completing the suggested cavalry raiding forces, albiet somewhat smaller in size than your recommended 14-16 units. I opted for about 8-10 Roman Cavalry units launched from three different cities, Tarentum in the south, Segestica and Iuvavum from the north. It seemed more prudent, as the Jullii are buildind their defenses of Liguria, Etruria, and Umppia more rapidly than I anticipated, and it has forced me to accept a truncated timetable. I will also have to go on the defensive against Pontus while seeking a ceasfire from them. I've offered them protection but they ask for too many hard won cities in return. It is no bother as they have been very much cut to size already.

My basic plan is still the same in regards to general strategy - hit the Jullii hard in their weakened Gaullic provinces to distract them and hopefully draw some of their Spanish legions north while using my northern cavalry to raid Liguria, thereby fixing the garrisons there for a spell. Lilybaeum, and Messana, both Scipii owned, will be taken by storm, drawing a furious response from their North African armies. This will be thwarted by my already vastly superior naval forces by a close blockade of the entire Western African coast. This will force both factions into a naval biluding campaign which they can ill afford.

In central Italy, My two, largely Urban Cohort/Preatorian Cavalry/Onager, legions will assault Arriminum and Arretium. Simultaneously, another two, three cheveron, silver shield legions will move on Capua to capture the Scipii capital. These maneuvers should draw at least one or two of the three Senate legions away from Latium. If they don't move to support their loyal factions they risk a possible assault from six legions later, so I surmise that they will do so. Once I have drawn them into the fray I will send in my reserves from Attica and the Dalmation shores to secure my gains, and then launch my own ancient version of the Anzio invasion from Sicilia to take on the remaining Senate forces. Hopefully these forces will be annihilated in a Gotterdamerung of their own making (It serves them right for not making me Dictator for life!) by whatever forces are available to assist the landing force. If all goes well, Rome should fall between 20 to 10 BC.

This is the Commander's intent, currently being sent by currier to all the Consuls, Preators, and Legates of the Legions. What say you Seamus? Does this plan have a leg to stand on?

Viva Longa a Imperator!

[rotorgun]

Still in progress. The Macedonians in their last stand gave me some trouble---they had a ton of cavalry in their final army of 2000 and I had too many missile units in the army I sent after them, which was less than half that size, so I got soundly whacked. A better-proportioned force went after them the next turn, I assassinated the faction leader and they fell like dominos.

Thrace then foolishly attacked me and is paying the price. They put a stack on a boat which I promptly sank (I rule the seas) and I'm heading over to Carthage, which the Scipii seem to be ignoring (It's now owned by Numidia, somehow). My Machiavellian plan is to take western Africa, forcing the Scipii to get involved in a mutually destructive war with Egypt. Brittania has eliminated Gaul, so I expect they will be tackling the Julii.

I'm up to 238 BC and am hoping I don't get the same 237 BC crash I got with my Carthage game; if I do, then I'm done with this game for good.

Hello Gardibolt,

It appears that you are having a good early game with the Brutii. I like your plan to disrupt the Scipii with an invasion of Numidia. It will be somewhat difficult to logisticlly support such a plan as Numidia is far from your base of operations, but could be of some use If you succeed. Leaving all that Egyptian wealth to the Scipii seems rather generous. I was able to really boost my economy by taking over Egypt during my canpaign. It was not an easy task, as those nasty Egyptians were quite a challange. (I almost started to have nightmares hearing those Apis horns that their leaders always seemed to blow right before an attack!) Alexandria, Memphis, and Thebes are incredibly rich cities, well worth a campain to capture them. Jeruselam is the hardest city to rule I realize, but not impossible.

I also had great fun capturing the Anatolian provinces as well. The coastal ports will bring you an immense profit in trade, something worth considering as you will need capital once you go to war with your fellow Romans. A considerable amount of trade income is lost once the war begins, and the extra denarii will come in handy. Let the Julii fight Brittania however; it is true that they are indeed quite mad it seems. It took a few years off my life fighting these stubborn tribes.

What happened to cause your crash? I had this happen a few times as well, but thank the Lord I had my campaign saved seperately from the autosave that happens whenever you finish a turn.

Good luck with your campaign. I have enjoyed playing the Brutii immensley.

[gardibolt]

Hey rotorgun, thanks for the feedback. The seizure of Carthage and then Tingi went well, thanks to the mercs I picked up marching across north Africa. The next step will be invading Spain and giving me a second front to attack the Julii when the civil wars come. My plan is for the Scipii and Egypt to wear each other down; I'm hoping that my timing is such that when the war comes that the Scipii will be vulnerable. If it comes too soon, they'll have many stacks with Egypt right behind them (at the moment they have six full stacks just south of Carthage); if it comes too late they may have conquered Egypt and become a wealthy powerhouse. I expect though, that my seizure of Iberia will be enough to outlaw me and then I can start in earnest on my brethren. Conveniently, the Senate just asked me to blockade Novo Carthago, which fits perfectly into my plans. And in the process, I can wipe out the final Gallic territory. :D

I already own almost all of Anatolia, and the cash is just rolling in, between 30 and 34,000d per turn. I have an alliance with Pontus, who has been reduced to 2 provinces by the Armenians, who in turn are under attack by the Egyptians. But I've built forts at the approaches to Anatolia and stuck nearly full stacks in them to hold off the Egyptians from casting a greedy eye on my territories. Thrace is on the ropes, and Dacia is starting to get nervous; I see them sending troops to the borders they share with me. But I'll let them start the war. I'm in no hurry.

No 237 BC crash in my Brutii game (down to 232BC now and just got the Marius Reforms thanks to my palace in Patavium), so the other one in my Carthage campaign must have been tied to the fact it started as a 1.0 campaign.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Rotor'

Sounds like you're dreating the kind of pell-mell finale that will be highly entertaining!

I do think you'll draw them out and hammer them in the field, then it'll be the turn of rome itself.

If only those foolish old men had seen the wisdom of appointing you dictator without all of this pettifogging.

By the way, are you looking for a "Master of the Horse?"

[rotorgun]

Rotor'

Sounds like you're dreating the kind of pell-mell finale that will be highly entertaining!

I do think you'll draw them out and hammer them in the field, then it'll be the turn of rome itself.

If only those foolish old men had seen the wisdom of appointing you dictator without all of this pettifogging.

By the way, are you looking for a "Master of the Horse?"

Thanks Seamus, I could be in the market for a Magister Equitum. Do you have someone in mind? Perhaps a certain Celtic warrior from the "Historic Triangle" could be induced to take the job? And what would be the fee for such services rendered?


As I must be at work all this week, I will not be able to kick off this long awaited assault until next weekend. I swear, if I have to brook many more delays...! If I could only find two consecutive days in a row, I would certainly wrap this campaign up. I'm not complaigning though; playing the Brutii has been a great experience. Well...have a good week yourself. I appreciate the help and the comradarie.

[rotorgun]

Hey rotorgun, thanks for the feedback.

No 237 BC crash in my Brutii game (down to 232BC now and just got the Marius Reforms thanks to my palace in Patavium), so the other one in my Carthage campaign must have been tied to the fact it started as a 1.0 campaign.

Your welcome indeed. I think you have a sound strategy in establishimg a base of operations in the west. It will probably call for some creative governing of any provinces captured there, so far away from your capital. I still have to watch my colonies in Britannia very carefully as they are far from my capital of Athens. I decided to make Athens my new Brutii capital about mid-game to lessen the unrest effects in my far flung eastern provinces. It also increased the trade income quite a bit as well. (Tarentum and Croton do not seem to have Ports as good as the Athenians do.)

I think your right about the crash thing. It was probably a conflict between 1.0 and 1.5 or something like that. In any case, just keep a good back up save if you are concerned. Well...have a great time. Talk to you later.

[rotorgun]

Praise be to the God Vitrix!

I have finally been able to complete this Brutii campaign. My final one, two, three strategy to take Rome was a success! The final victory tally was 66 Provinces, including almost complete control of Italia. My finances were in good shape at about 250,000 denarii coming in on each turn minus roughly 150-170,000 denarii in expenses on average. (It pays to have control of the eastern Med ports) The events leading up to victory were exciting.

After opening the civil war with an attack on Alesia in Gaul, I sent a small attack army with a catapult from Britannia by sea. These forces besieged Samarobriva and captured it after two turns. Even though these attacks were of no great strategic value, they served to draw Julii attention away from the main thrusts against thier cities of Ariminum and Arretium. Against them, I sent two armies from Venitia Province while, upon the advice of Seamus Fermanagh, two light cavalry armies were sent ahead to disrupt enemy movements. This was a highly effective measure as one of the cav forces was immediately attacked by the Julii in a desperate attempt to relieve Ariminum. Of course they were defeated, but served thier purpose in delaying reinforcements from reaching there in time.

At sea, my navies, pre-positioned on previous turns, began a blockade of all the Scipii ports in North Africa. I also blockaded as many of the Julii ports as I could in Hispania along with Sardinia as well. This served its porpose well as there was virtually no way that the enemy could recieve seaborne support without risking losing them in a sea battle. What few ships they possessed were easily dealt with by my roving offshore squadrons. (I learned the lessons of Nelson and Mahan well in my studies)

In Sicilia, Messana and Lilybeaum, both of which were poorly garrisoned, were taken by storm in one turn by two armies from Silicia Greacus, each equipped with two Heavy and one Light Onager units to blast a hole in the walls. This enabled me to quickly reorganize them for a seaborne invasion of Latium in support of the land operation.

Meanwhile Campania, home of Capua, capital of the Scipii faction, was invaded by two armies from Tarentum and Croton. Capua fell rather easily, to my suprise, after a vain attempt by the Scipii to meet them in the field. Thier armies were "utterly beaten!" during the battle, and Capua fell to my forces by default. I couldn't believe my luck!

I would have thought that Senate would have sensed the danger Rome was now in, but again, to my astonishment, declared not only my faction, but the Julii and Scipii "Outlaws" as well. I was even more amazed when they actually had the notion to assign me a "Senate Mission" to attack the Julii....fascinating! Of course I was dumbfounded, but happily obliged them by attacking the closest Julii army within supporting distance of Rome. While I was not rewarded for my efforts by the Senate, they did, at least tacitly in any case, offer their thanks. It seemed that only after this was accomplished that the Senatorial legions began to move. Even then it was very conservatively by sending several small blocking forces into the field. These were easily driven back or defeated. In about two more turns I had my armies from Sicilia invest Rome with line of circumvellation.

Only now did the Julli begin to move their massive reinforcements from Iberia.
As I detected their movements I sent one of the Cavalry raiding forces west to delay them. Mediolanium was stormed by an additional legion from Patavium as a precaution as well. I had further plans to capture Segesta and thereby fully cut off Northern Italia, but it wasn't required as events proved. for in the next two turns Rome fell.

The fall of Rome was very much a give me as the Senate sent its rather high quality army into the field to engage my southern invasion force. This was a mistake as it had been weakened in the ealier fights against my armies in the north. Their forces consisted of a good mixture of Legionary, Urban, and Preatotian Cohorts supported by Three Roman Armoured Cavalry (Faction Leaders) units, some Auxilia, Archers, and an Onager/Scorpian combination. All these had a good range of silver cheveron experience as well. It was a tough fight, even with a half strength army thrown in for reinforcements. After destroying this army, in which all of the Senate faction leaders were killed, Rome surrendered to the Brutii. It was nice to see the Brutii forces marching in a triumph during the victory cutscene. All in all, this was a very challenging campaign. I was able too fight almost every faction in the game except Numidia and Scythia. The two most difficult to defeat were Brtannia and Egypt. (Those Chariots are murder, not to metion the Pharoh's Archers!)

Well I've gone on a bit too long again. My next campaign will probably be one from BI.

Talk to Ya'll later.

[Glaucus]

I've been playing a campaign with the Brutii, my favorite roman faction. They are well positioned and have my favorite gladiators, the Velite. But I'm sure 99% of you know that already. I just wanted to ask, has anyone else ever broken 650,000d in a campaign. This was on medium difficulty, and I spent money almost wherever I could. (IE I didn't build a barraks or archery range on crete because i would never need it, in places like that I only spent on roads, ports, temples, and markets) Just a challenge to any of you who want one, try and break the amount of money I got.

Glaucus

[Craterus]

2 Million Denarii. With Egypt.

I decided to invest in buying the Scipii for 1 million.

[Glaucus]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i thought the game would crash if you reached ten digits. Impressive, very impressive.

[GeneralHankerchief]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i thought the game would crash if you reached ten digits. Impressive, very impressive.

I think ten digits is a billion, which would indeed be impressive.

My best total would probably be around a mil and a half, in the late stages of my Parthian campaign. No protectorates or anyhing, but I did control the three wealthiest spots in the game (Italia, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Nile), not to mention my starting territories as well as Anatolia.

Keeping this on topic, however, I imagine that the Brutii could be the richest of them all if they are commanded by someone who keeps pushing them due east and doesn't take any side trips to say, Dacia.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

....try to keep my denarii below 40k to avoid the trait penalties. Am I missing something?


Brutii are the easiest Roman faction (vanilla).

Your natural sphere of influence is the very rich Agean.
You can recruit Cretans in the pre-marian era to get long range missile and don't have to go far to pick up Horse Archers for skirmish/raid forces.
Of your early opponents, only Macedon fields decent cavalry.
Your temple set has the most useful mix of bonuses and you can add to these by maintaining Artemisian and Aresian temples in some conquered cities.
You only need boats for short hops, so you don't have to worry about out-building the AI fleets.
You still get to start by picking off 2 weak barb cities in 3 turns if you want.
If the Selkies get bumped from Sardis quickly, you may never have to face elephants in battle and have the option to "wall off" from the Eggies and get your 50 in the North if you want.

[GeneralHankerchief]

I believe that a family member stuck in a city is a wasted family member, so the trait penalties really don't apply to me. In my first (and only) Brutii campaign I seriously think that I only had two permanent governors; one in Sparta (capital) and Patavium.

It was rather easy to keep public order- I just maintained my garrisons and set taxes low. It doesn't really matter too much since the Brutii target territories rake in the cash no matter what. The fact that I had trade rights with almost every faction didn't hurt either.

[Telys]

I've been playing a campaign with the Brutii, my favorite roman faction. They are well positioned and have my favorite gladiators, the Velite. But I'm sure 99% of you know that already. I just wanted to ask, has anyone else ever broken 650,000d in a campaign. This was on medium difficulty, and I spent money almost wherever I could. (IE I didn't build a barraks or archery range on crete because i would never need it, in places like that I only spent on roads, ports, temples, and markets) Just a challenge to any of you who want one, try and break the amount of money I got.

Glaucus

1 million as the greek cities and I only held kydonia and rhodes, with no protectorates. Took me 200 years of building and ending turns.

[Glaucus]

But in that camaign you conquered greece and thrace etc, then smashed everything up and left right? I thought you said that in another thread. So if I a m correct, that is pretty amazing since most likely mainland greece and turkey would have been owned by rebels. Thus little trade. But if I am wrong, then I bet those two settlements had huge trade ports. Either way, that much money is awesome.

I currently have 750,000 in my seulcid campaign, saving up for an assualt on Italia which I plan to include a massive amount of bribery. I hold what was: Pontus, Armenia, Parthia, and Egypt, and am redying my armies for a push into numidia and carthage, where I excpect to find the Scipii entrenched. Can someone tell me how to take a screeny? I tried /screenshot, screenshot, screenshotJPEG all kinds of stuff. Thank you, Glaucus

[Telys]

But in that camaign you conquered greece and thrace etc, then smashed everything up and left right? I thought you said that in another thread. So if I a m correct, that is pretty amazing since most likely mainland greece and turkey would have been owned by rebels. Thus little trade. But if I am wrong, then I bet those two settlements had huge trade ports. Either way, that much money is awesome.

I currently have 750,000 in my seulcid campaign, saving up for an assualt on Italia which I plan to include a massive amount of bribery. I hold what was: Pontus, Armenia, Parthia, and Egypt, and am redying my armies for a push into numidia and carthage, where I excpect to find the Scipii entrenched. Can someone tell me how to take a screeny? I tried /screenshot, screenshot, screenshotJPEG all kinds of stuff. Thank you, Glaucus

The campaign that I just mentioned was a long time ago. I abandoned all my settlements in the beginning and liquidated my entire army to make a profit.

I take screenshots by pressing print screen, then alt-tab to close, open paint, press ctrl-v and save as jpeg, but I'm sure there are other ways to do it this is just how I do it.

[Nsan]

Hi Brutii players. I'd like to ask for some advice if I may.
My current situation is this. Egypt and my Brutii faction are the largest and most technically advanced factions. I have all of Greece and most of Turkey. I'm making lots of money now, finally. The Marian reforms have passed. My plan was to attack Egypt after first disposing of the remnants of the Greeks, who had moved over to Turkey. Have taken all cities in Turkey W of Tarsus. Attacked Tarsus with 2 full armies hoping to win by siege. Sent spies E of Tarsus and discovered the areas swarming with Egyptian units. I discovered that Egypt was attacking my ally in Mazaka, so I quickly raised an army to hit the Egyptian force at Mazaka. Just then the senate gave me instructions to engage in peace talks with Egypt for trade rights!
I did that and was rewarded. My questions are these(knowing that a big conflict with Egypt is inevitable);

1- Should I expand somewhere else and put off the Egyptian fight?
or
2- Prepare for that fight, then break the treaty and hit them hard?

Money is not an issue now. Which units are best to counter the chariots? They are the unit I am worried about.

Thanks!

[Telys]

Hi neutroson. My advice would be this, If your popularity with the people is good I would keep the peace with egypt because a civil is near. If not, I would do what the senate asks of me but be ready for egypt to attack, and if you are trying to raise your popularity w/ the people I would attack egypt

Lot of archer auxilia and velites. Pre marian triarii do alright against chariots. Of course I attack chariots with anything and everything, for example I'll swarm a unit chariots with my infantry and whilst they are fighting Ill bring some light calvary in to cause them to rout. Missle chariots are little different though, if I were you I would mainly use archers, this way the chariots will usually rout before they reach your line.

[rotorgun]

Have taken all cities in Turkey W of Tarsus. Attacked Tarsus with 2 full armies hoping to win by siege. Sent spies E of Tarsus and discovered the areas swarming with Egyptian units. I discovered that Egypt was attacking my ally in Mazaka, so I quickly raised an army to hit the Egyptian force at Mazaka. Just then the senate gave me instructions to engage in peace talks with Egypt for trade rights!
I did that and was rewarded. My questions are these(knowing that a big conflict with Egypt is inevitable);

1- Should I expand somewhere else and put off the Egyptian fight?
or
2- Prepare for that fight, then break the treaty and hit them hard?

Money is not an issue now. Which units are best to counter the chariots? They are the unit I am worried about.

Thanks!

Hail Neutronsan,
Your situation is very much like mine was when playing the Greeks last year. I had pretty much taken all of the areas that you had mentioned and made the Mediterranian into a Greek trading lake. I had eliminated the Brutii, Julii, and all other serious competitors except for the Scipii, whom I neutalized by naval blockade of North Africa. As I was about to expand toward Tarsus, I also fell in with the Egyptians, who had been expanding all this time in the east. What I did, until sufficient reinforcements could be mounted for a full scale amphibious invasion of their Island holdings and thence to the Syrian coast, was defend the Cilician gates, and all other invasion routes with forts. The forts were garrisoned by infantry and archer units (about 4 each), supoorted by two roving armies stationed within striking distance of the forts. As the Egyptians really wanted to expand into western Anatolia, they had no choice but to move through these well defended places. If they engaged the forts, then my mobile reserves could come to their aid. If they went for my mobile armies, I usually could get enough reinforcements t from the forts to make these battles vey bloody.

Logistics is the key; keeping a steady supply of troops and leaders is a challange. All the coastal cities had to provide the recruits. By doing so, I was just able to keep the Egyptians at bay long enough until I beat until I could mount the invasions from the Greek mainland areas. The Cilician pass was filled with the blood of countless cyber soldiers from both sides.

In fighting the Egyptians, I found that a good combined arms approach was helpful. I used light infantry to screen my cavalry on the flanks. The infantry would absorb their attacks while the cavalry worked around the flanks of the now engaged chariots, and then routed them. Archer chariots can be dealt with by having plenty of Missle cavalry and foot archers. Screen your archers, which can be angled slightly on the wings to have a better feild of fire, well with your frontline infantry. The most significant threat, besides the chariots will be the Pharoah's Archers; probably, pound for pound, the toughest units in the RTW order of battle. Never engage them from downhill if it can be avoided. They will outrange your archers, and your cavalry will be too tired to win a melee against them if you charge uphill. Even if you are able to attack them with your cavalry on even terms, these archers can, and sometimes do, win the melee. I suggest having one or two Onagers amonst your armies to batter these units as soon as possible. They will always be screened by the Pharoah's spearmen when they are present. These operate very much as Phalanxes, but are not as heavily armored.

Well, I've gone on long enough. Check out some of the many posts by others on dealing with the Eggies. There is lots of good advice in the threads.

Good luck!

[Nsan]

Thanks Rotorgun. The Egyptians allied with my enemies the Greeks on the very next turn, then declared war against me! That solves that problem. Shortly after that I wrecked a larger Greek army with a Captain leading my forces in hopes of getting him a battlefield promotion. I'm low on Generals/governors. I am looking forward to all the battles coming up!

[Roy1991]

You only need boats for short hops, so you don't have to worry about out-building the AI fleets.

Usually this is indeed the case, but in my opinion it's better to expand your fleet anyway (at least 7 or 8 units, especially when using it to transport troops).
Earlier today I wanted to transport an additional legion from Italy to Greece.
Because it's only a short distance, I only used a small fleet (4 units).
Attacked by a rebel fleet, my faction heir, another important general and 15+ units of infantry & cavalry dead :(

[Nsan]

Usually this is indeed the case, but in my opinion it's better to expand your fleet anyway (at least 7 or 8 units, especially when using it to transport troops).
Earlier today I wanted to transport an additional legion from Italy to Greece.
Because it's only a short distance, I only used a small fleet (4 units).
Attacked by a rebel fleet, my faction heir, another important general and 15+ units of infantry & cavalry dead :(

I had 3 good generals on a boat that was sunk!
I'm still trying to get enough generals/governors.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Short hops = on boat, sail, off boat ALL IN ONE TURN.

Otherwise, the previously inactive AI fleets from four factions will ignore their declared conflicts with one another to smash your 3 ships of transports to pieces in 17 engagements after you hit the hourglass once.

I'm fond of Tarrentum to Appolonia, Appolonia to Kydonia, Kydonia to Rhodes, Rhodes to Hali. Takes a while, but you can lose each transport ship to the vultures, take the city you're staying at, build a port and move on -- no dead generals.

[Craterus]

I was rather distraught in my first campaign when the Greeks sunk an entire fleet (after some Senate mission in Hellas). It had 8 Principe units and a general..