Roleplay/Your Houserules

[DaciaJC]

Yeah giving the rebs money definitely makes a difference - they tend to have much, much larger garrisons - not only slows the AI down a bit, but can force you to carefully consider your own expansion too! Usually give them a large lump sum at the start, then if i remember some extra money each turn too - great for stopping factions like the Sweboz taking over half of europe before you really get going

Hmm, I never realized that the Eleutheroi can actually recruit troops. I imagined that they make due with what they are given at the beginning and are slowly brought down through attrition.

Oh, and may I ask, how exactly does one go about tracking the age of every single unit in order to retire them after x years?

[Elcmar]

Hmm, I never realized that the Eleutheroi can actually recruit troops. I imagined that they make due with what they are given at the beginning and are slowly brought down through attrition.

Oh, and may I ask, how exactly does one go about tracking the age of every single unit in order to retire them after x years?

I've seen the garrisons of Eleutheroi cities go way up proportionate to the amounts of money i give to them so i'm presuming they can recruit extra units, dunno where else the units would be coming from....

[d'Arthez]

Giving money to Eleutheroi definitely affects things. You will see, for instance a lot more mines in Eleutheroi hands if you give them say 200,000 Mnai per turn (or alternatively an x amount times the number of territories they control + a lump sum to pay for the various rebel stacks. You will also see a fair amount of 35k Mnai ports in Eleutheroi hands.

They can recruit, but oftentimes they simply go bankrupt because of the high costs of unit upkeep. Sadly the Eleutheroi is depicted as a single faction. So either all Eleutheroi do well or all Eleutheroi stagnate, barring the few cities on which surplus (if any) money will be spent.

You can even add in the add_money cheat for them in the script. So you don't even have to think about it.

[DaciaJC]

You can even add in the add_money cheat for them in the script. So you don't even have to think about it.

They aren't given anything through the AI money script, like the other factions? If not, I'd imagine that they would go immediately bankrupt with all of their units' upkeeps.

[miotas]

Oh, and may I ask, how exactly does one go about tracking the age of every single unit in order to retire them after x years?

You don't need to keep track of every single unit, but say you remember that you recruited that army that's now fighting in Iberia, back in 245 and the year is now 235, you get a new army ready to relieve it so that it can retire soon, it doesn't matter that a few units, are younger or older, it's just a general guideline to make the game more fun.

Just do whatever feels right. 10 years feels right to me because after that long men would be getting older and slowing down, and the life of a soldier would be hard on the men.

[johnhughthom]

Romani houserules:

A legion is raised for 16 years and no retraining allowed, at the end of the 16 years it is disbanded in different cities across the Republic to simulate land grants. If I'm in a war it can be extended to 20 years, 25 at an emergency but no more. I'm aware this is not really historically accurate but it's as close as you can get in RTW I feel.
My Camillan legion consist of one Leves, one Hastati, one Principes, one Triarii and one Rorarii. There is one accensii shared between two legions (as I believe they are too powerful for what they represent) and FMs are used for the cavalry wing.
An allied ala is raised for each legion. these generally consist of a unit of light skirmishers, light infantry, heavy infantry, pedites extraordinarii, archers and cavalry. I may add a unit of heavier skirmisher if available and sometime two cavalry units.
I start with 2 legions, then one more is added every 16 years depending on expansion. Light expansion may see none added, large gains may need 2 more.
One legion and one ala are used in the same stack. They can be separated, to attack a small enemy or to attack from different directions but generally travel together.
I don't recruit mercs, this allows the AI to recruit them giving a greater challenge. It also simulates the greater uniformity of the Roman army when you are fighting such diverse armies.
I don't accept adoptions. I don't know why, I just don't like it. Daughters allow you to diversify your family tree anyway.
When a region is conquered it starts at level 4 govt. When the client ruler dies it becomes level 3(whether natural death or otherwise). The approx 30 years later level 2. Another 30 years or so for those regions able to become level 1.
Absolutely no reloading, I reloaded a battle I lost once and it was my biggest mistake ever in EB. I totally lost all interest in a campaign which I had been playing for 6 months and was near the Marian reforms. I have never got close to them since.
FMs go to Rome (or another big city with a school) between 16 and 20, then with the army for 10 years, then back to Rome for a political career. Only Senators can govern cities, preferably at least former Praetors but former Quaestors can govern small towns. Certain cities, like Syracuse, Tarentum etc can only be governed by somebody with Consular authority. Obviously this doesn't apply to type four govt.

Copied from my Romani AAR, I also try to roleplay traits, eg brave or rash generals will attack despite overwhelming odds. I try to have a reason for reforms, eg the "Gallic Disaster" in the AAR. My houserules are similar for other factions.