How do I mod some sense into Macedonia?

[morteduzionism]

Sorry for posting here but I couldn't figure out which "mod" forum to post in.

I need step-by-step instructions(starting right after I turn on my computer)

I'VE NEVER MODDED BEFORE!

Basically I'd like to know all the options available to control Macedonia.
I've seen ideas like: adjusting prices for recruiting/upkeep of units and buildings, etc.

Whatever can be done to keep them from overrunning Greece and out of the Balkans!

I play RTR: Platinum 1.7 or 1.9(I think it's 1.7) w/Imp II v.1.5

I don't care if it is:
-adding BIG walls to other cities(Sparte, Illyrian cities, etc)
-making it so Macedonia/Thrace/Illyria/Sarmatia are ALWAYS allies
-raising their unit costs and/or lowering EVERYONE elses in the region

Whatever it takes.

[pannonian]

The solution to the Macedonian plague is the Macedonian plague. Get a spy early on to sit outside Pella and Thessalonica. When the plague event hits one of those cities, get your spy inside (train him up previously so he can get inside without any problems). When he catches the plague, bring him back west where a ship is waiting to pick him up. This will be your plague fleet/ship. Send a couple more spies onto that ship until they too catch the plague, then send them into each Macedonian city to spread the joy. Always have a couple of spies on the plague ship at any one time, in addition to those you've distributed around Macedon, so you'll never run out of plague-afflicted agents. When a Macedonian city has recovered, give them another present. They won't be able to do much if all their cities are at 2000 or lower.

This is a well-known tactic for dealing with Macedon, and in the midgame (around 215) you can use it for the Seleucids too, using Alexandria as your source. No need for complicated modding, just a ruthless way with biological warfare.

PS. I can't remember if the plague ship retains its cargo forever, so disband it once you're finished with your current spree of doommongering, or keep it where you won't mistakenly load normal characters and troops on to it.

[morteduzionism]

This is a well-known tactic for dealing with Macedon, and in the midgame (around 215) you can use it for the Seleucids too, using Alexandria as your source. No need for complicated modding, just a ruthless way with biological warfare.

I dunno...I'll try it...but I'd still like to know how to mod those lil brown bastids into compliance

[unfortunate crow]

The developers have a boner for Macedon I think. Alexander the Great fans, or something.

Increase the upkeep costs for the Macedonian units, that helps a little.

The more difficult problem would be balancing the strength of their units with those of their neighbors.

[Tetevo]

Or do like myself, started with greece, and 3 turns later macedonia was destroyed, along with the romans, hell of a start!

[Quinn Inuit]

Macedon should be largely taken care of in 1.9, from what I've read. Other useful strategies include making sure they don't have any target provinces north of them and making Thrace and Macedon best friends (you can do that with scripts, but attitude adjustments should be sufficient).

[unfortunate crow]

I'm playing 1.9 and have had the same problem every time.

[morteduzionism]

Macedon should be largely taken care of in 1.9, from what I've read. Other useful strategies include making sure they don't have any target provinces north of them and making Thrace and Macedon best friends (you can do that with scripts, but attitude adjustments should be sufficient).

How do I do this?

[Quinn Inuit]

Mod your descr_win_conditions.txt file to make Macedon have to outlive Pontus and the Greek Cities, not Thrace, for starters. (Mine's found here with the ExRM, yours will be in the normal folder:
C:\Program Files\Activision\RTRPE 1.8 + ExRM 3.01\ExRM\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\descr_win_conditions.txt)

Then edit your descr_strat file and make the Macs and Thracians best friends by going to descr_strat.txt in the same folder and changing their relationship and core attitudes toward one another to 0 (it's near the bottom of the file).

[Herpes]

Double the recruitment times for all their units. Its simple but effective.

[Tiberius Nero]

Remove multiple hp for hypaspists, nuff said.

[Coenos]

You are absolutely right, Macedon is very very tough and expands very rapidly.
The plague solution is very cool by the way!
What I did though was (as Roma) invade Elis city very soon and whipe out the Greece and Macedon roots. You need to destroy them early in the game otherwise it is impossible to beat them afterwards.
You know, Macedon is so powerful, that they are in my current game still alive in Germania !!! I kicked their butts but they just keep on expanding northwards.

[Companion Cavalry]

This is all assuming you're playing as the Romans.. As the Selevkids

it's easy enough to cross the hellespont and expand early as the greeks you

need to hold the isthmus of corinth with a fort until you build up enough forces

to overwhelm northern macedon

as the Ptolemies also expand into macedon early

For the Illyrians build up substantial hoplite and cavalry forces

for hammer and anvil tactics and get the macedonians early!


It's all about 'strike before being struck'

[Gabriel A]

Best way to deal with Macedon as a a nearby power is to go to war as soon as possible with a large army, sack and exterminate their provinces, destroy all buildings, then give it back to them.

That and as Rome I am pumping the Illyrians with 5000 gold a turn to fund them as a buffer.

[Anallein]

Originally Posted by Quinn Inuit
Macedon should be largely taken care of in 1.9, from what I've read. Other useful strategies include making sure they don't have any target provinces north of them and making Thrace and Macedon best friends (you can do that with scripts, but attitude adjustments should be sufficient).

How do I do this?

Attitude adjustment:

If you have the modscwitch version of RTRPE add the red context to the instructions as well. If not, then ignore it.

Open you folder where you have RTRPE installed to. It should include the RTW.exe.

From there open:
RTRPE/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_strat.txt

Scroll to the buttom of the file.
There you will find a section with 'core_attitudes'.
The look for macedon and dacia (internal name for Thrace)
Set the number to whatever attibute to -600


That will set the attitude between to factions to Allied. Wether it helps to tame Macedon I doubt though. Increasing the upkeep and build time would help more there I would say.

[KALI]

As Anallein said the best way to limit Macedon is Unit upkeep and build time...also limiting the availability of Elite units to certain core provinces (this is a good idea for the Successor states) If you want to go one further you can link economic growth to the cultural assimilation buildings. i.e make them a condition for building new markets and ports. This slows all faction expansion.

[andipandy123]

or why not mod greece. you lot talk about macedon but if you have greeks modded to be similar to macedon and greece have a stalemate on their hands not progressing.