Wow - 77bc amazing mod!

[herbsman]

Hi guys. Let me start - by saying a thank you to all of those who worked on this wonderfull mod. This july is going to be rainy in place where I live and now with this mod I am even glad for that.

I really appreciate the timeframe of this mode, it makes this mod unique.
I have downloaded this mode yesterday, and played couple of hours - only few turns for many various factions. (Just checking the features and possibilities) And here is the only problem I have so far with this mod - There is so many neat factions and I dont know for who should I play first? So some advice would be great - I am mostly tempted to play either as a SPQR, Armenia (Tigranes rocks!), Pontos, Parthia or Suebi (they have the best looking germanic units i have ever saw). I know that there is this amazing scripting for SPQR (Spartacus, Gaius Julius Ceasar etc.) So I will probably choose them, but I would like to know if there are some scripted events for some other factions?

[Mr Tuna]

SPQR is a great faction to play with and the Hasmonean (right name ?) is surely a challenge. The Gauls and Suebi are also very cool to play with, lots of rebel provinces and time make sure that you have the time to build loads of armies to hold Caesar with.

Enjoy

[cherryfunk]

Pontus is a VERY tough campaign, maybe too tough -- those Roman armies that appear when you take a 'protected' settlement really make it hard. You have few options for expansion and the Romans are very busy expanding themselves. I tried it at H/H, then M/H, now I'm down to M/M

[herbsman]

So for the first campaign I choosed SPQR at the end. And now there is a year 75 bc and I have to take only two remaining cities from Sertorious (Osca and Segovia). (Sertorious himself is already dead I have killed him in battle).

It is truely great mod.

BTW: what should be the next pre_scripted event?(after I destroy those Iberian rebels) I would really like to avoid being caught off guard (I have almost no troops in Italy and just the starting ones in Asia Minor) Where should I deploy my soldier next?

[Empedocles]

jjajaja. do you really want to know? or do you want to experience the fear the romans had with new problems every now and then?

if you really want to know I must say:
1º do not let italy undefended.
2º start building up on the east, you will surely will need it.

[herbsman]

Ok, I am now past Nicomedia bequest, so there are going to be trouble in the Asia Minor. Iberian rebels (Sertorious roman faction) are left only with las city the year is 73, so hopefully I will make it on time.

I have a question: I have quite a problem with maintaining order in my cities (those newly conquered in Hispania mainly) and I have observed that sometimes it is better to have there less soldier for the order (happines) but sometimes not. How I can maintain order best in this mod? How does it work in this mod? How is it possible that sometimes only two units maintain order better than lets say five garrisoned units. Could someone explain this to me and provide me with some advice please?

[Empedocles]

try to exterminate cities most of the time. temples are your friends also. I always build the first level of every temple before moving into the second level and so on.

Salvor will now best.

cheers.

ps: an advice? build the special building in italy as quickly as posible. it will help you in the future.

[herbsman]

Thanks. Oh too late to exterminate them (I have enslaved most of them but some I choosed to only occupie - its old habit from EB I guess - where it would hurt your economy)

BTW what is the special building in Italy, and what it is good for?

[Salvor Hardin]

Well, some settlements are more determined to feel more loyal towards your faction, while others were Sertoriani strongholds so they do not feel quite happy with your occupation. Besides, there is the distance to capital penalty.

I am guessing that the special building that Empedocles is talking about is the Proconsul Palace, that you must build in any settlement in Italy other than Rome in order to get the possibility of recruiting legions in some settlements outside of Italy.

Thanks for the praise and I hope that you enjoy the mod!

[bucellarii]

If you build this building in Italy:

Regia Proconsularis

Regia Proconsularis - Palace of the Proconsul

This magnificent and populous city has grown to one of the greatest metropolises of the res publica. Here the proconsul exercises his imperium over kings and commoners alike. The financial rewards of office and the corresponding power base accumulated often pull the proconsul outside of the normal checks and balances enshrined in the Roman constitution. The rising political tension in the late res publica, the on-going struggle between the optimates and the populares may bring the proconsul into conflict with the Senatus. The opulence of his Regia can cause envy and resentment amonst rivals and lead to fears of an attempt to assume the dictatorship or even worse, the title and position of rex – king!

Residence of one of the chief men of the res publica with the rank of a proconsul

then this building becomes a relevant in a limited number of provincial cities:

Barracks - Castrum Provincialis

This barracks is where the medium auxilia forces provided by client kings, pagi provincialis and subjugated tribes gather to be organised in support of the Roman legions. The gradual process of army reform including the role of Gaius Marius has resulted in the cives Romani predominantly fighting in heavy infantry cohorts. Auxilia troops are now recruited on an ad hoc basis from amongst the peregrini. These troops generally only serve for a specific campaign before being discharged. They rarely fight overseas except in the case of professional soldiers like the Baliares Funditores. Very occasionally awards of citizenship are granted for displays of conspicuous bravery or loyalty, such as that given to the turmae Hispanorum at Asculum during the Bellum Socii

During the late Republic an increasing number of coloniae civium Romanorum are founded in the provinces with a few privileged provincial cities being made municipia and the population awarded the civium Romanorum.

The construction of the Regia Proconsularis building in Italia will allow the subsequent recruitment of legionary forces at certain key provincial locations.

The Castrum Provincialis is where medium auxilia infantry can be mustered and organised. Legionary forces can also be recruited at some of these barracks

[Octavius Vatco]

Great mod guys!! well done.!!! Ive just finished it and it was an awesome experience. Pompeys military campaign. im looking forward to caesar!

[Salvor Hardin]

I am glad you are enjoying the mod. And this is only the beginning of a great project, people

Suebi (they have the best looking germanic units i have ever saw).

All credit for these units must go to RTR in general and Caius Britannicus in particular, who is an incredible artist.

[Stuie]

Finally started a 77bc campaign (sorry for not being around for beta testing - or much of anything else for that matter ) and I'm enjoying this, too. Currently playing the Ptolemaioi and rolling up the Hasmonaioi - forunately SPQR remained allied to me when I jumped the Hasmonaioi, so I'm still in Rome's good graces. Lots of good battles and fresh-RTW fun. I've never played very far with Egypt before because the faction just wasn't interesting; you guys have injected the right history into the faction make-up and now they're actually fun to play. Thanks Salvor and company!!

[King Arthur]

you guys have injected the right history into the faction make-up and now they're actually fun to play. Thanks Salvor and company!!

Well Stuie, you know what Bucellarii is like - could you actually imagine even a mere detail being ahistorical? Bucellarii breaks out in cold sweats just thinking about it!!!

So glad you are enjoying 77BC, I know that Salvor still appreciates all your help during the Mod's infancy. You have access to our private forum (?) so please pop in and have a look at the up coming projects - I'm working on lots of new units and skins

Nice to speak with you again and good luck with the campaign

Regards
KA

[Salvor Hardin]

Finally started a 77bc campaign (sorry for not being around for beta testing - or much of anything else for that matter ) and I'm enjoying this, too. Currently playing the Ptolemaioi and rolling up the Hasmonaioi - forunately SPQR remained allied to me when I jumped the Hasmonaioi, so I'm still in Rome's good graces. Lots of good battles and fresh-RTW fun. I've never played very far with Egypt before because the faction just wasn't interesting; you guys have injected the right history into the faction make-up and now they're actually fun to play. Thanks Salvor and company!!

Now I am really touched, Stuie . Glad you are enjoying the mod and, as King Arthur correctly pointed out, thanks a lot for your help on the first steps of our baby. We could not have made it without you

[Candelarius]

Wow, I didn't know Stuie was still around! High praise indeed, Salvor!

Good job Salvor, keep it up!

[Nakandakari Lobato]

No trouble handing anyone as SPQR until Parthia is in former Pont territory. They are kicking my butt.

[Salvor Hardin]

What did you do to the Parthians? You must have upset them as they tend to focus in their Eastern provinces...

Be careful before conducting aggressive campaigns against them as there are some surprises for a Roman army in Parthia, as Crassus had to learn the hard way.

[Nakandakari Lobato]

Playing on the easiest level as SPQR, I easily worked my way through Gaul. Dacia and Pont attacked, so I counter-attacked. Finished up most of Pont and left some for the Armenians who were my allies. Was concluding the war on Dacia when Germany attacked for no good reason. Easily worked through Germany especially using their mercs plus Gaul mercs. Now for some unknown reason Parthia (Persians?) attacked Rome in former Pont territories. I guess they lusted after some natural resources or the naval port there. Maybe I have been relying too much on mercs.The onces in the formerPont territory seemed tough except versus the Parthians.

It seems like the diplomacy is more intelligent and/or the AI. I'm curious about your text editing. I'm looking through the code since it seems you made some real advances in programming RTW/BI.

I'm not having any squalor issues. I guess you made some adjustments to the export_desc_building text too.

I'm certain most people enjoy playing the tactical games. I would like to as well, but the games would take too long. I generally auto resolve all combat to save time. Do you know if this generally works against you? Being of samurai stock, I would like to learn tactics. Do you know of a good link that explains best way to use the different kinds of troops that were available? Are there lesson scenarios available to teach beginning generals the best way to attack using different techniques?

Nakandakari

[Empedocles]

on the strategic level,
if you want to experience a different campaing than the usual RTW one you should try to accomplish the SPQR mission and see if you are up to the task that lucullus, Pompeii and Caesar did.
77BC is meant to be played in a certain way for the SPQR faction,we believe it's more interesting this way.
i have beta test this mod more than once and parthia never attacked me.

on the tactical level you should try to use your legions to stop the enemy in a strong defensive line. Then use your mercs and auxilia units to outflank the enemy and your cavalry should go after the enemy general.
after he is over use the remaining cavalry to attack the rear of the weakest unit the enemy have and they will start to flee. this has worked for me lots of times.
auto resolving will work against you since your army will suffer more casualties than if you fight the battle for yourself, buy you'll always win.

regards and I'm glad you're enjoying the mod!