Anyone got any tips for a newb

**Romanman** · January 24, 2008, 08:36 PM

I just installed your game and so far the campaigns a disappointment to me, mostly because its like an entirely different game than rtw or any of its mods. I have 2 campaigns epeiros and baktria,and in each one im almost bankrupt and I have no armies to conquer and gain money with, also it seems all my neighbors have multiple armies, I can't even take rebel settlements because they have a full unit stack. so heres what I got plan A: get some tips from you guys to help my games get going planB: give them myself more units in descr_strat planC: give up and go back to rome total realism

**Zoshonel** · January 24, 2008, 10:20 PM

Hey man, I am with you on being a newb to eb, but there is hope. Going Bankrupt for a little is perfectly ok, just don't let it last too long. It is also all about you using your superior tactics to win fights, heroic victories are so sweet.

I recommend going Rome or such, an easier faction at first. There are a few guides for starting the game. Check the other forum. The first turns are difficult, but it gets easier, and then harder. It is fantastic. Do not give up.

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · January 25, 2008, 01:30 AM

Going bankrupt is normal. Part of the balance of historical accuracy, gameplay, and mostly to increase difficulty these changes have been made. There is some simple advise to follow 1) Disband your army, or 2) Assemble what you do have, conquer what you can nearby then build up your economy.

Whatever you do, follow a few simple rules like always disband your starting fleet; disband unnecissary cavalry; don't garrison with expensive units; and build ports, markets, roads, and mines as soon as you can. And don't waste money or train unneeded armies.

Once you get the hang of it, you can start gaining money after the first couple years of a campaign.

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · January 25, 2008, 06:12 AM

You really have to be careful with your economy in the beginning.

In EB, ships (each ship on the map represents a large fleet) cost massive, MASSIVE amounts of money to maintain. Absolutely gigantic amounts of money.

If you're not going to use a fleet immediately, for a conquest, in the very first turn of the game, bring it back to port and disband it. That one fleet can wreck your entire economy if left sitting around unused.

With your starting army, either conquer an enemy city immediately, or disband most of it. There's no point having a large army if you're not going to use it.

This especially applies to cavalry units, and most of all elephant units, which cost huge amounts of money to maintain. Use them up in an immediate attack or disband them. If you're not going to attack immediately, the only troops you need are cheap, low-upkeep units to use as garrisons.

Your starting money must be used to improve your economy. Roads, farms and ports are vitally important to get your economy into the black and making you a healthy profit.

The economy is the source of your strength and must take priority over your dreams of conquest - because a poor economy means a poor army, and a poor army means no conquests.

**Papal_Knight** · January 25, 2008, 07:26 AM

I'm a nOOb here too, but I started with the Roman faction (Romani). While it is harder than quite a few mods (most?), it's not impossible. you can't do a slash & burn blitzkrieg campaign (which most mod players are seeking, so that is a good part). everything costs more than you are used to.

this has several effects. first, there are no multiple mega-stacks of troops running all over the place. no one can afford it! second, you have to really watch what you spend your mnai on. the fellas are right in the posts above of course; disband all the crap you do not absolutely need.

in my campaign I am playing now, early on it was really tough economically. I noticed a nice economic bump after I captured a few cities and enslaved the populace.

my advice: listen to the guys here and what's been written in this thread. start a new campaign and pick a faction with a more centralized and protected starting position. and one with lots of waterfront property.

it's easier to make $$$$ from water-access cities.

good luck! stop back and let us know how you are doing!!

**Romanman** · January 25, 2008, 02:52 PM

thanks for the tips guys

**Gaias** · January 25, 2008, 10:55 PM

Give your economy about ten years after you have built markets, roads and ports and you will be giving the money away. One thing about EB is that building an economy in the beginning is hard but once you have a sizable empire with some major developed cities, the money starts rolling in.

Seeing how every faction is at war with some other faction, it just best to throw your armies at the nearest enemy town and battle it out.