410AD: Germanic Strategy

**Vates Ignifer** · March 20, 2008, 08:19 PM

Ave,

I just reinstalled RTW and, after having played the RTR mod last year, have now installed the IBFD for the first time. About half a year has passed since I last played so I'm a bit rusty. Maybe you can give me a few hints.

I'd like to play with the Franks, but I'm unsure how to tackle the map. I'm not looking for the fastest way to complete the campaign, I just want to have a good time playing.
Should I make peace and possibly alliances with the Germanic neighbours, and expand into Gaul right from the start? Or is it smarter to first unite all Germanic tribes (Saxons, Alamanni, etc.) under my leadership before I tackle the Romans?

I'd prefer to absorb the other Germanic peoples into my faction without bloodshed, but I suppose that would be possible only by bribes... and how much would they want to join my faction?

Thanks in advance for your input.

**Marcus Bestia** · March 21, 2008, 05:27 AM

when i play this game, i always like to find new aspects of the particular campaign and enjoy surprises enemy prepares for me. so i think best way is to choose your own destiny regardless advice you have got or will get.
when i'm choosing an enemy, i always judge how much money can bring me when i attack, because your treasury is of the essence. so how much can you get from forests of germania? how strong are their armies? this is complex issue of course, a lot of things is needed to be consider. if you've installed full scripts and know history, you know that visigoths moved to southern gaul after sacking of rome. so master of southern gaul constantinus will have to face them. and you are bordering on imperium constantini on the north. rest is on you and your mighty armies.

**Vates Ignifer** · March 21, 2008, 09:39 AM

Thanks for the encouragement. =) I have started to boost my economy first and bribe some adjacent tribes. And I already acquired some Free region and some garrison along.

However, there's something I don't understand: sometimes the diplomacy screen offers "Bribe" and sometimes it doesn't. And even if it offers Bribe, sometimes they won't even name a price.
Alright, I can understand that some folks won't accept bribes, but why are there so many I can't even _try_ to bribe?

**Marcus Bestia** · March 21, 2008, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Vates Ignifer

Thanks for the encouragement. =) I have started to boost my economy first and bribe some adjacent tribes. And I already acquired some Free region and some garrison along.

However, there's something I don't understand: sometimes the diplomacy screen offers "Bribe" and sometimes it doesn't. And even if it offers Bribe, sometimes they won't even name a price.
Alright, I can understand that some folks won't accept bribes, but why are there so many I can't even _try_ to bribe?

i think that some characters, especially leaders and heirs, cannot be bribed. so if you've tried bribe for example 2 saxon and 2 alemanni setlements, there is a good chance that in the cities were leaders or heirs.

**Speedy Cat** · March 22, 2008, 05:31 PM

If you really wanna spice things up, I suggest a "Migration" style of game, where you up and leave and settle in a ridiculous new location. Right now in IBFD I have my Gallo-Armenian campaign going along full steam!

**SeniorBatavianHorse** · March 22, 2008, 05:37 PM

Now that I would love to see some pics of!

**Speedy Cat** · March 22, 2008, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by SeniorBatavianHorse

Now that I would love to see some pics of!

I was thinking about posting it, as now my Amerian Empire controls almost all of Gaul (Only one territory remains).

**julianus heraclius** · March 22, 2008, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Speedy Cat

I was thinking about posting it, as now my Amerian Empire controls almost all of Gaul (Only one territory remains).

Wow, that's amazing!! Yes I would love to see some pics and also how you went about conquoring gaul.

**Vates Ignifer** · March 22, 2008, 07:03 PM

By the way, does IBFD feature Areas of Recruitment?

My plan is (I didn't get around to playing the last couple days) to ally or integrate Germania, then conquer Gaul, and go from there.

**Vates Ignifer** · March 25, 2008, 02:57 PM

little update: When the Burgunds decided that the lower Rhine would be great to settle, I managed to simply bribe most of their full-stack armies. Just their Faction Leader and their Heir could not be bribed. All others were surprisingly cheap!

Now I have three or four Horde stacks. Yet trying to figure out where to send them. <g>