Marian Reforms

[North]

Hi

I bought Rome: Total war a long time ago, but havent really gotten into playing it beyond the first 20 turns before now. And so, I realise, that the game is much more than "recruiting some silly soldiers and attacking"

I've managed to figure out most of the games perspectives, like trade and populations and trade and politics;

But there is one thing that I still do not understand. And as such, I proudly present to you the "What in Bacchus' name is the Marian Reforms?" What does it do? How does it do it? Is it related to the Civil War between the Roman factions(which I've heard about, but dont quite understand either)? And when does it happen? And does it have something to do with the late-game Cohort Units? (You know those fancy guys who can form a box with their shields heh)

Any helpful advise regarding this subject would be *highly* appreciated.

-Thankyou!!

[Roman_Wolf]

And when does it happen? And does it have something to do with the late-game Cohort Units? (You know those fancy guys who can form a box with their shields heh)

It certainly does. After you get to the marian reforms, you will no longer be able to train or retrain pre-marian units. but those will be replaced by awesome new Roman units. You'll get Legionary, praetorian, and urban cohrots (which kick ass!). You will also get greater cavalry (including the praetorian cavalry which is one of the best cavalry of the game.). Ypu'de also get very good archer unit (archer auxilia which is as good as the cretan archers.).

You trigger the marian reforms by building an Imperial palace in a Italian city other than Rome. but the reforms won't happen instanty after the palace has been built, but rather at a random time after that (which is usually short.)

[Xavier Dragnesi]

Yep, Roman_Wolf has explained it basically. After the reforms, your hastati, principes and triarii will become obsolete, as they can't be trained/retrained anymore. You can either choose to keep them or disband them. It doesn't directly effect the Civil War, but if you get them, the reformed units will give you an edge over enemy soldiers if they are still pre-Marian.

[North]

Ah thankyou, that really helps.

And while we're at it, could you also explain what the civil war is, and how it's triggered?

Thankyou again

[Drustan]

When your popularity with the people is high enough (three points from the top should do it), you can attack either the city of Rome or one of the other families. You gain plebeian popularity by winning battles and conquering settlements.

Another trigger is if you fail various senate missions, or refuse to make one of your families commit suicide when requested by the senate. You get expelled from the senate, and other families are free to attack you.

[Leonidas_I]

I usually take rome in the first 20 turns. Hate the dam senate =]

[North]

I usually take rome in the first 20 turns. Hate the dam senate =]

But how do you gain enough popularity with the Plebians in such a short time?

Omygod I must sound like such a noob haha, bear with me ^-^

[Lord Thesaurian]

But how do you gain enough popularity with the Plebians in such a short time?

Omygod I must sound like such a noob haha, bear with me ^-^

dont worry. pleasing those fickle plebs is an art form, and it takes practice usually, the more frequently u win battles/conquer cities, the more the plebs will luv u. Also, defying the senate wins pleb favor to, but id b careful w/ this...

[Lord Thesaurian]

I usually take rome in the first 20 turns. Hate the dam senate =]

u do?? what difficulty level r u on?:hmmm:

[Leonidas_I]

u do?? what difficulty level r u on?:hmmm:

Medium

[Scutarii]

You gain popularity with the plebs by conquering cities. Once you have enough, you can attack one of your Roman allies and start the civil war...

Alternatively, start it early with a failed assassination attempt on one of your Roman friends.

[Sunday213]

I never knew that Thanks Scut you just helped me to start a early war

[Flavius Maccus Opium]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_reforms


In RTW, building imperial palaces in some cities ..triggers those reforms.Some RTW mods managed to...make them "appear" around the real year 108 bc in the game time line.After you finish the vanilla (original RTW) try a RTW mod.It's more challenging and it looks far more better (especially in graphic quality terms ) than the original one.Try first the ROMA SURRECTUM mod.I tell you that, you won't be dissappointed Trust me

[James Cook]

Allso if you want the civil war too begin faster try and assasinate the senate.

You do that by sending a assasin and try to kill one of the generals from the senate
or the 2 other roman factions
you should only do this if you think that you are strong enough

[Leonidas_I]

If your not strong enough well good game.

[Lord Dakier]

Thats funny. I had my Marian Reform today being around 4am lol... and I still dont consider my several armies strong enough especially after seeing the Julii 10 stacks lol. Guess I'll have to break up trade lines before anything else.

[Muagan_ra]

Basically the marian reforms completely destroy the balance of the game. The Roman army is replaced by some kind of seemingly bio-engineered legion of super soldiers. I can understand the powerful heavy infantry - it's what Rome 'did' - but the archers and cavalry they get are absurd.

You also need to eventually disband your experienced old-pattern legions, and tech up to be able to replace them with the new legions. It's a bit of a pain, to be honest.

Great if you want to power-game it, but it's one of the reasons I dislike playing Roman factions.

[hanibalthegreat]

Basically the marian reforms completely destroy the balance of the game. The Roman army is replaced by some kind of seemingly bio-engineered legion of super soldiers. I can understand the powerful heavy infantry - it's what Rome 'did' - but the archers and cavalry they get are absurd.

You also need to eventually disband your experienced old-pattern legions, and tech up to be able to replace them with the new legions. It's a bit of a pain, to be honest.

Great if you want to power-game it, but it's one of the reasons I dislike playing Roman factions.

LOL so true Romans after the reforms are invincible

[hastati lord]

LOL so true Romans after the reforms are invincible

I wouldnt go quite as far as to say they r invincible lol. A full stack of HAs can make pretty quick work of them

[Flavius Silvanus]

Also, if you like the pre-Marian units, keep taxes at Very High and Unit Size to Huge to limit city growth.