So I finally got around to revising this, and I realized the last guide was way too elementary. Thus behold, a more tactical and bloody approach, not for the faint of heart or the novice! This guide will extend your empire by 5 provinces in 7 turns, including Mediolanum, Syracusa, Taras, Darantasia and Lilybeon. Starting turn 8, you will have a strong economy and all 3 starting legions preparing to crush Gaul.
GAME SAVES
- Played on VH/VH, Manage All Provinces and No Battle Timer.
- Save files are attached to this post by turn, at the end of each turn.
PERSONAL HOUSE RULES
- Use the SPQR mod house rules. The garrison script didn't always work for me, but that's probably because I saved and loaded almost every turn, and that has been noted to cause issues. I can't always play multiple turns every session of play! In all honesty, I couldn't see the extra blob of mediocre defense slowing me down much anyways! (I was looking forward to it for more experience bonuses anyways!)
- Never lose or draw a battle. This includes those on the battle/campaign map, retreats from superior forces and naval conflicts. Maintain your perfect record. World domination is exactly that: domination. A loss indicates your lack of preparation and failure as a commander. Instant game over! You're dead!
- None of your Roman starting provinces shall ever have walls. What's wrong, can't you defend your starting territory properly?
- During an assault on a province, you must annihilate or rout the entire enemy. None of that capture the square stuff. Hostile settlements don’t switch loyalties after 3 minutes unless there’s no opposition.
- Keep casualties at a minimum. I think everyone tries to do this, but I usually aim to keep it 0. It takes a lot of bait/tackle tactics during sieges, but it’s a fun challenge. On an open field though, yeah, this is frequently impossible with large armies.
- Never adopt generals into the family. Continue the family bloodline with only one name. Girls are permitted to marry, even though I never do it.
- Never lose a family member in battle. Keep the family tree colorful. Normal generals are expendable.
- Construct in a consistent order. You'll notice that all my settlements went through a certain process. I would think trade and basic religion would come before advanced military structures. Exceptions could be population based structures.
- Never disband a cohort. If you lose something, it has to be completely lost in battle or be merged into a similar cohort. Make use of the cohorts you have before recruiting more. An exception to this rule would be Peasants. This forces me to be more resourceful and strategic with what cohorts I have.
TACTICAL MOVEMENT OUTLINE

Pink: Vibius
Blue: Lucius
Brown: Flavius
Green: Quintus
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Turn 1
5000 denarii
POSITIONS
- The 5 Hastati, 2 Velites and 2 Slingers will depart Vibius's legion to defend Genua because they can reach it next turn.
- Lucius will now assume command of the rest of Vibius's legion because of his increased movement so merge them north of Arretium.
- Vibius meets with Lucius on his way to Genua and accepts an ancillary since he'll soon be in settlements rich with profits.
- The 5 Hastati, 2 Velites and 2 Slingers in Arretium and Arminium merge, and move to merge, with Lucius's legion.
- A Town Guard, Velite and Slinger should move from Asculum towards Paestum. They're doing nothing for you here.
- Sail your eastern fleet southeast to round Italy and merge with the western fleet.
- Sail your western fleet east towards Paestum to accept Quintus's legion.
- Quintus will swap legions with Flavius. Move his legion into the positioned eastern fleet.
- Before boarding, Flavius will give up his ancillary to Quintus.
- Flavius and his new legion will sail southeast between Messana and Reghion.
- Quintus will rest in Paestum to earn a few extra denarii while his new legion moves southeast from Capua to join him.
- The 4 Town Guards from Paestum should move to Beneventum, and the 4 Town Guards there should move to Capua. Finally, the Velite and Slinger in Beneventum should move into Paestum.
CONSTRUCTION
- Mines: Arretium, Reghion.
OTHER
- Taxes in all settlements should be set to Very High.


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Turn 2
1026 denarii
POSITIONS
- An army of Gaul should have moved south northeast of Lucius's legion. Merge the Velite and Slinger nearby and engage them. Then move further north.
- Add Vibius plus the 5 Hastati, 2 Velites and 2 Slingers into Genua's garrison.
- Move the Town Guard, Velite and Slinger closer to Paestum.
- Split Quintus's new legion sending the Velites, Slingers, Princepes and Triarii to Benevenum, then send the rest to Paestum.
- The eastern fleet should round the stiletto heel of Italy, still moving to merge.
- The western fleet should let Flavius's legion off near Reghion and he should now replace the garrison. Leave out your Equites in the southwest to entice Hannibal.
- Reghion's old garrison should sail towards Messana and double the garrison.
- Leave your western fleet near Reghion.
CONSTRUCTION
- Port: Genua.
ENDTURN
- Gaul will attack Genua.
- Greece will attack Messana.

ATTACKING GAUL



GAUL ASSAULTS GENUA
GREECE ASSAULTS MESSANA
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Turn 3
10519 denarii
POSITIONS
- Lucius can now move to siege Mediolanum.
- Recruit Hastati with modesty in your threatened regions to improve the garrisons.
- The Town Guard, Velite and Slinger near Paestum can merge with the Quintus and the garrison.
- Sail the Princepes and Triarii across to Messana to defend against Theages, just in case he elects to attack.
- The Equites can now rejoin Flavius in Reghion.
- The eastern and western fleets can now merge near the toe of Italy.
CONSTRUCTION
- Shrine: Genua.
- Ports: All Others.
RECRUITMENT
- Retrain: Genua, Messana.
- 2 Hastati: Arminium, Paestum.
- 5 Hastati: Reghion.
ENDTURN
- Carthage will attack Paestum and Reghion, and may attack Messana.



CARTHAGE ASSAULTS REGHION
CARTHAGE ASSAULTS PAESTUM
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Turn 4
11366 denarii
POSITIONS
- Lucius can attack and capture Mediolanum. Hopefully a garrison will spawn to make it a little fun, unlike in my swifty annihilation.
- Immediately after capturing Mediolanum, the Equites, Princepes and Triarii in Lucius's legion should travel west towards Darantasia.
- Merge Vibius and 5 Hastati, 2 Velites and 2 Slingers from Genua with this detachment from Mediolanum to reform a legion.
- Recruit Hastati in Genua to aid Vibius and Town Guards in Paestum and Reghion to replace Quintus and Flavius departing.
- Quintus and the garrisons from Beneventium and Paestum, with exception of town guards, can now move towards Taras.
- Flavius's legion can now merge again while sailing to siege Syracusa. Extra Hastati may remain in Messana again to defend against Theages if he attacks.
- Return your fleet to Reghion's new port to protect it from your enemies.
CONSTRUCTION
- Roads: Genua.
- Barracks: Mediolanum.
- Shrines: All Others.
RECRUITMENT
- 9 Hastati: Genua.
- 2 Town Guard: Paestum.
- 4 Town Guard: Reghion.
OTHER
- Adjust taxes as necessary in Mediolanum.
ENDTURN
- Gaul will siege Mediolanum.
ASSAULTING MEDIOLANUM



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Turn 5
15922 denarii
POSITIONS
- Assault and capture Syracusa with Flavius. Then continue on towards Lilybeon.
- Move 6 Town Guards into Syracusa from Messana as a garrison.
- Vibius should hire some mercenaries to aid with the sally from Mediolanum. Move them back and engage Gaul with Lucius, then disband them.
- Vibius and his legion should continue towards Darantasia with an aid of 9 Hastati, Velite and Slinger from Genua. There is no danger of leaving Genua with a small garrison at this point.
- Quintus should create a legion again prior to laying siege to Taras. The rest can stand by to aid him.
- Theages may still attack Messana, but your skills should prevail!
CONSTRUCTION
- Range: Genua.
- Barracks: Mediolanum.
- Port: Syracusa.
- Roads: All Others.
RECRUITMENT
- Tribune: Syracusa.
OTHER
- Adjust taxes as necessary in Mediolanum and Syracusa.
ASSAULTING SYRACUSA

SALLY AGAINST GAUL


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Turn 6
14446 denarii
POSITIONS
- Quintus should assault and capture Taras, then move north immediately after to aid with the war against Gaul. The small army nearby can garrison Taras.
- There was a large army of Carthage near Flavius, so engage and destroy them, then move on to siege Lilybeon.
- Theages might be near Messana, but you should no longer be concerned seeing as you just destroyed most of his army and he has no resources to poll from.
- Vibius can lay siege to Darantasia with the aid in tow.
- Build up a small garrison to defend Genua from Gaul if need be, and recruit some Hastati in Mediolanum now that the Barracks are complete.
CONSTRUCTION
- Farms: Genua.
- Shrine: Syracusa, Mediolanum.
- Port: Taras.
- Range: All Others.
RECRUITMENT
- 2 Velites, 2 Slingers: Genua.
- 4 Hastati: Mediolanum.
OTHER
- Adjust taxes as necessary in Mediolanum, Taras and Syracusa.
ASSAULTING TARAS



ATTACKING CARTHAGE
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Turn 7
18858 denarii
POSITIONS
- Assault and capture Darantasia with Vibius and Lilybeon with Flavius.
- The aid to Vibius should circle to the woods northeast of Darantasia to hide.
- Theages was near Lilybeon so Flavius removed his presence, then returned to Lilybeon to finally retrain.
- Quintus should continue his journey north, putting him near Asculum so far.
- With Quintus approaching from the south, Lucius moved to garrison Genua.
- Improve the garrisons in Genua and Arminium with some additions.
- Move the fleet to Messana's port. Flavius's legion will move towards it next turn and with the 4 Hastati in Messana, merge as a legion to start sailing north and oppressing Gaul.
CONSTRUCTION
- Trader: Genua.
- Range: Syracusa.
- Port: Lilybeon.
- Shrine: Taras.
- Govenor's Palace: Mediolanum, Darantasia.
- Farms: All Others.
RECRUITMENT
- Retrain: Lilybeon.
- 1 Slinger: Genua.
- 2 Velites, 2 Slingers: Arminium.
OTHER
Adjust taxes as necessary in all captured settlements.
ASSAULTING DARANTASIA
ASSAULTING LILYBEON
ATTACKING CARTHAGE



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Turn 8 AND BEYOND!
27066 denarii
POSITIONS
- After some modest preparation, sweep all 3 legions around up through Italy towards the Iberian Penninsula. The general plan is to arc around and slowly overtake Carthage while weakening Gaul.
One again, I may update this later when I'm bored with additional information, namely battle tactics.
Thanks for reading!