Need help on Rome campaign

[jakobh94]

Okay, so i've noticed that my first battle leads me to a failiure everytime. Once i defeated Pyrrhus, thus controlling the italian peninsula.
But when i get defeated, it just end up in chaos with a three-front war (Carthage, Gauls and Epirus/Greeks)

And i need tips, both on the campaign (if failed in the first battle, and if not failed how to manage my Republic) and in the first battle.

Hope the DTW fans got some tips for me

- Jakob

[RedFox]

Playing with Romans is pretty tough for anyone, so the only suggestion I have to make is to play all your battles to the fullest and try to do your best, otherwise you will get steamrolled. If you know how to mod, you might want to make Carthage and Aedui not your enemy during the start, which is more historical.

[jakobh94]

Meh, why put them as enemy in the first place then?

I havent seen so much "Strategy Tips" on DTWs forum, maybe its time that more Experienced players put up tips about battleing.

- Jakob, out.

[RedFox]

There's not much to say other than Anvil and Hammer, lots of cavalry, don't let your enemy surround you. If you have a stack waiting in north for the gauls, they might not come, or if they do, they will get slaughtered by your troops. Pyrrhus will proove tough to beat on the field because of his elite troops. For that reason, I suggest sallying forth, harassing with skirmishers and pulling back. Camping in settlements isn't a very noble idea, but you can wait them to bleed dead against your walls.

The most important thing is to win the Battle of Asculum. If you don't.. you'd better be a very good player..
Carthage at war with Rome is a leftover from XGM, I guess I never noticed it until now, since those few stacks they sent got slaughtered and I didn't care much. We'll see what we can do.

[Andy1984]

Although I don't consider myself an experienced Roman player, I agree with Redfox here. Try to make any missiles count, whether pilae, javelins or rocks. Since your army is too expensive in upkeep costs, you are forced to loose a few units in the opening battle. Try to fall back with the rest of your army, and make the few missiles you have count. Whatever you do, don't loose your whole army when fighting the first Pyrric stack you engage, for you will be rolled over by their second stack. Try to make their elephants run amok in their army (don't kill them, since you want to be able to make them run amok in the future battles as well), and try to kill Pyrrhus as fast as possible (to deny your opponent these extra morale bonusses).

I managed to preserve most of my army in the first fight (the coward in me decided to retreat quite fast). By outmanoevring this elite stack on the strategic map, I managed to attacke their second stack while it lay siege to one of my settlements. This second stack hardly had any missile or cavalry support, and should be 'easy' to take out. Once this is done, you can wear down their first army, which is much stronger.

About fighting the Gauls, their units are weak compared to yours. Having rorarii or hastati should do the job. As a sidenote: try to train as much units as possible in Rome (to benefit from your temple of Mars), and don't worry if you're not constructing buildings in all the settlements you own. Once you unite Italy, your economy should be in a better shape.

[jakobh94]

So missile units with cavalry support is the answer ... hmm, also that would be effective against the gauls.

Well tbh i tried to run the elephants amok, i put all my javelins units on them, general and equites, triarii, princepeis and samnite spearmen. Pyrrhus and one horse unit came to their aid, i had to pull my general back to not loose the whole battle. And the elephants then decided to take my flank, when that was done, my army routed.

Alright, i will come back with some feedback later to show you guys what happened with that strategy.

- Jakob, out.

[jakobh94]

Wow, the missile units is paying off, look at these pics:

Battle against Pyrrhus, somewhat sucessful

My first missile-unit-attack-style battle, very sucessfull, though i had to retreat



Just über, i use my horses as hammers and my hastati/roarii as anvil.

[aznflea]

a sound strategy can defeat any tactic.

that my friend, got me through most of my campaigns even though im a horrible tactician.

btw that was an epic battle. truly magnificent. ive never had such a kill:death ratio before.

[RedFox]

Just a hint on the Battle of Asculum and any other battle against Epirus: If you spread your army out in a very loose and especially wide checker formation, you will break up the phalanx's cohesion and gaps will form in the lines. You can use these to completely surround them. This is pretty much the only way to properly win the Battle of Asculum with Romans.

[jakobh94]

Well, I've figured that out by experience afterr using these tactics. Because the phalanxes go hunting my missiles i can easily surround them with my cavalry/melee infantry.

I have now Taken all settlements within the Italian peninsuela and are now frequently defending against the Carthaginians, after that im planning to take the gaul settlements to the north, capture sicilia and then force carthage to peace. Because i have plans on taking britain (sailing around Iberia that is)

[Andy1984]

Nice battles. Apparently you've made it through the hardest part.

[jakobh94]

Yeah, now all is going smoothly. Now im recruiting more heavier units so i get an army to expand and protect my Republic.

[aznflea]

I HATE how the romans look in this game. the only reason i played the romans is for the legionnaires and since no legions, no roman campaign.

[jakobh94]

You've got lots of anger in you

But now my Roman Campaign is over, CTD So i'll have to take another faction because im not going over the same again!

[aznflea]

You've got lots of anger in you

But now my Roman Campaign is over, CTD So i'll have to take another faction because im not going over the same again!

i know i hear that alot. i guess im an angry fellow.

[Andy1984]

Every time I play DTW, I save under a new save-file. Maybe you should too in order to have as few ctd's as possible?

[jakobh94]

Meh, now I got it was a generic CTD. So whenever i start/load a campaign i get CTD, something about briton general. But im going to fix it next time I play ...

[RedFox]

I used the Unit Validator to do a quick check on descr_strat and export_descr_buildings and removed quite a lot of bugs. This won't completely eliminate CTD's but it will lessen them to an extent.

NOTE: This DOES NOT add ANY new features, it is just a quick fix of v0.941 files!!

[Spartan198]

Is it save game compatible? I have an excellent Carthage campaign going I'd rather not lose...

[RedFox]

Yes, it is save-game compatible.