What house rules do you play with?

[Needs New Name]

What kind of house rules do you play with? Which ones do you think promote the most realism?

Here are some of mine:

-I don't (try not to) pause.

-I don't fire missiles over walls. Besides elephant towers, as they can see over the walls.

-I end battles when it prompts you to.

-I have also turned off my towers and boiling oil to make sieges better. (And siege towers ballistae)

-I don't bribe armies.

-I don't let cities rebel just to slaughter them to improve public order.

:sparta:

[Sorceri]

I only allow "very high" taxes in the faction capitol city and/or cities governed by a faction leader or heir. Cities governed by other family members may collect "high taxes", and ungoverned cities may only collect "normal" taxes. These are the max limits - often my cities are set lower b/c of unrest.

Playing as romans - I always spend money on Rome itself first - and then the remaining cities in order of their governors influence. Ungoverned cities are not allowed to build or recruit.

[Mogan]

I only exterminate as barbarian or cities that were sacked/destroyed historically.

[Needs New Name]

I only allow "very high" taxes in the faction capitol city and/or cities governed by a faction leader or heir. Cities governed by other family members may collect "high taxes", and ungoverned cities may only collect "normal" taxes. These are the max limits - often my cities are set lower b/c of unrest.

Playing as romans - I always spend money on Rome itself first - and then the remaining cities in order of their governors influence. Ungoverned cities are not allowed to build or recruit.

Interesting rules you got there.

[Carados]

I avoid extermination if at all possible. The thing with extermination is that, although you get an immediate cash boost, you actually lose out long term because you can't exactly tax dead people, can you? Enslaving a population is the worst I tend to do. Exterminations do happen every so often though, but this is usually as a last resort/punishment. Usually I try to occupy as many settlements as possible. This also helps in settlement development, which long term brings greater riches.

The most important one, which I'm suprised no one has mentioned yet, is the Hastati/Principle/Triarii trio in Roman armies. I always make sure that I have groups like that. The same applies to allies, though I'm less strict with the unit composition. I also try to make sure there is a 50:50 split between Roman and allied/mercenary units. Though with immediate problems, I usually recruit an excess of mercenaries to support my Romans.

[Quinn Inuit]

I try to build period-appropriate armies, with all of the troops raised from the same geographical area when possible. I also try not to take advantage of the AI's poor defensive skills, so I don't hit their heartland without letting the army sit around for a turn or two to attract attention.

If any of my cities are considered largely independent, I try to make sure money gets funneled to them regularly.

[Mogan]

Also, when playing with the greeks, I NEVER keep units from one of the great cities in another, unless troops from this city took it. I only mix hoplites from cities in defencive situations (invasions), and then I place them in the usual line: Strongest city on the right flank, second strongest on the left flank, and weakest city in the middle (or the levies in the middle, surrounded by the weakest cities). Oh, did I mention I keep counting how many units one city have on the battlefield (only as Greek Cities)?

[Ramiro]

I think that i will begin using gouse rules whith the new version. I try to play fair to the AI, but facing huge macedonian and in the later versions, greeck armies with my illyrians is not easy even without house rules.

[LeoDowner]

I love your name, it made me laugh.

[Needs New Name]

I love your name, it made me laugh.

I really hope your talking to me lol.

[LeoDowner]

Yep you Testicles. Is it a Greek name ?

[Needs New Name]

Yep you Testicles. Is it a Greek name ?

Yes, it is pronounced (test*ick*leez)

[Mogan]

I'm gonna get a dog, just so I can name him after you.