help with celt-iberians

[Dalmat]

I just started to play FOE,and so far i have been using just iberians,as i have thing for skirmish based armies.

From my understanding they have unique mechanic as they dont cost anything to train,but the upkeeps are absurd...

If i make just 3 units i will get bankrupt,and that barbaroi with full stacks are attacking my cities after just 3-4 jears(~12-16 turns) doesn't help either.(especially my cash cow"major city that isnt capital,forgot then name")

So what i am actually asking is how do you make stable economy with them with 5-8 new units or more. in around 20 turns.

I have restarted campaign aroun 4-6 times by now,and the only thing i havent tested yet is heavy mercenary usage for 1 battle,and before i end turn i disband them,so i dont suffer heavy monetary loses.

O and i usuay just capture 3 neighboring minor towns,because going against 3/4 stacked large town with 3 or 4 units with general doesn't seem smart.

[Freshmaker]

Welcome to the community.

When you start the campaign, disband all of your cavalry. They have large upkeep, and in the beginning of your campaign your generals can fill the cavalry role. If you feel your army is too small, recruit some light infantry (the scrutari are excellent). Use the money you start with to invest in your large city's economy. Either click on the city and look at the bottom to see which resources are in your city or, look on the campaign map for the resources surrounding that city (this becomes important when you have a lot of buildings built, as only 24 show up at the bottom).

Take your spies and look for rebel territory. Capture all of these that you can before picking a fight with anyone. While you are doing this develop the economy in your large settlements. Once you run out of rebel territory is when you should go after any of the surrounding faction's.

I would caution against the Mercenary's. They are very expensive! Using them you give up the Celtiberian's advantage of having free units to recruit. Practice using small army's that are managed well, especially in those early stages of your empire.

A few tips

-I would go after the Dynastai first as you can pin them against Carthage, and they don't have a lot of presence in the Iberian peninsula. You can then isolate Barbaroi.

-As you found out you have to feed that army once you recruit it. Don't go crazy building a huge army (or building an army of all heavy infantry or cavalry). Only build the units you need, early on you won't need a lot of the expensive units. If you can take two settlement's in one turn, break up your army and do it. If you come across a big army or a well defended settlement, unite the army's and tackle the obstacle.

-Take your MiR (mini region's) off of auto-manage. They will eat up all of your money if you let them.

-Don't be scared of large rebel armies. Rebel armies route easily. Manage the fight well and you can easily mop them up.

[Clearchus of Sparta]

Also, because the recruitment cost for many units is zero, you can also decide to go for broke and queue up as many units as you can afford/fit into queue. They will continue to be built even if you go into the red with finances and you could then try to capture as many settlements as possible with them.

[Dalmat]

Also, because the recruitment cost for many units is zero, you can also decide to go for broke and queue up as many units as you can afford/fit into queue. They will continue to be built even if you go into the red with finances and you could then try to capture as many settlements as possible with them.

i just did that,hehe,and defeated barbaroi on the north,i also used mercenaries to raise an quick army 1st,because cartagians were pushing me also from the south while i was fending from barbaroi with small armies.

At 1 point i was 100K in debt,but when i took over barbaroi city i got a breather.

I think i got feel for ibberians playstyle,they are like " sprint" faction,gather as much as you can fastest u can,conquer fast your objective before you are too much in dept,and then,balance out with disbanding if u need.


I like the idea of small cities,and find the mod very good.

Nice job guys