Cimbri Campaign

[DUFFMAN]

Hello,

Here a report on a campaign I'm playing with the Cimbri. Playing H/H with the RomeTW-ALX.exe

I tried a Cimbri campaign before, and I remember it was pretty easy to make a lot of money in the beginning. I now noticed it was a little bit difficult. I usually make sure every city is constructing a building, but sometimes I just don't have the money for it. It has been fun though, it's not too hard.

I've been conquering a lot of Free People's settlements in modern-day Germany, and after that I started stabilizing everything. I'm building a lot, and I got a good number of pretty good armies guarding the frontiers. Since a couple of turns (don't know exactly how much), the Boii Confederation has been eliminated, mainly by the Romans. I took some of the former Boii cities, and I am now fighting for Carnuntum. If I remember correctly I have already destroyed 2 real legions (Claudia Pia Fidelis), and a lot of auxiliary legions (if I can call them that way) mostly comprised of Evocatii and Cohortes Gallorum. I really like how the named legions are formed (1 legatus legionus, 10 cohortes legiones etc). I am wondering how they are created however. Do the legions just spawn entirely, or are they actually built and put together by the AI?

Carnuntum besieged:

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Just a few turns ago I started to invade Brittania with only 2 very old armies I didn't need anymore. They consisted for the greater part of Teutones Axemen and slingers. Against my expectations they did very well, and I defeated about 3 full stacks of Free People's armies, with only minimal losses on my side.

In total I have (apart from city garrisons, which equals, depending on the size of the city, about 4 units on average, with a governor in every city) about 13 full stack armies.

I have not come across any errors or anything, apart from the stuff I sometimes post in the bugs thread or other threads, but from now on I will post this stuff here (if I come across any, which I don't think because in my opinion this mod is about ready for a release).

To finish this post off, a question: Why is it that I have region borders on my minimap? I did not have this in a previous campaign.

If you guys like to see graphs, finances or anything, tell me.

[tone]

yes please - graphs, finances, everything please. This is what this stage of beta testing is all about. Also it'd be great if you could back track and show some of your previous situations.

The whole idea of beta testing (sorry to sound like a stuck record, but I do wonder whether the message is getting through at all ) is to give regular feedback every 5-10 years, rather than come to us near the end of a campaign and say that things aren't balanced properly.....what can we do then?

Anyway - have things been too easy? Do we need to improve the opposition, particularly Boii, Belgae, Sarmatians?

There is a preferences file in the imprtant stuff folder about visible map borders or not.

[DUFFMAN]

Graphs etc. are on the way. Trying to defeat those 2 roman armies you can see in the picture in my previous post. I notice when units are marching in a certain direction, and then halt, they don't face forward but they face in the direction they were walking. Can't explain it more clearly, so here is a picture if you don't understand:

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I don't feel things have been too easy, but I am not really an ''offensive'' player, so it might be too easy if I have a different play style, I don't know. It's getting pretty hard to keep up 13 full stack armies, so economy building is slowing down, but that doesn't really surprise me since 13 full stacks is a lot for the amount of regions I own. And I fear that if I disband some armies, I will get invaded by some neighbor, so if 13 stacks are needed to preserve safety, then that's what it's gonna be.

I do feel that the Boii Confederacy could be stronger. I mean, they have 3 settlements at the start, iirc, of which one is Bononia. It's just a matter of time, usually a very short time, before Bononia is conquered by the Romans, which leaves them with only 2 settlements. I think they could use another region, just to give them a little boost.

I am allied with Belgae and Sarmatia at the moment, so I don't really know about their opposition, but I do know that the Belgae are pretty strong. Only thing that disappoints me is that they still have only 1 settlement in Brittania. No attempt is being made to conquer some more.

I could go to war with them, just to see how they do. Give me some time for that. I will post graphs after this battle.

[tone]

thanks.

BTW, the Roman legion recruitment is scripted, which is why it works so well.

Alternative for Boii is some better monetary support if they are under 3-4 regions.....aaah, now I've just realised why they're having problems - the script was written to support them financially if they had less than a certain number of regions, but now they also have Bononia which means they don't get the same financial support at the start than they did before.

[DUFFMAN]

Okay the battle for Carnuntum takes so long that I don't have time to finish it, because I have to go now. Hopefully if I pause it I can continue tomorrow
Graphs will be posted then.

[DUFFMAN]

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That took me about 3 hours in total. There were certain moments I thought I was gonna lose for sure, but then always something unexpected happened and turned the tide of battle. The only thing that kinda bothers me is the fact that it takes pretty long to destroy or rout a unit. I remember in RS1.6 it all happened a lot faster, and to be honest, I liked that more. Now siege battles can go on for hours, because there are 10 units crammed together on one piece of wall or in one street, and they won't rout until I killed 80% of them. I also noticed that everything takes a long time when fighting with or against phalanx units. And it's not only in siege battles, its in every battle. Now I realize that you, the developers of this mod, made it like this intentionally, but I prefer if things were a little bit faster. I'm not asking you to change this, because I don't expect you to, I'm just saying.

Now some graphs and statistics etc.

Nation

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Financial

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Diplomacy

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Rankings (my faction color is right next to the cursor)

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I use the money cheat sometimes, but really only when I have no option, as this is the first serious RS2 campaign I'm doing and I just want to see everything that this mod can offer.

[dvk901]

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That took me about 3 hours in total. There were certain moments I thought I was gonna lose for sure, but then always something unexpected happened and turned the tide of battle. The only thing that kinda bothers me is the fact that it takes pretty long to destroy or rout a unit. I remember in RS1.6 it all happened a lot faster, and to be honest, I liked that more. Now siege battles can go on for hours, because there are 10 units crammed together on one piece of wall or in one street, and they won't rout until I killed 80% of them. I also noticed that everything takes a long time when fighting with or against phalanx units. And it's not only in siege battles, its in every battle. Now I realize that you, the developers of this mod, made it like this intentionally, but I prefer if things were a little bit faster. I'm not asking you to change this, because I don't expect you to, I'm just saying.

Now some graphs and statistics etc.

Nation

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Financial

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Diplomacy

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Rankings (my faction color is right next to the cursor)

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I use the money cheat sometimes, but really only when I have no option, as this is the first serious RS2 campaign I'm doing and I just want to see everything that this mod can offer.

Ok, now why are you using a money cheat as a Beta Tester? If you are having serious money issues, then you should be reporting that fact as an issue and backing it up with information. No Beta testers should be using cheats of any kind. That defeats the purpose of 'testing'.

[DUFFMAN]

Ok, now why are you using a money cheat as a Beta Tester? If you are having serious money issues, then you should be reporting that fact as an issue and backing it up with information. No Beta testers should be using cheats of any kind. That defeats the purpose of 'testing'.

Yea for a short time I had ''serious'' money issues, but that was because I didn't notice my army upkeep was that high. I fixed that now. Also one time I wanted to go through the whole building queue, to see about the new buildings. For instance, the population growth/reduction buildings, tax buildings etc. I've given feedback which I couldn't've given if I had not used that money cheat (or process_cq). And I said I only use it sometimes, meaning I normally don't use it unless I have a reason. I was meaning to warn you guys that the financial graph could therefore contain information that is not valid.

Also, I don't agree with the last sentence. There are various ways you can test. You can play a campaign and give feedback, or you systematically take a look at every aspect of the game, and then give feedback. I'm trying to do both.

[DUFFMAN]

I'm starting to wonder why I am only seeing the Romans use Legio VII Claudia Pia VII Fidelis VII Paterna and Legio XI Claudia VI Pia VI Fidelis. I hope they will start to use other legions soon, because it gets kinda weird defeating all those legions of the same type.

edit: they just started sending other legions, everything is okay

[dvk901]

I understand, but you can't do both in the same campaign. Adding money at any point for the purpose of exploring buildings and stuff is OK....I understand that.
My concern is that it be used to make up for the 'lack' of money in a real campaign. I just want to be clear that this should never be done. Any case where a player would run so much in debt that a campaign becomes unplayable is a major concern for me, because I have always made it clear that having no money = having no fun.

Also, adding money at ANY point in a real campaign, regardless of what it's for, skews the overall results. Sure, one may not realize how much maintenance costs are and run aground financially because of it. The solution however, is to either disband armies, or, in a case where it's felt that those armies were needed to defend or even proceed with the campaign, report that: "Hey, I don't think this campaign has enough money to be playable".

Sorry if this sounds anal, but I have always made it clear that cheats and changing files in beta testing are not allowed without good reason. And I'm not just pointing at you...I mean everyone. Tone and I have had the stated goal for a long time that playing any campaign on H\H should be a 'nail-biter'. You could even feasibly LOSE a campaign if you don't play smart. So it's just important to us that all testing be very 'pure'.

[DUFFMAN]

I see. Well then, should I continue, or should I start over, maybe with a different faction?

[dvk901]

No, that's fine. I dearly want to see a long term Germanic campaign.

[DUFFMAN]

Update

The Romans are again preparing to assault Carnuntum. I've already destroyed so many of their armies near that city, will they never learn?

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I've decided to take all the settlements in Brittania, except for the Belgae controlled one. That one I might take later when I find myself at war with them.

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Roman and Belgae armies. Romans have had to deal with some rebelling cities in the area, after they destroyed the Arverni. The Belgae took advantage of that and are now in control of Avaricum. I think when those 2 other rebel cities are taken, a war will break out between the Belgae and SPQR.

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Last stand of the Gallaeci? This happened before, but then 2 or 3 Carthaginian controlled cities rebelled and the Carthaginians had to deal with that. The Gallaeci profited and could take 1 or 2 Carthaginian cities back. But now they are back to their last city being besieged. I kinda hope they get destroyed, after which Carthage will attack Rome, so I can get some room to breathe at Carnuntum.

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Sparta is very mighty. The Macedonians are down to 1 city which has a full garrison, but is not making any profit.

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Last city of Pontus.

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That army doesn't look well balanced..

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Finances. My faction is right next to the cursor (above the 60.000 mark). I have been trying to improve my economy, and it seems it's working.

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[tone]

Sounds like Cimbri are about right economically at the moment

[DUFFMAN]

Sounds like Cimbri are about right economically at the moment

I think it is, yea.

Been playing some more:

Roman armies amassing.

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The Belgae just allow the Romans to pass through their lands, so even more Roman armies get access to my lands. I don't like it.

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A lot of Roman armies, probably all destined to attack me.

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2 things. The Belgae seem to be teaming up with the Romans, and they are wanting to attack me. Next to that, for some reason it says I broke my alliance with the Arverni, but they have been dead for a long time.

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Hostile Belgae, but I will teach them. I'm assembling some new armies and im gonna ship one or two of them to Brittania. They don't seem very hostile on the european mainland.

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I notice that when an AI army besieges a settlement or a fort, they wait for 3 or 4 turns before they attack. Now that is okay, it allows them to build siege equipment, but the problem is that a fort can only hold out for 3 turns. This is the first time they besiege a fort of mine, but I know when I press end turn the garrison will surrender. How about changing some stuff so that a fort can hold out for 1 or 2 turns longer, allowing the AI to storm the fort instead of waiting it out.

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[DUFFMAN]

Another update (I really have to much free time at the moment)

I have taken control of all the settlements in Brittania. Hostilities between me and the Belgae on the European mainland are starting to increase. The stalemate I have with the Romans near Carnuntum is about to be decided in the enemy's advantage, unless I manage to get some armies to do some raids on Belgae cities.

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Belgae armies backing up the Roman armies. I have a new hope because I noticed Carthage is preparing to assault Emporiae and southern Gaul. Also they have taken control of Sardinia. I therefore hope the Romans will stop sending armies to me.

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Unit card.

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[tone]

Another update (I really have to much free time at the moment)

I have taken control of all the settlements in Brittania. Hostilities between me and the Belgae on the European mainland are starting to increase. The stalemate I have with the Romans near Carnuntum is about to be decided in the enemy's advantage, unless I manage to get some armies to do some raids on Belgae cities.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Belgae armies backing up the Roman armies. I have a new hope because I noticed Carthage is preparing to assault Emporiae and southern Gaul. Also they have taken control of Sardinia. I therefore hope the Romans will stop sending armies to me.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unit card.

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OK, I've realised where that one's coming from - it's an error in the scripted emergency army for the Belgae - they shouldn't get Brigantes swordsmen. Fixed, but you'll need to avoid fighting this army on the battlemap otherwise you'll get a CTD.

[DUFFMAN]

OK, I've realised where that one's coming from - it's an error in the scripted emergency army for the Belgae - they shouldn't get Brigantes swordsmen. Fixed, but you'll need to avoid fighting this army on the battlemap otherwise you'll get a CTD.

It is indeed a Belgae army:

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And for Visarion:

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[Visarion]

thank you! very nice!

[dvk901]

What faction's army is that unit in, please?