What are your RP Methods for your favorite faction

[mp84]

Hey Everyone,

So I would figure, I would get this thread going for everyone to post their thoughts if they like, and maybe give some non-RPers, perhaps, the courage to try it out for change

To me, it totally helps with the immersion, let's face it, RS II is hard, no question about it, but the AI is still no match for the Human Player, so it's interesting when you put some minor limitations on yourself, to a certain degree, just to spice things up. There are also many different types of roleplaying, some just go with Army Composition make-up, try to keep it as historical as possible (Half Roman Army, Half Allied Army), while others only expand historically to what the Romans actually took around that time period, and finally some go even further then that and get their characters involved in the RP in some way either by letting the higher ranking Characters govern the richer provinces, or the higher ranking generals lead the better armies. Naturally the possibilities are endless, and as RS II evolves its trait system I think it can get even better. For now, here are the Roleplaying techniques that I use for my favorite faction which is Rome.

-Only Legatus and Legatus Legionis can lead the main invasion armies to conquer other towns.

Reason:
I like doing this, as it feels like I'm the Senate, and I'm ordering characters to go conquer territories to keep the Roman interest safe. Yes, I can get lucky and have a awesome Legatus or Legatus Legionis that's born for it, but at the same time, I can be unlucky and even though he's a Legatus or Legatus Legionis through his political influence (E.G. he become a Praetor or Consul), perhaps Military command is not meant for him. So to me it gives a little more meaning for achieving that rank.

What about Tribunes (Patrician/Equestrian Classes) or Centurion's, Primus Pilus, and Praefectus Castrorum?

Well, they can lead armies, but not spearhead the invasion armies, so basically they are the look-out or sometimes Siege Holders (They would never Assault, but they will naturally defend themselves if the army sallies out). Most importantly, they can serve as Region Defense, to incoming invasion, and perhaps with enough victories, they do move up in rank to join the Legatus or Legatus Legionis honors. Naturally, they can also take back Rebel cities if they rebel.

-During an invasion, if the Legatus or Legatus Legionis succumbs to his wounds, then the lower ranking military generals can continue the invasion, until a suitable replacement is sent over to the front to continue it.

Reason: This is sort of a mix of gameplay tactics, at the same time trying to not leave yourself vulnerable with the brutal RS II AI which can be deadly at times. I mean, in reality, the invasion wouldn't just stop just because the commander died, there can be a set-back as perhaps the lower ranking commanders are not as good, or it can be benefit and give those lower ranking commanders time to shine. So to me, this is sort of happy medium in getting your Military commanders of other ranks involved.

-Only the most influential people get the more cushier governor jobs.

Reason: This in a way is sort of a reward for the characters moving up the Cursus Honorum, or through their respective careers. The higher influential people get the better provinces like Capua, Rome, while the lower ones get the distant provinces, so they can begin to make a name for themselves. Can this lead to unlucky governors on some cities? Of course!, but as I've stated before, Rome didn't always have fantastic governors for all their cities, so sometimes you just got to deal with what you have, and pray the lower tier characters move up quickly enough so you can move them to the better provinces.

And overall that's really all I do, I try to keep my armies somewhat Historical, but at the same time, this is where game play tactics also come into effect, because naturally the AI doesn't care about historical accuracy, but I try not to abuse it.

So hopefully this was a good read for some people, and now what's your RP methods that you use? or Army Compositions, whatever that may be, post it here

[Archontis]

In a H\VH Campaign\Battle there is only one army composition
A stack full of late praetorian legions with two first cohorts of them and a 4-5 star commander
Otherwise you are dead

[Concrete]

I RP as a bit of a sleeping giant, my gameplay is usually like this:
1) Consolidate borders, get a defensive line against those who I don't want to invade.
2) Wait however long it takes to get a young family member with good ability to become a great general.
3) Explode out of borders, with that general at the head, I don't stop expanding and slaughtering everyone in my path until that general lies dead, or he reaches a certain goal I have preset for him.
And then back to 1).

Like in RS 1.6, I had a general named Talos of Sparta, who was a genius among many other beneficial traits.
Playing as the Greek cities, I then charged out of the Peloponese, crushed Macedon, went north all the way to Byzantium, then invaded Asia, and didn't stop until I had reached Babylon. (He died in the very first battle with the Parthians, and to this day, I hate them with a passion.)
And then, without a general, I started consolidating... which nearly failed, seeing as my empire was under attack from Rome, Dacia, and my territory in Asia was a jagged line across Anatolia and into Mesopotamia.

Ah... good times.

[Schwertmeister]

I basically gave up with RP in TW games, simply it takes too much time and is rewarding too little. It's just too many generals after some time, and you never have proper control since they get bad traits even if you are very caring.

I think can't call it roleplaying to change advisors once in a while, or to have generals with -50% building cost, which I circle round the cities and let them do as many buildings as possible Rather expoit abuse I don't give a !

[Cynik]

I sometimes create elite legions that have seen hell and come back for more under one particular general and continue that army under their family name.

I also gave areas of land in EB to certain families, so certain land areas or groups of cities would go to the Ciceros(Illyria) or the Blasios (Massilia/Coastal Gaul).

After a great general/leader had finished his campaigning and nearing the end of his life I would always retire them in a great city like Rome, Alexandria etc where they would be worshipped till they leave this world.

I really do like this thread, as getting more ideas for RP is great as the TW series at times can be quite engaging with the right mod