Rome 0-Turn, Cartledge

[Cartledge]

Rome 0-Turn Campaign, H/H, RTW-BI.Exe, Post-Marian, Med-High Res.
Currently I've only done 5 turns, however I've tried to be exhaustive in data.
EVENT LOG
536 Summer;
- Scipio the Elder is sent out of Emporiae along the coast toward Saguntum.
- Quintus Fulvius Flaccus besieges Apollonia from Dyrrhachium.
- The surrounding cities send support to reinforce Gaius Flaminius Nepos's army for Nepos's assault.
- Nepos attacks Hannibal's army, killing him and scattering his men.
- Nepos reforms his units and destroys the secondary Carthaginian army.
- Nepos then advances on Genoa.

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536 Winter;
- Scipio the Elder takes Saguntum.
- Flaccus takes Apollonia then after securing the city with mercenary
hoplites, moves to attack the Macedonian relief force, destroying that too.

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537 Summer;
- Italian Revolt: Capua (surprise surprise) and Crotona.
- Nepos assaultes Genoa, takes it, then races south to deal with the
rebels.
- Sextus Fabius Maximus (joined by Scipio the Younger with an army from
Sicily) assemble an army south of Rome and march on the Rebels. 2 large
rebel armies are destroyed before Maximus turns his attention on Capua.

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537 Winter;
- Scipio the Elder assaults Baikor. Baikor is taken.
- Nepos forced-marches his way to Crotona.
- Maximus besieges Capua

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538 Summer;
- Nepos besieges Crotona.
- Maximus assaults Capua. Takes it then leaves behind a small force led
by Scipio the Younger.
- Scipio the Elder stays in Baikor to subdue the town.

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EMPIRE OVERVIEW
Campaign Map

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Financial Overview

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Diplomatic Status

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Military Graph

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Production Graph

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Territory Graph

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Financial Graph

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Population Graph

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Overall Ranking Graph

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National Overview / Family Tree

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FAMILY MEMBERS PROGRESS REPORT
Ok so ill post a couple of FM's on turn 1 then turn 5 for comparison.

Quintus Fabius Maximus

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Gaius Flaminius Nepos

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IMPRESSIONS
A few things struck me immediately after starting the Campaign was the
Roman armies were more beefed up. Only just enough to do something
with some of them. (most notably would be Scipio the Elders army in Spain)
Now when I first got the Beta I gave the Romans a quick look to see the
difference and I got my butt handed to me on a silver platter. Seriously
got flogged all over Italy. It was quite a shock, and reading Dani's report
on the Rome Beta did make me feel a little better about losing so badly.
So when I started this one I was more inclined to use as much force I
could bring to bear as quickly as possible, fearing another severe beating
if I didn't force a victory. Hannibals forces in Italy are quite formidable
as I already knew from my Carthage Beta campaign so with that in mind I
just hit as hard and fast as possible. I guess that tactic paid off.
I've tried to adopt an aggressive tactic with the generals to try and
trigger as many new traits as possible. Thus the expansion both east and
west.I guess that has paid off too, though the Macedonian front seems to
have slowed down for now (until I reinforce).
Economically I am still getting used to the new building costs and effects.
Everything is just so expensive now (I am way to early in the campaign and
unused to the pricing system to be any sort of judge) but im managing along
with the cheapest buildings that help economy or happiness (depending where
neede). I usually play 1 turn campaigns so I'm still getting used to that
aspect as well, I dont completely drown this environment and I'll find my
feet on that one shortly. Im not having any problem yet anyway, but early
days.

[tone]

Interesting.....I think thus far your gambles have paid off.
I wonder whether we ought to consider having a garrison script to avoid quick blitzing of territory?

[Cartledge]

I think you may be right on that one, I did take quite a chunk in only 5 turns, but I'm not playing conservatively. Still its a really fine line between too easy and too hard.

[tone]

Just out of interest when did you do your SVN update? Was it before or after I made the adjustment to the Republican Dictator tax benefits? (i.e. late last night UK time).

With any luck Carthage and Macedon will come back and hit you hard!

Good to see you winning some decorations too.....but we probably need to cut back the probabilities slightly.....but that's what the testing is all about.

[Cartledge]

I updated SVN about 10 - 14 hours ago. So it being noon there (am I right?)means I could be out of sync.Ill check SVN updates now
Oh and with a couple of those decorations I very nearly killed my generals that did get them to get them.

[tone]

Great. let us know if the EDCT (export_descr_character_traits.txt) file is updated. It could make quite a difference for those first few years.

[Cartledge]

I just updated then and I guess its back to square one? I accept the challenge to come close to my last achievements!

[tone]

Don't forget to delete map.rwm first

[Ybbon]

Every time I fight Hannibal I lose the first fight. I hate Hannibal, I think he may be a secret Iberian because they always used to kill my legions in 1.6. There must be a trick to getting past those damn missile cavalry.

[DeWitt8]

Every time I fight Hannibal I lose the first fight. I hate Hannibal, I think he may be a secret Iberian because they always used to kill my legions in 1.6. There must be a trick to getting past those damn missile cavalry.

I mostly use 2 of my own cav units going left and right of that missile cav , then surrounding it. Of course that needs 2 units against one, which is much, and doesn't work always.

[Cartledge]

Ive always found the best trick (and it doesnt alway work of course) is just to bait them with a 'weak' unit. If they take the bait, even for a moment, then I often can catch them with even heavy cavalry before they get away. Sometimes even toggling the unit spacing to entice even more. Either way the missile cavalry require alot of micromanagement in that area of the battle.

[Cartledge]

Ok heres a report after I restarted the previous campaign
Rome 0-Turn, RTW-BI.exe, H/H, Med to High Res
Current Turn 20
LOG;
Turn 1 - 20;
What can I say? That aggressive strategy worked again. I followed the tactic pretty much identically. Alot of hard micromanagement in battles to get ther though. Scipio the Elder battled his way through Spain (kick the Cathaginians out) and marches his proud veterans onto Africa. Apollonia is taken (as before) and the relieving Macedonian forces are defeated. Nepos finishes the Italian revolt (which occurs in Crotona and Rhegion) and moves a full stack army to North Africa (west of Carthage). Carthage has been reduced to just North Africa but is FAR from beaten. Tingi has exchanged hands at least 3 times because of Carthaginian bribery but the battle lines have settled a bit and the war is continuing in earnest (from both sides).
Carthago Nova has been invested in greatly (barracks etc..) and is being used as a provincial capital for Spain. This is a good thing as the Gallaeci are almost at the point of invading my Spanish provinces. (which are still pretty vulnerable)
Scipio and Nepos both made legendary commanders (both earned it IMO)
Macedonian war rages every turn with static battle lines (reinforcements sent every couple of turns)
Economically 41 - 46 K a turn with tight budgets.
Militarily it feels quite balanced even with the initial success against Carthage.
Decorations are coming in only if the FM has REALLY fought nail and tooth to get them. Sea warfare dominion has fluctuated between Rome and Carthage.
The election system seems to be working with the FMs. Scipio the elder seemed to be picking up negative traits from being on campaign so long.
GENERAL SCREENSHOTS

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GRAPHS, CHARTS AND SOME FAMILY MEMBERS
Campaign Map

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National Overview

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Financial Overview

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Diplomatic Overview

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Overall Ranking Graph

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Financial Graph

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Military Graph

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Population Graph

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Production Graph

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Territory Graph

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Gaius Flaminius Nepos

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Publius Cornelius Scipio (Elder)

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Quintus Fulvius Flaccus

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[Cartledge]

Ok I just updated the Beta on SVN. Start again?

[tone]

Fantastic report, thank you. Exactly the stuff it's good to know. Questions....
1) how was the battle against the emergency army at carthago novo?
2) what would you suggest changing?


Can a tighten the economy any further or increase other faction economies? How many stacks are you fighting compared with RS2 or 2.1?

No need to start again at present as nothing significant has changed

[Cartledge]

Ok Ill post these shots of the Carthago Nova event.

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I had the advantage of 'night fighter' and always took the initiative on the strategic map. On this campaign I have never just sat on a siege, but (risking many lives) assaulted as quickly as possible to follow up on the strategic map. Acceptable losses (within reason) I suppose. Nepos got a bit burnt when he took his 3500+ men army and attacked only 500-600 odd soldier force that included towered elephants. The elephants (which I know how to deal with quite well normally) just managed to corner my infantry. very messy indeed. Out of 3500 odd men, only 2000 survived. We won but.......

[Cartledge]

Perhaps the garrison script for Carthago Nova could be a little more beefed up. I think the economy is playing out well so far. I havent always been able to build in every town every turn, and I prioritise every turn but no more than a few miss out, and even then pretty rarely. Mind you I have been suplementing with conquest and trashing unneeded buildings (greek barracks etc) so without that I'm guessing that it would be even tighter. Perhaps more money for Carthage but perhaps not, they still have quite a sting. I noticed that Sparta and Cimbri have been pretty static in expansion but their forces are bulging out like a big pimple ready to burst spartan warriors all over the place. I might have to duck when that happens for fear of being hit by a flying projectile screaming "SPARTA!!!!!!"
As far as comparison of army stacks to 2.0 or 2.1 go, it has been about what I have expected for 0 turn, but most stacks i've gotten to havent had a chance to meet up with others to make an uber-army. Part of the reason for being so aggressive in expansion on this one.

[tone]

Thanks

What about the strength of the stacks you're facing? Have many of them got any chevrons or armour/weapons upgrades? Many characters commanding?

Would a garrison script make things a bit more challenging as well as having the emergency levy armies?

Looking at the shots above it looks like you haven't been counterattacked by a levy army at Carthago Novo (full stack with some experience) or maybe you've not shown it? The stack would look something like this:

unit carthaginian generals cavalry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit iberian scutarii cavalry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit iberian medium cavalry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit numidian cavalry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit numidian noble cavalry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit iberian elite scutarii, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit late libyan spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit early libyan spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit early libyan spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit caetrati infantry, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit celtiberian spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit lusitanian spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit lusitanian spearman, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit iberian scutarii, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit iberian scutarii, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit celtiberian caetrati, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit libyan skirmisher, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit libyan skirmisher, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit balearic slingers, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1
unit balearic slingers, exp 0 armour 1 weapon_lvl 1

[Cartledge]

No counter-attack happened. Once Carthago Nova was taken no other forces appeared. So I'm not sure about a garrison script then until I see how the counter-attack plays out. I have made sure the script was working at every loadup (I do it religiously and dont load any save unless from desktop)
As for the makeup of the enemie armies sent my way, it has varied pleasingly. Some are commanded by generals (Philip V came to Apollonia to play!) with varied quality arms/armour and experience from green to 3 chevron.

[Cartledge]

I just got a couple of turns into the next stage of the campaign and almost all of my FMs gained the 'Legendary Commander' trait. I read in another post about the problem and it didnt come up with my campaign until I recently updated. (since the last report that is)
Oh I see its being worked on. Ok

[Ybbon]

I just took Apollonia and noticed that Philip V is about to siege Dyrrhacium too.

Another oddity, Carthage (kicked out of Italy now, turn 13) have had an army on Corsica for at least 4 turns without trying to do anything, just sitting outside the settlement.