Advise on Aedui campaign

**blue10a5** · October 24, 2011, 08:21 PM

Hi all. I'm playing Aedui campaign right now, and the campaign has been successful by far. I've conquered nearly all of modern France, except for Avaricum and the town south west of Gergovia, also recapture the southern region which I lost to the Averni at the beginning. However, this is where the problem start.

Roman attack my just-recaptured-region with full legion of hasati, principle, triari,... As my main army is at the town of the Nervii now, it should take quite a few turn to send them there, and my army in the southern France is quite weak. I've some troops in Masilia, however with a 45% of culture difference and a newly trained Client ruler, I can't afford to send the troops garrison there (it's not like I have a grand army there anyway, the Masilia has lost most of their troops fighting the Roman, so I took it with only a little army, 2 horseman, 2 spear, 2sword, and a slinger).

I'm pretty new to EB, so can you help me for some advise on what I should do? Give up the region to Rome, turtle in and slowly build an army to fight back the Roman, or train a mass army to fight them right away? Most of my region are not fully develop yet, most of them can only train levy spear or slinger, with only one region near the Sweboz can train axeman. Oh, and give me an advise on how to play the army of naked-babarian against the fully-amoured Roman? Thank you all for reading and appreciate all your help on this.

And one more question, mainly for the EB team. Can I ask why the northen France doesn't have a wide variety of unit? Bibracte, my capital, can only train slinger, levy spear, northern swordmen, and horseman. That's quite a few comparing to the region on the southern France or Britain. Can you give us some explanation about this? And thank you guys, you've done a great job to make this mod.

**Entropy Judge** · October 24, 2011, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by blue10a5

I'm pretty new to EB, so can you help me for some advise on what I should do? Give up the region to Rome, turtle in and slowly build an army to fight back the Roman, or train a mass army to fight them right away?

Personally, I would probably turtle as much as possible. What year is it? What Reform level are you at? Do you have a steady, relatively high income, or are you just scraping by?

Most of my region are not fully develop yet, most of them can only train levy spear or slinger, with only one region near the Sweboz can train axeman.

Teceitos are awesome, particularly against the Romans - cheap, decent stats, AP. Also, don't overlook Slingers - Missile AP weapons are incredibly powerful if used properly.

Oh, and give me an advise on how to play the army of naked-babarian against the fully-amoured Roman? Thank you all for reading and appreciate all your help on this.

I like to play similarly to the Romans themselves, actually (usually with the Casse or the Sweboz). Get solid, relatively tough units to form the core of your army (this may be Bataroas/Teceitos, or it may be Gaelaiche/Gaeroas); their job is to hold the enemy line in place. Use shock-effect units on the flanks - Teceitos, Pictone Neitos, Uirodusios, Gaesatae; they have the honor of carving up the opponent offensively. Finally, you have very good Cavalry: Brihentin and Remi Mareipos are solid Heavy Cavalry, and Leuce Epos have a powerful charge once they've loosed their Javelins.

There is another way, of course. I just don't use it because I don't like the playstyle and whenever I do try it, I don't find it cost-effective.

And one more question, mainly for the EB team. Can I ask why the northen France doesn't have a wide variety of unit? Bibracte, my capital, can only train slinger, levy spear, northern swordmen, and horseman.

This tells me that you haven't triggered the Reforms. Bibracte can also recruit Archers (Sotaroas), Nobles (Solduros), Heavy Infantry (Neitos), Spearmen (Gaelaiche), and Noble Cavalry (Brihentin), although they do require unlocking via the Reforms. Solduros and Neitos in particular are more powerful than Roman units, although they are more expensive, and Gaelaiche are decent-quality spearmen.

**blue10a5** · October 25, 2011, 06:53 AM

Personally, I would probably turtle as much as possible. What year is it? What Reform level are you at? Do you have a steady, relatively high income, or are you just scraping by?

I'm playing on M/M difficulty, and it's around 250BC now. And well, as you've guess already, I haven't had any reform yet. My town make some profit, around 6k per turn while supporting an army of 5 slinger, 5 horseman, 14-15 northen swordmen, 4-5 levy spear, as well as one or two levy spear at every town for garrison. Most of my town is very high tax anyway, and most only has level 1 or 2 market. I’ve been focusing on expanding and defeating the Averni, so most of my money goes to the army. What's your opinion about my economy system?

Teceitos are awesome, particularly against the Romans - cheap, decent stats, AP. Also, don't overlook Slingers - Missile AP weapons are incredibly powerful if used properly.

Can I ask how to use the slinger properly? Until now their role has been throwing rock on the enemy to wear them down, as well as damaging their number and morale, before the javelin rain come from the swordmen. When defending, this is very effective as some unit morale has drop so low when they reach my army that they rout as soon as they see the javelin coming at them. I also use them to shoot down the routing one, leaving my calvary for breaking morale instead of chasing down the enemy. Is that the proper way to use them or can they be used another way?

**Entropy Judge** · October 25, 2011, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by blue10a5

I'm playing on M/M difficulty, and it's around 250BC now. And well, as you've guess already, I haven't had any reform yet. My town make some profit, around 6k per turn while supporting an army of 5 slinger, 5 horseman, 14-15 northen swordmen, 4-5 levy spear, as well as one or two levy spear at every town for garrison. Most of my town is very high tax anyway, and most only has level 1 or 2 market. I’ve been focusing on expanding and defeating the Averni, so most of my money goes to the army. What's your opinion about my economy system?

It could be worse

. Get more Roads (you get Paved Roads - use them!) and higher-tier Markets (these will also help in getting the Reforms). Ports, as always, are great for increasing Income, and several regions in eastern and southern Gaul have Mines. For the Reforms (in case you missed the FAQ):
First Reform:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Second Reform:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Can I ask how to use the slinger properly? Until now their role has been throwing rock on the enemy to wear them down, as well as damaging their number and morale, before the javelin rain come from the swordmen.

That's certainly an effective way to use them, but you have to keep in mind the effect of shields on missile effects. Specifically, against non-Thrown missiles, the Shield value is doubled (and Defense Skill ignored); so a measely 1-2 Attack slinger isn't going to get many hits against, say Principes or Hastati if it attacks from the front (Hastati has 7 Armour and 4 Shield; against AP Missiles, it goes to 3 and 8). From behind, however, the Shield is useless, and Slingers only have to deal with the Armour. Particularly once you get a few XP (IIRC, the Aedui can get +3 base XP units, though it takes some work), Slingers are extremely cost-efficient units. Celtic slingers can also do some double-duty as light infantry due to their sword, although they are remarkably fragile.

**fri** · October 25, 2011, 08:29 AM

Hi guys

Some tips on the Aedui in general:

Its smart to use more leavy troops and maybe cut back on some of the swordsmen. They are really good, but its more historical to relie on the mass of spears. combine them with slingers, some gallic light cav to harras and to chase down the routers,+ some swords to make a breach in their line. Then you can field more armies, be cost effective.

I generally have one main army, with my king and the best troops, camped somewhere near the alps garding my heartlands and going on raids south from time to time. When i want to expand i send some family members with some troops i gather along the way, siege and wear down the enemys.

You want to garrison your southern settlements. When the romans come, they might be many. Be ready to take the fight to them! A character or a quick small relief force hidden in the woods nearby comes in handy if you want to force a besieging enemy army into the field at your initiative.
The mountain passes are quite easely guarded by a nice general and a bunch of angry gauls. Fight the romans in many battles, be aggressive and wear them down over time.

As for settlements, put some slingers in there. A few hundred can do havoc on the walls, especially against other barbarians, germans ect. and they cost next to nothing.

Some other tips. Send diplomats to arrange trade deals with the nations of the world. they travel fast and its well worth it... Keep on fighting!

**blue10a5** · October 25, 2011, 08:19 PM

Thank you all for your advise, that really help a lot. And well, I didn't lose the province I was beseiged. My 3 unit of levy spear defeat an army from Rome, consist of 2 triarii, an equites, a lingurian unit, a rorarii and a levy spear. My army was 180 men oppose to nearly 300 men, and it was a clear victory. And I don't know how on earth my army win, as I was auto resolve this one

I keep on thinking, but I can't understand how my army win that battle. Disadvantage in number, my town only has level 1 wall, and on top of that, I use auto resolve. Hard to imagine how that happen. Any idea how to win that battle like that?

Lucky for me, I was about to use scorched earth tactics, destroy every building in that province before losing that to the Roman but I forgot

Now I put my whole army there to prepare for any attack from the Roman, as well as making a new army beseiging the remaining province in France. My country is now better connected with paved road. Now what I really want to focus on is to create a good king for the future. My yong FM is not very good yet, only 2, 3 in management and 2 or 3 in influence. Any idea how to train an FM to become a brilliant leader? By letting him governing a city or conquering a lot of city?

**Entropy Judge** · October 25, 2011, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by blue10a5

Thank you all for your advise, that really help a lot. And well, I didn't lose the province I was beseiged. My 3 unit of levy spear defeat an army from Rome, consist of 2 triarii, an equites, a lingurian unit, a rorarii and a levy spear. My army was 180 men oppose to nearly 300 men, and it was a clear victory. And I don't know how on earth my army win, as I was auto resolve this one

I keep on thinking, but I can't understand how my army win that battle. Disadvantage in number, my town only has level 1 wall, and on top of that, I use auto resolve. Hard to imagine how that happen.

Auto-Resolve is weighted towards the defender in Siege battles, and it only goes by melee stats. Purely statwise, Lugoae can take on the Equites and the Leves; one-on-one, Rorarii are a close match: the Rorarii are better-protected, but the Lugoae have slightly better Attack, Morale, and Discipline. So the only question is the Triarii, and the Defender-Advantage from Auto-Resolve probably helped there.

Any idea how to win that battle like that?

Actually playing the battle out? Best bet would probably be to wait for them at the Plaza to prevent your guys from routing; if you get lucky, you might be able to force all of them to rout, which would give you the win. Be very close, though.

Now what I really want to focus on is to create a good king for the future. My yong FM is not very good yet, only 2, 3 in management and 2 or 3 in influence. Any idea how to train an FM to become a brilliant leader? By letting him governing a city or conquering a lot of city?

High Management is fairly easily-gotten from Schools, at least the 2nd level (Also, make sure he's from one of the tribes with an emphasis on Trade). Influence tends to rise fairly quickly if he's running the town, as long as he doesn't make an ass of himself. You can also manipulate the Retinue - if someone gets an ancillary you'd rather have on your Faction Heir, transfer it to him! (In case you don't know how to do this, simply place both FMs in the same stack, and drag the Ancillary from one FM to the second FM's unit card. Note that you can only have 8 Ancillaries on a FM, you can't double up on Ancillaries, and (IIRC) some Ancillaries aren't transferrable and/or have Ancillaries they can't be paired with.) Frankly, I tend not to care too much about my FL - as long as he has good Traits and 4+ Command (if he's a Conqueror) or >5 Management/Influence (if he's a Manager), I don't worry too much.

**blue10a5** · October 26, 2011, 01:02 AM

Yeah, guess auto resolve is good sometimes. I was about to give up that region to the Roman, so I choose auto resolve to save time. Lucky, I guess. Not too proud of it though.

In case you don't know how to do this, simply place both FMs in the same stack, and drag the Ancillary from one FM to the second FM's unit card

Honestly, I don't. this is my first time hearing about this. Thanks for this advice Judge, after several years playing Rome vanilla, I still don't know about this. I think a good FL might have good influence on other FM, right? In RS2, it appear to be that way, but I don't know about EB. And does the Aedui have some place to study like the Casse? I remember the Casse has a place called Dark island, and if you send the FM there they will study and when finish will have a trait that give a +2 bonus to public order, which is nice I think.

**~~The Kybrothilian~~** · October 26, 2011, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by blue10a5

And does the Aedui have some place to study like the Casse? I remember the Casse has a place called Dark island, and if you send the FM there they will study and when finish will have a trait that give a +2 bonus to public order, which is nice I think.

I haven't played as Aedui, but isn't there a maxed out school in Cenabum? If not, you could always max out the school there yourself

**blue10a5** · October 26, 2011, 05:38 AM

Yeah, there's one school there, but so far I only see my FM get a trait which will help to recover some unit from death after battle, not the trait which give bonus to public order like in Britain. Maybe it's best for them to study through conquest and govern rather than attending school.

**Entropy Judge** · October 26, 2011, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by blue10a5

And does the Aedui have some place to study like the Casse? I remember the Casse has a place called Dark island, and if you send the FM there they will study and when finish will have a trait that give a +2 bonus to public order, which is nice I think.

If you conquer Ynys-Mon, you can take advantage of the Druidic Training from the Isle of Darkness. And the free maxed-out School. But I don't think they have any other notable training locations.

**blue10a5** · October 28, 2011, 11:23 PM

Hi guys, I've followed your advice and it really work out for me. Now, I've capture Segestia and Arrentum, and just defeat a full legion of Rome. The road to Rome is open, only small army left behind like couple of triarii and some hasati/principes, but I choose to play it safe by holding my ground, take control of Bononia and Pantavium to make sure that northen Italy is mine, as my army can't be replaced easily in the province near Rome. This is why I wanna ask another question, why is the recruitment on the nothern Italy seem so different from Gaul? Even the unit with name Celtic spearman is different too. The one in the north comes through a reform, with light type weapon, while the southern one comes before the Reform, with range type weapon. I really don't understand about this.

**Entropy Judge** · October 29, 2011, 02:43 AM

They're different cultures, so you won't find the same units (just like you won't find Bataroas, only Botroas). Since Northern Italy had more Italic influence and less Gallic, you won't find as many Gallic units. Of course, this works both ways - take Ariminum or Arretium and you'll be able to recruit Camillan Hastati from the level 2 Regional Barracks.

But yeah, Gaeroas (the Spearmen that don't require the Reforms) have a bit of a weird AoR - southern Britain, the Alpine region (extending SW into Massalia and NE), and a couple more territories in the east. Gaelaiche (Reforms required) show up only in Gaul (and one territory in Britain), but nearly everywhere in Gaul proper and a bit to the east as well. Of course, Gaelaiche are slightly superior - one fewer Javelin, but IIRC the Gaeroas have "Missile" weapons while the Gaelaiche have "Light" (which means that Blacksmiths won't affect Gaeroas's Attack values), the Gaelaiche also have +1 Armour and +1 Morale.