March East or West???

**milkos** · November 26, 2011, 07:05 AM

I'm done with controling the Italian Peninsula except Sicily, and I still have no plans of launching a amphibious assault against it because I still don't have enough ships to transport even a single Legion... Up north against the Gauls, I contained them and as of now I have 2 Legions bordering their territory.. Now the question is, where will send my 3 Legions, would I go for the Greeks? of should i go west to the Iberian Peninsula... I need suggestions....

P.S.
my economy is stable... as of now I'm earning atleast 6k per turn...

**lt1956** · November 26, 2011, 08:14 AM

You should go after Sicilia, its the key to extra income, then from there take the islands from Carthage and then hit Iberia. Do what Rome did, follow their example and you will do fine.

**Abmong** · November 26, 2011, 10:27 AM

Lilybeon is a

and a half to take though... I think the most cost effective way to take it would be to wait until you get the post marius legions and go testudo on their ass. You'll know what I mean when you get there.

**milkos** · November 27, 2011, 01:36 AM

@lt... hmm i've been thinking about it, and I have doubts with that planned invasion.. I only have 3 Legions at my disposal.. but I'll consider your advice...

@Abmong... hmm.. then I'll go for that Settlement first... hahaha...

*shouts*

FORWARD MY LEGIONS!!!

**Abmong** · November 27, 2011, 06:29 AM

lol, be my guest, and let me know how you fair. My first attempt had four of my manipular legions ripped to shreds

. I finally managed to take it with heavy loses to my auxillia legions comprised mainly of Italian spears and missiles. the whole Island is basically missile cavalry, thats why in retrospect the testudo would have come in very handy.

As LT says, taking sicilia should be the first campaign after you've sured up mainland Italy. Use it as a springboard for other campaigns, as you should have enough money for at least two more legions if not more.

**lt1956** · November 27, 2011, 08:39 PM

Also, BUILD you buildings that will make cash, Mines are a wealth of gold. You can take two provinces up north and the Germans will NOT attack you. Patavium and Tergeste if you can take it before the Dacians fill it with armies. Tergeste has a Mine and will produce a ton of money. Patavium will secure the north better and allow you to devert the Gaul attacks to that area and away from Genua. New players I suggest using Forts and man the bridges if you have to. When you get better you can change those tactics but if your new it will help.

Also Capua is the best location at start of the game to Build a up the palaces, you want to get to the 12,000 denarii one, then you will have access to Assassins to kill enemy assassins that the AI WILL send. And you will have access to Archers which are a MUST if you are using bridges for newbies.

Carali, is the Island near Italy, that one is easy to take and will net you more Denarii. Now you can take Sicilia, start with Messana and then branch out, hire Mercs if you need more fodder for the siege. Use alot of Hastatii and attack the Armies that are around, make sure to bring some velites to kill the spartans. You will lose alot, but you will weaken the armies so you can bring in your real legions to take the armies out and siege the Cities.

If you take the Above mention Provinces and Build up your Towns etc., you will have enough Denarii to support about 10-15 Legions and with some left over for building! More than enough to hold Gaul and then take Carthage on, you have two choices Mainland carthage or Iberia.

If you want the historical approach go for Iberia, this will also boost the Carthage mainland as for some reason Carthage moves their capital to Spain. lol So all the main troops are made there, but after you take Iberia they have to move their capital back to the Mainland. But you can just go straight for Carthage but remember if you get too close to Egypt they will attack, and I personally usually wait to attack egypt after I wipe out the Gauls and Greeks.

This should help.

Lt1956

**milkos** · November 28, 2011, 02:14 AM

@Abmong... I think I evaded that very costly campaign against Lilybeaum... because the Greeks are sieging the Carthiginians...

@lt... I have taken up Messana with 2 Legions from the Carthiginians with maximum losses.. then I brought up my other Legion to siege the Greek City(can't remember the name)...
I think the Greeks will be able to defeat the Carthiginians and take that settlement against them...

**Abmong** · November 28, 2011, 05:54 PM

Strange... on my play through the island was controlled by rebels and had like 8 armies of missile cavalry

And as I remembered it the greeks expelled carthage from sicily before I even got there! meh guess no two games are ever the same.

**milkos** · November 29, 2011, 03:28 AM

yeah.. I guess that's right... hmm well now after taking Lilybaeum from the Greeks.. I think I'll follow LT.'s idea... do it the Roman way...

**milkos** · December 02, 2011, 12:31 AM

any suggestions on how exactly am I going to invade Iberia??? is it by the sea? or by marching my Legions into Gallic territory?

**lt1956** · December 02, 2011, 12:55 AM

Sea is the best otherwise you will be fightig gual all the time.

**milkos** · December 02, 2011, 04:32 AM

so.. hmm.. do you suggest sending all my available Legions??
right now I have 2 Legions that are ready to be deployed.. then i have 1 full stack navy...

**Abmong** · December 04, 2011, 03:46 PM

Yep. I'de leave two Legions in Italy and have auxilia forces covering the bridges to the north. One Legion to cover the north western road into Italy and the other in a fort close by, ready to defend Sardinia from Carthaginians (If you've taken it). Send the rest to Iberia, You'll need more triremes to ferry all the armies across as well as defend against hostile ships, however don't go overboard building large fleets though, as it can get very expensive. Don't forget to send a town watch army! it'll free up your Legions to do the real fighting once you've taken your first city there.

**milkos** · December 08, 2011, 12:10 AM

hmm.. question.. whats the composition of a Auxilia Legion??

**Abmong** · December 08, 2011, 09:06 PM

It varies depending on your needs, But I'd generally try to use local troop types to be more authentic. Historically the romans used to levy local peoples for small forces as well as to join actual legions

these forces can be anything from just (x5) units of infantry plus a general for policing duty, to near a full legion for border defence. The largest auxilia army I used in the early game was made up of (x4) Italian Hastati, (x4) Italian Princepes, (x2) Italian Auxilia (spears), (x2) slingers, (x2) velites and (x1) barbarian cavalry plus a general.

Later on, as your empire gets larger you'll have more unit types to play with. for example as you move towards the east your auxilia forces should be more mobile to counter the ranged cavalry forces there.

Adapt or Die

**milkos** · December 09, 2011, 04:12 AM

haha.. I like the adapt or die quote.. hahaha.. hmm so thats the composition of your Auxilia Legion... hmm how about mine.. does this sound ok for you?? 1 general, 9 auxilia inf, 4 slingers, 2 equites.. how does that sound for a border defense against the Gauls up north??

**Abmong** · December 10, 2011, 06:21 PM

Seems ok. Depends on what you ment by 9 auxilia inf though... if its,
(x3 Italian Hastati, x3 Italian Princepes, x3 Italian Auxilia)
or
(x5 Italian Hastati, x2 Italian Princepes, x2 Italian Auxilia)

I'd say that's ok, but if its x9 Italian Princepes... it's not cheating but I'd say its in bad taste

The Romans didn't fight with just fully heavy inf Legions until the marius reforms, so if you want to role play then try not to do that until you get the reforms.

Try to keep a balanced army for a more authentic feel.

If you want to make things even more historically correct then always pair a Roman Legion with an alae Legion (a mirror legion of auxilia) Rome had an ongoing alliance with the other Italian states that ment, for everly man the romans fielded their allies had to field an equal number. This ment a manipular legion never faught alone!

This can get very expensive though, plus its not in the house rules. Use it if you feel that it will increase your enjoyment of the game, but its not necessary. The system was scrapped around the same time as the marius reforms anyway as all Italians gained Roman Citizenship