Financial problems - Campaign 355

[QVBA]

Hi. I started Julian's 355 campaign. I chose 12tph option. After a couple of turns (it's 5th if I'm not mistaken) I'm in a big financial trouble. Even when I recaptured all revolted provinces I'm still suffering a great loss of money. Even worse, each and every turn it seems that the crisis gets deeper and deeper. I can't break even. What should I do? No money for investments and I don't want to cheat. Should I disband any units ( which appears risky to me because I keep being attacked by Franks and Alamans in he West, Gealic tribes in Britain and Berbers in Africa) or attatck and destroy other factions? Any help, please. Or perhaps there's somewhere such thread disscused. Couldn't find any through search engine.

[Diocletianus]

Well, I was in a situation much worse in another IBII ( AAR). But I can tell you something : Attack. Always attack on the campaign map, move in the teritory of Alemani and franks, let them attack you while you are on a hill and enjoy the miracle of the roman army.

When the attaking warbands in the provinces will be greatly diminished, move in Alemania and north of the rhine and launch offensive on the cities of theses two barbarian tribes. You troop ammount should have been lowered a bit by battles and you will surelycapture great ammount of riches whiles sacking the capitals of the barbarians confederations.

Your goal is to balance your army and the defense of the empire and have a sufficent income for buildings and reinforcements.

[QVBA]

thanks. I will try it. Do you think it's a good idea to take over the easterm romans cities, in Africa and on Sicilly or other neighbouring islands which revolted in the meantime. Or perhaps it has some unpleasent consequences land results in another war with Easter Romans this time?BTW what is this AAR?
cheers Qvba

[Diocletianus]

Don't divert the mains forces in Gaul. I don't know if you have it but use the Quarto Decimani in Cartago Nova. Use this legion to crush the rebellion. Do not touch to Constantius II until you have destroyed the german threat. Move wisely.

[Diocle]

Don't divert the mains forces in Gaul. I don't know if you have it but use the Quarto Decimani in Cartago Nova. Use this legion to crush the rebellion. Do not touch to Constantius II until you have destroyed the german threat. Move wisely.

QVBA Listen to the words of Diocletianus, he is worthy of his nik! Like his great predecessor, the emperor Diocletianus, the strategic intelligence, the cunning politics and the wisdom of this man are amazing!

[Diocletianus]

QVBA Listen to the words of Diocletianus, he is worthy of his nik! Like his great predecessor, the emperor Diocletianus, the strategic intelligence, the cunning politics and the wisdom of this man are amazing!

Thank you Diocle but I doubt the roman emperor had the a ''Palantir view'' of their empire and their legions at hands quickly. For my advises, they are from Napoleon Ier in his first italian campaign.


« Pour les vaincre, messieurs, il nous faut de l’audace, encore de l’audace, toujours de l’audace, et la France est sauvée »

Danton

[QVBA]

ok ,I will.thank you guys. BTW is normal for the reenforcments to appear out nowhere, suddenly while I'm sieged by Franks. It's fine to have new forces on hand ( however they are not impressive ones) but they unfortunatelly add to the costs and expenditures. Shall I disband them or something?

[julianus heraclius]

ok ,I will.thank you guys. BTW is normal for the reenforcments to appear out nowhere, suddenly while I'm sieged by Franks. It's fine to have new forces on hand ( however they are not impressive ones) but they unfortunatelly add to the costs and expenditures. Shall I disband them or something?

The reinforcements are intentional, part of the background script.

[Diocle]

I'm pretty sure Diocletianus had the Palantir!!
IMO in history few men had the Palantir: Alexander, Gaius Julius Caesar, Octavianus Augustus, Diocletianus, Elisabeth I, Richelieu (well he had 2 or 3 Palantir), L'Emperour Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, Bismark and, excuse me but I abitully say what I think right, Vladimir Jlic Ulianov (2 or more Palantir!)!
Normally the politicians do not have any Palantir nor a good pair of binoculars!

Dear friend if you quote similar words in French I beginning to hear the Marsilleise, I see the glorious battlefields of Dego, Cairo Montenotte, La Bicocca, Lodi, Castiglione, Bassano, Arcole and Rivoli! and I'm ready to march deep into the hell following the Glorious Rivolutionary Tricolor Flag and singing the chanson of the old grognards de 'L'Armèe du Rhin':

"Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé!
L'étendard sanglant est levé!
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils et nos compagnes!

Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!
Marchons! Marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!

Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés?
....................."

[Chelchal]

I've encountered the Palantir elsewhere in literature, such as the Aleph of Borges.

[Reno Melitensis]

A long time ago I played SAI and posted some guidlines how to overcome the bankrupt issue playing with Rome. I enjoyed more playing the 361 campaign with Iulianus as emperor. The first step is always, as in Invasio Barbarorum |II to trim your army. In the case of SAI, heavy cavalry units in the west as Cataphracts and Clibinari have to be disbanded, units of equites promoti one unit per legion of 4 units, and equites saggitari and armature disbanded, only dalmati are retained, and use your characters cavalry units in battle. Some other sacrifaces are neccessary, but these measures will help in building your economy in the west, the east being the richer part, with all cities on very high taxation, will help you as the mod progreses to sustained your armies in the east when the sassanids attack you in full force. Sadly in my campaign, as I remembered, I assembled a huge force in the east. After several attacks by the sassanids on Edessa, with the city guarding and importat pass, it fell, and the enemy poured into my territory. After some hard faught battles, I prepared to persue them east, whn my Magister per Orientem rebeled against me, corrupting with him two of my best generals and my legion of Armatus legions. With Julian in command of the commitatensis and nearer to the traitor, who attacked me on the rebels next turn, I won a very hard victory, losing the armatus legion and 75% of the commitatensis, the invasion stopped before it got off. In the end I had to pay a heavy price for peace, going back to square one in finance. The mod followed quite peacfully, having only a few wars with the germanic tribes and the sassanids occupied with the heptalities and guptas. I very much enjoyed SAI, and that was the reason I downloaded IB II, and got involved in the mods development.

Ah those where the good old days.

Cheers.

[Diocle]

Very good suggestion here, I always wanted to read it but for some reason I did not! Now you remind me that the moment arrived. Thanks Chelcal! IMO suggesting a good reading, is one of the best gifts we can do to someone.

[Diocletianus]

By my edicts, each unit must not be disbanded but be used until death ( or to be reuse when the funds will come) . Units should not be disbanded but used or moved to more vital position according to my opinion. Howerver there is multiples atrtegies in the mod and this is the one I think is the most military usefull ( though not for the economy)

[QVBA]

well. this my 12th turn of 355 CAMPAIGN (not 361). I didn't disband any units at the beggining of the campaign, however I spent what I had on some contructions in the settlements( didin't see much sense in it now) I recaptured all rebelled citities, took over 3 revolted eastern provinces( hope the easterns won't attack me soon) and conquered two alamanii , 2 franks and one gaellic province. Nothing has improved and I'm financialy bancrupt - 170000 in red. I don't know if it is much sense to continue the game hoping for better economic situation, or just to give it up and start from the very beginning or perhaps an easier compaign. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. BTW Reno is there any way elminate or to change the turns limitation in INVASIO BARBARORUM II CONQUESTUS BRITANNIAE?

[First Citizen Gallienus]

I'm starting to wonder too, that even if you did build all the right economic buildings in your empire, can you actually have a great stable economy like in Roma Surrectum 2? It seems like in this mod, no matter what you build, your economy will always remain in the gutter. I don't want to sound rude to Heraclianus and Joar, but what's the point of that?
On a side note, the 355 Constantius economy is probably the most stable of the bunch, though I haven't personally tried all the campaigns. So to get to the meat of this post, I guess my question to Joar would be, "Is it possible to build a stable economy in this mod?" It appears as if there just isn't enough such public order/economic builds present, and the ones that are there don't have that great of an effect.

[julianus heraclius]

I think that playing the Julian faction in the 355AD campaign is probably the hardest campaign both from a military and economic perspective that I have ever played. Playing Constantius II in the 355AD campaign is easier and even the 361AD one can achieve economic success and the 365AD campaign with Procopius is pretty easy too.

It is why the 355AD campaign with Julian has never been the default campaign. It is not for the faint hearted, but I nearly always seem to want to play it because of the immense challenges it has.

EDIT: Like with all RTW/BI mods, you need to expand your ecomomy. In the 355AD campaign you can only really do this by taking over Constantius' empire. But first you need to ensure that the Rhine border is secure. I usually wait for up to 6 turns before thinking of attacking Constantius, since the background scrip forces east and west to be allied till about 361AD. If, on the other hand any Italian cities have rebelled, I will strike quickly and take these, especially if Ravenna falls to the rebels as gaining this city will give you the whole Italian peninsula as well as military reinforcements and bonus cash.
But taking on Constantius is a tough ask as well, especially if he is still in a good strategic position. You can only hope that the Iazyges, Quadi and Goths have given him a hard time before you attack.

This is why I love the 355AD campaign so much because of the servere challenges you face playing the Julian faction.

[QVBA]

well. ok i will give it a chance. I actualluy captured Ravenna while it revolted against Constatinus and I got some financial bonus and reinforcements,too but it didn;t change much (I suppose that reinforcements ruined my economy deeply) in my financial situation. Anyway I will try to sort the things out and attack Itally.

It is not for the faint hearted, but I nearly always seem to want to play it because of the immense challenges it has.

And this is also why I want to play it...and hope for little profits.
cheers qvba

[Chelchal]

I was able to get in the black in the 355 campaign by the following:

1) destroying all Christian temples (I'm not tolerant!) North Africa seems to revolt even if I don't do this.

2) destroying all brothels (they shrink population)

3) using all my money in the initial term to build economic themed structures

4) Setting taxes to low (so population grows faster and I have more income in long run/also social instability is a bigger headache than the deficit)

5) Wars. For one thing, sacking Germanic and Gaelic settlements gives me loot (and the survivors pay me taxes). It also causes attrition in my own ranks (acceptable, since the barbarians are suffering far heavier losses) which reduced my upkeep costs.

[First Citizen Gallienus]

I was able to get in the black in the 355 campaign by the following:

1) destroying all Christian temples (I'm not tolerant!) North Africa seems to revolt even if I don't do this.

2) destroying all brothels (they shrink population)

3) using all my money in the initial term to build economic themed structures

4) Setting taxes to low (so population grows faster and I have more income in long run/also social instability is a bigger headache than the deficit)

5) Wars. For one thing, sacking Germanic and Gaelic settlements gives me loot (and the survivors pay me taxes). It also causes attrition in my own ranks (acceptable, since the barbarians are suffering far heavier losses) which reduced my upkeep costs.

Nice step by step process there.

[Diocle]

I was able to get in the black in the 355 campaign by the following:

1) destroying all Christian temples (I'm not tolerant!) North Africa seems to revolt even if I don't do this.

2) destroying all brothels (they shrink population)

3) using all my money in the initial term to build economic themed structures

4) Setting taxes to low (so population grows faster and I have more income in long run/also social instability is a bigger headache than the deficit)

5) Wars. For one thing, sacking Germanic and Gaelic settlements gives me loot (and the survivors pay me taxes). It also causes attrition in my own ranks (acceptable, since the barbarians are suffering far heavier losses) which reduced my upkeep costs.

So it seem also Chelchal foud his own Palantir!

[the point 1) is that I like more!! but also the other are very good o.c.!!]