New to EB and need some tips please

[Wolfcree]

Hi, am just looking for a little advice as i haven't played this mod before.
Have just finished installing eb1.2 and have been reading up a bit before i begin. From what i've read though i'm now worried that i won't be able to make the reforms happen as it all sounds a bit complicated with all the requirements needed and the politics involved.
I plan on using Rome for my first play but don't want to play for ages then realize i've messed up somewhere and have lost the reforms?

Would really appreciate some basic advice on the politics/reforms so i can get it right first time, thanks!

Also when checking out the factions for the campaign it says something about switching on the script (listen to the advisor) <..... what does this mean?

[Biggieboy]

Hi, welcome to the greatest RTW mod the first reform for Romans is quite easy:

-At least year 242
-Hold 2 of these cities (Segesta, Mediolanum, Patavium, Bononia)
-Hold 2 of these cities (Lilibeo, Messana, Syracuse)
OR
-Wait until 210BC
(You get the new units only after upgrading your MICs.)

so basically, the year needs to be 242, AND you need 2 cities of the first list, and 2 of the second. This shouldn't be a problem.

The next reform requires this:

-At least the year 172BC
-Have more than 6 Latifundia built in Italy
-Hold at least 45 settlements
-Fight more than 250 battles
-Have a character that is:
Sharp/Charismatic/Vigorous
Popularis
Consul or Ex-Consul
Has Influence > 2
Has Command > 2
OR
-Conquer 90 settlements.

the year needs to be 172, you need 6 latifundia (you need grant of land or something, the icon is a scroll and gives 5% happiness bonus, then villa, then latifundia).
then you need 45 settlements and a family member that has those traits, OR have 90 settlements. start with those, it'll take a while to get to those reforms anyways

Also, I'd advice you to read through this:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=97258

any more (specific) questions, let me know, I'll try to help wherever possible

Also, I don't think you can "lose" reforms, but I believe they have to be in order. So first polybian, then marian etc. However, if you want to get the new units, you need to upgrade your barracks, then they will be recruitable

[JaM]

but you could run into problem with Marian reforms if you get that general sooner than you fulfill other requirements.. If that character dies, you wont get another with that trait and you will have to conquer 90 provinces to get them (at that point game is already won and i usually start a new one, so I never got Marian reforms with vanilla EB).. Personally i always edit the script, remove the reformator requirement together with provicies limits. Instead i enable number of battles requirement and increase the Latifundia requirement to 7-8. Marian reforms happened because they got defeated several times by Germanic tribes and they were lacking men, but they had huge pool of landless people in Rome and other cities so they practically just allowed them to serve as legionaries, providing them with armor and weapons.. THis wouldnt be possible without defeat of Cartage, which caused many simple farmers to lose their farms, as they couldnt compete with Latifundias operated by huge number of slaves that came from Cartage.. Its actually nice how everything was connected together... if Gracchus brothers succeeded with their land reforms, maybe there woulnt be so many people without land, and Marius would have big problem to find men for his army... who knows...

but back to game, i'd like to see this as Marian reforms conditions:

- Cartage conquered (and wiped out as a faction)
- Latifundias in all Italic provinces
- fought at least 300 battles
- lost several battles against Germanic tribes

[Biggieboy]

Hey JaM, that's interesting that you point that out for Marian reforms, didn't even know that, might have to check my rome campaign.

[75Antons]

Personally i always edit the script, remove the reformator requirement together with provicies limits. Instead i enable number of battles requirement and increase the Latifundia requirement to 7-8.

How do you go about doing this... An idiot sheet would be of great benefit to me

[JaM]

its not implemented in EB, those are just my suggestions

[Samariten]

As Rome try to forfill the requirements for the reforms, the challenge is fun in itself. Also dont blitz, expanding to fast can put you in a difficult situation try to maintain a consular army in Italy as the Gauls and Germans are treachoures bastards.

[Wolfcree]

That foolproof guide makes it easier, thanks Biggie.
Played a few turns earlier, game looks great!! Can't wait to get into my campaign now.. my young 16 year old general from Capua has already got a heroic victory under his belt too

One thing i did wonder though was after taking the city directly south from Alpa (forgot its name, usually tarentum), i was only able to recruit greek units so demolished the barracks but still the same units only, put a lvl 1 government in place but still no option to build any barracks here. Seems i have no way of building proper barracks in this city, is this normal?

Thanks for the help everyone, much appreciated!

[Biggieboy]

Oh yeah, about the romans not being able to build roman units in some cities is normal in the beginning. I had to look it up at well. With the first reform, you'll be able to build barracks in several other italian cities. So if you can't build roman units in certain cities, wait till the reforms occur, then you will be able to. Had the same problem, so it's good to point it out to others

[Wolfcree]

Oh yeah, about the romans not being able to build roman units in some cities is normal in the beginning. I had to look it up at well. With the first reform, you'll be able to build barracks in several other italian cities. So if you can't build roman units in certain cities, wait till the reforms occur, then you will be able to. Had the same problem, so it's good to point it out to others

Ahh that's good to know... was wracking my brain last night trying to figure out why all my newly acquired lands were giving me no barracks options! Thought i was doing something wrong lol.

[Biggieboy]

Lol, I had the same thing. Just don't build up your barrack too high (about lvl2-3 should do), you need to upgrade them after the reforms to get the new units. After the first reforms you'll be able to build factional barracks in all homeland regions IIRC. Later, you'll be able to build them even in other regions. If you have any other question, go ahead and ask, i regularly lurk, I have too much free time

[Maestro Lignarius]

Lol, I had the same thing. Just don't build up your barrack too high (about lvl2-3 should do), you need to upgrade them after the reforms to get the new units. After the first reforms you'll be able to build factional barracks in all homeland regions IIRC. Later, you'll be able to build them even in other regions. If you have any other question, go ahead and ask, i regularly lurk, I have too much free time

As I have already built all barracks improvements in Italy, I take this to mean that I must destroy those structures and rebuild those to be able to build the Marian reform units after I actually get the reforms. Correct?

I am doing my first full campaign (3 prior efforts ending in about 20 years). The year is 149 BC and am awaiting the Marian reforms. I have everything required for the reforms to fire except a populus general matched with the other appropriate traits. I did have one, but the old geezer passed away before he earned a single star. I have no idea if I had such a general earlier in the game--and was not aware that could be an issue until I read this thread.

Rome currently has 3 or 4 with the required stars and traits, minus populus. Is there any action I can take to speed up their trait acquisition? Is it better to leave them in cities as governors? Do their assignments affect any of this?

[Samariten]

As I have already built all barracks improvements in Italy, I take this to mean that I must destroy those structures and rebuild those to be able to build the Marian reform units after I actually get the reforms. Correct?

I am doing my first full campaign (3 prior efforts ending in about 20 years). The year is 149 BC and am awaiting the Marian reforms. I have everything required for the reforms to fire except a populus general matched with the other appropriate traits. I did have one, but the old geezer passed away before he earned a single star. I have no idea if I had such a general earlier in the game--and was not aware that could be an issue until I read this thread.

Rome currently has 3 or 4 with the required stars and traits, minus populus. Is there any action I can take to speed up their trait acquisition? Is it better to leave them in cities as governors? Do their assignments affect any of this?

You shouldnt have to destroy the barracks just build new ones when the reform kicks in. You can tear down temples and build temple of Ceres to gain the trait of popularis.

[Maestro Lignarius]

You shouldnt have to destroy the barracks just build new ones when the reform kicks in. You can tear down temples and build temple of Ceres to gain the trait of popularis.

Thanks for that info--much appreciated. Just one more, if I may. Should the character in question be in the city with the shrine of Ceres, or does the total number of shrines have a global impact?

[Wolfcree]

Have another quick question... upon entering Sicily i get a message from the senate telling me i am breaking a treaty by being there and that it will cause war!
Should i just ignore this and do as i please or will the senate eventually want me to go there?

[Samariten]

Have another quick question... upon entering Sicily i get a message from the senate telling me i am breaking a treaty by being there and that it will cause war!
Should i just ignore this and do as i please or will the senate eventually want me to go there?

Entering Sicily is breaking the peace threaty between Carthage and Rome. The stack that Carthage has on Sicily will attack your army eventually. Though if you defeat it and take their settlement they wont send more armies against you and in a few turns later they plead for peace. That has happen all my campigns as Rome.

[Biggieboy]

I don't think the senate will "want you to go there", at least not that I know of. you can choose to not take it and stay allied to Carthage. If I were you, take it, and crush Carthage

[JaM]

Historically, it was Cartage who broke that treaty.. They sent fleet to Tarentum and sieged Rome's allies on Sicily so Romans had no choice but to go to war with them. i think that message is just attempt of EB team to simulate start of First Punic War.

[Boriak]

There are no Senate assignments in EB. The scripted events are there for role play purposes. For instance, if you play with Carthage and Rome takes certain settlements in Sicily (not sure which ones) you will get a scripted event which gives you a Spartan hoplite general unit that represents a Spartan mercenary general that reformed Carthaginian army. There are many other such events in EB and I suspect (or hope) there will be many more in EB2.

[Wolfcree]

Thanks for the replies guys, that clears things up!
I knew there was no proper senate missions but after getting a few messages from them encouraging me to take other settlements, and then this message warning me off of attacking... i wasn't sure weather they would eventually urge me on towards sicily or not... Am off to take sicily now
Thanks everyone!!