After Reforms

[fableofsea]

So the title says it all. I've hit the Marian Reforms and I love it. But i'm somewhat worried, since I haven't expanded beyond Northern Italy. Will I have it rough taking on the Averni and Boii?

[Euenus]

I'd say take your time, plan in out, and wait it out. Blockade their ports, send spies in to see where their armies are, and build up your armies to strike where it is easiest. I would suggest taking south England from the Belgae before attack the Averni, however! Better to take it now and kill their economy and use it as a flanking military base.

[Bcman]

I always only take out Greece with the ploybian units. I do this because one way or another a huge power house always developed in Greece. (Usually Sparta)

So once I take out Greece I fort up near pella and wait for the reforms

[ur-Lord Tedric]

So the title says it all. I've hit the Marian Reforms and I love it. But i'm somewhat worried, since I haven't expanded beyond Northern Italy. Will I have it rough taking on the Averni and Boii?

Caesar did it - using the post-Marian (Generics) - so go do it!

[Sertorio]

Does he have generics ?

[fableofsea]

Also, would anyone like to see my save and advise me based on my position? I'm not a newbie to rome or Roma Surrectum, but would like advice from more experienced players.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

Does he have generics ?

Did you mean - 'did Caesar have the Generics'? When our Generics represent the Citizen soldiers of Rome in between the Reforms of Marius when he opened up recruitment to the poorest and not just the land-owning farmers - and the formation of the original 27 (then 28 a couple of years after) legions of the Imperial age after Octavian/Augustus came to power - and which contain the expanded first cohort and are first properly attested with their names. Then yes - he/Caesar did.

Unlike the Early Republic citizen soldier militias who were supposed to be disbanded after each campaign until called again; the post-Marian ones were more long term, but still levied by the Consuls with particular campaigns/uses in mind - and they became attached much more to their Generals (like Caesar) who were therefore directly responsible for their livelihoods and subsequent living - and eventually disbanded en bloc (like Caesar's 10th) and granted their land for retirement.

It's not until the post Civil War period (the post-Caesar vs Pompey, Triumvirate vs Brutus, Cassisu & Chums and subsequent Octavian vs Mark Antony ones) that the long term, regular legions where men passed through them (standing armies) that we get to the Imperial Age legions we all know and, it seems, love.

[fableofsea]

Yes I have generic's right now. But soon i'll get numbered legions. Also thank you for the vote of confidence, i'm building up my armies and plan to strike out from Northern Italy.

[Sertorio]

Yes I have generic's right now. But soon i'll get numbered legions. Also thank you for the vote of confidence, i'm building up my armies and plan to strike out from Northern Italy.

My bad i was unaware generic legions were already introduced in RS, serves me right for not playing Roman Campaign until now.
You will be better with generics in the beginning, you are able to expand their recruitment while the numbered have fixed locations for recruitment.
Both Boii and Arveni will be coming hard on those Alpes passages so garrison them or you will be faced with a never ending invasion to Mediolanum and Taurasia.
Massilia makes a good base of operations, easy defensible and with a few forts up north you wil be at the Arveni doorstep.
Taking Iberia first is ok, but it means another front line with the Gallaeci.
On the east your frontline will probably be Segestica.How is your situation with Macedon and the Greeks ?

[Paladin247]

Fableofsea,
You didn't mention Carthage. Since you are at the reforms, my guess is you've already done them in. They are usually whom I eliminate first, stuck on historical I guess. It generally requires two legions to take all their holdings in North Africa then leave one behind to deal with encroaching Egyptians and brigands.

After them, I agree with BCMAN above; take on Greece for two reasons. If left alone they or Sparta will become a very muscular entity because, and this is the second reason to deal with them first, they're rich. They will give you much greater income than going against the Boii or Averni will net you.

[fableofsea]

Fableofsea,
You didn't mention Carthage. Since you are at the reforms, my guess is you've already done them in. They are usually whom I eliminate first, stuck on historical I guess. It generally requires two legions to take all their holdings in North Africa then leave one behind to deal with encroaching Egyptians and brigands.

After them, I agree with BCMAN above; take on Greece for two reasons. If left alone they or Sparta will become a very muscular entity because, and this is the second reason to deal with them first, they're rich. They will give you much greater income than going against the Boii or Averni will net you.

I let Carthage be after sacking Carthago a few times and destroying all of their buildings. But apparently the Gellaci have destroyed Carthage and is in a three way battle with the Averni and Boii.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

........... They are usually whom I eliminate first, stuck on historical I guess. ...........

Don't forget that if on a historical timeline then Carthage wasn't eliminated until 607 AUC.

[tungri_centurio]

Don't forget that if on a historical timeline then Carthage wasn't eliminated until 607 AUC.

but if the romans wanted to elimenate carthege before that it was easy possible,but getting money and so from them was more profitable at that time,and that sort of tribute you dont have in rtw

@ crymson i use force diplomacy on them,boii are most of the time not that offencive,arverni are easy to repel at massilia in my experriance.but they galliaci have to divide ther forces orther citys are easy to take with siege equipment in your armys.

[Crymson]

I advise that you take out the Gallaeci first, while they still haven't reached full power. Controlling Iberia will give you another strong, easily defensible base from which to produce units and launch attacks. It is easier to expand into Gaul from Iberia.

[tungri_centurio]

in that case i shoud ally myself a period with arverni or boii and take on galliaci first.

[Crymson]

in that case i shoud ally myself a period with arverni or boii and take on galliaci first.

I'd take on the Gallaeci first, but I caution against counting on an alliance to keep the Boii and Arverni away from you. Your neighbors are almost 100% guaranteed to betray you, regardless of your state of relations with them, so be sure to keep stacks at the passes through the Pyrenees. This might make the plan sound ass-backwards, but it isn't; the Gallaeci become a juggernaut if left to their own devices.

Others have said that a certain comportment of troops will keep the Boii and the Arverni from attacking you, but I've not managed to pull this off.

[Sertorio]

Usually the AI might be deterred of atacking if large stacks are kept on their borders or at the bordering cities. It is not always so though.

[fableofsea]

A little update on my campaign. I'm still struggling to push out of Northern Italy, but I got my first numbered or named legion in Capua. I'm recruiting them now and sending them up into the Averni's territory.

[oOIYvYIOo]

Good luck with your campaign and continue to share with us your steps.

[fableofsea]

Another Update, I now have three distinct numbered legions. I'm going to send them North, West, and East out of Italy.