Some questions.

[Exitialis]

Hello there, I've been playing the SPQR mod, but I want to try something new. So I decided to give RS a try, but there are some things I would like to know before I start a lengthy campaign and spend a lot of hours in it.

1. (Legions).
I see there is an area of recruitment, and that you can recruit different legions in different places. This seems like fun, but I have a concern regarding reinforcements and "retraining" these units.
A) Will I be able to, for example, reinforce a legion of Segmentata A with a legion of Segmentata B? Or can I only retrain/reinforce them using the barracks/units of Segmentata A?
B) Will there be a "basic" segmentata and hamata unit that can be recruited almost everywhere? (Like a basic one with red themed clothes/shield, and a basic first legion)

2. (Rebellions).
I know there's two rebellions that will happen, but I would like to know if player action can cause more?
For example; if I put a town on very high taxes and treat it badly, will they rebel and become a "Roman Rebel Faction" that will actively try to attack me and besiege my cities, build armies, etc?
Or will they just become the grey "Rebel" faction that does nothing and just sits in the town waiting for me to come and take it back?

3. (Carnyx).
I love the carnyx, it's pretty nice. How rare is it to face an enemy gaul army with a carnyx unit in it?
Are there other musical units with horns or drums, etc?

4. (Unique Units).
Will there be wardogs, gladiators, chariots, elephants, etc?
And which factions will have chariots?
I like wardogs for my hunting down cowards need.

5. (Cities).
Are they changed in this mod? Or do they look like the ones in vanilla? (I ask since I see a lot of new buildings and such)

Seems like a great mod, and can't wait to try it out!

[ur-Lord Tedric]

1. The individual 'named and numbered' are just that - individual (it's a game limitation). However, there is nothing stopping you from not upgrading to them and staying in the Post-Marian and therefore Late Republic period if you wish; where there is a Generic 1st Cohort and Generic Cohorts that are (separately) merge-able and will reduce the logistic effort.

2. More can result by doing what you suggest and also having General's rebel if their loyalty becomes too low

3. Not really known, but I believe yes. There is a lot of music that's all been redone

4. Chariots (Belgae), Eastern still exist and Elephants - but not the other 'bit silly' ones.

5. Just you wait and see!

Have a practice for a while - and then enjoy the big upgrade/fix that will not be long away.......

[Exitialis]

Thanks for the answers, I've got some more questions.

6. (Unit Endurance).
Battles seem to last forever, I just had a siege that lasted some 1 and a half hour. Is this going to be normal? It seems way longer than SPQR mod.
I work, so such long lasting battles might interfere with my ability to play this mod. Am I missing something here?'

7. (Script).
If I save my game during an end turn phase where the computer have attacked me. (Saving in the middle of the turn) And then load that save, will it cause the script load to fail or cause problematic behaviour? Will I even be able to load the script?

Because if the battles are all going to last an hour each and I spread my empire, I bet I'll have about ten battles each turn and that's 10 hours of fighting, if so, then I will need to save in between turns.

[tungri_centurio]

6. yes most battles last long,try to outflank them with slingers and cav
Than they rout more Easy.but thats for fieldbattles,sieges can take ages yes,
I try to only attack lees defended citys to counter that.
7.you can load the script after the battle i had never a ctd
Because of it.

[MacBlain]

Hi. I have to chime in here.

I never see this getting discussed: fatigue management is essential in RS2. Tired troops attack slowly, so exhausted heavies going head-to-head will take forever. The casualty rate is low enough that you can pull tired troops out of melee without them routing, and you can afford to have good infantry wait while the enemy becomes tired. Fresh levy clubmen, for example, can flank and kill exhausted romans and hoplites.

The casualty rate is low enough that sometimes I will let my peltasts stay in front for a while and fight hand-to-hand, tiring the enemy, before retreating.

[Post Hoc]

Guard mode works wonders for fatigue management as well.

[Exitialis]

Thank you all for your answers, much appreciated!

@MacBlain
Hmm now that's interesting.

8. Would the enemy route faster if I send in fresh reserves against their exhausted units? And would that also kill that unit faster?

I have another question regarding which .exe to start with.
9. I read that if I start with Barbarian Invasion, I will be able to use the "shield wall" ability. Where can I find this ability?

10. Also, I can't seem to save the start preferences such as -nm -movie_cam anyone know why? (I run in admin mode and my game is located in /C:/Games)

11. Can you target an area to fire at instead of a unit when using ballista or catapults?

Thanks again for the answers, more questions might come as I play more. (Or well, as much as I can play. Work. Work. I'll see this game again in 5 days lol)

[Killzone_040]

I can give you a couple of quick answers, but that's only to help you out as fast as possible, so if someone else could add to these answers, or even correct them, that'll help you out more.

8. If you send in reserves, the charge may be able to completely destroy the enemy morale. If fresh troops are used against fatigued ones, they'll be able to kill them faster, thus adding to the chance of a quick rout. So yes, sending in reserves is always a good move (if not needed somewhere else, ofcourse )

9. It's supposed to be in the same little window (bottom right) where you'd find the option to go into phalanx mode (with phalangite units)

10. Not good at that, sorry :/

11. AFAIK you cannot in any way target the ground instead of a unit, IIR it's hardcoded into the game.

[LoGaL]

Once you get used to the different tactics the battles get fast quite enough ( not like vanilla but... anyways)
Best way to rout units is to fire javelins/arrows in their back or with a cavalry charge, but you have to make them start from far away so they have time to accelerate

Avoid sieges, they take for ever, better wait for the stupid ai to sally forth or attack you with a reinforcment army

i would reccomend not doing what you mentioned in question 7, i did have 1-2 ctds some time ago
About the preferences, stupid question: did you click save on the right?

[ur-Lord Tedric]

10. Is because of changing something in the installation (like the short-cut picture). Check the properties of the short-cut itself and make sure the 'Start in' command is 'Z;\.....Games.....\RSII\Launcher' and not '......\UI\Wonders'

Battles last longer so they can be so much better (realistic tactics)! But use the timer and restrict yourself to 45mins and then this won't be a problem. You can normally win all open field battles in less than 30mins. Sieges that go over 45mins you are supposed to lose.

I always check my watch before 'End Turn', if 'the Wife' (sic) wants me within the next hour and there are enemy stacks nearby, don't press it. I have now long found it best to normally Save at this point anyway; then re-load the next time, activate the Script; and press End Turn. That way you always know where you are.

[Exitialis]

Great answers, thanks for all your tips!
I'll make sure I save before I end the turn.

I also found an interesting submod in the important stuff folder under data, in the edu changes folder.
There are several versions of it, but I'm going to try the "Slightly fewer stacks, shorter battles" one. Just to get things to move a bit faster.

Might ask more in 4 days, see ya'round!