Roman campaign strategy

[GussieFinkNottle]

Drawing partial inspiration from these threads:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...trategy-Thread
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...he-battlefield
and from the fact that Rome is the most popular faction, I thought I'd start a Roman campaign strategy thread. Post cunning plans or debate the wisest course of action

Rome profile:
-4 regions
-No full provinces (2 more regions in Italia held by Etruscans, 2 more regions in Magna Graecia held by Syracuse and Carthage)
-Resources: olive oil production
-Wonders: Vesuvius (Etna is held by Syracuse)
-At war with: Etruscans and no-one else
-Allies: none
-Mercenaries available: Italian Spearmen (Italia), Hoplites (Magna Graecia), Thureos Spears (Magna Graecia), Peltasts (Magna Graecia), Citizen Cavalry (Magna Graecia), Tarantine Cavalry (Magna Graecia)

Three families rule Rome (they all receive the faction bonuses 'Roman Legions'=10% faster experience gain for infantry and 'Bread and Circuses'= +1 food):
The Cornelia
-Administrators: +3% tax
-Philhellenes: +15 diplomacy with all Greek factions
-Disdain for Plebs: -2 public order in provinces with leaders in them

The Julia
-Romanisers: +2 to cultural conversion
-Cultural oppressors: -25% public order if other cultures present (which they will be)
-Barbarian Subduers: +10% morale vs barbarians

The Junia
-Agrarian Wisdom: +10% wealth from agriculture buildings
-Political Underdogs: -15% diplomacy with all factions
-Founding Fathers: public order bonus from Latin culture


Post your campaign strategies below. Which family would you pick? Who will you attack and with whom will you ally? How do you intend to expand and how will you fund your wars. Which wonders do you intend to capture?
Which resources will you cultivate, and what will be your technological focus? Will you aim to become an Empire? Which sea will your rampaging navies cross first?

For reference and to help plot the course of the campaign, here's the factions map: http://maps.totalwar.com/rome2map
Perhaps post screens or links to demonstrate your strategic plan

Don't forget you are limited to 3 armies (legions) at first, then as your power rises you will be allowed 6, then 9, then 12, then 15, so plan accordingly.

OK go wild!

[ThorinII]

If I were to play as Rome (I'm playing Sparta first) I would first send 2 armies to kill the Etruscans, and gain a full province, while leaving one behind to guard from Carthage. The first few turns would be focusing on economic and military buildup (economy first then military). Then I would unleash my legions against the Etruscans. After that I would probably go south and take Sicily, and then fight out the inevitable war with carthage, all while keeping a stable economy.

[ThorinII]

Just to clear up the first sentence states my short term goal, then the second starts out how I will do it

[DogSoldierSPQR]

Hard to comment on the buildings etc. as we don't know what they are. I aimed for a strong economic hub that will fund my war machine. I use my capital as a military centre.

Grab Karalis, Alalia, all of Sicily, fight your way and conquer all of Italia to the Alps up top. From here, invest in your settlements. Build them up nice and strong. I use the Alps up top as a nice defensive barrier. I just keep this territory for a really long time and I send some legions past the Alps, sometimes across the waters instead to manipulate the world to how I see fit

Having a small, but strong territory is key. Just keep sending legions out to specific areas, take out potential threats. You should focus on weakening specific factions in the area. When you feel comfortable, expand in one direction only. While nicely defending the other. Remember to make good friends with one faction past the Alps and try your best to fund them and help them to expand militarily. It's always best to have someone friendly conquer and area and then betray them when the time is right...preferably when no other potential enemies can strike.

It's best to deal with massive guy, rather than 10 little guys. It's just one fighting style over and over again. Otherwise it would be crap-storm If you just tried muscling. These are my plans as Rome

[Jugurtha King of Numidia]

Hard to comment on the buildings etc. as we don't know what they are. I aimed for a strong economic hub that will fund my war machine. I use my capital as a military centre.

Grab Karalis, Alalia, all of Sicily, fight your way and conquer all of Italia to the Alps up top. From here, invest in your settlements. Build them up nice and strong. I use the Alps up top as a nice defensive barrier. I just keep this territory for a really long time and I send some legions past the Alps, sometimes across the waters instead to manipulate the world to how I see fit

Having a small, but strong territory is key. Just keep sending legions out to specific areas, take out potential threats. You should focus on weakening specific factions in the area. When you feel comfortable, expand in one direction only. While nicely defending the other. Remember to make good friends with one faction past the Alps and try your best to fund them and help them to expand militarily. It's always best to have someone friendly conquer and area and then betray them when the time is right...preferably when no other potential enemies can strike.

It's best to deal with massive guy, rather than 10 little guys. It's just one fighting style over and over again. Otherwise it would be crap-storm If you just tried muscling. These are my plans as Rome

That's a BEAUTIFUL strategy Dog Soldier! I am just starting a campaign on Europa Barbororum (hope I spelt that correctly and I and am still battling the Epiroste in the South but I am going to follow your advice and build myself up fiscally (I have declared a cease-fire with the Gauls to the North) and just send out a big army using a VERY Strong Fleet to weaken regions. Thanks!

[DogSoldierSPQR]

That's a BEAUTIFUL strategy Dog Soldier! I am just starting a campaign on Europa Barbororum (hope I spelt that correctly and I and am still battling the Epiroste in the South but I am going to follow your advice and build myself up fiscally (I have declared a cease-fire with the Gauls to the North) and just send out a big army using a VERY Strong Fleet to weaken regions. Thanks!

It's way more easier to defend fewer lands than to defend a large stretch of land. Italy is just in a perfect position to defend. It can quickly become a nightmare to defend once you expand outwards. Focus on maxing out your settlements, destroying enemies and funding friends and you'll be ok

Get rid of those Epirotes in the south and you'll be sorted. This strategy of mine is going to be necessary at times in Rome 2 as things can get really bad if your reputation falls too low with other factions and you find yourself under fire from most of the factions out there, which maybe the case if you try pulling off the raids that I do haha

The amount of times I sent a surprise legion to sack Athens or Sparta in Roma Surrectum 2 haha

[eskil]

It's way more easier to defend fewer lands than to defend a large stretch of land. Italy is just in a perfect position to defend. It can quickly become a nightmare to defend once you expand outwards. Focus on maxing out your settlements, destroying enemies and funding friends and you'll be ok

Get rid of those Epirotes in the south and you'll be sorted. This strategy of mine is going to be necessary at times in Rome 2 as things can get really bad if your reputation falls too low with other factions and you find yourself under fire from most of the factions out there, which maybe the case if you try pulling off the raids that I do haha

The amount of times I sent a surprise legion to sack Athens or Sparta in Roma Surrectum 2 haha

Great strategy...its very similar to what i do...however after a while ,once i finish building a good economy and military i go for the isles and Spain( once conquered is very easy to defend)

[DogSoldierSPQR]

Great strategy...its very similar to what i do...however after a while ,once i finish building a good economy and military i go for the isles and Spain( once conquered is very easy to defend)

Once you reach a certain stage where you're spewing out thousands per turn and you're making multiple times your army upkeep, you're free to experiment and expand into new lands. Any losses you suffer will not be as bad as they would be if you were to do this at the start of the campaign.

From this point onwards, you just take your time. Barbarian Europe is a great land grab. Romans are nicely suited to take them out if you move strategically and take the right settlements at the right time. However, it's not a closed-off land like the Italian Peninsula is, once you get out there, you can easily have your settlements sandwiched from four sides.

Hyped for Rome 2
The amount of ambushes I'm going to be doing while holding the passes will be amazing. Anyone who tries coming through there will have to work for it. They won't see the legions waiting...

Your strategy of going for Spain is good. It's a nice little corner and if you can take it, it will make expanding into Barbarian Europe much more easier as you can come from two directions. It's all about experimenting really. Even I find new strategies to try out. This strategy though is a good way for less-experienced people to gain a foothold and effectively protect it.

[crucify_ego]

its funny cause everytime I have a plan, it seems to change as soon as I hit "end turn".

[Geniuswas]

its funny cause everytime I have a plan, it seems to change as soon as I hit "end turn".

[Sup With That?]

Couldn't really go wrong with doing as the Romans really did. Consolidate power in Italy before focusing on Mediterranean domination.

[Needs New Name]

I think that I will play as the Junia; having good public order bonuses and agricultural buffs should help me build an efficient economic base. I plan to try to preserve the Republic and its ideals, conferring no preference to my family members, but only honoring those who are qualified and worthy, and I hope to ease tensions between the patricians and the plebs. ( I may RP a bit where I only play battles that my family is involved in, but idk about that quite yet).

I plan to aggressively attack the Etruscans early on, finishing them off so that I can have the province of Italia. From there, I intend to remain relatively peaceful and build my economy, not "starting" wars per se, but propping up those who would ally with me and using agents to detract from my foes. In this way, war will likely break out with the Cisalpine Gauls or the Ligurians; in the event of this I intend to ally with the Veneti (supposed shared Trojan ancestry with the Romans, so maybe there's an affinity there ).

I may also become entangled with the Carthaginians over Syracuse/ Sicily, in which case things will likely play out quite like the Punic Wars IRL. From there, it seems I may get dragged into conflict in Illyria or Greece (roughly like real Roman history).

I suppose in summary, I intend to have a relatively conservative foreign policy, although I will be doing much "meddling" in the affairs of other nations with my coin and my agents (as far as the agents go, I don't wish to do anything dishonorable like assassination ). I want to win allies over with good will and just policies, and intend to treat them fairly and protect them faithfully.

[zorphon]

I think that I will play as the Junia; having good public order bonuses and agricultural buffs should help me build an efficient economic base. I plan to try to preserve the Republic and its ideals, conferring no preference to my family members, but only honoring those who are qualified and worthy, and I hope to ease tensions between the patricians and the plebs. ( I may RP a bit where I only play battles that my family is involved in, but idk about that quite yet).

I plan to aggressively attack the Etruscans early on, finishing them off so that I can have the province of Italia. From there, I intend to remain relatively peaceful and build my economy, not "starting" wars per se, but propping up those who would ally with me and using agents to detract from my foes. In this way, war will likely break out with the Cisalpine Gauls or the Ligurians; in the event of this I intend to ally with the Veneti (supposed shared Trojan ancestry with the Romans, so maybe there's an affinity there ).

I may also become entangled with the Carthaginians over Syracuse/ Sicily, in which case things will likely play out quite like the Punic Wars IRL. From there, it seems I may get dragged into conflict in Illyria or Greece (roughly like real Roman history).

I suppose in summary, I intend to have a relatively conservative foreign policy, although I will be doing much "meddling" in the affairs of other nations with my coin and my agents (as far as the agents go, I don't wish to do anything dishonorable like assassination ). I want to win allies over with good will and just policies, and intend to treat them fairly and protect them faithfully.

Whilst I don't intend on playing Rome as my first faction, or even first few, when I do get to them, this is too the strategy I would act out.

[GussieFinkNottle]

I think that I will play as the Junia; having good public order bonuses and agricultural buffs should help me build an efficient economic base. I plan to try to preserve the Republic and its ideals, conferring no preference to my family members, but only honoring those who are qualified and worthy, and I hope to ease tensions between the patricians and the plebs. ( I may RP a bit where I only play battles that my family is involved in, but idk about that quite yet).

I plan to aggressively attack the Etruscans early on, finishing them off so that I can have the province of Italia. From there, I intend to remain relatively peaceful and build my economy, not "starting" wars per se, but propping up those who would ally with me and using agents to detract from my foes. In this way, war will likely break out with the Cisalpine Gauls or the Ligurians; in the event of this I intend to ally with the Veneti (supposed shared Trojan ancestry with the Romans, so maybe there's an affinity there ).

I may also become entangled with the Carthaginians over Syracuse/ Sicily, in which case things will likely play out quite like the Punic Wars IRL. From there, it seems I may get dragged into conflict in Illyria or Greece (roughly like real Roman history).

I suppose in summary, I intend to have a relatively conservative foreign policy, although I will be doing much "meddling" in the affairs of other nations with my coin and my agents (as far as the agents go, I don't wish to do anything dishonorable like assassination ). I want to win allies over with good will and just policies, and intend to treat them fairly and protect them faithfully.

If you want to win over allies, the Junia would be the hardest family to do it with, thanks to their penalties

[Needs New Name]

If you want to win over allies, the Junia would be the hardest faction to do it with, what with their penalties

That is a good point, but I figure I can probably make do, if I can make it where my enemies appear the aggressor and I the valiant defender of my allies or myself. Greasing some palms with coin might help too

[High Fist]

I'll probably do a Roman campaign second, but when I do I'll try and follow the historical expansion of Rome. like that is cool.

[Jester]

it s hard to make a full plan, because we dont have enough infos yet about units, buildings, tech trees and all the costs or how long things take. the dynamic of the game world might affect your plans too.

however, from what we know i think i ll secure italy and sicily first. with full force and spending everything on military. once i have italy ll gear down and focus on economy and culture while i ll look for someone who would make a good ally and then keep him as an ally as long as possible.
my next conquering plans will depend on the senate. i ll always try to please these old mighty men until i m strong enough to make my own decisions. so, if they say destroy these pesky elephant raiders of Carthage i will destroy Carthage. if they say kill the unwashed barbarians in the north, i will kill the unwashed barbarians in the north.
besides that, the wealthy lands of Egypt will also be one of my primary targets. what happens next, i dont know. except, i wont go to Britannia though, that s for sure.



also, there is one thing i always wanted to ask you, dear GussieFinkNottle....

i noticed you re the dude who has like an unlimited pool of screenshots, and some of them i have never seen before. would you be so kind to share your sources with us ordinary plebs? :3

[GussieFinkNottle]

also, there is one thing i always wanted to ask you, dear GussieFinkNottle....

i noticed you re the dude who has like an unlimited pool of screenshots, and some of them i have never seen before. would you be so kind to share your sources with us ordinary plebs? :3

I'm afraid that just comes from saving every screen released onto my computer, so no special source

I sifted through all of this:http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-Videos-Thread (but that is a pretty gruelling experience)

And the rest from gaming articles. Usually if anywhere released a screen or 2 it would get a thread on here and I checked regularly.
I took many as screenshots in trailers and pasted them into ms paint

I stopped saving the screens in July, however, when I couldn't be bothered any more, I'd collected several hundred by that point. Now for posts I just copy and paste off google images or this forum

A good pile of Rome 2 screens is compiled here: http://www.gamesradar.com/total-war-rome-2/screenshots/
Some more: http://uk.gamespot.com/total-war-rome-ii/images/

All the panoramics are here:
http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Panorama
except this one:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And every faction profile comes with a high-def pic:http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Factions


That's some to get you started

[Jester]

I'm afraid that just comes from saving every screen released onto my computer, so no special source

I sifted through all of this:http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-Videos-Thread (but that is a pretty gruelling experience)

And the rest from gaming articles. Usually if anywhere released a screen or 2 it would get a thread on here and I checked regularly.
I took many as screenshots in trailers and pasted them into ms paint

I stopped saving the screens in July, however, when I couldn't be bothered any more

oh ok, i hoped you had some special secret source
however, good idea to save any screenshot on you hdd once you see a new one. i ll remember that for the next TW game. now, it s too late
still +rep though :3

[Luzspit]

I will try to establish trade and alliances with the hellenistics factions and expand towards the west (Iberia)
Then wipe out Carthage to the south....

But of course nothing of that will happen and I'll end up fighting against Parthia somehow