Amazing 5 turn guide for rome

[Takizama]

This was not made by me, but it really helps =]

http://rome2.heavengames.com/strateg...-moves---rome/

[bzhou]

I dunno =\
I feel I have a much more efficient Rome strategy that I just played out on multiplayer legendary.

Turn 1
Spy attempts to kill first etruscan general. If successful, Legio II attacks force, it retreats, and you kill Velathri. If unsuccessful, kill the force in engagement, then siege and kill Velathri.
Legio I force marches into Neapolis and into the sea. Classis I sieges etruscan port city and recruits 1-3 raiding hemiolas, depending on how comfortable you feel with micro.
Recruit general in Rome, move to mountain pass on the way to ariminium. Recruit 1-3 units on Legio II or III, depending on how comfortable you feel with battle.

Turn 2
Legio II and III attack Ariminium. His army, if you didn't kill it first turn, will be there to defend, but even then it's an even fight that you should be able to win. Recruit mercs if needed. Italia is united in turn 2, and you get bread and games.
Blockade last etruscan port town. Force march/sail Legio I onto land, and recruit mercs if necessary. Assault coast with Classis I, since ships easily, and take the town.

From here, you can go either to Cisalpinia or start the war with Carthage, but on legendary, Carthage will already have a ~15 unit navy by turn 4-5 so it'll be a bit hard.

[macdaddy]

interesting. I used to do something like that... BUT if I waited that long, I ended up having WAY to much difficulty capturing Corsica! So I modified my strategy to hit it first, then sail my army back after 1 or two turns to lift the inevitable siege of Rome. The downside of capturing Corsica early seems to be that Carthage then declares war on me fairly quickly... and of course keeping Corsica happy and rebellion free is not easy.

[♠ Thomas Cochrane ♠]

Can't believe I read all of that. Rome is SO easy a faction to play that it's hard to imagine screwing up as them. I mean I did everything written above in the 4 or so Roman campaigns I tried before getting bored and going for Macedon (who are lots of fun). I'm going to come back and play Rome with more mods and AI fixes on Legendary soon though, but really, those first 5 turns are super easy, as you start with a more powerful position than Etruria. Epirus NEVER gets into a position to attack you, and is wiped out by sparta or athens (why it isn't Macedon annoys me to no end). As long as you get on good terms with Syracuse Carthage mopes around for a long time before even considering waging war with you. Don't attack Corsica first, cus if you leave that til last, they'll be trapped there and you can overwhelm them. Plus Carthage doesn't get angry.

[Slaists]

I'm considering attacking Syracuse asap myself TO GET Carthage angry, LOL. Otherwise, they just mull around until some desert bums take them out.

Scratch that, Syracuse just took Lilybaeum (from Carthage). So, I guess, Carthage will be happy if I take both Syracuse AND Lilybaeum.