So... odd question.

[TheCenturion24]

Brace yourselves, this could be up there in one of the worst questions ever asked.

First off, Roma Surrectum is epic. I was drawn back to Rome I after the fiasco that is Rome II, since I'd never really tried mods with Rome I. Wowzers, I've definitely had a case of 'gotta raise em all' on those legions, the drawn out battles feel so much... BETTER.

So, question. I've never been a hardcore player, though I've been able to play this on normal and beat back the first rebellion and Carthaginians in Italy (I'm coming for you now Carthage). While I've enjoyed the extra challenge that this mod has brought through the scripted campaign, and the sheer volume of new legions/units available to Rome (the other factions are still great too), I'm curious if it's possible to somehow completely remove the initial Carthaginian starting armies from Italy, and maybe even the first rebellion. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous, it's the whole point of the mod and historically it wouldn't make sense, but I've always enjoyed Total War's sense of openness. I enjoy starting relatively neutral and then choosing my path from there.

I find new games tend to be a little... repetitive because of this. I'm guessing that's just me, but is it possible to actually edit this, is it too scripted into the campaign, and am I even allowed to poke around your files? Many thanks for any answers.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

Quite understood - although the starting position of the Romans is deliberately as it should be - there is a lot to be said for the play-style of the 'small start, slow build and I 'get it' why people like it. To a certain extent all the other factions that start with a single settlement are like that. Funnily enough RomeII is 'better' like that and the 'multitude of factions' is pretty 'epic'.

In your case, what you really need is a (relatively simply tweaked I suspect given that it's only the starting set-up that needs to be changed) little sub-mod.

Simply taking the Socii Rebellion out would be an easy change. But if you changed the Romans starting position, you could wind the clock back to something like ~450AUC (I'd have to check for the history bit) and start with just Roma and a single Consular Army/stack. Sadly the rest of Italy would have to be Free Peoples, unless you used the Rebels for Capua and started with the 'Capuan campaign'.

That way you could be small, build and not be at war with anyone to start with - or perhaps just the Capuans.....

But yes, a small sub-mod would work.

[Searry]

I wish Carthage would start with more troops near Trasimene, that way, maybe sometimes Hannibal could actually win.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

I wish Carthage would start with more troops near Trasimene, that way, maybe sometimes Hannibal could actually win.

Start on Hard Battles - move old Gaius Flamminius as the first thing you do and trigger the ambush - and I think you stand an excellent chance of losing.

Or, you don't have to make his mistakes - your choice. But sit tight, or reinforce the army, and/or trigger an open field battle and Hannibal is more at a disadvantage.

[Zydrius]

Start on Hard Battles - move old Gaius Flamminius as the first thing you do and trigger the ambush - and I think you stand an excellent chance of losing.

Or, you don't have to make his mistakes - your choice. But sit tight, or reinforce the army, and/or trigger an open field battle and Hannibal is more at a disadvantage.

Yay! I always go into frontal battle against Hannibal (I ussally loose it and I very like that ;D). Hmm, next time in the future I might try to get ambushed .

[dvk901]

Brace yourselves, this could be up there in one of the worst questions ever asked.

First off, Roma Surrectum is epic. I was drawn back to Rome I after the fiasco that is Rome II, since I'd never really tried mods with Rome I. Wowzers, I've definitely had a case of 'gotta raise em all' on those legions, the drawn out battles feel so much... BETTER.

So, question. I've never been a hardcore player, though I've been able to play this on normal and beat back the first rebellion and Carthaginians in Italy (I'm coming for you now Carthage). While I've enjoyed the extra challenge that this mod has brought through the scripted campaign, and the sheer volume of new legions/units available to Rome (the other factions are still great too), I'm curious if it's possible to somehow completely remove the initial Carthaginian starting armies from Italy, and maybe even the first rebellion. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous, it's the whole point of the mod and historically it wouldn't make sense, but I've always enjoyed Total War's sense of openness. I enjoy starting relatively neutral and then choosing my path from there.

I find new games tend to be a little... repetitive because of this. I'm guessing that's just me, but is it possible to actually edit this, is it too scripted into the campaign, and am I even allowed to poke around your files? Many thanks for any answers.

To be honest, it would be pretty difficult to remove these rebellions 'completely', as they are tied to both traits and the script. But, I am taking considerations like this to heart for any future versions of RS2. Very fortunately, RS2 is an extremely versatile mod that can offer any number of variable type campaigns. Because we structured this mod so that it is composed of numerous 'Play_this, Play_that' sub-mobs of the whole, each of which can easily be added to the Launcher, it allows for a lot of different campaigns to be created.

In fact, I've pretty much decided that in the future, RS2 will be updated with 'patches' that add adjusted and\or new types of campaigns that don't mess with the original ones. It just takes too long, and is a monumental task to update 27 campaigns all at once. The advantage of this, aside from less work, is that it won't interfere with any existing campaigns. You could call it RS2's version of a free DLC.

[TheCenturion24]

Ah, thanks for answers. I'll have to learn a little modding, I'm not entirely sure where to start... will normal campaign editors open RSII's files? I'm not even really sure which file I should be opening... I've never won the first ambush (I always play it like that), at least on anything higher than normal. Then again, the AI seems to leave you alone if you build a fully garrisoned fort right to the West of Rome, and on the East coast. Hannibal was foolish enough to travel between two cities with a small body guard of Libyan infantry, so I ambushed him with a full legion. A bit cheap, but revenge is sweet.

[CatoTheYounger]

I only play on H/H. That alone makes the battles more fair without the enemy ever seeming overpowered. Campaign needs hard as well. M/M you will not struggle often. The challenge for the Romans is then War in spain. The Carthaginians have a good foothold and there are tons of Spanish tribes including the Galleci that wil want to backstab you or assault you outright. And it's difficult for the Romans to reinforce their position so they have to be crafty and won't often be able to blunt their way to victory with endless replenished troops like they can do early on in Italy.

The war in spain is the tough part of the war with Carthage.

[High Fist]

The war in spain is the tough part of the war with Carthage.

I agree, it's easier to take the heart of Carthage than Spain.