Choke points?

**Ireland** · April 19, 2015, 09:28 PM

I'm looking to restart yet again my ebdanian campaign. I stead of taking all of Britannia and sitting there to rule for hundreds of turns with nothing happening I want something else. I am thinking about staying only in Ireland and maybe working a decent army down somewhere near Rome. Looking for a choke point to hold off the Hun's from punching wre in the gut. Maybe I will be at war with wre. Maybe not so I can freely raid them. I've heard that there is a sweet spot down there near a trade spot that gives amazing raiding money.

I am a huge fan of taking a defensive position and watching the carnage when they try to push me from my roost. Any tips? I like river battles so that would be a place I'm looking for. Or perhaps a small town down there to build a raiding building in. I want to struggle to survive and find I really need to go out of my way as the Celts to find a challenge. A bit off putting. Not a fan of huge empires. Rather have one small walled town in middle of everything with entire map trying to rip me apart.

**Bramborough** · April 20, 2015, 12:43 AM

Liguria province might offer opportunity to experiment with a couple of those objectives. The main WRE-ERE trade route runs between Mediolanum (WRE capital) and Genua; that trade relationship is massive even at the beginning, and continues to grow throughout the game; that's why raiding in that region is so lucrative. Here's the thing; if this is how you want to proceed, then it's in your interest to keep both of those cities alive (i.e., remain Roman), and also unbesieged (siege blockades the trade route).

As far as blocking others' access to the area, there's basically 4 routes to reach Mediolanum; two of them are alpine passes which you could block (assuming of course, you're already at war with whatever army wants to pass...otherwise, they'll just march right past you).

I've never tried it, but I guess it might be possible that a periodic siege-lifting and otherwise fighting common enemies might keep WRE happy enough with you that they just put up with the raiding. Interesting idea...I'd like to hear how it turns out.

**♘Top Hat Zebra** · April 20, 2015, 12:48 AM

You could make a ton of money raiding their trade lines, then give them a percentage of that money as a gift to keep them happy.

Total War is great.

**GussieFinkNottle** · April 20, 2015, 05:08 AM

Pannonia is the big slaughterhouse of the map. If you defend Sirmium for the Romans they'll have a much better chance of survival. I find the majority of migrating barbarian tribes move through Pannonia on their journey Westwards. A river (the Danube) runs all the way through the province. Maxima Sequanorum is the other route. It also has a river - the upper end of the Rhine.

You will need to take some settlements if you're not going to abandon your home province and become a horde, since you'll need somewhere to replenish troops, but taking them from barbs rather than Romans is a good bet so as not to piss off the powerful WRE. That sweet spot for raiding all WRE trade income by the way is the sea just off Genua (Genoa?).

**Ireland** · April 20, 2015, 05:58 AM

(Laughs maniacally as he rubs his hands together) I'll let u know how it turns out. Keep any tips coming!

**Ireland** · April 20, 2015, 06:31 AM

Any good way to get a non aggression pact and a military access pact with are as ebdani? Declare war on all their enemies I'm sure.

Maybe taking apart the Picts and Caledonian's would be a good option. Not sure if they both start off at war with them or not.

**GussieFinkNottle** · April 20, 2015, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Ireland

Any good way to get a non aggression pact and a military access pact with are as ebdani? Declare war on all their enemies I'm sure.

Maybe taking apart the Picts and Caledonian's would be a good option. Not sure if they both start off at war with them or not.

Yep, make friends with people by joining their wars and avoid offensive raiding or trespassing. Killing the other celts would give you full province control, which is a good bet, and then your border would be Hadrian's Wall.
Other question:
Get big armies of troops as good/expensive as possible/affordable, cheap celts will get massacred by the better enemy armies. Make sure you have plenty of missile troops too because some hordes (Huns especially) will have horse archer spam that is essential to counter.