political/economic questions from a eb2 novice

[need help]

Hi,
I recently started a Rome Grand Campaign. My first faction leader has died, so I am wondering how I can get other family members the status to lead armies. Most of my family members have the trait imperium relinquished, so they can't lead armies. Right now I effectively only have one family member who can lead an army, which is not a problem because I only have one full stack anyways. Also, I have certain family members eligible for praetorship, aedilis, etc; how do I actually get them to earn those titles?

My second question is about the economy. I am taxing nearly all my cities very high yet I am only making 1000 denarii per turn. As I mentioned earlier I only have 1 legions essentially so I don't know where all my money is going. Currently I control all of Italy (no cities north of Ariminum). I noticed on my treasury interface that I have 0 merchant trade, how do I earn more money from merchant trade. I have secured trade rights with most neighbouring factions yet my economy is in shambles and I have unfortunately needed to "add_money" in order to stimulate my economy.

Thanks

[Darkan]

1. Regarding FMs and Imperium. You need Imperium for them to lead armies and if I remember correctly, they first guy to get it (who doesn't have it at gamestart), is Regulus. Those that have the "Eligible for ..." trait need to be in Rome, in winter, when you end turn, and they will get the new trait (Quaestor, Aedilis, Pretor, Consul, etc.) come spring. So the FMs who have the "Eligible for Praetor/Consul" will also get the "Imperium" trait in spring and can lead armies. The "Imperium" trait will be kept by Consuls and Praetors after 1 year (4 turns) as they will get the "Propraetor" and "Proconsul" traits (I think for another 2 years - 8 turns).

2. Regarding money, I don't really know how you are in trouble. I usually disband the first fleet (admiral is really bad), and I try to build as many farms/markets as possible, station cavalry in minor forts. I almost never keep my cities on high tax. I think you shouldn't get trade rights with factions if they don't border you. I usually never do, though I secured trading rights with Epirus, I think naval trading still counts.

Another way to make sure you have some money on hand is to make sure you build different things with different building times. For example, I start by building 2 temples (2 turns), 2 farms/markets (4 turns), and nothing in Rome. Next turn, I build a temple in Rome (2 turns), when the others are at 1/3 turns to complete. After that I try to have 5 cities with 5 different building times (2-3-4-5-6, for example), later, after expanding, grouping them in 2 cities per building time. This way, you only need to spend money on 1 or 2 cities every turn or every other turn.

Hope this helps! Cheers!

[need help]

1. Regarding FMs and Imperium. You need Imperium for them to lead armies and if I remember correctly, they first guy to get it (who doesn't have it at gamestart), is Regulus. Those that have the "Eligible for ..." trait need to be in Rome, in winter, when you end turn, and they will get the new trait (Quaestor, Aedilis, Pretor, Consul, etc.) come spring. So the FMs who have the "Eligible for Praetor/Consul" will also get the "Imperium" trait in spring and can lead armies. The "Imperium" trait will be kept by Consuls and Praetors after 1 year (4 turns) as they will get the "Propraetor" and "Proconsul" traits (I think for another 2 years - 8 turns).

2. Regarding money, I don't really know how you are in trouble. I usually disband the first fleet (admiral is really bad), and I try to build as many farms/markets as possible, station cavalry in minor forts. I almost never keep my cities on high tax. I think you shouldn't get trade rights with factions if they don't border you. I usually never do, though I secured trading rights with Epirus, I think naval trading still counts.

Another way to make sure you have some money on hand is to make sure you build different things with different building times. For example, I start by building 2 temples (2 turns), 2 farms/markets (4 turns), and nothing in Rome. Next turn, I build a temple in Rome (2 turns), when the others are at 1/3 turns to complete. After that I try to have 5 cities with 5 different building times (2-3-4-5-6, for example), later, after expanding, grouping them in 2 cities per building time. This way, you only need to spend money on 1 or 2 cities every turn or every other turn.

Hope this helps! Cheers!

So if any of my family members have a "eligible for ____", I should bring them to Rome for a year so that they may obtain that trait?
Also, what is the point of stationing cavalry in forts, free upkeep? I have upgraded most the markets and some docks yet economy is still an issue.

[V.T. Marvin]

Not necessarily for a year. Just for elections that take place between the winter and spring turn. That is in winter you move them in and they likely get promoted and are ready to set on new tasks beginning next turn.

PSFs gives one free upkeep slot each.

[z3n]

And also check your financial scroll.

[Jervaj]

Actually Rome is one of the factions with the most money flow at start. You have two cities capable of hiting 3k very soon. And from what you telll you have a nice bunch of cities already.

Do you have too much troops maybe? Or too expensive ones?