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Thread: Romani: 2.35A R2 Camillan Era Review

  1. #1

    Default Romani: 2.35A R2 Camillan Era Review

    Hi all. Posting this 149 turn review of the Romani for returning players to reference who may want an idea of what the Romani campaign is like in 2.35A R2. I will post a screenshot of the campaign map tonight. Also, please note that this exposition is shaped only by my experiences in the game and may differ from others. In short, this review will be most helpful for new players, returning players, or those who prefer a slow expansionist gameplay that imitates Rome's historical expansion.

    Campaign Difficulty: Hard
    Battle Difficulty: Normal

    Romani Overview
    Not much has changed for the Romani themselves. Nevertheless, some factions around the Romani have received significant attention this update, and these refreshed factions can alter the Romani playthrough quite significantly compared to pre-2.35A R2 campaigns. To begin, I'll overview neighboring faction capabilities and achievements up to turn 149 in my campaign (2 turns prior to the Polybian Reforms firing via the conquest of northern Italy and Sicily):

    Carthaginian Prowess
    The Carthaginians, Rome's historical rival for dominion in the western Mediterranean during the 3rd century BCE, is now a capable adversary to Rome in the early game of EBII. There are several reasons for this, but paramount is the now obstructed land route between Libya and Cyrene. Carthage's previous proclivity to venture into the Ptolemaic sphere of influence no longer hampers the Carthaginians, and, as a result, Carthage focuses its early attention on Iberia, Mauretania, and Sicily. In tis playthrough, Carthage besieged and captured Messana on turn 12. As scripted, an event then prompts the player to attack the Carthaginians as retribution for violating the Roman-Punic treaty vis-a-vis Sicily. While my 1st Punic War began 5ish years before its historical start date, this early invasion by Carthage was a welcome change from its previous policy of retrenchment seen in previous updates. Nevertheless, Carthage's early gains are quickly negated by the player and the Punic empire is further restrained by an Iberian empire rising in the west.

    Carthage tends to utilize its navies quite aggressively. Expect blockades to stifle your ports, amphibious attacks on Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, and elephants to join the Carthaginian incursions more frequently than before. A note for any nascent Romani campaign: ensure you station at least a half-stack in Sardinia as a garrison. Even more than Lilybaeum, the Carthaginian's value Sardinia and will attack it relentlessly once the Romani fly their banner above its battlements. Otherwise, the Carthaginian threat is rather limited given the surprise ascent of other western Mediterranean factions that prevent Carthage from achieving its Barcid aspirations.

    Arevaci Dominance
    Balancing Punic aggression in the Mediterranean are the Celtic-Iberian tribes unifying under the Arevaci's banner. In previous editions of EBII, the Arevaci were a limited, impotent Iberian nuisance. A veritable footnote to any Romani campaign. That, I am happy to say, is no longer the case. In fact, the Arevaci are currently the preeminent power in the Western Mediterranean. They control every Iberian city except Gader - clung to by the reeling Carthaginians - and several additional provinces in southern Gaul. The Arevaci destroyed the Luisitani within 100 turns of the campaign, and quickly moved north to secure southern Gaul before the Arverni could intervene. Now, the Arevaci have taken New Qart-hadast from the Carthaginians and trade blows with the Arverni in southern Gaul. The Arevaci are one of the factions who received sweeping changes to their campaign in 2.35A R2, and their meteoric rise as Iberia's superpower is a pleasant surprise to the Romani campaign. It should add a significant challenge to Rome's midgame, and provide competition to Rome's Polybian maniples who tend to wipe the floor with Carthage's early Libyan infantry and the shock troops of Gaul.

    While I have yet to clash with the Arevaci, I have never been so excited about Iberian expansion in my time of playing EB (I or II). The Iberian and Celt-Iberian units are some of the most aesthetically pleasing in the game, and it will be a welcome challenge to fight the Brigantoi en masse.

    Arverni Supremacy
    Another significant change from previous versions is the expansion of Gallic tribes in western and central Europe. The Arverni, Aedui, and Boii all controlled at least 5 territories each by turn 100 in this campaign. The Gallic tribes, in my experience, are notoriously slow to expand and quite often fritter their time in a defensive posture. The Arverni were ascendant by turn 120, controlling 8 territories (including Liguria and Massilia). My Consul, leading an army of Camillan troops, found it difficult to capture Liguria and expel the Arverni from the Italian side of the Alps. I felt a tinge of nostalgia for the original Rome where the Gauls controlled Mediolanum at the game's start leading the Julii and Gauls into conflict quite quickly.

    Given I declared war on the Arverni to claim Liguria for the upcoming Polybian reforms, I'm not sure how aggressive the Arverni would be independent of my attacks. The Arverni have honored the tenuous peace treaty we agreed to after I claimed Liguria, so they may not be too aggressive against the player. Note the burgeoning kingdoms of the Arevaci and Pritanoi may restrain their aggressiveness. Regardless of their aggressiveness towards a human Romani, the Arverni seem to expand much quicker than previous updates and will add to the challenge of conquering western Europe as the Romani.

    Pritanoi Expansion
    "A surprise to be sure but a welcome one," is an apt quote to summarize my thoughts of the Pritanoi at this stage in the campaign. The Pritanoi control the most territories of any faction west of Anatolia. They captured the British isles, seized territory in Belgae and Brittany, and have now seized three territories from the Aedui to give the Pritanoi dominion of the entire coastline from Brittany to the Sweboz with some forays into the heart of Gaul. Compared to previous campaigns, where the Pritanoi rarely left the isles, let alone uniting them, the current version of the Pritanoi promises to be a unique experience for the Romani who will undoubtedly be fighting the Graeco-Diadochi by the time they reach the fringes of northwestern Europe. The last Romani campaign I played in 2.2 had a Pritanoi faction restricted to its starting city by turn 300. I am excited to confront a woad empire descending from the north with fury.

    Additional Thoughts
    The Romani remain a staple of the EB II experience and one of the best experiences for new and veteran players alike. The recent changes to the EB II campaign and to other surrounding factions has added some additional challenges to any Romani campaign that will provide veteran players a new enough experience to warrant another playthrough. New players should always consider the Romani campaign for their inaugural venture in EB II due to its unique mechanics, the Polybian and Marian reforms, and the ecstasy of replicating the Romani's historical exploits. Overall, I think the modders have done a wonderful job on the mod in general, and each new update continues to improve the experience in meaningful ways that affect gameplay, not just the aesthetics.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Romani: 2.35A R2 Camillan Era Review

    Interesting takes on the new Roman early game!

    Although I would like to add a couple of thoughts of my own:


    • The Camillan Roman military will struggle against Hellenistic style forces, particularly the phalanx/shock cav combo due to a combination of the frankly mediocre nature of their non-Triarii and non-Allied infantry and the comparatively garbage Roman and Italic cavalry roster. But that will change for the better (Very much so once the Polybian Reforms are triggered ). The versititiliy of the Carthaginian roster also does not help Rome's cause one bit.
    • This is likey just me (Feel free to ignore this one) but I am of the minority opinion that Rome is geared more towards a player with at least some understanding of EB2 instead of being suited for beginners (That honour should go to Hayasdan and/or Pergamon) due to the need to throughly understand the Cursus Honorum (Which is already quite complex for most gamers, hence the EB2 contractual agreement to read more history ) in order to get the full experience as Rome.
    To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
    - Sun Tzu



  3. #3

    Default Re: Romani: 2.35A R2 Camillan Era Review

    Thanks for the thoughts, realm. Pleasure reading your input as always. I still the Romani should be considered beginner friendly because of how forgiving their campaign is compared to others.

    Although I do agree that Hayastan may be the new "beginner" faction. Funny how much easier their campaign is compared to the same in EB1.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Romani: 2.35A R2 Camillan Era Review

    Quote Originally Posted by romulus_aeneas View Post
    Thanks for the thoughts, realm. Pleasure reading your input as always. I still the Romani should be considered beginner friendly because of how forgiving their campaign is compared to others.

    Although I do agree that Hayastan may be the new "beginner" faction. Funny how much easier their campaign is compared to the same in EB1.

    1. Their campaign may be relatively forgiving when compared to most other factions in EB2 but Roman commanders do face some steep penalties for fighting without Imperium (You need to obatin at least Praetorial or Pro-Praetorial powers (At least 35 years old!) before doing any major independant military action as Rome) which does limit their options when it comes to conducting campaigns on short notice as opposed to a Hellenistic or Celtic faction (Thakfully you can have as many Praetors and Consuls as you want provided that they are elected as opposed to real life!).
    2. Hayastan is definately a very strong contender as THE BEGINNER FACTON due to their combination of solid all-around military roster, relatively rich starting capital and 2nd province, relative isolation from other factions early on and there are no specialised faction mechanics that a player has to pay special attention to, what events and reforms are there are intuitive and organic (ie, you are quite likely to stumble onto them as you expand even if you have no idea that they exist ). Pergamon is also a good contender for a beginner faction due to their small size, location in what is arguably one of the richest region in the entire world (of EBII which is West Anatolia), powerful and well balanced roster along with a relatively well developed and wealthy realm at the start of the campaign. Additionally, what factions that surround you are either too weak or distracted by each other to really pay any close attention to you for the first few turns. And also the traits and mechanics can be put on autopilot for the most part without too much trouble although micromanagement is still the best call when managing your characters and settlements.
    To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
    - Sun Tzu



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