Then I smash through them with better troops, pinning and flanking if I must. Of course, you may want to include more cavalry, as I focus more on infantry in game- the exception being Parthia.

I had about 30 regions, a six on the senate popularity tree, and about 70/80 % on the plebs popularity.

I started to crank out troops for three or four turns, after which I took the initiative myself and start the civil war...

Most of the Brutii armies are driven away from my Italian property.

I only have two problems left :

1. three stacks of Brutii are camping right next door to Ariminum. (1 full, 1 half, and 1 partial stack)
I am a bit afraid to attack it with only 1 full stack of premarius troops and mercenaries.

2.
My finances needs a severe lift. due to the troop cranking, I am working on negative income each turn (because of the army upkeep)

Most of my towns/cities are building stuff.
I guess I will disband half of my army in Britannia, which consisted for the half out of mercenaries, and do the same for a few other armies (sack the mercenary units)

Within a few turns I will capture some Greek cities from the Brutii, so that will help a bit. I captured tylis last turn (will see what that does to my finances)

And my diplomats will have a lot of work doing :

Scythia cancelled his alliance, and won't take trade rights. (whatever I do, it won't work)
Spain tried to treathen me (to get map information for the pathetic sum of 190 Den. together with a 'accept or attack') I kindly declined ...
But will try next turn for trade rights ...

**sigh** Why does my economics fail just right now when I need it the most???

i think i will have no problem with other fations because, i crushed: Spain, Gaul, Brittainia, and the Germans only have 2 settlements left: domus dulcis domus (witch i can crush easely) and Lovosice (that will be a hard battle) does anyone know if Sarmatians and Bastarnae are good?

[This message has been edited by Godfried Van B (edited 07-06-2006 @ 05:05 AM).]

your economy falls at this time because you dont have your roman allies to trade with.

to get back to the topic :
The Brutii did not seem to attack my main cities because
a. too much armies nearby,
and b. main cities are well defended (stone walls and a reasonable number of units)

however they did attack Bylazora.
I was stupid enough to autoresolve, resulting in a draw, instead of a victory (which I probably would have if I played the battle myself)

but there are two armies on their way, one to capture Salona, and one to bring relief to Bylazora.
+ in a few turns, the unrest in tylis will have cooled down, so I can capture Byzantium with that army...
After Byzantium, my objectives are appolonia and Thessalonica, which will give me (I hope) the right amount of cash to get back out of the red numbers ...

Godfried : I guess that you will have a number of cities which can train units of the higher levels ...(principes/triarii, archers, and auxillia cavalry or above)
if you have 5 cities, then you will have a decent army within 3 turns.
(I was able to train 3 full stack armies from the settlements I had. (well okay, not all high level units, but still,the Brutii won't have an "all Principes" infantry either ...)

If you need extra funds, don't forget that you can do two things. One is to replace normal troops in conquered territories with simple peasants. The other is to destroy old barracks, stables, and archer ranges you won't be needed any more. (Now this is risky if a settlement goes into rebellion and you can't get any army there for years, but fight the Romans first.)

Also, send that pre-marius army to the battle and slug it out. If you lose... you free about 4000 denarii per turn. If you have mercs, likely more. And this will also thin your enemy troops (I've noticed that not AI is too keen on retraining) as well.

Oh, I almost forgot. See if you can sell a region to an allied or neutral nation. Just pull all but a unit or two out of the territory and then demand a good sum for the region. I can't guarantee you this will work at all, but it is a trick I've used for extra currency before.

[This message has been edited by CK the Fat (edited 07-06-2006 @ 10:26 AM).]

anyway i had the message 'A Chance For Power' but can i still be allied with the other Romans or will they attack me?? i try to do the Senates misions to get some delay for 'the big war'. i am making armies and leaving al other counry's alone. they have so much full stacks i think it will be a hard battle...

@Patcherke

This reply is to your post but maybe of use to Godfried Van B who started this thred.

1) You have one full stack vs 2.5 full Brutii stacks nearby.

-I assume you have a good general with many command stars and you can defeat a lone Brutii stack ? I would attack the stack led by a captain (or weak command general). That means the whole Roman army of 2.5 stacks would be commanded by the weak general.
-Battle quickly to kill each Brutii stack before the others acting as reinforcements can get to you. Take your time with the last one as you will be tired by then.
-Better maybe is attack one of the three Brutii stacks that is unsupportted, or supportted by only one other army.
-If you are beseiged and sally you can kill a lot using wall towers.
- If you can pick off one army at a time try keeping infantry well back and still. Use mobile force to lure enemy and get them running. If a big infantry battle occurs you want to fresher than the Romans and have a big advantage by having a better general. Kill the Roman general before that encounter.

2) Money. Good point about losing trade income once the war starts.
- If you do disband troops the manpower adds to the city.
So where do it where you want extra population.
- Peasants make the most cost efficient garrison.
- Is your capital central to your empire? That will reduce unrest and corruption.
- Crank up tax rates as high as you can without riots. ie red face at 70% public order.
- Capture regions. Any region captured will help finances. Exterminate gives an immediate cash boost.

[This message has been edited by Severous (edited 07-08-2006 @ 01:17 AM).]

here's my tactic with my army:

1 general, 5 legionary's, 3 praetorians, 2 early legionarys, 4 roman cavalry, 2 archers, 2 onagers, 1 triarii

- - - - - LC
///- - ELC
//- - - PC
////- T
////- G
///- - A
///- - O
RC= roman cavalry
LC= legionary cohort
ELC= early legionary cohort
PC= praetorian cohort
T= trairii
G= gereral
O= onagers
A= archers
/= nothing , i must do it or the comp ****ed the thing op

i use the roman cavalry to flank/kill archers/kill generals/... ( 2 on every side)

good tactic???

2. should i attack Rome itself first (i think i can do it) or first attack the Brutii and then the Scipii and leave Rome for last one?? when i take Rome first i can build good troops and its another strong city, so....????

[This message has been edited by Godfried Van B (edited 07-09-2006 @ 11:53 AM).]