Rome Total War Tips.

[XabbaRus]

Just started RTW again, unmodded, fully patched.

Starting from the very beginning ie the Prologue.

Any tips?
I have at the moment 2 towns I have them both on automanage.
When is the best time to automanage? When you have lots of towns or do it straight away?

How often to do the senates bidding? Given I don't start out very large I need to build up my forces, but on the other hand don't want to be left behind.

[Dowly]

I never automanage my cities. As for the economy, you want to build roads, ports, farms and market places. That will give you a huge boost to economy. :up:

[Slang]

I remember reading somewhere that if you start from the prologue (ie... tutorial), that you could not proceed very far into the long campaign. Perhaps this has been fixed in subsequent patches, but its something to think about.

I never automanage the towns. I like being able to set the tax rate to whatever I want, even if there is no governor in the town. Also automanage will automatically retrain your garrison there even if you don't want it to. Why should my peasant garrison have gold upgrades? You will have to start a new campaign if you left this option unchecked in campaign setup screen.

I typically did the senate missions if it was....

1. Something I was going to do anyway

2. It is acheivable without too much headache, and in the number of turns alotted by the senate. Some missions are impossible.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over senate missions though. Your popularity with the people of rome is more important then the senate. You can raise that by gaining provinces and keeping taxes within reason.

Train at least 4 diplomats right away and send them to the 4 corners of the map, getting Trade Rights and Map Information from every single nation. Sometimes you can sell your own map info for a small profit.

Which roman faction are you playing?

Archers cause massive casualties to barbarians. (lack of armor). Find some archer mercanaries ASAP. Remember to keep them safe though, as they are a pain in the butt to find more or retrain them. Withdraw them from the battle if need be. By the time they reach 1 silver chevron they are super dangerous to your foes. But you need to keep them at or near full strength.

Triarii are good for basically one thing. Killing cavalry. If fighting infantry send either the Hastati or Pricipes in.

[Raptor1]

Aren't Principes superior to Hastati in almost every way?

[Slang]

Yes they are. But more expensive, and you need a higher tech building to train them.

In the early game Hastati make a good meat sheild, while your Pricipes, assuming you have any, do the flanking.

Principes also have a higher morale, so they are good to send into a failing line. Or for holding a line in a desperate battle.

[Raptor1]

Basically, Good in the role they had in the Historical Maniple, as the 2nd line ready to reinforce the Hastati if it was required...?

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice stuff here, just got this the other day :yep:


RDP

[Slang]

Basically, Good in the role they had in the Historical Maniple, as the 2nd line ready to reinforce the Hastati if it was required...?

Well i've never been too good at knowing my history. Especially ancient history.

But I do know that typically armies were setup in to 2 rows. The first being Hastati, and the second being Pricipes. With the Pricipes ready to rush forward if needed.

In game ,however, I don't think this is really the best way. The AI seems to always go for your flanks. Therefore, you never really end up having a big melee in the center of your line. This is assuming the AI attacks you, rather than just sitting in one spot. Which it does sometimes.

I tend to leave my center a little bit weak, and build up strength on both flanks instead. If it gets too heavy in the center I can usually send reinforcements from which ever flank is in better shape. If I cant pull troops from the flanks then I send in a reserve, if I have one, or my General. If even that doesn't work then the battle really isn't going my way and it's probably a lost cause anyway.

There is a way to trick the AI into attacking your center. Set up a unit of skirmishers right in front of your center line. Then as the enemy is charging them pull the skirmishers back through your ranks. The AI really likes to go after skirmishers big time. Also your general right in the middle makes for some good bait aswell.

[Raptor1]

Almost, the Pre-Marian Reform Formation was set up into 3 basic lines, the Hastati at the front, the Principes after them, and finally the Triarii (Each line had consequentally more experienced troops, with the Triarii being the most experienced in the legion), this is where the term "ad triarios rediisse" ("Falling on the Triarii) came from, as the Roman commander would have to be desperate to send them into battle, there was also a group of Velites during the 2nd Century BC (Mostly), that was composed of the earlier Rorarii and Accensi, and we're used as skirmishers before the battle begun (Much like your tactic for drawing the enemy to the center, they would throw javelins and then retreat)

I usually try to engage in a line and then use my Cavalry to crush demoralized units (This is my "regular" tactic, I use others when the conditions doesn't allow it)

[Slang]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. Its good to learn something new.

I can't help but feel, however, that such a formation is rather wasteful. (Refering to the historical formation, not your in game method). I mean there you are in a battle, but you've got 2 whole lines of troops doing absolutely nothing, except waiting for the first line to eventually crumble. Poor buggers up front. Perhaps I'm missing some line of reasoning here?

The way I figure, you've committed yourself to battle, you may aswell commit everything you've got. Excluding a small reserve. That way you have more weapons killing more enemies, from more directions.

If you have superior numbers it should be easy to envelope and destroy.

If you have inferior numbers it becomes a game of local number superiority, and Hammer and Anvil. Accomplished by using fast moving troops, with no intention of engaging, to draw off as many of the enemy as possible from the area of true confrontation.


Oh my..... Now I'm Popeye. Where's me spinach at?

[Raptor1]

Yes, It does seem a rather flawed concept, This system ended with the Marian Reforms in 107 BC (Probably because every Roman Legionnery was supplied his own Armor and Weapons, so there was no distinction between the 3 classes, But I'm not sure why exactly the method was retracted)

[XabbaRus]

Good tips. Keep them coming, I got it some time ago but now want to really have a crack at it.

I did the prologue but you only get 50 years.

I am now starting the imperial campaign set on easy and I can control everything should I need to.

I fough gauls on teh battlefield and was outnumbered.

I put my Hastati in the front. The velites behind backed by war dogs. Cavalry was set to the flanks. I did sent a group of Hastati foward and that did draw the Gauls in and then I unleased my Velite on them and then the rest of my Hastati. When they got involved I threw my cavalry in. I won.

[Slang]

Good tips. Keep them coming, I got it some time ago but now want to really have a crack at it.

I did the prologue but you only get 50 years.

I am now starting the imperial campaign set on easy and I can control everything should I need to.

I fough gauls on teh battlefield and was outnumbered.

I put my Hastati in the front. The velites behind backed by war dogs. Cavalry was set to the flanks. I did sent a group of Hastati foward and that did draw the Gauls in and then I unleased my Velite on them and then the rest of my Hastati. When they got involved I threw my cavalry in. I won.


Good show.

Managing all your cities can be a pain, once they start getting numerous. I find its easier to shuffle through them using the settlements scroll rather than searching all over the entire map.

Cavalry seems to work the best using hit and run tactics. If you just order them to attack an infantry unit then just leave them there they tend to get beaten up. Better to order an attack, let them charge, then pull them back again and set up for another charge. It can be a little overwhelming micromanaging them and keeping an eye on the rest of the battle, but hey..... Thats what the pause button is for.

Sounds like you're playing Julii. You'll probably be killing lots of barbarians then. By the time i took care of the Gauls, Britons and Spanish the reforms had come, and it was time for the civil war.

Good Luck.

[HunterICX]

Another tip with the cavalry, attack units when they are moving.
this causes some extra casualties for them and will easy flee from the battlefield, like the Advisor says try to create a snowball effect by making multiple units flee, and if they flee in mass numbers chase them with cavalry to make sure they wont regroup.

also defending with the Hastati, Principes there is a tip for you,
enable Guard mode and Fire at will mode.
as soon they get too close the Hastati/Principes will throw their javalines to them this will cause some good damage in their charge. I always use this tactic and it proved to be very deadly.

HunterICX

[Slang]

I can't tell you how many units I've lost because I order them to attack, then forget about them.

They end up running across the battlefield to get slaughtered, and I'm like WTF?

there's a tip for what not to do:D

[Raptor1]

Oh, And another tip, Always when charging cavalry, attack with a single click then order them to run instead of doing a double click, I believe there was a bug in the game that cavalry wouldn't charge properly sometimes if you double-clicked...

[XabbaRus]

I figured out the cavalry thing myself, that is fun just watching them crash again and again into a unit.

[HunterICX]

Ow and know when to give up and retreat, I've lost many generals by refusing to retreat :D as later on, you will be short on generals

HunterICX

[Dowly]

Ow and know when to give up and retreat, I've lost many generals by refusing to retreat :D as later on, you will be short on generals

HunterICX
That's why I always keep my generals in the back, out of battle. They might be cowards, but they are alive. :rotfl:

[HunterICX]

Ow and know when to give up and retreat, I've lost many generals by refusing to retreat :D as later on, you will be short on generals

HunterICX
That's why I always keep my generals in the back, out of battle. They might be cowards, but they are alive. :rotfl:

I ment Retreat from the Battlefield ofcourse ;)
if you are overrun by the enemy its better to run away, and fight another day.

also I always have my general in action when fighting in open fields to get experience so they become deadlier, in sieges I dont use them in villages but in Cities with a big plaza I use them to quikly surround the enemy last stand and crush them.

[Dowly]

Ow and know when to give up and retreat, I've lost many generals by refusing to retreat :D as later on, you will be short on generals

HunterICX
That's why I always keep my generals in the back, out of battle. They might be cowards, but they are alive. :rotfl:
I ment Retreat from the Battlefield ofcourse ;)
if you are overrun by the enemy its better to run away, and fight another day.

Ah yes. Tho, I usually just fight till the last man, because I tend to do few big armies I attack with. Cant be arsed to command the remnants and rebuild the army if I lose. :p (Sucks to be under my command :rotfl:)

[HunterICX]

I play with army the following way

The Generals mostly 2 or 3 of them, are what you could call the 1st, 2nd and 3th Army. they have the Elite units (experienced and re-armed with better quality arms ''Blacksmith'') I always have captains on the map as well with smaller armies, these armies go for scattered enemy armies that are just in the way or Rebel armies that have effect on my province.
these smaller armies are always nearby the General Armies in case when the General Army has suffered a bit and need new men who by then are probally a bit experienced so I dont have to send them back to Italy to re-recruit them.

my General armies have different priorities:

1. They attack Enemy General armies, 2. They attack heavy garrisoned Cities/Village. 3. They always be outside the wall when there is a Siege on one of my Towns/Cities.

the Captain Armies:

1. They attacke enemy smaller armies, 2. They attack small villages, 3. they attack rebel armies. 4. they reinforce Towns/Cities garrison in case there is threath nearby by an enemy army. 5. they reinforce General armies when weakend.

Also Heavy units (Cohort, praetorian cohort, Heavy Cavalry etc etc) which only can be recruited in my 4 key settlements in Northern Italy. when suffered too much I mostly send them back to the north of Italy to get them refreshed, and then come back with fresh new troups and if posible a new general when a son of Rome has come of Age.

HunterICX

[SmokinTep]

Train a spy in a city that has the plague and send him to an enemy city......:up:

If an army is attacking one of my cities with a catapult or something similar, I will send out some calvary (suicide mission) to wipe them out rather than having them tear my city up. Sometimes I will send out my own catapults to attack theirs.

I always get my Generals involved in the fighting. Gets them trained up and earn stars.

[Raptor1]

Even if i don't use my generals in a direct engagement (Though they are usually a part of the Cavalry fist), I'll keep them behind my line, so my troops will get the morale bonus

[XabbaRus]

Want to keep this in the relevant threads.

How many armies do you keep on the road outside of your cities and what do you leave behind as a garrison?

I'm trying to build up a decent roaming force that basically goes after new settlements and hammers people on the way.

[fatty]

Want to keep this in the relevant threads.

How many armies do you keep on the road outside of your cities and what do you leave behind as a garrison?

I'm trying to build up a decent roaming force that basically goes after new settlements and hammers people on the way.

I play mainly M2TW but the mechanics are approximately the same; for frontline states, I try to keep four good archer units, two or three spear units, and two heavy calvary. As you move forward you can bring your guys from the rear forward to reinforce, thinning out the garrison in the safer rear states. My ideal roaming attack force consists of one general, four heavy cavalry, four spearman, four swordsman (or whatever the RTW equivalent is), six archers, and one good piece of siege equipment or two siege engines and one less sword or spear. Hope this helps and can be translated to RTW.

[HunterICX]

Want to keep this in the relevant threads.

How many armies do you keep on the road outside of your cities and what do you leave behind as a garrison?

I'm trying to build up a decent roaming force that basically goes after new settlements and hammers people on the way.
for Garrison mostly use light units, also when you have stone walls ARCHERS are a must-have in cities. 4 of them can do mayor damage to the attacking army.

as a attacking army have a General leading them
just make a fair mix out of Melee units, Archers/Velites and Cavalry and perhaps a Siege weapon (balista or Onager)

the best way to continue your attack is by sending smaller armies behind the General army so you can reinforce the Main army to keep going. create a sort of supply line behind the General's Army.

also when you took over a town/city only leave behind what you can spare (Units that suffered, light units) and ofcourse that the village itself will stay in your control (people happy)

HunterICX

[XabbaRus]

How do you guys do an assault? I took a Gaulish village which should have been easy but just knocked in the one gate instead of the palisade too. Ended up with a large army stuck at a crossroads. I won eventually but with large losses. Then the Britons came and laid seige. Managed to bring up forces though and killed them.

[HunterICX]

How do you guys do an assault? I took a Gaulish village which should have been easy but just knocked in the one gate instead of the palisade too. Ended up with a large army stuck at a crossroads. I won eventually but with large losses. Then the Britons came and laid seige. Managed to bring up forces though and killed them.

when sieging make sure you have Siege equipment like Rams or Ballistas in early times to knock down the wall on 3 spots at least....once knocked down...and there is little resistance behind the wall move in as quikly as possible to secure the entrance. kill anything that was defending the wall and then head towards the Plaza.

HunterICX

[XabbaRus]

Yep figured that one out the hard way.

Should have been an easy win.

[KeptinCranky]

Here's a few from me

If you manage to secure a large enemy city, like Carthage or Carthago Nova don't hesitate to enslave or even cull the population, if you don't, odds are you'll get kicked out in the next turn and the city you just took will be full with a fresh new rebel army whereas yours will still be damaged from the first siege:down:

Also, a tactic used by a friend, use your diplomats and economy to get lots and lots of cash by selling map information, then use the best diplomats to buy rebel family memebers and even enemy generals that are outside the cities, this will help later on in your conquests when you'll be short on family to run your cities and fight your campaigns.

Phalanxes (even the crummy mercenary ones) are very good at clearing city streets where they can't be flanked.

Cretan mercenary archers are without a doubt one of the most evil units in the game, get as many of those as possible, they have about 1,5x the range of even high level roman archers.

:|\\

[XabbaRus]

cheers for that. I've often wondered how to use my Diplomats.

I have a couple of academies now so shouldn't I start getting some generals?

I ALWAYS enslave the populace of a town. If it has been a viscious battle I will loot and pillage.

[KeptinCranky]

:know:
Academies give your generals retainers if they're in the same city for a few turns, these retainers give bonuses, very useful, since you can move them between generals when they're in the same city, this makes it easier to customize them for their allotted tasks like city governor should have management retainers and a general that leads an army should have retainers that give useful traits in battle or on the move

enslaving the populace in small towns is counterproductive, takes em that much longer to grow to a decent level again, but in the large, hard to control cities, enslaving makes the neighbouring towns grow, this is especially useful when conquering Greece and Spain

which brings me to the subject of Corinth and Rhodes

It is absolutely vital you do not let another Roman faction conquer these before you do, the world wonders in these cities are far to useful to give to the competition, it doesn't matter so much if the Greeks or macedonians have them but do not let the Scipii or Bruti conquer them, get there first! if necessary help some other faction beat the living snot out of your roman competition by using assassins/spies and take these cities then backstab them and take them yourself

[XabbaRus]

Do Corinth and Rhodes give super powers or something?

[Dowly]

Yes, you get certain bonuses from certain provinces. Tho, no idea what the bonuses are for Corinth & Rhodes.

[KeptinCranky]

Rhodes has the colossus, which increases sea trade by 400% means lots of cash


Corinth has the statue of Zeus at Olympia, which is another world wonder, this gives I believe it is 50% less dissent in greek cities or something like that, very useful in the early game.

there's the other five world wonders too, very useful to have, they all give bonuses which you can see by clicking on them on the map, in order:

The Mausoleum of maussolos at Halicarnassus (this one gives a faster build time on buildings that cost 5 turns or more, not very useful)
The Temple of Artemis at Smyrna??? In Turkey anyway (this lets you build temples faster, useful but well defended)
The Pyramids in Gizeh (this I believe makes all egyptians extremely loyal)
The Pharos in Alexandria (don't know what this does, probably something with ships)
The Hanging gardens in Babylon (very far away from Rome, don't know what they do)
The Colossus at Rhodes, very easily captured, usually only defended by 4 untis or so (useful :up:)
The statue of Zeus at Olympia, you get this with the city of Corinth (also useful)

Besides, they're world wonders, what roman general worth his salt wouldn't want to have them, :arrgh!: