Praetorian VIII
Ashigaru
posted 02-04-13 08:26 AM
EDT (US)
7 / 131
I wouldn't worry about the Romans yet. You have to beat the Greeks and Seluecids first and that's made harder by the fact that the early Pontic forces are completely outmatched by even Militia Hoplites. I found that out in my current Pontus playthrough. Two complete units of Eastern Infantry were routed by half the number of Hoplites in that town north of Rhodes. And I don't play on Hard...
Praetorian VIII
Ashigaru
posted 02-05-13 01:53 PM
EDT (US)
17 / 131
That was a great read. What happens next? Do you send the save file to the #2 guy on the list and he carries on from where you left off?
I would recommend taking Sparta if you have the time. It doesn't have a wall so you can instantly assault it. Has a good barracks to retrain any soldiers you need before heading to Italy. I did that in my Thrace migration. Now I got three bases of operation - Crete, Sparta, and Syracuse - all before Turn 15. Now I'm going to rape and pillage Egypt and Carthage...
Anyway, looking forward to the next guy to post.
Praetorian VIII
Ashigaru
posted 02-05-13 04:57 PM
EDT (US)
19 / 131
So how you gonna beat Rome?
Better to have a solid base of operations with good facilities in case it all goes wrong and you lose to the Roman factions, than it is to have to leg it back to Crete with no money and no facilities and probably ending your game.
And it can go wrong, in my first attempt with Thrace my ships were sunk by pirates before I got out the Black Sea. Everyone died.
Plus, Sparta is slightly closer to Italy than Crete is. Shorter trip. Got more mercs in Greece too so even if you don't go for Sparta you can fill up on mercs. Italy doesn't have any mercs.
Praetorian VIII
Ashigaru
posted 02-06-13 02:58 AM
EDT (US)
21 / 131
Tactics only get you so far. That stacked unit outside Rome has about 5 Generals, a dozen units of heavy infantry (Legion Cohorts), heavy cavalry, archers, etc. Professional soldiers in other words. Your army is made up of mainly light troops who are part-timers with low morale and get routed easily. Mercs will only get you so far.
I would have spilt my forces, one goes up from the heel and the other from the north. This would pin down Julie while you main force deals with Skippy/Brutal. Make an Alliance with the Gauls and it would be even better.
But whatever, you don't seem to like ideas and suggestions.