Help regarding Rise of the Republic DLC

[M82]

I like the setting but everytime I play as Rome I just overwhelmed by enemy armies, due to the fact that AI can just spam full stacks of army without repercussions. Is there a strategy to winning as Rome ? Roman units are far superior to any other unit in this DLC but it's still unbearable to be outnumbered by one faction with like two minor settlements, that can somehow field more men than Rome. And we're talking big outnumber, like two full stack armies with one 15 unit army, versus my full stack and 15 unit army.

[Iron93]

what difficulty are you playing on?

especially at the beginning is good to use some cheesy tactics.
for example ambush one enemy's army usiing a bait (put the bait, the general and maybe a mercenary unit in raiding mode and slightly before this army you put a full 20 stack in ambush mode, pay attention to the type of terrain, some areas are more good for ambush than others) .

Another way is the old school corner camping

[Tom]

usually you pick a direction to go in italy to secure a corner from attack

[PrivateXTC]

I just finished my legendary playthrough as Rome yesterday actually, finally got the achievement. It's all about how you start with them, the first few turns are crucial.

Here's a rundown:

Turn 1: Get non-aggression with the 3 factions surrounding you and recruit 3 units. Build barracks and industry in your capitol

Turn 2: Recruit 3 more units (make sure you end up having 4 slinger units and the others hoplites by the end of turn 2)

Turn 3: Recruit the 4 latin warriors mercenaries (they're useless but good for holding the line a bit) then go and attack the port city. The AI always has it open.

During this battle its best to bring your slingers up so they are just in range of an enemy (don't get too close, just enough to let them shoot while the AI stands there), you need them to take out the city guard as they will give you a hard time. You should be able to get your slingers to cause massive casualties before the battle even starts as the AI will literally stand there while you shoot them so you can loose all your ammo. Once they've used all their ammo charge in and use your general to chase after any missile units.

Once you've won loot the city then downgrade the main building (don't repair) if you downgrade it you get an instant garrrison next turn if you repair you won't, just a weird quirk of the game.

Turn 4: Recruit general in capitol, make sure he's on a horse and recruit 3 units.

Turn 5: Think your barracks is ready by then so can recruit some swords.

By turn 5 or 6 the enemy will move close to your capitol, that's when you fight him with your 2 armies. During the battle, once the enemy is about to start shooting use your 2 generals to run up to the slingers, it will make the slingers fall back while your slingers do damage to the enemy. Just have your 2 general units harass any missile units the whole time, your army can take care of the rest and if you can have your slingers all fire on their general, the general units go down like flies to slingers but will give your melee units a hard fight.

Turn 6: Once you've won, you should be able to take their main settlement, depending on losses you may need to recruit some expensive mercenaries, use them but disband when you've taken it as they eat all your money. From there it's all about preparing to take on those other guys next to you who will declare war eventually but you have enough land to build to get an economy started and a decent army.

[PrivateXTC]

Also: Here's a playthrough by LegendofTotalWar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA8ZMvrF1RY&list=PLY8cZUL4pfECxjQ_9Yk0xJnHtVH3sv_2c&index=1&ab_channel=LegendofTotalWar

and one by JackieFish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UATQ2vsxZjg&list=PLxH_Ujz9YfKK7liihGwQVaVQAIPTR6JK9&ab_channel=JackieFish

Both playing on very hard and legendary.

[mooreshawnm]

100% of battles (outside rubbing out remnants) will be city battles. Move legion to Ostia. Build it up to what you can afford. Withstand attack on Ostia (over and over) after smashing them on the anvil that is Ostia run north and take the western Etruscan city. Make peace. Form another legion at Ostia. Break the Latins on Ostia just like you did w the Estruscans. When they're beaten down sweep down w two legion taking them out while forming 3rd legion in Ostia or north in Etruria.

You are the powerful empire now and can expand where you want. Lots of city battles. You'll have to fight most.