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Defending Britain is going to require alot of mercs and strong defense in France. You might have to fall back in the Balkans to have the resources.
But since I couldnt lose anything I could just not abandon stuff to its fate and I didnt go all the way back to italy either. I held everything, on legendary. And win every battle (to 420 atleast so the achivment kicked in). Although I consider myself lucky that I did not have to fight the african nations. Problably one of my most invested TW-campaigns ever (yes i did replay some battles by alt-f4 in case of loss...im not a streamer), did however know all the starting-actions in & out.
If the cities dont get looted you can manage public order.
I was heavy on mercs for the major part of the early game. Basically only spammed spears & relied on mercenary cav (think the romans did that alot in earlier times), took whatever mercs I could to fill the ranks.
The caledonians have to go early. Can be killed off in the first turn, at this point unit preservation is the key with WRE & the units sucks, but can be done. If you dont take them out they will togheter with the pics overwhelm you so I do not see a scenario where razing & retreating back isnt a part of the eqation. You need time & dont have the strenght for anything else at the start. The Picts will declare ware on you shortly after start and if you only have a badly beaten stack there...Bye bye. The picts will often try to siege down that closests city, that buys you time if needed.Take the picts out when a good opportunity presents itself.
You will also need to have some forces to deal with the ebdians. They will attack farily early on on the closest city. If you win that battle with a stack you can counter-attack and kill them off.
Raise a stack with 2-4 mercs in caledonium (or whats it called, the south-east portcity). Saxony will launch a naval assault. For the future a small navy there can be invaluable against scandianvian incursions, but thats later.
Passive defense is not something I would recommend. Selective aggression is better. Be offensive and take out what you can when you can, create buffer-zones that buys you time.
They did abandon Britain, but they didn't raze everything to create a deadzone as a buffer. In game terms, this is pulling out the legions, demolishing the latin shrines, and then letting the garrisions deal with the inevitable public order uprisings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratian_(usurper) and barbarian attacks.
Wow, that's impressive. I knew I guy that didn't lost any cities on legendary up to 435, but he lost battles.
The must hold regions for me in this playthrough are Brittania Inferior, Brittania Superior, Liguria, Venetia, Italia, Magna Graecia, Africa, Insulae Occidentalis, and Mauretania (minus what I didn't have in that province to begin with). I hope to keep them, and if possible never lose a battle with them (which means the garrisions slowly level up, except in Roma since no one attacks there). Not that I won't fight the battles in other places, in particular Northern Gaul is not on my "must never fall" but would make my life easier if I held!
The Nordic Cavarly Raiders (something like that) are mercs that are near direct upgrades to their Roman Coutnerparts, at least until the Cavarly compound gets built. They are cheaper too. Also, they are better than the other melee cav mercs. I start the game merc heavy too. Holding Britain lets me have a cheap, effective melee cav for my Legions (sadly my garrisions use the Spatha-armed Scout Equites). I mean other than ignoring terrain penalties, Scout Equties don't have anything over these mercs.
Wow, I can kill the Caladonians off on the first turn? I never knew that! Thanks!
I know Saxony will launch a naval assault soon. It's a great opporunity to get some XP for the legion if I get them back from Eildon in time! Maybe 3 turns after I beat back that one, I'll have enough money to get a navy with 1 ram ship and 3 melee ships.
Ok, thanks you answered my question. With my role playing restrictions, I must strike the three Celtic nations when the time is right (possibly after they smash into my cities and get repulsed) instead of a passive defense.
Yes. Unit preservation becomes the key. 2 battles, first on their closest stack (kill as much as you can) and try to make them run towards the city, second is the city itself which can get tricky since they will charge. Always did for me.
For tip on that watch legend of totalwars first wre-run video on that, basically did the same since there is not many options by that point.
Thx. Just set myself up to a good ol challenge^^
Not my first playthrough with wre though, know them in & out. Limitanai ex is complete crap fighter and will never do any killing (and comitensei only might..), only good to soak up arrows so let them do that before engaging.
Im also just saying how I prefer to do things. Dont like sitting around and taking punches, I rather go on the offense as soon as possible.
Eh, I'm NOT looking to not lose any battles. The other guy did it, that's not my goal.
My goal is to not lose any settlement battles in Brittania Inferior, Brittania Superior, Liguria, Venetia, Italia, Magna Graecia, Africa, Insulae Occidentalis, and Mauretania. However, Brittania is under threat fromth e Celts from the begining. If you have any advice to add, that would be appreciated.
Also, I'm scrapping the Chapter 1 Goal of recruit 10 spear units, if I meet it great if not that's not the end of the world.
Yes it was. And tedious with rebels. Had to be very careful where I put my armies, which is why bufferzones from fallen states & spies got important. Walled cities doesnt get attacked in the first turn (unless Huns in middle game), a single stack in forced march to an unwalled can deter from attacking then its just a matter of being effective in the field
. Its also why I rather go on the offense rather than waiting to be attacked since everyone will attack you at one point, some later than others
I'm also willing to "passivly abandon" areas. For example, Spain and the Balkans I am willing to let the garrisions deal with the rebels. I'd rather keep those areas, but it's not the end of the world if I lose them, so long as I make the enemy pay in blood with every garrision they fight. I will refuse to activly abandon them with that game option, but I'm willing to let them fall.
I perfer the tactical defense on most fronts, but the idea of getting pounded forever in Brittania (since my self imposed goal is to keep it) doesn't sound appealing. That's why I wondered if it would be possible for a quick sleective offense, so that the only thing I have to worry about are naval invasions (which... honestly I can live with coastal raids).
Abandoning the regions in the game may seem cheesy, but the monies you get from doing that and demolishing buildings kinda simulates the continued tax flow but with the recouped admin costs.
PS: I suppose another potential strategy as WRE would be to deliberately make Britain emerge as a faction, then make them a tributary. This way you get money from them and the benefit of a buffer zone, but without the razed settlements.
And you still technically are holding the British privinces if your Britain tributary takes them.
First march your army in northern Britain north of the wall and recruit mercenaries and an onager. Defeat the Caledonians in battle then raze their city. Disband all the troops you have left they will be in a poor state and cost alot of income.
Second move your army in Gaul and your army in Raetia et Noricum to attack the Alamans together. Recruit mercenaries and an onager to help. This wipes out the Alamans on the first turn and gives you Gems. Disband the expensive or damaged troops and hold the city as a useful buffer city.
Third move your army to attack the Quadians on the first turn, recruiting mercenaries in the barbarian territory. Raze their city and eliminate them from the game then disband the army.
This should use up pretty much all your starting funds. You will have eliminated 3 factions from the game first turn.
Next open the diplomacy tab. Go through every Barbarian faction and ask them to declare war on another Barbarian faction. Many are eager to do so. For as long as they are at war with another faction they are unlikely to declare war on you. If the tribe they declared war on is destroyed try to get them to attack another faction. Any faction will do. You may need to bribe them with 100 or 200.
With Gems you are more likely to get trade deals. Try to trade with the North African factions and get non aggression pacts if possible. This should help prevent them from attacking you.
When you are done with diplomacy go round every region and knock down the buildings. You want to keep fields and guard houses though. Higher tier cities should be knocked down for money. Be ruthless and knock down nearly everything including economic buildings. Keep one higher level church so you can recruit priests on your 2nd turn. This will give you a vast sum of money in the 2nd turn. Try to keep just enough food to avoid going into deficit.
When you are done disband all your troops on the map except a few in the old Alaman city. End your turn when you are done and you should be attacked by the goths in the east. You can't do much to stop them at this point so just grin and bear it.
On your second turn build fields and guard houses in every region that you can. This will fix the food situation and help with public order and defence. Build basic sanitation in every city that you can afford it.. Recruit 3 priests and then demolish all churches. Use the priests to shore up public order round the empire along with bread and circus edicts.
For tech research go all military and upgrade your troops as quickly as possible. You don't want to be stuck with Cohors or Limitanei. Upgrade as quickly as possible to improve your garrisons and aim for Carnunti Seniores and Legio Comitatenses as soon as possible. Carnunti Seniores tech gives you an extra 2 spearmen units on your garrisons and is fantastic.
From here focus on eliminating barbarian factions from the game and upgrading farms and guard houses. I prefer cattle farms for a good mix of food and money. Climate change reduces the value of wheat fields after a few turns so i don't bother with them.
When the Huns arrive if you want an easier time try to make friends with them. By the time they show up you should have a fair amount of income. Pay them to declare war on all the people who are at war with you. They will destroy your enemies with their limitless respawning armies. When they are at war with lots of factions who you are at war with, your diplomatic standing rises quite a bit. Throw some small gifts at them and get non aggression and then military alliance. Keep paying them off and they will stay friendly. You can then wait until Attila dies or attempt to assassinate Attila, if you get bored of using them as puppets..
Stay allied with Eastern Rome and wipe out all the tribes you come across! This should leave you with an easy late game.
Sorry for the long post! Hope this is helpful! Let me know if you need any advice!
Divide et impera...the fundamental Roman way :)
Again, I'm not doing cheesy things like activly abandoning.
Simply demolishing buildings in expndible regions however I am planning on doing. On "expendable" areas, i plan to smash anything that isn't the main cotwn and the farms. Then I'll collect taxes until the inevitable barbarian attack or revolt.
This seems like sound advice for a good first turn. I have two questions.
One, why the Quadians? Lots of people say are the WRE, wipe them off the map. Well, it's an enemy faction, of course it's easier with them dead but... I don't get it.
The second thing is, how would you recommend for my particualr playthough goals? I'm triyng to not lose any settlement defense battles in Brittania Inferior, Brittania Superior, Liguria, Venetia, Italia, Magna Graecia, Africa, Insulae Occidentalis, and Mauretania. I am willing to passivly abandon regions like the Balkans and the Danube (collecitng taxes until they fall). I mentioned I'm not razing anything, so some of your advice doesn't work for me.
Well, maybe I'll make an exception for the Quadians if I figure out why they are so bad.
If you want to keep them though you can. It will cost you though. In my play throughs I decided the Alamans walled city was worth keeping while the Quadians unwalled settlement was not. The Alamans fortress is well located to protect you other unwalled regions.
The problem is that if you can't retain control because of public order, then the faction you destroyed will reappear. This is a bad outcome for you. Only hold settlements you know you can keep.
In my play throughs I do not lose any regions. Many threats are eliminated first turn and most of the rest are turned against each other. The priority is building garrisons in every region and upgrading them as much as possible. Every region that can should have as good a garrison building as you can afford. If you prioritise military tech you garrison forces should be able to defeat the early game barbarian attacks who mainly use levy spears and bands. In this way the Eastern provinces along with Spanish and British Provinces are all retained. Get those upgraded spears and Legios ASAP!
I found the main problem in my early game to be the Goths. They have multiple units of Gothic warriors which are more than a match for your early game units. The Goths need to be weakened and destroyed as soon as possible.
After a few turns you should be safe. At which point you can build an army and wipe out Barbarian factions in punitive expeditions. Destroy all the tribes in Scotland and Germany and raze their territory. This creates a buffer. When they are all dead, colonise en masse. By the mid game you can colonise all of Scotland and Germany. It is better to colonise Scotland and Germany early before the climate changes make it harder to move in Northern Europe because of the long Winters. Focus on taking a complete province at a time, this makes it easier to retain public order.
Virtually all the battles you fight will be settlement defence battles. There are two main types of maps for settlement defence. The first has a ruined Amphitheatre, the second has a raised plaza surrounded by walls and choke points.
Key to winning these battles is the use of barricades. Use barricades to block access to the central region. Put archers on the barricades. Turn off fire at will. Turn on heavy shot. When an enemy unit attacks the barricades shoot them at point blank range. When firing point blank the archers massacre whole units quickly. When firing at long range they are fairly ineffective.
For the raised plaza type maps, position your units in testudo formation in the choke points. In this formation occupying high ground they can beat infantry and cavalry, they will also be resistant to missile attack.
They other key to winning is your scout equites unit. At the start of the deployment position them outside the settlement. Run away from the enemy with this unit and and hide them. The enemy will pile all its units into the choke points. At this point use the cavalry to kill all the archers and slingers. When the skirmishers are all dead charge the enemy units in the back which have engaged your units guarding the choke points. You can cause a mass slaughter of the barbarians by doing this. In some battles I have managed to get 1000 kills with one unit of scout equites.
Defending the Amphitheatre is much the same. Guard the choke points with testudo units. The access point on the right should be blocked with a barricade and archers. If you don't have enough units to block access, then put all the testudo units at the access point in the Amphitheatre itself and make a last stand.
Hope this is useful!