Food shortages for Rome in 2nd year?

[BigSexy]

Have almost all provinces with food shortage after playing 1 year. Not sure what I did wrong, didn't do much. How can I fix this or should I restart and do something different. Seems harsh. But maybe it's just part of the game to deal with it during winter 451.

[BigSexy]

What doesn't make sense if I look at the food overview in Latium the green and red #'s equal around -10 per month, but it says this month will be -30 (Jun 451). So I don't know why the #'s are off that much?

[BigSexy]

Knew game would be learning curve, but seems ridiculous that Rome would be starting game with food problems in the next year. I must have missed some dramatic things to do if people are suppose to avoid this. Maybe somebody can tell me what I did. Otherwise, it's gg.

FYI I did watch a video by Konglomerat - How to play Rome - Imperator Rome beginner's guide. Followed that and don't remember he had food issues. Also, have watched other videos on the game too.

[BigSexy]

I did just try and changes all my governors policy's to encourage trade as that adds a 10% food modifier.

[BigSexy]

Also, even before running out of food almost all my pop categories are unhappy, like at the bottom. wtf, Again didn't do much. How is Rome such a mess to start the game? Must be a very scripted start for Rome or you're going to suffer quick and gg. Not sure what I'm missing (many things?) did watch the How to play Rome video, but maybe it doesn't cover the Invictus mod.

[BigSexy]

Looks like I was able to better the food situation by importing grain where I could. Still not sure how to deal with happiness. Cause most provinces only start with 1 import slot except Latium. So maybe there I should start game with like 4/6 slots a food type? grain and fish?

[shoobers]

This is almost 100% a Rome issue. It does not have farms, fishing, or any other food source.

[Menkerot]

use all of your trade routes for food, but yeah, other than that you need territories producing food. Funny how can it be historical in the game with Egypt and Carthage becoming Rome's bread basket.

[galadon3]

Pretty sure thats an Invictus-thing so early in the game, rome doesn't have those problems from the start in Vanilla.
One thing you should have an eye on in general (not sure if it is the cause of your problem in that case) are armies, raised armies (be that permanent ones or raised levies) consume food and resupply from the province they are in. Big armies or armies stationed in provinces with little food production and stockpile can eat a province into starvation.

[BigSexy]

Първоначално публикувано от Menkerot:

use all of your trade routes for food, but yeah, other than that you need territories producing food. Funny how can it be historical in the game with Egypt and Carthage becoming Rome's bread basket.

yeah, that was the case

[BigSexy]

Първоначално публикувано от galadon3:

Pretty sure thats an Invictus-thing so early in the game, rome doesn't have those problems from the start in Vanilla.
One thing you should have an eye on in general (not sure if it is the cause of your problem in that case) are armies, raised armies (be that permanent ones or raised levies) consume food and resupply from the province they are in. Big armies or armies stationed in provinces with little food production and stockpile can eat a province into starvation.

yeah, that was contributing
the province it was in was making enough for the army and still had surplus
since provinces don't share food, I don't that was my issue.
Latium province was the worst off and no levies where there
again, game just started and I had just raised levies for the war with Samnites.

[Ax4711]

That's the situation in Rome. A big city needs a lot of imports from overseas. Overland transport doesn't really work in antiquity.

And Roman agricultulture runs on plantations that would rather produce what pays best instead of staple foods, the Roman system killed off the independent farmer class.

Rome's main role in Imperator is as an endgame boss.

[Menkerot]

Първоначално публикувано от Ax4711:

And Roman agricultulture runs on plantations that would rather produce what pays best instead of staple foods, the Roman system killed off the independent farmer class.

not really. Independent farmers after the fall of Rome eventually transformed into serfs and landlords - a process which began even before that when western roman empire was collapsing. Barbarians copied this practise.

Първоначално публикувано от Ax4711:

Rome's main role in Imperator is as an endgame boss.

only if it reaches you by that point. In my Kush game when I finally conquered Egypt near the end of the end date, Rome was still in Greece and nowhere near me. But if you play past the end date, then yes, eventually it will conquer everything.

[Ax4711]

Първоначално публикувано от Menkerot:

Independent farmers after the fall of Rome eventually transformed into serfs and landlords - a process which began even before that when western roman empire was collapsing. Barbarians copied this practise.

There were practically no independent farmers in Italy. They staged several walkouts after the oligarchic coup. to no avail. Rome never developed democracy and didn't get rid of debt slavery like Athens. They stayed with the oligarchy's career politicians and elections, later turned into a military dictatorship. And they would rather genocide free peoples like the Samnites than not take over their lands.

The only Roman farmers who remained free were in distant provinces where there was still land available, and many of them would have been settled army veterans. Settling his army veterans in Italy on confiscated latifundia/plantations ultimately cost J.Caesar his life.

Second, there were no "barbarians". As V.Putin recently remarked, the supposed barbarians had also learned to live better and thrived. That's why they ran Rome in late antiquity.

[Menkerot]

Първоначално публикувано от Ax4711:

There were practically no independent farmers in Italy. They staged several walkouts after the oligarchic coup. to no avail. Rome never developed democracy and didn't get rid of debt slavery like Athens. They stayed with the oligarchy's career politicians and elections, later turned into a military dictatorship. And they would rather genocide free peoples like the Samnites than not take over their lands.

independent farmers in italy have been for ever. Yes, their numbers grew smaller because nobles took over their land and later on became feudal lords, but they were not completely eliminated. Also, samnites and others eventually got roman citizenship.

Първоначално публикувано от Ax4711:

The only Roman farmers who remained free were in distant provinces where there was still land available, and many of them would have been settled army veterans. Settling his army veterans in Italy on confiscated latifundia/plantations ultimately cost J.Caesar his life.

Caesar made enough enemies to justify his murder, and, come to think of it, when you make yourself a dictator for life, it won't sit well with others anyhow.

Първоначално публикувано от Ax4711:

Second, there were no "barbarians". As V.Putin recently remarked, the supposed barbarians had also learned to live better and thrived. That's why they ran Rome in late antiquity.

Putin is not a historian. Barbarians ushered western empire in the dark ages: razed cities (urban population fell so drastically words can't even describe it), almost killed trade, helped create the feudal order in which ignorant and illiterate kings and nobles ruled via christian monks preaching subservience over no less ignorant and illiterate population which forgot lots of things ubiquitous in Rome, and so on. Europe under barbarian kingdoms became that infamous backwater we all know. So much so that descendants of those barbarians were not willing to come back home during the crusades after witnessing wealth and splendour of the east. On the other hand, eastern empire never declined culturally, economically or scientifically.

[Tomahawk-NYC]

I had food problems with Latium province (Rome) early on too- but its a good wake up call i think to one of your prime objectives: Feeding the massive mega city and your Empire. Take Aegyptus and import that grain! Take Sicily and import that grain! This game is unique in that you really are trying to benefit your capitol at, if necessary, the expense of everywhere else. The Empire is to benefit Rome and not necessarily the rest of the Empire!