11-15-2006, 07:22 PM
Magnus,
which version do you play? If you haven't done it yet download the 1.5 patch (or 1.6 if you have Barbarian Invasion installed as well) from www.totalwar.com . It's essential because there was a load/save bug in the previous versions. The AI broke everytime you loaded a save game. That means in the turn and the one after all AI factions stopped it's aggressivity immediately: wherever it was possible (there were diplomats in range) factions make peace, all ongoing sieges were lifted, every army in hostile territory begin to whitdraw.
About taking foreign cities:
there are five distinct cultures in the game: roman, greek, eastern, egyptian and barbarian. If you (as a roman) occupy a city with buildings from other cultures than you will get culture penalty (black-and-white faces in the settlement details screen) in that city (ranging from 5 to 50%). It depends on the number of foreign culture buildings. You can decrease it by raising buildings of your culture, but you don't have to destroy the buildings, it's enough when you upgrade them and they will convert to your culture.
Other factors that modify the morale of your settlements:
- size of the settlement (squalor - displayed by small rats)
- distance from your capital (wheels)
- enemy spy in the city (unrest - two crossed swords)
- unrest (there are some cities, for example Jerusalem, which have a basic unrest value of 15-30%)
- population boom (if the population increases by more then 5% it boosts morale - the more the better)
- garrison army (it is compared to the overall size of the settlement, you need larger garrison for bigger cities)
- happiness buildings (temples, theatres, baths etc)
- influence of the governor (if there is any - the more the better)
- the governor's traits can also affect the morale of the city in a lot of ways (negative & positive)
About Carthage:
It doesn't matter what you do, Carthage will sooner or later rebell, because it has a huge natural population increase rate (note the small grain icon next to the city is not a coincidence :lol: )
About beating hoplites/phalangites:
I always bring 8-10 skirmishing units (velites, archers etc) plus 4-5 cavalry.
- with your cavalry first destroy the enemy's cavalry and skirmishers but avoid any contact with the phalanxes.
- form a battle line with your skirmishers in front ot the phalanx.
- sit back and relax as you watch the individual phalanx units start to chase your skirmishers (don't forget to turn skirmishing mode on) spreading out the whole battlefield without any support from friendly units. :lol:
- now one-by-one anahilite the separated units by attacking them from ALL directions at once with your cavalry. They will break instant.
Easy prey! 8)
Against Egypt:
The real thorn in the side are those damned chariots. The best counter-chariot units are elephants, what you don't have as a roman.
The main thing about chariots: never, and I say never, use cavalry against them, except missile cavalry, because they will be hacked to pieces within seconds. Lots of archers and high morale heavy infantry (forget velites and such things - go for praetorians)
Personally I don't like field artillery (in 1.5 the catapults are VERY inaccurate, the other thingies are just to slow for me, but sometimes they can kill the enemy general outright with the first volley which can be real fun).
which version do you play? If you haven't done it yet download the 1.5 patch (or 1.6 if you have Barbarian Invasion installed as well) from www.totalwar.com . It's essential because there was a load/save bug in the previous versions. The AI broke everytime you loaded a save game. That means in the turn and the one after all AI factions stopped it's aggressivity immediately: wherever it was possible (there were diplomats in range) factions make peace, all ongoing sieges were lifted, every army in hostile territory begin to whitdraw.
About taking foreign cities:
there are five distinct cultures in the game: roman, greek, eastern, egyptian and barbarian. If you (as a roman) occupy a city with buildings from other cultures than you will get culture penalty (black-and-white faces in the settlement details screen) in that city (ranging from 5 to 50%). It depends on the number of foreign culture buildings. You can decrease it by raising buildings of your culture, but you don't have to destroy the buildings, it's enough when you upgrade them and they will convert to your culture.
Other factors that modify the morale of your settlements:
- size of the settlement (squalor - displayed by small rats)
- distance from your capital (wheels)
- enemy spy in the city (unrest - two crossed swords)
- unrest (there are some cities, for example Jerusalem, which have a basic unrest value of 15-30%)
- population boom (if the population increases by more then 5% it boosts morale - the more the better)
- garrison army (it is compared to the overall size of the settlement, you need larger garrison for bigger cities)
- happiness buildings (temples, theatres, baths etc)
- influence of the governor (if there is any - the more the better)
- the governor's traits can also affect the morale of the city in a lot of ways (negative & positive)
About Carthage:
It doesn't matter what you do, Carthage will sooner or later rebell, because it has a huge natural population increase rate (note the small grain icon next to the city is not a coincidence :lol: )
About beating hoplites/phalangites:
I always bring 8-10 skirmishing units (velites, archers etc) plus 4-5 cavalry.
- with your cavalry first destroy the enemy's cavalry and skirmishers but avoid any contact with the phalanxes.
- form a battle line with your skirmishers in front ot the phalanx.
- sit back and relax as you watch the individual phalanx units start to chase your skirmishers (don't forget to turn skirmishing mode on) spreading out the whole battlefield without any support from friendly units. :lol:
- now one-by-one anahilite the separated units by attacking them from ALL directions at once with your cavalry. They will break instant.
Easy prey! 8)
Against Egypt:
The real thorn in the side are those damned chariots. The best counter-chariot units are elephants, what you don't have as a roman.
The main thing about chariots: never, and I say never, use cavalry against them, except missile cavalry, because they will be hacked to pieces within seconds. Lots of archers and high morale heavy infantry (forget velites and such things - go for praetorians)
Personally I don't like field artillery (in 1.5 the catapults are VERY inaccurate, the other thingies are just to slow for me, but sometimes they can kill the enemy general outright with the first volley which can be real fun).
Valete,
József Janák
Miles Gregarius
Legio I Adiutrix
Pannoniciani Seniores
Brigetio, Pannonia
József Janák
Miles Gregarius
Legio I Adiutrix
Pannoniciani Seniores
Brigetio, Pannonia
