So trying to figure things out... best scenario to do so?

[Dulahan]

So I've Birth of Rome, AJE, Spartacus, and Cantabrian Wars. And while I've stumbled through the Samnite war as Rome and won that handily without really know what the heck I was doing, I find it impossible to win as the Samnites. I've failed to lead Spartacus to victory time and time again. I have failed to defeat the Carthaginians as the Mercenary Revolt more than once. Then got overwhelmed trying to fight the first Punic War.

It is definitely time to figure out just what I'm doing wrong, or not doing, or whatever. Even if it is just I have a predisposition of choosing underdogs it seems.

So what would be a good scenario to help me learn just what I'm doing? The Tutorial did not seem to be enough. Naturally I want some leeway, enough happening so I can learn, but hopefully not be overwhelmed. So room for mistakes, but a challenge all the same. So sell me on a Scenario please! And give me some advice for it too.

[loki100]

Hi, if you look in my signature, there is a link to an AAR I did with Narwhal (its actually on the Paradox forum). Now it was for the beta, so some things have changed but he does a superb job at explaining key mechanics.

I'd suggest start with the Vespesian faction in the 4 Emperors. It needs some care - leave enough in the East to keep the Parthians quiet and suppress the Jewish revolt. Also you need to work out how to use the decision cards to convert cash+EP into National Morale - if I recall you need NM to be fairly high (>115) to bring the Danubian legions to your side. That is the key step. With them, and some of your Eastern legions you should be able to clean up. Another good one, though less easy than it was, is Sulla in the Marius-Sulla scenario. This is harder now than in the beta/our AAR as at that stage regular legions just wiped the floor with any other troop type - its a bit better balanced now.

Im BoR, even in the Pyrrhus scenario, its very hard to beat Rome as they can usually rebuild their consular legions and if you threaten Rome the dictator with extra legions tends to spawn.

Winning with Spartacus is feasible, but you do need to know how to take cities quickly and play the decision cards with some knowledge. Even then, its set up so that Crassus will tend to stomp all over you.

[FroBodine]

What is the best way to see where certain factions are? I am having trouble finding the Parthians and the Danubians in the 4 Emperors scenario you are talking about. I am not very familiar with the Roman era and where all the factions lived, so I have to hunt all around the map to see what regions are militarily controlled by what factions. I turn on the filter that color codes regions owned by each faction, but I still have trouble finding where everyone is.

Also, this scenario covers a massive amount of land. Am I correct that the Vespesians own a lot of it, but they still have their objective cities strewn all over the map, and will have to travel great distances to take the objective cities? Do you know if there is an AAR of this 4 Emperors scenario anywhere?

[loki100]

Parthians are to the east of the Roman held regions in the East Med - think of modern day Iraq. They should be passive unless you remove too many forces from the east - hence the importance of attracting the Danubian legions to your side

Danube is the big river that runs down the centre of the map of Europe (as laid out in the game). Again you are going to see low level trouble here, but can ignore it.

For what you control and need - look at the map page in the ledger, will help you decide what to go for and what to ignore - remember the goal is to control the Empire by wiping out your rivals, the loss of a few border towns to barbarian incursions is secondary.

Most of your at start army needs to stay in the East to deal with the revolt and keep the Parthians quiet, send what you can spare to Salonika/Adrianople (by sea - but watch out for storms), join up with the Danubian legions and invade Italy from the north. Most of the map is a side show, you're not trying to rule the Empire or restore your borders, but the beat up the Vittelans (odds on they will take out Otto for you).

[Dulahan]

Hmm, looks like 4 Emperors is out due to CTD any time I try to play that scenario, something about a graphic not loading. May need to see about some sort of repair or reinstall somehow. So far can't find any other ones that do that though/

[FroBodine]

Thank you very much, loki! This is very useful stuff. The map page in the ledger! I knew I was missing something obvious. This is an essential screen.

[loki100]

aye, the map at first is a bit like I felt on first playing Wars In America, so few forces, no front lines and a massive playing area. Especially in the civil war scenarios, you either need very specific cities or to destroy someone else's army (or both). Equally you quickly realise that a large army has to stay in the populated regions (for supply) and that off-road movement is painfully slow ... so although you can move 'anywhere' in truth your options are pretty limited

[BBBD316]

Loki how do you get decisive battles with your enemies, I find that they lose and just disappear. I know this is due to the low roman scouting level, is there any troops or decision that can assist?

[Dulahan]

So, as I now have Parthian Wars thanks to the sale... does that change the advice of a good scenario at all?

[Dulahan]

Actually, this is one thing...

How do I reinforce my armies or restore troops to elements? It seems like once they're down, they never come back...

Worse still, elements? Is there any way at all to get back lost elements?

[Erik Springelkamp]

Actually, this is one thing...

How do I reinforce my armies or restore troops to elements? It seems like once they're down, they never come back...

Worse still, elements? Is there any way at all to get back lost elements?

Go to a depot, and take a passive posture. Make sure you have bought the right kind of replacements in the construction screen (F2).

Partial losses of elements will often be filled even out in the field when you stop for a moment, but restoration of full elements require more rest and supply, and a depot, depending on the settings.

[Dulahan]

How do I know what the right sort of replacements is?

Say, I'm trying to replace a Legion in Caesar's Revenge?

Or my Samnite units in the Samnite War?

[Erik Springelkamp]

How do I know what the right sort of replacements is?

Say, I'm trying to replace a Legion in Caesar's Revenge?

Or my Samnite units in the Samnite War?

You may discover that yourself by looking at all the available replacement chits.

Also, when you look at the details of an element in a unit, it tells you what kind of chit it needs.

[Dulahan]

I seriously never realized I could click things on the F2 tab. Wow. That might help me with a lot of the things I've tried. Wow.