Rise of Rome Strategy Tips

[The diplomat]

What's your strategy as Rome? Do you focus on Carthage first, or build up your empire by attacking the Celts and other Tribes?

[Kaos XIII]

You have to focus on Carthage first, since you're in lock war.

I've only played it one time, but it's clear to me that the capital Carthage needs to be taken quickly. This then moves the Carthaginian capital out to the far west. Or in my game at least.

[asleepathewheel]

I just loaded this game as rome, I think I will try to take Syracuse and Marsala first, as we start at war with Hannibal, then I will probably try out the celts.

I love opening up the game and seeing all these roads leading off into the darkness, very forboding.

[Kaos XIII]

Definately, the complete invasion of Sicily should be first, and it's quite easy. Sardinia and Corsica are also easy to invade, thus I left those for later.

P.S. Be wary of those Scythian Horsemen, they are not your friends.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Kaos XIII
You have to focus on Carthage first, since you're in lock war.

I've only played it one time, but it's clear to me that the capital Carthage needs to be taken quickly. This then moves the Carthaginian capital out to the far west. Or in my game at least.

Ah, I didn't realize that it was a locked war, though that's a duh realization. So looks like I will work on them first.

[Louis XXIV]

Are there any new units in the scenario?

I think Locked War with Carthage is a bit unrealistic. Rome had been a peace with Carthage for many years (before the scenario started I guess). And there was a peace treaty after each Punic War.

[Rugger-UK]

Cathage will start attacking over the alps with Elephants and other units! Though not their UU they still get them in addition to Numerian Spearmen. The Celts will probably join in and definately watch those Scythians!!!

[Rhothaerill]

Yes, because of the locked war, Carthage was my starting point as well.

I too started with the islands (Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica) and used those as a jumping point to Carthage. After that I consolidated my forces against the city of Carthage. After that fell I spread my forces back out to take the north coast cities. The spice on the islands and a city I built neat the dyes over by Egypt (along with the Temple of Artemis) have given me enough happiness to get to size 12 cities with my core.

Regarding the forces Carthage sent to me through Celt land, just as they were about to attack me I paid off the Celts to start a war with Carthage.

The two other northern tribes are currently in rotating wars with Persia and Macedonia, none of which I've had a hand in yet. My foreign affairs screen looks like a huge jumble of red lines right now.

[Rhothaerill]

Originally posted by Louis XXIV
Are there any new units in the scenario?

I've only played with the Romans so far, but they have three upgradeable levels of Legions, each with better stats than the last, and all three also have worker actions of roading and building fortresses. The Romans also have a garrison unit which is essentially a cheap pikeman, and some strong mounted units.

Carthage does have elephants as noted, which is a good thing considering the history of Hannibal's ill-fated invasion of the Italian peninsula. Of course in history, Rome didn't pay off Celtish mercenaries to stop Hannibal's elephant invasion.

[joncha]

I took Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica from Carthage first, then paid-off everyone else so I could fight a running war into Spain, then made two simultanious landings into North Africa (from Spain and from Sicily)...

...and almost lost.

It leaves the (relatively) weak Celts with all their cities intact, and all that land and population comes in handy for the victory. That wouldn't have been a problem for me, except: a) Carthage walked all over the Egyptians early, so they had a "fall-back" empire after I routed them the first time and b) just as I pushed the Carthaginians into in Egypt, the Macedonia collapsed, leaving the Persians a beautiful chance for victory by either taking Egypt or (more likely) knocking on my backdoor while I was vacationing in Africa.

Good scenario, far more challenging than I expected (especially after an easy walk through the Mesopotamia scenario).

jon.