Emperor Modo II - situation report

[Modo44]

I will make polls to ask directions from you, the Senate. But as a start just an update on the situation. Please, use this thread for discussion and suggestions.



The state of the Roman Empire, 15 AD


Most valuable military assets:

• 9 Armies (some Legionary, some Heavy Cavalry, some mixed).
• 131 Legionaries (some in Armies).
• 71 Heavy Cavalry (some in Armies).
• 115 Garrisons.
• 72 Workers.

Important unit concentrations:

• England: 2 Armies, 7 heavy Cavalry, 8 Legions - fighting the Celts.
• Carthage: 2 Armies, 8 Legions, 5 Warriors (soon-to-be-Legions) - keeping the Carthaginians busy.
• Sicily: Garrisons - defending all possible landing aproaches.
• Cyprus: various units - defending all possible landing approaches.
• Sardinia: 2 Armies, 7 Legions, 4 Heavy Cavalry, 3 Garrisons, 2 Fire Catapults - defending the island. Not all landing approaches are protected at the moment.
• Corsica: 4 Legions, 2 Heavy Cavalry, 4 Garrisons, 1 Fire Catapult - defending the island. Not all landing approaches are protected at the moment.
• Goth border: 7 Heavy Cavalry (spread evenly), 19 Legions (concentrated in the west).
• Calais (support for either the Goth border, or England, or France): 4 Legions, 1 Heavy Cavalry, 3 Fire Catapults.
• Around the Alps (need directions): 14 Legions, 4 Heavy Cavalry, 9 Fire Catapults.
• Macedonian border: 3 Armies, 7 Legions, 13 Heavy Cavalry, assorted defenders.

There are various other units, but those come in small, insignificant quantities.

We have a very well developed core, which is capable of providing numerous new units each turn. It is also well defended by offensive units on guard duty.

Our other territories are very corrupt, so they can make only cheap units, Workers, and rushed builds. All cities have Temples and Walls due to Great Wonders we built, so a basic safety is provided everywhere.

We have two Citizens moving. A few are being built.


Diplomacy status:

• At war with: Carthage (no alliances), the Cetls (we are allied with the Goths).
• No ROPs.
• No MPPs.

Some of the possible deals:

• Egypt: for Horses and Spices they will give a Map, 5 Gold, a Worker.
• Macedonia: free ROP; straight Map exchange available.
• Goths: free ROP; for Spices and 90gpt they will give Furs.
• Scythia: free ROP; straight Map exchange possible; for 590 Gold they will sign an Alliance against Carthage.
• Persia: free ROP; for 100gpt they will give Incense; for 590 Gold they will sign an Alliance against Carthage.
• Celts: for peace they will give 357 Gold (whole treasury), 2 Workers, Map, 2 smaller cities.
• Carthage: for peace they will give 10 Gold (whole treasury), Map, 3 smaller cities.

We have 17% of 20% World Area needed to win.
We have 27% of 50% World Population needed to win.

MM to increase unit output was taken care of upon opening the turn. Legions moved out of cities to make Roads.

The current map:

[Modo44]

Some general plans I think worth pursuing.

1. Concentrate forces against the Goths, or gainst the Macedonians. The Macedonians seem the better target, because their big cities would be very valuable as population boosters. Plus, the Goths should be quite easy to buy into another war.

2. Rush many Granaries in conquered territories. This is to boost our population, needed to win. Of course, it has to be balanced against improving defense by unit rushes.

3. Rush Courthouses in conquered cities that have grown enough to make this building useful.

4. Keep clobbering the Celts. We could make peace now, but I suggest we keep going until we get that Furs sorce in England. The Roman forces can be easily reinforced to make the campaign go quickly. Also, there is the valuable Goth Alliance still in effect (2 more turns).

5. Drop the war with Carthage. All main goals have been achieved a while ago. We have no Alliance against them anymore, and we seem to have big problems reinforcing our southern force. We could sign peace and free 4 Armies to concentrate on an easier target - the Macedonians. Plus, this would give us Mallorca (New Leptis Magna) and two cities for gifting (to spawn AI vs AI aggression).

[Donegeal]

Well, naturally, I would like to see the war on Carthage continue; at least until those two cities near Polyroman Carthage are captured/razed. This would secure a spot for future Emperors to take the fight to Hannable if the need araises. Personally, I would prefer to keep the cities, but I understand Roadcage's flip concerns.

The Graneries in the newly conquered Gaul is a great idea, as it is a lush grassland and can grow quickly. Irrigation abound in the area as the continued fight against the Celts will but terrible happiness pressure against the governors in the province (cities are gunna be corrupt and they will need entertainers).

Make war against the Goths once our current treaties expire, however, do not make it a highly offensive war. Why? Like has been said before, great place to leader farm. We have enough units in the area to wipe them out and do it quickly, but if we can get 2-3 more GL out of the theater to turn into Armies (making it so there are 5 ARMIES to send against Macedon) it would have been a good fight. Plus, once we acuire the furs in England, what would the Goths have that we want?

[ormuzd]

I say we need to capture all Celtic cities. Having 17% of the World Territory we don't need to continue our war with Carthage.

The only thing that disturbs me is the close placement of Oea and Sabratha. Ths may turn Polyroman Carthage to them.

We should start a war with Macedonia or at least prepare and launch it when the next emperor comes to reign.

It's waste of legions to use them to prevent landing on islands. We should replace them with garrisons and move the legions to the continent or even to the front with Macedonia.

The Goth can't help us in any war because they are surrounded from us But capturing their cities will be not very useful because those cities will be corrupt.

[Modo44]

Point noted about replacing Legions protecting shores with Garrisons.

The forces we have on Sardinia virtually guarantee dispatching any attackers, and there seem to be no Carthaginian landings on the continent. Basically, it acts as a lightning rod. We have two Armies and numerous units here, and at least some of them need to stay.

There already are Entertainers in some of the bigger ex-Celtic cities. Once there is cash, perhaps rushing Markets would be in order? They are cheaper for happiness than any other building we have.

As noted, the Goths have nothing that we need. Why not give them a ROP and let them attack Macedonia?

So far I see these subjects that need a vote by the senate:

• Major infrastructure rushing in conquered territories - if, what kind of buildings, how much focus to put on it.
• Continuation of the campaign against the Celts.
• Continuation of the campaign against Carthage.
• Declaration of war on the Goths.
• Declaration of war on the Macedonians.
• Where to concentrate new units for the next Emperor.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Donegeal]

I would be strongly against a ROP with the Goths. They have LOTS of units (4/1/1) that could at anytime betray us and attach a lightly defeneded city. Plus they are SO ripe for GL farming as, like I said before, they have lots of these little one defense units.

Markets instead of churches and collesiums is a great idea, but only rush those imp once the city cannot grow any more.

Garrisons over Legions: This will take some time however as we have lots of Legions acting as guards...

The more I think about the celts, the more I think that we should exterminate them. Not so much that we need to concentrate on them (as we did in Gaul), just attack them at our lesiure. The forces we have in England are almost significant enough to do the job without difficulty.

About those blasted Carthagians: Please just take those two cities (Oea and Sabratha). Right now we see no immediate need, but who knows what the future holds? Having these three (or just the one if we raise the Carthage cities) cities right in the middle of Carthage will be a boon to future Emperors beyond our current vision.

Concentrate forces toward Macedon. Declare war when we have enough forces to rout through the first layer of cities, brace for the counter attack then walk through them...

[ormuzd]

for rushing marketplaces
do only roads and irrigation in Gaul cities

[Modo44]

Originally posted by ormuzd
do only roads and irrigation in Gaul cities

You mean except the bigger ones that can actually profit from Mines?

[joncnunn]

Armies having mixed Heavy Calvary and Legions.

to Modo's plan

[joncnunn]

Egypt isn't offering enough for spice. Hold onto the spiece keeping it in reserve until Egypt gets another incense adviable.

Persia's proposed 100 GPT for Incense is an insult.

We're taking the Celts fur. And also the Goths fur would be easy to take as well. No need to buy it.

[Modo44]

It is Demigod and we already have four Luxuries, so new ones are expensive. No techs to trade, so nothing worth the trouble, I guess.

I checked the available options in diplomacy, and just put them down for you to see (Not all Senators can be arsed to open the save. ). I too think we have little to zero worthwile deals coming up.

[roadcage]

Armies having mixed Heavy Calvary and Legions.

The mixed Army in Brittania was formed prior to my reign and infact prior to the dark times.

[joncnunn]

Looks to me like annexing Macedonia is the quickest path to victory.

I also like the idea of a future emperor annexing Goths, simply to shorten our border, but that should probably wait until the troops from England fighting the Celts are back on the mainland since we don't want to hold up the war with Macedonia.

[roadcage]

Most of the units in the Alps are en-route to Macedonian front under multiple turn (goto) orders.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by roadcage
Most of the units in the Alps are en-route to Macedonian front under multiple turn (goto) orders.

No, they are not. First thing I did after opening the turn was revoking all Go-To commands. It was said before, and looks like it needs repeating: Emperors should not use this command if it takes longer than their reign.