I love this game R: TW. I'll never get bored of it.

My favorite faction probably the Roman Julii or the Eastern Roman Empire. I love Romans (Scipii, Brutii and WRE I also like). After that the Selecids are cool.

Carthage! Gotta love killing romans hehe ;) Though i love playing Iberia and Egypt as well.

For best factions i believe the Greeks or Macedon are very well placed for the first place, romans and seleucides are good also.

Gah! Carthage have the worst starting position. Greece? You gotta be joking! They absolutly smell of cheese! They don't have any good cavalry and Hoplites are so inflexible. In fact the only thing good about them at all is the Spartan unit and the fact that they start out with all the wonders (or most of em anyway.)

Macedon are alright.

Nope, armoured hoplite, is probably the best unit of the campaign game: stats like no other, 30 defense! - 1 turn build! - and you can make then from turn 5 or so! What can you do against these babies - Cavalry? what the hell for man...on emperor cavalry is good for one thing - dying. Besides did i mentioned you got amored hoplite, cretan archers.

Besides, Greece can buy out every single army macedon and seleucid puts on the field for cheaper prices since they are all hellenistic people.

Greece also starts with Rhodes and Statue of Zeus and can easily take out Halicarnassus and Artemis in 2 turns, man oh man?? what do you want more for an earlier start, besides they can build milita cavalry, and greek cavalry is good for start also. Hell, put me on a field with 10 armoured hoplites, a couple cretan, greek cavalry, heavy pelstats and militia cavalry, and will be making sushi of your roman troops in no time.

Carthage as one of the best world start positions, just build an huge navy and you start playing with those romans. Take out Messana, next Numidia, next Iberia and puff you ve won the game.

Carthage is like Britain, only bigger,better cities, armed with phalanx, elephants and sweet onagers, oh yeah baby!

Romans tend to be the easiest faction i take out (except SPQR of course), now Gauls, these the AI play like hell with them, on the hardest difficulty level of course, other levels are just a pure joke - you can kill everybody with a full pack of horses, theres no strategy, just press charge and the battle is over in 15 sec (my personal best i think)

I would say Greece as i love the hoplites, but i dont care too much for the first 30 years of war with all of Italy plus MAcedon and whomever they bring alon; Britannia as I love their starting position and their units are allright; or the Selucid Empire, they have a great unit array, but their starting position is less than fashonable for my methods of empire running/building. an early defencive war is not a war i personally enjoy

I like the Hoplites... but I also prefer cavalry and/or elephants. In RTW, it´s between Parthia, Armenia or Carthage for me.
And in BI, I like the Eastern Romans, although the Western´s Auxilia Palatina is invincible in frontal charges...

I love the Scythians. The battle to seize Rome is amazing!

I really haven't done many campaigns. My thoughts on the factions I've played:

Roman Julii (short): Not bad. Gallic lands kinda stink because of low population.
Roman Scipii (unfinished, 17ish provinces): Got boring after I took Carthage. Lots of desert, not much going on.
Roman Brutii (long, in progress, 27ish provinces): The best of the Romans. Green troops (my favorite color), fight Greeks and Macedon, really hated when I got to the Egyptian lands though.
Romans (RTR) - Nice campaign, much better than RTW Romans, a little easy though. Looks better, feels better, plays better.
Macedon (RTR) - Probably my favorite. Lots of good phalanxes (pezhetairoi are the best combination of price and power), and General's Somatophylakes (sp) are very powerful when used well.
Goths (BI) - Fun campaign, like the "horde" mechanism, got to beat up on some Romans. Would like to try this with a purer steppe faction (Huns, Vandals, Sarmatians, Roxiolani)
Arverni (EB - didn't get all that far) - Hard. You start out in bad shape. If I were playing on hard/vhard campaign map, the rebels would've beaten me before the Aedui got there.

For me it's a tie between Armenia and the Seleucid Empire.

Greek Factions or Parthia....:/

For me it's a tie between Armenia and the Seleucid Empire.

Armenia...because its a challenge? he he

Numidia is fun too, a bit hard, but you have legionnaires on RTR playing for them, on RTR 6.0, they have the berber unit, a 240 men skirmisher, have 6 on an army and its like the american´s 4th of July he he.

I only played BI once, as the Franks, and before 400AD i had conquered everything west of the Don River, save for the N AFrican coast. Yep, the W Romans took it hard, and ti was easy. I have not played BI since, only vanilla Rome

On what difficulty level did you play it? Hiper-easy or you´re God!

I like the Seleucids also....lots of money from the land.

But have any of you noticed the Seleucids ALWAYS being killed by Egypt?

hu...on RTR...Seleucid and Carthage always kills Egypt....Dont remenber in TW how it was...

In regular RTW the Egyptians just eat the Seleucids alive. They start with fertile lands, they get their good units earlier, and chariots are overvalued in autocalc.

expert level, it took a little bit for the windup, but basically, i grabbed a few independent states to my east, plus Hannover to the north. The W Romans told me to be a protectorate and i said no, so they declared war on me. I took the Low Countries and N France from them, made peace, and then just crushed all of France. Most of the barb factions were allied with me, so it was about 5 of us against the W Romans, and then civil war broke out. I went for the Iberian peninsula first, and then got peace again. After a long consolidation, and a few wars with the barb factions ( which i totally owned, btw), I marched into Italy and took Rome. At this time i was actually allied with the E Romans, so we had to turn around and deal with a horde rumaging about, i think it was the Huns. We beat the crap out of them. At this time, I had France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, Denmark, Czechosolvakia, Austria, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. The W Romans still existed in N Africa, which i really didnt have the patience to chase them around the desert, so i let them be. That was a bad idea. relations with Constantinople had pretty much become nonexistent after we bested the Huns, and the W Romans, whom i had not made peace with yet ( they sunk the Diplomat on his way to them!) they pulled E Rome into the 'war' with me ( i put it in quotations because we had not really fought in like 10 years) and i just turned around and put the smack down on Constantinople. Now, I dont have anything in Asia, just Europe, but my Eastern border is on the Don River.

Armenia...because its a challenge? he he
It is a challenge at first, but after I managed to capture Tarsus and Antioch, I had a reasonable amount of income and I could build some of the more expensive buildings, and bribe some Egyptian armies. Armenia has decent troops, although at the beginning I was too poor to build anything higher than militia barracks.

Never played Armenia before i must admit, only on custom battles, my memory is falling me now, but they have a spearman unit that rocks yes? heavy spearman..hu...to lazy to go check for myself :) Well ill give it a go someday.

Never played Armenia before i must admit, only on custom battles, my memory is falling me now, but they have a spearman unit that rocks yes? heavy spearman..hu...to lazy to go check for myself :) Well ill give it a go someday.
Heavy Spearman are similar to Phalanx pikemen, IIRC. IMO, they are the only good infantry Armenia has. Eastern Infantry and Hillmen get slaughtered by spearmen and Armenian Legionnaires aren't worth wasting 2 turns. Cataphracts and Cataphract archers own, and you can hire Samartians in one of your starting provences.

Oh, and you need to expand fast early, as your starting cities are pathetic.

Mercenarian sarmatian ahh yes that is pure quality. catas are catas, no need to even talk about them :)

What are the stats of Sarmatian mercs? I´ve never played it long enough to meet them...

http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/rtw/units/stats/?faction=slave&id=375

Charge power = 17! oh yeah! Now thats what i call cavalry!

samartians are some of the best units in the whole game, alas you cannot train them

samartians are some of the best units in the whole game, alas you cannot train them
Unless you unlock barbarian faction...


Greek Cities. Gotta love their starts, their cash, generals, location, units.

Barbarian faction? how can you play as them?

Barbarian faction? how can you play as them?

Hey, the Germans are great.

I know the Germans are great, but how can you unlock the barbarians?

To unlock all factions visit download sections on rome forums, there are files and txt files that tell you what to do.

example:All factions file on http://rtw.heavengames.com/downloads/lister.php?start=40&category=misc&s=d&o=d

Does that file include barbs?

Persian Campaign was the easiest I have played yet. Sleucid arsenal was quite admirable. My all time favourite is Greece. `Hoplite Elite!` or `Men of Sparta!` or `Armoured Hoplites!` commands are pretty cool.

Armenia. Youd never expect 2 people to back them up, but i won the game with them, on normal. Their the only faction ive ever done that with: all the others ether get boring or someone has a hidden reserve and kills me when i least expect it
IMO, armenia is easier to do than Parthia.
Though il have to disagree with abgar, armenian legionaires are the best. Cataphract archers would be incredible, but alas, their is no way to make them fight melee. Heavy spearmen are only really good on the defense, but im already very good at that.

What do you mean? Cataphract archers will go into a melee as long as you unselect the "skirmish mode" button, and in a downhill charge in the rear, they´ll do massive damage! Trust me, I´ve done it!

Vanilla- Carthage
BI- Huns

The brutii are the best.

They have access to some of the very best heavy infantry in the game, have 2 powerfull allies, and once you have conquered greece the money starts flowing in. Also temple of mars (extra xp) and temple of mercury (extra $) are both very useful.

I'm pretty sure all four Roman factions get the same units/buildings

They get different temples and different gladiators, and the Scipii get better ships.

oh, i didnt know about the ships. i remember now about the gladiators, though

Romans scipii have two better ships, decere and qurvous quinquireme

I never go for naval warfare... auto solving somehow always makes me lose. Once, playing with the Julii, I got as a reward a company of Gladiatori Velites. Ugh!

Gladiator Velites? i didnt know those existed? They sound sucky

They´re not that good. They´re 12/14, 2HP, little charge. they´re only 40 guys instead of the normal 80, and they´ve very short spears, with an almost-melee range.And they take 2 turns to train. Only good point: bonus vs. cavalry.

I have had the most success with the Greek Cities. Almost immediately was at war with nearly every faction (not by my choice). I think it was Macedon, SPQR, Julii, Brutii, Scipii, Thrace, Carthage, Pontus, and Seleucia (not sure if there were any more that attacked me). Now only Carthage and Selecia are still alive. The best hoplite unit for Greece is the Spartan Hoplite, the Armoured Hoplites kept getting massacred even when I outnumbered the Roman army I was attacking (even if the General was more skilled, and versus an enemy captain no less). Now that all my armies have exclusively Spartan Hoplites, I have yet to lose a battle with them. I also find that I make a lot more money compared to other factions for some reason.

If you can survive long enough to get some of the latter units that Seleucia can produce, you will be doing quite well for yourself, I love those cataphracts!

Parthia is a so-so faction, while I like a wide variety of cavalry units, I still require a good base of infantry. Though my most recent game with them has gone better than I have hoped, and my demands for Seleucid cities have all been accepted, and I have every river crossing, bridge, and mountain pass covered with a fort with a good number of troops present (greater garrison's to the south, and I have been having an on/off war with Egypt for the last dozen or so turns).

The best hoplite unit for Greece is the Spartan Hoplite, the Armoured Hoplites kept getting massacred even when I outnumbered the Roman army I was attacking (even if the General was more skilled, and versus an enemy captain no less).

Romans have this bizzare advantage over greek units when you auto calc, when you actually command the troops yourself the Greeks always seem to win :/

They´re not that good. They´re 12/14, 2HP, little charge. they´re only 40 guys instead of the normal 80, and they´ve very short spears, with an almost-melee range.And they take 2 turns to train. Only good point: bonus vs. cavalry.
They're effective fighting African/Carthiginian cavalry. Sometimes the senate gives them to you when you achieve a big mission.

Romans have this bizzare advantage over greek units when you auto calc, when you actually command the troops yourself the Greeks always seem to win :/

This is true, but they are almost identical to regular old hoplites. When you zoom in on them and Armoured Hoplites, there is very little difference. Though I forget the stats of the two off hand.

IIRC, Armored hoplites have 7 more defense, and I think the same attack.

Hoplites: 7 A, 16 D
Armored hoplites: 7 A, 23 D

Stats: A/D/HP
Militia H: 5/8/1
Hoplites: 7/16/1
Heavy H: 9/22/1
Spartan: 16/17/2
They're effective fighting African/Carthiginian cavalry. Sometimes the senate gives them to you when you achieve a big mission.Like starving out Lilybaeum? or defeating a Gaulish army of 200 troops with one of 2000?

I presonly like the Berbers who I edited to make there horse archer unit MUCH STRONGER I aslo like the Slavs

How do you edit R:TW?
Neither the Slavs nor the Berbers can be played IIRC in BI.

How do you edit R:TW?
Neither the Slavs nor the Berbers can be played IIRC in BI.
Yes they can atually and in fact Rome total War is even easyer to edit than Civ 4 look at the link at the bottom of my sig and you will find all the files I edited.

i like the selucids, egyptians and the parthians.
the parthian infantry is worthless. i like just building lots of infantry to overwelm the enamy and just hold the line. thats realy all the parthian infantry is good for.
but i Love parthian calvery, nothing like useing cheap crapy troops to hold the line as u have hourse arches move to the flanks and rear to hammer them with arows, then a good old charge with cataphrats.

It is still better if you just use those armies as garrisons and you never engage in sieges. You should batlle far from cities with small armies of elite cavalry, and withdraw from the field if the enemy comes too near your horse archers.
Are you really autisick or is it a joke?

I like Pontos, in both vanilla and EB. Challenging position and very interesting culturally. They rock much harder in EB though, thanks to Kappadocian cavalry....hehehehe. Sexy charge bonus for light cavalry...

I like playing as the Romans, Seluecids, and Germans.

The Romans have the best melee infantry, with their armor, and the pila. They've also got powerful cav, decent missiles, and gladiators which are made specifically to take stone walls. All three factions are ready to expand on their neighbors without worrying about their borders. I like the Brutii, because Greece is the most interesting battleground, and the Mars temples. I also like the Julii, because these guys have the best temples for law and order.

The Seluicids are the exact opposite of the Romans. They have to worry about every border. Their territory is split into different regions. They have enemies on all sides. And that's what makes them so fun! These guys have the most interesting early game. You haven't lived until two militia hoplites side by side in a street kills about 8-10 peasants, nubian spearmen, and chariot generals without any missile support. :crazyeye: Their troop roster is the most interesting, with powerful catas, horse-killing phalanxes, flexible legionnaires, and oddball units like elephants and chariots.

The Germans start poor and their cities have **** growth rates. So what do you do? Take other people's lands, of course! :) Spear warbands are better than the regular warbands and a wall of them make battles very simple against other barbs. When you get bigger cities, it gets really interesting. Armour-piercing chosen axemen, chosen archers, gothic cav, and of course, beserkers. Out of all the barbs, these guys are the only ones with infantry that can eat legionairy cohorts for breakfast. These guys are my favorite barb faction.

I downloaded Rome Total Realism awhile back, and now my favorite faction is the Macedonians. The mini-map is slowly turning black (I'm advancing effortlessly on all but one front, the worthless Spanish are slowing me up though).

For Roman factions, I find the Brutii easiest to win as, get all the wonders and just steamroll the east. The Julii are the funnest IMHO because you fight the barbarian hordes (sometimes at least)

I also find that I make a lot more money compared to other factions for some reason.


You have few wonders, one that counts is in the Rhodes.

My favorite Roman faction would be Scipii. I like it because they are the hardest IMO of the Romans.

This is how my last game as Scipii went.
I took Sicily first, grabbed both of them in the first twenty turns or so. That put me at war with the Greek Cities and Carthage. I then built up a lot, and hopped from Sardinia and Sicily to Tunisia, and just eliminated Carthage. The Nubians and Iberians declared war on me for no freaking reason, so I took them out too.
Now, I run from the Pyranees down and across to that desert town SE of Cyrencia. The Egyptians violated our alliance, and thus began the Egyptian Wars. Those were hard. We went back and forth, Afrika Corps style, from the Gulf of Sidra to Alexandria. I lost many legions, as did the Egyptians many thousands of men. Oh, and unit size is 40.
I took S of Greece, too, because I was at war with the Greek Cities still. The Julii and Brutii had pushed down through Macedonia by then, so our borders met up, it was nice.
I made peace with Egypt, after they took Cyrencia again, which put me in a supremely bad position, most of N Africa was in danger at that point.
I then proceeded to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. It consisted of 15 armies, fully loaded. Marius' reforms has been the norm for a while, but I had my obsolete armies on border duty in Northern Gaul, where my new border was. The Gauls had attacked me, so I walked all over them.
Anyway, I landed my supremely huge army at Leptis Minor, and from there marched on Egypt.
Egypt fell so damn easy, I just bulldozed on, right up to Damascus, and across and down to Susa. That's when the Senate asked me to commist suicide. Naturally I told them to shove it, and thus the Roman factions declared war on me. Thank God my fleet was at Cyprus, I loaded up my boys and sent them back to Italy, and every city in the Empire began to build my new army, since this one coming back was a shadow of the Grand Army of the Republic.
I came in to Italy from the North, and the Julii and Brutii put up a good defence in Tuscany, but were ultimately no match for my steamroller. Of course, in true conquering fashon, I burned Rome. At that point, I already had the provinces I needed, and thus won when I took Rome. End of game.

It is still better if you just use those armies as garrisons and you never engage in sieges. You should batlle far from cities with small armies of elite cavalry, and withdraw from the field if the enemy comes too near your horse archers.
Are you really autisick or is it a joke?
no i realy am.. y are u even questiong it.. i have a mixed filling of being a bit offended and whear have u been.. nearly every one hear already knows of it :S

allso imgoing to add the persians to my list from the alexander add on..

IMORTALS ROCK!! thay arnt the greatist infanty, only average. but thay have bows!! its like infantry and archers combined into one!! thay may not have asmany arows as archers, but still usefull for softening up the enamy!
thay have elaphents, allkindsa good calvery, and persian sythed chariots!

allso the indians are realy good.
insted of haveing a general on hourse back, he rides an elaphant!!

For Roman factions, I find the Brutii easiest to win as, get all the wonders and just steamroll the east. The Julii are the funnest IMHO because you fight the barbarian hordes (sometimes at least)
i whould say the jullie are the easyesit.
what u need to conquer is nothing but unorganized barbarians. thear troops can very easly be betan in battle.
the only problem i find is all the land is total undevaloped. so u have too pour lots of money into them to make them up to standers. witch can at times be realy expensive :cry:

All Roman factions are easy because:

1. Their proximity to the key civilizations for a fast win.
2. Their overpowering horsie, called the Equite.
3. They can build diplomats and boats.

With these three being aggressively exercised, the game is over pronto. Fun, and fast. :)

Yes, all civs can build dips/boats.
And I'm talking about patch 1.5 Equites; the ones prior to that were just "monsters". And I like them!

Contrast it to the Britons, who lack #1 in particular.

But my favorite are the Germans, despite the challenge in a fast win due to lack of #1. Their horsies are vets (or should be), and annhilate all before them, even the Greeks hoplites (if carefully used). They can even mob scythed chariots if done carefully, though they should refrain from elephants; let the pikes and archers do that.

:cool:

But my favorite is... Germania. :)

Gauls. When I started liking them? Today. I raised an army in Northern Italy and brought civilized people to Rome! :mwaha:

Got a heroic victory on Po river near Rome, and I killed their faction leader. I lost 50 men, they lost 500 men. :)

from Starlifter:
1. Their proximity to the key civilizations for a fast win.
2. Their overpowering horsie, called the Equite.
3. They can build diplomats and boats.
1. The Romans & Greeks, and to a lesser extent, Carthagenians, Gauls, & maybe Macadonians, have excellent starting locations in terms of contact, diplomatic, and military options.

2. The Equite is not overpowering after Patch 1.5; I'm sure you mean the armor, and tactical shock use of them as modeled in RTW battles, though -- especially in the first few (say 20-40) game turns, where you are talking about doing most of your fighting. But they do not have the experience advantage that the barbarians can build, however. I do agree that in the final analysis, the Equite is still too overpowered, in historical context. Roman horse was crap in that era, and the Equite is a match for most of its early game foes, and it alone can turn the tide of battle, if used right.

3. More importantly, they can build and get them on boats quickly. Interesting, though, that the scipii have no port, but have boats. Hmmm.

1. The Romans & Greeks ... Carthagenians, Gauls,... Macadonians, ...
2. The Equite is not overpowering after Patch 1.5 ...
3. More importantly, they can build and get them on boats quickly.
- Gauls really not excellent, because no [usable] navy, and no ports to quickly build a southern one (plus is need be bigger because of weakness).
- Egypt can to a diplomatic jump due to isolation, despite being in corner, if its navy survives.
- The Equite is overpowering in terms of early game use, especially if measured versus cost. If not used right, it will seem kind of weak to some, after patch 1.5 (mainly: due to lower charge and attack, more will die in a shock charge in early battles against "less" advanced enemy units).
- Scipii are two extra days behind (turns) if you need more boats; but diplomats can be made and contact is very controllable (which is key to Power Diplomacy). :)

- Scipii are two extra days behind (turns) if you need more boats; but diplomats can be made and contact is very controllable (which is key to Power Diplomacy). :)
IIRC, Syracuse starts with a shipwright and I always take it first.

I believe the Greeks or Macedonians are in the proverbial "Garden of Eden" when it comes to economic and military pickings, the cities are already fairly well developed, there are many wonders a short ways away, and they are at the crossroads between Italy, Asia Minor, and the Barbarian Norths (Thrace, or Dacia if you're still in RTW vanilla, no RTR :shake: ). However, as I stated earlier, they do have a helluva time in the early game fending off invaders.

Seleucid also have decent starting position, with good income, but invaders from all sides make it more difficult and interesting. IMO, most interesting faction after Romans, thanks to abundance of various units.

In EB terms, the easiest factions are definitely Carthage, Rome, and the Ptolemies. Carthage because...
1)You have access to the best ships in the game, which allow you to control the Meditaerranean.
2)Easy access to Siciliy, especially Syrakousai. Very rich land.
3)You can also got your hands on the rich mines of Iberia fairly easily.
4)No serious immediate threat. The Romans are busy with Epeiros at first and the Iberians are a joke initially.
5)North Africa provides additional land from which to garner trade.
6)Balanced, flexible army. You also get good recruitment in Iberia in addition to your homeland and then there's elephants...
7)You make a crazy amount of money from trade.

Rome because:
1)The Epeirote garrison in Taras isn't all that scary, and you shouldn't have much trouble taking it.
2)Italia is very rich and moderately easy to capture.
3)Excellent infantry allow you to march on enemies with impunity. Skirmishers are okay, but you get your hands on Peltastai, so that's good. Not much you can do about the mediocre Equites, but oh well...ya can't have it all!
4)A lot of options and a lot of pre-occuppied neighbors. The Gauls are busy fighting themselves, the various Greek factions are squabbling amongst themselves....only Carthage is a major threat, but you can get the jump on them effectively. They basically have rich land everywhere they turn.

Ptolemies because:
1)They have A LOT of rich cities.
2)The Nile cities are extremely well-developed and allow you access to a wide variety of troops immediately.
3)You are roughly equal to the Seleukids in terms of military power, but your diplomatic situation is far better. It is very likely you won't be the Seleukids only problem for long, forcing them to divert their attention or gradually weaken.
4)Your key cities are behind the lines....but key Seleukid strongholds such as Antiocheia and Damaskos are in the front.
5)Southern expansion can be done at your leisure.

Other than those though...the going tends to be tough. The situation in Gaul is difficult for either faction to resolve before the Romans show up, Hellas is a mess no matter who you are(but especially tough for the Koinon). The Sauromatae and Yuezhi are basically hopeless, Iberia has Carthage breathing down its neck, the Sweboz start off weak and backward, Pontos, Hayasdan/Armenia, Parthia, and Baktria all have to deal with the titanic Seleukid empire, and the Getai/Thrakians/Dacians have powerful neighbors.
Aside from these three, the Casse are next easiest, and they've got a long, hard slog to unite Britannia....
Edit: The Seleukids....are a nightmare. Ptolemies in the east, constant rebellions in the west, and pesky wannabe empires all over your borders...and that's before the Makedonians show up, as they typically do...

1. Seleukids
2. Roman - Juli...

I despise the Selucid Empire, for all the reasons LoL stated; the biggest of those problems being Aegyptus. I have problems beating the Ptolemies with Post-Marius Roman armies, but the Selucids are an absolute nightmare!

On the other hand, if, by some miraculous stroke of luck you win an extended peace with Egypt and can KO those BS Anatolian factions, you have a nice base to work with, but I suspect you would need to sacrifice land for time, and abandon your easternmost cities to the Medes.

I really do enjoy the Greek Cities. Good income, some good hoplite units. But I still don't like the lack of decent infantry that aren't so useless when attacked from behind or sides. But all in all, I enjoy the Brutii the most. The Julii are too much a pain in the beginning with the Germans and British colonies...

mine is Carthage, and the game is easy to win once you kill off the Roman factions

mine is Carthage, and the game is easy to win once you kill off the Roman factions

IF you can...

you have to attack the SPQR first, losing rome after that doesn't matter, then you take Caralis, i found that the Julii will concertrate their attacks their for a while, you take sicily, which occupies the Scipii, and the Britii don't do anything unitl you are on the peninsula (work from the bottom up)

I really enjoy playing as the selecuids, although Carthago is is very fun.

Selecuids have an INSANE starting income, this allow them to human wave the enemy. This is my favourite taktick against just about everyone at start.

The Carthaginians are fun due to round shield cavalry. I have full stacks of round shield cavalry against a mainly infantry based rome. Concentrate your charge and nothing will stop you, once one rout the rest follow.

Of course, the round shield cavalry things only works to begin with.

I have fallen in love with Pontus again, especially in RTR. They have tough start; must conquer Sinope and Trapezus quickly. After that you have to conquer Armenia(they usually attack first) and to keep income reasonable expand to Heracleia and Nicomedia. If you don't beat Armenia fast, you have times of troubles against Seleucids. After Armenia it's Pontus vs Seleucids in all fronts. Crush them in Turkey, and they strike from south. Win them in south, and they try to gain Turkey back and attack to Armenia.

I have fallen in love with Pontus again, especially in RTR. They have tough start; must conquer Sinope and Trapezus quickly. After that you have to conquer Armenia(they usually attack first) and to keep income reasonable expand to Heracleia and Nicomedia. If you don't beat Armenia fast, you have times of troubles against Seleucids. After Armenia it's Pontus vs Seleucids in all fronts. Crush them in Turkey, and they strike from south. Win them in south, and they try to gain Turkey back and attack to Armenia.
Ain't no picnic in EB either...you do have peace with the Seleukids and Armenians initially, but we all know how often the AI bothers to honor such things. A poorly developed capital, and limited options for expansion because of the massive Seleukid presence and the care one must take to keep them off your back for a while. Expansion in the west is limited by Makedonia...you already have two Successor States you can count as enemies soon enough(Ptolies and Seleukids, obviously), so provoking the wrath of the Maks(or the other Hellenes, for that matter) is ill-advised, and expansion into Byzantium; however tempting, ought to be avoided because of that. Similiarly, the Armenians limit expansion in the East. You cannot afford to fight them, lest you invite the Seleukids to take advantage of a squabble, so expansion to east is limited to Trapezous and Ani-Kamah(if you're lucky.)

The other option is Ankyra, very appetizing due to its Gaullic troop selection...but its garrison is murder. Pergamon is similiar, but you will inevitably be drawn into the Ptolemy/Seleukid war and inevitably will be fighting both of your titanic neighbors, and maybe some more of them...

Currently I own Armenia's provinces, Ancyra, Pergamon, Abydos, Nicomedia, Sardis, Smyrna, Eusebeia and Arsenion(?). In addition to near rebel provinces and the original provinces.

I like Seleucia. If I get my hands on Jerusalem, I just eat them alive.

Now working on Pontus, Numidia, and will kill the rest of Carthage.

Also, I nearly have Cleitos carrying the title of The Great.

Do you get that title by the 5-command rank?

I think no, 5 stars is pretty normal for a good general.

Then he's good if he's Conqueror. Like as Pontus: Spartacus the Conqueror. :)

I think no, 5 stars is pretty normal for a good general.

Then he's good if he's Conqueror. Like as Pontus: Spartacus the Conqueror. :)
I think d'artagnan meant that there is a trait that gives a person the title of the great and +5 command.

Egypt and Danish!

My favorite is Seleucids for their troop variety.

I started playing Europa Barbarum the other day. Great detail (the Gestatae is rather gross, but detailed nonetheless), historical accuracy is pretty good, very fun, but rather buggy.

My favorite faction there is the Ptolemaic Greeks, well, I've had the most success with them. Though the Romans have some awesome units later on, but those Heavy Samnite Mercenaries are great, along with the regulars.

EB is quite different from RTR. If you like stability in your game stick with RTR.

BE FOREWARNED, IF YOU UPGRADE THE VERSION OF THE GAME YOU'RE PLAYING, YOU CANNOT LOAD YOUR SAVEGAMES!!!!!! (In EB that is)

I found that out the hard way, I can no longer play as my greatly powerful Ptolemaics, the massacre of "Sets Army of Mesopatamia" can not be avenged.... :cry:

Worthless Seleucids, my men fought bravely, but the overwhelming number of Seleucid barbarians overwhelmed them, and they wouldn't settle for my army retreating, they had to annihilate it.