Assuming you play at least the H/H levels, what is the fastest time you've won a standard RTW imperial campaign (e.g., 50 provinces including Rome)?

In your post after you vote, please state what civ you played, what level, and your general approach.

The Brutii are the fastest faction I've played, but not by much. They wipe the map (well, 50 provinces anyway) in less than 7 years. The Germans were the slowest of the ones I've played (but in many ways the most fun, with uber-fast development of early units and experience), owning to their isolated position and long time to make diplomatic contact with civilization I consider key to early victory, like the Greeks, Selucids, Egyptions, Carthagenians. The Gauls and Brits were no problem, and both the Germans and Gauls trounced all Roman factions before 260 B.C. (H/H). I've had the substantially the same results with patch 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5. Has anyone ever gotten to the Marian reforms? Even with the weakened Equites of patch 1.5, the game is over with so fast, if one applies arrogant full-court diplomacy. :)

I can took any of those Roman factions, played on H\H and win it in before Marian Reform.

Infinity.

I've never actually completed a game as I get bored after taking over three or four countries

5 min, the time i get to load up the campaign, access the control panel and type in the cheat to win the game.

How can you finish a Imperial Campaign in 14 turns?

and contact, and .... patience ... are the key. Patch 1.5 made it somewhat easier, due to the way city transfers are handled. You still must take Rome itself by "brute" force ("brute" can be cunning, however, to avoid a big wall battle), though.

and contact, and .... patience ... are the key. Patch 1.5 made it somewhat easier, due to the way city transfers are handled. You still must take Rome itself by "brute" force ("brute" can be cunning, however, to avoid a big wall battle), though.

14 turns though!!! :confused:

14 turns though!!!
Yes, and not just one civ, and not just one level of play, and not just one patch... but all.

If you have bad luck, it can take 8 or 9 years at worst. Certain errors, particularly in diplomacy, can collapse the possibility... one need not have perfect play, but one need conduct careful, proper (e.g., think before you play) diplomacy and understand how and when to initiate war.

The following civs can be won without any cheating in less than 10 years, assuming a player has "prior map knowledge" (knows Spain is in Spain, e.g.) and "knowledge of diplomacy":

- Brutii
- Julii
- Scipii
- Carthaginians
- Greeks
- Gauls
- Seleucids (can be tough though)
- Egyptians (can be tough though)
- Macedonians (can be tough though)

The following cannot, IMO:
- Britain
- Numidians
- Armenians

The following can... with difficulty and almost perfect play:
- Germans (difficulty is not taking Rome, but getting 50 provinces)

I have not played the other factions to a full Imp campaign.


In 7 years, the Greeks and all 3 Roman factions can win a 50 province Imperial campaign reliably. The Brutii and the Julii are the easiest of all in this groups; the Greeks the hardest. :)

But I still can't understand how its possible in 14 turns. In 14 turns I'm lucky if I have 4 provinces as the Julii! :dubious:

You negotiate. You convince them to give you some of their provinces. That part is what takes the time and planning, moreso than battle.

After you obtain as much as you can... I've obtained over 30 provinces in some games with diplomacy, then you drop the hammer and that closes the door on that sort of diplomacy for the rest of the game, and its time for conquest to get the remaining, plus Rome. Senate will never negotiate Rome away, even if you give Rome other provinces first. You must take it by force, and they have strong units and family, behind good walls... so taking Rome as Gauls in '64 for instance can require cunning and division of Purple forces.

Note that this diplomatic process is not trivial. It takes me several hours, and keeping track of who/what and replies and money with pen and paper. If you just knock on the door and say "Gimme your provinces" then you will be slapped and thrown out, and possibly ruin diplomatic contact with other factions.

Also... just getting your diplomats in position, and making contact in the "correct" order (not magic, just in a sequence of cause-effect-result, like what happens when faction A gives you a province, and that causes you to meet a Civ that you have not prepared for, and ruins your upcoming negotiations with faction B.

All this has strong strong implications for the actual battle sequence, and obtaining generals to control the rapidly expanding empire. You can choose where and exactly when you get a new general, when you get new provinces and are "short" of family members, relative to your empire state. :)

I'm lucky if I have 4 provinces as the Julii!
If you attack the Gauls, then you must fight the hard way. Diplomacy over... kaput... no workie. Ever (in that game)! Think about taking the bulk of Greece, Macedonia, Carthaginia, Gauls, Spanish, and Selucids on the 6th or 7th turn, and you will be on the right track. You need to plan your navy, as Julii... and don't go blasting north/northwest!!! You must also take a "risk" with your forces... for you will likely want many of them in other places than Italy, as not everyone is going to give you everything... you will not negotiate Sparta away from the Greeks, for instance... nor Thessalonia away from the Macedonians, for instance. ;)

If you attack the Gauls, then you must fight the hard way. Diplomacy over... kaput... no workie. Ever (in that game)! Think about taking the bulk of Greece, Macedonia, Carthaginia, Gauls, Spanish, and Selucids on the 6th or 7th turn, and you will be on the right track. You need to plan your navy, as Julii... and don't go blasting north/northwest!!! You must also take a "risk" with your forces... for you will likely want many of them in other places than Italy, as not everyone is going to give you everything... you will not negotiate Sparta away from the Greeks, for instance... nor Thessalonia away from the Macedonians, for instance. ;)

I'm not thinking of trying it!

Still unbelievable. Carving an Empire through war and death is the best. Talk is for wimps!

Have you actually done this? Can I see a screenshot or save?

Have you actually done this? Can I see a screenshot or save?
Yes, its doable and repeatable, and I've done it in 1.2 & 1.5 patches, at M/M and up.

If diplomacy is alien to many, then I will do better than that. I will sit down and write a specific diplomacy guide, and play each civ step-by-step with saves & notes, to illustrate it.

However, I don't have RTW on my machine at the moment, so it will be something which I can start probably a week from this weekend, at the soonest. Besides RL, I have a Civ 2 GOTM which will come first. RTW is a lot of fun, and I think Power Diplomacy is too -- RTW play is influenced by my Civilization 2 play; the concepts are similar about resource and trade generation, in an abstract gaming sense. Those that know how we play GOTMs (a premium is placed on speed and strategy to obtain a 'good' score, quick finish, etc.) will recognize the cross-game similarities in Civ 2 Power Democracy and RTW Power Diplomacy. :)

The German Machine can roll through Italy before 255 B.C. It takes a mere cirka 15 years, they are a fast early civ. I use only basic diplomacy to grab most of Gaul, and usually the British skum occupying good Germanic continental territory. My spears usually must hack down those chariots sooner or later, but at least I can rape them with diplomacy before we Germans drive the enemy before us, and hear the lamentation of their women. With our screechers. Now you know why we don't get married, imagine screeching like that for a lifetime.

Rome factions are central in the map, and can choose their strategy, including diplomacy methods. Most humans have no clue about diplomacy, but then its probably not as much fun as running your opponent through with the tip of a Germanic cavalry spear.

If diplomacy is alien to many,
Well rounded players use it. Nothing like raping the enemy, and having his gratitiude for your haveing done it. Assassins are fun, too. They work wonders on those babbling :viking: diplomats, hehe.

Still unbelievable.
:D
An interesting reply. Sounds like someone might be having a little difficulty with diplomacy. Hmmm... maybe that is why Germans own the Britons, who are indeed proud; proud to be my protectorate within 5 years. The unbelievers should step aside for those of us routinely accomplishing the impossible.

Power diplomacy sounds like playing Chess against a computer where the opening moves are exactly the same and thus the human player always has a piece advantage early on. Sure the rest of the game differs however the victory is guarenteed from the start.

... but if you have diplomats and can (like: you foresight in battle planning and have the diplomatic skill) use them to fight, only a fool would not. You play to win, to crush your enemy, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women (not the lamentation of the men and generals!). :lol:

Do you avoid using Flameing Arrows on Elephants, because it scares the beasts? Why not fight them head on & be a man... with cavalry, hehehe. It canbe done. Do you walk your barbarian up to the enemy then attack, because the horse charge is so powerful it might outsmart the enemy by causing a short-term high loss rate and his units to rout? Bah. Do you raise your pikes when defending a town? Hogwash. RTW is chess. And more. And you play to win, or at least I do. :D

In my Numidia game I purposely left Sicily to the Romans so that in the midgame I could have a nice epic war against them. :p

(Edited due to my blunder) And I don't believe anyone can finish it in 7 turns. In 7 turns you can not even move a unit from turn one in Rome to Babylon. Nevermind conquering and battling etc.... ;)

Anyway, I play RT Realism mod in VH/VH and by 250 B.C. I can take out 50 provinces at ease playing casually (that's like 30 turns more or less). But in RTRealism turn one starts at 280 B.C. which is 10 turns earlier than RTW vanilla which starts at 270 B.C. IRRC.

The imperial campaign is holding 45 cities, not 50. And I don't believe anyone can finish it in 7 turns. In 7 turns you can not even move a unit from turn one in Rome to Babylon. Nevermind conquering and battling etc.... ;)

Anyway, I play RT Realism mod in VH/VH and by 250 B.C. I can take out 45 provinces at ease playing casually (that's like 30 turns more or less). But in RTRealism turn one starts at 280 B.C. which is 10 turns earlier than RTW vanilla which starts at 270 B.C. IRRC.

1 year = 2 turns. 7 years = 14 turns. 280BC - 250BC = 60 turns.

Errm, how's that ?

Every year is a turn IRRC. I'll check this tonight.

Errm, how's that ?

Every year is a turn IRRC. I'll check this tonight.

Nope, Summer and Winter turns.

You are quite right Salty Mud ;) , I stand corrected, I just checked it. I had forgotten that feature.

Just loaded a game with Macedonia VH/VH (RTrealism mod) and by 263 BC I had 32 cities/provinces under my control, including Rome.

It's been quite some time since I played I should polish up my gameplay in preparation of M2TW. Cheers !

You are quite right Salty Mud ;) , I stand corrected, I just checked it. I had forgotten that feature.

Just loaded a game with Macedonia VH/VH (RTrealism mod) and by 263 BC I had 32 cities/provinces under my control, including Rome.

It's been quite some time since I played I should polish up my gameplay in preparation of M2TW. Cheers !

Your welcome. ;)

When you use diplomacy to start your empire, it is often not done by physical moe of units. It is done by negotiation. If you can keep peace, then you can "chain" reaction the contacts. For instance, if you contact the Gauls, obtain their spanish province(s), you can meet a spanish diplomat and make relations with them, and some deal(s) too. You would never have time to make and transport and move a unit all that way in early game.

Another chain is Greek... they can chain east-->west or west-->east. From the accelerated start, you immediately use your power to intimidate, and wealth to conquer in more than one thrust at the same time. :)

Starlifter, I can't get my diplomats to do any good deals. Is there an article on using diplomats effectively? I just can't get them to do anything I want. Guess I am too much a warmonger lol.

When I get the AI to bribe the city to me, the city is garrisoned with bad units and the next turn the faction that sold me the city comes with siege gear and a lot of units and declares war on me and takes the city.

When I get the AI to bribe the city to me, the city is garrisoned with bad units and the next turn the faction that sold me the city comes with siege gear and a lot of units and declares war on me and takes the city.

That sucks :sad:

I have played only once as the Julii, and finished just before 200BC. Quite a long time considering I got about 30 provinces within about 15 turns. But, alas, rebellion occured in many of my provinces, and I lost a few in the process. See, at this time I had little knowledge of the game and went for a mass hoard of troops, not thinking about leaving men behind to keep happiness around 100%.

But hey, here's to learning !:goodjob:

I prolong the campaign. I enjoy defensive battles, especially with stone walls. I just sit on the walls and massacre the enemy before they even reach the walls. But if I get the message "You are about to lose" I haul a$$ and wipe out cities inhumanly fast.

I play Rome Total Realism.

Anyone beat Medieval II ridicuously fast?

I prolong the campaign. I enjoy defensive battles, especially with stone walls. I just sit on the walls and massacre the enemy before they even reach the walls. But if I get the message "You are about to lose" I haul a$$ and wipe out cities inhumanly fast.

Heh, I love having prolonged defensive roles too. Just leave lots of archers as your garrison, and sally forth within a few turns of their initial siege started before they get a chance to build any decent amount of siege weapons (unless of course they have onagers and the like).

I think this person conquered the whole map the fastest:

I haven't beat the game yet but in my current game I am the Greek City-States...

Greece... I wouldn't call it a conquest Civ. However, it is a beautiful Defencive Faction. I've had a city seiged 3 times, the garrison is never bigger then 300, the enemy army is always over 1200!!!

The thing about Greece is that, no matter what Hopite you use, it always works. I'll set three up at one point where the enemy uses Rams (The city is surronded by a Wooden Wall, and sometimes I only need one hopite.) When the enemy breaks the wall. I swarm the bastard. They cant get through a wall guarded by spearman, its great. I've taken Sicily, most of Greece and I've even conquered the Scipii Faction of Rome. Its a great game. Finacially I'm doing crappy though.

Any chance I might beat the game before 200 BC?

Greece should be the faction you can win the fastest on. You are very rich and the you can take Messana, Halicarnassus, Corinth, and Larissa on the second turn. I just started playing a game as Greece and I captured five cities in the first three turns. Yes it is possible to finish before 200BC. I've never finished an Imperial Campaign because when I capture 30+ provinces, I get bored because I win too easily.

Greece should be the faction you can win the fastest on. You are very rich and the you can take Messana, Halicarnassus, Corinth, and Larissa on the second turn. I just started playing a game as Greece and I captured five cities in the first three turns. Yes it is possible to finish before 200BC. I've never finished an Imperial Campaign because when I capture 30+ provinces, I get bored because I win too easily.

If it should be the fastest then I must suck...

I didn't concentrate on taking Turkey and the Wonders... Instead I fought to control Sicily and Greece, I've recently conquered 3 of the 4 Roman Factions (I own Brutii, Scippi and the SPQR) I'm at war with Julli, Pontus, Egypt, Macedonia, and Carthage. I've survived and Im the dominant military power. So am I doing good or do I suck?

If it should be the fastest then I must suck...

I didn't concentrate on taking Turkey and the Wonders... Instead I fought to control Sicily and Greece, I've recently conquered 3 of the 4 Roman Factions (I own Brutii, Scippi and the SPQR) I'm at war with Julli, Pontus, Egypt, Macedonia, and Carthage. I've survived and Im the dominant military power. So am I doing good or do I suck?
What year is it in your game?

225 BC

I just recently took the Julli Capital and destroyed Macedonia.

Egypt is my main problem. They control all of Egypt, Isreal, Syria, Cyprus and most of Turkey, I just took a city in Turkey from them (An amazing victory, I had 300 they had 1200, I had a lack of cavalry and still won) Im trying to start a coalition to destroy Julli (Im trying to get Brittania and Germany to help) Its rather hard, so how am I doing?

I think you're doing fine as long as there is no Marian Reforms for the Romans. Egypt will be tough. Use your phalanxes to beat theirs and use you militia cavalry and peltasts to beat the chariots. Just don't get flanked by their desert axemen.

I think you're doing fine as long as there is no Marian Reforms for the Romans. Egypt will be tough. Use your phalanxes to beat theirs and use you militia cavalry and peltasts to beat the chariots. Just don't get flanked by their desert axemen.

I dont think I have much to worry about from the Romans anymore... I just took Patavuim and connected my Greek and Roman Areas. And in Patavium I now have access to Onagers, Julli production seems to be at 0, and I have control of all his original cities.

As for Egypt. I was gonna launch an Invasion from Rhodes but I lack a really good Navy (Not from lack of trying but this whole game I've been at war with at least 3 factions at a single time) Im going to try and capture all of Turkey, so far its going so well.

I think my big weakness is that I wont usually send an army without a family member, and even then I'll usually garrison Captured towns with my main units and fill ranks with Marcenaries (Though, its going quite well)

Im going to knock out Pontus, take all of Turkey then curve along Isreal and head straight into Egypt. Does this sound like a good idea.

Good luck attacking Egypt. They are one of the hardest factions to fight against if you're Greece because of their chariots and bowmen. They are easy to deal with if fought separately, but they are hard to take out together. Your cavalry is very weak so if you try to use them to attack the bowmen, the chariots will rip them apart. If you try to use you hoplites to attack the chariots, the bowmen will kill most of your hoplites before you reach them/

I won my fastest campaign in 240BC!

If remember correctly it was 16 turns playing the Huns. I doubt it being possible to win faster than that. I went straight for rome dodging all armies. Then I took all core Roman cities. My only limiter was the speed my troops could walk. The west Roman cities where pretty much undefended in the south and I went round the coast into Iberia. If I remember correctly I went over into Africa and kept going along the coast sending reenforcements via boat from Rome, or I just went in two directions.

I met virtually no resistance anywhere. That early in the game West Rome has nothing to defend itself with. They're broke and on the verge of collapse. Easy pickings.

I played the whole game only to see how fast it would be possible to win the game.

This is a good thread. Very good. What an amazing thing to learn! I read this, and figured out what starlifter was talking about, and he is right.

I have tried it using ver 1.5 (Imp/H/H), and after changing theway I think, and doing much taking of notes and planning, I have taken 51 provinces (39 by diplomacy), then Rome... in 14 turns (7 game years), as Brutii. He is right that if you plan it, you can take most of Spain for instance, by taking most gaul provinces first, then making a diplomat, and talking to Spain. If you have any war, any at all,,, if you fight any human,,, if you are attacked by any civ,,, then many, and usually all, others will not trust you. Naturally as in all war, deciet and lies are key. You must lie to the enemy, and promise to pay them huge money. And of course, you have no intent to, and when you fail, it will be war and they will try to take the provinces you bought back. The battle for Rome was full stack and massive, but fought outside the walls of Rome. Massed cavalry + generals rolling up their open field right flank from the rear turned it for me :).

Now I want to try it with other civs, including nono-Roman civs. Now that I have a better idea how to conduct diplomacy, and how to extract money from I am wondering how fast it can be done with Britain, and with Scythia; I think maybe 10 to 12 years (20 to 24 turns) for those, due to the long distances, and difficulty in preventing way war or attack by an aggressor for that entire time.

Oh, and I see what you mean about the Generals, that is amazing how powerful it is to be able to choose the location you want your generals to be constructed! That was a key to being able to fight the crucial Rome battle in so short a time, with less experienced troops against those well trained SPQR troops. It was the huge number of controlled provinces versus the generals that I now understand guarantees those promotions; I have never though of that, and had never grown so fast to even observe that effect before.

It is true, the pen is mightier than the sword, though as in real life, the world must ultimately be won with the sword. As foretold in Revelations, the final battle,,, on the plains of Megiddo,,, literal Armageddon.


Who would have thought I would learn about RTW after joining a Civ site! Thank you starlifter.

I think the fastest I've gotten was a 250~ B.C. ending by doing a blitz on Gaul and Spain as the Julii in vanilla RTW.

For EB and RTR, I usually take my sweet time.

RTW has the easiest campaign in the series, its easy to make a lot of money, and you have all the time in the world.

That's weird how people have beaten the imperial campaign in 14 turns considering the fastest campaign ever won was on M2 and he played for 24 turns.