UrinalDook said:
Hooo-Ly Crap, I think you just blew my mind. Though I played a bit of Medieval 2, Rome Total War is the only one I've ever actually owned. I've played it on and off since maybe a year after it came out. But are you telling me there's a reason that after a certain point in the game, it seems like my family's genes crap out and all of my family members start becoming total shits, unless they're actively marching up and down the place winning battles? Are you saying that my massive stockpile of denarii is directly responsible for city governors all being colossal, hated boobs?
Could you maybe bypass that by regularly paying a fuck-off huge tribute to Rome?
As a continuation of that discussion though, there's other ways that Rome at least (like I said, that's pretty much the limits of my experience) punishes you for doing well. It is nearly impossible to maintain frontier settlements once you hit 25 or so territories. They are all so far from your capital that no amount of decent government, entertainment, quality plumbing or low taxes can satisfy those ungrateful citizens. It's a mechanic that doesn't even make sense, so long as goods are flowing out and money flowing in, and so long as you're being treated well, why would you give a crap about how far away the patriarch that dictates to the guy controlling your city lives?
... Have I just made myself sound way too colonial there?
It's true. Over 50,000 gives your generals bad traits (or maybe 500,000 though probably the first one). Though there are ways to counter this problem as well as the settlement problem. Not cure it, but make it easier to handle.
Never get over 50,000. I like to find some weak barbarian faction, preferably one fighting a different Roman faction, and just ship them gifts of gold frequently with a diplomat. You'll get on good terms with them (which to be honest means nothing in that game) and you keep your money pool at a manageable level.
Another tip for avoiding bad traits, don't build shrines to gods of violence, wine/drinks or parties. They're usually bad gods and will give your generals traits like drunkard or Angry etc. I also tend to avoid shrines with population growth or health bonuses, especially in land which is highly or medium fertility. The % growth shoots way high if you do that.
Another tip, the quality of guard in a city makes no difference, it's the quantity. Peasants have 240 units for most factions, cost 100 upkeep and do the best job. They can easily be trained and if die mean nothing of loss. I recommend this for not front line cities, but second and inner cities. Furthermore, if that doesn't work you have to purge your city. Destroy all unit training buildings, including Colosseum and black smiths. When the city revolts it'll be full of untrained peasants and will be easy to kill. Retake the city and execute the people. Do that a few times and the city will be under your control again. Also try not to build above level 2 farms if possible. It reduces growth rate and will keep city number manageable.
) but it is doubled with the the fact it is also a jerk about if you move "too slow" whats that you want to explore the cool map lol nope have a horde in your face
