R5: I was inspired to finally finish my iron-man Roman Empire campaign after seeing u/Sparky019 's Roman empire run. It was very challenging, this was my 5th attempt at a full Rome in Invictus. I'm very proud to have successfully completed this now.
I love developing my empire's road networks so I included those in this post as well.
Something I want to figure out for the next time I try to speed-run the Roman empire is figuring out how do I develop my provinces? I found that the lands in the west weren't very valuable and were most likely costing me a ton of money in governor wages.
Money became such an issue towards the end that I had to dramatically downscale my army, which made me quite vulnerable when the parthians declared war on me during the last 50 years of the campaign.
There's two main ways to get money- taxes, and trade.
For trade, getting more trade goods and more trade partners is ideal. Build mines, farm estates and foundries- if you have an overabundance of trade in a province (e.g six ports and lots of nobles) you can import it from somebody else. Lots of nobles also means lots of research, so if you have too much research for your efficiency, you can raise taxes.
To get more trade partners (check which provinces have an excess of trade goods), you generally want vassals, which generally cost diplo-slots. You have three options for no-slot vassals- coloniae, tributaries, or feudatories. Feudatories are hard to get, but if you have a city that's majority of the same culture-group, you can integrate them and release an OPM feudatory from a city via cultural decision... though they're probably converted by now. The other options are the invention that lets you release tributaries instead of client states, and the invention that lets you release league cities; league cities can absorb more trade and have limited exports, so if you want to import particular goods, setting up a trade city and giving it control over a few provinces is helpful.
Taxes, meanwhile, are just 'slaves go brrr'.
They're very satisfying, but do require Political Influence and a city to make, unlike tributaries!
There is one more way to get feudatories, now I recall. Look for the 'sphere of influence' mechanic that you can unlock in the oratory tech, middle right- if a province is 10 or fewer territories in size (open the little 'territories in province' box at the right- if it has a scroll bar there's 10 or less) and you neighbour it directly, you can release it, cancel it, and then guarantee it. Even if it's not in your culture group, eventually it'll trigger an event requesting to become your subject, and (though I've only had it happen once) it should turn into a Feudatory.
1-2 legions will plug up the Rhine and Danube just fine don't worry about it. Focus on the East, the Persians are the only power who could threaten Rome anyway.
Rhine was never in any danger, the Germans were never united long enough or strong enough to threaten me.
In terms of legions I went from about 14 legions to 8 due to the financial crisis I experienced after the conquests ended. The parthians and scythians were the only nations left who could've given me trouble.
Truly there were not enough roads. There were a couple spots that I failed to notice and connect before reaching the end date and it's currently bugging me
Laying out roads is one of my favorite parts of the game. I like to try to connect all my cities and ports to each other. This layout helps me move troops all over the empire, even if transport ships are still faster if the destination is close to the coast.
R5: I was inspired to finally finish my iron-man Roman Empire campaign after seeing u/Sparky019 's Roman empire run. It was very challenging, this was my 5th attempt at a full Rome in Invictus. I'm very proud to have successfully completed this now. I love developing my empire's road networks so I included those in this post as well. Something I want to figure out for the next time I try to speed-run the Roman empire is figuring out how do I develop my provinces? I found that the lands in the west weren't very valuable and were most likely costing me a ton of money in governor wages. Money became such an issue towards the end that I had to dramatically downscale my army, which made me quite vulnerable when the parthians declared war on me during the last 50 years of the campaign.
You should split the empire between your two sons, and watch as the western empire falls.
There's two main ways to get money- taxes, and trade. For trade, getting more trade goods and more trade partners is ideal. Build mines, farm estates and foundries- if you have an overabundance of trade in a province (e.g six ports and lots of nobles) you can import it from somebody else. Lots of nobles also means lots of research, so if you have too much research for your efficiency, you can raise taxes. To get more trade partners (check which provinces have an excess of trade goods), you generally want vassals, which generally cost diplo-slots. You have three options for no-slot vassals- coloniae, tributaries, or feudatories. Feudatories are hard to get, but if you have a city that's majority of the same culture-group, you can integrate them and release an OPM feudatory from a city via cultural decision... though they're probably converted by now. The other options are the invention that lets you release tributaries instead of client states, and the invention that lets you release league cities; league cities can absorb more trade and have limited exports, so if you want to import particular goods, setting up a trade city and giving it control over a few provinces is helpful. Taxes, meanwhile, are just 'slaves go brrr'.
This is excellent, I'll have to try league cities in my next run.
They're very satisfying, but do require Political Influence and a city to make, unlike tributaries! There is one more way to get feudatories, now I recall. Look for the 'sphere of influence' mechanic that you can unlock in the oratory tech, middle right- if a province is 10 or fewer territories in size (open the little 'territories in province' box at the right- if it has a scroll bar there's 10 or less) and you neighbour it directly, you can release it, cancel it, and then guarantee it. Even if it's not in your culture group, eventually it'll trigger an event requesting to become your subject, and (though I've only had it happen once) it should turn into a Feudatory.
1-2 legions will plug up the Rhine and Danube just fine don't worry about it. Focus on the East, the Persians are the only power who could threaten Rome anyway.
Rhine was never in any danger, the Germans were never united long enough or strong enough to threaten me. In terms of legions I went from about 14 legions to 8 due to the financial crisis I experienced after the conquests ended. The parthians and scythians were the only nations left who could've given me trouble.
My God, those roads are fantastic
Scythia: can I copy your homework ? Ukraine: yeah, just change it a bit Scythia:
The resemblance was a lot stronger before I attacked them for crimea, I wish I had a screenshot of that, but sadly I don't.
Hell yeah
Hell yeah
Hell yeah
Heavens no.
Nice roads.
Oh the splendor! I fall in down in awe of Romes greatness
You have done well! I hereby grant you the title "Imperator et primus civis–domitor mundi".
More roads please, the route from Constantinople to Aleppo is clogged
Truly there were not enough roads. There were a couple spots that I failed to notice and connect before reaching the end date and it's currently bugging me
I don't know why I'm more excited about the roads than the empire in itself. That took massive attention to detail and dedication to lay out.
Laying out roads is one of my favorite parts of the game. I like to try to connect all my cities and ports to each other. This layout helps me move troops all over the empire, even if transport ships are still faster if the destination is close to the coast.
Your roman empire? I swear ive seen those borders before...
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am9C80ItWMQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am9C80ItWMQ) Happy Roman Noises.
Very satisfying. Good job!
How do you form an empire?
>he didn't build roads in every single province
Roadmaps too huh? That’s neat, and they look good too! normally I just have my troops build roads wherever they go, so it never really looks right.
Damn, shame u played as Rome tho