Rome Total War....

 

The latest campaign I've been enjoying in Rome Total War has been as the Seleucid Empire. As it has progressed I've found myself pushing the boarders out, as aggression has come. Taking over these new lands in the last 30 or so turns has stretched my military and coffers to the limit. I've reached a stage where I've got a lot of civil unrest as well as sizable rebel forces because of it. Not to mention that I've now come into the direct line of fire of the main roman factions. Despite my tries to destabilise the Romans I've had more success by having the Iberians as allies and through them forcing a way into Roman holdings.

It's a lot of hard work to keep this empire together never mind face the full impact of the Roman forces. So I decided to roll back the clock by about 130 or so turns. My early Empire. I traced my saved games back to the first offensive push I made. Right at the turn where I was to land troops I reloaded and turned the ships around. These offensive troops are now the base of a new defensive line. Time to see if I can last for a longer time as is and not push to greater and greater holdings.

The current state of the empire gives a small southern land crossing. Easily dependable by a few forts.

The northern border is a bit more tricky but still very defensible. It's tricky for an attacker to get to by land as it would take about 10 turns to get to never mind attack through valley's and over mountains on the forts I put there. Never mind the rivers that block routes and funnel the enemy allowing me to defend on bridges.

With the land borders sorted that leaves attack by sea. The AI doesn't do long sea voyages. At least I've never seen it happen. They usually go for short hop invasions. So any attacks will most likely come into my empire in modern day Turkey. Overall the Empire as it is now is a smaller more manageable and defensible place. I can do little to curb landing forces from the sea; But I can setup new inland defensive forts to quickly react to an invasion force. I'll also increase the size of my fleets. I can also increase the number and use of my spies, assassins and diplomats to help in defence.

I'm looking forward to see how I will survive and maintain the empire without invading new lands.