- Location
- Europe
Stabbing Romans for personal enrichment and power in Rome is always on the table. However, in the employ of a foreign king? Fuck that noise!
Res Publica: A Quest of Ancient Rome
- Thread starter Telamon
- Start date
- Original Historic
- Location
- Earth
- Location
- Central Europe
Yeah, I kinda wish the Write Home option would be seperated from the other personal actions. I understand action bloat is an issue, but maybe it could be offered up for "free" in addition to 3 personal actions every (other) turn. In exchange it could also be nerfed to just one recipient.
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
Reading through the discussion so far, there seems to be something we haven't put much thought to. Basic Survival.
We're getting thrown into a hell of a grinder under an untested commander. On top of that our playbook (legion doctrine) is known too. We should really optimize for living long enough to get out of this alive over stuff like political repercussions.
[] Theo
Good for helping us learn basic communication here, and for helping us charm the locals such that we don't get fucked over too hard by them.
[] Gather Support
Throwing our lot behind someone we don't know yet is foolish, but so is practically starting a mutiny.
[] The Consul
Have to meet him, if only so he doesn't get suspicious/threatened. Also need to find out whether we have to work with, around, or through him. Or, you know, have him quietly killed. Perhaps we'll be lucky and he's not terrible at military?
[] Para Bellum: You begin studying the campaigns against the Macedonians and the Greeks over a century ago, hoping to learn more about Greek tactics, that you might counter them better.
[] Res Publica: You study the formations of your own legions, the way Romans fight. After all, you may soon be doing war with Romans -- and what is more Roman than that?
I'd say these two are the best. I'd like to learn Greek but if we have Theo we can delay on that. I'd like to meet with the men, but again we need to focus on bumping military and understanding what we're going to be fighting and how to fight it. I would have liked Study since it would be useful, but it would be more generalities than the specifics of how to deal with greek tactics. Also, IIRC he wasn't doing well until Sulla flipped an enemy commander, and we already understand talky stuff.
We're getting thrown into a hell of a grinder under an untested commander. On top of that our playbook (legion doctrine) is known too. We should really optimize for living long enough to get out of this alive over stuff like political repercussions.
[] Theo
Good for helping us learn basic communication here, and for helping us charm the locals such that we don't get fucked over too hard by them.
[] Gather Support
Throwing our lot behind someone we don't know yet is foolish, but so is practically starting a mutiny.
[] The Consul
Have to meet him, if only so he doesn't get suspicious/threatened. Also need to find out whether we have to work with, around, or through him. Or, you know, have him quietly killed. Perhaps we'll be lucky and he's not terrible at military?
[] Para Bellum: You begin studying the campaigns against the Macedonians and the Greeks over a century ago, hoping to learn more about Greek tactics, that you might counter them better.
[] Res Publica: You study the formations of your own legions, the way Romans fight. After all, you may soon be doing war with Romans -- and what is more Roman than that?
I'd say these two are the best. I'd like to learn Greek but if we have Theo we can delay on that. I'd like to meet with the men, but again we need to focus on bumping military and understanding what we're going to be fighting and how to fight it. I would have liked Study since it would be useful, but it would be more generalities than the specifics of how to deal with greek tactics. Also, IIRC he wasn't doing well until Sulla flipped an enemy commander, and we already understand talky stuff.
- Location
- USA
If the other vote won and we went with Sertorius we would still be taking sides in the Civil War. Sertorius is a Marian, and because of his relationship with Sulla, they would've come to blows if Sulla won anyways. The difference here is that instead of outright siding with the Marians right now, we can still make a choice later down the line depending on how the winds blow. Furthermore, we can have a more direct effect on the Civil War through our actions here.
- Location
- Europe
There is also the fact that despite being wartorn Greece and Asia Minor are still some of the richest places of the Mediterranean world. Fighting a war here can make us rich beyond belief, very useful for future electoral campaigns. It does mean stronger opposition, though, and currently being tied to that time bomb Marius.
Don't get me wrong, he is the greatest boon the Marians have here in the east, since as far as generals go you can't get any better than him in these times when you can't have Sulla or maybe Sertorius. However, he is still a man in his seventies who survived a heart attack just last year and spends his time campaigning in Anatolia. His death would be an incredible hit to the moral of all soldiers under him (and would probably be our signal to march to Greece and join Sulla).
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Droman
𐤊𐤍𐤏𐤍
Who needs spices when you have olive oil and sea salt?
- Location
- USA
I mean, you're not wrong about Marius or about the Riches of Asia Minor, but if Marius bites it, then our course is somewhat set as it would be suicide to fight Sulla otherwise. So there's really no point in worrying about if Marius will die as we can't really affect that at all. All that we can do right now is prepare our Legion for its current task, try to win their loyalty, and hopefully earn some riches and glory along the way.
- Location
- Europe
I think there is since it will also be the moment Mithradates pounces on the Romans and we don't want to be in his path when that happens. We are good... for a 19 year old. We aren't beating him with just one legion.
By the way, Fimbria joined Sulla, right? He is not in command of the men who fled to Mithradates, or am I misunderstanding the end of the last update?
- Location
- USA
If Marius bites it, our only chance at survival is turning the VI over to Sulla, as that would help save our skin and also help us survive Mithridates as we have no chance of beating him as we are with only one legion. Sulla? Sulla likely could use another Legion for this and the Civil War.
As for Fimbria, I was under the impression that he simply fled into southern Asia Minor, with only rumors of him joining Sulla. As Sulla is still tied up in Greece I don't think he's a formal subordinate or anything. The other officer who joined Mithridates with the larger force is not Fimbria but Lucius Magnia.
- Location
- Texas
That could be a write-in option, yes, but as you are on opposite sides of the Mediterranean, it will take ~4 turns for a return message. You can write to others in the meantime, of course.
- Location
- Texas
This is the traveling turn. Next turn will see the Mithridatic Wars begin in earnest.
- Location
- USA
- Location
- Europe
Am I the only one pretty stoked about this? This isn't some minor rebellion, on this war rides Roman ambition and interests in the entire eastern half of the Mediterranean world. Distinguishing ourselves here won't just make us richer than we ever dreamt off, but will make us known far and wide.
(If we don't die in the first ditch we come across).
- Location
- Texas
The Gauls have gone back to Gaul. The auxiliaries serving with the VI at the moment are Italic auxiliaries gathered from among the Etruscans and the Samnites. Somewhat understrength, this can hopefully be reinforced with Greek horsemen in Asia, or at the worst Greek mercenaries.
A side note: Greek horsemen are the best in the Roman or Greek worlds. Reared in the tradition of the Macedonian Hetairoi, the Companions of Alexander who conquered all the world, their skill atop horseback cannot be matched. The Scythians sit easier in the saddle, the Gauls are more brutal, and the Parthians better masters of the bow...yet in four centuries none yet have lived who could match in war the guard of Alexander, who conquered Egypt and Asia, who bested Indian Kings and Persian lords.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Shame we can't have them scream 'Deus Vult' yet.
My hype level is pretty high at the moment too. We're right in the middle of the most epic event since the Second Punic War, and we're in position to actually have a material impact on its outcome. (Asiaticus was not the most vigorous or forceful general, historically.) This is going to be FUN.*
*Mostly in the Dwarf Fortress sense, admittedly, but the traditional one, too!
- Location
- Texas
And that's a combined 100 XP for reaction posts, bringing you up to 3,630 XP in the bank!
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My personal preference for the plan would Marians, Theo, Gather Support, Consul, Res Publica and Si Vis Pacem.
We already have connections to highest echelons of Sullans, and while Catallinarians are interesting, not in the least because they could become Atellians should we put our effort there, are not as important yet. And our original network was focused on the aristocrats wasn't it?
Loyal bodyguards are well and good, but with any luck, we should get the legion on our side, so we wouldn't be lacking in loyal bodyguards. Theo, being both diplomatic and Greek, should help us more, I think.
Support in the legion will pretty much always do us good, whatever we will set up to do. Since our position, capabilities and abilities of the consul are still uncertain, let's go for a certain benefit.
For personal actions, we obviously need to learn more about our new consul to know how to build our relationship with him, and so our relationship with the legion.
Our first job is noted to be the destruction of the traitor legion, and Mithridates' army has a second half of it anyway, so it would be beneficial whoever we fight. Even beyond that, learning more about how the legions fight would allow us to apply our own soldiers better. It is an option that gives knowledge both about ourselves and about our enemy, so it seems like a very good choice.
Our silver tongue is one of our main strengths, and we might be able to call on the reputation of Scaveola as his client to support it, so making sure we can actually apply it would be my choice.
@Telamon, a couple of questions:
1) Do we have any idea about how much mileage can we get out of fact that we are Scaveola's protege? He is wildly loved here in Asia, after all, to the point of local popular celebrations.
2) Sorry to bother you about it again, but could you apply our gains from Study Logistics actions during the siege? I'd probably like to spend our free XP on Logistics so we could get them to at least Poor, and it should be possible with those. Am eagerly awaiting for the other XP rewards, like for omakes.
We already have connections to highest echelons of Sullans, and while Catallinarians are interesting, not in the least because they could become Atellians should we put our effort there, are not as important yet. And our original network was focused on the aristocrats wasn't it?
Loyal bodyguards are well and good, but with any luck, we should get the legion on our side, so we wouldn't be lacking in loyal bodyguards. Theo, being both diplomatic and Greek, should help us more, I think.
Support in the legion will pretty much always do us good, whatever we will set up to do. Since our position, capabilities and abilities of the consul are still uncertain, let's go for a certain benefit.
For personal actions, we obviously need to learn more about our new consul to know how to build our relationship with him, and so our relationship with the legion.
Our first job is noted to be the destruction of the traitor legion, and Mithridates' army has a second half of it anyway, so it would be beneficial whoever we fight. Even beyond that, learning more about how the legions fight would allow us to apply our own soldiers better. It is an option that gives knowledge both about ourselves and about our enemy, so it seems like a very good choice.
Our silver tongue is one of our main strengths, and we might be able to call on the reputation of Scaveola as his client to support it, so making sure we can actually apply it would be my choice.
@Telamon, a couple of questions:
1) Do we have any idea about how much mileage can we get out of fact that we are Scaveola's protege? He is wildly loved here in Asia, after all, to the point of local popular celebrations.
2) Sorry to bother you about it again, but could you apply our gains from Study Logistics actions during the siege? I'd probably like to spend our free XP on Logistics so we could get them to at least Poor, and it should be possible with those. Am eagerly awaiting for the other XP rewards, like for omakes.
- Location
- Europe
Does anyone remember where we kept the list of stats which included our progress in the ranks?
Skills which if levelled up would improve our mechanical bonuses are:
Stewardship (-2 -> 0)
Subterfuge (0 -> +1)
Engineering (-6 -> -4)
Law (+1 -> +2)
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Sorry, but from your post earlier after the update, we're already at 3,530.
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
We've bumped that up to 7 already. We're at average now, not abysmal. And Stewardship is at 4. Our stats and skills rn:
Stats
Military: Accomplished (13) -- You have a good grasp of strategy and tactics, equal to that of a skilled military tribune.
Charisma: Accomplished (11) -- You are charismatic and well-spoken, capable of handling yourself ably in Roman society.
Stewardship: Poor (4) -- You couldn't manage a wine stand.
Intelligence: Renowned (15) -- You are quick, thoughtful, and difficult to fool, with a strength of wit that has made you famous.
Education: Accomplished (10) -- You have learned from the finest tutors your father could afford, but there are still gaps in your knowledge.
Subterfuge: Average (7) -- You can lie and cheat as well as any Roman, but you have no special skill for deceit.
Skills
Combat: Accomplished (10) -- Your talent with the blade is well-honed, and you are a formidable opponent for any man.
Oratory: Accomplished (11) -- Your words are mesmerizing, and your arguments well-constructed.
Command: Proficient (8) -- Men have died for you. Men will die for you again.
Engineering: Abysmal (1) -- Rocks go on top of other rocks. Probably.
Logistics: Very Poor (2) -- They can feed themselves, right?
Law: Proficient (9) -- You are beloved of Themis herself, the goddess of Justice.
Philosophy: Average (5) -- I think, therefore I am.
Administration: Average (5) -- You can run a house decently -- but probably not a city.
Diplomacy: Accomplished (10) -- You are a skilled speaker, capable of negotiating fairly and equitably.
Should really try to get military up since we can't depend on our new boss. Admittedly, bumping subterfuge up to proficient (8-9) would be good.
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- Location
- Texas