Slitherine

Rome (original scenario; experienced)

Rome reached a Glorious Empire in less than 100 years and has remained so until the current year #420. During 90% of those Rome was in a golden age. It took very careful management.

Of course, I have already won the game on LEGACY.

But I have been surfing the wave of history for years. It is the real end game challenge for me: Can I cross the finish line with 400 years of Glorious Empire and maybe a continuing series of Golden Ages?

This has become increasingly difficult. Why? Well, the Roman economy was mainly laid down in the first 250 years. Long ago all free POPS were assigned to culture. Revenue was coming from buildings. Now, in the last 250 years the ratio of culture to commercial buildings being started is pretty much 1:0. However, many culture buildings come with running costs. So, a big base of culture buildings can easily cost an empire $3,000/turn or more.

So, I need more and more culture buildings to just keep the Glorious Empire and Golden Ages alive. But the ever increasing weight of these culture buildings is starting to create a very heavy drag on the economy. Obviously, at some point to avoid going insolvent, free POPS will have to be assigned to economic jobs, and culture will begin to decline, and will Rome begin its slide away from better days.

In a single sentence in English, "I am mortgaging the future for the present" or another way to say "I am borrowing against the future for the present". The Roman government is seriously into deficit spending.

---

I wanted to ask how do others feel about surfing the wave? Did you maintain Glorious Empire for most of the game?

Also, Pocus, again I want to say this is one very crafty little dynamic which you put in there. It's like reading today's financial news, but 2000+ years ago. I don't think the RIB (Roman Imperial Bank) will be able to pull out another cycle of QE (quantitative easing aka printing money).

I am so definitely f**k*d with 80 turns left, but loving every minute of it.

PS: This is why I don't like the auto-pilot AI ... it could never balance as well as I have. If it could, then other AI states would not be Decadent Monarchies right now.

Sarmatia took me 219 turns to get to Glorious Tier III. I still won the campaign, though.

I suppose you've considered disbanding some of your military to reduce costs? You might also sell resources in a diplomatic transaction. Using the "Retaliate" option, your armies can attack enemy regions without taking them and thus acquire slaves to use in commerce. Taking an enemy capital usually garners some cash. Or, all of the above. Good luck!

Is it a problem to take out a few coastal provinces and build up commerce there instead of culture? build a slave market to get more pops, more food/health and then trade stuff when it comes up.

Well Rome's financial engine is still puttering along, but slowly.

It is really all culture now.

I think I will finish as a Glorious Empire. I have four + tokens and just need to climb a few slots to have but one more Golden Age. I am still clinging to that hope!

Edward Gibbon just started writing his book.

The long slide has begun! (#454)

Now, only the Gods know what awaits Rome.

I have a rather crappy emperor (no, I don't mean me) ... he is 72 ... so there is still hope for an Augustus/Octavian to come forward.

ARISE YEE SALVATION OF ROME!!! ARISE - I COMMAND YOU!!! ARISE!!!

Actually, I failed to consider that I could have just removed one building in every region which would have given me a massive chance for culture buildings.

Oh, well ...