For about two weeks now I've been trying to win as the Western Empire in B.I. I've tried stabilizing the revolts in the provinces and have had some success. But by ten years into the game I'm over 200,000 denari in debt and cannot retrain legions of repair cities and cannot get cash flow positive because of it. I've gone on the offensive right away and smashed the celts, franks, and berbers with the legions you begin the game with but end up losing half the empire to rebellion and still wind up in a cash deficit. I've tried rolling back into southern Gaul and italy, abandoning germania, briton, iberia, and carthage. But I then need to cut back the military so much I could not hold off the goths when they came calling.

 

Has anyone managed to save the west on the VH/H setting and what tactics worked?

I've done that twice (with VH) and trust me, that's ridiculously hard. Can't remember how many times I've failed.

 

I remember always abandonding most of my cities and slowly rebuilding from Italy/few other places. Damnit, I can't remember which cities they were since it has been long time when I played RT:IB. I propably should start agian...

 

Anyway, I did quick google for you and found this: Western Empire Walkthrough

 

I hope that helps

 

edit: Fixed the link

Edited February 19, 200718 yr by Xard

There's a bridge in Italy(Rubicon or Po) that you will find very useful in stopping the onslaught of Goths and Huns.

 

Basically, only have cities in Italy at first and then conquest from there. Consolidation and culling off the weak are key points. Don't give disloyal generals huge armies and solve all problem spots in Italy before moving on. Ravenna and Rome are precious.