Caralis completed

[Keith]

I just completed playing Caralis successfully. I made two attempts at it. The first time I built too many pleb housing units and not enough patrician domus. This time I made a conscious effort to keep the entire population lower than my prvevous 7,000 and made sure that patrician housing was the largest majority of housing types. This wasn't easy and I used almost all buildable space. However I managed to win this one this afternoon. Below are the screenshots I made of my successful build of Caralis. I hope you find them useful.

[Keith]

more pics

[ZiRo]

Nice screenshots...

[Zamolxes]

Man oh man, u squeeze 11 estates, i managed only 9. Wow and towers all around the city. That will suck some pleb workforce hehe. Very nice pics!

[bexgames]

Keith, that's a smooth looking city, It looks like you've done this so many times before. Most posted cities look like we're still experimenting (especially mine...lol) but yours looks very nice, like you've had the game for years.
Well done Keith. :cool:

[Keith]

There's actually 15 Large Estates, and 11 Large Domus at maximum level.

It was my second attempt at Caralis. I had another city that I got up around 7,000 in population but the layout was wrong and there were too many insulae and not enough equites and patrician housing. I could never get the prosperity in that one above 42. I was happy with the way this turned out.

I'm just about to wrap up Corinth. I only need two more prosperity points to finish that one up.

[cerulean blue]

I have done everything including give myself 100,000 dn to start..i cannot keep up with Rome's demands and my peoples happiness...im gonna throw the towel in...

unless people have suggestions?


How do you do it?

[Keith]

You have to get your industry up soon with enough workers. Pottery, clothes making, wine making, etc. You also want get some farms for food in place. I started making a lot of pottery so I could export it and import some iron for weapons to fight off the barbarian attacks and build some walls.

When a request or demand comes in go to the resource advisor menu and click on the trade/storge button and put a check mark in the box next to the requested or demanded item to put it on stockpile. Have at least one or two warehouse setup and make sure it accepts enough of the item you'll need to send.

I usually haver several warehouses just accepting the output of my factories to build up a ready supply for the demands and requests as they come in.

Once you have enough dispatch the item and then uncheck the box on the resource advisor trade/storage menu.

[PhilL]

WOW lots of pretty:) 7000 population guess you needed lots of trade to pay for all that pretty. I c you use the disconnected tower ;) kinda defeats the requirement though. roads shouldnt be a requirement anyway they can walk the walls to get there from the gate house.

[Plebus]

;) Hi Keith,Nice city!

You forgot one thing:forum.Without law survice your villa will stuck at small estate level.Large estate is the highest possible level in this city,and you can reach about 70 prosperity with 8 or 9 large estates.

[Keith]

Phil, the pics are from my second city which has a smaller population of 4860. The first attempt I made at Caralis had 7000. It was too big, and unable to feed itself. I could never get the prosperity up over 42 because of the constant food shortages.

Plebus, yeah, I know. I decided I didn't need it and it's a large building that takes up a lot of space. So I decided to do it with just small estates. There is a big enough spot behind the governors home if I delete the hedgerow and statue there. You definitely need it in cities with higher prosperity rating requirements though. I just tried putting the forum in that spot and all the small estates evolved raising the prosperity rating to 63.

[kentv999]

This is the great thing about this game. So many different approach possiblities. disclaimer: I haven't won this level yet! But I decided *not* to build military (mainly because of the **stupid** message at the beginning saying you didn't need it..) and with the export/import balance was able to keep very good cash flow coming in and was able to just buy off @ 1500/intrusion.

Questions:
1) But I am having problem with Prosperity. I've built 25 villas, but STILL can't get there... granted due to my poor planning most have not fully evolved. 37 has been the highest Prosperity rating I've achieved (my first try).

2) Security: Mine finally got above the goal with some "pieces" of wall scattered about. Has anyone figured out the strategy regarding Walls? Seems very expensive & takes up valuable land. I didn't do the math, but I've played this scenario for ~380 months, but I think I've only paid off the barbarians maybe 4 times... so maybe 6000 total. Is the trade off worth it? In particular considering the land lost on this small map?

3) Forum: Ouch. This bad boy is just too big. I ended up doing some major renovations to make space for these around my two clusters of Villa's, but due to my positioning it had minor impact. I would have rather have left the space for equite housing.

So this have been a critical learning level for me... I've got to sit down and play with some layouts so I can better plan for the Villas sections.

KentV999

[Keith]

The trick is to use enough housing to fill the jobs by making that housing evolve to higher levels. Equite and Patrician housing won't evolved to the highest and higher levels unless you complete a wall around your city, this will help with the prosperity rating and allow more people to move into equties domus. Having a forum, as pointed out, will allow the patrician housing to evolve to large estates and that will also help raise your prosperity rating.

[Keith]

This is my second pass through the Republic campaign and Caralis. I've learned a few things since my first attempt at the top of the thread. Although walls are not really required I built them anyway. I managed to complete Caralis with a much smaller population and fewer patricial level houses this time through.

[Bestia Preclarus]

I started making a lot of pottery so I could export it and import some iron for weapons to fight off the barbarian attacks and build some walls.

I haven't won this level yet! But I decided *not* to build military (mainly because of the **stupid** message at the beginning saying you didn't need it..)

I'm just about to start this one. Do the above quotes mean that we were lied to, and barbarian trouble is assured?

[Keith]

The barbarian attacks in Caralis can be easily handled by one cohort of heavy infantry, so walls really aren't needed.

Or you can build some fortress of walls and towers in the area in which they arrive and hope that the the barbarians get wiped out before they start to move and leave the mopping up to prefects.

[AEster]

Equite and Patrician housing won't evolved to the highest and higher levels unless you complete a wall around your city, this will help with the prosperity rating

I've used this almost at the end of the game and......................won
My city's doest look so nice as yours. I find it difficult to plan a city in the beginning.

[LadyCrimson]

I replayed this one on-line a bit ago. Was kind of fun to try something different than before - I certainly did a better job than the first time, as well. This is one of those cases where the ratings requirements are low enough I can be fairly tidy for my style, but nowhere near as cool as Keith's city. Keith always has the neatest screenshots. Me, when I take screens, I think it looks cool in-game and but then I open it up and it looks terrible...lol. I wish the camera would top-down zoom out more...

P.S. you can also bribe the weak enemy if you don't like military stuff.

[Keith]

I've used this almost at the end of the game and......................won
My city's doest look so nice as yours. I find it difficult to plan a city in the beginning.

I don't plan cities out beforehand. I just start building and follow a basic outline, but it's not rigid. None of my cities is a duplicate of any of the others.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Mine aren't either...when I try, I screw it up. :D

[Keith]

.... Keith always has the neatest screenshots. Me, when I take screens, I think it looks cool in-game and but then I open it up and it looks terrible...lol. I wish the camera would top-down zoom out more...

P.S. you can also bribe the weak enemy if you don't like military stuff.
Have you tried using the CTRL+F9 combination? Angle the camera down then try it.

[Bestia Preclarus]

So far I've got 3 trade ports open, lots of farms and industry, about a dozen medium insulae and just enough equites to keep services for water, market taxation, religion and health services going. I'm on the verge of placing my gang of upity patricians and I've not seen ONE SINGLE invasion yet!?!?!?

So, was the briefing correct? I thought some of you said that barbarians will come knocking? So far, peace and quiet (knock on timber).

[MarkDuffy]

So, was the briefing correct? I thought some of you said that barbarians will come knocking? So far, peace and quiet (knock on timber).

Caralis is an Republic Economic scenario, Bestia Preclarus, so don't expect very much. You will get what could be called an "invasion". ;)

I also believed TM ... only for the first invasion, though! :D

Imaged is the first, then the second invasion. The first was "won" with only Prefects, cuz that is all I had at the time.

[Bestia Preclarus]

Mark, just call be B or somethin' dude. It's nice that you always type "Bestia Preclarus" when you're helpin' me out, but it's not necessary LOL:D

[AEster]

Mark, just call be B or somethin' dude. It's nice that you always type "Bestia Preclarus" when you're helpin' me out, but it's not necessary LOL:D

You could've called yourself "B" that would have been much easier:D

But I prefear the Bestia Preclarus ......................... were did you get it from???
I love the nicknames. Some are beautiful................:rolleyes:

[vic_4]

You could've called yourself "B" that would have been much easier:D

But I prefear the Bestia Preclarus ......................... were did you get it from???
I love the nicknames. Some are beautiful................:rolleyes:
Bestia=beast
praeclarus=distinguished :D

[Bestia Preclarus]

Bestia=beast
praeclarus=distinguished :D

Actually, preclarus has different possible connotations...

I intended my latin nickname to mean "Sexy Beast".

Unfortunately, in my haste, I missed the "a" in praeclarus, so now I'm not only stuck with a cheesy name, but it isn't even spelled right, and THAT is a pet peeve of mine...faulty spelling I mean.

[chazsi]

Actually, preclarus has different possible connotations...

I intended my latin nickname to mean "Sexy Beast".

Unfortunately, in my haste, I missed the "a" in praeclarus, so now I'm not only stuck with a cheesy name, but it isn't even spelled right, and THAT is a pet peeve of mine...faulty spelling I mean.
I intended my latin nickname to mean "Sexy Beast".:eek:

wow!!





wow.




Don't know what to say....

Nothing I'm thinking of is "safe" to say.

I'll go with...

Howdy from Texas.... "sexy beast".



And a hearty welcome to the C4 forums.:D

[chazsi]

I don't plan cities out beforehand. I just start building and follow a basic outline, but it's not rigid. None of my cities is a duplicate of any of the others.
For me... Evil TM maps prevent duplication of my cities.:D

It's almost like they planned it....:p

[bexgames]

wow.
uhuh...so...what does a great name like chazsi mean? :p

do you know that I hated this city so much that even reading the thread leaves a bad taste in my mouth...:eek:
no other city before, or since has really bothered me. :)

[MarkDuffy]

I intended my latin nickname to mean "Sexy Beast".


So B for Babe, it is, B! :D

(If Bestia Preclarus is not feline, I am totally screwed here. :eek: )

uhuh...so...what does a great name like chazsi mean? :p

I could really ruuuun with this one, but it wouldn't be prudent... ;)

[Bestia Preclarus]

So B for Babe, it is, B! :D

(If Bestia Preclarus is not feline, I am totally screwed here. :eek: )

Well, Mark, you're totally screwed buddy. I'm an egomaniacal male!
Let's say "B" for "Bud", or "Buddy"...the platonic beer-swillin' kind.

[MarkDuffy]

Well, Mark, you're totally screwed buddy. I'm an egomaniacal male!
Let's say "B" for "Bud", or "Buddy"...the platonic beer-swillin' kind.

It figures! :eek: Sorry :o

You sounded male, BP, but the "Sexy" part confused me, along with the "-tia". Damn Latin! I even tried some searching.

[bexgames]

So B for Babe, it is, B! :D
(If Bestia Preclarus is not feline, I am totally screwed here. :eek: )
only a guy would call himself "sexy beast"...lol...;) :rolleyes:

[Bestia Preclarus]

Tell you what...

As it pertains to praeclarus, let's just go with "noble" or "distinguished".

[MarkDuffy]

Continuing the embarassed & totally necessary suck up theme...

My Godson learned an expression where the guys would say to other guys "You Beast!"

So, BP becomes the Beast of these Parts !!! :D

[chazsi]

uhuh...so...what does a great name like chazsi mean? :p
I've actually never been asked before.

I could tell you... but then I'd have to kill you. And I like you FAR to much for that Bex.:p


do you know that I hated this city so much that even reading the thread leaves a bad taste in my mouth...:eek:
no other city before, or since has really bothered me. :)
I know what you mean.

Mrs. Chazsi is there now and I can't look at the map. I just holler advice from across the room.:D

[AEster]

Mrs. Chazsi is there now and I can't look at the map. I just holler advice from across the room.:D

For better for worse,
in good times and in bad.........................

it must be a great marriage that you can hold on in such difficult times!!!!!

I feel compassion with Mrs Chazsi.(I would shout back not to interfere:eek: )

[MarkDuffy]

Have you tried using the CTRL+F9 combination? Angle the camera down then try it.

You can do this, Keith? I have been unable to. If I try it, I still get the standard angled from the lower left corner looking eastward along the minimap diagonal.

[Keith]

I think I did it by accident during the online game I was playing in Londinium. Normally I just use SHIFT+F9.

I made the first shot accidently in Londinimum online and tried it just a while ago with my save of Hippo Regius. It's a bit quirky but it does work.

[MarkDuffy]

Yes, these new ones look like the usual Full City, Keith.

I'm talking about the Top Down images, you suggested. Like the ones in your first post in this thread. Those look normal to me.

I was wondering if you using Windowed Version made a difference. Doesn't look like it.

[Keith]

Yes, these new ones look like the usual Full City, Keith.

I'm talking about the Top Down images, you suggested. Like the ones in your first post in this thread. Those look normal to me.

I was wondering if you using Windowed Version made a difference. Doesn't look like it.

I took them from the side. I didn't try top down.

[LadyCrimson]

I didn't realize cntrl-F9 did anything. Thanks, that gives me the overview standard "entire city" shot. It works fine for me, no quirks. But that's not really what I meant - you have no control over that shot. I'd like to be able to zoom out more and control the view at the same time - so you could actually show a whole housing block in one top-down shot, for example, instead of having to pan over and take another. Maybe about twice the zoom-out factor that there is now.

I know they usually limit view stuff for pc-power reasons, tho...too bad.

[TombRaiderBC]

I finished Caralis today on my first attempt! On previous scenarios I usually had two or three mis-fires.

My city worked okay despite the rather hap-hazzard way I build. But I learned a lot about building placement that will help in my next scenario. I had a little financial trouble at first... being too eager to import before having a thriving export business. And it probably didn't help much that I had only four patrician villas which kept my property taxes on the short side. I'll have to remember that next time.

My biggest mistake, which probably didn't matter in the long run, was not leaving room along the shore for enough trade docks. I was forced to place three docks WAY WAY WAY down the coast beyond the rocky areas. Fortunately the cart pushers don't seem to mind carrying exotic goods all the way across the map to the exotic goods market.

Here's some screenies...

[LadyCrimson]

Your "haphazzard" building didn't detract from your city's pretty at all. Nicely done. :)

[chazsi]

I think you city looks GREAT, TombRaiderBC!!:D

I love the area around your two main docks. Don't know why?? just do.

gov's residence is nice also, but Bex and the "pretty" builders can comment on that.:p

[bexgames]

Everyone knows my feelings about Caralis, so TR, the fact that I can look at your screenies of that most horrible of cities and think they look beautiful is a real testament to how pretty they are :D


I love seeing both pretty and efficient come together, cause that's when you see the real beauty and possibility of the game. :cool:

Very nice city, Very nice pics ...

[Cartpusher]

Very nice, but the fountain by the governor's residence has no road access.

Does it work?

[TombRaiderBC]

Very nice, but the fountain by the governor's residence has no road access.

Does it work?

AHA!!

I was wondering why it wasn't working and thought the problem was it was on the very edge of the resevoir coverage. I didn't think about the hedges!!!

:p

Thanks everyone for their compliments...

[MarkDuffy]

Nice, TombRaider! :)

Correct, you might wanna consider leaving the coast clear in the future. It'll only get worse from here. ;)

[Anaxamenes]

I don't understand why everyone hates this map. I beat it the first time through with no problems and now I play it for fun because I like the map (I'm sure you saw the super-invasion I scripted for this very same city). What is it about this map that gives people so many problems? I want to know because I would like to make a some more scenarios before I go back to the world of the working and I don't want the response this map gets.

[MarkDuffy]

Anaxamenes, probably it was the first economic campaign for non-military types & they had to get a Prosperity of a whole (gasp) 50? ;)

Starting out & learning the ropes with Patrician evolution can definitely be a challenge. I got a head start & started in the sandbox.

EDIT: Whoops ~ That's not correct. My Patrician Block was designed in the Demo. We just couldn't evolve it past Small Estate. We needed a 3rd entertainment. :o

[Cartpusher]

Was it the first one with trade ports? I know that gave people fits for awhile. Lots of discussion about how to place a working port and where to fit in all seven of them.

A lot of builders were putting in too many patricians too early and struggling with equite bloat and making enough money to pay everyone.

It was a real eye opener when someone (Grumpus?) showed a tidy little city of eight insula, four domus and two estates.

[Anaxamenes]

Hmmm... Interesting MarkDuffy-san. Yeah, I get that, it took me like 8 or 9 years because of the prosperity rating and now it takes 2 to 3 years max. What can I say, I was just a wee little Caesar learnin the ropes of my new toy (not that I approach MD's level even now).

Will anyone confirm/refute this for me?

[MarkDuffy]

First economic scenario Prosperity goals ~ 25, 20, 50. Had to have Patricians for Caralis & evolve them.

Cartpusher might have a point about trade ports. Syracusae also had them, but the coast was HUGE & wide open.

[bexgames]

MD's right about the patricians, and CP's right about the ports.
I did this scenario before The Grumpus Way was posted, and I am a "plunker".
Up until this point, you could build this way because there was really no harm in building fast and loose...and there just always seemed to be enough land.
Caralis changed that, and 2 out of the 3 times I played it, I ran outa room and the city just spiraled.
The third time I won because, out of sheer frustration/anger, I started screaming at the screen and destroying/deleting pleb housing, and voila! The patricians evolved to the win screen!....sheer luck...and a good lesson.

Now, I've learned to build as small as possible...but I hate Caralis for it.

Caralis took away this Caesars innocence.

(sheesh..do I sound bitter? :eek: )

[MarkDuffy]

Caralis took away this Caesars innocence.

Thar ya go! the Caralis™ Babe! :)

Ya know, Bex, Grumpus' Squares use up a LOT of space with all the roads. ;) However, they work well for Services. If I was to compare, I would use Keith's 2x3 insulae instead, cuz you don't have the insula hole in the middle.

I forgot about the map size, cuz I build BIG! :D

I think also that Caralis was the first map where you really needed to Wall your city for Equites, also. I built walls in Narbo, but I don't think they were required.

[bexgames]

Ya know, Bex, Grumpus' Squares use up a LOT of space with all the roads. ;)
yes, but it's efficiently used.
I was trying to build cities that looked "real" for the times that I pull away and just bask in the glory...you know more organic, not rigid.
I didn't want to see "blocks", and what happened was I ran out of room, and the city didn't work, I was putting houses and things in the weirdest corners (cause of also needing walls) not realizing (till reading many threads later) that I was making it worse.

I'm a pretty builder first, and Caralis threw down the gauntlet.
I could probably go back and not have any problems with Caralis thanks to all your great advice on these boards...but I don't wanna. :p

[MarkDuffy]

yes, but it's efficiently used.

Ummm ~ OK, if you say so. ;)

If something works for you, then by all means do it! :)

[Anaxamenes]

The third time I won because, out of sheer frustration/anger, I started screaming at the screen and destroying/deleting pleb housing, and voila! The patricians evolved to the win screen!....sheer luck...and a good lesson.

Caralis took away this Caesars innocence.

ROTFLMAO

You guys are right. There is a lot less space for the requirements on this level. If prosperity were 20 or even 25 this level would probably be a no brainer. I will definately keep that in mind.(I wish there was an evil grin icon)


On a completely random note: does anyone's else's cat(s) steal their socks out of the drawer? Mine have learned to pry open the drawer, pull a pair of rolled up socks out, and then close the drawer again. Sometimes I'll do laundry and the next day I can't find any clean socks:eek: Sorry

[bexgames]

On a completely random note: does anyone's else's cat(s) steal their socks out of the drawer? Mine have learned to pry open the drawer, pull a pair of rolled up socks out, and then close the drawer again. Sometimes I'll do laundry and the next day I can't find any clean socks:eek: Sorry
No, but JadeDragons cat likes to be used to dust under her furniture ;) :D

[MarkDuffy]

Waaaay too many Cat People on this forum... COTN times also!

(Stops here, before I start a revolt! :D )

[Bathing]

On a completely random note: does anyone's else's cat(s) steal their socks out of the drawer? Mine have learned to pry open the drawer, pull a pair of rolled up socks out, and then close the drawer again. Sometimes I'll do laundry and the next day I can't find any clean socks:eek: Sorry

That's hilarious, my cat doesn't go near my socks .. with good reason :D She has other annoying habits - every time I'm on the phone she runs in and start meowing like crazy. And she talks back to me I swear! What I get for adopting a siamese :rolleyes:

[TombRaiderBC]

On a completely random note: does anyone's else's cat(s) steal their socks out of the drawer?

My big male just learned how to open and close kitchen drawers. He doesn't take anything out... he just has fun pulling it open and letting it slide closed again. He can be very sneaky about opening doors. And I've often found him hiding in a closed cabinet.

;)

[Hermann the Lombard]

On a completely random note: does anyone's else's cat(s) steal their socks out of the drawer? Mine have learned to pry open the drawer, pull a pair of rolled up socks out, and then close the drawer again. Sometimes I'll do laundry and the next day I can't find any clean socks:eek: Sorry
Mine never did that, but a friend's cat did precisely that. It amazed my friend and her husband because the drawers were difficult for *them* to open. Apparently the cat thought the rolled-up socks were kittens.

[Cartpusher]

No cats here, but one of my dogs redistributes my tennis shoes while I'm away at work. I'll find one in the back yard, one in the living room, another in the kitchen, etc. (I have only two legs, but several pairs of tennies)

At least she has stopped chewing on them.

[AEster]

We once had a cat wich loved the dirty socks of my husband. Especiailly in her fertile times................. He could'nt put out his shoes or she was wandering around.................................:eek:

Why aren't there any cats or dogs in C4? Or
chickens or geese????

[Old Man]

Has anyone noticed this? It was in Caralis. Screen 1 shows the Library in the rain with water collecting on the roof. Screen 2 shows the same Library after the storm.

I managed to complete Caralis without walls. (I bribed the invaders). After I got the win screen I built walls and continued play for 6 years and the walls, towers & Prefects successfully dealt with all of the invasions. Will post sreenshots later.

[TombRaiderBC]

Has anyone noticed this? It was in Caralis. Screen 1 shows the Library in the rain with water collecting on the roof. Screen 2 shows the same Library after the storm.

Are you pointing out the water on the roof? Or is there something else going on in the pics as well? I have noticed water collecting on various rooftops... in particular the porch areas on the roofs of domuses. Nice touch, don't you think?

:)

[vic_4]

Are you pointing out the water on the roof? Or is there something else going on in the pics as well? I have noticed water collecting on various rooftops... in particular the porch areas on the roofs of domuses. Nice touch, don't you think?

:)
You get the same with snow and sand, which is nice.

[Cartpusher]

I wish the accumulations wouldn't disappear instantly after the storms though. Some kind of gradual drying, melting, sweeping would have been even more impressive.

[Jenisis]

Water etc accumulates in your markets and warehouses. If you look closely at the screenshot you can see this in the warehouse at the bottom. The first time I noticed this I thought for sure I was about to get a message along the lines of "so sorry, Gods hate you, all your warehouses have been flooded" LOL

[TombRaiderBC]

I wish the accumulations wouldn't disappear instantly after the storms though. Some kind of gradual drying, melting, sweeping would have been even more impressive.

That would be a nice addition... but my poor computer is struggling already!

;)

[AEster]

That would be a nice addition... but my poor computer is struggling already!

;)


mine is too......................... for now I get the houses floaded, the roof tops filled with rain and people running home for the storm but I can't see it actually raining because of the rain-save-a-txt-change-you've-cheated-bug

can't wait for the snow or the sand.......................

[Old Man]

Water etc accumulates in your markets and warehouses. If you look closely at the screenshot you can see this in the warehouse at the bottom. The first time I noticed this I thought for sure I was about to get a message along the lines of "so sorry, Gods hate you, all your warehouses have been flooded" LOL
Thanks Jenisis, I had not noticed the warehouse.:o

[Bestia Preclarus]

Well, I finished Caralis. Anyway, the watch-word here (in my opinion anyway), was "patience" and "planning". This was my second run-through, and the first one was pretty short lived once I realized that my stragety STARTED wrong.

1. The successful scenario found me getting my pottery, vegetable, and wine exports setup right away (SS 1) for Cisalpine Gaul, Narbonensis (I guess I didn't set up enough veggie farms when I was there), and Latium, respectively. It's important to note however that even though I set up those industries right away, they were mothballed until the resources and labour existed to man them.
2. Go easy on the plebs (SS 1), don't worry they'll upgrade and you'll have enough. Using what I've come to know as "Grumpus Squares" (although I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'm not really sure who Grumpus is, and why the squares are his...lol), I tried to keep my plebs confined to one city block.
3. Just get a thriving economy going (SS 3), but don't make too many Insulae. Don't wait TOO long to start making togas...LOL...Rome's gonna need 'em.
4. I didn't bother with walls. I employed 2 cohorts (SS 4) because I was just getting tired of those troublesome little raids. My Prefects always managed to shoo them away eventually, but I was sick and tired of rebuilding burned down buildings.
5. The real magic happened when the "prosperity push" came. I used ChrisT's villa configuration for my patricians (SS 5), and didn't even have to install all 16 of them. I suspect you shall all see versions of this Patrician Neighbourhood build show itself in my future screenies.

P.S.: I didn't give Caesar a darned thing!!! My approach from now on will be to avoid "gifting" at all costs, just because I hate suck ups.

[vic_4]

Well, I finished Caralis. Anyway, the watch-word here (in my opinion anyway), was "patience" and "planning". This was my second run-through, and the first one was pretty short lived once I realized that my stragety STARTED wrong.

1. The successful scenario found me getting my pottery, vegetable, and wine exports setup right away (SS 1) for Cisalpine Gaul, Narbonensis (I guess I didn't set up enough veggie farms when I was there), and Latium, respectively. It's important to note however that even though I set up those industries right away, they were mothballed until the resources and labour existed to man them.
2. Go easy on the plebs (SS 1), don't worry they'll upgrade and you'll have enough. Using what I've come to know as "Grumpus Squares" (although I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'm not really sure who Grumpus is, and why the squares are his...lol), I tried to keep my plebs confined to one city block.
3. Just get a thriving economy going (SS 3), but don't make too many Insulae. Don't wait TOO long to start making togas...LOL...Rome's gonna need 'em.
4. I didn't bother with walls. I employed 2 cohorts (SS 4) because I was just getting tired of those troublesome little raids. My Prefects always managed to shoo them away eventually, but I was sick and tired of rebuilding burned down buildings.
5. The real magic happened when the "prosperity push" came. I used ChrisT's villa configuration for my patricians (SS 5), and didn't even have to install all 16 of them. I suspect you shall all see versions of this Patrician Neighbourhood build show itself in my future screenies.

P.S.: I didn't give Caesar a darned thing!!! My approach from now on will be to avoid "gifting" at all costs, just because I hate suck ups.
congratulation Bestia, Grumpus is a myth in citybuilding:D :D

[Cartpusher]

Grumpus is not a myth! Grumpus is a legend!!!!!

[MarkDuffy]

congratulation Bestia, Grumpus is a myth in citybuilding:D :D

The Italian/English translation didn't come out quite right with this one, Vic. ;)

Myth in this usage would mean not real.

Forgive Vic, Folks. He didn't mean it.

[bexgames]

well.........has anybody ever really seen Grumpus??

[Grumpus]

well.........has anybody ever really seen Grumpus??

We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? - Is he in hell? That damned, elusive Grumpenel?

Just to clear things up; Elvis, Jimmy Hoffa, and I will go public soon.

[vic_4]

The Italian/English translation didn't come out quite right with this one, Vic. ;)

Myth in this usage would mean not real.

Forgive Vic, Folks. He didn't mean it.
Myth
–noun
1. a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or:D hero :D or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
Vic

[Old Man]

Just to clear things up; Elvis, Jimmy Hoffa, and I will go public soon.
I've heard of Grumpus & know who Elvis is but who or what is Jimmy Hoffa?

[AEster]

I'm googling all around

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Hoffa

[MarkDuffy]

Myth
–noun
1. a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or:D hero :D or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
Vic

Yes, I understand why you wanted to use it, Vic. myth (http://www.answers.com/myth&r=67).

[Hermann the Lombard]

Water etc accumulates in your markets and warehouses. If you look closely at the screenshot you can see this in the warehouse at the bottom. The first time I noticed this I thought for sure I was about to get a message along the lines of "so sorry, Gods hate you, all your warehouses have been flooded" LOL
How about if the flat-roofed warehouses collapsed under the weight of the snow? <VBEG>

I could very easily see some water damage reducing the stock of goods (and especially of grain) as throughout history--to this very day--all flat roofs leak.

Meanwhile, on the subject of Jimmy Hoffa (quotes from Wiki):

"Former Mafioso Bill Bonanno claimed in his book, "Bound by Honor," that Hoffa was shot and placed in the trunk of a car that was then run through a car compactor."

This would *really* be a compact car.

"Mob hitman Richard Kuklinski also claimed in one of his televised interviews that Hoffa was now a "car bumper." He claims that Hoffa was stabbed in the back of the head and placed in a steel barrel. The barrel was later buried, but dug up because of police suspicion. The barrel was later placed in a compactor and sold to the Japanese to make cars with."

And this is the origin of the term "bumpe(r)d off." ;)

[vic_4]

Snowtime!!!:) :)

[Old Man]

I'm googling all around

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Hoffa
Thanks for that AEster. One picks up all sorts of trivia here.:D

[Cartpusher]

According to other accounts, Jimmy Hoffa is also at the bottom of Lake Michigan and buried in the end zone of the Meadowlands football stadium.:confused:

[Hermann the Lombard]

One year one of the NYC radio stations had weekly football picks phoned in live--so to speak--from Jimmy Hoffa under the 50-yard line of Giants Stadium.

Then last year CSI:NY had an episode in which they dug up a Mafia victim from under (you guessed it) the end zone there.

Of course another theory was that Hoffa was playing cards somewhere with Judge Crater (an MIA from an earlier generation).

[Old Man]

As promised here are my screenshots of the completed Caralis.
1 The city at the Success screen
2 The Success screen
3 I then continued playing and built walls. Luckily I bribed the invaders a bit late on the second invasion so I knew where they were coming from.
4 The residential area
5 The industrial are & docks
6 The farming community
7 The Market square
8 The city in all its glory
9 Invasion
10 Scaling the walls
11 Where to from here?
12 We wont fight but we will try to burn your city down!
13 The last invader bites the dust
14 Now to attend to the fire.
15 Final Success screen
16 Map of the city.

[Kroket]

Hi all.

Here is my version of Caralis. Had quite some troubles remaining solvent in the early years and wasn't too happy with the location of my factories since i couldnt place more within the city walls. In the end i managed to complete the scenario without too much trouble anyway. I finished two months before the announcement was made that bandits were heading to my city, luckily i had enough money by the time.

Some screenshots:

1. The early city
2. The factory and port area. Hard to expand...
3. Food farms were located to the west
4. Industrial farms were located to the east. I maxed out grapes later on to bring in some extra money
5. This is supposed to be the medditerenean right?!
6. The walls finished. Turned out i never needed 7 ports but i reserved room for them anyway
7. The final city
8. A little fire
9. And a final view of the city

Final scores:
10m 4y
Perfect popularity
Personal funds 22 (used some of it to stay out of debt)
Treasury 1162 (about to make much more money...)
Culture 68 (my arena and theater both had merely good coverage...)
Security 94 (was rising to 100)
Prosperity 50 (final condition met)
Favor 57
Total Population 2550

[dingsy]

I've managed to pick up a few tips here, as I've been playing this level for quite a few hours now. The prosperity is my biggest problem-everything else is working pretty well, although I don't have a lot of cash to spare! Do I need to trade with everyone? Haven't opened a trade route to Africa yet, and am hoping not to do so, as I'm running out of space.I've been paying off the barbarians everytime I've been threatened-the "hint" at the start of the scenario saying we didn't need troops is maddening. It was because of that, that I didn't build any forts-too late now, with the limited space/money I have. Am tempted to restart the level,if opening all the trade routes doesn't help my prosperity. Can't think what else to do-other than completing the city walls.

[Jenisis]

Prosperity is more a function of housing evolution. The more houses at a higher level you have the higher your prosperity. Basically each level of each type of housing is assigned a number, so you cannot achieve a high prosperity simply by having all insulaes even though they are fully evolved, and the more insulaes you have the more equite and or patrician housing you must have to balance out. For a really good discussion of this go HERE (http://caesar4.heavengames.com/gameinfo/articles/prosperity). There is also a prosperity calculator where you input the number of whatever level housing to see what mix you need to get the level of prosperity and population you are looking for HERE. (http://caesar4.heavengames.com/gameinfo/tools/prosperity)

Hope this helps, good luck!

[dingsy]

Thanks Jenesis-the tables-and caesar heaven(which I hadn't heard of) will be a great help. Interestingly, my housing stock is good.The insulae are all large,the equites have large domus, while the patricians are at medium estate. The prosperity level fluctuates between 29-35 (and once plummeted to zero).Think my layout is not well enough planned (although I have managed to add a forum) Having looked at some of the screenshots, I'm amazed-especially at old man's first thumbnail. Mine is roughly similar, but extends past the claypits, where I've sited most of the industries.Going to restart the level-hate giving up, but it might mean 2nd time lucky!

[MarkDuffy]

Welcome to our C4 family, Dingsy! :)

Thanks Jenesis-the tables-and caesar heaven(which I hadn't heard of) will be a great help. Interestingly, my housing stock is good.The insulae are all large,the equites have large domus, while the patricians are at medium estate.

You will need Walls for R3E Caralis, or more Medium Estates. Lg Insula is 25 & Lg Domus (needs walls) is 35. You need 50 Prosperity.

The prosperity level fluctuates between 29-35 (and once plummeted to zero).

Prosperity goes to zero if you go into debt & slowly climbs after you are out of debt. You will also lose Equites when below a treasury of about 1000 Dn & shrinking Service ranges from loss of Equites could explain the variation. Normally, Prosperity is rock solid unless these problems occur or your Patricians lose Exotic goods.

My win screen save has 8 Lg Estates with walls (Prosperity overkill of 65). I was max exporting Pottery, Wine, Grapes & a few weapons. I had 2 Forts at win, but I always Continue Play, so my win screen was setup for CP & not just a win. I had all Trade routes open including Africa, but was NOT exporting Utensils. I made them for Equite evolution only, cuz we must import iron which I also used for Forts. I only exported a few weapons at win.

EDIT: It's a tiny map, so you need a hammer, chisel & shoehorn to smash everything in, but it's doable.

[Aussie Fran]

Hi,

I'm a beginner. Where do the more advanced cities come from? Is there an extension pack? Or do they come into play in the more advanced scenarios?

Fran...

[MarkDuffy]

Welcome to our family, Aussie Fran! :)

The scenarios are listed here (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11859).

The later campaign cities unlock as you play them. Then they are also listed in your "Play a Scenario option" after they are unlocked. You must complete the Republic Campaign, either economic or military or a combination of both to unlock the Empire Campaign.

Free Play scenarios are already unlocked there.

[Aussie Fran]

So, I should continue my "Children Of the Nile" 'career';) by gradually wading through the scenarios labelled easy, then medium, then hard that are listed to play in my game, which will unlock other, more difficult scenarios.......COOL!!:cool: I thought those listed were it. What a surprise!!!

Fran...

[MarkDuffy]

So, I should continue my "Children Of the Nile" 'career';) by gradually wading through the scenarios labelled easy, then medium, then hard that are listed to play in my game, which will unlock other, more difficult scenarios.......COOL!!:cool: I thought those listed were it. What a surprise!!!

Yes, play the Campaigns in COTN, Easy, Medium & Hard. They are kinda mislabelled. The "Easy" asre NOT so easy, especially for a new player. By the time you get to the "Hard", they will appear to be easy. ;)

Perhaps you posted in the wrong section, Fran. ;) COTN scenarios are listed here (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4128), however COTN is different from C4. All Campaign Scenarios are already unlocked in your "Play a Scenario" Option.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Normally, Prosperity is rock solid unless these problems occur or your Patricians lose Exotic goods.
The (rare) other time it's not rock solid is if you get a hole in the walls and your domus devolve to Medium.

[MarkDuffy]

The (rare) other time it's not rock solid is if you get a hole in the walls and your domus devolve to Medium.

True, Hermann & not always so rare! ;)

[Aussie Fran]

I didn't realise that these forums covered more than one game. As I signed up for COTN I, of course, thought the whole forum was COTN until I noticed the directory structure, top left also included Caesar IV (C4) in some threads. This is a little confusing for a beginner to this forum.:confused: :rolleyes:

Fran...:)

[Hermann the Lombard]

Well, many of us have played and enjoyed COTN!

I'm very proud of some of my results there; it can be a very satisfying game.

[Aussie Fran]

Hey, no complaints here, I may migrate sidewards and upwards when I have a) mastered COTN and b) retired - both will probably occur in around....000h....30 years time.:D

[dingsy]

Thanks for the welcome, and the further advice. I should be able to do it now-hopefully! Wasn't aware that I would have been losing equites, which is probably at the root of most of my problems.Noticed quite a few haven't enjoyed this scenario-I'm loving it! Love the game too, although I've only been playing it a short while: I made the mistake of being distracted to CivRome (don't ask, or I'll rant! How could they do it.....) Thanks again, for the help and your kind welcome(seem to remember you helped me out with CotN problems too!)

[dorn]

May you all please post pics of your completed cities also in the general forum official screenshot thread ''your highest high...your lowest low''.;) :)

[Davaeron]

I started making a lot of pottery so I could export it and import some iron for weapons to fight off the barbarian attacks and build some walls.

Sorry if this topic has been talked before but in Caralis you don't have to fight barbarian and walls are only good for evolving housing...!!

[Keith]

Yes, that is true. The game was still new then and I wasn't taking any chances.

[Redix]

I almost gave up on this one but jeej this is great Keith
thnx for all the images. :)

I understand that too many Plebs can work against high rating
I`ll try know as less Domus as possible. I think that helps?

So helpfull yes! ^_^