I see I spoke too soon, I didn't even spend time last night as Caesar to see what happens. Either way, some tips would be nice.

Before the Beginning of the Civil war it would be good to:
1) Increase relations with lords, in particular legates
2) become more renowned
3) senate support should be high so you can legitimate your rule easily in the senate
4) try to get some towns, you can "usurp" a town from a lord
5) once you have a town build up your own custom legion
6) enusre you have income also from workshops and latifundia

Originally posted by SOTR AwkwardDuck:

I see I spoke too soon, I didn't even spend time last night as Caesar to see what happens. Either way, some tips would be nice.

and you can end the civil war by capturing the enemy Emperor

It's all that corruption gold coming back to bite you. ;)

It's best to prepare really well, like Maxi outlined. The 1 million gate was put there to help delay new players getting embroiled in a messy war they might struggle in before they had the income base and a decent army themselves.

Though there's quite a bit of randomness in who joins what side, as far as I can tell, if do enough politics, there isn't much of a war. But if you are a nobody who the empire won't support, then you sure have an uphill battle.

Yeah, my original post was before I had spent ANY time at all as Caesar, all I saw just before I made that post and went to bed was me with my fiefs at war will all of the Imperium Romanum. Unfortunately my alternate save I made as a safety was after I overthrew Nero and I saved over my main one before I stopped to think. Now I'm stuck being Emperor with only 33-40% of the lords on my side. Though I'm lucky because I believe I have 4 legates vs 7 of theirs, so it's not a hopeless war at all. I noticed as well that if you go back and load a save from after you execute Nero and Poppaea (the only reasonable option) but before the Empire splits into 2 factions, it depends on your relations I'm guessing which lords join your side. The legates who like me seem pretty guaranteed, but the number fluctuates with the lords I have less relation with, which is a nice touch. I might have to save scum a few times to get the most lords on my side if I'm feeling cheeky ;)

The other thing you can savescum is the early war. When I ended up in this situation, it was always a matter of whether or not I could quickly and aggressively win early. If the war drags on and becomes a mutual grindfest, then you are done because they have more power to throw into the meatgrinder. But if you can take your forces, get a couple of lords to follow you, and run down and defeat the other would-be emperor to capture him, then you might end everything quickly.

If it doesn't work once, try again, maybe even sacrifice a town or two, but save your allies' forces. It's better than trying to defeat all their armies. The worst thing that ever happened to me while underdog in a civil war was when the other emperor got himself captured by some barbarians and wasn't accessible.

The worst thing that ever happened to me while underdog in a civil war was when the other emperor got himself captured by some barbarians and wasn't accessible.

I believe you would've been able to break into wherever he was being held and free him, then when the lords thank you for freeing them you have the dialogue option "You're not going anywhere friend" and can capture them yourself.

Originally posted by SOTR AwkwardDuck:

The worst thing that ever happened to me while underdog in a civil war was when the other emperor got himself captured by some barbarians and wasn't accessible.

I believe you would've been able to break into wherever he was being held and free him, then when the lords thank you for freeing them you have the dialogue option "You're not going anywhere friend" and can capture them yourself.

Yeah. This was back when there was an issue with spawning points on that map, so during the escape he spawned away from me and right next to guards, with predictable results.

Yeah. This was back when there was an issue with spawning points on that map, so during the escape he spawned away from me and right next to guards, with predictable results.

If you tell them to "Stay out of this" rather than "Help me fight" or "Try to stay behind me" I believe they do NOT spawn but you still rescue them.

Nope, I was wrong. You do not save them if you tell them to stay out of this.

Originally posted by SOTR AwkwardDuck:

Yeah. This was back when there was an issue with spawning points on that map, so during the escape he spawned away from me and right next to guards, with predictable results.

If you tell them to "Stay out of this" rather than "Help me fight" or "Try to stay behind me" I believe they do NOT spawn but you still rescue them.

stay out of this will only change their behavior I think. They will just stand their ground but are still there.

stay out of this will only change their behavior I think. They will just stand their ground but are still there.

No, the 3 options are 1: Grab a weapon and help me, they fight with you. 2: Stay behind me and try to keep out of the fighting, they hold their ground outside the prison and are unable to move. 3: Actually, stay out of this, they do NOT spawn and you do NOT save them.