Well, the strategy used to be send diplomat to a wealthy country like Greece in the first few turns, and sell map information. That would be the impetitus to establish an economy and to conquer. At least with my first campaign as Julii VH/H I found I had to come up with a new strategy.

The designers of RTW made some changes. Maps are not worth much but Ceasefires are worth their weight in gold. After putting a blockcade on the three Greek ports (Sparta, Cornith, Athens) and the Brutii doing their thing .. the Greeks approached to negotiate. "Its time to end the bloodshed .." My reply .. "The Senate made me do it .." Anyway I asked for 2K over 4 turns for 8K total .. They accepted.

I took two cities belonging to Gaul and they seemed more peeved than just having a blockade or two. They asked for settlements back and then graciously demanded a ceasefire. I made a counter-offer. Pay me 1K for 8 turns (8K Total) (I knew the Senate would not ask for much the next 10 turns since they just asked me to take Carlis) and I will provide a ceasefire (while I attack Carlis)

They accepted.

Then the Carthagian diplomat asked for a ceasefire. The pressure of a couple of blockades and taking Carlis was too much. I asked for 1K over 8 turns ... they accepted.

I never asked for money over a longer period that I would violate the ceasefire carrying out a mission. Others might not care but my experince has been that the logic remembers your transgressions.

So it looks like to me that negotiating ceasefires is the early strategy for getting the economy going and we can forget the map information gimmick ...

Crackaces