Online Game - Playing as the Romans can be very frustrating because they have do not have a bonus when raiding villages and they can't cranny up as well as Gauls do. Five level 10 crannies will save 10,000 resources for a Gaul. For a Roman that would barely save the resources you need to build a settler (5000).
So what can you do to compensate the disadvantages the Romans experience toward the beginning of the game?
First, raid like crazy. As soon as you can build 2 legionnaires, start raiding with them. Continue using the resources you raid from other players (and your fields, which you are upgrading sporadically) to build more troops. By the time you have about 50 Legionnaires you should have what it takes to start building Imperians. Keep raiding and building up your villages as fast as you can.
On the US speed server I didn't raid for the first 3 weeks of playing. After three months of playing I had 25 villages. Imagine if I had been more active during those earlier 3 weeks. Where would I be now? I am finding that out right now; the results are incredible!
Of course you can have all the resources you want and still be going nowhere. Make sure you have a plan that will get a second and third village out as soon as possible so you can expand quickly.
By the time the other players around you begin raiding (as I did after 3 weeks of playing on USX) you will already have 4-5 village and be well ahead of the game.
Since that first account on USX I have started several others with insurmountable success by raiding at the beginning of the game rather than waiting for later.
