Online Game - There are a few things about Romans that you need to be aware of before you choose to play them in Travian.
First, when do you start on the server? The closer you launch toward the beginning of the server, the closer you will be to the center of the map. The center, (0,0) is where all the action happens as soon as players start using catapults. This could be a good thing if you are a good player. However, as a beginner you would probably rather spend a few weeks learning about the game and not be farmed and attacked every 20 minutes, right? If that is the case you can start up to a few weeks into a speed server to avoid being the center of attention!
Ideally you want to start on the second, third or fourth day that a speed server starts. If you are playing on the regular servers you might try a week after it begins unless you are prepared to build a few crannies (something everyone should do at the beginning of the game anyway).
Second, you should be aware of how much time you think you will be spending playing Travian. If you have never played, chances are you aren't going to have any idea how much Travian is going to change (or monopolize) your life. In this case think of how much free time you have. When starting to play, it is hard to imagine this game as being addictive...but it is.
In order to play the Romans effectively you will need to give them quite a bit of time at the beginning of a server in order to make sure you keep growing and don't fall into the trap of letting other players know they can steal resources from you.
Third, while you may prefer to sit on your nest of eggs and build defensive troops, every Roman Travian player should have some kind of assault force so that s/he can expand quickly. During the first month of a server you will found most of your villages with settlers and build them up. However as other players build up their villages, you won't mind having a few thousands Imperians lying around so you can conquer a village or two and do some raiding.
