Rome: Total War economy guide: trade, taxes and public order
Use income, upkeep and settlement details to expand without losing control of the budget.
Edition covered
The original 2004 Imperial Campaign and its PC rules. The cover advertises the later Collection. Pictures show the base campaign in Feral Interactive's mobile port, with touch controls and interface differences. Barbarian Invasion, Alexander and Rome Remastered rules are outside this guide.
Build around the settlement
Ports support coastal trade, while roads support land movement and trade. Inspect a province's position and resources before copying one construction order everywhere.
| Building | Supports | Suitable context |
|---|---|---|
| Roads | Trade and army movement | Routes between active settlements |
| Ports | Sea trade and ships | Coastal provinces |
| Markets | Trade income | Useful commercial connections |
| Mines | Mining income | Provinces with suitable deposits |
| Farms | Income and population growth | Settlements able to manage growth |
Diagnose unrest before recruiting
The settlement details explain happiness and penalties. Cultural differences, distance and squalor can contribute to unrest. Address the visible cause rather than adding an expensive garrison by habit.
| Issue | Possible response | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Tax pressure | Reduce taxes | Less immediate income |
| Weak garrison | Leave suitable troops | Ongoing upkeep |
| Cultural differences | Inspect relevant buildings | Replacement takes time and money |
| Squalor | Inspect growth and sanitation | No single building solves every large city |
Keep recurring upkeep visible
A standing army can consume the income from recent conquests. Merge depleted units when appropriate and concentrate your field force around an objective worth the expense.
Separate growth from immediate profit
Farms support growth as well as income, but larger settlements bring management pressure. Compare the present treasury with recurring income after the building is completed.
Farms support growth as well as income, but larger settlements bring management pressure. Compare the present treasury with recurring income after the building is completed.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Rome: Total War publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Original PC manual | store.steampowered.com |
| Licensed picture gallery | www.feralinteractive.com |