Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:37 am
Pompey is the harder side to play for a number of reasons. Caesar gets to build legions out of prisoners and also sell prisons more easily than Pompey can. Game events help Caesar, for instance, if he takes key cities in the Iberian Peninsula he gets bonus forces. So you have to frustrate Caesar's historical progress. Defend the west. Do not go east until you must. If you do end up defending in the east, play a delaying game.
The most successful Pompey player I have encountered used a hit and run strategy which relied upon a strong navy. First he threaten Rome, then withdrew his fleet to counter the conquest of Iberia. Once large Cesarean forces
were committed to Iberia, he brought his forces back into Italy with a couple of strong garrisons left behind. Once enough of Caesar force was committed in the defense of Rome. He retook Sicily, then abandoned that for Greece. Finally, he came back to Iberia to frustrate Caesar's attempt to win there.
Caesar must take Rome, Sicily and then the Iberian peninsula in order to win. If you can frustrate that goal, you will be ok. Losing these areas, you must hold Antioch. Egypt is much easier to defend so only needs a minimal force.
This is a quick and dirty reply, but buy a strong navy, staff it with good admirals and keep it in repair.