Overview
This is just a guide I decided to make; any additional info from more experienced players will be welcome and included in guide if I think it is needed. This will be primarily a guide focusing on primarily self-resource production and being too much trouble to raid. Any info from raiders on how Gauls can improve their being a nuisance will be helpful, just go with the thought of how many will read this and be your problem.
Why?
Gauls are said to be a defensive race, and it is true their basic unit is primarily defensive in use and they need more resources to start raiding. While they still aren't very good at raiding when they get the minimum of 3 phalanx due to small carry capacity, they excel at being too much trouble themselves to be raided in the beginning; while Teutons are raiding and Romans being raided, you are sitting behind a wall of pitfalls laughing at the raiders falling in and Romans getting ground to dust. Also one of your later units is said to be the best raider in the game: the Theutates Thunder (TT) which is the fastest unit in the game. Your merchants are also the fastest of them all, meaning in the market other players will see your offers first, and you get resources out faster to allies. So this is why Gauls are by far the best ones, so you Teutons, have fun while it lasts, and Romans, so sorry you are Romans.
The Beginning
So I assume you've just picked Gauls and are lost with what to do with your current resources. First thing you should probably do is invest in the resource fields so your have good production for future expansion. Upgrade one or two grain fields then invest in clay wood and iron so maybe with a up2 wheat, 2 clay, 1 wood, and iron as last since you don't need much right now. That (correct me if I'm wrong and ill edit) should just about deplete your resources if anythings left put it in a lvl 1 or 2 cranny, remember yours hold twice as much so nearby raiders will be disappointed when you get out for now just up fields and cranny and get a lvl 1 trapper when you get a few extra resources and save up for those first 10 traps to make raiders mad.
Oh, No
So there something in your nice little hole pouting about being caught, eh? Well not to worry, you can be a nice (or smart if the guys 100+ pop compared to you, or noticebly larger teuton) and release the poor fellow, or you can be the little kidnapper and ransom him back. If its romans you will probly get a fare price for a couple of them because there very expensive so the guy will probly spare a fare amount; with teutons its hard to tell, they might have a lot because they've raided everyone near them dry, but their units are fairly cheap, so they may just kill them off and build more, so maybe try to get ransom but don't wait too long. When you release you only lose half of the traps occupied but when they come and rescue them then they destroy 2/3 of the traps so be smart and use your own judgement. With experience comes wisdom, with wisdom comes good things. Remember, you can only get 1 hour of production in ransom so maybe just a few at a time for it.
First Few Days Out of Protection
So your now out of protection, eh? Well, expect changes. That Teuton over there with the 60 pop and 50 macemen has been wanting a bit of fresh meat, and that Roman who survived him is seeing a possible target. No worries for WE ARE GAULS, and we make it a hobby to disappoint them this early in the game. If you've had maybe 5 days of protection you may have all lvl 2 resource fields a lvl 10 cranny and at least a lvl 1 trapper and 10 traps. Now its time to start a military you want a lvl 1 rally point and lvl 3 main building, then its time for barracks. You should start upping trapper and getting a warehouse and granary if you haven't already, once you main building 3 and you have rally point, build barracks. After it's built, don't get a military yet.
First we need to show those two local power houses we're not worth it, so get another lvl 10 cranny and some more traps. Now that they're trying to farm you a important rule is...BE NICE...yes, it's astounding, but worst thing to do is be mean. In most posts about being a farm, many farmers say they stop if asked, and some will let you grow some and raid less. Occasionally it even gets you a good alliance from the farmer. So just be nice and it normally benefits you; I know, shocking, nobody else believes at first either. So, just be a diplomat and act nice and polite even if they don't. If you have multiple superpowers around you, they may even help.
