By Bob the Lethargic
Masada - The Jewish Revolt Walkthrough

Dangerous Engineer Level - Construction Kit City - Desert Scenario
Starting funds: 9000 denarii with no bailout loan from Caesar available
Highest Housing Level: Large Insulae (due to lack of third entertainment type)

Overview
Jerusalem has fallen.  As the leader of the remains of the Jewish Revolt in Judea, you have decided to move into the abandoned Governor's summer palace fortress at Masada and fight. You have taken the remains of Jerusalem's treasury with you, 9000 denarii.  Caesar has decided that the Judean army must take the fortress and he will not send Roman legions to attack Masada unless imperial favor drops to 15. Therefore he will judge your city building like any other Roman governor. Since you are not a true Roman governor, certain buildings are beyond the capabilities of your Jewish engineers.  Therefore Coliseums, Lion Pits, Chariot Makers, Hippodromes, Hospitals, Academies, Military Academies, the Senate, Missions, Docks, Wharves, and Bridges are not available.  To simulate the Masada fortress you should build a Governor's Villa as one of your first buildings on top of the plateau.  Jewish rebels did not honor Roman gods but their slaves did. One temple to each god should be built with oracles being synagogues.

Can you change history by withstanding the Judean Army and gaining Caesar's approval?

Targets
Population 1000  /  Culture 40  /  Prosperity 40  /  Peace 75  /  Favor Zero - not needed

Trade Partners:
Two land trade routes are available with price changes for all goods except wheat occurring in the game.
Tarsus: Sells - Clay, Pottery, Marble  & Buys - Wine, Oil
Herosolym: Sells - Wheat, Wine & Buys - Olives, Furniture

Major Important Events
66 AD Jewish rebels move into the Masada Fortress
68-86 AD Start of Judean Army attacks with attacks scheduled every year and increasing in size

Disasters
Occasional iron mine collapses can be expected during the game.

Hints and Tips
This is a simulation of the Jewish defense of Masada that lasted from 66 to 73 AD by 1000 Jewish rebels that held off the Roman Legions sent to destroy them.  Although a small mountaintop, six forts and all the buildings necessary to complete your goals can fit on top of the mountain.  The existing road system is the remains of the Governor's previous summer villa.  The exit route can be seen in the rear of the plateau just as it existed at Masada.  Early development of pottery production is vital to allow large insulae to be built as the needed housing.  The three wells on the map where reservoirs can easily be placed simulate the underground cisterns used for water collection at Masada and can cover most of the mountaintop in pipes.

Gatehouses are strategic to the defense of the fortress.  Placement at natural choke points is vital.  This defensive position places great emphasis on the use of auxiliary javelin legions and some heavy infantry legions.  Four javelin and two infantry legions seem to work well. There are three invasion points, one from the northeast and two from the northwest edges of the map. The eastern approach ramp was known as the "Snake Path" and was much easier to defend than the western approach ramp.  If Caesar (Vespanian starting in 69 AD) is angered and dispatches troops from Rome, they enter from the southwest edge of the map and take the short approach up the western ramp.  Have fun and let me know what you think of it.

My score in 83 AD was Pop 1515, Culture 67, Prosperity 55, Peace 79, Favor 77 with 37,590 denarii.