I R suck at the Rome

[Stark]

Roman Republic archers are an anachronism, dammit!

I keep my army in formation by constant pausing/spacebar usage. The formation buttons are a joke.

[Darth Wong]

Tip for maintaining formations: you can use the formation buttons to put units into neat, straight lines and then grab subgroups and move them around, but even if you ungroup them, they will tend to rearrange themselves when you try to move the whole group later.

The trick is to grab the entire army once you've got your formations set up and then move it as a group, even if you only move it by a millimetre. This seems to "freeze" the current formation so that it will stay like that even as you maneuver them around.

One nice thing would be a "handle" icon showing where the handlepoint of the group is, so that you don't find yourself accidentally moving your army so that it's suddenly 45 degrees off the angle you wanted. That can be really annoying.

[fgalkin]

A tip for dealing with phalanxes: arrange your units 2 to 3 rows deep, as opposed to the standard formation. That way, when they engage the phalanx, they will wrap around the flanks and quickly cut it to bits, or at least hold it long enough for you to get a cavalry charge in. It also has the benefit of giving you a longer battle line, so that you either have free units on the flanks, which can attack their flanks, or the AI stretches his battle line to meet yours, leaving large gaps between each phalanx. And those exposed flanks and rear are just begging for a cavlary charge.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Ace Pace]

Well I normaly turn "use fire" option on, so achers use fire arrows that rout enemy units in less time then normal arrows.

On that matter, I'll be able to do it soon, but did anyone do a straight Arrow VS fire arrow?

Dealing with other archers, horses, infantry, heavy infantry, heavy horses.

[Darth Wong]

Well I normaly turn "use fire" option on, so achers use fire arrows that rout enemy units in less time then normal arrows.

On that matter, I'll be able to do it soon, but did anyone do a straight Arrow VS fire arrow?

Dealing with other archers, horses, infantry, heavy infantry, heavy horses.

I've done some experiments on multiplayer over a LAN, and regular arrows have a faster refire rate than flaming arrows. A group of archers firing regular arrows will kill a group of archers firing flaming arrows because they unload their ammo faster and more accurately. The only benefit of the fire arrows is routing, and that only works if your opponent has so-so morale. It's not a good idea against an opponent with good morale or a many-starred general, particularly on the harder difficulty levels where the enemy troops tend to have higher morale than yours do (one of the most annoying things in the early game is the chain-reaction routing effect, where one of your units starts routing and the rest promptly follow suit, even if they've taken no casualties yet).

[fgalkin]

(one of the most annoying things in the early game is the chain-reaction routing effect, where one of your units starts routing and the rest promptly follow suit, even if they've taken no casualties yet).

I actually like that part, as it adds realism to the game.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Stark]

A single light cav unit can rout an entire phalanx battleline: just get behind and charge/withdraw/charge. When one breaks, move on. Many weaker phalangites will rout just having a cav behind them. Hold the line, rout from the rear. Always works... against the AI. Humans aren't dumb enough to let your cav roam unsuppressed.

[Chardok]

Aww, man, I wish I hadn't been gone for days. I want to drop my 2 cents in.

As everyone here (And the guys in the AIM chatroom) can testify, I'm a HUGE fan of "Chardok's Improper Use Of Siege Engines™" tactic. That is: when you're in faceoff mode with an enemy out in the open especially, you stick your onagers up front. Two usually will do with spearmen of some sort or heavy infantry on the flank. Start battle. Then watch and cackle with glee as the enemy's front line troops stare stupidly at your greek fireballs decimating them. I love it when they fill in the gaps, too. I've won many a battle where I was outnumbered using just that tactics followed by a headlong ubercav charge right down the enemy's throat. you set it to wedge formation, and have a full on charge right through the remains of the enemy's frontline, all the way back to the general. *BOOM*

Then. All men halt, reform, and watch as the enemy runs away.

[fgalkin]

You mean that putting Onagers up front isn't normal? I thought everyone did that

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Vympel]

I do it. I want the extra range.

[Azazel]

Funny story:

I was making my way across europe conquering as a good Roman does when one of my smaller villages rebels against me. I immediately send an army to crush this rebellion. As my army builds a battering ram I wait and when it is built the next turn I assault. To my suprise the town had rebelled with only two soldiers. The funniest thing was to march my army near them and they would start taunting my army. The one guy with a shield would shake it and bash his sword against it. Then my armies marched over them.

[Vympel]

What is that, the Rebellion of two fucking crazies?

Maybe they were Immortals (like from Highlander) and they were just taking the piss.

[Chardok]

You mean that putting Onagers up front isn't normal? I thought everyone did that

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

It's "Improper use of siege engines™" hehe. Anyhoo, I was kidding, but seriously, if there is a worse place to put onagers, I don't know one. they are insanely vulnerable up there, even with their flanks protected. If the AI decides on a full on charge (As has happened sometimes) those onagers are finished. and they're expeinsive units to refit/rebuild. but the payoff is seeing enemy lines decimated by greek fire.

[Darth Wong]

Speaking of unorthodox tactics, I've successfully decimated besieging armies before by parking onagers inside my small stone walls (this doesn't work with large or epic stone walls) and letting them auto-fire at the enemy which is sitting just outside of archer range. Sure, a few blasts will hit my own wall on the way out, but not enough to actually knock a hole in it. And it's worth it to kick the shit out of the enemy's front line. Mind you, the last time I tried this he still had a substantial army left over when the onagers ran out of ammo, but I had 8 units of Principes, three units of Archer Auxilia, and two units of Roman cavalry (this was just after the Marius reforms) waiting inside to sally out and fuck up whatever he had left.

[The Yosemite Bear]

glad we think alike.

[wautd]

What is that, the Rebellion of two fucking crazies?

I think they persuaded the citizens to revolt, but when the Romans actually showed up everyone got afraid and turned back to their normal lives.

I think those 2 guys were still thinking they had an angry mob behind them for backup

[Azazel]

It was so funny cause they looked like they were egging my army on.

[fgalkin]

You mean that putting Onagers up front isn't normal? I thought everyone did that

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

It's "Improper use of siege engines™" hehe. Anyhoo, I was kidding, but seriously, if there is a worse place to put onagers, I don't know one. they are insanely vulnerable up there, even with their flanks protected. If the AI decides on a full on charge (As has happened sometimes) those onagers are finished. and they're expeinsive units to refit/rebuild. but the payoff is seeing enemy lines decimated by greek fire.

That's why you put someone in front of them. The Onagers will fire over their heads, and if someone charges them, they will get stuck there and you can charge them with the guys protecting your flanks, or move the Onagers out of the way.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Captain Cyran]

You mean that putting Onagers up front isn't normal? I thought everyone did that

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

It's "Improper use of siege engines™" hehe. Anyhoo, I was kidding, but seriously, if there is a worse place to put onagers, I don't know one. they are insanely vulnerable up there, even with their flanks protected. If the AI decides on a full on charge (As has happened sometimes) those onagers are finished. and they're expeinsive units to refit/rebuild. but the payoff is seeing enemy lines decimated by greek fire.

A worse place is to put your onagers behind you so you start decimating your own army with the misfires... *wince*

[Darth Wong]

You mean that putting Onagers up front isn't normal? I thought everyone did that

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

It's "Improper use of siege engines™" hehe. Anyhoo, I was kidding, but seriously, if there is a worse place to put onagers, I don't know one. they are insanely vulnerable up there, even with their flanks protected. If the AI decides on a full on charge (As has happened sometimes) those onagers are finished. and they're expeinsive units to refit/rebuild. but the payoff is seeing enemy lines decimated by greek fire.

A worse place is to put your onagers behind you so you start decimating your own army with the misfires... *wince*

I always keep my onagers very close to the front of my line, but I have a unit directly in front of them. Even the worst misfire won't hit a unit right in front of the onager, and the range difference of moving that lone unit out of the way doesn't mean anything. The onager still far outranges enemy missile troops of any kind.

[Chardok]

That's why you put someone in front of them. The Onagers will fire over their heads, and if someone charges them, they will get stuck there and you can charge them with the guys protecting your flanks, or move the Onagers out of the way.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

That's where I was going wrong then. Cause I have seen some *sick* short range misfires.

I like to position onagers juuuuust outside a woodline and the rest of my forces hidden within. then, when they start rushing the lone onager unit army, they get swarmed with cavalry.


God I love cavalry.

[fgalkin]

That's why you put someone in front of them. The Onagers will fire over their heads, and if someone charges them, they will get stuck there and you can charge them with the guys protecting your flanks, or move the Onagers out of the way.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

That's where I was going wrong then. Cause I have seen some *sick* short range misfires.

I like to position onagers juuuuust outside a woodline and the rest of my forces hidden within. then, when they start rushing the lone onager unit army, they get swarmed with cavalry.


God I love cavalry.

Misfires do happen, but losing 20+ men in a unit is not as bad as losing all of your onagers to the enemy. Not to mention that if you place them right in fron of them, the chance of a fireball of doom accidentally hitting your troops is reduced dramatically.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Azazel]

That's why when your troops move near the enemy you tell them to stop or to fire at the enemy's rear lines.

[Fire Fly]

Does anyone have any tips on how to play bridge battles? I keep taking huge losses. In my current Julii campaign, I had an army of my faction leader Flavius the Mighty (8 HP) with a Roman general, 8 units of principes, 4 units of hastai, 2 calv aux., 2 equites, and a barbarian calv off against a Gaullic army full stack with warbands with assorted missle and heavy infantry plus a family member. I have roughly 3400 and he has roughly 3300. We arrange our troops to defend the bridge and the river crossing.

He initially begins by sending out a vanguard of warbands on the bridge and crossing; some drown, some make it across, and some are then drown out by pilium followed by a charge. I repulse their incursion and they quickly withdraw. At the crossing, I charge with Flavius however cannot break them so I quickly with draw him. Eventually, we both just keep staring at each other across the river and I decide to take the initiative and charge him with principes at both crossings. His calvary charges my principe on the bridge and they rout, followed by complete anhillation; not a single soldier in that unit survives. Mean while, at the river crossing, one of my units of principes engages and I charge Flavius in, which finally breaks them. I pour in all of my calvary units in that area (Flavius, aux. calvary, barbarian calvary, and an equite). The Gaullic left breaks and I mop up with my barbarian calvary while I swing left to hit the Gauls who are still standing at the bridge. I break them and my units on the bridge break through.

Although I had superior troops, I lost half my army just trying to take them, which are unacceptable ratios. So any tips on how to win bridge battles when both sides have equal troop strength and missle units are low?

On a side note, I was able to get the Gauls to give me Marbo Nimbus+5000 denarii for a cease fire+trade rights+Accept or we will attack. It was the first time that ever happened to me....that, of course, was before I decided to provoke a fight since my ratings were dropping with the senate.......

[Ace Pace]

If your defending, just let them come, by the end, they have to attack, if you got archers or siege weapons, let them fire at will with fire, force them to attack or withdraw.

If your attacking, force a bridge head, lead with your basic idiot units, follow up with units that can enlargen the hole.