Maltz
11-25-2004, 03:16
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_02.jpg
* argh... Armenian cavalry, not Arm"a"nian... sorry. ~;) *
Hello, dear friends:
This time I will attempt a much shorter story, focusing on a single battle and cover it in more details. I am into an interesting Armenia Vh/Vh campaign these days. There were many hard-fought battles in Parthia, Scythia, Egypt, Macedonia and Italia... and fun time flies.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_01.jpg
Territory count reached about 60 in winter, 250BC, turn 42. A few months ago Capua Scipii entirely failed their sally, and was forced to erect a new flag -- mighty horse of Armenia.
Rome and the Senate army is now within one season of march. Armenian faction heir, Aramu the Butcher, was afraid that all his available infantry will crumble before the hardened triarii, so he left them behind. Instead, he gathered every horsemen he could find around. The showdown has come.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_03.jpg
I must introduce a bit of Aramu first. Aramu is the 2nd son of the starting faction leader, who died too early to make any grand children to remember his name. Aramu has no interests in watching crops gorw, so he was sent out to lead army. He developed some drinking problem through his military years, but that doesn't impede his judgement on the bettlefield... yet.
Actually, Aramu has been the core, and the earliest commander of the Armenian expansion army over the past twenty years. At the age of 32, Aramu jumped onto the internatonal stage when he defeated Parthia's mass horse archers/cataphract/bodyguards with his own kind, under some overwhelmingly-disfavorable odds. (I described more details of that battle in the "Armenia guide" reply in the RTW guide forum.) There he started to gain a title as the "cavalryman".
While his older brother succeeded the throne and laid flat due to a terrible plague in Alexandria, Aramu the cavalryman ran the horse archer mob across Tigris and Eupharates, shooting the slow Selucid Empire phalanx for leisure. He chased the fleeing Greeks to the west end of Asia minor, where he launched his surprise attack on the declining Macedonia, and conquered the entire Balkan pennisula with the help of his nephews. There, he defeated mass Macedon cavalry rush with intelligence and... math (I don't know how, just making up the story based on his traits), and again shot the phalanx to pieces, no doubt. Over his conquest he exterminated town after town, burned city after city. He became known as "the butcher" and later on "the exterminator".
Age left wrinkles on Aramu's face. He has entered his old age, with all his glory and memory. Before he retires, we shall give him the ultimate honor - Rome.
***
Note: I must first apologize for the graphics quality. Due to my problematic black screenshots, I had to "alt-tab" and paste the screeshot in Windows' accesory "paint" and save as .bmp to ensure everything really shows up. This means I had to lower my video options to almost all-minimum to avoid quit to desktop when I go back to the game.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_04.jpg
After a few years of naval frustration and urgent training, three stacks of Armenia army has landed Italia by winter, 250BC. Over the years of conquer many cavalry have become hard vetarans. Aramu requested a grand gathering of all horse archers, and in 1 year he had about exactly 1 full stack, plus the good old cataphracts that has followed him since the beginning. Also present were some mercenary cavalry and camel that have also followed Aramu for more than a decade. Their number reached almost 1000 men.
The Senate army consisted of 7 Roman generals, divided into two groups. The garrison was led by 7-star Marcus Maxentius, possibly the best Roman general at the time. The stack outside Rome is led by 5-star Servius Maxentius, also a capable leader. Their combined number topped 1500.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_05.jpg
All right, what a nice morning for the great clash. Camp bearing the huge purple banner of SPQR is now visible. Roman soldiers under Servius Maxentius is coming this way. Aramu estimated that the reinforcement from Rome shall arrive roughly the same time as the engagement, so the Romans could flank the Armenian army.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_06.jpg
Not that easily. Aramu decides to face Marcus Maxentius's reinforcement first, before Servius's bigger army started to engage. Aramu made 3 quarter-cricles, the first circle consists of the tough melee cavalry of cataphract, cataphract archers, Sarmatian mercenaries, and camel riders. The 2nd and 3rd circle were largely horse archers. When the reinforcement arrives, they will be shot to pieces!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_07.jpg
"Hum..." Aramu scratches his head as he stares at the peaceful wilderness. Nobody is coming this way. Has the Romans detected Armenian's intention and decided something else? Or they were just not fast enough to arrive on time. Luck is also an important factor on battlefield...
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_08.jpg
Without the reinforcement coming, Servius Maxentius's army is roughly of the same strength as Aramu's. Once again you see the familiar Roman Republc formation - velite, hastati, pricipe and triarii. All the cavalry, consisted of various Senate members and their bodyguards, were in the back. Ready for some flanking action, huh?
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_09.jpg
All right, Aramu finally admitted his original plan has failed. Now he has to spend some extra time to march his troops to face the Senate army. He didn't want to just march foward, but instead turned to the right. This way, when more Romans come, they won't appear in the back, but rather on the side. They won't post too much threat this way.
The existing Senate army also turned their formation to face the Armenians.
Aramu roughly spread the cavalry out evenly, with his melee-heavy units at the center. Is he going to have a good plan, or he will just react to whatever the Romans do? After a short period of stalemate, Aramu sent out his most-right horse archers forward to harrass the Roman velite. The Romans were helpless in this regard because they can't counter the arrow fires. 2 units of Velite was reduced to half-strength. A few moments later, an angry young general rushed out to chase the horse archers.
The horse archers backed off a bit to lure him deep, and he took the bait. Everybody knows what happens next - the melee cavalry rushed up, killed the entire bodyguard bunch within blink of eyes. A good start!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_10.jpg
That good start lasted quite a while, and gradually turned into a no-progress. Despite the loss of one general and a few velite, the Roman army remains unsracched. This is not a good sign for Aramu, because daytime is short during winter. Just as Aramu trying to lure more Roman army to come to the right, the Roman reinforcement finally came from the left!
Aramu has marched too far away to intercept this army. If they do it now, the main body of Senate army might as well go forward to sandwitch Armenians at the center - too dangerous. So Aramu again decides to stay put, but instead he turned the entire left flank horse archers to face them, see what the Romans want.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_11.jpg
Marcus Maxentius's 7 stars certainly means something. All the reinforcement promptly ignored the approaching skirmishing horse archers, and kept marching to meet the rest, leaving a fine trace of corpse on the ground, though. Now united as one, the Romans has 6 generals and 200+ hard cavalry. They now pose a greater threat!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_12.jpg
Aramu's attempt to lure the enemy to the right has not stopped. The AI Romans couldn't learn from their mistakes, and again dispatched a few infantry and yet another general to chase the horse archers... same fate for them, then.
The horse archers drew their dagger and hid their bows, mobbed quantity to maul the quality. Aramu with his melee cavalry flanked these careless Romans, turning them into lumps of corpses.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_13.jpg
*Sniff* Hum... Something smells different here. The Romans started their agreesive advance to the left, with simultaneous cavalry charge on the right. Oh-oh. Were they attempting to lure away Aramu's melee cavalry, so they could decimate Aramu's left flank easily? That will work if Aramu has his left flank as spearmen...
However, there was no time for pulling back Aramu's melee cavalry to the left. The entire left flank of Armenian soon divided into 2 groups, L-shaped, to surround the concentrated purple branched force, and switched to the skirmish mode, ready to back off when needed.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_14.jpg
Aramu also ordered a HAULT on the right (Roman's left), turning back to the fire at will mode and scatter their forces. The Romans soon called off their march on the left, possibly fearing it was a nother trap (it was, of course).
Oh well, one general listening to Rock during battle, huh? He didn't hear the retreat horn. He and his bodyguard were outnumbered so badly... Oh a missed cut scene - this time we brought down a commanding general! At least a 5-star, great!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_15.jpg
Just before further clash on the right occurs, the left flank horse archer's fire power has significantly thin down the purple uniforms. Another Roman general advances took the bait... so it is the time to turn back and wrap from two directions. Fire at will off, just charge!
One more Roman general trapped - he and his bodyguards even didn't make it to the cataphrac archer's ultimate crush. 3 down, 4 to go!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_16.jpg
Actually, Albertus and Bobbus made it to the cataphract archer's ultimate crush. Beautiful posture of Albertus, thanks CA.
The entire Roman's left flank attempt ended in pain. With the tide turning gradually to the eastern horse, it's now the time for the final wrap up! Left flank, resume fire at will, and march forward!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_17.jpg
3 out of the 4 remaining Roman generals made their last rush attemp to break through the Armenian horse horde. However, Aramu isn't that kind of "charge at will" person. Over 20 years of hard war he knows what is most valuable for his horse archers - distance. Distance buys time, and time buys damage. Facing 3 Roman generals at the same time, backed by their infantry does not feature good odds.
Aramu haulted the advancing horde and quickly separated them, telling them to fire at will. Let the shower resume!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_18.jpg
Another Senate general discouraged by the arrows, so did the infantry - but 2 generals did not stop! Is it deja vu all over; they charged into the space between the horse archers - only to step on the corpse of hundreds. Let the gap close up - arrows stopped, replaced by the horn of charge from all direction, and the continuous pounds of the earth...
Yet another 2 Roman noble leaders surrounded, outnumbered and killed. Things now look really bad for thye Romans. 5 down, 2 to go!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_19.jpg
The "right" time has come. The right flank of the mass cavalry, where all the melee troops are, lead the fatal march towards Romans' left, totally surround them. One of the two remaining Roman general finally decided to face his heroic end... guess he now regrets to have stopped in the first place!
There is no hope for the Romans now. Aramu held his sword high, "Entire right flank, charge!~~~"
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_20.jpg
The green wave crushed the entire left flank of Romans. Nontheless, the death of the last Roman general didn't banish the hope of brave triarii holding their last possible line. They fought bravely until heavily outnumbered from three directions.
No human runs faster than the horse and flying arrows. 7 Roman generals, 1500 soldiers were killed in this battle. The crushing result marked the end of the Armenian campaign, permenantly to be remembered on the ground.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_21.jpg
In short, Aramu succeeded with horse archers by his patience. The Senate army had the superior strength and quality, but they were lured to be chewed up bits by bits. The Armenians didn't spread its horse archers across the map to do skirmish, because that simply cannot contribute much. Yet they were waiting for melee mop-up each advancing Roman unit, routing them fast to avoid large casaulties.
An horse archer horde is indeed very difficult to deal with. If I were the Romans, I might make a wall of triarii at front, and march the entire infantry forward (under the arrow rains), pushing them to one corner. I would also concentrate all cavalry generals together, prevent any large-scale escape, or to gang up any long units of enemy. I wouldn't respond to any HA fire and pretent they don't exist - there is nothing to catch them up anyways.
The horse archers will have to run around to avoid getting caught into a corner, so they will probably get tired (and run slowly first). Then I would use my generals' cavalry to seal in from one end, trying to catch some units there. If all that fails, no cavalry rush can pass Roman infantry on the street of Rome, so defending against a siege would be a last, but safe resort.
I am not really good at commanding. I am sure you have a better way to deal with an all-HA army. ~:)
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_22.jpg
The conquest of Armenia is not over yet. The Julii has entered its exponential growth stage, with plenty of hardened warrior eager to fight. Iberian is said to have prospered in the west, again with its insane diplomatic team performing the "hiyo hiyo hololo" ritual.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/spanish_diplomats.jpg
On the north, the Germany barbarians are reported to be gathering full stacks, ready to encounter the mercenary-heavy Armanian invasion. The Brits have also taken advantage of the weakened Gauls. The little discovery channel team has finally crossed the dead marches into Mordor... I mean the lost kingdom of Amazon. In how many more years can the mighty horse sweep the continent? All yeah, the first large reinforcement of cataphracts are about to land Italia, and the entire high-tech Italia is going to be a mass-production center of quality infantry - that will be another story.
Thanks for reading. :bow:
(The End)
* argh... Armenian cavalry, not Arm"a"nian... sorry. ~;) *
Hello, dear friends:
This time I will attempt a much shorter story, focusing on a single battle and cover it in more details. I am into an interesting Armenia Vh/Vh campaign these days. There were many hard-fought battles in Parthia, Scythia, Egypt, Macedonia and Italia... and fun time flies.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_01.jpg
Territory count reached about 60 in winter, 250BC, turn 42. A few months ago Capua Scipii entirely failed their sally, and was forced to erect a new flag -- mighty horse of Armenia.
Rome and the Senate army is now within one season of march. Armenian faction heir, Aramu the Butcher, was afraid that all his available infantry will crumble before the hardened triarii, so he left them behind. Instead, he gathered every horsemen he could find around. The showdown has come.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_03.jpg
I must introduce a bit of Aramu first. Aramu is the 2nd son of the starting faction leader, who died too early to make any grand children to remember his name. Aramu has no interests in watching crops gorw, so he was sent out to lead army. He developed some drinking problem through his military years, but that doesn't impede his judgement on the bettlefield... yet.
Actually, Aramu has been the core, and the earliest commander of the Armenian expansion army over the past twenty years. At the age of 32, Aramu jumped onto the internatonal stage when he defeated Parthia's mass horse archers/cataphract/bodyguards with his own kind, under some overwhelmingly-disfavorable odds. (I described more details of that battle in the "Armenia guide" reply in the RTW guide forum.) There he started to gain a title as the "cavalryman".
While his older brother succeeded the throne and laid flat due to a terrible plague in Alexandria, Aramu the cavalryman ran the horse archer mob across Tigris and Eupharates, shooting the slow Selucid Empire phalanx for leisure. He chased the fleeing Greeks to the west end of Asia minor, where he launched his surprise attack on the declining Macedonia, and conquered the entire Balkan pennisula with the help of his nephews. There, he defeated mass Macedon cavalry rush with intelligence and... math (I don't know how, just making up the story based on his traits), and again shot the phalanx to pieces, no doubt. Over his conquest he exterminated town after town, burned city after city. He became known as "the butcher" and later on "the exterminator".
Age left wrinkles on Aramu's face. He has entered his old age, with all his glory and memory. Before he retires, we shall give him the ultimate honor - Rome.
***
Note: I must first apologize for the graphics quality. Due to my problematic black screenshots, I had to "alt-tab" and paste the screeshot in Windows' accesory "paint" and save as .bmp to ensure everything really shows up. This means I had to lower my video options to almost all-minimum to avoid quit to desktop when I go back to the game.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_04.jpg
After a few years of naval frustration and urgent training, three stacks of Armenia army has landed Italia by winter, 250BC. Over the years of conquer many cavalry have become hard vetarans. Aramu requested a grand gathering of all horse archers, and in 1 year he had about exactly 1 full stack, plus the good old cataphracts that has followed him since the beginning. Also present were some mercenary cavalry and camel that have also followed Aramu for more than a decade. Their number reached almost 1000 men.
The Senate army consisted of 7 Roman generals, divided into two groups. The garrison was led by 7-star Marcus Maxentius, possibly the best Roman general at the time. The stack outside Rome is led by 5-star Servius Maxentius, also a capable leader. Their combined number topped 1500.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_05.jpg
All right, what a nice morning for the great clash. Camp bearing the huge purple banner of SPQR is now visible. Roman soldiers under Servius Maxentius is coming this way. Aramu estimated that the reinforcement from Rome shall arrive roughly the same time as the engagement, so the Romans could flank the Armenian army.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_06.jpg
Not that easily. Aramu decides to face Marcus Maxentius's reinforcement first, before Servius's bigger army started to engage. Aramu made 3 quarter-cricles, the first circle consists of the tough melee cavalry of cataphract, cataphract archers, Sarmatian mercenaries, and camel riders. The 2nd and 3rd circle were largely horse archers. When the reinforcement arrives, they will be shot to pieces!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_07.jpg
"Hum..." Aramu scratches his head as he stares at the peaceful wilderness. Nobody is coming this way. Has the Romans detected Armenian's intention and decided something else? Or they were just not fast enough to arrive on time. Luck is also an important factor on battlefield...
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_08.jpg
Without the reinforcement coming, Servius Maxentius's army is roughly of the same strength as Aramu's. Once again you see the familiar Roman Republc formation - velite, hastati, pricipe and triarii. All the cavalry, consisted of various Senate members and their bodyguards, were in the back. Ready for some flanking action, huh?
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_09.jpg
All right, Aramu finally admitted his original plan has failed. Now he has to spend some extra time to march his troops to face the Senate army. He didn't want to just march foward, but instead turned to the right. This way, when more Romans come, they won't appear in the back, but rather on the side. They won't post too much threat this way.
The existing Senate army also turned their formation to face the Armenians.
Aramu roughly spread the cavalry out evenly, with his melee-heavy units at the center. Is he going to have a good plan, or he will just react to whatever the Romans do? After a short period of stalemate, Aramu sent out his most-right horse archers forward to harrass the Roman velite. The Romans were helpless in this regard because they can't counter the arrow fires. 2 units of Velite was reduced to half-strength. A few moments later, an angry young general rushed out to chase the horse archers.
The horse archers backed off a bit to lure him deep, and he took the bait. Everybody knows what happens next - the melee cavalry rushed up, killed the entire bodyguard bunch within blink of eyes. A good start!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_10.jpg
That good start lasted quite a while, and gradually turned into a no-progress. Despite the loss of one general and a few velite, the Roman army remains unsracched. This is not a good sign for Aramu, because daytime is short during winter. Just as Aramu trying to lure more Roman army to come to the right, the Roman reinforcement finally came from the left!
Aramu has marched too far away to intercept this army. If they do it now, the main body of Senate army might as well go forward to sandwitch Armenians at the center - too dangerous. So Aramu again decides to stay put, but instead he turned the entire left flank horse archers to face them, see what the Romans want.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_11.jpg
Marcus Maxentius's 7 stars certainly means something. All the reinforcement promptly ignored the approaching skirmishing horse archers, and kept marching to meet the rest, leaving a fine trace of corpse on the ground, though. Now united as one, the Romans has 6 generals and 200+ hard cavalry. They now pose a greater threat!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_12.jpg
Aramu's attempt to lure the enemy to the right has not stopped. The AI Romans couldn't learn from their mistakes, and again dispatched a few infantry and yet another general to chase the horse archers... same fate for them, then.
The horse archers drew their dagger and hid their bows, mobbed quantity to maul the quality. Aramu with his melee cavalry flanked these careless Romans, turning them into lumps of corpses.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_13.jpg
*Sniff* Hum... Something smells different here. The Romans started their agreesive advance to the left, with simultaneous cavalry charge on the right. Oh-oh. Were they attempting to lure away Aramu's melee cavalry, so they could decimate Aramu's left flank easily? That will work if Aramu has his left flank as spearmen...
However, there was no time for pulling back Aramu's melee cavalry to the left. The entire left flank of Armenian soon divided into 2 groups, L-shaped, to surround the concentrated purple branched force, and switched to the skirmish mode, ready to back off when needed.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_14.jpg
Aramu also ordered a HAULT on the right (Roman's left), turning back to the fire at will mode and scatter their forces. The Romans soon called off their march on the left, possibly fearing it was a nother trap (it was, of course).
Oh well, one general listening to Rock during battle, huh? He didn't hear the retreat horn. He and his bodyguard were outnumbered so badly... Oh a missed cut scene - this time we brought down a commanding general! At least a 5-star, great!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_15.jpg
Just before further clash on the right occurs, the left flank horse archer's fire power has significantly thin down the purple uniforms. Another Roman general advances took the bait... so it is the time to turn back and wrap from two directions. Fire at will off, just charge!
One more Roman general trapped - he and his bodyguards even didn't make it to the cataphrac archer's ultimate crush. 3 down, 4 to go!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_16.jpg
Actually, Albertus and Bobbus made it to the cataphract archer's ultimate crush. Beautiful posture of Albertus, thanks CA.
The entire Roman's left flank attempt ended in pain. With the tide turning gradually to the eastern horse, it's now the time for the final wrap up! Left flank, resume fire at will, and march forward!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_17.jpg
3 out of the 4 remaining Roman generals made their last rush attemp to break through the Armenian horse horde. However, Aramu isn't that kind of "charge at will" person. Over 20 years of hard war he knows what is most valuable for his horse archers - distance. Distance buys time, and time buys damage. Facing 3 Roman generals at the same time, backed by their infantry does not feature good odds.
Aramu haulted the advancing horde and quickly separated them, telling them to fire at will. Let the shower resume!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_18.jpg
Another Senate general discouraged by the arrows, so did the infantry - but 2 generals did not stop! Is it deja vu all over; they charged into the space between the horse archers - only to step on the corpse of hundreds. Let the gap close up - arrows stopped, replaced by the horn of charge from all direction, and the continuous pounds of the earth...
Yet another 2 Roman noble leaders surrounded, outnumbered and killed. Things now look really bad for thye Romans. 5 down, 2 to go!
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_19.jpg
The "right" time has come. The right flank of the mass cavalry, where all the melee troops are, lead the fatal march towards Romans' left, totally surround them. One of the two remaining Roman general finally decided to face his heroic end... guess he now regrets to have stopped in the first place!
There is no hope for the Romans now. Aramu held his sword high, "Entire right flank, charge!~~~"
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_20.jpg
The green wave crushed the entire left flank of Romans. Nontheless, the death of the last Roman general didn't banish the hope of brave triarii holding their last possible line. They fought bravely until heavily outnumbered from three directions.
No human runs faster than the horse and flying arrows. 7 Roman generals, 1500 soldiers were killed in this battle. The crushing result marked the end of the Armenian campaign, permenantly to be remembered on the ground.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_21.jpg
In short, Aramu succeeded with horse archers by his patience. The Senate army had the superior strength and quality, but they were lured to be chewed up bits by bits. The Armenians didn't spread its horse archers across the map to do skirmish, because that simply cannot contribute much. Yet they were waiting for melee mop-up each advancing Roman unit, routing them fast to avoid large casaulties.
An horse archer horde is indeed very difficult to deal with. If I were the Romans, I might make a wall of triarii at front, and march the entire infantry forward (under the arrow rains), pushing them to one corner. I would also concentrate all cavalry generals together, prevent any large-scale escape, or to gang up any long units of enemy. I wouldn't respond to any HA fire and pretent they don't exist - there is nothing to catch them up anyways.
The horse archers will have to run around to avoid getting caught into a corner, so they will probably get tired (and run slowly first). Then I would use my generals' cavalry to seal in from one end, trying to catch some units there. If all that fails, no cavalry rush can pass Roman infantry on the street of Rome, so defending against a siege would be a last, but safe resort.
I am not really good at commanding. I am sure you have a better way to deal with an all-HA army. ~:)
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/arm_22.jpg
The conquest of Armenia is not over yet. The Julii has entered its exponential growth stage, with plenty of hardened warrior eager to fight. Iberian is said to have prospered in the west, again with its insane diplomatic team performing the "hiyo hiyo hololo" ritual.
http://protein.biochem.queensu.ca/~dlee/others/rtw/armenia/spanish_diplomats.jpg
On the north, the Germany barbarians are reported to be gathering full stacks, ready to encounter the mercenary-heavy Armanian invasion. The Brits have also taken advantage of the weakened Gauls. The little discovery channel team has finally crossed the dead marches into Mordor... I mean the lost kingdom of Amazon. In how many more years can the mighty horse sweep the continent? All yeah, the first large reinforcement of cataphracts are about to land Italia, and the entire high-tech Italia is going to be a mass-production center of quality infantry - that will be another story.
Thanks for reading. :bow:
(The End)