RTW Question

[BHCWarman88]

Hey guys,


if I use Selecius, would Selecius be good to fight with Against Greece??

I get

4 Silver Shield Pikemen
4 Phjalanx Pikemen
4 Silver Shield Legions
3 Cats
3 Eles
2 Chariots

and if I fight greece

usally
13 spartians
6 arcchers (cretan)
1 Cav
or
14 spartians
6 Cretan Archers

or any other I didn't list. would my Selecius be good enough to fight Greece with??

[Ludens]

Is this for MP? I am not an MP player, but it sounds good, provided you can take out the Cretans fast. It might also be a good idea to trade some infantry for cavalry. Macedon is another option. You then get both Cretan archers and good cavalry, plus a good (if not excellent) phalanx units.

[Monarch]

Well if you draw their spartans in with your infantry, and then smash their sides with elephants and cavalry, then you'll do fine. The only problem is to make sure you hold the spartans in one place for long enough. Also, I suggest you get some missile troops, peltasts are good against phalanx units.

[Watchman]

Chariots DO NOT charge deployed phalanxes frontally. In my experience those that try perish en masse. Dunno about eles though.

Don't both Phalanx Pikes and Silcer Shields have the advantage of longer pikes compared to anything the Greeks have ? I'm under the impression that's a pretty major advantage in a straight phalanx clash. There seem to be an awful lot of Spartans in the equation though - even in the best of cases it looks like there'll be at least one that can't be tied down with infantry. Guess that one (or those) needs to be given the Massive Cavalry Convergence treatment...

Just wondering if it would be possible to swap the catas in the equation for the high-attack Companions ? Catas are better suited for smashing armoured foes and not terribly good at killing high-Defense low-Armour troops like the Spartans, aren't they ?

[BHCWarman88]

but the guys I play put their guys into a Box Formation though..

[Ludens]

but the guys I play put their guys into a Box Formation though..
All the better. Make sure you have more archers (Macedon gets Cretans as well) and let the sky rain arrows. Also remember that the shield is ineffective against attacks from the right or rear. Spartan carry no armour, so arrows are deadly against them.

[orangat]

All the better. Make sure you have more archers (Macedon gets Cretans as well) and let the sky rain arrows. Also remember that the shield is ineffective against attacks from the right or rear. Spartan carry no armour, so arrows are deadly against them.

Actually Spartans have an armour rating of 3, 9, 5. Since shields confer double protection, that would a nominal rating of 13 def from the front but they do have a weak 3 in the rear.

[Monarch]

but the guys I play put their guys into a Box Formation though..

Good old multiplayer cheese.

Well your definately need peltasts then. As the box position is very defensive and highly immobile, I once played as Julii online against a Greek using the cheesy box thing, I lined up Cohorts in front of their phlanx, and set them to fire at will. There lines got very depleted, so even charging them head on they didn't have enoughp ikes to keep my legionaires at bay, they couldn't move without opening a weak spot for my Praetorians to charge into.

Perhaps do this with your silver shield legions (since they throw javelins before charge), whilst simulataneously have cretans kill whatevers in their box (archers, peltasts, onagers etc).

[Ludens]

Well your definately need peltasts then.
The box contains Cretan archers.

While I agree with your assessment that missile troops are necessary, peltasts are likely to get slaughtered by the Cretans. Also, a peltast carries only three javelins, while an archer has perhaps thirty arrows. Since we are not facing armoured troops or mobile troops, quantity may beat quality here (but I still advice taking Cretans above normal archers: if they are in a box you will have to take them out with missiles of your own).


Actually Spartans have an armour rating of 3, 9, 5. Since shields confer double protection, that would a nominal rating of 13 def from the front but they do have a weak 3 in the rear.
IIRC an armour rating of 3 is for unamoured units. Otherwise you are correct, but since the enemy is in a box formation there will always be units presenting their unshielded rear and right sides.

[Monarch]

The box contains Cretan archers.

While I agree with your assessment that missile troops are necessary, peltasts are likely to get slaughtered by the Cretans. Also, a peltast carries only three javelins, while an archer has perhaps thirty arrows. Since we are not facing armoured troops or mobile troops, quantity may beat quality here (but I still advice taking Cretans above normal archers: if they are in a box you will have to take them out with missiles of your own).


IIRC an armour rating of 3 is for unamoured units. Otherwise you are correct, but since the enemy is in a box formation there will always be units presenting their unshielded rear and right sides.

Heh, I meant for the cretans to slog it out with other cretans, kill them, then move pelasts in. In my experience, arrows on phanxes will eventually get a few kills, but certianly not as many as a peltast. However as you say, peltasts only get a few javelins, so instead of peltats, use legionaires, they arfe just as effective and good for something afterwards. Also they wont get slaughtered by cretans.

[x-dANGEr]

But legions are way better than normal peltasts, they have the 'AP' attribute which is quite a good addition. I suggest you pick around 4 Phalanx (Secludids' best ones), and as much archers as you can get, along with catas. Beat enemy's archers with yours, then focus all your phalanx on 1 Spartan unit (After weakening it would be better) and you will clash through their wall. Then, if he doesn't turn other phalanx on you, just take them out 1 by 1, and if he does assign the other units to attack you, charge them in the rear/flank with your catas.

[BHCWarman88]

like I had 1 cav unit and 2 ele units attack this guy's spartians in the Rear because he had them in like a 5 man in front,and 8 man wide or something,some goofy march formation,and he still massarce me..

I can be any faction,inclduing spear factions like Macdon,Egypt,Armeina,Pontus,etc.. but I can't beat Greece,don't know why. . even if I am Rome, I still get slaughter.. mabye it because I suck,lol

[Monarch]

I think if your really desperate for help it would help us, helping you, if we knew exactly what the guys where doing with Greece which you found so tough. We've said the obvious; flanking, picking a weak spot etc etc. But perhaps a screen or two of the formations which have got you stuck?

[Monarch]

Ok, I just logged onto MP and played a battle as Brutii, 2vs2, my ally was also Bruttii and enemies where Greeks and Macedons. I had a hill, so I simply moved all my guys onto that hill and then formed followoing formation:

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8750/rome1qe.jpg

As you can see the Greek guy was no tactical genius (though still put up an ok fight :)), he first of all tried to attack me with two units of Cretans, my four units of Archer Auxila made easy work of them. Then he simply moved his spartans up the hill using the 'big pike vs little sword = easy win' philosophy. Well whilst he was moving up I pummeled him with flaming arrows and then I put Legionaires on fire at will so they pummeled enemy with javelins. Their depleted lines where then easily flanked and finished off 9see my Van Gogh esc diagram).

In the mean time I didn't need my cavalry so I used my Praetorians to take out Macedons cavalry (helping out my ally who didn't have any archers and only a coluple of cav units, but a good infantry army none the less). I then just sent my Praetorians on a killing streak slamming into the sides of phalanxes. All in all a fun battle, I lost about (I deployed 900) 200 men and killed the most which was pleasing since I havn't played in a couple of weeks.

My MP game name is Monarch by the way (though I'm still mainly playing a Seleucid SP campaign, but I'll be on every so often)

[BHCWarman88]

Monarch Eh?? OK, I'll Look for you. I posted my Retirement on totalwars.net, but I'm up for some good games. I look for you on RTW when I'm on tomarrow (Wednesday)


I'm

{BHC}KingWarman88{KT}

[BHCWarman88]

btw Soverign, where you get that cool Seleciud Pic at,m8??

[Monarch]

btw Soverign, where you get that cool Seleciud Pic at,m8??

My avatar?

It's one of the defaults. Theres a chance junior members cant get them though, not sure.

[BHCWarman88]

ok thx..

I fought a Macdon guy, who use that Cheese,Box,Square formation,whatever you like to call it, I call it Sqaure, and I took his Spears out Fast.. Warman:1300+ Kills
my Enemey : 720 kills
we played on Large units btw, I always do.25K,
Warman's Death Field

[Monarch]

Congrats, just wondering how you killed them? Archers? Javelins? Onagers? Phalanx Vs Phalanx?

[BHCWarman88]

Macdon Spears aren't as good as Spartians, I learn that last year when I was first playing RTW, and I use my Eles and Cav + chariots to kill them and distract them,while my Legions and Phalanxs took the rest out and mop them up. hard fight,but I still did it..