You think Spartans should be the strongest?

[The Spartan (Returns)]

You think Spartans should be the strongest?

[Gtafanboy]

Yeah, because they really were...

[The Spartan (Returns)]

u know there shouldn't even be a urban cohort!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'd go for Macedonian Cavalry or something similar.

[aw89]

A legionary first cohort (Or a unit of Triarii) should beat a spartan hoplite of 2XX BC, the quality had decreased over time, not the legendary unit of the past I fear.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

A legionary first cohort (Or a unit of Triarii) should beat a spartan hoplite of 2XX BC, the quality had decreased over time, not the legendary unit of the past I fear.

i thought of that too

[Conqueror]

In a straight frontal melee they should do well but not invincible.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

They should far exceed just about everything else when it comes to discipline and straight fighting ability, but against first cohorts and such they should lose because of the superior roman tactics.

This would be shown by them losing once the Romans have outflanked their line, try 1v1 and you'll see what I'm talking about, but they should inflict horrible casualties.

[Garvanko]

Urban Cohorts all the way. Even though they are fake.

[A.Saturnus]

War elephants, anyone?

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Bah Spartans are better, all you have to do is smear yourself in horse's blood and the elephants will rout.

[fallen851]

What about the Aztecs?


Whoops, wrong Total War game...:wall:

[Slug For A Butt]

In that age, I'd have to say yes they should be the strongest.
Urban cohorts...bah. Urbans are a fancy town watch, FLC should be stronger, Urbans were policemen, nothing more.
So yes, with the units available, Spartans should be the strongest I think.

Edit: Uesugi, thats just it, phalanx WAS the strongest front on, thats why the Romans used it themselves to start. Then they pinched the manipular formation from the Sarmations after a couple of ambushes where they had their arses whupped. They used manipular because it was flexible. You can do the same, that's nothing to do with the unit stats.
So yes, what you are asking for already exists. If you flank them you beat them. Whats your point?

[Conqueror]

phalanx WAS the strongest front on, thats why the Romans used it themselves to start. Then they pinched the manipular formation from the Sarmations after a couple of ambushes where they had their arses whupped.

Do you mean the Samnites? I doubt the Romans got any infantry tactics from Sarmatians...

[Garvanko]

You need someone to defend your streets? You call an Urban Cohort.

Not a Spartan unit with their immobile phalanx.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

or there could be a stronger type of Spartans. Armoured Spartans? (just put a cool helmet on and bigger def.)

[Garvanko]

Btw.. Why don't Town Watch have a bonus fighting in the streets?

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Edit: Uesugi, thats just it, phalanx WAS the strongest front on, thats why the Romans used it themselves to start. Then they pinched the manipular formation from the Sarmations after a couple of ambushes where they had their arses whupped. They used manipular because it was flexible. You can do the same, that's nothing to do with the unit stats.
So yes, what you are asking for already exists. If you flank them you beat them. Whats your point?

Actually I did know that that existed, I probably wasn't clear though. I think the two are fairly well balanced at the moment.

[Seasoned Alcoholic]

You need someone to defend your streets? You call an Urban Cohort.

Not a Spartan unit with their immobile phalanx.

I've always preferred using spearmen (with the phalanx capability) to defend streets. You need to right-click and drag them across a street to get the best out of them. Position them at vital choke points of a city, and the AI usually has no other alternative than to make a breakthrough in one of these areas.

What results will depend on how you deploy your hoplites / pike phalanxes. You could try turning guard mode off so that the phalanx is more mobile and will counterattack more frequently, or you could keep them in guard mode if you desperately need to hold a section of street. Position (heavy) peltasts behind your pikes, and you have a deadly combination.

If you cannot recruit hoplites, phalanxes etc, you can always hire mercenaries instead. Buy these merc units 2 at a time (if possible), that way you can merge the 2 merc units after they've taken casualties.

IMO, the Siege of Sparta (historic battle) included with RTW is a good example of why pikes, hoplites and peltasts are better defenders than standard infantry.

[Garvanko]

In narrow streets sure, where they can't be flanked. But were all streets narrow in those days? I doubt it.

In RTW, of course, its easy to defend with the phalanx, but Im not sure if it was ever a realistic tactic. Even in Sparta.

[Seasoned Alcoholic]

The settlement layouts for all 6 cultures does get repetitive and is too predictable in no time. What they should consider implementing is an improved settlement layout, something which allows for more 'randomness' in terms of building positioning, street width, town square size etc. Also, once buildings have been completely destroyed and have collapsed, units should be able to walk across the ruins, rather than pointlessly march the long way round just to attack the last remaining unit defending the town square.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

Btw.. Why don't Town Watch have a bonus fighting in the streets?
that be really grat

[antisocialmunky]

Oh please, in the last big greek-spartan war, the Thebans and Athenians used peltests and formations to break up enemy phalanxes and bleed the Spartans dry. Stop kicking up the hype about 'invincible Spartans.'

[Casmin]

Man for man the Spartans were probably better even until the end. Not to generalize but it was better tactics and a loss of manpower that caused their demise not inferior fighting prowess.