Arcanii and Gladiators

[Superteale]

I`m a beginner at this game and I`m playing the Julii campaign. Now I`m able to build Arcanii and Samnite Gladiators, but how should I use these units to utilize their advantages to the best? They are expensive and there are few soldiers in each unit, and I also wonder if they are any good compared to a solid Legion of 41 men?

If any of you seasoned generals out there would be so kind to share your experiences and strategys with an up and coming general I would be most grateful...

[mightilyoats]

Those guys are pretty scarry! I've never really used them myself (I prefer the Greek factions). All I know is that they tend to rip my armies appart when I don't expect them.

And I've tried throwing cavalry, infantry, pikes at them, skirmishers (not enough missiles)... The only thing that works for me is to pepper them with archers from far away for a long time - thank the gods for Cretan Archers! (they just won't die... scarry...)

So, my advice. Get them. At least two units. I would put them behind my front line and throw them into the line wherever my legions start to waver. They can absorb a massive amount of arrows too (ironically). Just keep in mind that they have a peasant-like formation.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi,
Arcanii's job really is for tricks. They can hide anywhere so they can be used easily for ambushes. The best option is to place your army quite away back from the deployment line and then place your Arcanii infront of them to the left or right, a reasonable distance away from where the enemy army is going to march. Once the enemy have met your main line of legions charge them from behind and wipe them out completely and rout them, the Arcanii's habit of stricking fear into enemies helps here. Also the Arcanii's very good stamina makes them able to chase down enemy units efficiently as well.

As for Gladiators, I have never used them. They are too ill-disciplined for my liking, but the best thing to use them for would be as reserves to place behind a powerful legion. However beware, they have the nasty habit of charging without orders. Also their peasant formation makes them inadept at carrying a ram in a seige although it does help them avoid enemy arrows. Enjoy your battles and cheers!

[Caius]

I`m a beginner at this game and I`m playing the Julii campaign. Now I`m able to build Arcanii and Samnite Gladiators, but how should I use these units to utilize their advantages to the best? They are expensive and there are few soldiers in each unit, and I also wonder if they are any good compared to a solid Legion of 41 men?

If any of you seasoned generals out there would be so kind to share your experiences and strategys with an up and coming general I would be most grateful...
Remember they have good morale.

[Poulp']

Arcani and any unit of Gladiators are also great for storming walls.
in a 1vs1 fight, they'll beat most unit the IA can field

Bastarnae mercenaries are just the same BTW.

[HumphreysCraig00]

I dont like either as the arcaniis ambushing is severely limited by being unable to move while hidden, and in a straight fight between a decent infantry unit and them they almost always lose, and heavy cavalry flattens them, the same with the gladiators.

It is in my opinion better to get a legion than either of them, although in my opinion an equites is better than a legion as I can get good KDRs with them while I cant with infantry so...

[Poulp']

arcanii and gladiators (and any elite units) are not meant to take a cav charge; auxilias are here for that purpose.
and once the cav is pinned by your meat shield (and quite an effective one), elite troops can make short work of them.

legionnary cohorts are somehow different, they're a multi purpose heavy infantry unit.
stand a charge ? they can
shoot ? they can
charge hard ? they can
waste enemy fire ? they can
run all day long ? they still can
take a good portion of your treasury and prevent corruption triggers ? they do that too

...

it is true that arcanii are are less effective ambushers than Gaul Foresters (IMO)
because gauls can watch the enemy army pass by and then shoot them in the back.

but that's just my way of playing...

[Mithras]

Gladiators tend to be usefull in siege combat. Where their skill is more valuable then numbers. Scipii Gladiators will butcher Egyption chariots which is very usefull.

[antisocialmunky]

Gladiators have 2 HP and are almost impervious to one hit kills from charges.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Gladiators have 2 HP and are almost impervious to one hit kills from charges.
I noticed that, but luckily a general can kill em' off quickly as can good legions. A regular cavalry charge can sometimes kill them however, but only if two men hit one man together, in that case the man goes flying. If one man hits one man then the gladiator just falls over.