nooby Questions

How do you get arcani. It doesn't say on the tech tree. Its useless to me now as ive already beat Roman and am now on the seleucids but I'd still like to know for future reference. I thought I read it somewher but i cant locate the post.

Ive patched to 1.3. So when I got play at my friends house who hasn't patched the game, it seems his archers are much more effective. Wonderin if its just me or not.

I've read that attacking from the right flank was good during acient warfare cus it was easier to use shield when on right flank than on left flank, is this simulated in the game?

Oh i wanted to know the best way to use phalanx because my silver shields kept getting annihilated by spartans, but since I've read the guide Greeks are a piece of cake especially with companion and cataphracts. frogbeastegg's guide was very informative.

The Arcani are built in a specific set of Roman temples. It you check the buildings scroll you can see what each of the temples do.

Archers have been weakened a little in 1.3 and I think even in 1.2. In 1.3 the shield bonus against missile attack is approximately double (or something similar in effect.) Also some missile attack stats were reduced on elite units. In 1.2 soldiers on the march or something like that were given their shield stat (something had been left out in 1.0 and 1.1 so it was fixed in 1.2.)

Flank and rear attacks are always a good move. Men on the flank will turn to fight though, even if the facing is to the front so you won't get the full effect. Rear attacks are more effective since the individuals won't pivot effectively. Missile fire along the unshielded flank is far more effective than on the shielded flank. Defensive skill applies to one flank, shield to the other, armour all over, and all three to the front as I understand it.

Spartans are vulnerable to missile attack...they don't have much armour. They do have a large shield, and that helps them alot in 1.3, but they are still vulnerable to missiles.

For the flank attacks thing, fire on the flank that doesn't have shields (right flank), as they are what blocks the majority of arrows (along with armour)

loli brought up that arcani question, it was actually to do with bi , if arcani was in it or not

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Originally Posted by Saracen_Warrior

How do you get arcani.

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Why bother. They are expensive, few and tend to get slaughtered in the first battle, so you end up keeping them in reserve and consequently never use them.

I haven't used them in BI. But in RTW I though they stank. They were non AP and they were only good for fear.

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Originally Posted by Slug For A Butt

I haven't used them in BI. But in RTW I though they stank. They were non AP and they were only good for fear.

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I don't think I ever built Arcani, despite having a lot of Jovian temples, but I remember my Senatorial reward Arcani getting pretty wasted when I used them actively. They look pretty cool, but they don't seem to do much that a well placed detachment of light cavalry can also do - and this cavalry is pretty useful for other things as well.

Having a fear causing unit on the flank or rear is a nice bonus, but I'd rather have some horse archers or light lancers instead.

Alternatively, if I am trying to "assassinate" family leaders on the battlefield, I prefer some heavier cavalry to 'crunch' their bodyguard unit once I have it engaged elsewhere, and use some of that fresh light cavalry to ride any fleeing survivors down.

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Originally Posted by Cardinal

Why bother. They are expensive, few and tend to get slaughtered in the first battle, so you end up keeping them in reserve and consequently never use them.

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I dispute your statement. Arcani, whenever I use them, are always in the front line, on the flanks. They can stop cavalry charges really nicely, or at least hold them back long enough for a countercharge from mine.

I also use them excessively in sieges, especially to take stone walls. They rarely lose anyone at all when fighting on walls against anything with less armour than triarii or principes.

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Originally Posted by pezhetairoi

I dispute your statement. Arcani, whenever I use them, are always in the front line, on the flanks. They can stop cavalry charges really nicely, or at least hold them back long enough for a countercharge from mine.

I also use them excessively in sieges, especially to take stone walls. They rarely lose anyone at all when fighting on walls against anything with less armour than triarii or principes.

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Thaks, I'll give that a try ~:cool: .