Insane elephant kills and epic battle

[Novellus]

Elephants are AMAZING! Even in the historic battles, it just takes two or three to route an army!

[antisocialmunky]

Elephants are AMAZING! Even in the historic battles, it just takes two or three to route an army!

Emphasis on 'AN.'

[-Praetor-]

Here's my example of a good usage of Elephantes, from my epirote campaign.

Near Capua, a massive roman army comprised from roman, socii and gallic mercenaries tried to stop Helenos Aiakides from recreating his father's campaign. I positioned my phalanx in a block 10 lines deep, with the royal squadron on the right and greek allies on the left. The enemy came in their quincux formation, at walking speed, threw their javelins (with little effect against my phalanx block) and charged home. The phalanx was holding nicely, and the flanks sustained every cavalry charge of equites romanii, campainans, gauls and thessalian mercenaries they threw. After pinning flanking light troops with my illyrians on each flank, I sent the elephant unit through the enemy's right flanking force, and positioned them perpendicular to the enemy line. And I charged them home against the middle of the enemy's line, in an "enfilade fire" fashion. This is the result.



All of those troops (and hundreds more) were killed by elephants on that dreadful charge. They were pinned against my phalanxes, trying to break through, while I sent the elephants charging from one flank to the another, wreacking havock through the entire roman line. The mass rout began instantly.

See the casualty list for the unit of elephants in this pic:



The enemy army was like 3200, of which 850 alone were killed by the eles. A full 1/4. So, if you see elephants among the enemy forces, try to neutralize them ASAP with your missile troops. If you haven't got missile troops in your army... be afraid. Be very afraid.

[Antinous]

For that reason with the elephants is why whenever I play as epeiros I never get rid of the my elephants no matter the cost. I found out quikly that those lumbering beasts can be the battle winner.

[Watchman]

...plus they're just way too cool and characterful to ditch. (Side note: if the theory posited here is correct, that unit the Epirotes start with would also be one seriously long-serving bunch...)

[Antinous]

There also one of the hardest units to kill, for its too dangerous for skirmishers to get up close to them.

[Megas Methuselah]

Thanks for the interesting link, Watchman. True veterans by any measure, indeed.

[antisocialmunky]

Thanks for the interesting link, Watchman. True veterans by any measure, indeed.

Epic.