Read- Read- Read.
For a Roman gameplay guide showing you how a Roman should be played (more or less, I have commented on where I disagree somewhere else), https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=101787.
In fact I always found the Historical Roman Deployment in Squares worked well, plus it is fun to play historical-ish. I also try to keep it largely composed like the Roman ones were, but not 100 %.
Do not listen to Olaf, other factions can be interesting, but I for one, always return to SPQR. They are also very easy for an EB-eginner with some RTW experience to play and will not put you off the game in desperation over playing one of the factions that has to accept its finance going to very red numbers before turning it. That can be fun as well, but not to you who is new.
Another defensive formation I sometimes do- or adapt the historical Roman to- is to have slightly missile heavy army and putting the missile troops on the flanks in rough terrain. Like the English in the 100-years war. Just be prepared that they will be charged by Cavalry, have some Hoplites or Triarii ready to intercept the cav, the missile fellahs can hide behind them and continue to pelter them. beware that slinger sometimes incur losses of your own guys if they are in the way as they have flat trajectory (less then in Vanilla, but still there). Slingers are effective though, more than most archers.
What is that with Elephants Atraphoenix? I never have much trouble with them on H/H? Just be prepared to sustain losses and focus on them.
My tactic for Elephants.
1. Target ALL your missiles on them (try zoming in and see how they fall to javelins and sling bullets), arrows do not harm them much- except that Ellies do not like fire ;-)
2. Even elephants dislike long pointy objects, ALL cavalry do, but it must needs be your elite spear like Triarii or they might become afraid and run.
3. Elephans also dislike being charged by Heavy Cavalry, even though you will take losses, repeated charges by heavy Cavalry (especially if you do it from more than one side at once), will rout them.
In general, getting some cavalry behind your enemy is always a good idea.
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