EB Online Tournement Battle Report Thread

**antisocialmunky** · 07-03-2009, 19:50

Well, I played ACS's veteran Polybian Army with a 36K MAK-ATTACK army and here's the replay:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=f...4e75f6e8ebb871

It came down to the wire. Sheesh. I'm not convinced that the Maks are unplayable at 36K but they are rather tough. Its just very hard to find a good balance between their game winning cav arm and their infantry. I dunno, I'm not sure. Hopefully some of your guys can watch this and give some opinions on balancing the Maks.

Probably one of the toughest games I've ever played and wonderfully amazing to watch. GG ACS.

**Flavius_Belisarius** · 07-03-2009, 20:27

Great and epic game ! Maybe mac isnt not unplayable at 36k but their at least tremendously hard to play.

**athanaric** · 07-03-2009, 21:22

Regarding the Makedonia problem: I just watched the replay of Maion vs. Aulus (the one Maion uploaded). Here are my 2 cents:

- I'm reasonably impressed by ACS's skill and patience in infantry battles

.

- While Maion used a well balanced force, Aulus' army was more of an oversized kill squad

. Meaning too few light units, especially cavalry.

- Three units of either kind of extraordinarii is too much. Additionally, if one of the players can field three units of Equites Extraordinarii, I don't see why the opponent cannot use two units of Hetairoi.

- There is a unit cost problem, which I suspect lies at the bottom of the Makedonian players' problems:
Some factions just get some troops cheaper. For example, Pahlava gets cataphracts for a lower price than Hayasdan. AFAIK the SPQR has to pay less for decent heavy infantry than other factions.

- I'm strongly against using chevrons. It screws up the balance IMO.

**Flavius_Belisarius** · 07-03-2009, 22:06

Dont look only at the state, there is a reason why cataphracts are cheaper for some factions. For example, the hellenich cataphracts have such a bad moral. The problem ist just because the roman infantery is so extreme cheap like you already said. A example, the leavy troops of the hellens are as expensive as the roman standard infantery in the polyiban era.

Hetairo are very expensive with 4600 money. To take more than one of them in a 36k game is possible but than you get a crappy infantery and the only chance to win the battle for you is the cavalry. ASM won against a roman player like you can watch with 2 Hetairo but it was extreme close altough he used his cavalry excellent.

**athanaric** · 07-03-2009, 22:21

Originally Posted by Flavius_Belisarius

Dont look only at the state, there is a reason why cataphracts are cheaper for some factions. For example, the hellenich cataphracts have such a bad moral.

Pahlava and Hayasdan have one virtually identical unit: the Zrahakir Netadzik/Shivatîr-î Zrêhbârân (heavily armoured HA). Their stats are identical with the exception of range, which is slightly better with the Pahlavân guys. And yet those Parthians are actually cheaper than their Armenian counterparts.
With the Romans, it is even more evident: their strongest cavalry unit, the Equites Extraordinarii, costs more than comparable Hellenistic or Eastern cavalry. So, there are definitely factional differences not directly related to the quality of the units.

**Fluvius Camillus** · 07-03-2009, 22:37

Hmm... Looks like I will have to get some free time to finally defeat you all in this tournament...

~Fluvius

**Aulus Caecina Severus** · 07-03-2009, 23:01

Since I played in multiplayer, I have never played a Battle like this (note the capital B).
It during a lot, and was a true masterpiece of strategy, thanks to ASM.
It is worthy to be watched until the last second.

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/3198519044/furiuos.rpy

My mistake was to too expose my cavalry on the left side ...
thanks to this error I have lost my general too soon

Also ASM has been shown to do the formation in a very intelligent manner.
Indeed, he has not put in the field any missile troops, and he take many levy hoplites to protect the phalanxes.
He take superior cavalry because hellenic medium cavalry is as good as my extraordinari.
But only his Hetairoi made the best work, they are still alive and have overwhelmed my last 3 infantry units.

Was very very fun, at the next ASM!
I think that I never have found anyone as strong as you in this game.

**antisocialmunky** · 07-04-2009, 00:02

CHECKPOINT

It would have ended it sooner if I didn't resue my left flank. If I had let it die and instead defeat your left in detail along with those annoying cav remnants I wouldn't have had so many problems....

Great game nonetheless.

@Debate - Maks have trouble at 36K because their units cost more but are usually superior to the enemy's. It really is a quality vs quantity issue. They require alot of cash. I will paly a few more battles later to see if htey need rebalancing.

PS. FB is changing to AS so his wins/losses will be transfered there.