Roman tactics?

[Julius Augustus]

In my current Romani campaign, I am fighting a lot of barbarians, and I have discovered a good way to deal with unarmoured troops. I use a historical army makeup of 1 general,1 equites exraordinarii, 1 campanian cav, 2 triarii, 4 principes, 4 hastati, 4 velites, and several mercenary units. These would probably be longswordsman, as you are based in Gaul and near Gaul. As my strategy depends in a large part on javelins, it is imperative that you claim the high ground. Put your units in the checkerboard formation, with the velites filling in the gaps between the hastati. Put your mercenary longswordsmen in a good flanking position. Have all units except for them have fire at will on. Put your cavalry in good flanking positions. If your general in very experienced, consider using him to flank also. The enemy will most likely charge your center. At this point, make certain that the velites have skirmish mode off and defence mode on. As the enemy draws near, your velites will start throwing javelins. The hastati will join in, and then the principes. At this point the enemy has probably already engaged your velites. Don't have them retreat. Have them keep throwing javelins into the fray. After all of the hastati and principes have thrown their pila, tell them to charge. You can commit the triarii at this point also. The combination of javelin hail+massive charge should have inflicted massive morale penalties. In weaker armies, a rout may have started. If not, flank the enemy with your mercenaries and cavalry, and charge. Victory is yours.

As this tactic relies heavily on javelins, I'd is only suitable for battlesagainst lightly armored foes.

[The General]

As this tactic relies heavily on javelins, I'd is only suitable for battlesagainst lightly armored foes.

Pila are AP though, now innit...

[Mediolanicus]

Pila are AP though, now innit...

Yes, but they don't do their work any worse against unarmored units...

[Weebeast]

I rarely change my starting formation except for arranging a bit by putting weak troops in center and strong ones on the side. I'm normally pleased using only one cavaly (my fm) but for Sweboz sometimes I bring one extra either extraordinarii or merc because they usually are numerous for my fm to flank alone. Of course I use infantry to flank too but cavalry looks cooler so...they usually get first bite.

I also build up Helveti as lightly romanized province (gov't III). I should've developed the one on the right instead for Rhaetic Axeman but oh well it's too late. Helveti provides me with archers, axemen and psedo-phalanxes. While they're not the best on the map they get the job done. Not only that but they can put up a fight against Sweboz even without the help of my factional troops.

[Julius Augustus]

Pila are AP though, now innit...

Yes, but as the whole point is to destroy morale with javelins, and as most of the javelins thrown will be the kind thrown by velites, which are not ap, heavily armoured units will hardly be affected.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Use the standard manipular tactics of the Romani. I have a modified version, though, without gaps because having gaps allows the enemy to go through the line and breaks the morale of your men. Instead I line up the Hastati on the front, Principes on the second line, Triarii behind, with allies on the flanks all in line. I tire them with the Hastati and by the time they face the Principes they rout.

But then I don't know why people say that the Sweboz are stronger than the Celts. Actually it's the reverse: against even Bataroas the Sweboz line stands no chance, let alone against Solduros or Gaesatae. Only Casse have a problem because their units tend to be sucky and of militia quality.

[Macilrille]

But then I don't know why people say that the Sweboz are stronger than the Celts. Actually it's the reverse: against even Bataroas the Sweboz line stands no chance, let alone against Solduros or Gaesatae. Only Casse have a problem because their units tend to be sucky and of militia quality.

Try a game as Sweboz, they wipe Gauls as effectively as Romans with much cheaper units, but with start exp of 3-4...

[antisocialmunky]

Try a game as Sweboz, they wipe Gauls as effectively as Romans with much cheaper units, but with start exp of 3-4...

Javelins > Sweboz online.

[Macilrille]

Yes, as unarmoured barbarian you need to close quickly ;-)

[athanaric]

But then I don't know why people say that the Sweboz are stronger than the Celts. Actually it's the reverse: against even Bataroas the Sweboz line stands no chance, let alone against Solduros or Gaesatae. Only Casse have a problem because their units tend to be sucky and of militia quality.

Actually, Bataroas win because of their unusually large unit size (202 on huge settings). Stat-wise, Xerunoudozez are definitely superior (Milnaht are still the best of this "group", though).
In matters morale and discipline, Swêboz units win against Gallic ones, apart from the elites.
Gauls have lighter javelins with a superior range, which is an advantage against the Swêboz (and no doubt one a good player can make use of), but a disadvantage against the Romans.

Fighting Suebi is therefore different for a Roman player than fighting Gauls: Their units are far less likely to rout (yes, even without the crazy Deiwoz temples) and have very stingy javelins. On the other hand, they have a crappy range and even less armour than the Gallic ones.

I think the fact that the Gallic factions have some of the best infantry units in the game makes some players overlook their shortage of disciplined line troops and some other weaknesses. Because those few unit types (Solduros, Gaesatae, Carnute Cingetos and possibly Neitos) are not very likely to be numerous in a realistic army.