Makedon Reforms

[Unferth of Gergovia]

I have never played as Makedon till two days ago and I have had this game for around two years...I used the code and gave Rome a huge city and got the Makedon Reforms around 268 BC. I just hate waiting...however the power of their Phalanx is ridiculous!!! I never played them because I hate fighting the Phalanx but wow! Then...and important battle and all the sudden some soldiers in the phalanx started to run amok almost and then the Phalanx eventually broke and the Romans got it and hacked my men to peices...why do my soldiers all the sudden break ranks and run all over the place and cost me the battle? Any help would be great along with any usefull tactics that would be useful as Makedon since my economy is kind of in question....Makedon Rocks!!!!

[Unintended BM]

Capture all of Greece and Thrace first and build all of the high level mines. Then you're economy won't be a problem.

Get like six units of phalanx and line them up. Get about four units of thureophoroi (to save money) and put two on each flank of the phalanx. Put some heavy cavalry behind the thureophoroi. March your line up to the enemy. Once the enemy engages, send your thureophoroi around to the flanks of the enemy, have them throw their javelins and engage the enemy. While you're doing that, send your cavalry around to the back of the enemy and charge them. Also, get some archers and slingers to bother the enemy. You can replace the thureophoroi with better units when you have more money.

That's how I play with the makedonians. I'm sure there are probably better strategies, but this works just fine for me.

[Unferth of Gergovia]

Thats great! I always attack Italy for some reason and never thought about Thrace...I have been messing around with those Agrianan Assault infantry and HOLY SMOKES! I think they are the most effective anit-Romani infantry I have found right next to the Sweboz Slugonez...I have two units of them beat back 2 triarii and 2 princepes...pretty impressive...how do the Makedons fair fighting the established Ptolemai and Bactrian Kingdoms?

[Unintended BM]

Other phalanx based factions are pretty easy to fight because the AI doesn't know how to use them correctly. I've never really fought many horse archers in my makedonian game, but lots of archers and slingers would probably do the trick. Use your phalanx as a shield to block all of the arrows while your archers kill everything, then use the slingers to kill the heavily armored bodyguard units. Or get some skythian horse archers from that coastal town above Tylis.

Also, Serdike has mines, which will help your economy, and I think Nikeia (sp?) has them too. Plus, you can get some Thracian Peltasts in those areas, and those things absolutely decimate anything. Use them as flankers like the thuroephoroi and they'll completely slaughter just about anything you put them behind.

[seriousbusiness]

Makedonia is an excellent faction. To take pressure of your 2 homeland provinces (which if you are not careful you will depopulate), I use the levy phalanxes extensively. I have usually a stack of levies for every proffessional army. They are more cost-effective, but strategically it is crucial to have reliable armies. I sometimes position half-stacks at bridges, since phalanxes are extremely tough at bridges, freeing up troops for other fronts.

I second the mine suggestion. Makedon has very good mines all over the place. In addition they have pretty decent trade income. One of the best economies, in fact. As well as one of the best unit lineups.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Thrace is really crucial to Makedon, not only does is contain lots of wealthy cities, and is rebel, but it has about half your key unit line up. The Thracians are some Makedon's most important troops, particularly the Peltasts and Prodomoi.