Low Gaul morale

[WinsingtonIII]

What about Rhodian slingers? They are pretty good, specially when heading east to fight armoured infantry/cavalry, and have some armour against missile attacks. The only problem is that they can only be recruited in Rhodes.

The main strength of Rhodian Slingers is their range. They can shoot a stone 195 meters, which is almost as much as the range of Skythian Foot Archers. Balearic's do more damage with their stones, but their range is less, about 175 meters. I would argue overall Rhodians are better though, as they also carry 30 stones instead of only 20. Given their range, relatively high stone attack, and ammo amount, Rhodians are probably the best slingers in the game, unless I'm forgetting another elite slinger unit.

[Macilrille]

One slinger (preferably Rhodian) and two Toxotai Kretakoi, two- three cavalry and the rest nice and heavy legionairres + allies; oh yes!

[athanaric]

The main strength of Rhodian Slingers is their range. They can shoot a stone 195 meters, which is almost as much as the range of Skythian Foot Archers. Balearics do more damage with their stones, but their range is less, about 175 meters. I would argue overall Rhodians are better though, as they also carry 30 stones instead of only 20. Given their range, relatively high stone attack, and ammo amount, Rhodians are probably the best slingers in the game, unless I'm forgetting another elite slinger unit.

I agree with you. The only drawback of Rhodians (besides not being available as mercs) is their nigh-useless melee weapon. They fit my personal military doctrine best (high range and armour first).
Balearic Slingers carry a higher price tag, which is justified by higher attack, far better melee capabilities (def skill 9 as opposed to 6; much better lethality; AP attribute), and the best morale of all slingers. Still, their armour and shield (1 each) are piss poor compared to Rhodians. They are an elite equivalent of the Caucasian Archers - an all-out attack unit with decent (but not outstanding) range, but poor protection.

The best run-of-the-mill slingers are the Sphendonetai/Persians (same unit with different names and skins), followed by the Celtic guys.

[Apázlinemjó]

The Gaul factions are pretty much better than Sweboz in MP battles. The cheap Neitos, slingers and naked dudes can easily bash through any German line easily in my experience.

[Unintended BM]

Celtic slingers are great, I always use a few of those. But really, all slingers are useful, unlike some archers. Most regions with crappy archers aren't far from an area where you can get Cretan Archers, so what's the point in even using the crappy ones? All slingers are great though.

[vartan]

Celtic slingers are great, I always use a few of those. But really, all slingers are useful, unlike some archers. Most regions with crappy archers aren't far from an area where you can get Cretan Archers, so what's the point in even using the crappy ones? All slingers are great though.

You can hire many toxotai for the money it takes to hire a few toxotai kretikoi. Take the initiative in the battle; don't let the battle come to you, but rather take the battle to your opposition. In close range, your numerous archers will prove that their blood was worth something.

[WinsingtonIII]

You can hire many toxotai for the money it takes to hire a few toxotai kretikoi. Take the initiative in the battle; don't let the battle come to you, but rather take the battle to your opposition. In close range, your numerous archers will prove that their blood was worth something.

But if you're in an area where you can hire tons of toxotai, you might as well just hire tons of sphendonetai. They only have 1 less missile attack than toxotai, their range is significantly longer than toxotai, and their attack is of course armor piercing. Plus, they carry twice as much ammunition as toxotai, and toxotai only have a unit number equal to slingers anyways.

In my personal campaign experiences, sphendonetai are consistently more useful than toxotai, and judging by the stats, it makes a lot of sense. The only situation where massed toxotai might be more effective than massed sphendonetai is if the enemy brought only unarmored troops, and even then I'm not so sure, because the difference in attack is pretty marginal and may be outweighed by the range and ammo differences.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Depends on whether you use slingers historically. I.e. putting them right out in front of the army, or right out on the wings for enfilading fire. (Where they are vulnerable both to enemy missiles and to enemy cavalry charges.)

(The Romans, to be different, had the Accensi right at the rear of the army, where in actuality they wouldn't see any action in a normal battle that was going well for the Roman side - they were a reserve to help the Triarii in case everything went pear-shaped and the rest of the army ran away.)

Archers have one advantage over slingers - you can put them behind your army, and they can safely fire over the heads of a protective line of infantry in front of them.

IMO, in EB, losses from slinger 'friendly fire' if they shoot from behind a friendly unit should be MUCH higher - since that would be downright dangerous if you did it in real life, telling slingers to aim over the heads of friendly men in front of them! So firing with slingers placed behind a friendly unit is an 'exploit', IMO.