Casse - My experience & your ideas

**athanaric** · 04-30-2011, 15:09

Originally Posted by Geticus

All told with good druidry, hale and hearty, and druidic healers the Briton charioteer bodyguards can build chevrons and become very good, though no match IMO for the true elites like Sarmatian warlords.

Different units, different purposes. Of course Sarmatian knights are tougher and better suited for rough terrain, but then again, they don't have morale boni and AoE attacks.

Also I generally put a Type 4 government in Caledonia, so that my Caledonian skirmishers come out with +2 chevrons. This makes them approach the power of Sweboz Jugundiz skirmishers. Though they are far more expensive and with smaller shields, yet the Caledonians have other advantages like extreme stamina and high natural morale.

Balroae are actually superior to Jugundiz stat-wise (I guess that's because Balroae are not only composed of youths but also more exerienced warriors). It's just their smaller shield and smaller AoR that renders them somewhat more impractical.
And the drawback to Type IV government is that you won't be able to build large festivals (so no Beltane festival at Edinburgh...), extensive ports, and such.

**Ksifos** · 04-30-2011, 17:53

Actually I was eager to think that the campaign was over, yet I was proven wrong.

While the Romani attacked me, they also had a front in south Italy with Carthage.So I thought that would keep them busy and buy me time to finish Aedui (only one town but VERY strong garrison inside, like a small rebellion :-P).But that's where AI plays his dirty games, Carthage though lost Capua and Arpi, didnt fight back.Just pout a full stack near Rhegion and just sat there.I was on the other hand having my whole Alpine border breached by Romani armies :-S

Another strange behaviour was with the Lusos.I had Velika, Pallantia and Tyde as should, the Lusos took Tyde and had me besieged almost every couple of rounds in the other two.That's where those blasted Clona Tekonac proved themselves as killed thousands of Lusos in defending the walls.But...Carthage at some point decided to attack Lusos,I was "wow, nice, it was about time" cause I thought Lusos should now concentrate on defending their lands instead of pushing me.Again I was wrong, they ignored punic full stacks and continued sending armies north and of course getting massacred :-|

I also lost Gergovia to Romani, simply not possible to hold all these waves.I really had to put the pressure back to Romani or else I was in danger.Aedui had found the courage and was outside Bratosporios! Only a fresh retrained army from our homeland, combined with sitting on the bridge near his capital made this full-stack go away, thanks god, lol
So I took a good army and went through the Alps.The passage near Viennos was blocked by a good Roman army, had to do go through it.Won a an average victory but fool AI was empty at the back - I had spies all over the Peninsula.Mediolanum was easy so now he had a problem inside his homealands.

The Romani AI didnt stop though.Continued to advance armies inside GAul.So now I took a FM and some Clonas Tekonac and with a great dose of riks took the bridge in Massalia.He immediately attacked the bridge, lost and I attacked next round the city (had spy inside) and sacked the settlement.Immediately I gifted it to Carthage.So now Romani has to take Massalia back from Carthage and hopefully that would either ignite a full scale war between them or halt Romani advancing in my lands ;-)

It seems this campaing has some more episodes so to be continued....

Lastdays - yes right but I really appreciate faithful friends and hate backstabbing.Still it's sometimes inevitable.

Athanaric - you certainly have some funky style of campaigning hehe.Pillaged Carthage? I guess you skipped the european part and headed pirating on the african coast? Nice approach and interesting too.

Geticus - Caledonian skirmishers are fantastic unit.I dont understand the hype with Jugundiz, but these guys can certainly do some serious damage and turn the tide in your favor.The problem is they are recruited only in Scotland.On the other hand I dont use cavalry, it's very expensive.I prefer spamming slingers and infantry, preferably minhat.But going south I had to adopt to different infantry units so switched to warbands (dont recall the unit's name) which perform quite well.Near the Alps I recruited those fanatics with long hair, lol - they have 10 charge bonus.Once I had them attack a Triarii unit and counted 10 kills on charge! Of course they later broke and fled :-P
The FM as a unit is NOT reliable in melee.They also attack on their own and that makes me mad as when they fight spearmen or armor pierce units they can get slaughtered into seconds.But it has a nice charge and disrupts enemy formation, something I use from time to time.In general I use them mostly to cause panic and fear and that works good.

**TheLastDays** · 04-30-2011, 23:54

Oh I love Balroae... I usually have some fresh units near my campaigning army should it need reinforcements, so the small AOR - Scotland - isn't that big a deal...

Yeah the Part about the AI makes sense... Itll just concentrate on you while others are eating it alive

**Geticus** · 05-01-2011, 03:35

Originally Posted by Ksifos

Geticus - Caledonian skirmishers are fantastic unit.I dont understand the hype with Jugundiz, but these guys can certainly do some serious damage and turn the tide in your favor.The problem is they are recruited only in Scotland.On the other hand I dont use cavalry, it's very expensive.I prefer spamming slingers and infantry, preferably minhat.But going south I had to adopt to different infantry units so switched to warbands (dont recall the unit's name) which perform quite well.Near the Alps I recruited those fanatics with long hair, lol - they have 10 charge bonus.Once I had them attack a Triarii unit and counted 10 kills on charge! Of course they later broke and fled :-P
The FM as a unit is NOT reliable in melee.They also attack on their own and that makes me mad as when they fight spearmen or armor pierce units they can get slaughtered into seconds.But it has a nice charge and disrupts enemy formation, something I use from time to time.In general I use them mostly to cause panic and fear and that works good.

Jugundiz are only an uber-force if they are levied with +3 or +4 chevrons by using a Level 3 temple of Tyr. Without that, they are good, but not outstanding.

To maximize the value of the Caledonian skirmishers, hire the mercenary balroae, they tend to be plentiful in North Britain, and they hire cheap. So hire them all and train them in Caledonia for the chevron increase. Also levy some regular balraoe (the mercs and regulars are identical, I just like to levy 4 or 5 in two turns and this is how to do it). Then send them south and just station them near the front line in Europe, so that you can draw on them for reinforcements at any time. If you ever want to see a German bodyguard get raped, just surround him on both flanks with Balroae and unleash full javelin volleys.

As for chariots, they are not a melee troop proper, they require close supervision since they sometimes go the wrong way in skirmish mode and get entangled with infantry. Time your charge well, and when you charge the rear/flank, keep dragging them through or down the edge of the enemy cohorts that you are attacking. Make sure you keep them moving, and try not to trample your own guys so pick your movement points well. If you micro them well the chariot bodyguards can get very high kill totals and promote early routes through exhaustion and fear. Played right the charioteers are like gaesatae- they don't die often due to the bonus hitpoints and armor. Just don't allow any prolonged melee and get good at skirmish micromanagement for best results.

**Ksifos** · 05-01-2011, 10:01

Some update...

First and most important, Aedui is destroyed!After some siege /bridge battles this PROBLEM is solved.Strange but after taking that settlement my economy got sky high -as if that settlement was blocking road trade.

Romani was kicked out of Gaul, almost.Took back Gergovia and now I am preparing for some defensive action since those stubborn Italians keep sending armies non-stop.Never mind because now one more fresh recruited British army is on the move, hence a counter attack.

Lusos are now more relaxed and having a full stack near Tyde (my last city to win the campaign).They also attack outside Velika an FM with a decent army, stationed on a hill still LOST :-o Lusos have fielded Scortamarevas and Scutarii who give Clona Tekonac a hard time! I will keep on the defensive because Romani are a far greater threat.

Carthage was maybe overestimated :-/ They didnt took advantage of Massalia and Mediolanum gifts.Mediolanum they took all army and left it empty! In Massalia I had an FM helping them, while being besieged by Romani, but lost soundly (my FM gone to his Anchestors :-P) Carthage seems to be UNEXPECTADLY weak so I can not rely on them.

I forgot to write about Cwmyr.This unit besides having a great graphical design, if played correctly can be devastating.It is more cost effective than Kluddargos.Only problem minimal AoR.

*Switched to Alexander.exe and before I was having a CTD maybe after 3rd or 4th battle.Now played maybe 10~15 battles and just one CTD.Far better.

**fomalhaut** · 05-05-2011, 08:28

remember to wait about 30 seconds before clicking 'ok' to leave the battle! makes a world of difference

i just started my first Keltik campaign as the Aedui. In my first battle i killed the usurper, so called god king and his son the next turn.
After uniting Gaul i took Massalia to gain access to the major port to the mediterannean and can't wait to recruit Massalian Hoplites!

i really like keltik culture so far, i've learned much from the campaign so far such as the use of Soap and that Kelts were seemingly mainly traders and administrators with a basic form of democracy and administration. they just had a warrior culture imbedded in all that! no different than America, a bunch of consumerists but also militarists so the idea is not crazy.

definitely not the barbarians we are socialized to believe they were. Are the Casse essentially the same style? i like conquering Britain but never played as Casse

**TheLastDays** · 05-05-2011, 09:03

Well, the Casse are considered "celtic" too, but they only share some units with the two gallic factions. They have a good amount of uniquely british units which are way cool, they are even more infantry oriented than the Gauls and they really are an interesting play.

**Ksifos** · 05-05-2011, 19:30

Casse is definitely an interesting campaign and one I enjoyed a lot.

I can confirm what LastDays says, they have brilliant heroic infantry units, but most are recruited only in Britain (except the Rycalawre).Kluddargos is an impressive unit the type of Romphaiaphoroi (or Guild warriors :-P) which can cut through "Roman heavies", easily.

The special about Britons is their generals who ride their chariots.These units have their pros and cons like they spread fear in enemy units around them (with a large AoE), have awesome charge bonus, BUT are not good to be left to fight in melee especially alone.In fact after a lot of battles, having learned how to play those units I could turn the tide of battles just by having them lifting morale (my army) and spreading fear (enemies).

Against the other gaulo-celtic tribes I felt Casse were superior in terms of units and tactics.Both Aedui and Averni were easy to conquer, only their generals exceled IMO.

Late game you get into a conflict with both Lusos and most probably Romani.That's where the game gets serious ;-)

**Geticus** · 05-01-2011, 03:21

Originally Posted by athanaric

Balroae are actually superior to Jugundiz stat-wise (I guess that's because Balroae are not only composed of youths but also more exerienced warriors). It's just their smaller shield and smaller AoR that renders them somewhat more impractical.
And the drawback to Type IV government is that you won't be able to build large festivals (so no Beltane festival at Edinburgh...), extensive ports, and such.

Yeah I know Jugundiz are lower in basic stats, to me it seems indisputable that the Sweboz are at their most powerful when one uses Temples of Tyr liberally. So when I think Jugundiz I just assume +3 or +4 chevrons. With equal chevrons, the Balroae are definitely better, but also far more costly. Don't get me wrong, I like temples of Thor, and priests of Wotan and Freya are nice, but ultimately the +4 chevron levies take the Sweboz to the top.

Yeah, I don't know what sort of character traits large festivals can bestow. But I really like the Balroae at +2 chevrons. With enough in the army (at least 5 is good IMO), good healing, good tactical micro, and timely reinforcements the balroae can go silver chevrons and become very strong.

Another good option for the level 4 government might be Gawjam Habukoz or especially Heruskoz. I believe the Casse can levy Milnaht there, and Milnaht with +2 chevrons are virtually unbreakable and one of the best heavy infantry in Europe.