Basic questions about EB multiplayer

[BelisarAUT]

Hello, im kinda new here and got some questions. Well, i played some online games long time ago and had the name Flavius_Belisarius.
:)

1.) How strong are phalanx units? If i play the Koinon Hellenon, do i have to take them or is it viable to only use regular hoplite infantery?

2.) How can other factions handle phalanx, for example the barbarians? Like we know in Rome without mods phalanx pretty much crushes anything as it is not possible to get through it with any infantery but Urban Cohorts.

3.) How active is the multiplayer scene?

Thanks in advance.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Hello BelisarAUT! Nice to have you around. To answer your questions:
1. Phalanx units are very strong from the front but weak from the sides and flanks. If you play KH, you most certainly do not need them although sometimes they are useful for surprise.
2. Barbarians handle phalanx typically by refusing to engage them from the front. This is why it can be frustrating and challenging to use phalangites because your opponent will often just run around them and try to flank while your cumbersome phalanx has to move slowly or risk being caught out of phalanx mode.
3. The MP scene is rather active currently. I would say on average about 10-12 games are played every day, some of these 3v3 and 4v4. Depending on where you live there should be a couple people on at all times.

[Lazy O]

Hello, im kinda new here and got some questions. Well, i played some online games long time ago and had the name Flavius_Belisarius.
:)

1.) How strong are phalanx units? If i play the Koinon Hellenon, do i have to take them or is it viable to only use regular hoplite infantery?

2.) How can other factions handle phalanx, for example the barbarians? Like we know in Rome without mods phalanx pretty much crushes anything as it is not possible to get through it with any infantery but Urban Cohorts.

3.) How active is the multiplayer scene?

Thanks in advance.

1.) Crap

2.) In Vanilla you just charge through phalanx . In EB you ignore them .

3.) These days, pretty active .

[BelisarAUT]

Thanks for the answers. :)

Another question - if Phalanx is not that strong how can factions like KH handle heavy infantery such as Roman legionaries or barbarian swordsman. Can Hoplites really take on these?

[Kival]

Another question - if Phalanx is not that strong how can factions like KH handle heavy infantery such as Roman legionaries or barbarian swordsman. Can Hoplites really take on these?

Classical Hoplitai can't but you can use spartan hoplitai or thorakitai who are very decent. Thorakitai can even beat Neitos 1vs1.

[The Celtic Viking]

"Very decent" is an understatement. They're great. Cost about the same as Neitos (actually, the Thorakitai are even cheaper) but will defeat them and have much better morale. Prodromoi charges to the back is another good idea, of course.

[BelisarAUT]

Another question - when using Hoplites that have swords as secondary weapons - should i always use this swords when i engage them with infantery?

Same with cavalry - is it better to take the secondary sword weapon against cavalry or the spear ? I guess the spear.

Im presuming that the secondary weapon is no AP.

[Kival]

"Very decent" is an understatement. They're great. Cost about the same as Neitos (actually, the Thorakitai are even cheaper) but will defeat them and have much better morale. Prodromoi charges to the back is another good idea, of course.

They will not always defeat them though (I think it's 3 in 4 times). Morale is the same for both though: 13, disciplined. Thorakitai are less packed together and have spears that's why they do not rout so fast from cav charges.



EDIT: Ignore the "less packed together" part.

[Kival]

Another question - when using Hoplites that have swords as secondary weapons - should i always use this swords when i engage them with infantery?

Actually that is not so clear anymore. Some tests indicated that spears might even be better. I cannot give you a conclusive answer here. Just test it out.

Same with cavalry - is it better to take the secondary sword weapon against cavalry or the spear ? I guess the spear.

It depends. In my experience longswords are superior but most other swords are less good than the lance/spear. But just try it out. ;-)



EDIT: Sorry, wanted to edit but made a new posting instead...

[The Celtic Viking]

Yeah, I was wrong about that. Still you can rely on them to win, or at least do very well, against most units of comparable cost. I wouldn't have the sig I do if they did not. :p

Another question - when using Hoplites that have swords as secondary weapons - should i always use this swords when i engage them with infantery?

Yes.

Same with cavalry - is it better to take the secondary sword weapon against cavalry or the spear ? I guess the spear.

Yes, the spear is better vs. cavalry than the sword. The (long)sword might be better at killing low-defence cavalry (though I can't confirm that), but the spear is still better at keeping the unit alive itself and better vs. medium-higher defence cavalry.

Im presuming that the secondary weapon is no AP.

Not on any hoplite, no.

[BelisarAUT]

Ty for the answers. I have another question:

When playing the KH is there a reason to pick the Thorakitai Hoplitai instead of the regular Thorakitai? The Hoplitai has no javelins but a sword but i did a few tests and i feel like there is no real difference when using the Kopis against other infantery instead of the spear.

[Kival]

The Hoplitai has no javelins but a sword but i did a few tests and i feel like there is no real difference when using the Kopis against other infantery instead of the spear.

It's actually doing worse. Thorakitai hoplitai have theoratically higher staying power but even that does not correspond with my experience.