Tactics in R:TW?

[Ulstan]

"1. Is this a Cavalry game where the horses are running on crack and "to flank or not to flank" is your only question?"

Cavalry is very fast and too powerful. I don't use any. The AI does and you have to watch out for it. If you form your infantry properly they can withstand a charge. But ifthey are already engaged even milita cav can knock down dozens of them.

Pilum are very effective against horsemen though, if you can manage to throw a volley at them if they are charging someone else.

"2. Is it true the AI is scripted to only attack head-on, and that your (AI-controlled) allies are suicidal maniacs?"

I don't know about friendly AI. Enemy AI is not bad. When they attack, they either seem to charge down the whole length of the battle line, or send in masses of men on the flanks and then try to move down the side of your army crushing it. They do this with both infantry and cavalry as far as I can tell.

Seiges are awesome :) You can build rudimentary seige machines (rams, towers, ladders, sapping points) on the spot. Which is good, because there is no way you are taking down these castles by hand :D

The towns are huge and you actually get the feeling you are attacking a big civilized hub, instead of just a fort with no people ala MTW.

One siege I fought at tarentum, I got a spy in before the battle, and it told me he would try to open the gates before the assault. He did!

So, I happily marched my men in fine parade order through the gates, only to get doused with burning oil. O.o I ran them through the gate at top speed, only to have all the archers on the walls (Your men can stand and fight like 4 or 6 deep on walls now - very cool) turn around and start shooting me in the back!

I told my hastati to go clear them out, and they all ran inside a door in the wall and vanished.

A little while later, they popped out a door on top of the wall and attacked the archeres. Was neat to see.

Seiges are much much better now :)

Also if you attack the town and fail, any damage you do carries over to the next fight, so you can slowly reduce the walls and towers bit by bit :)

[Ulstan]

"Oh well, the campaign is getting hectic. The Senate is giving me crazy missions and my reward was a mercenary unit or $1000 denari (for capturing a Carthagian town"

At least your senate is giving you rewards Mine now hates me (thanks to the people loving me as much as they possibly can) and have given missions like this

Do:

Or:
We send the qaestor to investigate you!

Do:
Sail across the sea and take out this town with more soldiers in it than you have total!
Or:
We reveal your dirty little secret.

[Ulstan]

"From the battlefield management of those wardogs"

It is pretty neat actually - the handlers run with the dogs towards the enemy, then whoop and cheer the dogs on to the enemy when you get close. The dogs rush forward enthusiastically and the handlers discreetly retire behind the rest of your men.

Dogs are great for getting the enemies line out of order. :) It seems like none of the guys I fight can stand in their places and let their buddies to the side cope with the dogs - it quickly devolves into a big frenzy of dog killing. Of course then you take advantage of that and your brave doggies have not died in vain :D