Well, the stacking thing is only used in messy attrition battles at the gate. I don't use it anywhere else... Like when I was fighting the Carthaginian starter army on Sicily I had 5 militia hoplites and 2 hoplite units packed at the gates confronting a whole bunch of Carthaginians also equally packed. But I'm starting to realise it's not working very well, because I'm taking more casualties than I usually should. So tactics will change. Historically the phalanx -was- tightly packed, that is true, with only 30cm between one man's shoulder and the next in close order, but since here the 'hoplites' we have actually merely present a wall of pikes identical to the Macedonian phalanx, there is actually plenty of space in between each man (60cm or so), enough to fit in another man, and between ranks, too, there is about enough to fit another man. So stacking phalanxes is actually quite possible. The AI at least realises it is impossible to fit so many men into such a small space. When I stacked my phalanxes up in preparation to storm the gates of Apollonia, as they marched towards the gates they gradually lost dressing, and from a square formation they became more of a haphazard forest of spears pointing in random direction marching in a circle formation by the time they reached the gate. That told me it was impossible to use that as a warwinning tactic. But 3-4 phalanxes stacked together (4 is max, I think), defending a street against an enemy advance, that is invincible. And highly effective, too. And you don't get phalangites breaking formation because they can't fit. But any more than that, you will.
Turn 14: The Scipii in Capua, together with their remaining Italian family member, try to sally out to beat me. They must be nuts, considering they are only a third of my numbers. I trash them, and storm Capua. The Scipii are destroyed. Greek army prepares to cross to complete its destruction of the Brutii. The Asia minor army gets a lift east by ship to the mountains bordering Tarsus and Cilicia.
Turn 15: Ancyra is bribed, the Greek army crosses to Italy after a ship is made available. The army in Cyrene moves to Leptis Magna, but it is no longer rebel. :-( Since it is Numidian, and I have no wish to antagonise them, I decide to move to Thapsus after dropping my diplomat off to establish diplomatic ties. The (new) army in Sicily is built up sufficiently to become an invasion force. I give it some combat experience by attacking the ex-Scipii big army. interesting point: The Roman Bodyguards have become Warlord's Cavalry. Any idea why? Anyway. Rebel army squashed, Sicily is secured. I start building a cavalry element in preparation to cross to Carthage. I also bribe Byzantium at this time, getting 3 hoplites and 1 peltast unit in the deal.
Turn 16: The Senate grand army appears on the border with Capua, and I panick a little, I admit. The Capua army retreats from the city, leaving only a samnite mercenary as garrison, and heads for Tarentum to pick up the armoured hoplites and Spartans that are in the Greek army. That done, feeling incredibly confident now, the Greek army besieges Tarentum while the Capua army heads back towards Capua.
Turn 17: More distance covered back to Capua en route to fight the Senate army (I plan to provoke it into attacking me by sitting in its red zone), while asia minor army heads for the mountain pass leading to Tarsus. Second Asia Minor army (made up of mostly ex-rebels) receives a hoplite complement from Pergamum and heads for Sinope. The Seleucids and Pontus have made alliance, so Pontus is now included in the annihilation deal I have for the Seleucids. At this time they have only EI, so mwahaha. Thessalonica finally has the plague, so I shall leave it alone for 8 turns while the Greek army takes down the Brutii and returns to take Bylazora. I'm contemplating whether I should build a new army for Thrace, or just bide my time---suggestions?
Oh, and I did a body count. Not too good-looking, i'm afraid, because hoplites are crap in siege battles and I fought mostly sieges.
I have killed:
1764 Brutii and 2 factioners
2900 Scipii and 7 factioners
1467 Macedonians and 2 factioners
834 Thracians and 1 factioner
1310 Carthaginians and 2 factioners
760 Seleucids and 1 factioner
2018 rebels
for a total of 9874 people.
I have lost 3259 mercenaries and Greeks in the accomplishment of my grand aims, mostly militia hoplites, and 2 factioners who died without informing me they were dead. I hate Greek general's cavalry.
Closest battle ever: Definitely the sally battle against the Carthaginians who besieged me. Look.
Attacker: Dionysios of Sparta, 1271 men
Defender: Hanno, 1117 men (including 24 elephants...)
Clear Victory
Dionysios of Sparta deployed 1271, kills 855, left 287
Hanno deployed 1117, kills 1105, left 11.
It was REALLY close, because most of my 287 were recovered injured. At the end of the battle proper, I had only 19 general's cavalry, 2 peltasts, 13 hoplites, 20 militia hoplites and 100 archers left. I kid you not. If the Carthaginians hadn't broken when they did I would have lost Sicily.
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