Units overview for early Julii campaign

[Ulstan]

I really like my velites I am fairly archer and cavalry light though, so that might be part of it.

I have appreciated my velites vs gauls as well - javelines do very well vs the guals cavalry and their swordsmen, and the velites have lots of them.

And they are fast enough to get out of the way of the gaul cavalry sometimes. (Using skirmish mode on them seems to be a little buggy).

I don't bring a lot, but I like to have 2 units of them around vs gauls.

They are more useful vs the greeks I think, who have lots of their own skirmishers too and the slow moving phalanxes.

[Cennyan]

I didn't tech to archers till about turn 30 and used velitites exclusively as my ranged unit. Some may think this stupid, but really in the first 30 turns or so, I only saw one or two archer unit's in the gaul and Darcia (sp?) forces. I relied on my Hastati to keep them from being overrun....Throw a couple javalans behind the safety of the Infantry, then I would flank them around the side or back. Yes, they are skirmishers, but they are quite effective as a flanking unit as well.

PS...Dogs rule.

[Spuddicus]

PS...Dogs rule.

Oh yeah ... they love Gaul meat.
But be warned, your dogs will get mauled (couldn't resist that one) against anything with armor.

[Arakasi]

I've not gotten too far into it with the Julii. All of the units so far seem pretty useful. Hastati seem to be the ones I use the most, but equites get a fair share of the work. I've had dogs in battle, but I've not used them on the enemy yet. They've been in reserve most of the time.

Well actually I've not used peasants or town guard, as I expect the earlier to suck and the later to not be terribly good. The best thing I can think of town guard is it is the only spear unit available early on, since it is hard to get Triarii then.

[Slaists]

last nite, the senate gave me this sweet gift of a unit of scorpions... those are nice: long range for decimating any armored veteran units. forget about autocalc though. a human wouldn't put this unit in places where it would get hurt. whereas autocalc depletes it fast.

[mynameisjonas]

I've found that missile units behind the Town Watch are useful. The Velites I have only used as skirmishers and to draw the enemy into a trap, if I've been clever enough to set one up. I like to protect my archer unit as much as I can so I can use it during seiges when in Gaul. I haven't used wardogs much, but from what I've heard they are very useful against light infantry and cavalry, especially in pursuit.

[Orvis Tertia]

Another note about Velites: The Prima strategy guide includes a tip saying that javelins are especially effective against elephants. I haven't tried it myself, but I'm sure I'l be facing elephants soon.