Barbarian tactics

**Inuyasha12** · 10-05-2004, 20:50

Im playing a campaing as the gauls and even though i've won my share of battles, im loosing too much men in battle. The barbarian units, especially warband can't seems to stand up to the legionnares. And like i said im wining, but at a high cost. Anyone with any tips on how to fight as the gauls, or any barbarians help me!

**Jeanne d'arc** · 10-05-2004, 21:05

Yes playing as the gauls is hard none the less, in my campaign i expected to forge an alliance with the britons and germans to battle with me against the Julii, instead the britons backstabbed me and allied with the julii.They almost took my capital and now with the julii constantly sending in armies i am getting sandwiched.
The warbands are very light infantry, they can hold out for some time but in the end they will either lose or win with heavy casualties.They also seem easely to be routed when they are charged with multiple units.
The swordsmen are very good troops but there upkeep is very expensive so u cant make an army with many swordsmen or u will start losing money.

**Dimeola** · 10-05-2004, 22:58

if I remember right the barbarians were lighter armored than Rome....they either won in the initial ferocious charge or lost. They did not fare well in a longer toe to toe fight. I have been playing a German campaign and using them in MP some. I try to sweep the wings with the heavier cav and roll up the flank. My warbands will hold the line but without a flank attack or some such they will lose to Legionaires and Hoplites. I believe this is why you normally see them in MP default to one wide line....for the `barbarian rush`.....
D

**d6veteran** · 10-05-2004, 23:05

My dissapointment with the barbarians is the unit sizes are to comparable to the romans. The barbarians won a lot of their battles when the odds were 4:1 or higher.

So unit for unit ... 80 Legionairres should be equivalent to 300 barbarians or more. Not 120.

**Ktonos** · 10-05-2004, 23:15

Well in RTW units are equaly maned and the quality-quantity difference between them depends on how cheap they are.If a weak unit cost 100 d and a strong 400, then you can field 320 weak infantry vs 80 strong.

**Inuyasha12** · 10-05-2004, 23:57

What also annoys me is the lack of troops they have, i mean warbands, swordsmen, and barbarian cavalry. That's basically it, the britons get chariots, and germans get spear warbands, but theres a huge lack of variety in barbarian armies. Wich i believe was not the case..

Also they have really bad city upgrades, nothing more than roads and only like two farming upgrades. You can only build up their towns twice and then ur done..

If someone makes a mod i beleive this will be one of the main things to change

**Jeanne d'arc** · 10-06-2004, 00:04

Dont they have berserkers also?Those are real meanies so i have heard...

**d6veteran** · 10-06-2004, 00:41

Well in RTW units are equaly maned and the quality-quantity difference between them depends on how cheap they are.If a weak unit cost 100 d and a strong 400, then you can field 320 weak infantry vs 80 strong.

Of course, but that absraction doesn't work when you impose a quantity limit elsewhere in the game ... namely the army size (20). And that situation is even more exagerated in the multiplayer.

**hoof** · 10-06-2004, 06:48

From looking at the unit lists, the Germans seem to be the best Barbarian faction to take on the romans with. They have decent cavalry, their chosen warriors can go toe-to-toe with the pre-Marius Roman soldiers, and they are the only Barbarian faction to have bowmen (keep in mind I'm talking default unlockable factions, the British, Germans and Gauls).

**Oleander Ardens** · 10-06-2004, 12:45

I'm right now playing a Gaul campaign, and by the year 258 BC things looked like this; I already own all Spain beside Cordoba (allied with Carthago), killed the Spanish traitors, hunted the British into the Sea, eliminated the Julii, countered the Germans and I'm expending east...

All that with Barb. Cav, Swordmen, Warbands, Gen. Cav, Balearic Slingers, Scutarii, Barb Cav Mercs, Barb Mercs...

The Gaul are rather weak initially and can't compare themselves with the Germans and British, but the have some strong points. I will finish later..

Cheers

OA

**Jagger** · 10-06-2004, 13:52

I am playing a campaign as the Gauls. It is now around 206BC.

In battle, I invariable roll up the flank of enemy armies when attacking.

My armies are typically 50/50 warband/swords. I usually have 2 noble and 2 light cavalry units. I usually have 2 forester archers and 2 javelins.

When attacking, my warbands face the enemy center. My swords face the weakest enemy flank. My forester archers will spend all the time needed to hit the flank I intend to take. Then my swords attack the weakened flank. My warbands slowly approach the enemy center simply to keep the enemy from focusing on my swords. When the time is right, my heavy cavalry rolls up the flank attacked by my swords. Works pretty well against all enemies including the Romans.

On defense, I use warbands as the front with recessed flanks set on hold. I leave small gaps between each warband with a second line of swords behind each gap. My archers are up front on skirmish. My javelins, on hold, are directly behind the front line of warbands. It is a roman formation. My swords and cavalry attack through the gaps where necessary to support the line or roll up a flank as the enemy is exhausted trying to take out my warbands. Warbands on hold will last a long time.

Of course, I always upgrade as much as possible everyone. Also I am playing with modded speeds, killing rates and missiles.

The Gauls can beat the Romans without too much trouble. The new legionaires have shown up and they are tough. But the Gauls are upgraded and have great generals. They can beat them too.

**Oleander Ardens** · 10-06-2004, 14:46

Well Jagger made some good points. Flanking is always essential to victory with the Barbarians, Cavalry superiority is also key. With enough cav I usually not only defeat Romans, I annihilate them. To do so try to pick initially only fights you can win with a good margin, picking the Roman armies one by one if you have the chance. It is easily possible with good rec.

Many small clear victories are worth more than a great narrow battle, and for the small skirmishes you can easily get many stars, which is crucial as the Gauls. At least for me as all my neighbours seem to hate me, and I had to fight contemporary on three fronts..

OA