Germania

[Jeanne d'arc]

Germania has a great unit roster and they definatly have strong cavalry.We cant really help unless we know what troops the enemy army has.Are u defending or attacking?

[Silver Rusher]

Hu r u playin as?

[Sin Qua Non]

What is your usual army composition? This bit of info will give us a lot to work on.

[Claudius the God]

in the imperial campaign, playing as germans, my heir at the start, within something like 40 turns (was ~250 BC) had become a ten star general, fighting both the Britons and Gauls (gauls broke their alliance with me, and the two factions allied against me, even though i never attacked them, it was because i allied with the roman factions, dacia, spain and thrace and sold alliance and trade usually for 2000+ denari, i love that trick)

anyway, my faction leader's army was basic but very effective
six units of warband spearmen, which have amazing phalanx. they are cheap and essential. one unit of screeching women, put right behind the spearmen
my general's cavalry, and two units of basic cavalry, and some of the time i had one unit of javelin throwing guys, and by the time i captured Alesia, i had added one unit of axemen and one unit of naked fanatics.

i can't remember the exact arrangement, but i had five hundred and fifty or so units in my army, fighting a full briton army one thousand and fifty or so, Heroic victory, killing over eight hundred of their men, mostly with my spearmen, making their units rout using my screeching women and flanking cavalry.

[The Ronin]

Ok...after 7 straight losses I started digging into the details and figured some stuff out. Custom battle (10,000 denarii scale) my force:
(The Losers)
1 gen
2 leg cav
2 cav aux
all variations of infantry combos...glads, arcani, cohorts, triarii, hastati, principes etc...some w/eagles
variations of scorpion, onager combos
velites
archers
(The Winners)
3 gen
2 praetorian leg cav
1 leg cohort w/eagle
2 leg cohorts
2 triarii
2 aux archers
1 onager
1 peasant

I usually just let the computer pick the germans. Off hand from memory it usually kicks out:
2-3 gen
1-2 noble cav (this varies with how many gens but usually 3-4 cav type on the field)
spearman utilizing phalanx in the center
axe man
swordsman?
berzerkers
and at least 3 of those god awful screaming "ladies"
skirmishers of some sort
This stuff must be cheap because the computer is often able to field an equal or BIGGER force and even add a chevron to one or two units

I looked at the numbers, germans VERY strong attack, but not necessarily strong defense. The setting, Germania forrest scene (custom battle) with both units in offensive mode.
I have often used my roman formations in depth and on defensive posture with counter attack punch depending on cav action on the wings. This has worked in Thrace, and Gaul. It does NOT work with germans.
The battle that won:
left rear deploy area-
left wing gen w/hvy cav
legions in the center
triarii on each inf flank
gen behind leg
onager same

peasants out in front in middle of field...sucks to be poor and bait
aux archers behind but close enough to run behind legion inf

gen w/hvy cav and aux archers in right front deploy...immediately circle through woods to avoid detection and behind german line advancing

bulk of german cav circles to my right flank but stays put while german lines advance
peasants run to my left
archers pelt advancing inf, onager same
german right wing inf moves on peasants
my left wing cav moves into attack and melee
german right wing balks then sends support from center
german cav launches into my right wing inf, I pull left wing triarii into support of right wing triarii and legion inf. Counter with my gen when charge stalls
I attack with hidden cav from woods to german rear creating real chaos and pelt with my archers from the woods too
Now that I have german spearman going in different directions I commit everything into the pot.
Bloody day, lose half my troops in the end but wipe germans from the field

Conclusion...Germans VERY tough, have to hit them really hard and they will break, keep them running, they re-form well.
I don't think this stategy is that great, there has to be a better way. Lose way too many men. On replay I noticed something....Friendly Fire is insane. Lost many men to it. I understand its very common thing, but I think this is on a little drastic scale. Anyways, this is long winded and segmented. Thanks for the replies

[The Ronin]

As usual, forgot some things.
Germans field some "good" archers
Cohorts work a little better both with attack/def numbers and testudo ability. Must get the german hvy inf to turn for effective attacks into flanks and rear...then they break pretty easy. Any other way, say good-bye to that unit.

Forgive spelling, most of this is off the cuff as far as unit ident goes. Love the game, but MUCH to learn.

[Sin Qua Non]

Right of the top of my head, I would say either ditch the siege equipment or put a strong investment into it. Sure, 1 or 2 onagers will inflict casualties, but often, such a small force of onagers equals 4-6 good shots getting off, then the enemy closes to where artillery fire would be dangerous. Then all you've got is 2 unit slots filled with small units of poor H2H fighters. By removing your 1-2 onagers from your lineup, you can put much more effective and mobile units in their place. The other alternative would be to use at least 6 units of onagers, but I wouldn't reccomend that in this case.

The only other thing I may do is to have at least 4 units of archer auxilia in your group. They will help greatly against the spear warbands, and even some of the generals. And they can be used in H2H in a pinch. They are not your ordinary archers: they are archer auxilia, which means better discipline and defensive skills.

There's much more to say I'm sure, but this is all I can think of, and I'm full of turkey and alcohol..... ..... .....