When Fighting The Spanish?

[aw89]

actually, M is hardest, the bonus to attack (positive bonus) and moral (negative bonus) both the ai AND you get... so this results in short battles were the strongest units wins VERY fast. (results in chain rout quickly)

[dismal]

You almost can't even begin to discuss a question like this without specifying the degree of difficulty you're using.

On VH, it doesn't take much for your line to collapse. I've lost whole armies of decent Roman troops to barbarian hordes even when not outnumbered or outflanked. An 8-star enemy general versus a captain, and you got problems.

The mix of armies you have and they have is important too. Off the top of my head, the only thing special about the Spanish the Bull Warriors. They're probably going to beat more roman units straight up than any other barbarian infantry. The Spanish seem quite fond of javelins as well, but if you've mixed your troops that shouldn't be a big issue. At least you don't have to worry about snow.

[Garik]

sorry, i'm playing medium/medium.

One possible explanation is a lack of adequate cavalry and/or anti-cavalry support. The traditional Roman troop mix emphasizes infantry over cavalry; and if the often-numerous Spanish cavalry scatters your skirmishers and routs your cavalry, you will be in real trouble. My Roman armies typically have at least a 6:2 infantry to cavalry ratio, and even the base Roman cavalry - if deployed in sufficient numbers - will serve to protect the infantry, which is the real killing machine of the Roman army. If you are short on cavalry, placing spearmen (Samnite mercenaries, triarii, or auxilia) on the flanks should suffice to fend off those pesky, swarming Round Shield Cavalrymen (or Light Lancers or Greek Cavalry or Barbarian Cavalry, etc.).

i think this is my main problem.