Decisive Battles of History

**Naughtius Maximus** · 05-11-2005, 08:59

I just thought I'd share this story with y'all...

My first time playing on Hard difficulty in RTR- the first turn, and the Senate asks me to take Arminium.

Fair enough, but here comess Phyrrus of Epirus moving up through Campania with a sizeable army - reports from my spy have it at 950+ men with Elephants. I can't muster any more than 850 - the rest I sent north with my heir to take Arminium. I can't let him take Corminium; that would put him in striking distance of Capua, my capital. I had no choice, I had to risk it.

I have never been very good with skirmishers, and I have never fought elephants before. We end up manuevering in the forest, with the Greek phalanxes advancing up the middle and the elephants on their right, backed with archers and supporting cavalry. I am outnumbered and they have the advantage of mobility. The elephants smash into my left, decimating my two cohorts of Hasatii, one of my principes cohorts and two of my four cohorts of Velitae. My general and his praetorian Triarii are left alone, facing two phalanxes, one of whom is maneuvering into my rear.

It looks like I'm finished, but just when everything is looking pretty bleak, my two Velitae (that I thought had routed) recovered, turned and fired their last two volleys of pilae into the sides of the three elephants. The beasts go berserk. They plow through the second phalanx and charge off into the hills behind the battlefield. The rest of my troops, realizing that the pachiderms have packed it in, turn and fight. They decimate the remaining Greek troops, and my two heroic Velitae, not content with saving my ass, charge down the hill and kill Phyrrus in the ensuing rout.

Long story short- I regroup the survivors and take Tarnetum and Croton over the next two years and am able to turn on the Gauls and give them a sound thrashing.

It is now some 18 years later - Carthage is on the ropes, the Gauls are about finished and I am now sending two legions into Dacia.

And I owe it all to two half-strength units of Velitae.

**IliaDN** · 05-11-2005, 09:07

Good story! As far as I understand you played some kind of mod?

**Naughtius Maximus** · 05-11-2005, 09:11

Yes- Rome Total Realism, the Provincial Campaign- way more challenging and interesting than Vanilla RTW.

My wife calls it "Rome Total Widow".

**IliaDN** · 05-11-2005, 09:14

Where can I find info on this mod?

**Naughtius Maximus** · 05-11-2005, 09:24

http://rometotalrealism.com/

IMHO, it's the game that RTW should have been....

**IliaDN** · 05-11-2005, 09:29

Thanks!

**Dutch_guy** · 05-11-2005, 13:43

Naughtius Maximus I kind of now what you mean, it is one of the most important battles you must fight in RTR , if you lose, you might as well quit the campaign, if you win Italy is prbably yours for the taking

That battle of yours kind of reminded me of my own Pyrrus battle, although that was just far less exiting.
I was uphill, and routed their Ele's at the start of the battle ( velites are usefull in RTR aren't they

) and well the rest of the hoplite army was destroyed by my Hastati & Princi[es .

The only thing that bothers me about the mod is that few people play it online

**Wishazu** · 05-11-2005, 20:12

my msn is Ryanone90@hotmail.com just message me when you wanna play rtr im online most evenings and allways up for a go.

**Aegisthis The Infantryman** · 05-11-2005, 20:51

WOW! That's pretty lucky and quite skillful, with all the odds stacked against you. I never trust that much in skirmishers... but I've changed my mind.

**Oaty** · 05-11-2005, 21:47

Originally Posted by Aegisthis The Infantryman

WOW! That's pretty lucky and quite skillful, with all the odds stacked against you. I never trust that much in skirmishers... but I've changed my mind.

In RTR not having skirmishers is near suicide.

**Azi Tohak** · 05-11-2005, 22:55

I love RTR.

I am playing with the Armenians and have had several crucial battles.

First, when I broke the Pontines in one huge fight really early.

Second, the Parthians stabbed me in the back, so I retaliate in a battle by anihillating their entire field army with the loss of 15 troops. But that battle also broke the back of the Parthians. With no money, they were easy pickings.

Finally, the damned Ptolemaics have been beating their head into Susa, and I think my wins there have smashed their offensive capabilities (the Seleucids are still around to protect my middle).

I don't know why I can't think of any critical battles in RTW.

Oh wait...yes I can...

Azi

**Dutch_guy** · 05-12-2005, 14:49

Azi how did you manage to do that as the Armenians ?
I almost never stand a chance playing as them, I always get attacked by the Parthians...
Even if I beat their main army , they always have a second big army.
Which I just cannot beat.

And yes Skirmishers are usefull in RTR , in vanilla I never used them, now they are woth the money and I use them a lot.

@ Wishazu , My internet will be down in the next couple of days due to me switching provider, so I'll mail you when every thing is up and running

**Azi Tohak** · 05-13-2005, 05:22

I do think I got lucky with the nitwit Parthians. They started up with the Seleucids real quick, and then I kept hammering away at the Pontines. Since I do not trust the AI any farther than I can throw them, I kept some of my many family members in Phraaspa, along with a few HA.

But, the main thing I was able to recall my main army from Asia Minor (I have cranked the movement allowance to 250, with no bugs in sight! Even the AI can use it).

After I broke the main Parthian army, I made a quick peace with Pontus, then decided to punish the Parthians for their temerity. I took both cities, broke a couple of armies, but I think I left most of their armies as rebels which I have been slowly crushing ever since.

My main worry were the Ptolemaics. Had the AI had half a brain, I would have been dead long ago.

Anyway, I LOVE my big movement allowance, it is highly recommended. No more taking a year and a half to move from the Po to Tarentum.

Azi