Need Advice : How to use Legionary Cohorts Properly " TESTUDO "

**bubbanator** · 06-10-2005, 19:36

Ya, on seiges, I find that I take less casualties if I just run my men up close to the walls than if I let them walk in testudo.

**Simetrical** · 06-10-2005, 21:08

Originally Posted by Marquis of Roland

If I remember correctly, in the Carrhae historical battle if you leave your guys in testudo the cataphracts ran all over you. One frontal charge on the testudo sent guys flying everywhere.

Well, that's what happened in the real battle.

-Simetrical

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 06-10-2005, 21:32

Some advice: NEVER use testudo against horse javelins. They can charge on a dime and slaughter you. I had a full unit of Urbans slaughtered by one unit of Numidians because they charged when I was in testudo.

**Marquis of Roland** · 06-11-2005, 00:38

Originally Posted by Simetrical

Well, that's what happened in the real battle.

-Simetrical

Yes, exactly.

I will try that testudo vs. phalanx thing, sounds interesting.

**ararax** · 06-11-2005, 01:27

oh yea you need guard mode on otherwise they break as soon as they hit the phalenx but drive them through and they own most phalenxs

**ararax** · 06-11-2005, 01:40

ok did some tests, if used properly a basic late roman legion will beat with out javalins thrown in a straight head charge 1 on 1 with both units at 0XP
hoplites
armored hoplites 97 men left
phalenx pikemen 135 men left
levy pikemen
ect...
they will most likely lose vs spartans
vs SS pikes and broze pikes IDK

**Divine Wind** · 06-11-2005, 12:08

Ive only ever used it once or twice, and that was only to draw some arrow fire away from my battering rams during a siege.

**katank** · 06-11-2005, 22:47

@kinein, testudo still has facing and they get owned in melee. You get better results out of testudo.

Testudo is also horribly bugged and is slightly less so in 1.2. They should only be used for absorbing arrow fire and gets killed by other things like onagers.