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

**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.

**kinein** · 06-12-2005, 13:14

Thanks for the input everyone!

**NihilisticCow** · 06-12-2005, 13:33

As regards the previous post about using testudo versus Phalanxes - testudo is not even remotely effective versus decent phalanxes. I occasionally see Romans doing this online against my Sacred Band... it doesn't go too well for them....

**ararax** · 06-12-2005, 16:29

how have you tried it? you need to be on flat ground, or going downhill and you need guard mode on, patience is a key, dont break testudo until youve split the phalenx or at least gotten the center units to switch to sword.
secondly what units are you useing VS the testudo

Sacred Band
stat_pri 12, 8, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 25 ,1
stat_sec 10, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 25 ,1
stat_pri_armour 11, 7, 5, metal
vs
roman legionary cohort ii
stat_pri 13, 4, pilum, 35, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 25 ,1
stat_sec 9, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 25 ,1
stat_pri_armour 12, 5, 5, metal
yes the romans will get owned, the units arent equal even not in phalenx sacred band will own

try vs
Urban Cohort
stat_pri 18, 4, pilum, 35, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 25 ,1
stat_sec 14, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 25 ,1
stat_pri_armour 12, 7, 5, metal

look for a phalenx unit that has a lower armor and secondary attack then legionaires cause thats what matters once the testudo does its job, and i never claimed that it would allow them to beat better units, spartans will kick legion butt out of or in phalenx