The Sacred Band have 11 armour with 5 for a shield. Archers shouldn't be too successful against them. I just did a test, same old miserable AI... I suspect you either got unlucky, or the AI stayed in phalanx and took fewer casualties than normal.Originally Posted by Puzz3D
Player: 3 Roman archers, AI: 1 Sacred Band
Conditions: Grassy flatland, midday, calm weather, summer, medium
I put the archers in line centering on the front of the approaching SB. I halted the count when my center unit retreated in skirmish mode. Starting with 82 men, the SB fell to 75, 73, and 74 in three successive tests--not taking flank fire as best I could tell. Note: The AI was mostly staying in non-phalanx march although it would lower its spears repeatedly.
Tried this from the other side, wanting to approach in phalanx. The "brilliant" AI of course aligned its three archers into three lines in column--the worst possible formation other than three columns in column.It then marched up to skirmish range, jumbled its forces, then scattered without firing a shot.
I then extended into a long line, and managed to clip one of the units and slaughter it as the others finally peppered away at me from the flank and rear. I took serious casualties as I fought out of phalanx. Then more casualties advancing on and pinning the next unit before slaughtering it. With about 35 men left, the AI decided it could whip my SB in melee with its lone remaining unit.
I lowered my spears and made short work of it.
I hope that BI's AI is better, as RTW's AI is still AWFUL! RTW's AI simply can't use missile units effectively. Has anyone run a similar test with appropriate units in BI? I would really like to hear what the archers do.
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