RTW: Eastern Infantry

[gmjapan]

A single unit of Eastern Infantry insta-routed my Cataphracts. They collided, turned flashing white and were reduced to 3 men, from a full unit, in the length of time it took to read the word "collided" above. The very first conflict of the campaign (1.2).

I was following the advice in the Guides subforum where it says "nothing can stop the Cataphracts you get at the start" and combined it with the opinion that "Eastern Inf are the worst unit above peasant" to come to the conclusion that I should have won that little clash and charged right in.

I have since formed my own opinions about East Inf and their uses. As said above, use them to tie enemy units up while better units manouver around. They can be repaired almost anywhere you go so you can throw them into the fray without a second thought. They can buy you time, hold up chariots, tie up infantry and be deployed to engage across a very wide line. You name it and they will stand toe-to-toe with and make it stay there for a considerable time... they just cant kill it.

Worth their weight in gold in my opinion, well, in denari anyway.

"Ah, mere infantry - poor beggars!"

[Garvanko]

Great replies all round.

Nevertheless, its all very well doing 1 v 1 tests against Iberians, Hillmen and Town Watch. But in the campaign, where the AI spawns out huge armies full of Eastern Infantry, even with their Cav bonus, even at times with silver chevrons, they still get absolutely tonked.

Poor morale, sure. But a very poor unit nonetheless. Eastern Infantry should measure up to Hastati, Iberians, Militia Hoplites, Levy Pikemen, Nubian Spearmen etc, but they don't, even with superior numbers.

[Kraxis]

Poor morale, sure. But a very poor unit nonetheless. Eastern Infantry should measure up to Hastati, Iberians, Militia Hoplites, Levy Pikemen, Nubian Spearmen etc, but they don't, even with superior numbers.

What?! Not at all. The Eastern Infantry and their Merc counterparts are the representatives of the old Persian tradition crancking out huge numbers of lousy levies. These men are just peasants with a shield and spear. The others are either professionals or trained citizen troops.