2 More questions

[HumphreysCraig00]

I dont know if I should add this here or in the ludus magna, but I couldnt find definitive answers for either on ludus magna.

Anyway

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1) What does the wedge ability actually do?

From my experience it makes me lose less men when the charge hits (but I cause less casualties) and then from then on it has no effect.

But according to the L.M. answer it increases attack power?

Which is it?

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2) How do you increase the size of the generals bodyguard?

As there was 1 Julii campaign I did where I basically used the faction leader as a steamroller and at the end (right before he died of old age) I remember his bodyguard being a higher number of men than a normal cavalry unit.

But what I know is while he had 10 command he only had around 4-5 influence and 2-3 management.

And apparently influence has an effect.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone knew how it works as I would like a huge monster heavy cavalry monster weapon again :)

Thankyou for any answers

[MSB]

Hello and welcome to the Org HumphreysCraig00

1. The wedge ability causes an infantry unit, when attacked, to split into two with the cavalry in the middle. This enables them to pick off the enemy more efficiently by breaking up their formation so they can't fight as one large mass and have to fight as two groups. They still stay as the same unit however. Remember never to use this on a phalanx from the front. It never works and you get loads of casualties. It is always best to flank a unit and then use this move.
2. Please see this thread.

Enjoy your time here.

[HumphreysCraig00]

Thankyou for the answers.

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1) I have never had a cavalry charge break through anything more than a 2 rank deep infantry formation, (unless the formation was fleeing from me in which case my cav floats through it as if it isnt there)

Thats why I havent seen any effect from it.

So how do I go about making my cavalry able to break through normal Ai formations of about 4-8 ranks?

Is it about timing my charges or about waiting for them to start advancing and then charging?

I have tried with a fresh cavalry formation by the way so its not to do with freshness i dont think.


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2) Oh I saw that one but forgot about it, I wonder why. Stupid me...

sorry

[HumphreysCraig00]

As an addition to 1)


I have been doing a few experiments (Macedonian Companian Cavalry vs Gaul Warband) No upgrades, gaul warband is generals unit, I have an armored general I kept away from warband)

And what happened the 4 times I charged in wedge would dimple the centre of the 4 deep gaul formation and then rout almost instantly.

Here are the casualty numbers after each rout

Forgot to mark the 1st one down but it was


60-69 CC routing with 200-209 Gauls left alive

2nd and subsequent I did mark down

CC Routing *** Gaul warband still alive

2) 57 *** 227

3) 45 *** 212

4) 62 *** 228

And with my cavalry in a block 3/4 as wide as thiers

1) 73 *** 158

2) 41(not routing) *** Routed but broke at around 130 or so

With my cav in a 4 deep line

1 61 *** 182


I just felt like posting these as they show the terrible results I get from wedge. What am I diong wrong?

2nd wedge try I tried telling my cavalry to run to a point behind the infantry hoping to slice them in half then but I got about the same result

[HumphreysCraig00]

Sorry for the 3 in one, as I said in a previous post i am used to alot of tacking on to post with editing features.

Anyway this isnt evident of the usual results I get with wedge, (usually wedge is just a bit worse than a 4 deep line which is my standard formation)

I think the wedge may have done badly because the dimpling effect caused the formation to be attacked on 2 sides and gaul warband, while being cr*p has spears which im fairly sure give them a small anti cavalry bonus.

But gaul warband is the usual sort of enemy I face (I either attack them 1st as julii or attack them after taking greece and macedon as brutii)

[jhhowell]

Your numbers look reasonable to me. You don't want to charge a spear unit like a warband from the front with cavalry in an actual campaign battle, of course.

I've never found wedge to be useful. If a target unit is weak enough to be charged from the front, a normal formation will also work and cause more casualties on the first impact. If one is charging a flank or rear, what's the point of a wedge to begin with? So I've never used the formation in my games... The AI uses it sometimes and has been spectacularly unsuccessful. Maybe there's something clever one can pull off with a wedge, but cavalry is fully capable of dominating the RTW battlefield without ever using it.

[HumphreysCraig00]

**"Your numbers look reasonable to me. You don't want to charge a spear unit like a warband from the front with cavalry in an actual campaign battle, of course"**

I know, its just thats what I most often face so thought it would be a good test.

I always try to sandwhich units as that causes semi instant routs in anything I have fought thusfar using equites, even Spartans, so it works okay for me :)

I have heard (well read) things about using a wedge to hit the side of a formation and "unzip" it but with every attempt at that ive had (a few) my wedge just hits it and then collapses into the infantry. Plus both units will be moving so I could never hit square on.