For stopping rams and siege towers, I like to have a minimum of 4 units of archers set to flaming arrows. Be sure that you have them in a position to stop all enemy rams and towers, meaning, if the main enemy force is aligned along your entire East wall for a dawn attack, beware of the lone battering ram closer to the Southwest corner. Once, one of those buggers knocked down my gate before I ever knew he was there. Fortunately, my cavalry got there to stop them, and I sent some heavy infantry to plug up the hole.

Archers shooting flaming arrows usually destroy all rams and most towers. If you can have enough infantry on the walls to block the enemy coming up those surviving towers, you can hold them.

My first night playing BI however, I was besieged in a stone wall city but with only one cavalry, two light infantry, and one unit of Eastern Archers. The Goths attacked with 4 full stack armies, and at least 6 towers. One, I was able to set fire to, but the others got to the wall, unloaded, and that was the only stone walled city I've ever lost.

If you don't yet have an archery range, use Cretan Archers. For that matter, if you have weak archers such as Pre-Marius Roman, or Greek, or Macedonian, Cretan Archers are worth the investment. After the Marius reforms the Roman archers are worthwhile. The Germanic and Egyptian Archers are excellent as well.

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion