Your army Compositions and tactics.

[Rilder]

Well I know some people don't like discussing there "Uber secret tactics" but how does everyone form and fight there armies?

Anways heres mine, it hasn't seen to many battles but it's about be tested against the Romans and it seems rather sound it's basicly a Roman like formation in itself wearing down the enemies while fresher troups are almost always in reserve..



First line:
Skirmishers, they throw there javalins then run back to the flanks to prepare for flanking manuevers once battle is closed...

Second line: Allied infantry, cheap easy to raise troups form the first battle line, designed with the simple fact thats it better to throw local troups into battle first instead of troups that have to be shuffled from deep in the homelands.Basicly acts as my Hasati.

3rd line: Light Spearmen from the homelands, one of my favorite Lusotannan units as a unit of them saved one of my earlier battles. Basicly acts of my Princepes.

4th line: Medium Spearmen, again from the homelands, designed to take the place of the the spearment should they be broken, acts as my Triarii Kinda.

5th line: The Guardians & Calvary, this line is were my Elites and Calvary are, (Ambrako I think are my elites) Basicly if the rest of my men have routed its up to these elites to atempt to save the battle, if possible hold them long enough to organize the routed units; calvary does typical flanking moves during battle.



There now post your Armies....

[antisocialmunky]

Sometimes I use a roman checkboard deplyoment which is actually amazingly useful. Too bad its nigh impossible sometimes.

One of my favorite tactics is use Greek elite Phalangites(the yellow ones) in a super wide formation- three deep with defense off, or in a dense formation with defense off. This is useful against big units of phalangites. The first method causes the phalangites to flank their opponent. The second method causes the phalangites to split a enemy phalanx in half after which you take them out of phalanx and watch your men win. This only works against un-elite phalangites through.

No silver shields for you.

Another fun tactic is to use two slingers to isolate a unit between them so which ever way they run, they'll be pelted from behind.

[Orb]

@Rilder, is there some reason for your criminal lack of Caetrannan?

[Boyar Son]

Oh I invented that formation for myself long ago....glad to see others also use it!

[Rilder]

@Rilder, is there some reason for your criminal lack of Caetrannan?

I Dunno, just prefer the spearmen over them.

[Owen the Mighty]

Although I don't have a screenshot, this is a diagram of how I deploy my immortal-slaying Makedonians!

Formation...

-----------------------S----------S
-------------------F A P P P P P P P A F
-----------------------T T T
-------------------C------G-----------C
-------------------C

P = Pikeman Infatry (usually Pezhetairoi)
A = Assualt Infantry (usually Agrianikoi Pelekephoroi)
F = Flanking Infantry (usually Thureophoroi)
S = Skirmishers (usually Thrakioi Peltastai)
T = Archers...well, it is always Toxotai.
C = Cavalry (preferably Hetairoi)
G = General

Being a phalangite army, my above formation is not a very offensive force. Instead, it is armed to the teeth, and is near unstoppable in open field battles, and when defending fortifications. Although an army of this size and with this exact unit roster is hardly ever apparent in my Makedonian campaign, it is what I base my armies around.

Tactics...

Well, I usually do the run-of-the-mill phalangite tactic: hammer and anvil. Although, with my semi-assault infantry skirmishers, my Agrianians, and my Spearmen, I can bash my way through other defensive formations with ease. So, my battle plan is as follows:

1. Deploy pikemen in a 4-man deep line, which covers most of the battlefield.
2. If I am being attacked, I set up my other units on the pikemen's flanks, to keep them guarded from cavalry, and other forms of infantry.
3. If I am attacking, I will send my skirmishers forward with the support of my Spearmen-esque infantry, and harrass the approaching force. When all of my ammunition is depleted, I send my archers forward to further break the on-coming ranks.
4. Usually, by this time, my enemy's cavalry will have tried to repel my forward units, and I counter this with a unit of Companions, or Thessalians. This usally demolishes that cavalry unit. If not, I send my forward units back to my pikemen's flanks.
5. As you may have noticed, I have a strong-sided left flank with an extra unit of cavalry. I do this to tempt my enemy into attacking my right, which I counter with a unit of fresh Spearmen and with another unit of cavalry. This (usually) completely destroys my enemy's cavalry. If they do not fall for the trap, I change the placement of these cavalry units according to which of my enemy's flanks is the weakest, so I can also make a strong cavalry charge on their weak side.
6. And the rest is simple: Let the enemy infantry march forward and hit my phalanx line, and let them fight a war of attrtion. Meanwhile, my assault and flanking infantry units hit their flanks, while my cavalry units hit their rear; therefore enevolping them in a sea of spears.......Victory!

And that's how I fight with the Sons of Alexander! (Sorry if this was a tad bit long, but I have too many tactics flowing in my head....Chess, Checkers, Warhammer, EB...)

Enjoy!

[Swebozbozboz]

how do you change how many men deep a unit deploys? I'm very curious.

[NeoSpartan]

how do you change how many men deep a unit deploys? I'm very curious.

right click, drag and let go

[Boyar Son]

- or + i forgot which was for deep and skinny

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

Has anyone tried a historical Alexandrian formation (oblique line, hoplite/light inf flank guards, Hetairoi at the apex of the formation and all that jazz) with the correct units? I tried that a couple of times in MP and got my ass kicked. It is rather difficult to maneuver (especially if you want to attack in an angle) and the enemy even in SP is not very cooperative.

[Thaatu]

Has anyone tried a historical Alexandrian formation (oblique line, hoplite/light inf flank guards, Hetairoi at the apex of the formation and all that jazz) with the correct units? I tried that a couple of times in MP and got my ass kicked. It is rather difficult to maneuver (especially if you want to attack in an angle) and the enemy even in SP is not very cooperative.

I try to use genuine tactics, so my Seleukid main army at the moment is:

Cavalry
General Theodorus Syriakos (Antiochus II Theos)
1 Hetairoi
1 Prodromoi
1 Galatian light cavalry

Right Flank
2 Hypaspistai
1 Pheraspidai
1 Galatian shortswordsmen

Center
2 Pantodapoi Phalangitai
1 Argyraspidai
2 Pezhetairoi

Left Flank
2 Thorakitai
1 Thureophoroi
1 Galatian Crazy Whackos

Other Light Infantry
2 Peltastai
1 Sphendonetai

The king leads his heavy cavalry from the far right flank, while the light cavalry forms the far left. The silver shields are the absolute center for the army around which everything else forms up, elites mostly on the right. The infantry flanks are in three lines in the same order as in the list. The two peltastai units support the center. It works for me.

[antisocialmunky]

Has anyone tried a historical Alexandrian formation (oblique line, hoplite/light inf flank guards, Hetairoi at the apex of the formation and all that jazz) with the correct units? I tried that a couple of times in MP and got my ass kicked. It is rather difficult to maneuver (especially if you want to attack in an angle) and the enemy even in SP is not very cooperative.

Yeah, the AI does stupid things like charge the flank of a phalanx but end up running face first into the next phalanx down the line.

[Veris]

Has anyone tried a historical Alexandrian formation (oblique line, hoplite/light inf flank guards, Hetairoi at the apex of the formation and all that jazz) with the correct units? I tried that a couple of times in MP and got my ass kicked. It is rather difficult to maneuver (especially if you want to attack in an angle) and the enemy even in SP is not very cooperative.

You must remember that it wasn't really a general use vs all formation but something he specifically adapted for in certain battles (iirc really only Gaugamela to that extent). His overall plan/tacitcs there were quite different than the other battles he fought due to necessity of facing vast numbers of cavalry. If you are having problems versus a Parthian force with many Grivpanvars for example, you might want to use something similar.

In general my Macedonian fights were something arranged like this (no slingers as was .80):
6-10 Pezhetairoi/Phalangitai Deuteroi
2-4 Argyraspidai
2-4 Agema troops
1-3 Agrianians
1-2 Hetairoi
1-4 Allied Cavalry
1-2 Light Cavalry
0-4 Light troops
0-4 Heavy Mercenary
1 General


P=Peltasts/Cretan Archers. Didn't really use other light troops.
P=Phalanx (Phalangitai Deuteroi/Pezhetairoi)
EP=Elite Phalanx (Argyraspidai at the end but Pezhetairoi in the start)
A=Agema (Hypaspistai and Pheraspidai were used interchangeably on the field). I used them pretty liberally, when I had tiny casualty rates these units often took the brunt of them aside from mercenaries.
AC=Allied Cavalry (Thessalonian/Thracian)
AR=Agrianians
C=Hetairoi
G=General
LC=Light cavalry. Skirmishers/Prodromoi
M= Heavy Mercenary

rough idea of a general formation. It's annoying to do so it's by no means accurate.

X X X X X X P X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X P
X AR X X X X X EP EP P P P P P P EP EP X X X X AR
X X X X X M M X X X X X X X X A X X X X A X A
X X X X X LC X AC X X X X X X G X X X X X X X X X X X X X X AC C

The above is only a general abstract and I rarely used something exactly or even close to like that. My usual plan, assuming roughly equal numbers, was to overload one side, typically where the enemy put their weakest troops, putting my Agema and best cavalry there, while using my mercenary, light infantry, and elite phalanx units to hold the other side. When outnumbered, I would either use oblique order Leuctra style (mainly against enemy phalanxes), or leave deliberate holes in the phalanx formation to bait the enemy to overextend themselves through them and get surrounded (in this I'd keep the majority of my non-Phalanx troops in reserve). My Macedonian strategy is mainly to achieve a breakthrough at any one point and force the rest (or both halves) of the line after breaking that point. It's not that easy to do in EB in anywhere but the flanks though, for the A.I is consistent enough not to leave a weak or overextended center or hinge unless you really bait them well.

Roman tactics seemed much simpler overall, although I have fought a fraction of the battles with them compared to the Maks. Due to much weaker cavalry (I typically employ maybe 1-2 besides the general to ensure strong pursuits and to prevent enemy cavalry from having free reign. Offensively they are pretty terrible for awhile), Roman strategy is more about outlasting then a quick success at one point and often times I will get a chain rout after awhile of fighting. Against non-Hellenic armies I will just make sure my units don't get flanked or cut off and make sure I have ample reserves to put in at any given moment of opportunity or crisis. Flanking, if done at all by the heavy infantry, is limited to 1-2 units as it doesn't produce nearly the effect as with other factions. The light infantry have an instrumental role of wing support from cavalry and harassing enemy reserves/flanks. The standard Hastati/Principe/Triarii three line doesn't work out too well in EB because there is no such thing as an orderly withdrawal. Either you rout or turn tail and get mauled from the back. It certainly is feasible to use Hastati/mercenaries as fodder and bait to let them force the enemy to expose themselves too far and then let your heavy infantry take advantage, but it isn't as good without good cavalry support and I don't like the higher than usual casualties it makes. Against Hellenic armies, the lines are strewn with holes and lengthened a bit, with the goal of disjointing the main center phalanx while defending against their superior cavalry/light infantry. If all goes well, the phalanx line will be pressured on both flanks and gaps will be present in many parts, leaving plenty of room for the Romans to flood in and force a rout.

[darkangel87]

I´m playing with the Carthagians and I´m currently at war with the Romans on both the Iberian and Italian peninsula and with the Ptolemaioi in Egypt.

My army compositions are as follows:

1) Army on the Iberian peninsula:
1 General
1 Iberi Lanceari (Iberian Heavy Cav.)
3 Iberi Curisi (Iberian Medium Cav,)
3 Iberi Equites Castrati (Iberian Light Cav.)
4 Scortamareva (Lusotannan Medium Spearmen)
3 Dorkei Hatkafa Ibeerim (Iberian Assault Infantry)
2 Balearic Slingers
3 Cretan Archers

2) Army on the Italian peninsula
2 Generals
5 Liby-Phoenician Heavy Infantry
3 Elite African (Assault) Infantry (Dorkim Aloopim)
2 Thrakioi Peltastai (Thracian Medium Skirmishers)
3 Cretan Archers
1 Sacred Band Cavalry
1 Thessalian Heavy Cavalry
1 Thracian Medium Cavalry
1 Greek Medium Cavalry
1 Carthagian Citizen Cavalry

3) Army in Egypt
1 General
1 Sacred Band Cavalry
2 Carthagian Citizen Cavalry
2 Greek Medium Cavalry
5 Anatim Aloopim (Elite African Pikemen)
3 Dorkim Aloopim (Elite African Infantry)
3 Numidian (Skirmisher) Cavalry
3 Cretan Archers

My 45 settlements are occupied by my cheapest troops, namely Poeni Citizen Militia or Iberi Milites (2-5 units per town, depending on the extent and the discontent of the settlement).

I´m in the year 215 BC and fought over 200 battles so far… without loosing a single engagement !!!
Typically, I hold the line in the center with my Spearmen or Pikemen, thining out the enemy with my Archers in the center and my skirmishers on one flank.
In the accurate moment I attack the flank which is not annoyed by my skirmishers with my assault infantry and, after destroying the enemy´s rear-guarding units with my strong cavalry arm, attack the enemy´s rear concurrently with 500-600 cavalrymen.
Yesterday I wiped out over 4000 Romans with 1800 men, suffering a mere 126 casualities.

Best regards,
Marcel

[Ignopotens]

Currently I'm playing as the Getai. Normally I use something like this.

________PP________
_HA__DrSkSkDr__HA_
__DR___SlSl___Dr___
________G_________

or

__________PP___________
HAHA___SkSlSlSk____HAHA
____DrDr_________DrDr____
___________G____________


P = Getai Phalanx (or Hoplites or Celtic spearmen)
HA = Horse Archers
Dr = Drapanai (or Galatian Swordsmen)
Sk = Getai Skirmishers
Sl = Slingers or Archers
G = General

This is usually when the battle is almost joined. Early on I'd have the slingers out front harassing them, and the Horse Archers riding around them shooting arrows into their backs. The Drapanai I have to try to keep back until I need them due to their vulnerability to ranged weapons. The Getai skirmishers I use probably more in melee combat than ranged, because they have only 2 volleys worth of javelins, and they're quite good at melee anyway. I also don't use many phalanx or spear units normally because I prefer to be offensive in nature, and the phalanxes are too slow and generally too expensive (comparatively).

[Tiberius of the Drake]

N.B This army is very costly and takes very long to recruit between building up Bocchoris and actually recruiting.

This is an army that Ive developed for my .81v2 campaign.Evrything was recurited on the island of Bocchoris exccept the cavalry.

1x general
4x Baleric slingers
4x Baleric light infantry
4x liby-phonecian infantry(spearmen)
2x Heavy liby-phonecian infantry
2xiberes equites castrati
2x carthaginian citizen cavalry
1x Sacred band cavalry

Ive foun that this army works well against the lusotannons(bad spelling), the gallic tribes and it is able to go toe to toe with the romans. The only group that I havent tried this army out against is the sucessors/greeks and the eastern kingdoms such as armenia and saka.

I usually use the formation as such

--------------BS----------BL-----------BS------------BL-------------------
---------IE------BS-----------BL------------BS------------BL----------IE---------


----------CCC-----LP------LP---------LP----------LP--------------CCC---------
---------------HLP-----------------------------------HLP----------------------
----------------------------------G------------------------SBC

BS=baleric slinger
BL=Baleric light infantry
LP-Liby-phonecian infantry
HLP=Heavy Liby Phonecian
IE=Iberes equites castrati
CCC= Carthaginian citizen cavalry
SBC= Sacred Bnad cavalry


Ive found this army and formation to be very effective for a mid to late game carthaginian army when youll actually have the funds for it.

[Olaf The Great]

Ahem...

MASS....CALVARY.....ARCHERS

[Aut Nihil]

Currently playing with the Getai and as i've only encountered greek opponents so far this setup is completely based fighting phalanxes and similar units.


Dr__Dr__Dr__Dr__Dr__HH__HH__HH__HH__Dr__Dr__Dr__Dr__Dr__Dr

________Kom_________________________________Kom________

________KS___________________________________KS________

__________________________GR___________________________

Dr = Drapanai
HH = Hoplitai Haplo
Kom = Komatai
KS = Komatai Sphendonetai
GR = General

The idea after this setup is quite simple, till thus far the enemy units have gone straight to my center so I decided to put some cheap, easily trained units there to take hold the line. Afterwards I try to outflank the enemy and go from a straight line into a circle formation, thus trapping the enemy units inside and slaughter them. Phalanxes are good when they're attacked face on, but when theyre being hacked at by all sides their numbers drop dramatically in a VERY short time .

I have been on a rampage since the start of the campaign with the goal of removing three of the best factions from the game before they grow and become unstoppable.

The first to be removed from Greece were the Macedonians who are reduced to 1 city in Asia Minor now "Pergamon". Secondly i turned on the Epeirots, they have 1 city left in Italy "Taras?" and finally I decimated Koinon helenon by capturing the south of Greece and when I conquered "Chalkis" I killed their last general and familymember so they were erased from time

Now I have the north completely to my own with all rebel provinces, I have sauromatea to the east, still in their starting position. I also have Pontos in Byzantium, trying to get a foothold in Europe and the Romans to the west slowly conquering Italy and Gaul. The biggest surprise for me is that Seleucia has broken the back of the Ptolemai and are knocking on Alexandrie's walls.

[billy bob]

A basic battle plan that is enormously effective against AI armies. Not too good against a patient human. I used it to defeat an army of 700-800 Eastern Infantry with around 100 hoplites, 60 archers, and 40 cavalry. They lost around 600 men and I lost around 40. Basically



xxxx____________________
xxx/*^^^^^^^^^^^^^*\
xx/^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\
x/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\
x<xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
x<xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


The straight lines are pike men, the asterisks are heavy skirmisher infantry , the ^s are missile units, and the <s & >s are cavalry to sweep around and flank. The x's are placeholders.

Essentially you let the enemy charge into your main front and sweep around with the cavalry and side guards to flank the enemy. Then when they run you simply go out of phalanx and chase them down.

[Caesar89]

[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]My first campaign on EB as Romans, only had to alter the formations and tactics of my legions twice; Standard (Anti-Babarian) Legion and Layered (Anti-Phalanx) Legion.

STANDARD LEGION
[/IMG]
All units on fire at will. Hastati first to make contact followed later by the Principles when H. become too pressured. Trarii and Elites stop any flankin manouvers by enemy infantry then move to box in opposing force in preparation of cavalry charge from the rear. General Supports whichever flank is under the most pressure.

Layered Legion

Each different type of unit a little bit behind the one in front to allow for easier surrounding manouvers and isolating phalanx units. once all units are engaged slingers rush behind enemy and pepper them before cavalry return to start a full scale rout.

[Owen the Mighty]

For the Romans, I use this site to base my full stacks, or legions, around:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html

If I have the resources, my legions usually follow these guidelines:

Camillian Legion

-4 Hastati
-4 Principes
-4 Leves
-1 Triarii
-1 Rorarii
-1 Accensi
-1 General
-2 Cavalry (possibly mercenary, depending on location)
-2 Mercenary/Italic Isles troops (depending on location)

Polybian Legion

-4 Hastati
-4 Principes
-4 Velites
-3 Triarii
-1 General
-2 Cavalry (possibly mercenary, depending on location)
-2 Mercenary/Italic Isles troops (depending on location)

Marian Legion

-9 Legionary Cohorts
-1 Veteran Cohort (representing the First Cohort, since I don't have that mod)
-1 General
-5 Mercenary troops (from where the legion fights the most)
-4 Cavalry (possibly mercenary, depending on location)

Augustan Legion

-10 Legionary Cohorts (one representing the First Cohort)
-1 Praetorian Guard
-1 General
-4 Cavalry (possibly mercenary, depending on location)
-4 Mercenary troops (from where the legion fights the most)

[helenos aiakides]

What is the best way to destroy/route a phalanx

[innocex]

A basic battle plan that is enormously effective against AI armies. Not too good against a patient human. I used it to defeat an army of 700-800 Eastern Infantry with around 100 hoplites, 60 archers, and 40 cavalry. They lost around 600 men and I lost around 40. Basically



xxxx____________________
xxx/*^^^^^^^^^^^^^*\
xx/^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\
x/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\
x<xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
x<xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


The straight lines are pike men, the asterisks are heavy skirmisher infantry , the ^s are missile units, and the <s & >s are cavalry to sweep around and flank. The x's are placeholders.

Essentially you let the enemy charge into your main front and sweep around with the cavalry and side guards to flank the enemy. Then when they run you simply go out of phalanx and chase them down.

this is a really good plan for not only hellinistic armies, but also eastern armies. if you can get a decent spearman front with the pick of the eastern litter, imagine if you have cataphrats patroling the sides of such a formation. they would beat any cav. and while everyone is bogged down in the middle of the battle with the phalanx/spears , they could charge in the enemies flank.
i basically do this same formation, but with a few more archers to weaken the advancing army and some swordsmen to react to emergencies in the spear wall.
it can also work against some patient humans who dont rush in, if you know enough of the hotkeys to advance the army in formation. the spearman on the left and right sides face front during the forward march, but if you can focus on getting them ready for flank attacks quickly, you will be fine.

[Long lost Caesar]

since i can only train my assault armies (italian troops trained in italy) in italy and then have to campaign across the globe with them i always go for 20 units for maximum numbers. this way if units are badly hit i can send then back for refitting whilst fighting on with the main army. ANYWAY.

Current armies (polybian reform)

3 velites
4 equites
1 general
5 principes
5triarii
2 spare units of random choice (usually pedites extrodinarii)

layout and battleplan

all infantry into one group and form two lines, spearmen at front, infantry at back with fire at will on to allow time to throw missiles. velites stand behind the first line with skirmish off, so they can continue to pummel the enemy with javelins even when the fighting starts (provided the line holds...always does)
cavalry are placed behind the lines on either flank (2 on each) and are used to rout and chase down the enemy attacking the spearmen. once the main wave of enemy attack breaks my entire army surges forward, the fresh swordsmen pushing ahead of the triarii, running down the cowards and smashing any resistance in their way (supported, of course, by the cavalry) if deployed as far back as possible, this tactic allows me to completely destroy enemy armies, once killed an army of 4,000 fresh aedui troops with my one of my much weaker, war torn legions. not one of the aedui lived to tell the tale.

[Thaatu]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

[runes]

most people form their front lines with weaker troops, i do the opposite. i make my front line my best infantry (so they get big kills and lots of chevrons) with the hopes that they will hold while i use supporting troops to flank. i rely heavily on skirms/slingers to pester flanks while lighter/quick/good charge infantry charges the lines that my solid roman line is holding. i do alot of cycling of troops, where i send units with casualties and experience back to rome to train and send in fresh troops. lots of movement.

my cavalry is more of distraction as i rely on my solid front line, and my general who rides with another unit does alot of fighting.





1) optimal army



1- pedites extraordinarii

2- lesser roman infantry, usually leftover principes. sometimes green extraordinarii.

these provide forward support if the momentum is lost and (1) wavers, and the unit on the flank moves outwards while the inner most moves up.

or they move in to form a longer main battle line if need be

or, they simply move up and out to creat3 a solid flanking move

3- triarii or mercs. used as spear line, move forward to provide support as line 1 falls back in case of heavy cav charge. held in reserve if not needed.

4- these are generally fast assault infantry, usually celtic swordsman. something with a solid charge i can flank or gain the rear with and do the old "hammer and anvil"

5- skirmishers. usually slingers (ascensii, celtic slingers etc)

once battle is engaged they sweep down and out to pelt from the flanks.

6- equites or mercs, the left most is more of a diversion. and is sometimes a double stack of barbarian light cavalry.

7- general unit acompanied by cavalry (good for distractions so i can charge the general freely)


similarly stack 2 is my more "assault" army and is very similar, where 2 is usually green troops/mercs who either umbrella out to support or flank or simply create the second line if 1 falls.

[Antiochus Eupator]

My battle formation:

1st line: Phalangites and peltast on the flanks

2nd line: flexible swordsmen or spearmen as reserves or outflanking forces.

3rd line: archers and slingers

4th line: General unit and cavalry


My tactic: I first send my cavalry and peltast toward the enemy cavalry and as soon as the enemy cavalry get in range i pull my cavalry outand let th peltast take care fo the enemy cavary and while my phlangites hold the enemy I send my reserves and cavalry to outflank them and that usually wins the battle but heres the outline to better understand it:

P=Phalngite (6 phalangite)
R=Reserves ( 2 or 3 reserves)
S=Peltast ( 2 peltast)
A=Archers ( 1 or 2 archers)
C=Cavalry (2 cavalry)
G=General
ss pppppppppppppppp ss
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
AA
C G C

I use this tactic to quickly outflank my enemy so the battle is not long and drawn out.

[Renegen]

I'm playing as the Getai and right now I'm fighting Celts, Thracians and Gauls.

My formation is simple but very good.

I have about:
6-7 Dacian Falx Infantry
6-7 Costobocii Axemen
Some archers, 2-4
Some Dacian Phalanx in the middle (optional)
Skirmishers(really optional, I don't use them)


The tactic is this, put the axemen in the first row of melee to act as shields and throw the Falx Infantry charging at the busy enemy. Use Phalanx in the middle of your army to act as a solid defensive wall to your formation, to kill even faster and against cavalry.

The formation looks like a 2 row rome legion formation.

......----.....----.....----.....---------------.....----.....----.....----......
......----.....----.....----.....---------------.....----.....----.....----......
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
.----.....----.....----.....----...---------....----.....----.....----.....----.
.----.....----.....----.....----...---------....----.....----.....----.....----.
Also bring 1-2 units of heavy cavalry for attacking archers or fleeing units.

row 1: Axemen, or later on, heavily armored units.
Phalanx

row 2: Falx Infantry, who have low armor but good charging attack(and armor piercing)
Archers, they use fire arrows most of the time.


The formation would work equally well against a phalanx army, although the tactics would change. Horse archers? I dunno.

[Cheexsta]

A massive defeat (on VH/VH) prompted me to change my Romani tactics somewhat. I typically deployed in a three-line infantry formation, plus Accensi and Leves at the front (so 4-5 lines, really) and cavalry on the flanks. I found all too often that the Carthaginian enemies I was facing were decimating my infantry with their javelins before charging in and ripping me to pieces. So Cn. Cornelius Scipio Asina sailed back to Iberia with a fresh army and Consular imperium to try out a new tactic...and it worked.

              [----Skirmishers][Skirmishers----]
                   [Alae]   [Hastati]   [Alae]
                   [Alae]  [Principes]  [Alae]
    [Alae Cavalry]     [Triarii][Rorarii]     [Roman Cavalry]
                           [General]

The skirmisher line was placed in a long, loose formation, with Guard Mode and Fire At Will on but Skirmish mode off. The enemy charged my skirmishers and got bogged down in combat with them before my front line of infantry charged through the skirmisher formation. The skirmishers fell back once the infantry were engaged and threw the last of their javelins at the enemies.

In the end, the heavy infantry was largely unhurt but my skirmishers and cavalry took quite a hit. No biggy - those are easy to find, and by replacing the skirmishers with better variants (Peltastai come to mind) they should sustain fewer casualties.

[dominique]

I tried this tactic against a gaul army with few skirmishers and it worked like a charm.

It's a variation of the same tactic that Epaminondas used at Leuctra.

I build a very strong left with squary hastatii (preferably Samnites) formations (8+ ranks deep), followed by Rorarii in a similar shape. The center is held by the principes (4-5 ranks deep) and the right by a shallow triarii formation (3 ranks).

So, when all the javelins are exchanged and the cavalery is fighting in the flanks, I order an Hastatii advance and I pull back my triarii. The old guys old their own while retreating and the ennemy line squirm and deform trying to adapt to the front.

When the ennemy line is all weird, I rush my Rorarii in the holes on the left. The ennemy line breaks at that time, the left flank is swarmed, panicks and run. Then I swing my left on the right like a mouse trap and bang!

I use what is left of my cavalry to charge the pockets and run over the routers.

It only works against an army with heavy infantry. I tried it against a Carthaginian army with a shit load of skirmishers and I got heavy losses.

I like Scipio's strategy, It's a V with the triarii in the bottom. However, the ennemy almost always attack my flankers on the right. So I swing the left on the right and I try to double enveloppe them.