Your army Compositions and tactics.

[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:

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

A sophisticated plan of a great mind. Only the best of the elite of the warchiefs of Great Gaul can think of such ingenious masterpieces of strategy.

[Spoofa]

rofl

[KuKulzA]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

this strategy =
scared Romans vs. Charging Gauls
vs.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

That green blob of skull-smashing savages and their tactic somehow remind me of the warhammer orks.... Looks like they have a lot of things in common

[Rundownloser]

That green blob of skull-smashing savages and their tactic somehow remind me of the warhammer orks.... Looks like they have a lot of things in common

With the unfortunate and distinct lack of Night Gobbo Fanatics. They'd fit in perfect with the Celts!

[Wolfman]

No wonder Vercingetorix surrendered

[Thaatu]

No wonder Vercingetorix surrendered

Infact I only use that "tactic" with my current faction leader, who happens to be a berserker, a champion and a complete loon. When attacking he has command 10 and gives a morale bonus of +12. That, plus the men under him are greatly more experienced then whoever the enemy might be. Thus I can safely say that the horde attack works. I have other generals who make more use of ambush and reserve tactics.

[Chirurgeon]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

You know that has to be incredible when all those celts hit the Roman lines simultaneously. Just imagine for a minute that your on the front line of the Romans when that happens. Terror doesn't do that sensation justice. I mean come on if your the guy in the front row you pretty much know your dead. My favorite battles are where the infantry lines run at each other full speed and they not only meet head on but they actually begin mixing together because of their momentum. I dont see that too often in my battles but its cool when it happens.

your tactic reminds me of this old game i used to play called "Legion". kinda like RTW but you give your orders before the battle commences and once the battle starts its like a script. Pretty cool because you have to predict what the enemy might do and try to counter it. Usually you wind up having the two armies run into each other at full speed. Its like watching two locomotives crash into each other.

[KuKulzA]

You know that has to be incredible when all those celts hit the Roman lines simultaneously. Just imagine for a minute that your on the front line of the Romans when that happens. Terror doesn't do that sensation justice. I mean come on if your the guy in the front row you pretty much know your dead. My favorite battles are where the infantry lines run at each other full speed and they not only meet head on but they actually begin mixing together because of their momentum. I dont see that too often in my battles but its cool when it happens.

I know what your sayin... as Getai once, late game, i was at war with Sweboz...

crazy with my Thraikioi Peltasti and Drapnai and their germanic units rushing into each other it was the epitome of the barbaric charge

I won though, snuck some tarabostes towards the rear and cut a path through their clubmen, which caused their center to begin routing... and I kill a lot of the fleeing guys cause they were tangled in with mine

[Chirurgeon]

I know what your sayin... as Getai once, late game, i was at war with Sweboz...

crazy with my Thraikioi Peltasti and Drapnai and their germanic units rushing into each other it was the epitome of the barbaric charge

I won though, snuck some tarabostes towards the rear and cut a path through their clubmen, which caused their center to begin routing... and I kill a lot of the fleeing guys cause they were tangled in with mine

makes me want to play a barbarian faction sometime...

[Wolfman]

I always play the GetaiCasse, Luso, Sweboz come after in terms of barbarians

[KuKulzA]

I almost always play these factions...
Getai, Saruomatae, Saka Rauka, Lusotanna, Sab'yn, or Safot Softim biQarthadast

Getai are pretty well-rounded but they don't have any super-elite units that'll let you crush everybody, and their better units you'll need to pay accordingly for... and while it seems a little annoying that the general is a cavalry-archer, thats just part of the greatness of the Getai army...
while Arvenai, Aedui, Casse, and Sweboz lack a lot of great cavalry... Getai has skirmisher cavalry, charging cavalry, and horse-archers
those same barbarian factions have good shock infantry... but the Getai have the Drapnai (sp?) which if properly used will break most folks
Hellenics have hoplites and phalanxes...but the Getai have light and heavy phalangites as well
Romans have flexible troops...but the Thraikioi Peltasti can go toe-to-toe (until after Marian, then you better be ready)

a seasoned Getai army is awesome, and you can have so much variety...
personally I use mostly Draparai (sp?), Thraikioi peltasti, and horse-archers
shock infantry and phalanxes on the flanks to enclose and break the enemy, heavy peltasti to hold the line and give them hell, and cavalry archers to go around back and nail them with arrows...

Lusotanna are similar in their balanced armies and decent basic units, only thing being that they don't field the cavalry-archer types... not that their excellent charging cavalry doesn't make up for it.


but I say just try them all a lil and see which you like best

[NeoSpartan]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

Put Gaestae in the front, and some Carnute Singetos in the middle doing their "chanting", a couple of Neitos in the back just in case.....
And you have yourself an INSTANT rout on the enemies side.

[runes]

also note that i group my units in to twos. i find this the most flexible. as on the sort of micro fronts one can move while the other fights/etc.

[runes]

LI= light infnatry, usually
HI = heavier infantry
sk= skirmishers
S= spears
Ca= cavalry
f= generally native troops, cheap/fast troops/whatever i can afford with the rest of my cash. i try to make them falxmen though since they are cheap and awesome.

anyway, i've been experimenting with this as a formation, it's still rather defensive and vulnerable to missile attack, but i'm reforming it.

i move the whole column forwards, and generally shift up and right, but this is the basic idea.

i built it around a manipular idea of anchoring my line infantry, and keeping my spears and skirmishers mobile.


the red arrows shows what areas are covered.

the light infantry forms the middle of the line- sort of as a trap, but it also optimizes my placement of my spear and regular infantry.

if i face a cavalry charge aimed at my middle i can send my spears from the back ranks up to meet the flanks of the engaged cavalry, i generally side on taking a few casualties.

if he attacks my front flanks, or divides i can again send my spears forward and hit the sides/rear.

here, the skirmishers protect the flanks and rear of my spears from counter attack.




in case of a wide sweeping flanking manouvre my spears can pull down and to the side while my skirmishers pull into the safety of the group.

if my spears are not fast enough, i bank on my skirmishers being temporarily engaged while the spearmen pull up. i rely heavily on my skirmishers as screening and miring enemy cavalry while appropriate units can get there.

while my line infantry engages in wide open lines, in an attempt to draw out units and create spaces i send my falx forward and around to the rear/flanks.

they are great for this due to speed/good weapon.



they are also great if there is cavalry engaged, i've had alot of luck cutting down cavalry with the falxes.









kind of different approach to the maniple, with the spears being the most mobile and most important, but it's worked pretty well so far.

[CirdanDharix]

My favourite tactic is the classic double envelopment. I deploy a front line of skirmishers, followed by a main battle line with the best troops on the flanks, in a thick formation, and the lightest troops in the centre, more spread out. The cavalry is as far on the flanks as possible, against the edge of the map. A few elite units and the general stand in reserve; archers are deployed in support behind the line, slingers are in support or in ambush. The skirmishers harass and withdraw, and when contact is made, the enemy foot are channeled into the weak centre, while my cavalry deals with the enmy cavalry. My centre I allow to be driven back. When my soldiers are victorious on the flanks, I have them outflank the enemy centre, while shoring mine up with the reserves. If my cavalry is still sufficiently strong, I have them attack the enemy rear. If the enemy is strogner on one flank than on the other, I usually end up rolling up the enemy line rather than doing the full double envelopment.

[Renegen]

I'm playing right now as Sab'yn, here's some new stories! I had an army which achieved some amazing battles before being crushed to death by a ptolemic phalanx heavy army.

It consisted of 3 lines.
The first line had 3 archer-spearmen
the second line had 4 light arabian infantry in skirmish mode
the third line had 6 native egyptian infantry
I also had about 4-5 stacks of Ethiopian light infantry on the flanks or reserves.
Then I had 1 cavalry unit and my general.

It performed really well, mostly on the strength of the ability of having such a deep line. If any unit was engaged it could be assisted by 1 other friend from the flanks. When everyone was engaged it was a matter of dividing and conquering. I would send the cavalry to rout enemies.


But a flaw was found, my infantry was not heavy enough and had morale problems. I was constantly against Galatian heavy infantry, medium and elite phalanx,Thureophoroi, peltasts, the very best troops.


I'm working on a new strategy. what's for sure is that formation are overrated.(or I don't understand them heh). I might soon build a perfect Sab'yn army to take on Ptolemoi and their mega empire.

[Hound of Ulster]

With the Pahlavi...
all cavalry. Not full-stacked, but large enough to take out most infantry forces.
1. have light horse archers bombard line.
2. heavy cav cataphracts and generals charge.
3. repeat until enemy is destroyed.

With the KH...
mixed force. No cavalry so far, but will mix in some Prodiomoi when they become available. Armies right know are mostly infantry, with Classical Hoplities prefered along with Spartans.
1. have archers bombard enemy line. If skirmishers and peltasts present use them as well.
2. Once missile units exhaust ammo, charge with all infantry, including missile troops. Try to to get missile troops in rear of enemy formation.
3. keep pressure on until enemy breaks. it may take awhile.

With Casse...
All infantry, but with lots of generals if possible. Mostly heavy infantry, naked spearman prefered along with heavy swordsman. As all Celtic units have javelins, archers and skirmishers not needed.
1. Throw everybody into battle. Javelin duel will ensue if fighting other Celtic factions.
2. keep pressure on.
3. When enemy line breaks, pursue routing enemies with generals.

With Adverni...
see Casse, except with more cavalry.

[LordCurlyton]

The following illustration explains my default Aedui tactics:

Even after all this time, this still remains the best tactic EVAR!!

[carthage_supreme]

Even after all this time, this still remains the best tactic EVAR!!

Despite the crudeness and lack of finesse in it. It could still be devastating with the right amount of wildmen and the right circumstances. I employed a similar tactic having only half a stack against a full stack of romans , they just ran like no tommorow over the bridge with my little savage celts right on there tail.

[Olaf The Great]

I always have these battle plans, but the enemy always ignores my phalanxes and goes for the reserves. It ends up being a simple hammer and anvil strategy (hvy inf+lancers, pref phalanxes but any infantry work)

[konny]

"No plan ever has survived first contact with the enemy" - Moltke

The AI has a talent to screw up any battle plan, from the simplest to the finest, by its stupid running around.

[General Appo]

I fully agree. I can sometimes spend 5 minutes positioning my troops so that my genius plan will work, only to have it screwed up by the AI refusing to comply and just running around. Like I remember reading somewhere: "You can´t beat a guy at a game if he´s to stupid to follow the rules"