Your army Compositions and tactics.

[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.

[Ibrahim]

In A.Seleukeia (this may be a bore and way too long):



AC-Pr Th P-P-P-P-P-P-Arg-Hyp-Tba H-G
Th Tox-Tox Ph H
EKI


see legend at the bottom.

the pezhetairoi+ argyraspists are always grouped into single line so as to present a wall of pikes 77 files wide (the unit scale is large, and the phalangites are in square ~11x11 wide, & the rear rank has 10 men only), and advance in a straight line or in echelon with the left end refused.

the square formation is a compramise Between manuevrebility, power, and safe flanks. the guard are to the right with the pheraspidai to the rear as a reserve or to go behind the nearby Hetairoi to tangle opposing cavalry( anyone seen Blitzkrieg?never mind). same for the rearward thorakitai on the left. the toxotai are to the rear to shoot away at the enemy as they close, or to at least to break the up or cause a stupid move from them. the thorakitai and the argyraspid thorakitai are flank protectors or the ones who typically flank, and are never sent on campaign without at least 3 bronze chevrons, bronze weapons and shield, due to the possibility of overly violent and hard fighting there ( one unit of thorakitai with 3 cheves bronze, silver arms held off 600 enemy(levies) for 10 minute losing only 10 out of 78, while killing 100 of them ). the elephant is there in the reserves to trample the enemy in case of failure in the line, or to give the enemy skirmishers something to munch on, in case of imminent defeat (the laugh was because that never happens). the left flank cavalry is to screen or to hold the left; the right is to deliver the decisive charge(1 unit of Hetairoi chalked up 150 men in 1 min flat!), and punch a gap in the enemy lines, and send the enemy routing, usually to the strongest enemy unit, or if badly outnumbered, the weakest large concentration of units. for anti-Harmata warfare I order the bold lettered regiments to stop thier advance, the normal lettered ones to stop when the sides of their front ranks are next to the points of the bold lettered one's pikes, and let the enemy ride through under arrow fire( Alexander's Moustrap):

P P P Arg
P P P

these tactics are a sample of what there is known; creativity and intiative are preferred to sticking to the book.modifying the layout if necessary is also recommended. it is also important to have a trailing army with siege weapons and auxiliary cavalry, infantry, or other.(yes 2 stacks for a campaign, one of 20 other of 10 units.)

assesement of nearby early enemies(how to deal with using above army):

1-Pontos:

poor rabble of troops of eastern types; good archers and heavy cavalry, but poor Heavy infantry and worse special units (harmata drepanophora). use above described tactics and casualties will be low for you (not to exceed 5%vs. best armies 1 full stack)

2-Ptolemaioi:

similar units to AS;their phlangitai are dangerous, as are thier Celtic Klerouchikoi, but little cavalry is used by them comparatively: flanking and double envolpement, plus liberal use of elephants, will bring them to heal, though casualties are expected to exceed overall 10-20%, 50% plus for the flanking infantry, and 80% for the cavalry due to pikesturning round from rear attack ( about 40% if they don't)

3-Hayasdan:

similar to pontos, though infantry is slightly better; cavalry dangerous and stubborn, and much use is made of horse archers in the north near the steppes; modify army so as to have more cavalry or flankers (type is left to one's discretion), then go your merry way! casualties not to exceed 5-15% as well.

4-Makedonia:
similar to the AS, more so than the Ptolemaioi; flanking will crush them too, but the casualties are lower, due to the poor quality of thier levy phalangitai used excessivly by the Makedonioi, especially early on. Casualties not to be over 20%, done properly.

5-Baktria:

has a flexible list of Kataphraktoi units and armoured Horse archers, plus units familiar to the Diadochoi kingdoms, such as the Pezhetairoi. using the Hetairoi to crush the weak cavalry, or run behind the pikes, the enmy cavalry can be impaled; the archers are good indian longbowmen, counter with Toxotai, thorakitai/thureophoroi with prodromoi support. the phalangitai can be defeated by superior training and Elephant use in weak areas or where the enmy Phalanggoi have lost cohesion and become squeezed into a small area.
Casualties: low(usually run over by mercenaries before they can muster.)

6-Pahlava:

the most dangerous foe by far: excellent Horse archers, long range and subpub archers, and terrifying heavy cavalry, but poor infantry: for them try to get Subeshi archers if possible, other wise blockade them in cities and towns and starve them out casualties in open battle will never be under 15%; cannon fodder in form of mercenary army is recommended.

THE END

P=pezhetairoi
H=hetairoi/ hellenikoi Kataphraktoi
Pr=prodromoi
Ph=pheraspidai
Hyp=hypaspist
Th=thorakitai/thureophoroi
Arg=argyraspids
EKI=elephantes Kataphraktoi indikoi
Tox=syrian archers
AC=auxiliary cav.(if any)
Tba=thorakitai basilikou agemata
G=general

[Ayce]

My tactic for complete Getic Empire armies:

A line of loose formation archers in front set to flame ammo (I usually have significant numbers of them in my army), they may also include slingers.

That's unless I use phalanxes (who stand in front), in which case I group my archers on one of my flanks.

Melee cavalry on the left flank (charging laterally or from the rear).

Horsearchers on the right flank (my weakest usually, they deplete their forces there)

Light infantry and skirmishers right behind archers/phalanxes.

Shock troops and heavy infantry at about the same position.

Light inf attack one one side (usually the right), and shock troops charge on the other (usually left to help cavalry against polearm and spear weapons)

Archers are usually Komatai Toxotai, Komatai Agrinai and Schytian Archers (soon to get Bosphoran)

Phalanxes are either Light or Heavy Dacian Phalanxes - they perform well out of phalanx formation too and seem to take on most hellenic phalanxes very easily)

Melee cavalry is represented by the Daoi, Tarabostes, Thracian Medium Cavalry and Thessalian Heavy Cav (only mercenaries)

Horsearchers are the usual Getikoi Hippotoxotai, though Schytians are sometimes employed. (no Ktistai yet)

Light infantry varies wildly (Komatai, K Epilektoi, Peltasts, Galatians, Spearmen of various cultures)

Shockers are Falxmen, Galatian Wild Men for now. Soon to have Romfea men and Scordisci.

I severely underuse Kostoboks and Mezenai, though they'd go to Skirmisher and Horsearcher (I'm not nuts) groups respectively.