Newbie impressions as Ethiopians

**rorarii** · 05-14-2007, 05:10

Hi, first, sorry I meant Sab'yn

I downloaded 080 beta and have been playing that as the Sab'yn ... just to try something different. First off, EXCELLENT mod, dare I say better than RRTTRRrrr?? ok, here's my impressions -

good bits;

(1) I like how hard it is! I set it to hard and ITS HARD. My generals are all 0 stars and its difficult to get them higher, while enemy generals are higher. Advancing my towns is also more difficult, things are more expensive.

(2) New government Policies - Arabian towns have strange new policies (buildings) .. like, client of king etc, which I'm not familar with but suspect they're historically accurate .. well done.

(3) I like the Arab Bow-spearmen, shot the enemy with arrows and if they get too close, use the short spear two-handed .. well done, historically accurate. (I think?)

(4) Have you noticed how the the Battle AI is BETTER in RTW than M2TW, which is CRAP ... one reason to stick with RTW.

not good bits;

(1) Phalanxes must have carbon-fibre armour .. I surrounded a phalanx and pelleted it with arrows and javelins .. and I didn't kill one!!!??????? say what? is this to compensate for poor phalanx AI? (not keeping a battle line) Or do the major civilizations have steel armour while I only have bronze weapons??? (gives that impression)

(2) I think Roman Accensi were Levy spearmen while Rorarii were light javelinmen, you have them in reverse order, but as facts are vague, I cannot be certain here.

I'm now downloading 081, hope that will be even better!

Thank YOU!

R

**Al-Masri** · 05-14-2007, 05:18

Im guessing you mean the Sabaen not the Ethiopians. Sheba is different that Sabaen.

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 05-14-2007, 06:14

Recommended difficulty levels are VH campaign and M battles. Higher level battle difficulty leads to weird stat issues.

Saba has a lot of new stuff building wise for the next build by the way.

**Dan_Grr** · 05-14-2007, 06:36

The AI is a complete crap in RTW, and something that can't be modded.. If it's worse in Medieval, then... Im glad I didn't upgraded my PC to play it.

**Watchman** · 05-14-2007, 13:15

Originally Posted by rorarii

(1) Phalanxes must have carbon-fibre armour .. I surrounded a phalanx and pelleted it with arrows and javelins .. and I didn't kill one!!!??????? say what? is this to compensate for poor phalanx AI? (not keeping a battle line) Or do the major civilizations have steel armour while I only have bronze weapons??? (gives that impression)

Most phalangites in the game are actually fairly lightly armoured for heavy infantry, with just helmets, greaves and linothoraxes. Oughta give a decent enough degree of protection against most flying things. You're best off surrounding them with slingers (whose projectiles are AP) and firing directly into their backs; for assorted reasons all phalanx troops have been given high shield values, so they're borderline immune to missiles from the front and left.

With similar facing considerations I've found arrows and javelins work decently enough against phalanxes up to the Pezhetairoi level, but the main decimation needs to be left to the slingers with their deep ammo reserves. Concentrated javelineering and flaming arrows are good for pushing a depleted, already wavering phalanx over the edge of routing though.

**russia almighty** · 05-14-2007, 22:21

Saba is a fun faction . Though I hope there AOR for there native units is expanded somewhat .

**pansoiatr** · 05-14-2007, 23:43

I havent really tried them but they have an interesting and difficult position since they have to take on two super powers:the ptolemaioi and the seleucids

**Incongruous** · 05-15-2007, 02:21

Originally Posted by Teleklos Archelaou

Recommended difficulty levels are VH campaign and M battles. Higher level battle difficulty leads to weird stat issues.

Saba has a lot of new stuff building wise for the next build by the way.

Ah...
I was just foaming at the mouth as my massive Adui warband suffered huge casualties against a less experienced Roman army.

SO VH/VH is not reccomended.
So is VH/M still a great challange on the field?

**abou** · 05-15-2007, 02:46

Yeah, RTW's system for difficulty on the battlefield is simply giving stat bonuses to the AI - hence why a unit of levy spearmen can easily bloody a unit of Hypaspistai. I've seen screenshots of people who have played the campaign on VH/VH and it shows that they have been successful, but I don't know how they do it.

VH/M will provide plenty of challenges. The hardest aspect will probably be on the strategic map rather than on the battle map.

**anubis88** · 05-15-2007, 20:55

well it's not that hard:D... i've never played on anything else thab VH/VH, and i must say that the stupid AI compensates for the bonuses it gets...
Btw... even on VH levy can't destroy hypaspest