One of Consular Army (after Polybian reform) tactics

[Bootsiuv]

I put my main infantry in at least two lines (not including the first skirmisher line), unless I'm severely outnumbered. Once the skirmishers fall back, the first line engages, and then the second reinforces bad match-ups, one unit of heavy infantry gets thrown around each flank (while my cavalry ties up theres), and the rest of the second line is held in reserve. It's simple yet effective.

[Pius Curus]

@Kukulza

Yes, you are right. I had problems and loose against Getai (Dacian) army with hordes of missile infantry and cavalery.

I think I will have big problems with fight agains stepe nations - Parthia, etc. But it was the same in the history, Parthians were great opponents of SPQR.

Which tactics you use against missile armies? I think only mix of strong and light+fast cavalery units.

@ Reno

Yeah, Reno, velites in the gaps of the first line of hastati That is nice! I used this tactics too. First line hastati in defend mod, velites suporting them standing between the unis of hastati. Behind velites are standing principes in the second line in attack mod, ready to create PHALANGE (one battle line) with hastati. Triarii are standing in the third line to support the flanks. But sometimes some hastati unit routed due to exhaustion...

that is why

I found little bit better only three continuous lines of heavy infantry, reserves (2 units of heavy infantry) and two lines of light infantry. My basic strategy is only to exhaust the enemy units in the center of the battle line:)

[Reno Melitensis]

When being outnumber it is a very good idea to leave some troop in reserve. Generally in my battle line this goes for the troops in the second line on my flanks. They simply move out of the flanks to outflank the enemy. It is always necessary to move the Principe as quick as possible to help the Hastati, they always get tired very soon.

In my campain against the Aedui, in a battle I found myself being heavily out numbered, my first line was heavily pressed, then I moved forward the Principes to fill the gaps in the maniple. I could not outflank the gauls with my infantry, they where all hard pressed, so I decided to move my Triari forward to critical points in my battle line. As the velites and Accensi where showering the gauls with missiles the Hastati where getting very tired. In quick succession all my hastati and Principes routed leaving only the Triari to halt the wave of angry gauls. I managed to stop them thanks to my general, and in an epic counterattack, seen only in epic movies I routed the gauls and butchered them to the last man. The defeat was so heavy that the Aedui accepted my peace terms. This battle give me a very good lesson, always keep the Triari in reserve, no matter how hard pressed the battle line is.


Cheers

[Pius Curus]

@Reno

Uh, it was really epic battle! Do you have video? It is one of the best taktics idea keeping a few units as reserve, I mean.
Reno, do you call back hastati from the first line, when they are tired and call you principes into their duty to stand on the place of hastati or do you keep hastati in fight and send you pricipes to fight alongside of hastati. I keep hastati behind the wall of principes to rest for a small time, but only if I am not outnumbered:)

[Reno Melitensis]

Uh, it was really epic battle! Do you have video? It is one of the best taktics idea keeping a few units as reserve, I mean.
Reno, do you call back hastati from the first line, when they are tired and call you principes into their duty to stand on the place of hastati or do you keep hastati in fight and send you pricipes to fight alongside of hastati. I keep hastati behind the wall of principes to rest for a small time, but only if I am not outnumbered:)

I always move on the principes to make a single battle line, and only retreat a unit when heavily under strength, panic is contagious, so is better to be save. Sadly I knew of Fraps, but it was still a trial version, it would have been very nice to have a video of this battle, but I have some pictures of the battle line.

Cheers.

[Pius Curus]

@Reno

I you want, would you send me some pictures? I would like to see it:)

[Reno Melitensis]

These are the only images I have of the actual battle. In one image the Triari have been moved to a critical point in my battle line near a unit of Hastati that was hard pressed, a few minutes later there was the epic panic and counter attack.

Cheers.