One of Consular Army (after Polybian reform) tactics

[Pius Curus]

I would like to show you one of my tactics which looks fine one the paper, looks fine on the battle map but I sweat like a pig to do it right because it needs meny commands in right time.

1. Phase
- all army move forvard right
- I. group (left flank) is united with the centre battle group II. into battle group II.
- III. group (right flank)
- IV. group (reserves)
- V. and VI. group (light units)
- VIII. and IX. group (equites)

2. Phase
- VI. group provokes the enemy and allures him to left
- II. group is unrolled to left and down to extend the battle line by using key(+)
- III. and IV. group start the flank maneuver and move forward

3. Phase
- young tribun from IX. group is trying to make brak-trough or lead the attack of cavalery with support of velites on the back of enemy horde.

PS: Sorry of my english.

[Pius Curus]

I would like to only add, that at this time I play SPQR on H/H for more fun and longer time battles, primary I use easy tactics without special idea, which was standardly used by SPQR. It is tactics for exhaustion of the centre of enemy line. First line hastati, second line principes, 3 line triarii, equites on the flanks. In history only smartie as Scipio Africanus, etc. used "genial" tactics maneuvers by using triarii as flankes, etc.

[christof139]

Great Scipionic tactics there!!! Nice diagrams!!! Chris

[alatar]

If the enemy has heavy cavarly he could do alot ofdamage to your left flank.

[Pius Curus]

@alatar

Yes, you are right, Alatar, the left flank is week. On the end of my left flank have to be placed experienced troops. The cavalery (Tribun+Ally equites-group IX.) or (reserves-group IV.) from my right flank will have to help on the left flank, if the "hammer" of enemy heavy cavalery would attack.
Another possibility is not to use this strategy against enemy with strong heavy cavalery;)

[MesserPanico]

Seems the only possibility for help your left flank... A good mix of Good Cavalry !!!
But very wonderful tactic.......

[KuKulzA]

a bit complex but seems effective I just caution that once you go east where horsemen rule you could get into trouble, but against infantry you will fair pretty well.... Roman armies aren't very diverse but well balanced (except for the cavalry department)

[Reno Melitensis]

What will you do if you are facing a missile infantry strong army ?. By taking all that time to historically move the manipular legion in battle formation will cost you dearly. Like you I use a historically legion as possible, put your self in the battle and use the tactic you thing is good, outflank the enemy with your allies and cavalry and leave the Triari as a last resort, when thins are going wrong.

Cheers.

[Intranetusa]

Here is my all purpose tactic for any army against the AI:


If you have more infantry than the enemy, stretch ur infantry lines out (distance the units to stretch the lines, not the individual units) This way you can surround the enemy quickly...








Now it may not be as elegant or as well drawn :'( as the beautiful strategy map made by Pius Curus, but it's extremely simple and works quite well. lol

[Reno Melitensis]

Basically I use the same strategy Intranetusa uses. But with one difference, I deploy the Velites between the maniples of Hastati, to shower the enemy advance with javlins, retreating before hand to hand is commenced. Than the gaps are filled by the charging Principes. And I dont take more than one unit of archers, Roman Generals didnt used them that much.

Cheers.

[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.

[Pius Curus]

Thank you! It is very nice to see, how hastati, principes and triarii are mixed together

[NeoSpartan]

I like it. I think is very nice.

Hold the enemy at the center and the left flank. Then overwhelm the right and part of the center.

IF ur right is compromised (the enemies left), I would not be to worried because the enemies right would be gone and the center will be about to break.
(a well placed General could hold ur right even longer).


Now for HA armies, then yes you do need to "improvise". I would also suggest taking some Very Heavy Infantry along with you. That way ur light troops have somewhere to retreat when the HA and/or other cavalry decide to charge u.

Here is why:
In my KH campaing (VH battle with Fatige Off) I faced a Pontus army + small reinforcements with ALL thier family members, some additional cavalry, infantry and skirmishers. All joined into a single line on a flat ground with a slight hill to thier favor. NO HA thankfully!. But my Spartans, Thorakitai, and Epilektoi Hoplitai, 2 Gaestae (sp) mercs, and 2 celtic slingers won the day. (I didn't bother with KH cavarly)