any ideas

**gaiusjulii** · 09-13-2007, 07:34

I know That not everyone is a Roman fan but I am wondering if anyone has any good battle tactics for both AM and PM units, I am looking for any good tactics for open field battles not bridge battles

**Dexter** · 09-13-2007, 11:14

hy
I`m addicted to play as Julii .. and a mix of minor mods that let me play mundus magnus to be fun. You probably know all this but here goes ...
So as a tactic .. well anything that works .. i tend to use lot of infantry and not use many cavalry, after all romans did use there infantry to crush the enemy.
So my army before the Marian reform is aprox 6 hastati 6 princeps 2-4 triarii and 2 archers, 2-3 equites yes a general is here also.
After Marian reform 8 legionary 4-6 auxilia 4-6 archer auxilia 2 cavalry + general.
Depending on the task at hand i change the army composition as i tend to have a reserve army following the main army.
On the battlefield it`s again simple i rarely use the run command as i tend to micromanage the hole army to work as one unit. Infantry will engage the enemy after the archers had `send there "greeting", and cavalry will flank or attack in the rear. Now if the enemy outnumbers me 1 to 5 no problem i use the general where the fighting is most tense.
If i face a well balanced army on the field - i use spies to see what the enemy has - i use 3-4 wardogs. I use them after the infantry is engaged in battle to turn the tide. This way even battles whit 1 to 10 t`ill 1 to 20 are winnable - not to mention the heroic victories making the general Victor in no time.

s..x x x x x x..s .........s x x x x x x s - light inf
s....a a a a...s .........s x x x x x x s - heawy inf
c........g......c........ c a a g a a c

s - spear units triarii or auxilia
c - cavalry (any tipe)
x - infantry ( light, heawy .. so on)
g - general

this is the simplest
ranks for infantry is for me 160 unit size 5 ranks deep .. spears same .. archers 5-6 depends on what i what to hit whit them ... cav 4-5 ranks depending on what i want to break whit them (let them charge not double click)

Google a bit to find historical formations and experiment whit them. Some work better then other as the game has limits. The hammer and envil is used by many players. U can even use the red line to protect your flanks but that`s cheating.

As for some big always winning tactic ... well there`s none. Any tactic has flaws, so the key in the battle is adaptation and not a stick to it plan.
And in any battle exept loses, have 2-3 expandable units - just in case - and some tanks to break the enemy fast.
Trie using the units most suted for them. Example light cavalry may charge frontally but they work a lot better form rear or flank. And there is a not so obwious difference between light and heawy infantry as well. Simplest way to see this : light is for engaging the enemy, holding the line as for heawy for these but whit a higher chance for survival and breaking the enemy line.

Well hope this helps a bit.
Have fun playing

**CrazyGuy** · 09-13-2007, 13:31

On the defensive, have you tried the 'Flying Wedge' that destroyed Boadicea? Essentially set up your army so it resembles the serrated edge of a saw (which all units in 'Wedge' formation, of course), and let the enemy come on to you.

I haven't tried it myself but historically it was awesome, I wonder if this replicated in the game?

**Lord_Tamerial** · 09-14-2007, 17:43

If ur defending on a field, i've always bunch my units together in a corner and most of my cavalry far from the enemy, then once the enemy attacks my main force, i use my cavalry to attack of their asses. I mainly aim for their commander. I can work against more than one enemy army.

But the Greeks r the best for this tactic!!! Because of the hoplites!

**ixidor** · 09-14-2007, 18:05

Well, the open field depends on many factores, especially your opponents army, but, generally, while playing with romans pre-marius, i mostly use hastati (and some principes, but they are almost the same so) in a single line with at least 4 ranks, in order to give then deepness. Then I use some velites to attack/attrack the enemy, and if i have roman archers i put him on the rear of my troops. I also let a triari reserve on the back, so if the opponent tries to flank i can counter it. Put them in a 5 men deepness at least, so they can hold a charge. Then have some equites to chase rooters and help with the flankers. You can also try to flank with them, even though they are not that good, really. I also use this tactic: i put my velites on the front, then i put a line of hastati with spaces between then, so when the enemy attacks they have room to retreat without disrupt my formations. Yet, using this tactic requires a second line of hastati, so when your enemy comes for you you can come for behind and fill the gasps. AM reforms, well, do you really need tactics? With the top heavy infantry and cavalry of the game it's almost impossible to lose... Just build a strong offensive infantry line, attack head on, be aware of any flanking tries and try to attack the enemies' rear/flanks while engaged.

**Lord_Tamerial** · 09-14-2007, 18:57

Also what i failed to say was i bunch them in a corner making a semi-circle to avoid flank attacks and my ranged units in the middle to mow the enemy down too, but ur tactic can work too. ;)

**ixidor** · 09-14-2007, 19:23

Personally, i never do that since i think this is cheating. One thing is to exploit natural terrain accidents and woods to make ambushes (and i am very good in ambushes, even when the AI knows where i am), aspects that are indeed important in a real life fight, now battlefield corners are nothing but an artificial game limitation...

**Lord_Tamerial** · 09-14-2007, 20:42

So....my purpose of the game is to conquer the world, not for real fighting. i want to win, so i will do anything to win a battle and/or a war. XD

**Lord_Tamerial** · 09-14-2007, 20:46

But even if i am not in a corner, and many enemy armies r surrounding, i will form a full circle in the middle of the field. They(or so i think) aim for my Commander. So my troops form a circle or box around him.