Strange triarii moment

**Sakkura** · 11-08-2007, 18:27

Assaulting Massilia, I had a strange experience with my Camillan triarii. Two units of them, each with 2 silver chevrons, went onto the walls from siege towers. The Greek defenders were placed on other parts of the wall, so the triarii went right at them, soon smashing into two units of massiliotai hoplitai with just one bronze chevron. I had great confidence in my veteran triarii, but then something strange happened. The triarii weren't winning. The fight stayed very close, but in the end it was my triarii that were destroyed to the last man, although there were only very few of the defending hoplites alive.

How is that outcome possible? I was so surprised I went to take a look at the stats, and the massaliotai (who were using their spears) have the same lethality and mass, so the huge difference in defense and attack should have made the difference for my triarii. I don't get it

**CirdanDharix** · 11-08-2007, 18:30

Were the defenders led by a better general than yours?
Were you playing on hard/very hard difficulty?
Were your triarii tired?
Did they do something obviosuly retarded, such as a few of them going forwards to fight the entire enemy force, while the rest of them hung back and watched?

**Sakkura** · 11-08-2007, 18:37

I play on medium battle difficulty, and my triarii were fresh just like their opponents. The fight was pretty regular, a big pileup that looked quite normal for a wall fight.

My general had two stars and a few morale boosting traits, while the AI general had about a handful stars IIRC.

**CirdanDharix** · 11-08-2007, 18:44

IIRC there are attack bonii from general stars. Maybe you just ran out of luck though; or maybe the Massilians actually had one gold chevron, I know with some of EB's factional interfaces they look more like bronze than the actual "bronze" chevrons.

**Sakkura** · 11-08-2007, 18:49

It was bronze

Otherwise their stats would have been pumped up, but they were still at 11 attack / 25 defense, against the triarii with 21 attack / 31 defense.
Their general must have been a true genius. I'm still amazed I didn't easily win that part of the battle.

**Watchman** · 11-08-2007, 18:49

That lethality .225 Celtic longsword the Massilian hoplites have might of also have contributed.

**CirdanDharix** · 11-08-2007, 18:54

Originally Posted by Watchman

That lethality .225 Celtic longsword the Massilian hoplites have might of also have contributed.

He said they were fighting with their spears...

**Sakkura** · 11-08-2007, 18:54

Originally Posted by Watchman

That lethality .225 Celtic longsword the Massilian hoplites have might of also have contributed.

They were using the spear. Unless they can camouflage their swords as spears

In that case I guess I'll have to be more careful against Massilian hoplites in the future. That lethality is potentially very nasty

**Narhon** · 11-09-2007, 04:53

The Massilians are tough. I attacked with a full stack of veterans and I had my a@# handed too me. My general and his 2 units of calvary survived by the luck of the gods. I have found that city had some veteran units also and in r/l if one is attacking an enemy who is dug in he can expect high casualties even if he wins.

**EdwardL** · 11-09-2007, 05:06

Its the wall bonus defenders get. nothing more.

**Thrond** · 11-09-2007, 05:08

You should look at the "help assaulting stone walls" thread, some of those techniques might help in defeating these fiendish Hellenes.

Make sure you put the city to the sword if they take too many of your men.