Elephants

**soibean** · 12-17-2007, 06:24

I know there have been crazy amounts of threads on elephants and I regret starting another one but I was looking through posts and most people agree that elephants are good for nothing more than the first couple turns to immediately get a city and then to disband because they have no better use.

What Im asking is: Does anyone bother to get these back in the later game, I mean past the first couple of turns? I know when I go against elephants in the late game I am usually still worried because I have to focus all of my missile on them to wipe out these beasts before they can reach my lines.

Were they really even used anymore at this period and time to an effectiveness in battle? I would guess that in India and the East it would continue and I know that the Epeiros kingdom had them but is there really any point? I just think its a waste that they are such exotic units that are easily destroyed by two units of slingers and then there is nothing more to worry about.

**Danest** · 12-17-2007, 07:09

When used properly/carefully, their effect on enemy lines is nothing short of absolutely devastating, almost like bombs going off inside enemy lines. Nothing else can come close. So, given a chance to have elephants, I will almost always do so.

**Apgad** · 12-17-2007, 07:36

Agreed. You do have to watch out for ranged units, but I tend to hold mine back until both lines of infantry clash. Then I send them along the enemy line, never stopping still, always moving on to the next unit. That way they keep momentum, don't get bogged down, and spread the terror!

They are expensive to maintain, so always keep them in your front-line army and always in use. You don't want them sitting around cooling their heels for too long. Retraining is important, but because they have so few men they can really build up those chevrons quickly.

**cmacq** · 12-17-2007, 08:07

Elephants are like the other unit types in EB. On the battlefield you need to develope a tactical use for them, that works for you. Additionally, with the use of spies, you can also pick the right place and target.

**Perturabo** · 12-17-2007, 08:35

The new armoured elephants for AS and Baktria look nothing short of amazing (great job whoever did the skinning

) and the stats are substantially better too...

Unfortunately for 5700 dn per turn I can hire 6 units of elite phalanx that are guaranteed to destroy the enemy line, not just if you are lucky, destroy the enemy slingers and archers beforehand and micromanage and so on....

So, in short for my current AS campaign I will likely only get some when I have a stack of spare cash and no use for it. A small army that can be hired for the same money is far more effective and has longer staying power.

I'll give them another try for sure, but only because the look great, and I am trying to roleplay.

**Danest** · 12-17-2007, 09:01

The "explosive" power of a flanking elephant charge, when combined with their fear effect, is where it's at. Hold off until an enemy unit starts to lose a little morale (this can be done with even a cheap archer's fire attack, perhaps). Hit that unit from the side with the elephants and run right through it onto the next, and sometimes the whole enemy line, sometimes even elites, will be crushed or routed like a spreading chain reaction... battle over. It's freakin' brutal.

**Maksimus** · 12-17-2007, 09:33

EB already tweaked them to fit as more strong for EB 1.1
And let me add that the famous argument in where ''you have to develop tactics if something is wrong'' - is not good everytime really - so that is why Naked Fancatic's are being redone for EB 11 along with some unit tweak's I readed about here

**anubis88** · 12-17-2007, 09:37

The Elephants are Great. I always have a unit of elephants in my army if i can afford them. I've won countless battles due to their charge...

But of course i've lost an entire unit of elephants when the ptoly general charged at the back of them so.....

they're a very double edged unit

**Foot** · 12-17-2007, 09:40

Originally Posted by Maksimus

so that is why Naked Fancatic's are being redone for EB 11 along with some unit tweak's I readed about here

Are we redoing gaesatae and tindanotae for EB 1.1? I haven't been keeping track of stat changes for EB 1.1, but thats an odd one that I hadn't expected.

Foot

**Maksimus** · 12-17-2007, 09:59

Originally Posted by Foot

Are we redoing gaesatae and tindanotae for EB 1.1? I haven't been keeping track of stat changes for EB 1.1, but thats an odd one that I hadn't expected.

Foot

I can't quote the EB member that type that

- it was in one thread that had some reamark's on the some unit's power.. .. Do, I don't personaly think they should be tweaked much - but the number of them is really ..

I think there should be 1/3 less gaesatae in unit

(the 2 hp are fine)

**cmacq** · 12-17-2007, 20:01

Originally Posted by Maksimus

EB already tweaked them to fit as more strong for EB 1.1
And let me add that the famous argument in where ''you have to develop tactics if something is wrong'' - is not good everytime really - so that is why Naked Fancatic's are being redone for EB 11 along with some unit tweak's I readed about here

Please, I'm not entirely sure I understand? Still, as I understand the arts of war, on the battlefield odds and strengths are important, yet in the end one's tactics and use of the terrain are everything. Either one's tactics and use of the terrain are successful and they win, or their tactics and use of the terrain are unsuccessful and they lose.

And...

success is of course determined by one's goal.

Somehow, I believe that was what you meant?