Favorite tactics

[Spartan198]

I'm looking to expand my battlefield knowledge,so I was curious as to what different strategies and tactics you all use? This includes everything battlefield-related,even the types of units that make up your own preferred army configuration.


Heres a quick listing of my preferred configuration (Macedonian,for example) -
1 heavy cavalry unit (Companions) to command - I never put family members in command unless they have very high command rating (6+ stars).
7 heavy infantry units (Phalanx or Royal Pikemen)
4 heavy cavalry units (Companions or Macedonian Cav)
2 light cavalry units (Light Lancers or Greek Cav)
4 missile units (archers) - I don't use Cretans because they can't be replenished during retraining.
2 siege machines (Heavy Onagers) - for toppling walls during sieges and to frighten enemy troops.

Note: I don't even bother using skirmishers. I'll tell you why below...


Here's a basic rundown of my battleplan -
Heavy infantry provide the base battleline and backbone of the army.
Archers begin by firing vollies of flaming missiles into the enemy.
When the enemy reaches javelin-throwing distance,I launch my heavy cavalry into their own cavalry when present,which usually neutralizes or destroys them within a few minutes.
Archers continue attacking advancing infantry and (hopefully) inflicts some 50% casualies. By this time,the enemy commander (if cavalry-based) has charged into my infantry line and been either destroyed or routed by pike or spear,inflicting massive morale damage to his troops.
When enemy cavalry is neutralized,I cease missile fire and charge my own cavalry at the enemy infantry's flanks and effectively decimate them (which is why I don't bother training skirmishers - they usually just stand around and take up space).
Enemy army begins to retreat,and my light cavalry and command cavalry mop up.
Less than 1% friendly casualties sustained.


The above plan is successful some 90% of the time,even against post-Marian Roman troops. But I've come to believe that I'm becoming too reliant on cavalry and missile troops,and am underusing my infantry for the time and money it takes to train them.

I'm open to any advice,whether it favors my battleplan or not (feel free to point out any weaknesses you spot). And this also extends to both the Barbarian Invasion and Alexander expansions,as well. Thanks in advance for the input.


Edit: On the advice of my fellow Orgahs (that's what we call ourselves,right?) I've lowered my strict command star guidelines from six to three stars,and my casualty levels have lowered to my estimate of about .60 %. Thanks goes out to Quirinus,Fahad,and Mrdun.

[Paradox]

1.Group my army if I see them fit to surround the enemy.
2.Phalanx in the center of the frontlines.
3.Infantry reinforcing them at the back.
4.Missile units at the very back of the army, but they have to be in range.
5.Cavalry securing the flanks.

This is basically my way of maneuvering before the battle actually begins.

I never put family members in command unless they have very high command rating (6+ stars).

Why not? Your general provides an advantage for your troops, morale. I've always grown to be confident about charging my commander at the enemy while rallying my troops. He also prevents exhaustion from spreading quickly.

[mrdun]

Yeah, generals are worth their weight in Saphron

[TruePraetorian]

Roman army:

1 General unit, rarely a family member (I enabled recruitable generals for all factions)
4 early legionary cohorts ( Outer provinces rarely have high level barracks to recruit regulars)
5-6 legionary cohorts (5 if I have 1st cohort) trained from high level citys to help economy
2 roman cavalry of any kind
3 archer auxillia
2 infantry auxillia for flanks
2 Heavy/regular Onagers


I group my Legionarys in a double line, alternating regs and earlys:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

|reg| |early| |reg| |early| |first|
|reg| |early| |reg| |early| |reg|

I then have my archers and onagers infront set to fire at will, onagers use flame. My auxillia are on the flanks with the cavalry outside of them. When my archers start firing, I prepare to move my double line forward to keep the archers and onagers inbetween them. I set the font row to fire at will, and let the enemy charge. They usually break fast. The flanks are great because of the cav/spear combo, which also allows me to flank the enemy. My general sits behind the lines. If my front ranks retreat, my second ranks immediatly charge without throwing pilla. When one of them is wavering, I general charge while using his rally button. This is actually a historic legion...it works fantastically and is cheap to maintain. Of course it post-marian, for pre-marian I use the historical 3 lines. Also, to beat you cowardly greeks and macedonians, I throw both pilla then charge both ranks to a spot behind the hoplites, causing a few casualties but once they get in deep enough your men's spears are too long to reach me and the legionars prevail at H2H. That was defensive (which is smarter to play for this setup) For offense, I simply move to within range of onagers, unload ammo, archer range, unload ammo, the pilla range and unload both ranks' pilla before charging...no one can stop that.

[Barbarian]

My tactics with Greece/Macedonian armies:

1) Phalanx in the center
2) phalanx in the front and behind the line
3) Phalanx at the flanks, but usually the best pikemen only, who can hold flanks with ease.
4) Phalanx everywhere

Battle plan: March forward with my forest of pikes
Try to move in the way to outmaneuver the enemy's phalanxes and gain victory. Hellenic warfere rocks!

[woad&fangs]

I actually use these formations on EB but you can probably adapt them to Vanilla pretty easily

Flexed Form
...........................SMPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPMS....................................
CCCC........................G.,,,,,...MMMMMM..................................
CCCC................................AAAAAAA...........................................

Used with: Epeiros, Arche Seleukia, Ptolemy, Baktria,.... basically anyone with a wide variety of troops but with emphasis on the Phalanx.

C=Cavalry
G=General
S= Short spears
M= Melee troops
A= Archers or other missile troops

Sometimes the General will join the cav if I have enough melee troops. The cavalry swings around and gangs up on the enemy general. Then they wipe out the enemy missile troops and finish by playing hammer with the enemy line. The phalanx is merely pinning the enemy infantry in place until the cavalry arrives. I take them off of guard mode when I'm ready for the kill. The melee in the rear get thrown at weak points in the line that I see. The melee in the front line try to semi-flank the enemy and envelop them. The short spears on the end are to prevent the enemy cav from wiping out my front row melee. They'll either join in the flanking or fall back to protect the archers. I take the archers off of skirmish mode. They fire regular arrows at enemy cav and lightly armored shock units until I'm ready for the kill and then I switch them over to fire arrows.

Strengths- Low casualties, flexibility, can be used for attacking or defending

Weakness- High Cav casualties, to diverse for some factions, requires a lot of troops

That's my most common battle deployment and the one I prefer to use if I have the right troops. I'll post some other ones later.

Actually I still remember some ones I used in Vanilla
Sandbox:

CCC.............................HH...................CCC
................................H.....H.............
...............................H..TG...H
.................................H.....H
....................................HH
..............................SS........AAAAAA...SS

C=Cavalry
H= Heavy Infantry(Hoplites, Legions, Chosen Swordsmen, etc)
G= General
A= Archers
T= Artillery
S= Smelly Camels

Used with Numidia

The cavalry is mostly jav cav and is used to harass the enemy and kill routers. The heavy infantry is in a variant of the "hoplite box" around the artillery. The general is mostly there to provide moral support. The formation works best with a lot of archers. The camels protect the archers from enemy cavalry and can be used as flankers if need be.

Strengths- Uses Numidias strengths, strong defensive formation, if you replace the Legions with desert infantry than it is fairly cheap.

Weakness'- limited mobility, limited ability to deliver killing blows,

[Spartan198]

Great. I'll have to print this thread out and try these tactics and formations out.

[Spartan198]

Yeah, generals are worth their weight in Saphron

That's true about generals,but,curiously,the morale decrease has never really affected my troops outside of defending my cities themselves (which is somewhat rare as enemy armies rarely get past my strategic placement of forts in chokepoints such as Thermopylae Pass). But the real disadvantage that they pose to me is the initially small count of men making up their bodyguard. I can take a full compliment of 27 cavalry (even light cavalry such as Light Lancers or Greek Cavalry) commanded by captain,and easily envelope and cut down even an armored general with ease.

Maybe I'll check the modding threads to see if it's possible to edit the numbers for Elite Bodyguard units.

But,please,keep the advice coming,everyone!

PS - I didn't know that about the general slowing the spread of exhaustion,though. I'll keep that in mind.

[Caeser The III]

all good tactics

[Quirinus]

I never put family members in command unless they have very high command rating (6+ stars)

Family members rarely get to six stars without seeing at least a little action..... anyways, even a three-star general improves an army's performance significantly.


When playing Greek factions, my regular method is to put the phalanx in front, with better-quality hoplites at the flank. This is so that, in the event that the phalanx is attacked from the flank, it fights better, and is less likely to rout. Archers are positioned behind the phalanx. Any skirmishers/non-phalanx mercenary troops are position on the flanks along with cavalry (if any). This is to utilise their relative mobility to protect the flanks of the phalanx, and/or to execute flanking moves of their own once the enemy line is pinned against the phalanx.

Still, though, the battles don't usually play out exactly the way I planned it, but I find that this configuration is fairly adaptable.

[Punicus]

When playing as Carthage I like to have a good 8 units of cavalry, however many infantry I feel necessary (usually a little less than cavalry), a couple of elephants and sometimes slingers if I want, but not always.

When playing against the Romans who use very little cavalry, I often take my own to meet there's to eliminate the possibility of being flanked. This works because a lot of the time the Romans have missile cavalry and bring them farther out anyway, allowing for me to get in a safe attack. I allow the infantry lines to meet, and proceed to flank the Roman lines and attack from the back with no trouble. Elephants are put wherever I need them, they often make the enemy lines break completely. Then chase down the routers.

[Quirinus]

When playing as Carthage my armies tend to be much more cavalry-centric, typically with the inf:cav ratio being 3:4 or something similar.

[Hannibalbarc]

C=cav
Inf=heavy inf(legionaries)
I n f=legionaries in loose formation

I n f I n f
Inf Inf Inf
Inf Inf Inf
CCCCCC

I use 2 units of heavy inf in loose formation in the front to soak up missiles and tier the enemy, then follow with second row and so on. The cav is easy to move
were ever needed.
The ai and most noobs usually just rush in, throw all their pila and arrows at the inf in loose formation and charge. While the front line is fighting the second line throws their pila and charges in once the enemy is tired, some times I don't even
have to use the back line.

[TruePraetorian]

Hmm...Interesting strategy...i'm not liking the loose formation but, eh, I haven't tried it yet...

For my Grecko armys I use the tradtional line of hoplites. I honestly don't know what is better then a huge line of spears...especially because my phalanxs are modded to be more realistic (over-hand, can charge) and when the lines clash (and they do clash) it is very interesting for the first minute or so while they fight...eventually one side completley routes. For the flanks I use the cav for defense only as greeks but everyone else offensively.

[wumpus]

Family members rarely get to six stars without seeing at least a little action..... anyways, even a three-star general improves an army's performance significantly.
When playing Greek factions, my regular method is to put the phalanx in front, with better-quality hoplites at the flank...
Still, though, the battles don't usually play out exactly the way I planned it, but I find that this configuration is fairly adaptable.

>Usually, I keep family members in my more prosperous cities--they make good governors, wealth-generators, and breeding stock for more family members. Unless I have about 10 or so of them--then I use the most-starred of them (usually they don't make good governors anyway) to be front-line generals. I've some number of them to waste anyway (specially when I play Greek and the family member ISN'T "So-and-so of Sparta").
>Funny, I usually have the opposite arrangement: a line of phallanx with strongest troops at the center, weakest troops next in line on both sides (I like to keep them symmetrical by type and valor/experience) and medium-strongest at the ends. I am going to try your style of arrangement, Quirinus--maybe tonight or tomorrow. Let me see how it'll turn out.
But, to everyone at large, here's what I'll say: the formation you adopt at the start of the battle partly depends on your style and your temperament. After all, it'll be you who'll manage your troops when opposite shields crash against each other. Only general rules and suggestions would be of great use from somebody else.
Hawooh.

[Quirinus]

Hehe, yeah. I'm not entirely sure that my strategy of placing better troops at the flanks works better, I just thought that infantry with poorer morale would rout less if their flanks are secure. Also, if the better-quality infantry at the flanks gain the upper hand, I could try enveloping the enemy, which usually sparks off a chain rout.

That's the thing I love about RTW combat -- if it feels logical, it likely will work.

[Red Spot]

in vanilla Rome playing as a Roman I always used the same, undefeated, formation (won most MP battles with it as well ...)

the units;
-1 general
-4 to 6 (heavy) cavalry
-4 to 5 archers
-0 or 2 onagers (only work them in pairs!)
-filled up with the heaviest possible pilum-infantry I have

generally late game it would be;
-1 general
-2 onagers
-5 archers
-4 cavalry
-8 late legions
(sometimes some legions got swapped for praetorians)

formation;

---------------A--A--A--A--A---------------
---------------L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L---------------
--------C-C-------O--G--O-------C-C-------
(with a fast light armoured enemy I would deploy the archers behind the legions)

whenever you're in range defensive or offensive the formation halts, and onagers and archers do their damage, enough archers are used to stop any pesky HA-factions (or any other lightly armoured faction for that matter)
If attacking I'll just move the formation closer untill archers are at about 80% of maximum range (so they basicly can hit the second line of an enemy force), and leave them to it untill out of ammo, though I try to have them shoot the heaviest of infantry ... than I'll withdraw my archers to behind the legions, and march the legions and cavalry accompanied by the general forward so the legions are in pilum-range, trow both pilum, and charge the full line of legions into the enemy line, once the enemy formation has engaged my men I run the cavalry further back and charge both flanks from behind at ~ the 2 unit from the tip (the one on the tip will rout if the 2nd routs, so I'll take 2 units in a single charge), moving my general left or right of the engaged formation for unforseen events or leave it incase the center might break ..
At this point the battle is won ...
If defending, depending on the enemy army I may decide to leave skirmish off on my archers, so the enemy will charge and rout my archers, wich will make a impact on morale but it will also take away the incoming charge from your good melee-units, wich are at that point probably more important.
For the rest I basicly do remarkebly little when on defense, just leave my legions to fire at will and turn fire-ammo of onagers to regular ammo as the enemy gets closer and disable it when forces are engaged.
Cavalry just sits tight untill they can charge from behind or into a flank, if they get chased by some infantry I usually just pull them further left or right (away from the formation and chasing infantry) and have general charge the infantry from behind, than pull the cavalry back and in turn have them charge the unit wich was now fighting my general and most likelly wont stand the 2nd charge without routing ....

When fighting 2 stacks and you have the option, get 3 or 4 skirmishers into an AI-controlled army as reinforcements, they'll do surprisingly well in the AI's hands specially if taken into account that they will split up 2 full formations so you can take them out individually, for the rest I dont use skirmishers ..


G

[Good Ship Chuckle]

I know of a tactic that has never failed me, no matter the odds or faction I'm against. There are two stipulations however:

1. Be a phalanx using faction
2. Be on the defensive

How it works:
Once the general has finished his speech, find the highest corner on your side of the map. Then place your units as close to it as possible. Then click on start to begin the battle. Immediately press pause. Now select each phalanx individually and place them in a tightly knit quarter-cirlce that completely covers your corner. Make the quarter-circle flawless with out gaps in between the units, lest a chink cause the quarter-circle to collapse from a head on attack. Now stuff in your cav and archers in behind your phalanges. It's a tight fit, but it should be that way.

Press play to resume the battle. Then toggle run/walk to make them get to their spots double time, and so that you don't disrupt their destinations (so don't double click). Once everyone is in their correct postions, simply lower your spears and watch as wave after wave of enemy troops rout themselves upon your spears. Then unleash your cav to rout anyone who was smart enough not to attack you.

I've actually stopped using this tactic because it's too effective. Everytime I've used it, the enemy cannot flank you and is forced to attack your plalanx head on, which obviously takes some of the sport out of the battle. But if you're in postion where a defeat is not an option, then by all means use it.

For those of you who need a visual:

...;;O
...;; __O
...;; A___O
...;; __A___O
...;; _____A __O
...;; CCC____A__O
...;; CCC_________O
...;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;


<;> edge of map
<O> Phalanx infantry (make sure there are no gaps!!)
<A> Archers
<C> Cavalry


Try it once, and you'll curse yourself for finding something that makes battles impossible to lose. Also, if you want to improve your gameplay skills in a way that isn't as cheapskate (but just as effective) as this tactic, I must reccomend hotkeys. I've created an easy to use tutorial, just find the link in my signature.

[Slug For A Butt]

Thanks for the information Chuckle, but that is one of the oldest, cheesiest exploits in the game.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work it out, and it kills the battlefield game stone cold dead. No fun in it mate, you may as well just use cheats too.
Hey, if you want another idea, why not play MP and create a box of phalangites with archers inside? You'll be a really popular guy then in MP.

[El Diablo]

Come on mate thats a bit harsh. It may be the oldest exploit in the book but there are some very very new readers here on this site. They may want to use that strategy to win an important battle so they can get underway in a campaign.

Once people get a bit better at the stratigies then the probably wont use it.
I don't - you obviously don't.

The OP asked for tactics not a discussion of honourable ones v non-honourable.

Anyway in Single player why not use it? You are playing to enjoy yourself, not someone on a discussion board.

[Punicus]

I suppose I will share my strategy for Parthia, as no one has shared theirs yet. Firstly, I barely use any infantry, ever. The only reason I might have a unit of them in there is because I need to get a ram to take down an enemy wall. If the wall is stone, I don't even bother sieging. I'd rather let them sally out (the fact that the units come out one at a time seems to be advantegous to a faction who relies on archery such as the Parthians).

Now obviously the whole point of the Parthians is to use mounted archery tactics. So what I usually do is I will focus all of my fire on one unit. I demoralize them by doing this and when you have 10+ units of Horse Archers firing on one unit, the enemy unit will be gone in a few volleys - especially so if you are using experienced units. So unless the case of a full stack attacking you, you should be able to rout the entire army. Now, this is the AI I'm talking about - the AI is stupid, and any real player probably wouldn't wait around to get shot as if it's something fun. So honestly my massed HA technique is nothing to be amazed at. But in this way I've barely lost any battles.

If your men run out of ammo, you could just head for the hills and end the battle with most of your men. But if the army is experienced enough, I will sometimes just do a mass-charge at each individual unit to make them rout.

I'm not sure if this strategy is slightly different or exactly the same as everyone else's, but either way I figured I'd post it.

[Quirinus]

I have a question about your phalanx box tactic-- what if the army decides not to attack at all? Even in battles with about even odds, I've seen enemies abstain from attacking superior positions such as higher ground, and just wait for you in another part of the battlefield. Wouldn't this pretty much screw up the strat?

[Spartan198]

Glad to see this thread hasn't died yet.

Your corner-grouping manouver is very successful,Chuckle,and I did use it at first because I was a horrible commander,but didn't wanna auto-win my way through either. But it is also good when you're literally with your back to the wall and those cursed Romans are beating at the borders of your last settlement. It's definitely in my battle book (I'm creating printouts of all these formations putting them in a binder entitled "the Ancient Art of Warfare").

[Spartan198]

I suppose I will share my strategy for Parthia, as no one has shared theirs yet. Firstly, I barely use any infantry, ever. The only reason I might have a unit of them in there is because I need to get a ram to take down an enemy wall. If the wall is stone, I don't even bother sieging. I'd rather let them sally out (the fact that the units come out one at a time seems to be advantegous to a faction who relies on archery such as the Parthians).

Now obviously the whole point of the Parthians is to use mounted archery tactics. So what I usually do is I will focus all of my fire on one unit. I demoralize them by doing this and when you have 10+ units of Horse Archers firing on one unit, the enemy unit will be gone in a few volleys - especially so if you are using experienced units. So unless the case of a full stack attacking you, you should be able to rout the entire army. Now, this is the AI I'm talking about - the AI is stupid, and any real player probably wouldn't wait around to get shot as if it's something fun. So honestly my massed HA technique is nothing to be amazed at. But in this way I've barely lost any battles.

If your men run out of ammo, you could just head for the hills and end the battle with most of your men. But if the army is experienced enough, I will sometimes just do a mass-charge at each individual unit to make them rout.

I'm not sure if this strategy is slightly different or exactly the same as everyone else's, but either way I figured I'd post it.

Thanks,Punicus. I did manage to win a short Parthian campaign a while back, but my battle stats weren't good,though (don't ask how it's possible,but after I'd added together all my numbers,I'd sustained more casualties than troops I'd trained and hired! ). Oddly,while my standard battle plan (listed in my very first post for this thread) is infantry-based but cavalry-reliant (maybe I just feel more secure when my men have a wall of spears to fall behind),my infantry rarely engage past the common suicidal General's Cavalry charge,I'd never been able to translate it to any Eastern army except Armenia (which,coincidently,has phalanx-capable heavy infantry).

My management of horse archers is also horrible despite my reliance on cavalry. Go figure?

Edit: Mass charges are also a nightmare for enemy morale,especially when it's a phalanx or syntagma (aka,"Macedonian phalanx") marching toward them.

[Good Ship Chuckle]

I have a question about your phalanx box tactic-- what if the army decides not to attack at all? Even in battles with about even odds, I've seen enemies abstain from attacking superior positions such as higher ground, and just wait for you in another part of the battlefield. Wouldn't this pretty much screw up the strat?

There are two options to this scenario:
1) Make your battles have a time limit. If the enemy attacks you on the campaign map and then doesn't attack you on the field, then you've won after 45 minutes.

2) If time limit is not an option, they you must cajole the enemy into attacking you. If you're a hellenic faction, send out your militia cav and throw a couple spears into him. See if that makes him attack. Or move your archers into postion, and fire a couple volleys into him, to rustle up some movement. And as a last resort, take your general and dance him around in front of the enemy. Nothing looks quite as tasty to the AI than your general all by himself.

Almost always one of those will work.

[The Wandering Scholar]

Yep, I still use the golden oldies. You know the ones, hammer and anvil types. very reliable. Plus the AI don't learn so you can keep doing it.

[Quirinus]

There are two options to this scenario:
1) Make your battles have a time limit. If the enemy attacks you on the campaign map and then doesn't attack you on the field, then you've won after 45 minutes.

Haha, I usually uncheck that, because sometimes, my cavalry tactics against a superior force depends on tiring out the enemy, which takes a hell lot of time. I haven't actually tried the battle timer though, so I don't know if it matters or not.

2) If time limit is not an option, they you must cajole the enemy into attacking you. If you're a hellenic faction, send out your militia cav and throw a couple spears into him. See if that makes him attack. Or move your archers into postion, and fire a couple volleys into him, to rustle up some movement. And as a last resort, take your general and dance him around in front of the enemy. Nothing looks quite as tasty to the AI than your general all by himself.

Almost always one of those will work.

Haha, yes, I remember that. The Gallic army wouldn't move from their wooded position, so I sent my general to play tag. They wouldn't move, and I was taking casualties from their archers, so I charged them repeatedly from the flanks, hoping to lure them out. The result? My general got speared by a javelin. My demoralised troops then proceeded to die in large numbers, rout, and generally make a huge disgrace of themselves. =(


But I tried the phalanx box tactic in a custom battle with seven units of Greek hoplites, versus a full stack of Parthian eastern infantry and another full stack of Pontic chariots. It worked spectacularly. A particularly determined charge, though, almost broke through my lines at one point before they routed. Isn't it possible that an infantry unit with better morale and stats (say, a Roman legionary cohort) might actually break through by sheer numbers?

[The Wandering Scholar]

Haha, I usually uncheck that, because sometimes, my cavalry tactics against a superior force depends on tiring out the enemy, which takes a hell lot of time. I haven't actually tried the battle timer though, so I don't know if it matters or not.

I always, always set a battle timer. Especially good for defending sallys. plenty of missile to weaken them, charge with cav then retreat using your speed to another part of the map. You win 9/10.

Isn't it possible that an infantry unit with better morale and stats (say, a Roman legionary cohort) might actually break through by sheer numbers?

yes, them legionnaires, especially spec'd up with foundry and stufff can easily break your pike line. This ame as a suprise to me as I could not understand hoe a short gladius could somehow evade a very long spear.

[woad&fangs]

Armoured hoplites would probably also work if you took them out of phalanx mode and had them charge. Chosen swordsmen could also work.

Large pike armies used to scare me until I realized that I could bullrush them with a heavily armoured unit and force them into their secondary weapons. At that point I brought in some medium infantry to finish off the now pikeless pikemen while my bullrushers went on to the next pike unit. In my next EB campaign I'm thinking of playing as the Saby'n which means I'll have to master this tactic in order to have a chance against the endless hordes of Egyptians and Seleucids.

Edit: anyways, here is a tactic that I've used with the scythians.

Trident:

Factions-Scythia, Egypt, Parthia(?)

AAAAAAA
AAAAAAA............................../\..../\..../\
........................................./N.\./ N\./ N.\
........................................HHHH..G..HHHH
...............................................HHHH

A-horse archers(chariot archers for eggies.)
/N\- I think that I used Scythian Nobles but any strong Cav that can form a wedge will do.
H-Head hunting maidens(the cavalry with axes for the eggies.)
G-General

Tactics: Ram the into the enemy with the wedges followed closely by the AP cavalry and the general. The wedges should be freed from melee as soon as possible but the AP cav and the general should fight in melee as long as is practical. The wedges should repeatedly charge the enemy and then withdraw. The HA's should focus their fire on one flank until it is weak enough to insta-route when charged. Then they should draw back and repeat with the next set of units.

Strengths: Strong against armoured foes, mobile, good offensive formation

Weakness's: Heavy casualties in the melee Cav, lots of micro-management.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

I have only played two campaigns so far, but here is what I do for what its worth.

1. My usual defensive set up for Romans pre Marian against Barbarians, Spaniards and Carthaginians is:

---Slingers---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------Hastati--Hastati--Hastati--Hastati--Hastati--------------------------
--------Spearmen---------Velites----Archers----Velites-----------Spearmen------------
-----------------------*Hastati*-Hastati-General-Hastati-*Hastati*----------Wardogs--
---Equites----------------------------------Equites--------------------------------Equites-------

Slinger to pelt them as they approach, wardogs to attack any missile units that the AI sends up front (though I do feel a little exploity using them except against rebels), mercenary spearmen to beat of any flanking cavalry. I let the enemy come up and bash the hastati before flanking round with the *hastati* (the two most experienced units) and equites. Genrally also I have the hastati in the second line and the missile troops focus all their fire on one unit at a time. Usually I can get three enemy units to rout bfore serious fighting. If the enemy general charges at any point, I will give him one volley from the velites and counter charge with my general. Otherwise too many hastati get killed.

If fighting against chariots I will go in with a couple more velites and put them on the flanks to swamp the chariots or hide in woods to emerge and attack from the back.

2. On the attack, it really depend on the terrain.
- Never attack up hill or head on. Maneouvre to attack along the top of a ridge.
- Wait to let your troops get back to fresh or atleast warmed up before final attack.
- Lead with velites or some other missile unit in loose formation to absorb missiles - casualties matter less as there wont be much time to bombard the enemy with missiles anyway and velites are cheap.
- Always attack one flank first with infantry and with cavalry sweeping around, archers/ slinger bombarding the rest of their line (velites dont have enough range). As the AI redeploys to line up face to face with you, look for opportunities ot pick off units, charge missile units with cavalry or infantry units which can be attacked quickly from all sides and routed.

3. When sallying out in a siege, lead with cavalry first. As the AI redeploys (why doesnt it shoot as you emerge from the gates?!!?) charge whatever unit is at the AI's tail. With 3 units of cavalry it will rout and at most the penultimate tail unit will move back to support it. Run the cavalry off a little distance and then charge and rout them too. By then your infantry will be outside the gates and the cavalry "warmed up" so give the horsies a rest and use the infantry to start the main battle.

4. Siege assaults: anyone have good strategy for this? controlling units i find is a nightmare they keep going the worng places, find the worst routes and engaing units they should be skirting around. Ugh.