Thoughts and questions...

[Ibrahim]

I have been playing EB since it's release months ago, and I have come to enjoy the game's historical accuracy, and real challenge, especially that of Arche Seleukeia.

But I have a problem with recruiting in Arche Seleukeia:how to balance it's army for best results on the battlefield, and at the same time the royal treasury. right now in a full 20 unit stack (I have two: one in the east and one in the west) I use 1 General, 2 hetairoi/ Kataphraktoi, 1 prodromoi, 1 elephant units (always armoured), 1 hypaspist, 1 pheraspidai, 1 Thorakitai Basilikou agemata, 1 Argyraspidai, 6 Pezhetairoi/ Klerouchikoi phalangites, 2 thorakitai/thureophoroi, 2 toxotai syriakoi, and a catapult, or if unavailable auxiliary cav(usually heavy cavalry). I put the cav on the wings, the elephats and archers in the rear, infantry in the center with flanking troops protecting the gaps plus the obvious flanks. I don't recruit any levy units for anything save garrisoning, not counting the ioudaioi taxeis.

Does this army work, or is there a way to improve it and garrisoning, without wasting money?

feel free to experiment with this army and post any comments or recommendations on improving it, and cutting down costs while adding efficiency.

[konny]

But I have a problem with recruiting in Arche Seleukeia:how to balance it's army for best results on the battlefield, and at the same time the royal treasury. right now in a full 20 unit stack (I have two: one in the east and one in the west) I use 1 General, 2 hetairoi/ Kataphraktoi, 3 prodromoi, 1 elephant units (always armoured), 1 hypaspist, 1 pheraspidai, 1 Thorakitai Basilikou agemata, 2 Argyraspidai, 6 Pezhetairoi/ Klerouchikoi phalangites, 2 thorakitai/thureophoroi, 2 toxotai syriakoi, and a catapult, or if unavailable auxiliary cav(usually heavy light/archer cavalry).

That should be closer to what your minister of the treasury will like.

I put the cav on the wings, the elephats and archers in the rear, infantry in the center with flanking troops protecting the gaps plus the obvious flanks.

Elephants behind the Phalanx? And then what? Charge right through your own lines?

Deployement:

Center:

Flankers (spear)
Flankers (sword/axe)
Phalanx
Phalanx
Phalanx
Phalanx
Phalanx
Phalanx
Flankers (sword/axe)
Flankers (spear)

Refused Wing:

Light Cavalry
Light or medium infantry (spear/sword mix if possible)
Archers/Slingers

Assault wing:

Heavy/Medium cavalry
General
Heavy infantry

[Ibrahim]

Forgot I rarely use the elephant, and only if it's desperate, so they never run over the phalanxes or anyone else
sorry I forgot to say that

[Bactron]

Playing also for AS, this therad of yours made me wonder how did AS battle formation looked in reality? If anyone knows I would like to know. If there was something like standartizied formation.

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

[Watchman]

Given the massive size of the AS and the diversity in both geography and inhabitants it ruled over, nevermind now enemies, one suspects that in practice their formations were pretty ad hoc according to what troops the commander had at his disposal and what the adversary and battlefield were like.

The big set-piece battles with the other Diadochi and the Romans seem to AFAIK have generally stuck to the classic "Alexandrian" pikes-flanked-with-horse paradigm, though. But those would have been a rather small fraction of the engagements they fought.

[Decimus Attius Arbiter]

Playing also for AS, this therad of yours made me wonder how did AS battle formation looked in reality? If anyone knows I would like to know. If there was something like standartizied formation.

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

They were there for suppressing fire against flank attacks including cavalry.RTW can't do this. I like CNC 3 because units have a suppression meter where they move slower but have higher defense when shot at too many times. In front I don't know. Lots of armies put their cavalry and missles all in front and wings. It is weird.

[Watchman]

That suppression-o-meter sucks, then, except for the slowing down bit. Humans instinctively bunch together under fire, but that's actually the exact wrong thing to do - dense masses are only that much easier to hit. The correct solution is to open ranks instead; more of the projectiles will meet empty space between the warriors, each individual has more room to duck out of the way, and the whole bunch can move faster to get to grips with the ranged troops. (There's a reason the Athenians ran for the last circa hundred meters at Marathon.)

Of course, opening ranks is suicide if there's heavy cavalry in strike range which is specifically one reason the nomads liked their cataphracts - the heavies forced enemy infantry to keep close order, making the archery that much more effective.

Something of an exception is a testudo-style "shield fortress"; it requires rather large (and preferably rectangular; smaller shields simply don't give enough cover) shields and highly drilled troops to pull off, doubly so if the unit is to be able to maneuver effectively nevermind now go to the offensive. But then, that sort of thing is specialised formation designed for missile protection rather than the reflexive and counter-productive bunching up troops are prone to anyway.

[Pezlu]

They were there for suppressing fire against flank attacks including cavalry.RTW can't do this. I like CNC 3 because units have a suppression meter where they move slower but have higher defense when shot at too many times. In front I don't know. Lots of armies put their cavalry and missles all in front and wings. It is weird.

I've used the cavalry in front when defending sometimes: you can use it to lure a few enemy units away or to smash the weak points before they come in contact with your infantry; when the "true battle" begins, the enemy lines will be incomplete (or shorter, if they took time to reorganize). Best used in conjunction with some hidden troops to damage the enemy formation more.

When they make contact you can easily flank their isolated units, or their shorter line. And when your cavalry is done with the units the enemy kept back, you can use it as a normal "hammer".

Extremely useful when the enemy attacks you with a very small army; you can even rout it completely without using your infantry. And, maybe, prepare yourself for enemy reinforcements (they rarely attack you with small armies if they don't have reinforcements :P).

About the archers on the flanks, I guess you could still get an advantage: you would be able to hit the flanks of the enemy troops during the melee. However, you must find a way to protect your archers effectively. Never used them that way however, just guessing.

[konny]

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

Fighting phalanx archers don't do any damage when shooting on the front of the enemy. The best angle would be (appart from behind) shooting into the right flank of the enemy (no shields!). And for that they are best placed on your left wing. In EB Syrian and Cretian archers are also of some use in melee, so they can fall on the enemy's wing after spending all their missles.

[Bactron]

Thanks for explanation guys, It makes sense. And I will change my formation when fighting against other phalanx armies by placing my archers on the left wing.

[zooeyglass]

Fighting phalanx archers don't do any damage when shooting on the front of the enemy. The best angle would be (appart from behind) shooting into the right flank of the enemy (no shields!). And for that they are best placed on your left wing. In EB Syrian and Cretian archers are also of some use in melee, so they can fall on the enemy's wing after spending all their missles.

and of course that's why cavalry was often used on the wings also - to chase down skirmishers, and generally secure the flanks more quickly.