Use of tactical Vs. historic, role play armies

[ReluctantSamurai]

Manipular involving phalanx? How does that work?

The same as with Roman infantry, except instead of Hastati in front with a unit space between them, and Principes in the second row positioned in the spaces between the Hastati...you have your phalanx in front with a unit space between, and the Bastarnae in the second row filling the gaps. Any unit that enters the gap between your phalanx, gets whacked by the Bastarnae in the flank. Once holes begin to appear along the enemy front, you can roll up a line with your Bastarnae and continual flank attacks. However...you must not expose the Bastarnae to a flank attack, in turn, so you have to pay attention to where enemy cavalry units are.

Now the enemy flanks with cav, and actually charges them in at my battle line instead of my missile units

You need to place your cavalry to the flanks somewhat ahead of your main battle line, and you need to be aggressive with them. When enemy cav are attempting to flank, it's obvious way ahead of time. Move your cav forward to intercept. Break their line but don't give chase. Instead pull back to nearly their original starting position and wait to see how the battle is unfolding. Often times those broken cav units rally and return to try again...and you repeat the previous maneuver. Smash them but don't give chase. This is why I suggested 6 units of Greek Cavalry...you can rotate the attacking units while resting the others.

My brother won't train Greek Cav, only Militia

Militia Cavalry certainly have their place. But they are weaker than Greek Cavalry, and are worthless as an anti-cav unit. They have no armor and use a short sword as their secondary weapon, whereas Greek Cavalry do have some armor and are armed with a spear...the prime anti-cavalry weapon.

[williamsiddell]

Militia Cavalry certainly have their place

I use them preferentially because it is easier to find a local barracks for repair.

and are worthless as an anti-cav unit

Once they've used their missiles, I use them to engage an enemy unit which I subsequently flank attack with a better unit.

[ReluctantSamurai]

I use them preferentially because it is easier to find a local barracks for repair.

Which falls under my comment of using them until there are enough upgraded barracks to produce Greek Cavalry.

Once they've used their missiles, I use them to engage an enemy unit which I subsequently flank attack with a better unit.

And I'll bet your losses are moderate to severe, depending on how long it takes to get a second unit engaged

[williamsiddell]

Fair comment. But I rarely build Greek cavalry, preferring instead one of your favourites - Sarmatians (they seem easy to pick up).

Surprisingly not that bad (but I don't pay much attention since they'll repair at a nearby city). My standard use is to wait until a general attacks my lines then send them in first. They act as a distraction as I follow up with a couple of generals. Usually their general dies while mine survive.

[Vincent Butler]

Sarmatians (they seem easy to pick up).

You must be expanding northeast. Turkey and Scythia have some, but they are limited to that area of the map. That is the only heavy cav merc unit, which stinks for Greece, Thrace, Britannia, and Egypt. Even Egypt's best cav (Nile Cav) is medium at best. I guess Britannia and Egypt are expected to use their chariots, which definitely need support, whereas something like Cataphracts or Legionary Cav can fend for themselves. The Long Shields that Spain and Numidia can train can, with experience, fill the role of heavy cav. I guess the same can be said for Nile Cav.

[williamsiddell]

Like you I don't rate most of the cavalry or chariots in the game. I do use Sarmatians NE, but also in the arc Armenia, Parthia and Egypt. Elsewhere it's mostly generals. Typically I'd set out on a particular direction with 5 generals in my army (to leave behind for slave boosts and to act as heavy cavalry). I don't mind losing the odd general since, before long, you'll have plenty and some are better off deid :) With them I would have up to 4 militia cavalry. They start the battle lined up behind the front line (double parked if necessary), and when their missiles are used up I use them as said (deselecting skirmish). It's true if they get isolated they are deid - I just keep an eye on them.

[ReluctantSamurai]

That is the only heavy cav merc unit, which stinks for Greece, Thrace, Britannia, and Egypt. Even Egypt's best cav (Nile Cav) is medium at best

.

One of the fun aspects of playing RTW is learning how to play to the strengths and weaknesses of each faction. Some rosters have good infantry, but crappy cavalry, and some are the opposite. There are a few balanced rosters that have good to excellent in both categories (Romans, Macedonia, Seleucia, Germania, Armenia)...you just have to adopt your style of play to fit the faction. You need to be a cavalry genius for certain factions, and an infantry stalwart for others. With some you can play it both ways. It's what keeps me playing....

[Vincent Butler]

Yeah, especially with Barbarians, you can get a pretty sizable cav force from just your worthless generals. Or many of them will just be good for command, but their management and influence stink, so you want them out of the town. Good for destroying rebel armies, you don't need to retrain them (I don't think they need to be in a town to replenish their bodyguard, I could be wrong).