Why does everyone hates barbarian factions?

[LordK9]

The Bull Warriors are possibly the best infantry unit in the game but the cost is way high and, well, they are the figment of someone's imagination. Spain (for me) is fun to play - just wish the AI would allow land swaps so I could avoid war with the Gauls and concentrate on the Romans and Carthage as I should.

Vincent Butler said: I had a good Germania going, into Italy, but after defeating Rome suddenly my finances tanked for no reason.

That seems to happen with all factions. Always frustrating.

[Vincent Butler]

The Bull Warriors are possibly the best infantry unit in the game

I think they gave them for balancing purposes. I don't know that I would rank them among the best, though I don't remember their stats. The best is probably Spartan Hoplites (insane attack, both primary and secondary, and high defense). But by the time of Rome Total War, even the Spartans weren't anything special compared to other hoplites. Bull Warriors absolutely should not have two hit points. Again, probably a balancing thing. I would imagine that the primary barbarian weapon was a spear, so the barbarians should have more spear units than just Warband. Then again, that is probably a decent representation of the standard barbarian unit. They had good swordsmen too, but the Warband would probably make up a vast majority of a barbarian army.

[LordK9]

Agreed. As far as swords vs spears, likely the same reason most vikings used axes - most couldn't afford to buy a sword.

[ReluctantSamurai]

Probably some truth to that. Only Vikings of high status could afford a well-made sword. But I suspect that the armor-piercing capability of an axe also played a role, and that the light, single-handed axe could be thrown. The poorest soldiers probably used a spear.

[Vincent Butler]

Probably some truth to that. Only Vikings of high status could afford a well-made sword. But I suspect that the armor-piercing capability of an axe also played a role, and that the light, single-handed axe could be thrown. The poorest soldiers probably used a spear.

I forget where I read it, but I have read that even Gallic nobles did not scorn to use a spear. Even though it was a poor man's weapon, it was still an effective weapon.

[Ludens]

Vincent Butler And yeah sorry for asking What are Wardogs ment for? I like never Recruit them (only when fighting elephants) Should i Recruit them more?

Personally, I used them against light skirmishers and archers and the like. Units that don't have great attack or defence ratings, but are hard to catch if you don't have cavalry (or if you want to use the cavalry for more important targets). They are also somewhat useful as a fodder unit for blunting enemy charges or (briefly) pinning enemy infantry. But I don't really like them: it's a gimmicky unit, not realistic and very gamey in its implementation.

Also, why use them against elephants? Other than for blunting the charge?

I would imagine that the primary barbarian weapon was a spear, so the barbarians should have more spear units than just Warband. Then again, that is probably a decent representation of the standard barbarian unit. They had good swordsmen too, but the Warband would probably make up a vast majority of a barbarian army.

It depends. When defending their homeland, the majority of a barbarian army would be made up of "militia" units with limited training and equipment. These would indeed look like the warband units of R:TW. But the name "warband" is misleading, since these units were not warriors, but farmers and craftsmen defending their homes. The real warbands (groups of warriors around a local strongman) were only a minority in such armies.

On the other hand, a raiding army would consists mostly consist of warbands, supplemented with mercenary groups. These would be professional warriors, and would have better equipment than the militia (much better, if their leader was important or wealthy).

I forget where I read it, but I have read that even Gallic nobles did not scorn to use a spear. Even though it was a poor man's weapon, it was still an effective weapon.

Nor did the Samurai, who would own much better swords. IIRC Samurai duels could be fought with spear, polearm or even bow. Swords were important, but they were definitely not considered as some sort ultimate weapon. In fact, one of the great virtues of a sword is that it is a good back-up weapon: easy to carry, can be quickly drawn when your primary weapon fails, but still has enough reach and weight to counter an armed, armoured opponent (unlike, say, a dagger, which can't be used to counter enemy weapons).

The whole sword-beats-spear thing has more to do with balancing reasons than historical accuracy. The sword is more flexible, but the spear has a far greater reach. The swordsman will have to break or bat the spear away in order to be able to hit the spearman; and all the while he is within the spearman's killing range. Also, batting the spear away isn't as easy as you think: if the spearman is any good, he will constantly keep the point moving.

[Vincent Butler]

The thing to remember, is that Warband are trained out of the same level barracks as Town Watch and Militia Hoplites, though one on one they own Town Watch. 120 men vs 80, I guess. The barbarians should have gotten a better spear unit, say at the Swordsmen level.

Also, there should be a better Gallic-style cav mercenary. I would say Gaul should get a better cav unit, but I guess the Noble Cav are fine. It is the Roman cav (meaning Legionary and Praetorian, not the unit Roman Cavalry) that are unrealistically good. Frankly, if you like melee cav, be Macedon or Seleucia. Macedonian Cavalry, awesome unit. "Cavalry, Macedon's Finest!"

Some will say be Armenia or Scythia, which works too, especially if you like missile cav. Scythia has regular melee cav as well (their infantry is the problem), whereas Armenia's only real melee cav is Cataphracts (but they get the Cataphract Archers, who do just fine if they get caught). Parthia...well, good luck in getting enough money to afford cavalry.

[HeirOfGreece]

1 question Ludens,How do you write that Originally Posted By? I looked on how to do it and i did not realise how... And yeah aren't wardogs good against Elephants?

And what does Quote do?