Ambush tactics
Hi.
I posted this on the internal EB forum, prior to the EB 0.81 release. I didn`t posted it here before, because the 0,81 patch wasn`t released yet, and there might have been some problems with spoiling things and such.
Since 0.81 was released a looong time ago, there`s no problem in posting this on this forum. So, here we go then.
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This is a quick ambush guide. This will show show some techniques in order to totally obliterate a medium sized enemy stack with equal forces.
Terrain: Hilly with no trees.
Weather: Sunny, no rain, and no snow, so no combat bonuses for my barbarians.
Forces:
*Romanii: Enemy forces are comprised of a strong array of medium and heavy infantry (some 1 hastati, 4 principes, 2 samnite infantry) , balanced with support troops. Their experience is varied, some units with high experience, and some with little to no experience.
*Aeduii: My forces are comprised of 4 medium experienced heavy infantry (Bataroas), and 3 unexperienced mercenary swordsmen (Enoci Curoas), supported by 2 experienced slinger units.
The match is balanced, with a slight advantage in numbers from my part, but with a hardcore of experienced and high morale units from the roman part. Breaking principes and samintes is no trivial matter, and I will have to use strong shock tactics in order to break the morale of the romanii. If I don`t succeed, my core forces will be heavily depleted and unable to continue offensive operations in the area.
1st: Enemy disposition of forces:
The enemy are formed on a marching column, with the hill on their right. Their vanguard unit is comprised of 2 light slinger units, one depleted and another full principes unit (the latter having the captain), and some depleted heavy and light samnites.
The rearguard is comprised of 1 principes and 1 hastati.
The body of the army is a thin column comprised of the rest of the principes, samnites and support troops. All of it, ripe for massacre. :D
2nd: Battle plan:
My forces are arrayed in the way showed on the pic, with heavy infantry on both flanks of the column, the general right on the front of the head of the column, and the slingers on a eminence of the terrain, from which they can offend the whole column.
My heavy infantry is concentrated on the head of the column, the enemy vanguard, where the enemy captain is. Their mission is to destroy it ASAP.
My mercenaries (Enoci Curoas) are located at the rearguard of the enemy frontguard. Their mission: to hold any relieving forces coming from the enemy rearguard, until the enemy vanguard and the captain are destroyed.
The slingers have an important mission: Attack the engaged enemy from the back, in order to cause them severe cassualties, and break their morale. In addition, they have a secondary role: To wear down additional units coming to assist the head of the column.
If all goes well, the head of the column (together with the captain) will get destroyed before they know what`s going on, and with my regrouped forces, I will overrun the rest of the column, and start a happy head collecting. :D
3rd: So it begins!
The situation goes as planned, the enemy are in deep confusion, while my forces clash with extreme violence against their lines. They don`t form 2 paralell lines, the only thing that may save them.
4th: Slingers
Meanwhile, my support troops pepper down the already engaged enemy units.
5th: Confusion!
Some enemy units start to flee from the battlefield, increasing the already massive confusion among romanii lines.
Battle rages, the enemy vanguard is trapped, with no hope of relief, and the enemy rearguard is bogged down with my mercenaries, which are in turn suffering horrendous cassualties at the hands of samnites, principes and suport troops:
6th: An enemy move:
But lo! An enemy principe unit tries to reinforce the vanguard of the column, hoping to desestabilize my battleplan.
One of my Bataroas unit sees this threat, and charges right towards them. In addition, I order the slingers to pepper down the intruders, and the cavalry to charge against them.
The enemy principes, attacked simultaneously by slingers, cavalry and infantry, decide that`s too much and turn their backs and flee.
7th: Climax!:
My Bataroas, now freed from this task, charge against the backs of the enemy rearguard, in hope to support my fading Enoci Curoas unexperienced mercenary units.
Meanwhile, my slingers wreack havoc among enemy fleeing units.
The Bataroas clash against the enemy backs, causing a massive morale drop.
In that very minute, the enemy captain is killed:
And the enemy morale goes to hell. A mass rout occurs.
Result: Heroic victory, with an entire enemy legion destroyed, and a severe disbalance of forces in the area. The door leading to Liguria has been shattered. The country is ripe for plunder.
Aftermath:
The cassualties in my army were important, but most of them were among my Enoci Curoas, unexperienced mercenary units that held the entire enemy army while I destroyed the enemy vanguard and killed their captain. Their mission was a bloddy one, and one that hardly would have been accomplished with lesser losses. But it was most important for the outcome of the ambush.
Their cassualties are easily replaceable, but then again, losing 400 men in enemy territory is no trivial matter.
I would have payed 2 times that price for an entire enemy legion destroyed (the only true "romanii" army in the area), and for disbalancing enemy defences in the zone. All what`s left of the enemy are allied luogae warbands and some support troops.
Hope you`ve liked it. Any comments are most welcome.
Cheers!!!
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