Slave war problems again

[quintusvarus]

Sorry to be such a wimp guys, but I could do with some help on the final slave battle. As I have said before I have been trying to play the game with some sort of historical relevance in the unit types. As a consequence I only have 4 units of Principi (22, 21, 19, 18)and two militia (25 & 22)with high values amongst my infantry, the remainder are auxilia 4 units at 10 or less, 3 Praetorians all at 5, 4 legionaries at 8,7,6 & 5, and 3 velites at 13, and two auxiliary archers at 8 & 9; Cavalry are 2 scouts at 13, 1 nobles at 15 and 2auxiliary cavalry at 16 & 13. I have tried all sorts of mixes and tactics with these, but I still can't cope with the kill rate I am suffering. What is particularly galling is that the high value principi units seem to have little impact even in a two to one ratio on the slave elite units despite being 6 or more points more powerful than them as individual units. I really don't want to have to go back half the campaign a third time!

[tora_tora_tora]

Hi QuintusVarus, I'm tora from far east. Never expect to see real Romans on the net!

And here is the army compostion mentioned

Heavy infantry
4 Principi lv.22, 21, 19, 18
3 Praetorians lv.5, 4
4 Legionaries lv.8,7,6, 5

Skirmisher
3 Velites lv.13, 13, 13

Light Infantry
2 Militia lv.25, 22
4 Auxilia lv.10 or less

Archers
2 Auxiliary Archers lv.8,9

Cavalry
2 scouts lv.13
1 nobles lv.15
2 Auxiliary Cavalry lv.16, 13

Frankly, I've never employed such huge army, so my advice is not useful, though in case it might help.
1
line Velites behind principi, Principi's formation should be ordered and offensive.
2
mass all cavalry and outfrank to attack enemy's skirmishers and archers, I guess at first need to know how CPUs employ their units,
where their directions, and after watching this, at deployment screen, setting by-way points send the cavalry behind enemy lines.
3
if you have extra denariis, why not save data first, and buy weapons and armors for principis. As weapons give troops extra 5 damages,
it sometimes makes differences.

[quintusvarus]

Thanks Tora_Tora_Tora. Sorry I wasn't clear in my first post. The scenario only allows twelve units. At my last attempt I arranged the 4 principi in front. The two outer units as wedges with the militia forming the rear flanks around 2 velite and two archer units and the general. These attacked straight up the middle, whilst a cavalry unit flanked the battle and took out the slave skirmishers. Tactically it worked well, but it still lost because my casualty rate seened inordinately high, and certain slave units seemed amazingly tough!

[anguille]

What level are you playing? i played the entire campaign on hard but this scenario i had to go to normal and even then it was difficult.
I did the same with my cavalery to catch the skirmishers.
On the right side i had 1 anti-cavalery units set on fast forward. Then, from left to right, best heavy infantery to deal with his, second heavy infantery to deal with the light infantery next. Then alternatively light infantery and heavy infantery backed up by 2 archer companies...

Using your values i'll show you how i would do it.

extreme far right auxiliary cavalry 16
far right Nobles: 15

Principi19 Principi 18 legionaries 8 militia 22 legionaries 7 militia 25 Principi 21 Principi 22

two auxiliary archers at 8 & 9

Be sure that the infantery and the archers on the right side do not attack the enemy cavalery but the incoming infantery. The Nobles should manage the enemy cavalery imho.

Cheers

[quintusvarus]

Thanks Anguille, but I'm afraid that didn't work. I have given up backtracked and am retaining high value Triari to address the problem and enhancing every unit's equipment. I'll let you all know how it goes.

[quintusvarus]

Sorted. I retained my high value Principi in the front with a narrow column attack, flanking with high value Triarii, and backing these with two units of archers. All focused on a left field attack, with one cavalry unit on the extreme right dealling with the enemy skirmishers. The Triarii held of the enemy cavalry and light troops long enough for the principi to deal with the high value enemy right flank, and then swing around and out flank the enemy. All the while the archers concentrated their fire on the enemy.