Hannibal I am not...

[76mm]

Anybody else having a hard time winning as Carthaginians vs the Romans? I've had some success with most of the other nations I've tried so far, but have lost every game as Carthaginians. I'm playing at "Governor" level and while the African spearmen can hold off individual legion units, there are just too many of them to deal with. And the velites usually make short work of the Carthaginian light troops. Even the Carthaginian cavalry struggles to defeat the Roman horse. Very possible I'm doing something (or several things) wrong, but I've tried all the tricks I can think of and it is just not enough.

I seem to recall having a similar problem with the Carthaginians in FOG 1.

[stockwellpete]

I have had some success using elephants against the Romans. You have to keep them away from ammo-ed up velites though.

[hjc]

Well, I started off on the second level of difficulty against the AI. (I know, I know) I didn't lose a battle on that level, including as Carthaginians against Romans. But, as I say that's only level 2. I've changed the AI to level 3, I'm still winning, but haven't tried as Carthage, yet.

I'm hoping to find the AI level where I get an even match-up.

[76mm]

I have had some success using elephants against the Romans. You have to keep them away from ammo-ed up velites though.

Aha, haven't tried with elephants yet, generally I don't like the smelly buggers but I guess will have to rethink that if I keep trying to play Carthage.

[76mm]

I'm hoping to find the AI level where I get an even match-up.

Good luck; on Level 3 I won all my games, but on Level 4 I lose about 75% of them...just too many bad guys.

[hjc]

Good luck; on Level 3 I won all my games, but on Level 4 I lose about 75% of them...just too many bad guys.

Well. I just played as Carthage vs Rome, on level 3. I started with unfortunately letting some of my skirmishers get caught and routed. Then, the Romans managed to break two of my hoplite units on the first charge. Several roman units rallied from broken, they seem more resilient (or lucky?). I managed to stabilise things, and on the last turn the Romans were 66% routed, and I thought I had snatched a win. Then they routed a unit of mine, taking me to 60%. "Neither side has the will to carry on" - but then, the summary screen says it was a defeat.

So you're doing better than me! I think on level 4 (governor) I would have been slaughtered. I will keep grinding on level 3, I'm still learning some of the finer points of the game.

[76mm]

Several roman units rallied from broken, they seem more resilient (or lucky?).

I've noticed this as well, but I suspect it has to do with how I use (or misuse) my generals--I heave mine right into the front line, and while locked in melee I don't think that they positively influence rally attempts. Oddly enough, many of my generals die during every battle. I think I need to rethink how I deploy them...

[JaM2013]

last time i played Carthaginians, i used a lot of Iberian Scutarii and Gallic Warbands - Scutarii are especially effective, if you manage to draw Romans into rough terrain.. Elephants are a must, best probably concentrated against one portion of enemy line to gain local superiority. But infantry must follow through, otherwise Romans will surround them and wipe them out. and if you have a lot of cavalry, again, you must use it concentrated. dont lose time facing Roman cavalry, use Numidians to occupy them. Get to the rear, turn and charge home into the point where elephants are attacking...

[rbodleyscott]

Several roman units rallied from broken, they seem more resilient (or lucky?).

I've noticed this as well, but I suspect it has to do with how I use (or misuse) my generals--I heave mine right into the front line, and while locked in melee I don't think that they positively influence rally attempts. Oddly enough, many of my generals die during every battle. I think I need to rethink how I deploy them...

Higher quality units are more likely to rally from broken than average ones, because to rally the unit has to pass a cohesion test.

Generals only affect the chance of rallying if they are with the unit (in which case they greatly increase the frequency of testing - every turn instead of about one turn in 5 for routers), or if they are in close combat nearby, in which case they would add a +1 modifier when the unit does test, but ir is unlikely that a general in close combat will be close by when a routed unit tests, as they cannot test until they have routed at least once.

[hjc]

Scutarii are especially effective, if you manage to draw Romans into rough terrain.. Elephants are a must, best probably concentrated against one portion of enemy line to gain local superiority.

I've had good success with Elephants too, I make sure they're supported on both flanks by infantry. But in my last battle I didn't take Elephants - I chose the list that doesn't include any for Carthage.

Ironically I did position my hoplites so that the Romans would be on rough terrain when they attacked. It didn't work - but I think the enemy simply got two good rolls in a row - I've never seen so many casualties on an initial charge, and my men broke immediately. I still could have won the battle but for mistakes made initially, the AI punished me and strange as that sounds, I was glad it did.