Hi newbie question:
So I just got the game, started the 7 hills (early Rome) campaign.
Rome starts with a Greek style Hoplite army; I had no issues beating the 1st battle against Samnites
Then 2nd battle is against the Gauls; so my army is basically Citizen Hoplites with a few slingers/ spearmen, a few good armored hoplites and maybe one cavalry.
Enemy has roughly the same numbers, but Warbands; lots of warbands and chariots
End results so far is that my army is always massacred, Warbands defeat Hoplites in good terrain, in bad terrain, in offense, in defense, not even the supposedly good "armored" Hoplite units survive
running out of ideas... I wish I had some Italian Foot, or something equivalent that is more mobile so I can attempt flanking
Newbie question: Hoplites massacred by Warbands
Re: Newbie question: Hoplites massacred by Warbands
Warbands vs hoplites comes down to whether the hoplites survive impact or not and then whether or not the warbands lose in melee quickly enough before the hoplites get worn down. It can be a rather unforgiving match-up, especially since hoplites are usually cheaper than their opposing warbands and thus can come to the battlefield in greater numbers. If this scenario has the warbands in equal numbers to the hoplites, you're in for a tough fight. The two ways I know to defeat a warband army with hoplites are:
1: Out-extend their line and get them from the flank with cavalry or manoeuvrable hoplites.
2: Keep units in reserve and hit the warbands in the flank as they break through. (This requires good positioning and a bit of luck as the hoplites have to hold fast long enough to be pushed back).
The problem is the Gauls have good cavalry and, at this point in history, chariots too. This means that if anything, the Romans, with their weak cavalry, are the ones who are in trouble. This means that tactic 2 is the more plausible strategy, though having a long battle line can at least help keep the pesky horsemen at bay.
The formation I use when I'm short on cavalry is to match my opponent's infantry line, and then have a mix of very cheap infantry and cavalry mixed in a 1:1 ratio to each other on the flanks. The infantry will block part of the enemy's cavalry, letting the outnumbered cavalry battle their opposing numbers on a cost-effective basis. As for the infantry battle, one tactic you could try is the weighted flank. Put all your best infantry and your cavalry on one wing, reinforce it with some hoplites in reserve, and place your weakest units on your right with the intention of slowly pulling them back and away from the enemy army as they advance. You basically want to overwhelm the enemy facing your strongest forces quickly, while avoiding contact with your weakest until the last possible moment; ideally, you will have won the battle without fighting with them at all.
Bear in mind this doesn't mean you can abandon the field with your weaker side. If your weaker units leave the flank of the stronger units open, the AI will probably just swing around and hit your stronger units in the flank. I tend to fall back on the weaker side in a 'step' formation, with my weak units facing at 235 degrees to the part of my line with the stronger units. This step formation allows the weaker units to continue to guard the flanks while giving dramatically more time for all the weak units to be caught and engaged by the enemy. It usually gives my men enough time to get the job done and turn around to help.
I hope this helps.
1: Out-extend their line and get them from the flank with cavalry or manoeuvrable hoplites.
2: Keep units in reserve and hit the warbands in the flank as they break through. (This requires good positioning and a bit of luck as the hoplites have to hold fast long enough to be pushed back).
The problem is the Gauls have good cavalry and, at this point in history, chariots too. This means that if anything, the Romans, with their weak cavalry, are the ones who are in trouble. This means that tactic 2 is the more plausible strategy, though having a long battle line can at least help keep the pesky horsemen at bay.
The formation I use when I'm short on cavalry is to match my opponent's infantry line, and then have a mix of very cheap infantry and cavalry mixed in a 1:1 ratio to each other on the flanks. The infantry will block part of the enemy's cavalry, letting the outnumbered cavalry battle their opposing numbers on a cost-effective basis. As for the infantry battle, one tactic you could try is the weighted flank. Put all your best infantry and your cavalry on one wing, reinforce it with some hoplites in reserve, and place your weakest units on your right with the intention of slowly pulling them back and away from the enemy army as they advance. You basically want to overwhelm the enemy facing your strongest forces quickly, while avoiding contact with your weakest until the last possible moment; ideally, you will have won the battle without fighting with them at all.
Bear in mind this doesn't mean you can abandon the field with your weaker side. If your weaker units leave the flank of the stronger units open, the AI will probably just swing around and hit your stronger units in the flank. I tend to fall back on the weaker side in a 'step' formation, with my weak units facing at 235 degrees to the part of my line with the stronger units. This step formation allows the weaker units to continue to guard the flanks while giving dramatically more time for all the weak units to be caught and engaged by the enemy. It usually gives my men enough time to get the job done and turn around to help.
I hope this helps.
Re: Newbie question: Hoplites massacred by Warbands
Thanks a lot!
I was able to win, with heavy losses
I did something equivalent to option 1)
I had a longer line (2-unit deep), his main effort was against my right wing, so I enveloped from the left; I was lucky he only brought 2 chariots, which I somehow managed to control with my noble cavalry and 3 javelinmen
I was lucky somehow my center survived the early onslaught, my right wing was destroyed of course, but by that time I was already winning in the center and left
Ended up with 32% loses to 62% Gaul
I was able to win, with heavy losses
I did something equivalent to option 1)
I had a longer line (2-unit deep), his main effort was against my right wing, so I enveloped from the left; I was lucky he only brought 2 chariots, which I somehow managed to control with my noble cavalry and 3 javelinmen
I was lucky somehow my center survived the early onslaught, my right wing was destroyed of course, but by that time I was already winning in the center and left
Ended up with 32% loses to 62% Gaul