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Rome Total War- Battle strategies
I know this is an old thread but for anyone looking, I am mainly on the defensive with Hoplites.

The Greek faction-(vanilla RTW)

-I draw my line and place all skirmishers and archers in the rear in that order.
-The peltasts I set to hold formation (hiding as often as possible) and fire at will.
-My archers (usually hidden and stationary as well) will snipe the general in most cases but often are set to rain fire down into the ranks.
-I like fear as a tactic so I am often trying to wear them out before the clash by taking the high ground initially and being patient.
-If I have cavalry I hide them as well and use the spear cavalry to hammer and chase and the javelin cavalry to disrupt. -Cavalry archers are the bodyguards of my general when necessary and I have great luck with 2 units of archers and 1 unit of general.
-Mercenaries are usually on site if I need them (Cav Archers,Hoplites,Cretan Archers,Rhodian Slingers)
-The basic group I have for every city is in levels according to size of city.
4 units militia hoplites/2 units peltasts/1 unit cavalry/2 units
2 units hoplites/2 units militia hoplites/1 unit cavalry/2 units missle cavalry
1 unit armored hoplites/2 units hoplites/2 units militia hoplites/1 unit cavalry/2 units missle cavalry

-This recipe allows me to easily jump from city to city to get a force to the enemy.
-I usually make a fort between long stretches to keep mercenaries.
-I take the islands first and get them under my control then I have naval. ( Quinquireme, Trireme, 3 Bireme, Trireme, Quinquireme )
- Whenever possible I replace the Greek Archers with Cretan Archers(longer range) and use the slingers to ambush.

In the cities-

-The inverted wedge in the city streets destroys.
-I do not bother defending walls because walls are supposed to defend people.
-The army that lays siege to my town will die tired and scared. They have to take the walls and march all the way through the city just to be met by a very patient group of defenders.
-The proceedings start with arrows, then javelins, and finally the phalanx. At this point if you have cavalry; roll up from behind. The AI is a little wanting but so is the intelligence of some real life generals.
-If you station some archers or peltasts out of the way on the wall the enemy goes right by you underneath. Wait for the general to enter then lock them in. Be careful they will fight to the last man so be confident you can beat them(unless they sapped the wall). They will not rout. Retake towers to maximize lethality of your walls. Viola or Eureka if it fits better. One dead invading force.

At a bridge-
-A concave arch of Phalanx facing the Bridge. Archers and peltasts behind (fire at will/use fire). Send in the cavalry when best and the bridge is yours. Onagers help especially in the bottleneck put those on fire mode and the army will likely not even connect with you.
-If you have a couple of extra units position on the flanks and set your Hoplites deeper back. Turn off guard mode of all Infantry when the time is right and they will close the bridge.

In the woods-
-Hide everyone; take the hoplites out of phalanx mode and they hide. Position General to the far rear. When the enemy gets close; turn on Phalanx. Having 320 hoplites pop out of nowhere is disconcerting. Strike it while it's hot from the sides or rear and they rout.

Defending Provinces-
-I have a standardized medium force in each town/city to basically play leap frog to each city outwards.
-In the forts with mercenaries I station catapults which are usually on long stretches of road or on the border.
-Since my original cities tend to have larger populations I am able to draw troops quite regularly.
-I tend to guard at bridges more than open land but if I have to prefer ambush tactics or take the high ground

Miscellaneous Tips & Tricks-
-When in the clash with Hoplites against foe; raise your spears and let them get closer then drop them again.
-The box formation is something useful in wide open spaces; try to clash with the stronger soldiers in front while sweeping the weaker ones in from the sides. Keep your archers in the center.
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
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Personally I've noticed that many factions have tactics hardwired based on their culture. For example, when I fight the Guals or Britons, Celtic sense of Honour and Heroism influences their tactics. they will litteraly sit and wait while I decide the best way to smash them to a pulp, all the while bnging shields and taunting me. If I have longer range missile infantry than they do, they do nothing! If it is the same range, their skirmishers don't even fire back! Most of the army is dead before the main assult even starts. Sadly though, I have never taken Rome. The people like everyone equally, no matter how well I fight, and the Senate likes me too much to declare me an outlaw.

Also maybe we should move on to BI. Barbarian Invasion, because of the new super-barbarians and much improved cavalry, is a whole different ball game, not to mention semi-civilised barbarians and the Romano-British with their elite knights. I love those knights.... 8) Even check my name! I am a total Romano-British fan.
Nicholas
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Definitely noticed the name! I am playing BI right now as the Saxons...Sorry!!! :wink:
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Reply
I play RTR Anabasis and to avoid hammer and anvil tactic against my phalanx I use troops to cover the flanks, hispapistai in my royal armies. I campaign armies I use mercenary hoplites usually, and I use my hetairoi chivalry to envolve those who wanted to envolve me. Once solved this problem I can apply same tactic against them Big Grin

How do you organise your territories? In mine, I use something similar as in the late roman empire, I have found it very usefull, but loosing a battle means a total disaster. I have very little garrisons in cities, only generals and maybe one or two basic troops, and in a territory that includes around 5-6 cities I build a fort, with a macedonian royal army, plenty of elite units, and artillery. in the frotiers I build small forts covering all rivers, bridges, mountain passes, etc, with some local units recruited to defend and resist time enough to let the royal army go there and smash my enemies. If the territory is huge, appart of the royal army there are other complete armies in strategical positions with all members (except one unit) recruited from local troops. For example, in Greece I had a royal army in a camp near Pella, and covered all north and south Macedonia, Epiro, and east part of balcans. South of Greece was covered by other greek army, but not a royal army.
Javier Sanchez

"A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient"
[Image: 76946975ce3.png]
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Curse you vile Saexe! My knights will grind your shield wall into a pulp! :lol: Pardon the outburst.

Personally, when I have numerous Phalenxes against a stretched out enemy I use the arrowhead formation. This not only forces the enemy to reasses my lines, but it also gives my archers and skirmishers time to pick off anyone trying to skirt around back. And if they get past that there's always some lovely spear armed greek cavalry waiting for them :wink: I don't even really have to do much in terms of advancing, just let the enemy run away from the arrowhead formation, and then stop the units once they have formed a line. Auto formations! Cool isn't it? I have a late Roman policy for garrisons too. But mine is modified. The border citis have powerful garrisons and the central cities, the rich ones, just churn out elite troops. As the Franks I am currently patrolling most of Gaul and Germany with a single army comprising of a Gerneral, eleven units of silver everything Paldains, five units of hunters, and a unit of levy spearmen. Oh, and two units of Onagers. I do the same with the Allemani, just replace Paladins with Brungundi Lancers and hunters with Chosen Archers. No one dares enter my lands because my field army is never far behind. Even the Western Romans like me. Almost every Germanic faction pays me tribute and all Europe trembles at my passing! I am building another two of these forces. One to take the rest of Gaul, and one to guards the home front. The elites go straight to Italy. My Silver Alae (That's what I call my elite cavalry until they gain more exp) will crush all of Rome into the dust!

Have fun trying to overrun the British, Saexe scum.
Nicholas
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I own Ireland, England, Espagne, Gaul, Germania, Northern Italy, Caralis, Sicily, and Carthage. I took Londinium then the Romano-British popped up. I retreated my army to Eboracum and they foolishly took Londinium thereby losing most of their Horde. Then I retook Londinium. They Almost got me. If it wasn't for my ships they would have. 8)
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
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Quote:They Almost got me. If it wasn't for my ships they would have. 8)
Cheat and use elephants. My Sassanid Persian army took Londinium ages ago. I rule the known world. Only a small village in Scotland holds out against my forces...
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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I retook Londinium in the next few turns I had to retrain. Sassanids... Really!!! Dal Raida is up there! Saxons aren't really knowledgeable on Elephants. If I could recruit Bears that would be interesting.
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Reply
Welcome to the "Octagon of Doom". When you add " of Doom' to something it has a certain appeal, No?

My invading troops carry siege weaponry with them to immediately take the city. Phalanx on a road is quite successful. I just wheel around to a part of the wall that is not guarded and gain entry.
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Reply
hey! I used something similar to it playing with the invasio barbarorum flagellum dei mod, with late romans... Is the only thing I could do when fighting against huns. My army was just infantry, I had no cavalry... so.. wait and stand till the enemy retreat!
Javier Sanchez

"A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient"
[Image: 76946975ce3.png]
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People love me now! I'm playing as the Julii and my leader is Decimus Polibyus, but now he has a new name due to his many blood drenched, barbarian blood drenched, campaigns. Decimus the Killer. I am on the verge of controling northern Europe, the Britons and the Germans exist mearly for me to exploit, the people of Pontus bow to my will, and Parthia is outliving its usefulness. Oh, and Spain soon lives, so long as it keeps gold coming my way and wagging its tongue in anger at my enemies :twisted:

The reason for my sucess? A mercenary supportred legion. My core is three units of mercenary hoplites, supported by one Praetorian cohort. These men are given missile support by a singular Creatan archer unit and several Peltast units. I have my leader and his guard who are supported by two alae of Sarmatians who are in turn supported by five Scythian horse-archers. I've taken, what? fifteen casualties a battle, spread far and wide across the units, and those casualties are easily replaced. The people love my defeating of the barbarians far from my heartlands but the Senate doesn't approve of my mercenary task force I call, Greek Fire and Barbarian Steel. Together, they form a sword blade strong enough to take all comers. Also I am building two legions made entirely of family members, Praetorian Cavalry and Cohorts, and Urban Cohorts. These are on my Italian border and stand ready to sweep south and conquer Roma.
Nicholas
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I have to have those lovely Hoplite mercenaries when playing as the Romans. The Cretan Archers are awesome for range. I plant a fort in the area (with a young up and coming general) so I can recruit these units and constantly replenish the numbers. 2 units of mercenary hoplites, 2 units of mercenary peltasts and 1 unit of Cretan archers makes my ranger force as they all wear green. I also use them to hold bridges.
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Reply
Quote:I still have problems keeping things orderly, though. My battles tend to end up being disorganised messes with units running back and forth all over the screen. Very chaotic.

This is my main problem too! :oops:

When fighting barbarians I tend to just charge using several generals and lots of cavalry, and back their charge up with a couple of units of legionaries or mercenary infantry.

When fighting Hellenistic factions I do the same, just the initial charge is my best infantry, and I hold the cavalry in reserve. Or I try to bring the cavalry around to hit the enemy in the rear, though that never seems to work Cry
Jaida :-) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" title="Smile" />:-)
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Choose your terrain! Either ambush or high ground all you do is wait. Your enemy will come to you usually. Your general or skirmishers can lead the opposing force into the desired position. I like to get them within range of my archers and peel off with cavalry to give them a rest.
Anyways here is a little project I did.
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
Reply
It's been a while since I've played RTR, butit appears there are morecities in RS,
also you can recruit generals and govenors, with out having to rely on the family all the time! One downside is that not every city has fuctioning armouries, so, while you ca nrecruit in all cities, to upgrade kit, you have to send them to the relevant cities with armouries. Just adds a new element to the game, stops it getting too stale! Smile
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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