Rome Total War- Battle strategies

[Epictetus]

Thanks, David, those tips you gave really helped. I'm getting much better. I've actually managed to expand some. I've made it back into Gaul via Spain, and even made it up to the Po Valley in northern Italy. I almost have all of Asia Minor too.

I still haven't been able to find a formation that seems to work semi-consistently, though. Some things seem to work very well and some don't. I'm playing as the Scipii so don't have chariots and the like.

I've been fighting one Brutti general for some time. Each battle they rout but he always manages to escape. When I send my Legionary calvary after him, they can't catch him. This has happened about three times so far. Are light skirmisher calvary and quicker?

Also, how in the world do you hit anything with heavy artillery? I invested quite a bit in them but find them useless on the battlefield. I don't think I have had a single hit so far, but the enemy seems to be a much better shot! I've tried to let it "fire at will" and then tried to aim it myself. Still no luck.