ammerghad
Legionary
posted 08 October 2007 09:13 EDT (US)
Just curious....I'm still on my first campaign as the scipii (I take my time on these things, just do it in my spare time) and my only contact with phalanx factions were against the egyptians (I made the costly-but-fun decision to take them down as early as possible) and now the greeks after I've worked my way up and around asia minor...I always thought they would be hard to fight, and in an earlier campaign (that I later quit) I sent two full stacks to greece, only to get my head handed to me on one of those pikes.
Only...in later confrontations, I've found phalanxes to be almost a minor nuisance more than a threat, and hardly a match for my praetorians. I've also found by experience and by reading here, that phalanxes are easily undone by cavalry charges to the rear/flanks, etc. It's almost like they're a waste of time.
My question then is: what are the ways that phalanx units/factions can be used effectively against enemies with cavalry superiority, or especially against the roman factions? I was considering macedon for my next campaign, and was looking for some input. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hadraf
Legionary
posted 08 October 2007 12:02
EDT (US)
2 / 10
What works for me is having long range archers (Cretan archers) behind the phalanxes plus having one or two extra phalanx a little behindon each side when the enemy tries to flank.
However, I have no idea what you can do if you are up against the late Romans with their testudo formation... maybe you can scare away their cavalry with fire arrows, then make his infantery go into testudo with your arrows, too, and then rush at them with cavalry (Macedone has decent cavalry, I believe) while they have their shields up. I have not tried that, and it requires some fine-tuning. But fire arrows against cavalry work really well.
ShieldWall
Legionary
posted 08 October 2007 12:54
EDT (US)
3 / 10
Phalanxes always work fine for me against anything. On the battlefield they're best strung out in a long line, toe to toe so they can't be attacked in the sides, and with the three units on the end of the line bending inwards away from the enemy - like a horseshoe shape. This way it's very hard for the AI to do anything other than throw it troops onto the pikes, in which case they will die, and I don't care if it's an army filled with Urban Cohorts, they will still die under AI control if you're on good ground (any kind of slope that's in your favour).
You don't have to worry about being flanked as Macedon though, their cavalry is excellent and can rout anything trying to get around the sides, though you may have problems with legionary and definitely praetorian cavalry. The big challenge is Greece, because their cavalry is total shit. So I have armies consisting of about 75% armoured hoplites, a general, a pair of Greek cavalry for emergencies or to chase down routers, an onager, and three archer units (one cretan) all in the middle of the horseshoe. The archers will take down any cavalry that comes at you and what's left will die on the phalanx. I also keep two armoured hoplites at the back in reserve, usually with their formation spread out a bit and their pikes upright so they can run, and if anything does get around the flank they can quickly move to wherever the danger is and block them off.
Have a go anyway and see how you find it. I had trouble in my first games when I didn't entirely understand how the phalanx should be used, but once you get the idea you'll see that they're pretty invincible.
ammerghad
Legionary
posted 09 October 2007 08:59
EDT (US)
6 / 10
Thanks, that helps a lot...a few of the tactics here seem designed to fool the AI into forgetting the foolhardiness of running headlong into long spearpoints....what are some tactics that can be used against more human foes wielding either cataphracts, barbarians, or the roman uber-infantry?
Smackus Maximus
Legionary
posted 10 October 2007 06:19
EDT (US)
7 / 10
Missile and archer cavalry destory Cataphracts, as they are too slow. The same goes to some extent for other heavy cavalry. Melee chariots and elephants both destroy cavalry in general.
Dark Horse Spirt
Legionary
posted 15 October 2007 10:57
EDT (US)
10 / 10
You should never foreget the your general is the most important person on that battlefeild. Many people that I have played online tend to use there general like bait and then lose the game. Some one mentioned the best way to steam role the enemy, by simply moving your scrimage line foreward a little at a time, without using the attack button. Rememeber to have your general directly behind to provide support. He does not have to fight, he just needs to be in the area to rally his troops should they begin to faulter, remember to leave your archers away from this technique as they will cause panic in your own lines if they are using fire or they will severly demorilise your advancing troops allowing the enemy to steal the day.
When fighting Phalanx myself I like to tire them out by making them chase me untill they are exhausted then hitting them with fresh units. Exhausted Phalanx fight like tired old ladies, and no rating slingers can beat on them enough to get them to route.
DHS