blakkmantis
Legionary
posted 17 June 2009 08:37 EDT (US)
Forgive me as I'm new here, and to the game. But how does one handle the Brit Chariots? I'm in my first campaign as Julii (I think is how it's spelt) and those pesky Brits have been ripping me a new A**hole everytime I encounter them. Just last night I lost a battle where I had more than a 2 to 1 advantage in numbers but those darn chariots ran rampant on my poor romans.
Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)
posted 17 June 2009 11:35
EDT (US)
3 / 13
Hail, Noble Blakkmantis.
We too have faced troubles over those bladed wagons when commanding the House of Iulius. However, in our own meager wisdom combining with the grand wisdom found amongst our Peers, we have discerned a rather easy remedy to battlewagons.
We merely dispatch a member of our family to the land of the Greeks and have him hire a few of those sell-sword hoppylites that hang about there. If the Coming of the Great Marry Us has occurred, thou shalt also have auxilia- rather good spearmen, but incapable of the murderous phalanx.
Always ensure any warhosts of thine that operate in the vicinity of the Painted Devils from the Rainy Isles have some of these jolly fellows with them, and ther proper use will render moot thy battle-wagon problem.
Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)
posted 17 June 2009 13:30
EDT (US)
5 / 13
No worries, Lord Edorix- we did not claim that this solution was easily accomplished. We usually hire our sellswords and transport them by fleet to Patavium, and from there by foot over to Massilia. We do this as early as possible, preferably before running into the Pretani.
Tis often a viable solution for an army otherwise strapped for means to stop those rattling carts of bladed death. By no means quick or easy, but viable none the less.
Andalus
Legionary
posted 17 June 2009 17:36
EDT (US)
6 / 13
Don't forget there are also Mercenary Hoplites available in Southern Italy.
blakkmantis
Legionary
posted 17 June 2009 18:31
EDT (US)
7 / 13
First off thank you all for so much of your knowledge you shared with me here on this. I have been finding it hard to wage war vs the Spanish, Brits, and Germania all at the same time. I'm also at war with the Greeks too ATM but due to them being far enuf away, I don't have to contend with them all that much if I choose not to.
The brits and those chariots as I said above have given me the most trouble. I will do as you say and recruit more archers, and mounted spearmen. The main trouble I have been having is my casualties when fighting the brits have been high, and because I have to travel so far away to fight the dirty bastages its been hard to also fight Germania and the Spanish all at once. I got many armies marching in all different directions. Might be time tho I think to focus on one, and exterminate them off the map. Rinse and repeat.
Loving this game. Yeah I know I'm late in discovering it, as it's been out for quite some time now. To be honest this is my first strategy game. For many years now I been doing the MMORPG thing. This has been a wonderful change for me.
Cancer of the Head
Legionary
(id: say1988)
posted 17 June 2009 21:11
EDT (US)
8 / 13
Try to get Germania to focus on taking one city, my first campaign, I had a ton of trouble as Germans kept attacking different cities throughout Gaul and Northern Italy, until I took one city in Germania, then I only needed one defensive army to restrain them.
The British I drove off the continent (suffered massive casualties to chariots), then I kept a mobile army to immediately counter landings as they often came piecemeal (rarely did they land a full stack at once). At the same time I had an army North-Eastern Italy containing Greeks and Macedonians and the occasional German incursion. As these were defensive armies in cities (except vs. Britain) they were composed of lots of basic infantry and archers. These three armies held my front for nearly the entire game, as I had a fourth to conquer Iberia, Britain (freeing the one to reinforce my other defenses), then rolled through North Africa to Carthage and a fifth army (created later) pushed down Italy, Sicily, and then Greece.
Largely I just avoided any fair fights or field battles vs. anyone other than the one place (my diplomacy was non-existent so it didn't matter who they were I was at war) at a time I am trying to conquer (Iberia was a priority as it cleared a large area that needed few defenses as the Scipii were taking care of Africa).
Drakedeath
Legionary
posted 17 June 2009 22:22
EDT (US)
9 / 13
Take the thorn that is Spain out of your side first. Iberia is home to Balearic Slingers and Spanish Mercenaries. Slingers have a good angle to hit chariots, and the Spanish Mercenaries have javelins, although I can't remember if they have the bonus.
Velites, Light Auxilia, Illyrian Mercenaries, Mercenary Peltasts, and Libyan Mercenaries are also good options to fight the chariots.
Cancer of the Head
Legionary
(id: say1988)
posted 18 June 2009 09:21
EDT (US)
11 / 13
I have never found an alliance worthwhile in this game. They just attack anyways, so I rely on finding one or two places to soak up enemy attacks while invading elsewhere.
blakkmantis
Legionary
posted 18 June 2009 11:15
EDT (US)
13 / 13
Well my alliance idea worked. I had allied with Spain and Britania while I decemated Gaul, and the rebels I asked Britania to attack Germania during this time keeping their hands tied. Now I'm marching around cleaning up whats left of Germania and Britania is still fighting them.
All in all it kind of made the game easy mode thus far. I'll have a strong Britania to contend with eventually. But so far Britania hasn't broken the alliance yet, and done my evil bidding. Just thought I'd pass on that FYI.
I have to make my mind up here soon to see if I swing down into Greece to attack, or down into Spain maybe. I have been slaughtering the towns as I take them and moving on. Taxing them to death, and letting them revolt. They flip, which in turn gives me a senate mission to retake them. Which seems to be about the only way I can get the Julii to make any income to speak of, lol.