I know people on the forum say never have the AI control a supporting army with a General in a battle but in some cases I cannot see any way round this. If you just have a captain then the supporting armies units only become available when any of your units are killed or rout.
Also whilst the AI will only allow you to have 20 units under your control at a time it does not impose these restrictions on itself.
I recently fought a battle against the Egyptians, I had about 1200 men led by my best General, (another 1200 reinforcements led by a Captain as I had removed their general from the army) the Egyptians had about the same with a further 700 reinforcements. When battle commenced all 1900 Egyptian units entered the fray but I could only control my 1200, only when a unit was killed could I control another unit but they are always located at the edge of the battlefield. I lost the battle, reloaded and kept my other general in charge of the reinforcements which happened to be behind the enemy. I set up a defensive formation with cavalry protecting my flanks and archers behind my infantry. I won an heroic victory, my defensive line held and when my reinforcemnets attacked the enemy rear this caused mass panic and then I charged.
I have used this tactic a few times now, sometimes with no General in either army and sometimes with a General in both, I would say about 60% of the time I do loose the AI controlled General but as I said earlier when you are new to strategy gaming and facing a large force this is the only way to achieve victory.
I also assume you need to do this when you attack Rome as I have seen other threads stating they have used up to 4 armies to surround and attack Rome.
Also whilst the AI will only allow you to have 20 units under your control at a time it does not impose these restrictions on itself.
I recently fought a battle against the Egyptians, I had about 1200 men led by my best General, (another 1200 reinforcements led by a Captain as I had removed their general from the army) the Egyptians had about the same with a further 700 reinforcements. When battle commenced all 1900 Egyptian units entered the fray but I could only control my 1200, only when a unit was killed could I control another unit but they are always located at the edge of the battlefield. I lost the battle, reloaded and kept my other general in charge of the reinforcements which happened to be behind the enemy. I set up a defensive formation with cavalry protecting my flanks and archers behind my infantry. I won an heroic victory, my defensive line held and when my reinforcemnets attacked the enemy rear this caused mass panic and then I charged.
I have used this tactic a few times now, sometimes with no General in either army and sometimes with a General in both, I would say about 60% of the time I do loose the AI controlled General but as I said earlier when you are new to strategy gaming and facing a large force this is the only way to achieve victory.
I also assume you need to do this when you attack Rome as I have seen other threads stating they have used up to 4 armies to surround and attack Rome.