Tactics for those little gold guys with crossbow-ballista-gun things

**Julianus Flavius** · October 10, 2009, 10:07 PM

How do you use said gold guys with crossbow-ballista-gun things properly? I always seem to get charged or stuck on a wall and the unit size is soooo small that it's hard to keep them alive.
HELP please!

**Justinian Australis** · October 11, 2009, 12:52 AM

Mmmm, I've never used them before, the manuballista's or something like that...maybe have them positioned in amongst your heavy infantry? Those sorts of units have a short range so they'd get caught out easily

**julianus heraclius** · October 11, 2009, 01:58 AM

They are really mobile light artillery. They would have been used around seiges but they do have armour piercing capability so are good against heavily armoured troops but keep them well protected.

**The10thLegion** · October 11, 2009, 09:22 AM

Keep them with your emperor's army. They are kind of like floss. The infantry is your toothbrush, your archers and light troops are your toothpaste, and your arch ballistas and cavalry are your floss.

Great anologies, right?

**Gen.jamesWolfe** · October 11, 2009, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by The10thLegion

Keep them with your emperor's army. They are kind of like floss. The infantry is your toothbrush, your archers and light troops are your toothpaste, and your arch ballistas and cavalry are your floss.

Great anologies, right?

@OP: they're great agains elephants and heavily armored targets in general.

**Julianus Flavius** · October 12, 2009, 12:31 AM

Possibly behind an infantry shieldwall. They're too expensive to put in Limitaeni units, as the shieldwall will break too soon.

Do I sound intelligent

**julianus heraclius** · October 12, 2009, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by Julianus Flavius

Do I sound intelligent

You certainly do.

**SeniorBatavianHorse** · October 12, 2009, 11:53 AM

Wait, the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West was down to barbarian plaque?!?!?

**Gromovnik** · October 12, 2009, 12:55 PM

Those little fellows kill elephants? Every one of my eastern armies are getting a unit of these ASAP!

**Gen.jamesWolfe** · October 12, 2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Pannonius

Those little fellows kill elephants? Every one of my eastern armies are getting a unit of these ASAP!

not nearly as well as kurdish javelineers/exculcatores type soldiers. let's face it, fewer men, less protection, and awefully pricy for their size-I'll pass.

I preder to keep them as light artillery against heavy cavalry and infantry. and even then, Onagers do a batter job IMHO.

**Julianus Flavius** · October 13, 2009, 12:30 AM

I'm gunna test it and post the battle replay here.

**Julianus Flavius** · October 13, 2009, 12:46 AM

Attachment 58653
okey-dokey, the results are in, and they say FAIL. Two units of no-upgrade Manuballistari did nada to one unit of no-upgrade Sassanid elephants

EDIT: No they killed one elephant right near the end of the battle.

**Gromovnik** · October 13, 2009, 12:47 PM

Too bad, they look kinda cool...

**julianus heraclius** · October 13, 2009, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Gen.jamesWolfe

not nearly as well as kurdish javelineers/exculcatores type soldiers. let's face it, fewer men, less protection, and awefully pricy for their size-I'll pass.

I preder to keep them as light artillery against heavy cavalry and infantry. and even then, Onagers do a batter job IMHO.

Yeah, I have to agree with the Gen. Better to use skirmishing infantry and archers with flaming arrows to take on Elephants, but the manubalistarii are very good at taking out very heavy units.

**Gen.jamesWolfe** · October 13, 2009, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Julianus Flavius

Attachment 58653
okey-dokey, the results are in, and they say FAIL. Two units of no-upgrade Manuballistari did nada to one unit of no-upgrade Sassanid elephants

EDIT: No they killed one elephant right near the end of the battle.

as I said, the unit is too small do do too much to them. IIRC, it takes at least 2-3 of those units to make up one javlineer unit.

the only time they are effective is if you piled up a few of them against the elephants-closer to 120-150 of those buggars. as you can tell, I go man for man, not unit for unit. its more accurate that way.