[TW Guide] RTW: Iberians

[Garbarsardar]

Author: WILHELM_II
Original Thread: Not Available

RTW: Iberians

Iberians


Overview

- Spain begins with one of the largest beginning armies... You have a large amount of Skirmishers in Scallabis, some Cavalry in Osca, a normal garrison in Carthago Nova, and a force containing 2 Scutarii and some cavalry in Asturica. 3 Towns are walled, Osca is unwalled, but has a strong garrison, to balance things. There are some bribeable Rebel armies near Numantia and Asturica. Bribe these to gain Iberian Infantry early on.

- Spain generally has large revenues in their towns. All towns have such a high public order, that you can put every town on "Very High Tax Rate"... you should really do this... With barbarians growth is not as important as with non-barbarian factions, as barbarians can only achieve the 3rd level of town. So take it easy with growth, and concentrate on money first

- Spain has a Carthaginian based army, with 2 unique units, and 1 barbarian unit. They have Scutarii, basically the type of soldiers the Romans based historically their warfare on, so, strong unit. They also have Bull Warriors, excessively strong for a normal infantry unit, use this one too. They also have Naked Fanatics, but I don't advise using these, they really cost too much in comparison to their strength, they have high attack, yes, but one spear, arrow or stone on their heads and they die... leave these out. We all know about Carthaginian units, quite useful troops, use them.

Campaigning

A campaign strategy as Spain is always difficult, to make it more easy, make sure you have a good starting base, from which you can expand later. When the game starts, build in all towns Traders or Land Clearance. Wait for two turns, and build the other. Within four turns, all your towns have a Trader, and Land Clearance. After this build roads, and build in Osca, Carthago Nova and Asturica Town Militia, and in Scallabis a unit of Peasants. now your 6th turn comes, time to make a move. Move all your troops near the Gaul town, except Town Militia and Peasants, let your Diplomat bribe the Rebel armies. Bribing them gives you four Iberian Infantry, and one unit of Peasants. Put the Iberian Infantry in your main army, put the Peasant in Scallabis. Lay siege to the Gaul town. If they attack, crush them, even on H/H, your troops are stronger and better, so... expect no trouble. In the meantime, build in Carthago Nova, Scallabis and Osca shrines to Epona. In Asturica a shrine to Esus, so you can build Bull Warriors later on. Begin preparing a force to attack the Carthaginian town (Corduba) but don't attack until you have siezed the Gaul town. When you have it, occupy it. Same with Carthaginian. If they have moved their troops out of the town, bribe them. Don't worry about money, around the 7th turn you will already have about 20000 denarii on H/H. So you sohuld have some more when you attack Carthage (about the 15th turn or so) Also occupy this one. Keep expanding your towns in the meantime, remember : economy first, then Shrines, then Tavern (Public Order building), then Military, then Armory/Blacksmith, then walls. That is the best build order (generally) for Spain. When you have a basic economy, quite a bulk of units, let them guard the passages from Gaul. Capture Palma to increase Sea trade, as your Sea Trade will soon become very important. Keep building towards the highest level of town. Dump a small force near Tingi, but don't attack yet. Do the same with Narbo Martius. (Do this when you have nearly fully built each town) When each Town you posess is fully built, attack Narbo Martius and Tingi. Dump a small force in Caralis and Syracuse. Don't attack yet. When you have Narbo Martius and Tingi, Capture Massilia, Cirta and Caralis. When you have those, prepare to attack Carthage, Thapsus and the Syracusian (sp?) towns. Make a excessively large force of Scutarii and Bull Warriors, especially near Carthage. Capture Carthage Thapsus and all Syracusian (sp?) towns. Now you have your basic Mediterranean sea trade. Keep expanding further and further, and you should have no trouble, as all your cities will bring in huge amounts of money, and your Bull Warriors will simply crush anything they run into.

Spanish Armies

Spain has, surprisingly, a huge choice of making armies. Their units form good combinations with eachother, becouse they are all of similar strength. Except Bull Warriors, but these units are quite exceptional. So... what should your regular Spanish army look like? Here are some good choices :

Early stage Army

5 Iberian Infantry
7 Skirmishers
4 Round Shield Cavalry

Middle (expansion) stage Army

5 Scutarii
5 Iberian Infantry
5 Skirmishers
5 Round Shield Cavalry

Late (conquest) stage Army

7 Bull Warriors
5 Scutarii
4 Slingers
4 Long Shield Cavalry

These armies perform very well, in each stage, you may use your own strategies, as Spanish warfare has a huge variety of strategies. Just make sure your main Infantry units always stick together and all will be fine.

ROMANS!!! ARGH!!!

One of the biggest Spanish problems are the Romans. Many people seem to be having trouble killing the Brutii in later stages... The Roman's weakness is their back. By the time you start killing Romans you will have Lonng Shield Cavalry and Bull Warriors. Use your Bull Warriors to crash into Roman troops, and let your Long Shield Cavalry charge from the back, and all will be fine. Let your Bull Warriors finish off the Cavalry too (A Bull Warrior unit can kill a Praetorian Cavalry unit head on on Hard setting... take advantage of this) Just let your Bulls take care of everything and use your Long Shield Cavalry as support, and let your Slingers take care of Archers.

Your Scutarii are a good counter for the Romans Pila throwing units. Let your Scutarii do the same to them, and Crash your Bulls in, that works well against the stronger (Marian) Roman troops.