Help against the Macedonians.

[LeoDowner]

Most of you probably know about this already but theres a rather easy way to deal with the Macedonians even on the harder difficulties. Between the cities of Ratiaria and Bylazora theres a narrow mountain pass with two very steep mountains either side. Simply position your army between them and let the Macedonians come to you! When you enter the battle map you'll see some of the slopes are almost vertical, obviously you position your whole army at the top of the steepest slope and let them come to you, their whole army will be exhausted by the time they reach you and charging downhill toward an exhausted Phalanx means it will almost always break immediately and you won't have to worry about trying to get around their flanks. I also recommend hiring some of the local Rhodian Slingers or Cretan Archers and leave them on the flanks of your own army to hit the enemy in their sides when they get close to your main line.

I'm doing this at the moment with the Germans and their cool Franka Gathesaz with the 'fire at will' turned on, firing at the Macedonians down the steep slope increases their casualties, theres times I've killed 40-50% of their army from missile fire alone.

So far I've wasted 5 or 6 Macedonian full stacks with my 1 full stack and end most battles with only 2-5% casualties on my side. Now I'm ready to take their plague ridden undefended cities

[Finn]

Dirty tactics are acceptable against those dam Macedonians, keep up the good work

[Orthanner]

Actually, this is the only tactics usable when playing as Sarmatians as they have only archers and (missile) cavalry. While it's damn hard to match the Macedonians on the open-wide areas from the front, you still can outflank them using your advantage in cavalry. I train mostly Sarmatian Hippotoxotae and the stack of them enforced by two or three heavy cavalry (Katafraktoi/Basilicon Hippeis) units appears to be enough to win a battle against the equal unit (not soldier) count macedonian army.

[LeoDowner]

I don't call it dirty tactics, its using the terrain my advantage

[Megris Vernin]

I'm playing as Rome in RTR and it took me a long time to beat the Macedonians. I massed principles and would have them fire all of their projectiles into the phalanx lines, cutting them down anywhere from 5-10 percent. I would then have my principles run into the phalanx ranks and fight them at sword range, also I would usually have one or two armies go around the main battle line and strike them from behind. The fringes of the Macedonoans would slowly collapse and I would crush them from the two sides. Usually got 10-15% loss rate for each numbers. I use this same tactic against the Ptolemic empire...and can beet up to an army twice my size with 30% rate. I got 7 or so of this epic battle signs...

[Gaius Georgeus]

Hey guys, you make it all too complicated. You dont have to crush the enemy through using "terrain advantages". It´s all question of tactics. I play latest platinum RTR campaign on very hard (battles also very hard), and i have no problems...I have my little personal measure - good battle is only in case your losses are 1:10 to the enemy. And thats exactly what I am reaching.

You say "How the hell he did that?"?

Well, It´s simple, no tricks, no cheating, no not realistic waiting at the top of the mountain. Only proper warfare techniques...combining troops...In a full army, you should have a general, 3 or 4 (presuming you attack macedonias fertile lands before marian reforms) italian cavalry or equites, 8-12 principes and 4-6 triarii.

After entering battlefield, put troops into following positions: Form the line of principes. Then add the line of the same length of triarii (or available spearmen), so it copies the front of principes line (you see their spears coming out of the principes line). If you have any velites, put them into back (but i dont use them, they usually kill more of my own soldiers, than enemy). Cavalry - left and right flank, of course.

Now the battle starts. Macedonians form their usual strategy. A lot of phalangites coming and pinning your troops to the ground. But for them its quite exhausting and you have to keep the line standind, with those triarii spears they cant reach fully your lines. A few soldiers will die, stay patient. Wait for the right moment, when their left or right flank units are exhausted (at least tired) and their morale is at least steady (better shaken or worse). Strike the flanks with the cavalry. In 90 percent one or two units break. And then it goes like avalanche, now use those principes and triarii, who are now free to go, use to strike flanks of other units and then its quite easy, they will all break very easily and you storm those running cowards with cavalry.

Its easy strategy and it works very efficiently even on very hard difficulty. And its far more realistic, than climbing up Mt. Everest and waiting for somebody walking around.

Second good point against Macedonians - they have (and in the game its rare) very often their general not behind the front lines, but guarding the flank (usually right one). Well, killing general is always useful, so gather all your cavalry and send it far away to the left or right and forwards (depending on where exactly is the enemy general). Dont go to far, or you will just provoke them to storm your lines. Sooner or later, the general will move in your direction (of the cavalry). Let him go nearer and then storm him with cavalry, he usually moves slowly, so first charge will strike him hardly, its very often a decisive blow. Another advantage of this strategy is that after killing their general you have already your cavalry behind enemy lines, ready to attack their infantry from the back.

Enjoy and hail mountaineers

[LeoDowner]

That sounds like basic total war tactics to me pal, flanking and what not. I care not for realistic gameplay, I care for kicking the **** out of the Mac's with minimal losses to my own army. They have so many armies and its hard to re-train armies of your own in the area until you've at least got phase 3 auxilia to get some Thracian Infantry.