Training Spartans

[Reynald de Chatillon]

I've recently started a Greek Cities campaign, and was wondering what I have to do to train more Spartans. I started the game with one phalanx of Spartans, but need more to fight off Rome.

What barracks-upgrade do I need? Is the unit unique to Sparta region?

Are there any more Spartan units?

Thanks for the help.

[The Sundance Kid]

Spartan phalanxes will not become recruitable until the last stage of a barracks (I believe; maybe penultimate) and only in the Spartan region. Your best bet to hold off those pesky romans is to upgrade so you can get Armoured Hoplites (who are quite good early infantry for the Greeks) and pin their legions down, then smash their rear with Greek Cavalry -- but watch out, those phalanxes won't stand up to Roman swordsmen for long.

Be sparing with those Spartans you start with, because you won't get any more for many years. A crying shame

[LeonidasOfSparta]

They can only be built in Syracuse and Sparta with high level barracks.

[Reynald de Chatillon]

Thanks for the info. Will have to keep cavalry as the main striking arm of my forces until then.

Also, is there any hope of diplomacy with the Romans, or will they continue a war of annihilation until one of us wins? I'm not having too much trouble repulsing their sieges, and I have all of Sicily, with which I could launch a naval invasion in their soft underbelly. But is diplomacy ever possible with the Roman factions?

[NobleNick]

Thanks for the info. Will have to keep cavalry as the main striking arm of my forces until then.

Also, is there any hope of diplomacy with the Romans, or will they continue a war of annihilation until one of us wins? I'm not having too much trouble repulsing their sieges, and I have all of Sicily, with which I could launch a naval invasion in their soft underbelly. But is diplomacy ever possible with the Roman factions?

THe Greek Phalanxes make excellent defensive warriors, and reasonable offensive ones. Use them in large numbers and with cav support to avoid flanking.

There is hope in diplomacy; but not much more. Be warned that the Brutii's reason for existence is to capture the rich Greek states. One of you wins, the other dies. Do what seems appropriate to you.

I would strike at the soft Roman underbelly while it is still soft. You do not want these guys around long enough for the Marius reforms to hit.

[LeonidasOfSparta]

I would strike at the soft Roman underbelly while it is still soft. You do not want these guys around long enough for the Marius reforms to hit.

They hurt .

[LeonidasOfSparta]

Diplomacy is not...good. Its not trustworthy. Its possible but not likely.

[Cmdr_Sdxo]

Yeah, I too started the Greek campaign and I just hate that it's going to be a really,really long wait to get those Spartans... . Oh well,they're totally worth it, though. I don't think you'll get the romans to have any sort of meaningful co-operation with you. In my macedon campaing only 1 time did I ever get a ceasefire, even though I constantly bombarded them with diplomats =/.
If only Macedon accepted my peace treaty so there could be a hellenic alliance to repel the filthy Roman invaders... =/.

[Tacticalwithdrawal]

Phalanx armies can totally dominate pre-marius roman armies (and post-marius sometimes - see below). You need to create a solid line of phalanxes (4-5 men deep) at the front. Make sure you arrange them so that there are no gaps between them. Behind them put either javelin troops or (preferably) bowmen (even better, Cretan archers). Then support them with 2 cavalry (best possible) on either flank.

You must get the romans to attack you, then find a hill and sit on it. As they advance up it use your archers to kill their cavalry first, then their archers and finaly use flame arrows on their infantry.

Once they have engaged your phalanxes ride your cavalry out to either side and then charge into the rear of the roman legions, rinses and repeat and you will very quickly get a rout.

As NobleNick says, invade South of italy before Marius. Another key task is to capture Rhodes for the trade benefit.

Post-Marius try only to fight bridge battles and town battles where your phalanxes can be used to best advantage. In these cases use lots of archers with fire arrows to help.

[pwijnands]

...(even better, Cretan archers)...

I always try to get as much of these as I can, especially if your only other option is to train greek archers. You can get them in the following provinces:
Epirus, Aetolia, Attica, Peloponnesus (one every 13 - 20 turns).
Rhodos Crete Lycia Phrygia Ionia (up to two; one very 7 - 15 turns).

Only problem is you can't retrain them, but you shouldn't let them get in any form of melee combat to start with.

[Reynald de Chatillon]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

Do the Greeks get any really good melee cavalry later in the game?

[LeonidasOfSparta]

Do the Greeks get any really good melee cavalry later in the game?

No, Greek light cav is best .

[Sparta1233]

Just keep getting the Armoured Hoplites and your on your way.

[Giorgos]

The Greek faction's striking unit roster weaknesses in comparison to the Macedonian and Roman equivalents is one of the reasons why there have been so many mods around.

[spykid55]

do you think a longered speared phalanx can kill spartan hoplites

like the one in Seleucid VS Spartan?

[LeonidasOfSparta]

Nope.

[spykid55]

owwww cauz i was battling greece i was using seleucid it was hard/hard then i attacked pergamum but they put 2 troops of spartan hoplites and a whole lot of other i was using mostly silver pikemen or somethin then i was killin those spartan like nothin i had longer spear so they couldnt get me they kept on spinin around

[LeonidasOfSparta]

Singleplayer is much different then multyplayer , i dont play it much anymore.

In mp they wouldnt staand chance

[spykid55]

if i were you stick with Seleucid they have strong Cavalry,strong Melee,LOng speared Hoplites,ELEPHANTS!!!! and silver shield legionaires

[movemove]

about the pikemen defratign spartans, I was playing the siege o f spartq historicall; battle and I managed to rout a unit of spartans using 3 units of pikemen. they were on the open field outside , all you have to do is some maneuvoring and timiing just right. when a unit of my pikemen clahsed with the spartans, two other units of pikemen clashed into their flanks simultaenously. and I only lost like 15 men

one on one however, most hoplite phalanxes defeated pike phalanx. their longer spears cannot do anything in the face of higher stats

and to the OP, spartans are nice, but they are limited in training places. it may be good to have a few random spartans in some of your stacks so they can hold the center or protect a vulnerable flank. other then that, armoured hoplites are much more dependabl and readily available.