Post-Marius Spearmen: Auxilia, worth the slot?

[Legionem Insanis]

Just how good are Auxilia against cavalry? Better than a legionary, pratorean or urban cohort?

If money is not a concern, would it not be better to have one of the last three even if you are up against a lot of cavalry?

[czePowerslave]

IN head on fight, mentioned infantry mostly wins They just get bonus fighting cav, while legionaries + got high att/def values so they pwn most cav easily

[Legionem Insanis]

thats what it seems like to me but most of the time i cant get them in place for a cavalry charge. you would expect them on the flanks but the brilliant AI seems content with charging, often with the general, somewhere near the center of my line.
So basically, they make an inexpensive reserve for your flanks. put a unit or two to guard your archers if you are trying to spread your dinari

[Barry]

Stupid AI, always charging Generals into your infantry. I sometimes pt units like Samnites, triari etc in the middle of my line. Just cos I know that the general is going to hit there. Easy kills.

[Legionem Insanis]

Stupid AI, always charging Generals into your infantry. I sometimes pt units like Samnites, triari etc in the middle of my line. Just cos I know that the general is going to hit there. Easy kills.

Unfortunately AI seems to like to do the same with my general when i have AI reinforcements. Runs him into everything sharp and pointy till he is dead

[QuintusJulius-Cicero]

all spearmen do well against cavalry if not charged on the flank or rear.

[Prince_of_Macedon]

If money is not a concern, would it not be better to have one of the last three even if you are up against a lot of cavalry?

If money isn't a concern, then Urbans are infinitely better than Auxilia.

But if money's an issue, then Auxilia are so-and-so support for fighting against cavalry. If I ever see Roman spearmen online (since I don't play single-player), then it's usually in the form of Triarii (which are only slightly more expensive than Auxilia). But honestly, online Roman players don't really need that kind of support since Urban Cohorts + Praetorian Cavalry + Roman Archers are already an excellent combination.

[Selifator]

And you don't really need other units.

[Double A]

other units Cohorts

[Kratos]

But how fun is it to have an army of 20 urban cohorts? Kind of ruins the fun if you ask me, there is no challenge in it. Talking single player.

[Prince_of_Macedon]

But how fun is it to have an army of 20 urban cohorts? Kind of ruins the fun if you ask me, there is no challenge in it. Talking single player.

Nobody said anything about spamming Urban Cohorts. The original question was: "Just how good are Auxilia against cavalry? Better than a legionary, pratorean or urban cohort?" He also said this: "If money is not a concern, would it not be better to have one of the last three even if you are up against a lot of cavalry?"

So, if money wasn't an issue, would you honestly rather have an Auxilia as opposed to having an Urban Cohort (if you expected some cavalry)? Auxilia can't fight other heavy infantry; so basically, if that Auxilia had somehow been able to use its cavalry bonus, then what purpose would they serve against a Bull Warrior (just for example)? So, I'd rather have an Urban than Auxilia because an Urban can fight pretty much any mainstream unit out there.

Your whole army shouldn't consist entirely of Urbans. At low denarii, you could have a few Urbans (maybe like 4-6), then a few Praetorian Cavalry (say 2-3+ minimum) and a crapload of Roman Archers. That's just an example. Nobody worth their weight in gold will spam pure-Urbans online. That said, Urban Cohort spam is certainly beatable.

[Kratos]

Nobody said anything about spamming Urban Cohorts. The original question was: "Just how good are Auxilia against cavalry? Better than a legionary, pratorean or urban cohort?" He also said this: "If money is not a concern, would it not be better to have one of the last three even if you are up against a lot of cavalry?"

My point is that it is certainly more enjoyable to use somewhat real roman legions (with auxiliary troops) instead of lots of those super units (praetorians, urbans). As always, I'm talking single player here, and I was under the impression that he was as well as he said money wasn't an issue.

So, if money wasn't an issue, would you honestly rather have an Auxilia as opposed to having an Urban Cohort (if you expected some cavalry)?

On multiplayer:No, though I've never played online so I can't really tell On single player: Yes, as it is more fun to have a couple of historically correct legions, rather than lots of elite troops.

That said, Urban Cohort spam is certainly beatable

Online I'm sure it is, but on single player an army with lots of elite units will win any battle, especially when autoresolving.

[Prince_of_Macedon]

My point is that it is certainly more enjoyable to use somewhat real roman legions (with auxiliary troops) instead of lots of those super units (praetorians, urbans). As always, I'm talking single player here, and I was under the impression that he was as well as he said money wasn't an issue.

There's actually a significant number of online players who use unlimited denarii. So money isn't always an issue online (if the host makes denarii virtually unlimited). But even at low denarii, it's still preferable to use Urban Cohorts.

Online I'm sure it is, but on single player an army with lots of elite units will win any battle, especially when autoresolving.

Actually, many online players have trouble beating Urban Cohort spam. I was simply re-assuring everyone that it can be beaten.

[piranha45]

haha, by the time you have teched long enough to get 20 urban cohorts, half the map was long since yours.

[conquestor]

I only use aux spearmen when im murdering rebel brigands or as a last resort.