Regarding Rome / περὶ Ῥώμης

[Cipher Highwind]

Apparently while I was busy making Seleucid widows by the thousands (), the Romans consolidated in Germania and made a dash for my Balkan holdings just after I picked a fight with Egypt.

This is why one saves often.

So which units would be best to counter Rome's strong points, and which strategy would be most advisable?

[Scutarii]

Who are you playing as? Sorry if its clear, I'm a little hazy today.

[Cipher Highwind]

μεταμέλομαι σοι...forgot to mention. I'm playing as the Greek City States.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Using this strategy you cant lose.

P = Any unit that can form a phalanx
E = Elite unit(spartans, or your best unit that you can recruit)
L = Light unit
C = Cavalry
A = Archers(prefferably Cretan archers)
G = General

_ = Empty space
+ = Enemy ++++++++

___ _LPPPPPEEL
___ LL AAAA LL
___ CC__G
Let them rush you and then wheel around there flank with you cavalry and light units.

[Hurlbut]

Basically you use Phalanx as the core of your main line screened by light units and your best infantry on right side of the phalanx formation (put the phalanx unit together in deployment phase and group them, they'll form up really tightly). You put your ranged units behind the line with several more infantry (your choice) you hold in reserve. I would suggest putting all of your cavalry together and pick one side to place them, they still need to be behind the line so the opponent don't get any idea about rushing straight for them with nothing in between him and your cavalry. Once the main line has engaged, you want to have the main line moving and engage the enemy as soon as possible, you start looking for an opportunity to use your cavalry. They'll shaken up the enemy units' morale they charged at. Make sure you use the best phalangite unit as possible, sure they doesn't have much difference in attack, but better defence and quite possibly morale does count a lot. Your light troop should be greek ones with javelins.

For me, usually about 6 phalangites, 2 greek hoplites to anchor their flanks, 4 Thureophoroi/Thorakitai (2 each flanking the hoplites), 4 archer, 2 cavalry (General bodygaurd count as one), and 2 best nonphalangite infantry units in reserve (special units like the Royal Bodyguard doesn't count). If you're using Royal Bodyguard, have it replace the hoplites on the right flank. If you can get Hypaspists, get that and replace the Thereophoroi/Thorakitais, they're swordmen so they won't suffer against swordsmen as spearmen does. You have to think on that choice since the Thereo/Thora really does help to secure your flanks against cavalry attacks.

[Cipher Highwind]

I tried a variation thereof,

Basically, the enemy was divided and I had AI reinforcements, so I exploited the terrain and went through the forest: the levy and militia phalangites and the horse archers following. I then put the horses on AI control to harass any fleeing units, and focused upon dividing and surrounding the Romans (forget the unit name), and the rest fled...I'll have to start learning how to use spies to familiarize myself with the units...

It's just an iteration of 'divide and conquer' after all