Need help with Roman campaign

[Nack]

Ok, I've been playing the GCS campaign and I'm doing good. I tried just now to start the Roman campaign, but the beggining is really difficult. I cannot, and I don't know if its just because they have better units or because I suck, but I just cannot defeat the green Greek army (the stacked one). I've tried retreating to the city, but they just go for the other city and take it easily. I've tried facing them in the field but I get owned no matter what I do. And to make things worse a few turns later (like turn 3 or 4) the independant romans come so I have to deal with them too. Any tips on how to do the beggining of this campaign?

[Unknown Soldier]

There are a few threads dealing with this - yes dude you must suck. ;-)

Sorry not really - Phyrrus' army is hard to beat but doable just move to the hill north of tarentum and he will attack - he always deploys his elephants on his left flank.

Deploy velites to your extreme right hidden in woods and ambush them hand to hand. Deploy the rest of your army uphill in quincux formation and you should just about wipe out the IGCS elite army for about 40% loss on your side.

keep your cav in reserve to cover any gaps etc. and use your slingers to take out the armoured greek cav and hoplites

Should be easy!

[Nack]

Ok, I'll try that. I was having trouble especially because the hoplites just killed my infantry easily. And yes, I must suck, I guess not playing in a while doesn't help either

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Nah you don't suck, we all have trouble with pyrrhus, but pyrrhus is nothing compared to what you will have to deal with in the form of carthage.

[Nack]

Yeah, I guess you're right. If I could choose what units to use to battle Pyrrhus I guess I could have beaten him already. Anyway, as soon as EB finishes downloading I will go try and see if I can beat Pyrrus. Also, now I'm afraid of what will I have to face when I get to north africa

[Unknown Soldier]

EB - what a nightmare - played version 1.0 last night - graphically they have ruined the campaign - its way over the top!

XGM is visually much clearer and easier on the eyes

[Nack]

Yeah, It was nice I guess but the loading times were killing me, I'll try EB out as soon as I get better hardware, but for now I'll stick with XGM. Regarding this topic, I haven't been able to defeat Pyrrhus yet Ive tried those tactics you told me (the checkered formation) and while I did kill his elephants with no problem my infantry couldn't hold against those hoplites and phalangites. I also tried going defensive splitting the troops between the 2 cities but in the southern city I got attacked with a full stack of independant romans nearly killing all my defense and in the northern city I got attacked by 2 full stacks of independant Greeks.

I think I'm going back to the GCS campaign

[Unknown Soldier]

The point is to eliminate the elephants, then withdraw.

Evacuate the city in the east leave token garrison let the Greeks take it then besiege them. If they never sally they all die easy when the siege time runs out; if they sally on last turn - numbers are reduced and you can rush the gate before they deploy to kill em piece meal as they come out.

Are you playing on Hard or Very Hard for battles?

[Nack]

Ehm... neither, I'm on medium I'll try what you just said then.

[Balikedes]

Ehm... neither, I'm on medium I'll try what you just said then.

I always get my butt kicked at the beginning of the Roman campaign too, whether on Hard or Medium...it's designed to be somewhat historical. And historically both armies lost, in a way...Pyrrhic victories all around.

[Nack]

The closest thing I got was a close defeat, but after I routed Pyrrhus just came with another stack of troops and sieged the city again. Maybe it's just because I can't handle roman troops as good as I can handle greek ones (and I'm not even too good with them). Maybe it's because I don't know roman tactics very well either. With greeks it's kinda clear... attack the other guys with pointy sticks and don't let them attack you from the sides or rear. With romans, it seems more complicated IMO.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Try using a Cannae tactict or draw your men out into a long line so that you can flank them.

[Nack]

I'll try that, thanks

[Unknown Soldier]

Yeah use a weak centre to delay the enemy pike line and two strong flank forces. In my battles Phyrrus usually dies on the end of a Triarii spear.

[Nack]

But shouldn't I put the ones that resist more hits in the middle? like triarii? and then on the sides principes and hastati?

[Celt Centurion]

But shouldn't I put the ones that resist more hits in the middle? like triarii? and then on the sides principes and hastati?

Maximus,

This will probably be quite different from everybody else's advice. Theirs is good. I may try their suggestions later.

This worked for me, and it may help you.

At the beginning of the game, you will have about twenty or so units. Withdraw most of them to Rome and have all of your other cities recruiting whatever they can.

You will lose a Southern City or two. It's ok. You will get them back.

At Rome, build a blacksmith and armorer if they are not already there.

RETRAIN EVERYBODY! Nobody goes without armor! If you still have Capua, move everybody into there afterward to upgrade their weapons and armor again. Then you will have armor as good as, possibly better than the Greeks.

Move the newer trained units into Rome for retraining, meanwhile, send your armored army to confront Phyrrus.

If he is holed up in a city, besiege him and just bide your time. That will work to your advantage.

If he is outside, put yourself on high ground and let him attack you. That will work to your advantage when the clock starts.

These tactics work well for me. The factor which will improve the odds in your favor will be the weapons and armor. Do not skimp on armor and weapons!

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion

[Balikedes]

The idea is envelopment...see Battle of Cannae, this was used against the Romans though!

If you allow the middle of their line to slowly advance, you can destroy their flanks with cavalry and elite troops. Your middle has to hold long enough for your reinforcements to arrive though, is truly a tough battle!

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Also the above tactic was used at the battle of Marathon in 480 B.C. to great effect.

[Unknown Soldier]

MT: you are fighting a pike army - they are good/deadly from the front but fall apart when hit from the sides and rear, especially if already engaged to the front. They are also slow to maneuver. All the units in your Roman army can run.

[Randal]

i usually make taking out his elephants top priority. use the skirmishers and flaming arrows against them. after that it is just all about spreading his army out. your units are faster than his pikemen so you could run around them and hit their flanks then run away and do it again and again.