Uses for the Triarii

[remoraptor]

I've just been playing the Julii campaign and just like any good player have been preserving my triarii and acrhers ever since I started out (am still at 260 B.C. and won't be able to produce these units for quite a while).

Am beginning to question the value of the Triarii though. I've notice they're not particulary tough in infantry vs. infantry 'cause of the spears I suppose. They're very good in dealing with cavalry but since I've been trying to preserve them I end up using the hastati all the time and they seem to do well all around with the proper handling and tactics plus the experience they get since I'm using them so much. And I'm thinking... by the time I get to use triarii a lot I'll be having a lot of principes too not to mention that the Marian Reforms might be just 'round the corner.

For spear infantry I find Merc Hoplites a lot more useful... they can form phalanx and deal with both infantry and cavalry more efficiently when properly employed.

Anyone of you guys got any better ideas on how to use the triarii? Do they end up being more useful later in the game?

[g0ra]

I am presuming you tend to actually fight the battles yourself then and not just skip them and see the results?

I'd very much prefer to use Triarii over Hoplites due to their advantage in speed. They're very good in protecting your armies/units flanks from cavalry charges and do do a very good job against cavalry, especially when employed in big numbers. I guess the best thing is to just experiment with all types of spearmen and see which suit you better.

As for further on in the campaign i'm not so sure! Sorry.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

Yeah, triarii are useful for their flexibility as spearmen. They are great against cavalry like you said, and easy to maneuvre into enemy flanks and rear, plus are easier to turn around in case your opponent tries a hammer/anvil attack (the AI occasionally does that on VH). Once you get some good experience chevrons, and weapon upgrades triarii are excellent.

[Flavius Silvanus]

I really like the Triarii but agree that one you get enough of them the Marian Reforms are right on top of you.

I would suggest keeping taxes at Very High and Unit Size on Huge. This will greatly slow your city growth, and allow you to use them longer.

[Seleucid king]

I really like the Triarii but agree that one you get enough of them the Marian Reforms are right on top of you.

I would suggest keeping taxes at Very High and Unit Size on Huge. This will greatly slow your city growth, and allow you to use them longer.

actually no. u have 2 get 2 large city fast so u can make army barracks, the building that makes Triarii. i'm in a julii campaign in 244 bc and i have at least 10 units of Triarii

[Flavius Silvanus]

actually no. u have 2 get 2 large city fast so u can make army barracks, the building that makes Triarii. i'm in a julii campaign in 244 bc and i have at least 10 units of Triarii

Sorry, I meant to say that after you get the Triarii raise taxes to slow growth. Also I play SPQR where you get the Triarii at the same time as the Principes, and much sooner than vanilla.

If you like the Triarii, I would suggest SPQR because you get them and the Principes with the Provincial Barracks. You get them when you reach Minor City in SPQR.

[hastati lord]

i dont use triarii because hastati can whether most cav attacks. i have hastati hold them in place and flank with equites. if i need spearmen i go with mercs

[War lord]

During my premarius time.I was given two Triarii.Rarly used them stuck with just Hastati and took all of europe.

[darthbane7]

Hmmm, I don't need triarii... Then some Companions come and knock that thought out. I save them up because they are SUPERIOR to the auxilia that you get later (ie., 7 atk, 17 def. to the auxilia's 5 atk, 16 def. and lower morale). During Pre-marius, I wait until I have at least 3/4 stack of triarii before moving onto legionaries. (Then again, legionaries are nearly just as good as triarii).

The downside? They come so late, the Marian Reforms are about to start when you pump out your first triarii.

[hastati lord]

lol i have nvr fought companions with rome in vanalli i always kill macedon too fast and the selucids die to eygpt

[Sextus Molestus]

I really just have them as a reserve unit in my armies. I'm pretty sure this is how the Romans actually used them; on Wikipedia there was something about "to fall upon the triarii" being a Roman expression for employing the last resort, in general. Basically, and I'm no Roman military expert, and it's been a while since I read the Wikipedia article, but I believe that the velites would move in first, chuck their spears, fall back behind the hastati, who would be supported by the principes. These two weren't as experienced as the triarii, who were veterans and typically older than the hastati and principes.

Anyway, my point is I don't really use them, unless everything goes to hell, but that doesn't really happen to me. Easy battle difficulty FTW!

[thebull0425]

Their spears work great agains elephants, at least in some of the mods I have played, I used them against elephants. Long spears work.

[Lord Feloric's Ambassador]

When playing as the Julii before the Marian Reforms, Triarii is an asset that needs to be protected carefully. Especially against Gaul's cavalry, which can flank and route units of Hastati surprisingly quickly. My Lord has found, on the higher difficulties, Gaul's cavalry will become a problem if you don't effectively use your triarii, or reach the Marian Reforms quickly.

[Flavius Silvanus]

That's why I like SPQR. You get the Triari and Principe's at the same time.

Of course, your enemies get better units sooner also.

[OccamR]

There are no uses. As soon as they arrive, they dissappear. Get the cheaper and more useful auxilia.

[Feragorn]

I agree with what most people are saying here. However, as a last resort reserve unit, they can be effective against sudden rushes by the enemy. If that doesn't work, one use for triarii is that their spears make nice toothpicks for my scythed chariot horses.

[Biao]

There are no uses. As soon as they arrive, they dissappear. Get the cheaper and more useful auxilia.

i agree

[Seleucid king]

and personally i like the post marian units. more variety and the cavalry can actually SURVIVE A CHARGE ON ARCHERS.

[aznflea]

they can survive a charge on archers without the marian reforms too

in fact, who the cant survive a charge on archers?

[Entropy Judge]

Depends on the Archers ... (Foresters, anyone?). And regarding the lateness with which one receives Triarii - you could just conquer a large city somewhere else (Carthage, Sparta, and Pergamum are ones I've found to be good) and pump that city up as quickly as you can, since only the Italian cities trigger the Reforms.