Dealing with Macedonian hypaspists

[El Generalissimo]

Hello all:

I'm playing Bactria for something different. While I can demolish Seleucid stacks with ease, the Macedonian stacks often deploy 2-5 units of hypaspists on one extended flank. They sweep in on that flank, and although I can pin them down, they seem to be able to go toe-to-toe even with anything I have, even pezoi and agema in phalanx formation. Cyritian swordsmen and spearman are worthless against them, even with upgraded armor, upgraded weapons and 2-3:1 advantages.

Any suggestions on how to neutralize these uber-units, beside elephants which I currently cannot afford in sufficient numbers? My own hypaspists? Are they vulnerable to archers? I usually have a least a few units of archers in a given army and could try raining arrows on them as they advance.

[Switch]

If you're going to use arrows, hit them from behind with fire - but I seem to remember them proving resilient to even this. Generally you'll want to pin them in place, preferably with a sarissa-armed phalanx and then attack them in the rear with some more powerful units (if possible, hypaspists of your own), though even then they're toughies. Cycling charges with heavy cavalry can wear them down, but obviously all of this is difficult if they're accompanying an army of 10 phalanx units and have cavalry/missle troops of their own to boot. Basically whatever you do you're going to have a tough time of it. If they're fielding that many hypaspist units then you'll definitely need some equally capable troops of your own.

For a more indirect approach, if you try raiding Macedonian economic centres you might put a big enough hole in Macedonian funds that they find it hard to continue recruiting and maintaining large numbers of elite troops.

[pannonian]

Javelins in the back. Because their unit size is smaller, you'll kill a few of your own troops as well, but it's worth it to eliminate these stubborn buggers. When they rout, run them down with cavalry and missiles - don't let them regroup without having first severely damaged them.

[El Generalissimo]

I currently have a city and a fort under siege by Macedonian stacks. The fort's forces will have to sally soon and I'll try to use the structure to protect a flank. Switch, I have 5 arrow units in that stack and will concentrate on whittling down the hypaspists with fire arrows before engaging them with a combination of phalanx and Cyritian units.

I'll try the combination of javelin skirmishers and pinning forces recommended by Pannonian after recruiting more of those units. Right now I'm focusing on spending my funds on my own hypaspists and hopefully an elephant or two. I'm sure the Macedon AI will continue to provide opportunities to try out different tactics.

As Rome, the amphibious assault of the Macedonian controlled Greek Cities gutted their economy so badly they could only field weak units and greatly reduced stacks, making them relatively easy to defeat. As Bactria, being far from Macedon's economic centers removes that strategic option. My strategy is to drive through Seleucid territory to the Mediterranean for the economic advantages, then field units more capable of dealing with Macedon, a.k.a elephants.

Thank you for the suggestions. I look forward to trying them out.

p.s. I had the most enjoyable time last night rolling down the length of a pinned Seleucid phalanx line with a unit of elephants and watching them rout one after another.

[Switch]

I currently have a city and a fort under siege by Macedonian stacks. The fort's forces will have to sally soon and I'll try to use the structure to protect a flank. Switch, I have 5 arrow units in that stack and will concentrate on whittling down the hypaspists with fire arrows before engaging them with a combination of phalanx and Cyritian units.

The arrows will only do any good if they're thumping into the backs of the Hypaspists, otherwise they'll just ping off ineffectually. Though javelins, as Pannonian said, pack more punch than arrows.

p.s. I had the most enjoyable time last night rolling down the length of a pinned Seleucid phalanx line with a unit of elephants and watching them rout one after another.

Always glorious .

[hungry]

If you can get some thracian light cavalry, they are preferable to foot javelins in field battles. They are highly mobile javelin armed horsemen with okay missile protection, are relatively cheap, and are available as mercenaries in Nicomedia/Bithynia. They can kill hypaspistai before they even reach your infantry line. Best to team them up with another mobile unit so that you can get rear shots. Thracian heavy cavalry are also good. Both units are eventually retrainable.

[TibDrusus]

F-ing Thracians

[LordSimpkins]

F-ing Thracians

Hey hey, thracians are best! Their infantry rules!

[DarthLazy]

Does Bactria have Hypasits??

If so;

Counter them with your own. Put htem in a think line and hit them in the rear with cav. Macedonian stacks usually dont have much cav (at least for me) so it should be easy.

If not;

Put phalangites in a thin line and win with the cav. Use agema if possible. If your elites are outnumbered; use loose formation.

I have the same dilemma as Carthage.

I solved the problem with 1 sacred band and a few libys. though they dont win they can hold till the cav comes.

AS for your campaign; you should push for making a navy; a strike at the macedonian heatland cuts off theyre blood supply. Your target should be greece. If you have plagued Spies; use them to create a never ending plague and make trade non existent

[DarthLazy]

accidental double post