Praises and Question

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

Hello everybody, I'm the new guy in the beta-testing forum. I have just DL'd the beta, the patch and the music soundmod. I haven't had too much time to check it out but what I have seen so far is OMG, FREAKING AWSOME! I've been reading in the public forum on how cool RS2 will be and all that stuff, but one thing is to hear about it and completely another to see it. You guys (the team) have achieved something really spectacular. My most sincere admiration and respect go to your work. The new units and the battle environment are amazing. The only thing that I have heard of the new music so far is the main menu theme and I love the feeling of 'uncertainty' that brings with it. RS was really cool before, but RS2 will be something else. Congratulations to the team for such an exhibition of talents and skills.
Now, about the beta testing, I was planning to fight some custom battles to get the feeling of what RS2 will offer (and because I'm dying to see all of the new units in their whole splendour ), and then start with the testing strictly speaking. So, my question is: What do you want me to do exactly? Is there anything in particular that you want me to test? Just tell me how I can be useful to you guys.

[Lü Bu]

Welcome

[tone]

First of all, welcome and thanks for the appreciative words. It's always reassuring to hear stuff like this from someone who's fresh to the mod.

What faction are you used to playing normally in RTW?

[apple]

It would be good to have someone play as the Gallaecians (the spaniards). Checking all the mercs in that area and also how the nearby Celtic nations behave.

[tone]

Gallaecians

or else Seleucids / Ptolemies

I'm planning on a stat update hopefully tonight or tomorrow though.

[King Nud]

I could use some help with the Seluecids, I'm away for 2 weeks in 2 weeks' time, so any help would be appreciated. They're a monster faction to get through too.

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

I usually played Rome, but since you seem to need someone to play Gallaecians, Seleucids or Ptolemies, I'm more than willing to give any of those a try.

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

Hey gentlemen, I was hoping you could help me with something else: Could you give me tips on how I can get a better use of phalanx-style armies? I'm going to test the Ptolemies but, to be totally honest, I have always played against phalanxes but never with them. I've been playing with them in custom battles, so I can get used to this kind od troops and guess I'm doing a so-so job (I have won some battles and lost others). To me, it turns very complicated to keep them from breaking their line when attacking, and my understanding is that it is very crucial if using this fighting style. Please, treat me like a complete noob on this subject, since I have never lead a phalnx-army before.

[torzsoktamas]

Hey gentlemen, I was hoping you could help me with something else: Could you give me tips on how I can get a better use of phalanx-style armies? I'm going to test the Ptolemies but, to be totally honest, I have always played against phalanxes but never with them. I've been playing with them in custom battles, so I can get used to this kind od troops and guess I'm doing a so-so job (I have won some battles and lost others). To me, it turns very complicated to keep them from breaking their line when attacking, and my understanding is that it is very crucial if using this fighting style. Please, treat me like a complete noob on this subject, since I have never lead a phalnx-army before.

Well actually defending is easy:Make sure that you always have some peltasts or archers in your armies,and other nonfalanx infantry for protecting the falanx in the flanks.And I suggest that having a maximum of 6-8 phalanxes and minimum of 3-4 cavalry.Put the phalanxes in the center,and make sure that their formation is deep enough even if its aint that long,so it will not brake easely.The archers and/or the peltasts(the PSILOI) should be in front of the phalanxes to engage the enemy and to make them to chase this units, so he will meat you phalanxes and you will defeat him(this is a good way to kill his cavalry even if you don't have a phalanx based army).Don't attack with the other nonfalanx infantrys,keep them at the flanks to protect you phalanx units.Use you cavalry to chase the enemy archer and for hiting the enemy in the flanks or rear.

Attacking is harder but most times you can make them attack you by engagin them with the psiloi and making the enemy to attack you,and at this time you are defending and use the above tactic.If the enemy won't attack you than you can try to ged close to the enemy by sending the centre(phalanx) and the flank guards near the enemy(not attacking them).Then you can atack the enemy flan with your flank guards and then he will respond by attacking you(phalanxes too).Another tactic is to deactivate the phalanx formation,whait untill the enemy is close and then lower the pikes,..he wont retreat and will attack you phalanxes.

Hope it helps.

[tone]

Good question,
I've not played a serious campaign ever using a phalanx based army.
You might be better off testing another faction TBH, as you'll probably know more what to expect if you go with one that you've used before...or one similar to one you've used before. What are you most experienced with? Rome? We need someone to start testing them......or another one of the factions really.

[tone]

Basically the way the phalanxes are set up statwise is that they should beat most things head on but are much much weaker if caught from behind or the flanks where they have to use their secondary weapons.

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

Thank you both for your tips.
@ tone
I'm very used to play with Rome, so I can build their empire before I have to save it from complete destruction in the IB mods . Is it ok if i give them a try, then?

[tone]

Sure. Obviously they're one of the most important factions for us to get right for the player.

Interested to see how you get on in the first battle against Hannibal.

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

HANNIBAL!!
May I switch factions again?
No seriusly, if I have been able to kick Alaric's butt and stop hordes of barbarians trying to conquer Roman territory I hope that experience is enough to stop Hannibal and his punic barbarians. FIIIIGHT!!!!

[♔Jean-Luc Picard♔]

Cavalry/light infantry screening the flanks and a main line of phalanx units in the middle. Missile units in back and attack slowly. Don't take them out of formation. Ever. If you do they'll probably get slaughtered by cavalry or heavy infantry.

[King Nud]

and, when defending, arrange your phalanx in a neat crescent, in a n shape, with the enemy approaching the top of the 'n'. Put your missile units in the area inside the 'n', but not too close, they'll accidentally kill some of the men in the back row of phalanxes. Then have your cavalry and non-phalanx infantry on the ends of the 'n' shape.

Your army now looks like this:

enemy

_n_

[PSEUDO ROMANUS]

Thanks for the tips to you both