battle problems

**Anime Divine** · June 13, 2010, 03:49 PM

ok i started playing RS 1.6 and its great.
but the battles seem so long.
part of the problem is that units get stuck
for exanple i use manipular formation against pikemen spearman and stuff.
startingh line of 4 hastati 2nd 4principes 3rd line 4 triarii 4 velites.

the hastati do their job in wearing out the enemy and pin them.
but when i managed to go at the back with triarii it seems they dont always attack good.
they just stand there while a few men 3/4 will atack but basicly the whole cohort is standing still and do nothing. wich result in very long time killing just one single hoplite unit.
how do i overcome this since i want to fight 2 stacks but itf i cant get them to kill fast enough that 2nd stack will destroy me.

ive tried to use cavalry to attack rear and flanks but yeah they suck so bad . so i have to use units
or do i need to wait for better units.

**Velico** · June 13, 2010, 04:30 PM

If you're playing rome and you indeed use the maniple formation you should be able to exploit gaps in the enemy formations. What I tend to do (when playing rome) is set all hastati on the front row with gaps about half (or full depending on the terrain) maniple space between each. Generally I just let the hastati slug it out and send in the Principes where needed. If I see a break in the lines I push it with my Principes and separate the enemy.

Rolling the flank: The idea here is to set your right flank (typically) deeper with heavy infantry so that the front line troops engage and the heavy troops push the right flank and envelop the enemy. This is dangerous if the enemy has capable cavalry. You can combat this with your own cavalry and protecting your flanks with triarii.

Also, there's few sources of how Velites were used, but most accept that they skirmish to weaken enemy lines and prevent the enemy from doing the same before the hastati are sent in. I like to use them more offensively once the threat of cavalry is gone. I will send them to the flanks and behind the pinned enemy and send a hail of javelins. There is also another tactic to be used with them which, after you have engaged with hastati, put your velites directly behind them so they can assist the hastati and focus on a particular unit to break the enemy formation.

Roman cavalry are notorious for being brittle, and it's well represented in the mod. Light cavalry shouldn't be used as shock cavalry. Typically I use them to engage enemy cavalry with my triarii quickly supporting so I can withdraw my (generally) weaker cavalry.

Hope this helps with shortening your battles.

**Gotenus** · June 13, 2010, 05:06 PM

Generally the reinforcement armies aren't very close to the main army, but here's how I start off my battles.

I have my Hastati in front as the main line, with a unit's space in between. I then have the Principes behind them in the spaces. This allows all of them to throw there pilum without causing a lot of friendly fire. Instead of putting my Triarii in back of the Principes as extra back-up, I hide them in nearby forests to the flanks of my army, so that they can quickly flank the enemy, or protect from enemy cavalry. If you flank them faster they die faster. Then I have enough time to set up for the reinforcing army, though I've run out of pilum by this time.

I don't use skirmishers that much because I don't like them, but if you use them, you can put them in the forests instead of the Triarii, and just watch the enemy fall as javelins are thrown into their backs.

Hope I've helped.

**Anime Divine** · June 14, 2010, 02:05 AM

thnx for the tips but dont get me wrong i know hot to win battles by flanking and hiding forces.
its just when i attack a unit from behind.

My own unit charges and just suddeny stops right before they will hit the unit.
dont have a screenie but have a look at this. notice the unit that attacks in angle get stuck in the same position. but if i attack in straight line from behind it has some medium effect but still not devesating enough.

really anoying since attacking from from behind would give some bonus. but meh.
mayby need to play some longer to get the really good troops.

**Gotenus** · June 14, 2010, 02:28 AM

If instead of clicking the unit you want to attack, but clicking past them, maybe your unit won't stop, and then there'll be more men participating.

**cupoftea** · June 14, 2010, 06:42 AM

Don't put your units on flanking duty on "Guard on", this causes them to stay in their formation. Toggle this off.

**Anime Divine** · June 14, 2010, 07:36 AM

that makes some sense thanks wil try tonight after work

i normally press Ctrl+A and put them all on guard mode since its really anoying if i forget to do that and my units breaks formation only to be slaughtered. if i dont see it in time. it seems i have to pay more attentionto it now.