Troop composition?

[GameHog9]

Hi, I just downloaded this mod and Im wondering what troop compositions are good.

In Vanilla I did the following:

Pre-Marius:

4 Hastatii
4 Principes
4 Triarii
3 Velites
4 Equites

I placed the Hastatii and Principes in a double line formation with 2 Triarii stationed on the flanks with the 2 Equites directly behind the 2 units of Triarii

Post-Marius

1 Legionary First Cohort
4 Legionary Cohorts
3 Urban Cohorts
3 Archer Auxilia
6 Praetorian Cavalry
2 Heavy Onangers

[BiggBudd]

Read the readme m8, too many triarri pre, too big an advantage, theses troops are the best in game even after the reforms [imo], I miss my triarri, with swords as an alt attack they can take anything!
And as for post, what u doing holding, having horse races to entertain the troops during battles?

[czePowerslave]

YEah Triarii are indeed VERY Strong unit all around.
You should follow the house rules composition for legions and do not use siege weapons really that much. They are slow and when AI charges you, they occupy unit slot for nothing

[Hesus de bodemloze]

Pre-Marius:

1 General
5 Hastatii
5 Principes
3 Triarii
2 Velites
2 Equites
2 slingers/archers

Post-Marius

1 General
1 Legionary First Cohort
9 Legionary Cohorts
3 auxillia spear
2 Archer Auxilia
2 light infantry
2 Equites
6 Praetorian Cavalry
2 Heavy Onangers

[czePowerslave]

Or modify as you see fit depending on the enemy. For example when I went to Carthage, I had all armies with 4 units of velites. Helps alot.

[GameHog9]

Or modify as you see fit depending on the enemy. For example when I went to Carthage, I had all armies with 4 units of velites. Helps alot.

That makes sense, velites are the counter-unit to elephants right?

Whats with the cavalry hate in vanilla 6 Praetorian cavalry will smash through anything

It isnt cost effective in SPQR or are they overpowered or something?

Sorry for so many questions but I got one more!

In Vanilla I modified a text file to allow me to recruit pre-marius legions even after the reforms.
Can I modify the same folder to yield the same results in SPQR?

[GameHog9]

Nvm, I just fought Hannibal and I realize that 2 cavalry wings are enough.

Doesnt anyone feel that Elephants are a tad bit too godlike though?

I followed the suggestion and used velites against them, and at first things were going my way. My two flanks had withstood his charges, repulsed them, and were rolling up the flank towards the center while the equites pursued the fleeing masses. Hannibal died in a suicide charge and one of my velites had routed an elephant unit.

Then something went wrong.

The AI didnt bother with tactics, it just steam-rolled the the remaining elephant unit right into my center and I watched in horror as 3 cohorts could do nothing to stop it. In desperation I recalled my triarii and equites (who were mopping up and engaging a stubborn infantry unit) into the fray, ordered every missle unit to fire at them, spit if they had too and prayed for the best.

It didnt work

I ended up having to withdraw, I managed to kill 3000 of his men though. However, 6 cohorts, 3 missled units, and 3 cavalry squadrons killed....

4 elephants



What is this I dont even... to confirm it I did a custom battle with 6 cohorts vs ONE elephant unit and not a single elephant was killed...

I know elephants are spposed to be tanks but there are historical accounts of heavy infantry repulsing elephant charges you'know

[Vespasian92]

Lol my compositions is much different. I always just drop the velites. I have:
1 General
5 Hastati
5 Principes
3 Triarii
2 Auxilla (Usually Italian)
4 Equites

[GameHog9]

Lol my compositions is much different. I always just drop the velites. I have:
1 General
5 Hastati
5 Principes
3 Triarii
2 Auxilla (Usually Italian)
4 Equites

You drop the velites? MADNESS!

So far im liking this mod, itll take some time to get used to it. I think Ill try out the Roma Surrectum setup - one main legion supported by 2 or 3 auxiliary legions

[lt1956]

Gamehog9, the elephants are not overpowered and can EASILY be taken out with Velites. One Unit of Velites can rout 1 unit of Elephants. I think that is pretty balanced.

The reason infantry cannot do this is RTW is a ROCK PAPER game, basically Cavalry are good against like Infantry, Heavy against light, Spear against cavalry, Sword Against Spearmen.

Elephants basically were UNSTOPPABLE until Scipio used a tactic with Axes, this cannot be duplicated in RTW so I have to use Javelins, which BTW was an effective way to stop elephants before the axe tactic. Swords just arent going to stop Elephants. Now Pila's on the otehr hand can kill them also.

Other factors are to be considered also. Horses are naturally afraid of elephants and dont stand a chance agianst them in real life. So basically your problem is NOT KNOWING how to use your units effectively. This can be seen by your original army composition.

You need to read the HELPFUL guides on this forum and they will help you be able to play SPQR better. You dont have to worry about marius as you will not have it for a while, you also dont want to have premarius units and late as they are balanced for their period, example once Marius happens other enemies are available that will slice right through your premarian units.

I am the maker of the mod, if you wish NOT to listen to my advice its your choice, but if you dont, then you may end up playing another mod closer to your style of play.

[Vespasian92]

When I fight Carthage I just fill one army with 1 General and 19 Cavalry Auxilla. If they can't win the battles for me, they take out the elephants and weaken enouhg for my real legion to crush. As for dropping the velites, I use them for garrisons mainly, especially greek light auxilla in my greek garrisons against Phalanxes. But im my legions, I have pila, which works well enough for me. I find that I use two extra equites much more than two velites would. When their entire army breaks and you have like 8 enemy units fleeing with over 100 men in each of them, wouldn't you be thrilled to have two extra cav?

[Ejergard]

I've started to end the battle when enemy routs. If the AI breaks your army, this is when the battle ends, so you keep units that would've been killed by a human opponent. To balance this, I also end the battle when the enemy is broken.

[GameHog9]

I've started to end the battle when enemy routs. If the AI breaks your army, this is when the battle ends, so you keep units that would've been killed by a human opponent. To balance this, I also end the battle when the enemy is broken.

I only do that if the AI has some really tough sucker I dont want to deal with (elephants ) or if theyre rebels since they will disband anyways.

If they are some meaty units like hoplites that I dont want to deal with next turn...

[Vespasian92]

Sometimes I do that, but for now I need the free experience for my cavalry. I know not really using velites isnt historically accurate, and sometimes I will make a couple legions proper.

[czePowerslave]

I always kill what I can. Reason is simple. I love my legions. I wont allow AI to regroup, amass and attack again. It does it all the time. Killing 1000 extra troops means nothing really.