Using REAL tactics of the time

[hanter]

I'm just alittle curious.....have anyone actually used any tactics/manuevours that real generals of that day used? I only know of the hannibal tactic against the greater numbers of romans and used it before. Worked great and I wonder if anyone knows of other tactics.

Here's hannibal tactic.......

1) Spread your army thinly in a slight C-curved formation (1 regiment line) have your shock/strongest troops in the middle. Your shock troops need to be alittle infront of your flanks...this is the important part
2) Engage the enemy in a frontal assult. Have ONLY your middle troops attack.
3) Obviously u will have loads of casualty to your middle (that's the tactic)....and move them towards the back as though your retreating
4) In the process move your flanks forward.
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 a couple of times. Eventually u will find that your troops will encircle the enemy and u will end up attacking from all sides.

Hopefully by now u have killed the enemy general or have surrounded them enough to break their morale. And the battle is yours.

Hannibal managed to deal a crushing defeat to the romans this way and destroyed their entire army when he was outnumbered 2 to 1. Wonder if any of u guys know of any similar real tactics like this

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

Real tactics of the medieval world:
1. fire arrows at peasant
2. trample peasants with cavalry, let peasants fight peasants untill nobles reform for another go.
3. nobles chop up some peasants in melee, always make sure the peasant understands he can't kill a noble.
4. nobles duel a bit, loser gets captured, they play some chess and loser goes home after ransom is payed

If other party is from diffrent religion, replace step 4. by execution if religious leader (bishop, imam, etc.) is present.

If other party only consists of lower nobility and peasants (Swiss, Flemish,...) step 3 doesn't count, you're pretty much ed Frenchie

[Basileus Antiochus]

wt about this:
1. Spam horse archers
2. Surround your enemies with horse archers
3. Pound them
4. Charge them with heavy cavalry or just repeat step 3 until they are all dead

[Henry X]

I turn the enemy's right flank with heavy infantry and then take their cavalry out with my cavalry.

[Ferdiad]

Real Tactics are generally more complicated than whats necessary with this game.

[Judeman266]

This thread talks about this topic and the same conclusion was reached.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=513054

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

Although BGR tries to add a notch to the 'real'-experience, since logistics are just as important as the fighting itself in a battle

[Ferdiad]

BGR dosnt affect battles half as much as it does the strat map.

[Posantio of Umbria]

I try to use historical tactics and army compositions in most TW games, and it's not that complicated or ineffective most of the time, there are some exceptions though, and not all things from medieval sources can be done in the game.

In Medieval mods I draw from History books and historic sources, like Maurice's Strategikon (Byzantine military manual, sadly no full online versions) and De Re Militarii (arguably the medieval general's manual). I'd say read some good books on military history and try out the stuff you read about. Medieval tactics weren't complicated, and tactics can be seen in every battle. So, if you know the Cannae tactic, what other battles have you read about (or saw on a documentary/movie)? ask yourself what happened in those battles or learn what the general's wanted to happen (did it happen? why not?) and you get a good picture of tactics, some which (i'd say quite a lot) can be used in Total war games.

And tactics can be simple. How about deploying your troops in 2 or 3 lines rather than just one? I rarely deploy an army in fever than 2 lines if I got enough units (8 or more).

[TheRomanRuler]

My favourite hobby.. Thats why i don`t play almost any MP, humans don`t use real tactics

[Ichon]

My favourite hobby.. Thats why i don`t play almost any MP, humans don`t use real tactics

?What? Humans don't use real tactics? What do you mean? Almost every MP game I have played humans used better tactics than the AI- well, playing against someone who is drunk they act worse than AI but such a mass charge is almost effective simply due to surprise.

The only really annoying thing about MP battles is the maneuvering often takes longer than the battle but that is more like real life, most historians don't cover how the battle ground was was chosen which is weird because that choice often has a huge impact on the following battle's tactics.

[Ferdiad]

?What? Humans don't use real tactics? What do you mean? Almost every MP game I have played humans used better tactics than the AI- well, playing against someone who is drunk they act worse than AI but such a mass charge is almost effective simply due to surprise.

The only really annoying thing about MP battles is the maneuvering often takes longer than the battle but that is more like real life, most historians don't cover how the battle ground was was chosen which is weird because that choice often has a huge impact on the following battle's tactics.

He means Players use effective gamey tactics IMO not historicak but useless ones.

[Ichon]

What would be gamey? Repeat charge or loose formation and running away is really about the most you can do that seems really gamey- I'm trying to think of any other examples...

[TheRomanRuler]

He means Players use effective gamey tactics IMO not historicak but useless ones.

Yeh thats what i meant

What would be gamey? Repeat charge or loose formation and running away is really about the most you can do that seems really gamey- I'm trying to think of any other examples...

Well then its booring. It is good in Napoleon TW though, but for example Rome TW has ridiclious tactics(phalanx in loose formation....), they would NEVER work in real life, so that is why i don`t like it. I wan`t realism!! (Napoleon TW is not 100% historical, but that is why mods are made!)

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Using REAL tactics of the time

http://www.fortunecity.co.uk/amuseme...00/battle.html

The Zulu's "Horn's of the Bull" is a pretty basic tactic. Pin with your main battleline then envelop and destory with the flankers. Medium and heavy spears really shine with this tactic.

"Keep it simple and stupid." US Army credo... It works well for me cuz I'm basically simple and stupid
not so bright...

[Ferdiad]

What would be gamey? Repeat charge or loose formation and running away is really about the most you can do that seems really gamey- I'm trying to think of any other examples...

I didnt say I agree, just thats what he meant.