Javelin/Peltasts

**Drachos** · April 17, 2012, 07:13 AM

I've heard that they are best when you put them in front of the infantry, but the problem is, they shoot one "volley" of javelins and the enemy gets too near them, so I need to retreat them behind the infantry, so why should I use them as they can only shoot one volley and back-off? :S

**Vercingetorix The Great** · April 17, 2012, 08:05 AM

I never use them, but javelin throwers on horses are annoying and work. Definitely Archers>Peltasts

**Punic Hoplite** · April 17, 2012, 08:25 AM

Have them on the flanks, so when battle is joined, they can go to the sides of the enemy and throw, or better yet, their rear. Just make sure you have either cavalry or more infantry to protect them.

**Primo** · April 17, 2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Drachos

I've heard that they are best when you put them in front of the infantry, but the problem is, they shoot one "volley" of javelins and the enemy gets too near them, so I need to retreat them behind the infantry, so why should I use them as they can only shoot one volley and back-off? :S

I never thought Peltasts are really effective.

The best ways to use them is to either let them stay behind your infantry line, where they are secure and can safely throw their javelins at the enemy. This method also requires no micro-managing.

But it is more effective if you let them stay at your flanks, fire at will turned off, and then, when your main infantry lines clash, to send them behind the enemys backs. There order them to fire at your enemy, which will get the javelins in the back, rendering them far more effective. Once they have depleted their ammunition, you can also let them charge into the enemy, which should route after this charge.

**nhinhonhinho** · April 17, 2012, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Drachos

I've heard that they are best when you put them in front of the infantry, but the problem is, they shoot one "volley" of javelins and the enemy gets too near them, so I need to retreat them behind the infantry, so why should I use them as they can only shoot one volley and back-off? :S

Put skirmishers in the front only to lure the enemy attack them and run into your army behind. Put them behind your infantry line and with large number the javelin will decimate any things are fighting your front lines. Javelin are effect again almost every units types since they penetrate armor. Yet javelin are ineffective again any other type of range weapons due to short range. Javelin will be your early, cheaply missile troops. Later archers are more useful

I never use them, but javelin throwers on horses are annoying and work. Definitely Archers>Peltasts

Yep! In most cases and in vanilla archers are better. Yet they often more expensive and available later

**Vercingetorix The Great** · April 17, 2012, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by nhinhonhinho

Put skirmishers in the front only to lure the enemy attack them and run into your army behind. Put them behind your infantry line and with large number the javelin will decimate any things are fighting your front lines. Javelin are effect again almost every units types since they penetrate armor. Yet javelin are ineffective again any other type of range weapons due to short range. Javelin will be your early, cheaply missile troops. Later archers are more useful

Yep! In most cases and in vanilla archers are better. Yet they often more expensive and available later

In multiplayer they are only 50 more which isn't much considering how much better they are

**Parzival2211** · April 17, 2012, 10:42 AM

Putting them behind the line of infantry means less micro management, but you run the risk of hitting your own men in the back once the melee has started.
In M2TW you can see the amount of casualties from "friendly fire", in RTW, I think it doesn't show.

**nhinhonhinho** · April 17, 2012, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Parzival2211

Putting them behind the line of infantry means less micro management, but you run the risk of hitting your own men in the back once the melee has started.
In M2TW you can see the amount of casualties from "friendly fire", in RTW, I think it doesn't show.

With archers it will be aproblem since Rome archers not fire ballistic in close range. However javelin can be throw over your lines even when they are fighting . I've been use it for a long times now. Friendly fire are insignificant. Btw i'm agree with maneurver but you can bring more favelinman, more shoot and inflict more.

**LD1977** · April 17, 2012, 10:44 AM

I use them as poor man's archers, with the staying behind infantry tactic. They have one advantage over archers and that is they can act as backup light infantry after they spend their ammo.

Trying to flank with them and then shoot is way too risky in case they can't do it safely (normally it is better to expand the ammo and then use them as reserve to max efficiency).

**Ferdiad** · April 17, 2012, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Drachos

I've heard that they are best when you put them in front of the infantry, but the problem is, they shoot one "volley" of javelins and the enemy gets too near them, so I need to retreat them behind the infantry, so why should I use them as they can only shoot one volley and back-off? :S

They're good as Cannon fodder, they can exhaust the enemy units and do some damage.

**anycolourfloyd** · April 18, 2012, 01:58 AM

i can't really remember how good the javelin lads are in vanilla, but if they're AP then they're the most cost efficient way of defeating slow, high armour units (phalanxes especially). with support of course.

you can use them to thin out those heavy armour units so that they can be broken by your own melee infantry and / or simply draw them off away from the main battle with skirmish mode. it's important to have cavalry superiority though, so that you can protect them and quickly smash any units that draw off from the pack. it's also a good way to take out enemy generals, as the AI frequently fields insufficient cavalry and will use their general to try to take out your skirmishers on the flanks.

**Alexanderos** · April 18, 2012, 04:04 AM

I don't really use skirmishers\peltasta\velites very much , i tend to use them very little because they don't do much agaisnt armoured units. For warbands they are ok. But archers rule !

**Sar1n** · April 18, 2012, 09:00 AM

Two uses:
1. Cheap arrow fodder. Especially when facing good archers like foresters, cretans or egyptian archers, HA units, even to expend enemy pila and such...just put them in loose formation and move them in front of your troops. Also good to halt enemy charge.

2. Elephants. Again, in loose formation, these guys are your best chance to stop elephants before they do big damage to your really expensive units.