Experience with stone throwers

[The_Judge]

Has anyone good or bad experiences with stone throwers? I was thinking of buying a stone thrower able to destroy a strong wall, but they are quite expensive.

[icenii]

Would like to help but am currently playing as Romani and they don't receive artillery until after marian reform, i can't even recall seeing artillery used in any of the numerous youtube videos of EB that i've watched. Try them out in a custom battle first perhaps, i would imagine having artillery in your army will reduce the amount of movement points you have each turn, if you use them i would recommend a naval invasion against cities on the coastline probably be easier than carting them through forests jungles and mountains. If you do use them let us know how well they do and if they are worth the price.

[athanaric]

They are unpopular with players because of their high price tag and upkeep, and - perhaps the biggest issue - their limited movement which slows down your armies.
I sometimes build them, as they can be practical for cracking wooden walls - and towers! - and, in conjunction with fleets, enable me to snatch another faction's islands or coastal provinces in a lightning attack. Their ability to destroy wooden towers is very useful if you want to minimize casualties.

Otherwise, I'd recommend the light arrow throwers (especially the scorpions if you play post-Marian Romans), which can be very effective against elephants or phalangites, and are great for sniping enemy generals (if they don't move around). They might also be useful against armoured HAs, if you're having trouble with those. IIRC Alexander III. used them with some success against those.

[The_Judge]

Yesterday I tried to use them in a custom battle, but I couldn't find them in the list.
I'm a bit worried about the movement points and the possible loss of tension in a siege (unless if I have to deal with phalangites blocking the streets to the town center). To be honest, I think I have never used them in any RTW or RTW mod campaign.

[icenii]

I think to use them in a custom battle you need to start the game in Multiplayer mode that's where the factional troops appear i believe, i've only had 2 campaigns where i could recruit artillery from the beginning and those were with Epirus and the Seleucids by the time i've gotten them with other factions i don't really need to use them.

[Biggieboy]

the only main advantage i see is that you can attack a city instantly, instead of besieging which may bring up reinforcements, but this can also be done with a very good spy. the only benefit I see then is that it can attack towers, preventing casualties when moving forward. Then you have to ask yourself: is that worth the price of recruiting, upkeep, and slower development of your armies?