Archers Ambush

[War Chief Redhawks]

Ok to set up a Archers ambush. I uselly put my archers above a hill just far enoungh to where they see what is going on. Then I send my Cavarly out to bring them in to the trap.

Ok I Stick archers in Rocks, Fields, and Trees. Do the Same thing with Cav.

Some times if i dont have cavalry ill use infantry.

[Trajan]

Moved to the Total War Battle Planning sub-forum.

[War Chief Redhawks]

Ok Sorry about that ill watch what im doing. Close the other one in the other forum area.

[Shazbot]

This isn't really a stratagy that would work too often. Maybe against AI, but not reall in multiplayer...

[War Chief Redhawks]

I wasnt calling it stratagy. Now I want to know what you all would do. I Want to try new things.

[Professor420]

I've very successfully used slingers and javilineers as ambushing units in the forests of Spain against the infantry-heavy Julii and Iberians, playing as Carthage. VERY effective, actually.
If can help if you are extremely outnumbered and can't sacrafice a melee unit to hide in ambush. As long as the enemy does have any strong cavalry, the behind the lines archer ambush can be extremely effective (I have detailed this strategy before actually). It only works early in the game, however (before most factions have access to powerful cavalry), and you must be on defense.
The enemy must send a unit after each of your skirmisher units, so right away your skirmisher units take an entire enemy infantry unit out of the fight, in addition to the casualties they cause from their first couple barrages. The enemy's formation will also be very chaotic, as it is most likely he'll send his units closest to your skirmishers to give chase, which are on his wings. Any numerical and size advantage is lost. However, the you must strike during the moment of chaos, and make sure your skirmisher units do not get engaged (or they will quickly rout and your army's morale will drop).

[War Chief Redhawks]

Ok that helps a lot Thank

[IXlegion]

well personally i wouldnt use archers they are good but they always seem to hit my men more so i prefer to leave my archers in my towns even tho slingers or javliners are good for battle not so much ammo but good to run ahead and hit the army

[Necromancer]

Archers are more of an "anchor" force imo. When I use them they're usually right in front of my main line, or positioned about 30ft. behind them so they won't hit any of my anchor troops. Slingers and peltasts are the guys you should use for ambushes, they're quick, cheap and deadly against unsuspecting infantry. I generally place my skirmish "line" far ahead, but not so far that light cavalry can catch them. When placing them I try to confuse my enemy because the skirmish line isn't a line at all... it's just various skirmish troops placed at random within each other's range for additional support. I find it very effective and by the time the enemy's main force reaches my archers' range their incentive to fight is slim-to-none.

Good Luck

EDIT: I suppose that if you wanted to use archers in an ambush... you could... but you'd have to use them at a long range or in an inaccessable/difficult area for your enemy i.e. hills, cliff faces etc...
The reason why I generally don't use archers in ambushes is because you want to take out as many enemy troops as possible as quickly as possible, which is why I use slingers and peltasts, they're closer... so naturally... they'll be more accurate than archers who are at a long range. I suppose if your enemy has units that can panic (elephants, chariots etc..) than you could use a large force of archers to attack those enemy units specifically by using flaming missles. Turn off 'fire at will' and wait for the enemy unit you wish to attack to get close, bring your archers out of hiding by attacking that/those unit(s) which will probably scare them enough to cause them to run amok, causing for chaos in your enemy's main line... from their... you... well enjoy the show!

Once again... good luck

[Severous]

Hi

If my army is outnumbered or outclasssed, or both, I will hide my infantry in a wooded area and put my general out front...hopefully a long way out front. My archers would be in the front line of the hidden infantry in the wood, preferrably with a clear field of fire and uphill from where the enemy will approach.

General is the only unit visible to the enemy who now march after him. He leads them around with the intention of tiring them. Leads them to the hidden troops once they are tired.

The archers, indeed all hidden troops, have 'fire at will' and 'skirmish' turned off. They crouch quietly until im ready. I try to wait until the hidden missile troops have a clear shot into the rear or unshielded flank of a downhill enemy.

Launching the missiles reveals the hidden archers. The enemy army then splits..part still after the general and part after the archers. The enemy after the archers will get a surprise when the remaining fresh hidden troops launch their attack.

[War Chief Redhawks]

Thank you all you been of great help.