Noob question about eastern/steppe factions

[Fallen Phalangite]

I've been playing the original Rome over and over and over again ever since it was first released, but I'll admit I've never actually tried playing as the eastern or steppe factions, and I'm completely unversed in the ways of using large numbers of archer and javelin cavalry in combat.

I finally decided to give it a go when the Nomadic 'DLC' came out yesterday and played as the Massagetae. In my first battle, my light, unarmoured archer cavalry, despite dealing heavy casualties to my enemy, also suffered heavy casualties at the hands of their archers.

Is it normal to suffer heavy casualties when skirmishing with enemy missile troops? Or do I just such from a lack of experience with these types of armies?

[Octavius Vatco]

That depends really...

[VanGoth]

Divide and destroy might be a good approach, use your ammo to negate the protection of enemy ranged troops, and when the opportunity arises don't be shy to charge your horsearchers in when their ranged units are exposed.

Cantabrian circle is back, also...that might help a bit, too^^

I like the new possibilities and approaches that come with these new factions, but they can also be countered easily in MP when you know how to change your army composition, but anyways, they are a good addition i guess.

[AngryTitusPullo]

My experience is only playing Parthia but you can use for Massagetae.

Create an army of half melee and half missile. While your missile cavalry attack the AI from one direction your melee cavalry should charge from one direction. Horse archers always have less range than infantry archer though your advantage lies in mobility.

Need to micromanage a lot but when you know how to play all cavalry army everything else will become easier.

The only thing sucks is mostly I have to wait out for walled settlement siege.

[big_feef]

My experience is only playing Parthia but you can use for Massagetae.

Create an army of half melee and half missile. While your missile cavalry attack the AI from one direction your melee cavalry should charge from one direction. Horse archers always have less range than infantry archer though your advantage lies in mobility.

Need to micromanage a lot but when you know how to play all cavalry army everything else will become easier.

The only thing sucks is mostly I have to wait out for walled settlement siege.

I'm loving the highly mobile all cavalry armies while playing with the Massagetae currently. Just a tip for playing out a siege battle with these guys: dismount your troops; they also make decent infantry, just not as good as dedicated ones.

[AngryTitusPullo]

I'm loving the highly mobile all cavalry armies while playing with the Massagetae currently. Just a tip for playing out a siege battle with these guys: dismount your troops; they also make decent infantry, just not as good as dedicated ones.

Yes they're good. But they are outnumbered.

For early campaign it's easier but the longer you play the settlements are more advance and have more garrisons... I always wait out and try to have another stack nearby which can support if the garrison sally out.

However if you do combined sieged (land and naval blockade) you can reduce waiting time of 10 turns to maybe 3 or 4. Of course this is only usable for settlement that have ports.

[Pinkie Pie]

I actualy found that a cavalry force with a decent amount of melee cavalry can still take a settlement even if outnumbered 3-1. Even with a large amount of horse archers and little or no heavy cavalry it is possible albiet a lot more difficult.

It is more difficult to flank units in streets and you tend to take more casualties but I have only very rarely taken more than 10% casualties when attacking a settlement.

Now walled cities are a different story, I have only tried taking one by force with a cavalry army and it was a disaster, much safer to besiege them and wait for them to sally forth.

[TuranianGhazi]

Yeah, the key is to tie up the enemy infantry with some fodder units of your own.

Also, don't be afraid to charge, even with your horse archers (preferrably armored horse archers or higher-tier horse archers with more armor and melee defense) into the FLANKS or REAR of the enemy units.

Also, don't shoot with your HA into the FRONT of the enemy unit... always try to hit the FLANKS or REAR with arrow-fire.

Use one HA to try and get the enemy unit to chase after it. Once the enemy unit starts chasing that "bait" HA... use 3 other HA to flank on all sides that unit which is breaking formation from the rest of the enemy army, hitting RIGHT FLANK, LEFT FLANK, and if possible into the REAR or BACK of the pursuing unit.

Charge into the REAR/BACK of the pursuing enemy unit. The CPU usually turns around to face this threat, but all you do is wheel back with the charge force. Now, use your "bait" HA to begin sending arrowfire into the now exposed backs of the enemy unit.

Rinse Repeat.

Remember, don't just shoot... HAVE to use charges, retreats, counter-charges.

Try to ENCIRCLE the enemy army from ALL sides... KITING on one side where the enemy is pushing... while trying to CHARGE into their backs or sides as they pursue one of your fronts.

SHIFT your fronts to allow some HAs to rest up. Always be in motion and try to thin the enemy army out.

It's in your BEST interest to drag the battle across the ENTIRE map. The flatter it is, the better.

Yes, it's lots of micromanagement... but it's the sort of fighting style I love. Fluid, flexible, mobile, and ultimately decisive. Not a clubberfest like usual.

[Octavius Vatco]

Yeah, the key is to tie up the enemy infantry with some fodder units of your own.

Also, don't be afraid to charge, even with your horse archers (preferrably armored horse archers or higher-tier horse archers with more armor and melee defense) into the FLANKS or REAR of the enemy units.

Also, don't shoot with your HA into the FRONT of the enemy unit... always try to hit the FLANKS or REAR with arrow-fire.

Use one HA to try and get the enemy unit to chase after it. Once the enemy unit starts chasing that "bait" HA... use 3 other HA to flank on all sides that unit which is breaking formation from the rest of the enemy army, hitting RIGHT FLANK, LEFT FLANK, and if possible into the REAR or BACK of the pursuing unit.

Charge into the REAR/BACK of the pursuing enemy unit. The CPU usually turns around to face this threat, but all you do is wheel back with the charge force. Now, use your "bait" HA to begin sending arrowfire into the now exposed backs of the enemy unit.

Rinse Repeat.

Remember, don't just shoot... HAVE to use charges, retreats, counter-charges.

Try to ENCIRCLE the enemy army from ALL sides... KITING on one side where the enemy is pushing... while trying to CHARGE into their backs or sides as they pursue one of your fronts.

SHIFT your fronts to allow some HAs to rest up. Always be in motion and try to thin the enemy army out.

It's in your BEST interest to drag the battle across the ENTIRE map. The flatter it is, the better.

Yes, it's lots of micromanagement... but it's the sort of fighting style I love. Fluid, flexible, mobile, and ultimately decisive. Not a clubberfest like usual.

I had fun doing the same thing back in Roma Surrectum 2 as I dismantled the Seleucids as Parthia. It got a bit boring later on though but it was really immersive...

[Kraut and Tea]

I've been playing the original Rome over and over and over again ever since it was first released, but I'll admit I've never actually tried playing as the eastern or steppe factions, and I'm completely unversed in the ways of using large numbers of archer and javelin cavalry in combat.

I finally decided to give it a go when the Nomadic 'DLC' came out yesterday and played as the Massagetae. In my first battle, my light, unarmoured archer cavalry, despite dealing heavy casualties to my enemy, also suffered heavy casualties at the hands of their archers.

Is it normal to suffer heavy casualties when skirmishing with enemy missile troops? Or do I just such from a lack of experience with these types of armies?

I regulary play faction that only have army set ups like these, ever since Rome 2.

1: Cav is more resistant to fatigue, so running arround and drawing out the battle time by letting the enemy army run arround trying to catch you works well since it makes the enemy tired.

2: Splitt up the enemy by splitting up your army and riding them into different points of the map. Once the enemy has splitt up his forces start picking off and killing the weakest units first, but do not engage in long combat that allows the enemy to reeinforce.

3: always attack spear and pike units from the back or flanks.

4: When the General is vulnerable to cav attacks, take him out first after splitting the enemy army up as mentioned before.

5: Never engage in long fights, attack and emideatly pull out your cav, then attack and pull out again.

6: Always try to surround your enemy.

7: When engaging spear or pike units weaken them with horse skirmishers then chose a "sword cav" unit to get off the horses and engage, while they engage send in shock cav from behind.

If you can micromanage, you should firt try to learn that.

[Dunadd]

I regulary play faction that only have army set ups like these, ever since Rome 2.

1: Cav is more resistant to fatigue, so running arround and drawing out the battle time by letting the enemy army run arround trying to catch you works well since it makes the enemy tired.

2: Splitt up the enemy by splitting up your army and riding them into different points of the map. Once the enemy has splitt up his forces start picking off and killing the weakest units first, but do not engage in long combat that allows the enemy to reeinforce.

3: always attack spear and pike units from the back or flanks.

4: When the General is vulnerable to cav attacks, take him out first after splitting the enemy army up as mentioned before.

5: Never engage in long fights, attack and emideatly pull out your cav, then attack and pull out again.

6: Always try to surround your enemy.

7: When engaging spear or pike units weaken them with horse skirmishers then chose a "sword cav" unit to get off the horses and engage, while they engage send in shock cav from behind.

If you can micromanage, you should firt try to learn that.

I've read in other threads that there is a problem with cavalry fatigue in Rome II which results in them getting tired faster than infantry.

[Kraut and Tea]

I've read in other threads that there is a problem with cavalry fatigue in Rome II which results in them getting tired faster than infantry.

Really? That screws up everything and completly demolished the cav advantages one usualy has.

I havent even noticed this until now.

That really sucks.

[TuranianGhazi]

Really? That screws up everything and completly demolished the cav advantages one usualy has.

I havent even noticed this until now.

That really sucks.

Additionally, there might still be the CAVALRY KILLER bug... when retreating the defense goes to 0... not sure if that's fixed yet... it sure feels like it isn't.

When trying to retreat, any cav dies like flies... ugh, makes it hard/impossible to use the charge-retreat-charge tactic

[AngryTitusPullo]

When trying to retreat, any cav dies like flies... ugh, makes it hard/impossible to use the charge-retreat-charge tactic

Not charge and retreat but charge and charge and charge without stopping. Charge the first unit then continue charging the second one behind the first unit and so on.

The trick is not to get stuck in melee too long but always moving.

[Jihada]

I'd like to see someone win a campaign on legendary with the nomads. Some good advice on here but all that micro managing is very hard.
Oh, and don't fight in a wood !


Roxolani campaign on hard.

[VanGoth]

The results of disengaging can really differ, sometimes it's no problem at all, on other occasions the "dies like flies" scenario kicks in, yes...but at least it's now more responsive.

As for cav getting exhausted faster than inf, never noticed that or had any probs with that tbh^^