Rome- To charge, or not to charge?

[Professor420]

I have a strategic question. Whenever I was the defender, I never charged the enemy. Especially as Rome, where your legionnairres throw their pila, I figured they'd have more time. I also preferred the ability to stay in a strict formation.

But after finishing reading Caesar's Commentaries, I was made aware that the Romans ALWAYS charged. They always threw their pila and then charged. Even when waiting for the enemy to come to them, they charged.

Is it better in RTW, in your findings, to charge or not charge? Do you find your legionairres more effective? Do they still have time to throw their pila and get to full charge speed against a charging enemy?

[Gaius Baltar]

I have a strategic question. Whenever I was the defender, I never charged the enemy. Especially as Rome, where your legionnairres throw their pila, I figured they'd have more time. I also preferred the ability to stay in a strict formation.

But after finishing reading Caesar's Commentaries, I was made aware that the Romans ALWAYS charged. They always threw their pila and then charged. Even when waiting for the enemy to come to them, they charged.

Is it better in RTW, in your findings, to charge or not charge? Do you find your legionairres more effective? Do they still have time to throw their pila and get to full charge speed against a charging enemy?

Really depends on the tactical situation. In most cases, the Legionares will prevail.

Defensive:
1. Open fields - Lines of Legionares with Pila will cause serious damage before the enemy can contact the front line. Just as effective against cavalry as infantry. Drawback - often they will use all Pila on a few charging units.
2. City walls - very effective Pila, plenty of time to throw. Drawback - often in RTW units will make odd angular attacks on units on other side of wall, wasting Pila. (think straight up and down).

Offensive :
1. Open fields - If allowed to throw at will, will mix Pila attacks and regular cut and thrust. Very effective. Drawback - often in large melees their is no time to use Pila. SO micromanaging attack is needed.
2. City walls - almost no way to make an effective Pila attack on units defending walls. Angle makes low percentage of hits. I turn off fire at will until Legionares are on the walls. Once they have cleared a wall area (if), they can use Pila effectively on units below or farther on down the wall. Drawback - trying to use Pila as an offensive weapon when attacking walls slows down unit and may make them vulnerbale to other missle units.

In summary, Legionare are effective in either case.

[gnaeus]

The Praetorian Cavalry is about 75% sure to topple cavalry it faces 1v1 and 85% to beat infantry it faces (lowers to 45% against a Phalanx that is prepared though.)

It's all a matter of timing with Roman Cavalry. Either you die, or win with them.

Generally, be more concerned about your infantry. Roman military was based around infantry in reality and if done properly it can be the same in the game.

[Emcman333]

Man Greek Cavalry could whoop Praetorian Cavalry...Just kiddin lolz

[mukali]

Units have a charge bonus so that should help initially when the 2 units make contact. That might be the advantage required in a tough fight, for example against another legionnaire unit.

As already mentioned, it depends on the tactical situation. For example, if the enemy has lots of ranged units, then you would want to negate that range advantage by getting into melee with them. But at the same time not allow your unit to start chasing the enemy too far, losing cohesion and being vulnerable to a counter attack.

[Erwin Rommel]

i always charge even on the defensive, i recently learned that on asculum where i am on the defence, the seleucids rout my men when i stay in position but when i chrge the got beaten

[Marcus Septim IV]

in my opinion all roman INFANTRY not cavalry are best at defese so if u read this continue playing as u did untill now leaven ur legions at a defesive position not behind the city walls so when u charge with ur cavalry in case they retreat there will always be a second battle line and UNDEFEATABLE one

[Trajan]

I always charge. In most situations, I let my legionaires throw the pilum first, and then I order them to charge. It works very well in fact. In defense, I keep them still and in guard formation but once I see the enemy beginning to lose ground, I have my legionaires charge and drive them back.

[moonlapse]

that depends on unit's charge and defence bonuses


and if enemy's morale is low by the time they get to my lines,i charge,so more of them die before the start to rout.

[Bored Centurion]

Its bit pending on terrain and situation as always. Yet I pretty much always charge, on defence I let enemy come close and then charge in last minute (this way I can tie enemy troops where I want them and meanwhile my cavalry that has flanked enemy charges through ranks of enemy routing them pretty effectively). Then again on attack I bring troops close enough for them to throw pilas and charge, while letting reserves to attack rear and let cavalry to take care of missile troops. Siege weapons are story of their own, but extremely usefull on both defence and attack