How to beat the Romans in Tactical Combat

[FeanorX66]

Hello,

yesterday i fought the Roman legions with my Epirus in FOG2. The legions are invincible. They are like superhumans. Phalanx or Elephants dont matter to them. Which nation or which trooptype can take it up against the Roman legions (in tactical combat) ?

[欣怡 (Nathalie)]

You can get imitation legions, but really your facing the exact issues Macedon had when facing down legions. Using a lot of skirmishers may help, or cavalry to hit the flanks, but its going to be tough.

[loki1006]

I've just won a fairly even exported battle with Epirus vs Imperial legions. Now I'm up to T240 or so which may have bearing - and I have access to Cataphracts.

Now they can stand toe to toe with the legions, either by deterring an attack or engaging in a long lasting even battle. So I set up my centre with a mix of cataphracts and pikes, some of the pikes lost badly but the cataphracts mostly held. My secondary line was imitation legions and these then flanked (if poss) any legions that got past my front.

Then did the usual - one strong flank (MC/more imitation legions), one weak (thracians/LC)

Also I have a lot of skirmishers incl archers.

that roughly gave me a 10 turn stalemate on the centre, turned one flank, skirmised back on the other, the archers disrupted some alae formations.

To make it worse they had a '2' general, mine was '1', so I picked up a number of mildly dispirited units.

So that is a very situational battle (good fun to play). I find the pikes are ok, if you survive the intial combat and they can't be flanked. But even here, I had cohorts/legions (due the battle size they were notionally 2,000 men) disrupted due to a flank charge and still standing (the legions were all elite).

[Brakiros]

Sparta is the only one that can really do it since they get the strongest unit in the game being that of the Spartan Phalanx. Though the other Italic factions would be almost entirely impossible to defeat given their Legions and their levy advantage makes them so hard

[bloodking0]

strong cavalry to turn their flank usually works, getting them to fight in disordering terrain is another but yes it is hard to fight the Romans.

[Hannibal0216 도마도 재배자]

It's always going to be difficult, they ruled most of the world for a reason after all. I would do a few things.

1. Make sure you have a good general in charge of the army. That gives you small bonuses that could translate into better troops on the field.

2. Your troops may "fall back" after being charged and losing the duel. Use this to your advantage and try to hit their flanks. Cavalry is helpful in this role, but any non-light troops will do.

3. Use terrain to your advantage. Try to fight them on rough terrain or steep hills with medium infantry as much as possible. Disordered Romans are vulnerable Romans.

[Hannibal0216 도마도 재배자]

Originally posted by loki1006:

I've just won a fairly even exported battle with Epirus vs Imperial legions. Now I'm up to T240 or so which may have bearing - and I have access to Cataphracts.

Now they can stand toe to toe with the legions, either by deterring an attack or engaging in a long lasting even battle. So I set up my centre with a mix of cataphracts and pikes, some of the pikes lost badly but the cataphracts mostly held. My secondary line was imitation legions and these then flanked (if poss) any legions that got past my front.

Then did the usual - one strong flank (MC/more imitation legions), one weak (thracians/LC)

Also I have a lot of skirmishers incl archers.

that roughly gave me a 10 turn stalemate on the centre, turned one flank, skirmised back on the other, the archers disrupted some alae formations.

To make it worse they had a '2' general, mine was '1', so I picked up a number of mildly dispirited units.

So that is a very situational battle (good fun to play). I find the pikes are ok, if you survive the intial combat and they can't be flanked. But even here, I had cohorts/legions (due the battle size they were notionally 2,000 men) disrupted due to a flank charge and still standing (the legions were all elite).

I'd love to see a replay of this battle!

[ColdWonder]

The Phalanx put up a good fight they certainly win in Forest or mountain terrain.

[pascal.difolco]

In my experience Elephants are pretty good vs Legions ..and in FoG2 you can just swarm them and flank them with tons of MI inf. In FoGE however it's a nightmare...

[欣怡 (Nathalie)]

Originally posted by pascal.difolco:

In my experience Elephants are pretty good vs Legions ..and in FoG2 you can just swarm them and flank them with tons of MI inf. In FoGE however it's a nightmare...

I just declared war on rome.......not sure this was a good idea, but yet to face legions, jsut auxilaries and garrisons who were pushovers aha

[FeanorX66]

Thanks all for the tipps !