Gladiator Infantry Worth It?

[Twan]

Hey everyone

I just got the game and am very happy with it after having played the first Rome. It even runs fine on my toaster.

I was wondering if anyone uses "Gladiator" troops? There are two kinds that I've seen so far; one with swords and one with spears. I added one of both of them to my army to see how they do. I just had a single line facing off against some random army and placed the spearmen on the far end. I tried to use the square formation but when they got attacked the square icon became disabled. I put my sword gladiators behind my legionaries on the other end of my line, and when the enemy engaged my legionaries I sent them around to flank them, and they racked up the most kills out of my whole army, 120 compared to an average of maybe 30-40. They are also pretty cheap.

They even have very high melee attack, about as good as legionaries (cohort). Sword Gladiators have much better attack stats, they even have better melee attack than Praetorian Guards, with the same weapon damage. Gladiator Spearmen do have very good melee attack though. Both have almost nonexistant armor. I guess Gladiators are amazing as long as they are flanking something and not being attacked.

So are gladiator spearmen only useful against cavalry and nothing else? Are there better auxiliaries I can recruit to act as as anti-cavalry defense? I miss my Triarii :(

Thanks

[Kagraman™]

Gladiators are useless for anything except ambushing and flanking. Use auxiliary infantry for cavalry defense. Or just more legionaries.

[Twan]

Yeah I have mostly Legionaries. My army is basically 8-10 Legionaries (a mix of mostly cohort, evocati, and maybe 1 eagle), around 3 Praetorian cavalry, an Evocati Cohort general, 1-2 Praetorian Guard, then 4-6 archers (Gallic Hunter auxiliary), and maybe some seige weapons or space for fun/flavor units. Now I have a lot of "Armored Legionaries" once I unlocked them.

I was hoping for something at least close to Triarii for flavor but I guess there's nothing like that. Maybe there's some mercenary Hoplites I can find in Greece or something.

[Kagraman™]

引用自 Twan：

Yeah I have mostly Legionaries. My army is basically 8-10 Legionaries (a mix of mostly cohort, evocati, and maybe 1 eagle), around 3 Praetorian cavalry, an Evocati Cohort general, then 4-6 archers (Gallic Hunter auxiliary), and maybe some seige weapons or space for fun/flavor units.

Well that really should do the trick. You can also counter enemy cavalry effectively with better cavalry and then proceed to chase away their missile infantry. I use alot of cavalry.

[bbolto]

Yeah I don't even really like gladiator spearmen against cavalry. Since they're a light, small unit, if you take a charge you'll wind up faring poorly even with the spear bonus, so they're best used to reinforce an existing cavalry fight - and if you're going to do that, why not have another cavalry unit instead?

You can definitely use mercenary hoplites (you don't even have to go to Greece, Italia has Etruscan hoplites and Magna Grecia has regular ones I think) or you can set up an auxiliary barracks in Greece and recruit auxiliary hoplites. Besides triarii they're the best spear troops Rome can get (well, maybe spear brothers up in Germania, I forget if those are available as auxiliaries)

[Twan]

Oh ok, I'll try that.

I do like regular Gladiators at least though, they have really amazing attack stats, and even though they take casualties they do very well. Mine got to level 3 in like 2 battles, their melee attack is around 104 now.

[A Generic Goblin]

I do like Gladiators, great with dogs for fighting light and medium infantry, even heavy spears. But against cav and archers at range, they are easy pickings due to their low armor. I use them mainly in a small army that just goes around and takes those small settlements with bad garrisons behind enemy lines. Great at harrassing stuff.

[MANWHATADONGA]

Try these mods.Roman Auxillary Pikeman get them in Barracks 4.The Hench Penguin's Romans.

[Icecream1973]

High melee attack but low in armor. Basically good in a fight, but are very vulnerable by missle attack (especially from the back).

Spearmen (women) have different "large attack" stats (do check these), however I do seem to remember that any normal spear unit has better overall unit stats in comparisson with Gladiator spears. It is basically up to you to decide IF and HOW you utilize this in your army roster.

Personally I do not use Gladiators in my army set up but I do like how they look though ;-)

Cheers!

[ElPrezCBF]

Gladiators, like any glass cannon unit, are lightly armored and therefore not meant to be regular frontline troops. Instead, their role is to support by flanking or exploit breaches that open up in enemy lines. Their high morale is another plus factor.

The rock, paper, scissors mechanic still applies. So gladiator spears will still stand up to cavalry. But due to their light armor, will be vulnerable to enemy missile units.

[The Night King]

They make excellent shock infantry and can get hundreds of kills

[UR ESTROGEN DEALER]

引用自 bbolto：

or you can set up an auxiliary barracks in Greece and recruit auxiliary hoplites

you don't even need to go as far as Greece.. Setup an Aux. Barracks in Syracuse, boom, Hoplites from the very beginning of the game ;)

[Twan]

Thanks for all the tips!

However, I noticed that Gladiator Spearmen have a lower number of men per unit, so a cavalry charge, even against a square formation (which is necessary since their standard formation seems very loose), might be more damaging than some other units.

I'll setup a barracks in Syracuse asap. I still wish I could recruit Triarii though D:

[A Generic Goblin]

If you want a unit that can clean through masses of light infantry quickly and efficently, get Gladiators. If you want a unit can can run down archers or heavy infantry and keep them tied down while doing damage, get Gladiators. But if you want a unit that can fight faster factions, like the Steppe Nomads, or have a lot of high armor units, like Sparta or Macedon, don't use them.

[Twan]

Yeah so far my infantry is the heaviest I can field, Legionaries, Evocati and Armored Legionaries, same with cavalry, I disbanded my Legionary Cavalry and replaced them with Praetorian Cavalry.

[ElPrezCBF]

引用自 Twan：

However, I noticed that Gladiator Spearmen have a lower number of men per unit, so a cavalry charge, even against a square formation (which is necessary since their standard formation seems very loose), might be more damaging than some other units.

Which is why as mentioned, they should play a support/flanking role, not seeking out cav head on to take them out. Use regular spearman with decent unit size and morale instead.