greek faction army composition in grand campaign?

[Maruricki]

Hello, i've been wondering for sometime since i'm a beginner at this game i dont really know how to play with the greeks faction? i've spent roughly 100 hours+ playing as Iceni hence i'm trying to learn a new faction, the greeks seems friendly enough that is why i'm giving them a try but i'm really confused with the army composition

my current composition:

12 hoplite(10 as the main battle line and reserved, 2 as anti flank/cavalry)

4 shock/melee cavalry including the general

2 slinger/archer, 2 peltast(later on 2 artillery, 2 archers)

is this a good composition or am i just being stupid?

[Base Invader]

As much as I respect the player using Hoplites, they are hard work and much harder to cheese than Pikemen. I would say that although not named accurately, Pikemen are an indomitable force on the battle field and provide a much more reliable core than Hoplites. Since Philip of Macedon's army reforms Phalangists (pikemen) began to constitute the Anvil segment of the classic Greek hammer and Anvil strategy.

In a nut shell they are stronger for the same reason the Greeks Hoplites defeated Persia in the iconic 300 (they have longer pokey sticks and can stab enemies approaching from the front before they can be stabbed back). If you line Hoplites up against Pikemen in Phalanx, you will lose, even to inferior quality soldiers.

As for army composition it all depends what you are up against and how you like to fight. For me personally I would normally use 8-10 anvil orientated troops with the additional 2-4 being used on screening troops to draw enemies into the anvil or protect the Anvils flanks.

[Aslan Ponto]

Bring more long range missiles in order to force the enemy to rush against you, that's what you want as an Hellenic faction. Moreover, AI tends to spam missiles, so it is always good to match them at least. I normally have 4 slingers and an archer if it is possible.

I am not a fan of pikes in this game since I don't feel them properly done and efficient. Nevertheless, they are good for begineers since the AI simply crush itself against the sarissas in lieu of carrying out a surrounding approach. (There are mods which somehow make up for this).

In my opinion, the best thing, not only for Hellenics but for every faction, is having cavalry and missile superiority with an infantry core strong enough to hold meanwhile the others carry out their work. Mobility is the key. With the proper micromanagement is way more efficient than fielding a lot of infantry. Moreover, using formations such as oblique order, fake retreats, you can defeat the enemy in detail even though you have less infantry.

Unless you are playing with Sparta, I would rush for Hellenisation asap, since units such as Thorax Swordsmen and Thureos Spears have javelins, which are more deathly than the mere spears and the high melee defense of the hoplites.

[MANWHATADONGA]

I would play custom battles,you can chose your army and the AI army to get the feel of battle.As Aslan Ponto wrote i do the same thing,rush to Hellenisation research as quick as possible for the superior units.

[Lastspartan]

i normally bring 3-4 archers groups. just to kill off AI range. unless you want them spamming ur general the whole fight.......

[Terendelev]

You should get 2 non-hoplite infantry units to cover the flanks, the hoplites are fat ♥♥♥♥♥ that move slow and the enemy likes to flank, plus you can use them to flank the enemy if they are up.

[Salty Nobody]

Hoplites have surprisingly good charge bonuses. If your micro is decent you can smash your way through an entire campaign with them.

Ranged units are very helpful. 4-6 150 range slingers or preferably archers can deal with a lot.

If your faction has shock cav bring a few. Otherwise Greek melee cav kind of sucks and is best used for pinning down enemy cav so the spears can catch them.

Pikes are op against the AI, if your faction has pikes you want a core of pikes. Just deploy and let the AI come and try to hug your pointy sticks.

Giant rocks solve most problems. Bring a few balista or giant onagers to break into cities or force the field AI to come to you.

[Lord Antharg]

IMO hoplites>pikes, especially later on when they get huge %buffs to melee attack and defence. Pikemen have low missile resistance and are weak vs eastern or barbarian factions. When i play greek faction like Athens, my army composition is usually about 10 or more hoplites and the rest is cavalry, to charge from behind and to get rid of enemy missile units. Ranged units are usefull only when attacking minor settlement defended by pikemen units.

[IGX]

Which Greek faction? Some only have access to certain units.

[iiSMuRFxX]

7 pikes 2 hoplites 3 cav including general 4 missile 2 artillery 2 light infantry/swords works best for land battles for sieges you want 6 swords/light infantry 4 missiles 3 cav 2 art 2 pikes rest hoplites that’s what I find works best

[Maruricki]

hello everybody thank you for your suggestion

to clarify i'm playing as Massilia since rome 2 suggest it as an "easy" faction

[Shaman King]

I play sparta but cant move from sparta as athens and korynth declared wars on me haha. But yeah defending sparta with phalanx is good fun