How to recruit spearmen?

[GuyInJeans]

All I've read is something about a reform? Nothing I've read has helped and no matter what buildings I build i never unlock a spearman unit. How do you get the triarii (is that how you spell it?) and the other spearman unit (auxilla something? I don't remember)

Help!

Thanks for reading

-Jeans

[Cynredd ap Ifon]

Forget the triarii. The problem is, you will get Marius' reform very quickly after you are able to recrute them. For the reform you need one Roman town with 24.000 citizens, upgraded with the Gouvernor's Palace - don't know the name of this building -, after that you are not able to recrute older units, but you get the legions. I don't know, if the Romans have spearman after the reform.

[ainsleyatw]

no spearmen after reform , be sure to set infrantry to auto fire.

[GuyInJeans]

Originally posted by ainsleyatw:

no spearmen after reform , be sure to set infrantry to auto fire.

So how do you deal with cavalry? All through the game I have never gotten a spear unit, I started with a triarii platoon but they got wiped out pretty fast as I hadn't gotten a grip on the game yet.

[Waxen]

You don't *need* spears to fight cavalry. Legionnaires are extremely tough and if you can prevent enemy horsemen from running away they will take apart most cavalry units with ease. After the Marian reforms (explained above), your hastati will be replaced recruitment-wise by auxilia, which have a bonus against cavalry. Right-click on the unit card (pause the game first if in-battle) to see unit abilities. Alternatively, you can recruit hoplite mercenaries in Greece and in the Near East (Not that I'd recommend it given their cumbersome nature. It can be hard to make sure they're the ones facing the enemy cavalry), or you can recruit some able cavalry to counter theirs directly.

tl;dr Don't fret, Roman swordsmen are so strong that they do better than any units with the "effective vs cavalry" trait, with the possible exception of Greek-exclusive heavy hoplites.

[Dayve]

All Roman factions get spearmen AFTER the reform - they're called Auxilia. There are auxilia archers, spearmen and cavalry. The mainstay of the Roman army after the reform is the heavy infantry; the legions. The auxilia are there to support them and there are spearmen units of auxilia.

[GuyInJeans]

Originally posted by !HoNose:

You don't *need* spears to fight cavalry. Legionnaires are extremely tough and if you can prevent enemy horsemen from running away they will take apart most cavalry units with ease. After the Marian reforms (explained above), your hastati will be replaced recruitment-wise by auxilia, which have a bonus against cavalry. Right-click on the unit card (pause the game first if in-battle) to see unit abilities. Alternatively, you can recruit hoplite mercenaries in Greece and in the Near East (Not that I'd recommend it given their cumbersome nature. It can be hard to make sure they're the ones facing the enemy cavalry), or you can recruit some able cavalry to counter theirs directly.

tl;dr Don't fret, Roman swordsmen are so strong that they do better than any units with the "effective vs cavalry" trait, with the possible exception of Greek-exclusive heavy hoplites.

Originally posted by Dayve:

All Roman factions get spearmen AFTER the reform - they're called Auxilia. There are auxilia archers, spearmen and cavalry. The mainstay of the Roman army after the reform is the heavy infantry; the legions. The auxilia are there to support them and there are spearmen units of auxilia.

Ah, I see.. What's strange is I don't think I have the reform yet but I have cavalry auxilia. That doesn't matter anyway.

Thanks for the help guys/gals!

[CHE]

Originally posted by !HoNose:

You don't *need* spears to fight cavalry. Legionnaires are extremely tough and if you can prevent enemy horsemen from running away they will take apart most cavalry units with ease. After the Marian reforms (explained above), your hastati will be replaced recruitment-wise by auxilia, which have a bonus against cavalry. Right-click on the unit card (pause the game first if in-battle) to see unit abilities. Alternatively, you can recruit hoplite mercenaries in Greece and in the Near East (Not that I'd recommend it given their cumbersome nature. It can be hard to make sure they're the ones facing the enemy cavalry), or you can recruit some able cavalry to counter theirs directly.

tl;dr Don't fret, Roman swordsmen are so strong that they do better than any units with the "effective vs cavalry" trait, with the possible exception of Greek-exclusive heavy hoplites.

This is pretty much what I'd say.

In addition, there are other spear mercenary units, such as the barbarian spearmen, which can be useful - especially in regions where you can replenish them.

As for their usefulness, I often put them on the flanks of my line or guarding missile units - the places where enemy cavalry often strike, IIRC. Also, you may manage to keep them close to your cavalry, and use them as support for your cavalry against enemy cavalry, once they have engaged.

[Waxen]

Originally posted by CHE:

In addition, there are other spear mercenary units, such as the barbarian spearmen, which can be useful - especially in regions where you can replenish them.

Nop. Barbarian infantry qualify as light infantry and have no bonus vs cavalry.

[Aquilifer]

Triarii are recruited from an army barracks. Auxilia can be recruited from militia barracks after the Marian Reforms which happen when you get a huge city.

[GuyInJeans]

Originally posted by Amazonite:

Triarii are recruited from an army barracks. Auxilia can be recruited from militia barracks after the Marian Reforms which happen when you get a huge city.

Huh, I've never been able to get Triarii

[Aquilifer]

Originally posted by GuyInJeans:

Originally posted by Amazonite:

Triarii are recruited from an army barracks. Auxilia can be recruited from militia barracks after the Marian Reforms which happen when you get a huge city.

Huh, I've never been able to get Triarii

I guess it's because there's a city that grows to a huge city before you bother to get an army barracks

[GuyInJeans]

Originally posted by Amazonite:

Originally posted by GuyInJeans:

Huh, I've never been able to get Triarii

I guess it's because there's a city that grows to a huge city before you bother to get an army barracks

Just checked my game and did some snooping around my cities, turns out I just didn't have the correct building... Bummer.. Anyway, back to stomping Briton

[JustMaddi]

Originally posted by Amazonite:

Triarii are recruited from an army barracks. Auxilia can be recruited from militia barracks after the Marian Reforms which happen when you get a huge city.

Aren't the Marian Reforms triggered by building an Imperial Palace?

[GuyInJeans]

Originally posted by ღ๖ۣۜ‎Safferan Forthula™:

Originally posted by Amazonite:

Triarii are recruited from an army barracks. Auxilia can be recruited from militia barracks after the Marian Reforms which happen when you get a huge city.

Aren't the Marian Reforms triggered by building an Imperial Palace?

^ Yeah, but you need a certain city size, I used to be able to get it but riots happened and a bunch of people died...

Man I'm going bankrupt I need to kill my army off on the britons and gauls already... I can't pay the upkeep costs :P

[CHE]

Originally posted by !HoNose:

Originally posted by CHE:

In addition, there are other spear mercenary units, such as the barbarian spearmen, which can be useful - especially in regions where you can replenish them.

Nop. Barbarian infantry qualify as light infantry and have no bonus vs cavalry.

Ah... I guess I'll see next time I play.