Roman Republic Armies

[androrix]

I know the overhaul mods fix this, but I always found it frustrating in vanilla that I can't really put together great republic armies. By the time I can recruit Triarii and Principes the reforms overtake me. That early Triarii unit always gets disbanded because it can't be replenished.

[Skatan]

I have played possibly thousands of hours of RTW, most of it unmodded, and I don't think I have recruited triarii. As you say, unless you kinda blitz build for getting up to triarii, you will hit the reforms before that.

[Zenith]

Yes, this seems to be a common problem. I have also reached the reforms before seeing a single unit of Triarii.

[Stoan]

After the reforms, what unit replaces them? I just had the reforms hit, and am struggling against large chariot armies.

[The Void Boy]

assuming we can still mod the files as easily as the original we might be able to change it so Triarii are unlocked at the same level as Principes

[Mayer]

I only use Hastati, then recruit Legionaries. There's very little incentive to use Hastati-Principes-Triarii in a checkerboard pattern, as battles are far too quick.

[androrix]

Originally posted by Stoan:

After the reforms, what unit replaces them? I just had the reforms hit, and am struggling against large chariot armies.

Regular legionnaires.

[Ensign]

Originally posted by androrix:

Regular legionnaires.

Actually he's asking what unit replaces triarii as the anti cav, spear unit. Id like to know too.

I just hit marian reform and so far the only unit i have with a anti mount bonus is the basic auxillia.

[Cpl. Burden R 3294]

I think the Auxilia is the intended anti-cavalry unit, but oof it feels a bit light on the ground to be standing up against those Chosen Horsemen, especially as Triarii were folding under them half the time. (yes, they'd stop them, but it wasn't worth it. I'd lose half the Triarii to kill the enemy general, plus a good number of Principes going in round the sides to stop him from fleeing)

It's my main issue playing as Rome (Jullii specifically) actually. Warbands hold no great problem, but Chosen Swordsmen seem to cause a headache one on one until Legionaries, and nothing comfortably deals with enemy cavalry, and if you're facing a Gallic or Brythonic Army, they're going to have generals or cavalry units, and/or chariots. I don't usually play the Scipii or Brutii (and it's been a literal decade or more since I played the original with mods), but I would imagine they have similar issues again Egyptian chariots and Makedonian Cavalry. I get the feeling Chosen Swordsmen are *supposed* to be fairly rare, elite-ish units forming a core of a warband hoard, but they never seem to be. I either face an army of entirely warbands, and fold them up easily, or entirely swordsmen, and struggle unless I can somehow cause a rout.

(Back in the original, I always preferred playing Greece anyway, for this reason. Phalanx tactics; Hoplites of varying strengths, as you got them, in the centre, Peltasts as skirmishers and guarding the flanks, archers firing over their heads.)

Anyway I digress.

[Vicboss]

Romans have really good cavalry. The replacement for Triarii is to build cavalry for your armies. You can support them with Auxilia and skirmishers for tough fights. Once you can build legionary cavalry you won't need to support them much at all. Praetorian cavalry is the last one you can build and they are phenomenal. If you are in area where elephants live, try looking in the mercenary recruitment panel as well. If you can grab a unit or two of elephants and keep them alive they can be pretty dedicated anti cavalry.

[androrix]

Originally posted by Vicboss:

Romans have really good cavalry. The replacement for Triarii is to build cavalry for your armies. You can support them with Auxilia and skirmishers for tough fights. Once you can build legionary cavalry you won't need to support them much at all. Praetorian cavalry is the last one you can build and they are phenomenal. If you are in area where elephants live, try looking in the mercenary recruitment panel as well. If you can grab a unit or two of elephants and keep them alive they can be pretty dedicated anti cavalry.

I haven't reached this point in the campaign yet but in the original I found use of archers and cavalry critical for late Rome. I also found that the game made me use real military tactics. Refused flank, doubled flank, envelopment, Epaminondas, pinning, mass and economy of force. These things really worked which was another reason the game was so great.

[Captiva]

It has been many moons since I last played RTW to late game, but I almost always counter cavalry with cavalry.

Otherwise the cheapest unit with a spear is the next best thing. I do not remember playing with Triarii much at all and if you can get cheaper spearmen, or a decent cavalry, I would use them instead anyways in most cases.

For the sake of being more accurate, would be nicer to have Triarii available sooner.

[Citizen Fish]

You replace triarii with legionary cavalry

not even joking, legionary cavalry are very decent in cav vs cav (in most cases)

[Azzakye]

Just regular Legionary can wipe out cavalry with their Javelin. Literally just tank the cavalry charge and throw javelin while in combat just making them throw point blank is worth it.

[Mayer]

Rome is a infantry civilization, and they have a tough time against dedicated cavalry.
Their legionary cav will be eaten alive by cataphracts and they are too damn slow to catch horse archers. Tank cavalry with infantry and kill horse archers with archers.

[Stoan]

Originally posted by Vicboss:

Romans have really good cavalry. The replacement for Triarii is to build cavalry for your armies. You can support them with Auxilia and skirmishers for tough fights. Once you can build legionary cavalry you won't need to support them much at all. Praetorian cavalry is the last one you can build and they are phenomenal. If you are in area where elephants live, try looking in the mercenary recruitment panel as well. If you can grab a unit or two of elephants and keep them alive they can be pretty dedicated anti cavalry.

Thanks for the advice! That is all very helpful, or I assume it will be once I try it :p