Political Crossfire Forums

First off, I just started playing strategy games. Picked up Civ5 awhile back, got really into and then just bored. So I got Rome II and realized that Mr. Galt was correct about Civ5 - it is poorly designed, really easy and not all that strategic.

Anyways... I'm obsessed. Great game. Love the tactics, love how indepth it seems compared to Civ5. My wife even enjoys watching it and doing custom battles... Which is hilarious. Apparently her idea of a good strategy is to do funny things like run away from the enemy for half an hour.

I'm looking for strategy tips. Do you guys have a default formations? Ones you like to start your units off? What build order for a new campaign do you recommend? Any other tips? Also, how important are fleets early game?

I love the total war series of games. Although I've been without a laptop for a year, so haven't played Rome 2. On the campaign map I tend to concentrate on one hated but large nation close to my borders and ally myself with all the surrounding little nations. Plus I make trade agreements with absolutely everyone.

On the battlefield I tend to send in all my troops into the middle of their troops, assuming they've lined their units up in a big long line. Then wait for them to surround my troops before smashing them with cavalry. Also if I have archers or artillery and they don't I'll let them cause hell before rushing into this attack.

In defending cities, shit loads of archers and huge walls are always going to be useful.

I like to move my troops up in lines. Get archers into range. Wait for them to spaz. Have cavalry or infantry wait behind terrain or buildings, swoop in to defend the lines. I only have low level units now though... Can't wait to get artillery and that kind of thing.

Medieval 2 was probably my favorite to date.

Non likes the double-envelopment. unless I have artillery. then I shell them before double-enveloping.

They only tend to spaz early on if they're shit or your army is absolutely huge compared to theirs. Btw don't bother with peasants and other terrible troops unless it's just to increase public order in a city. They are tragic in a battle and make it more likely your other troops will rout.

In regards to ships from what I remember in empire they're only really useful to protect sea trade routes.

My favourite was the original Rome. So awesome especially considering its age.

pull a Hannibal at Trebia...shit will work 90% of the time:


i'm in your rear attacking your general.

I just never know how much the naval aspect matters, and I know f**k all about the tactics anyways.

Yeah so far it has been pretty easy going in battle. I've been doing a lot of pausing, consulting Wikipedia for ideal unit combos, and trying to learn how to keep my formations better in movement. Also doing a lot of reading about how to use terrain to your advantage.

I just killed my first faction which is awesome.

You might be able to play as that faction if you couldn't shady. I remember the naval aspect being a bit annoying. I used to just create some huge fleet after playing for a while then automatically resolve battles.

With terrain, obviously archers high up work wonders at the start. Also if there is a bridge let them cross first and create a bottle neck at the other end especially if you're the smaller army.