This is described with more detail below. Sometimes some card types are better than others. In this case, the best ones are listed on the first line and those that are second best in the second.
Fighting ... Use ... Archers 1. Light Horse, Artillery
2. All but Elephants
Artillery 1. Foot Skirmisher, Light Horse, Cavalry
or Heavy Cavalry
2. Galley, Pike, Siege Tower, Spear, Sword, Warband
Cavalry 1. Pike, Spear(7), Heavy
Cavalry
2. Elephants
Elephants 1. Archers, Light Horse
2. Foot Skirmishers, Pike, Spear, Sword
Foot Skirmishers 1. Light Horse
2. Heavy Cavalry
Galley 1. Stronger Galley, Sword or
Spear
Heavy Cavalry 1. Elephant, Pike (7)
Light Horse 1. Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry
2. Pike, Spear, Sword, Warband
Pike 1. Sword, Siege Tower
2. Foot Skirmisher, Warband
Siege Tower 1. Siege Tower + Engineer
Spear 1. Siege Tower
2. Warband, Heavy Cavalry
Sword 1. Warband, Siege Tower
2. Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry
Warband 1. Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry, Siege Tower
Notes on the Six Starting Armies
Northern Armies
Each of these armies has a Sword-6, a Cavalry-6, a Foot Skirmisher and
a Galley-6. From there, they start to differ. Note that no northern
army has any specialized cavalry.
Description: Army A has no Pike, but an extra Sword-6 and is the only Northern
one to have a Warband.
This sounds reminiscent of the German tribes with concentration on
swords and very large groups.
Approach:
Because of the large component of sword, this army is best fought using
plenty of cavalry.
Description: Army B is the only one to have a Spear (6).
This sounds like a Macedonian group.
Approach:
As there is no perfect way to target spear, this is the most difficult
army to program against. Probably heavy cavalry and/or warbands
are the best approach.
Description: Army C's unique feature is to have a second Cavalry-6.
This sounds like steppe riders such as the Sarmatians.
Approach:
An army emphasizing cavalry is best fought with pikes.
Southern Armies
Common elements here are Cavalry-6 and once again, both Foot Skirmishers
and Galleys. No southern army has any Sword or Pike.
Description: Army D is the only one to feature Elephants (7). It also has a Spear-6,
and a Warband. We can perhaps imagine it as a Carthaginian force
accompanied, as they usually were, by Celtiberian tribes.
Approach:
An opponent should have pike to counter its elephants and cavalry.
Archers or light horse might be tried as a backup plan for the former.
Description: Army E's special cavalry is Light Horse and also features a second Spear.
This force could be a group like the Numdians of North Africa.
Approach:
Heavy cavalry would be the best way to defeat this army's lighter horse forces.
Description: Army F also has Light Horse plus doubling of both its Cavalry and
Foot Skirmishers. With this large amount of horse, Persians,
and particularly the Parthian horse who defeated Crassus' Roman
army, come to mind.
Approach:
Again, heavy cavalry would be the best way to defeat this army's
lighter horse forces. Try not to let this army acquire a military leader
as it can become very effective using Ambush in defense.
Also ...
Created:
11/9/01
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