Chapter 4 - Historical Battles

This section provides walkthroughs and tips for Rome: Total War’s ten historical battles.

The Battle of Lake Trasimene, 217 BC

The formidable Carthaginian General Hannibal has set up an ambush against patrolling Roman Julii forces. Several units of the Julii army attack the Carthaginian "bait" ahead while the remainder of the Julii army waits exposed against the bulk of the Carthaginian ambush emerging from the nearby woods.

You’re on the wrong end of the ambush and begin the historical battle nearly surrounded. The Carthaginians bear a powerful mixed army force, including several dangerous cavalry and spearmen squads that will make your counter moves extremely important.

Survive the ambush with effective counter maneuvers. For example, avoid targeting pikemen with your cavalry.

Your first goal is to avoid being surrounded. Pull off your lead infantry away from the "bait" at the front end of the assault. Move them away from the ambushing units emerging from the woods. Your forces at the rear of your patrol should focus on counters. Toggle your triarii spearmen against the approaching cavalry; target your infantry against enemy spearmen; and your velites against approaching infantry. Keep your cavalry units back until the Carthaginians spread somewhat then target the enemy’s ranged units. If you attack with cavalry too early, you’re liable to run into spearmen. Since you’re already outnumbered, fighting against counter units will make an uphill battle even steeper.

Adjust positioning of your forces during the battle so you’re countering the enemy effectively. Don’t allow cavalry to battle spearmen; send infantry against those spearmen and make sure your own triarii are up against any remaining enemy cavalry. Keep your general out of harm’s way until Carthaginian forces split up. Utilize your general’s heavy cavalry group to charge ranged units or to flank infantry. Hit engaged units from the side or rear. Don’t attack too early with your general and certainly don’t leave them along against enemy spearmen. Losing your general in an already outnumbered battle will destroy troop morale.

The Battle of Raphia, 217 BC

In this historical battle you control the Seleucids against an Egyptian army that has managed to lure your general away and into a trap. Immediately select your general’s cavalry unit and order them back toward your main force. Allowing your general to remain in his battle serves little purpose in the larger picture; you need your general with your main force to provide the morale boost during the primary skirmish. When you return your general to your main force, the Egyptian’s cavalry units sent to attack your general will return to the Egyptian’s main lines.

You’ll need to move quickly once the Egyptians enter within range or you’ll suffer casualties at the hand of the Pharaoh’s bowmen.

Don’t sit around and allow Egyptian archers to bombard your army, which is nearly devoid of ranged soldiers. Set formation to loose to help counter incoming missiles. Form small groups of cavalry and pikemen to send as counters to approaching Egyptian archers and cavalry units. The Egyptians do contain some of their own spearmen so be careful with your cavalry and don’t get into uphill battles against counter units.

Your war elephants are devastating close-range fighters but can run amok easily if overwhelmed. Keep them with other Seleucid units to remain in a powerful formation of attack. As the Egyptians spread, target cavalry against ranged units, pikemen against cavalry and other spearmen, war elephants against cavalry or even flanking enemy spearmen, and peltasts to bombard any Egyptian units from range. The peltasts become good skirmishers against slow-moving Egyptian spearmen as the tide begins to turn. Protect your general carefully and steer clear of battling spearmen.

As your troops become engaged in battle, move in your war elephants to attack from the side and watch them toss Egyptian soldiers around like dolls. Continually re-evaluate the battle situation to make sure your troops are engaged in advantageous situations. Also, be sure you haven’t neglected any Egyptian archer squads that are sitting there bombarding one of your groups with arrows. Split up your forces as needed to overwhelm remaining Egyptian groups.