How to fight Romans when you are playing Hellenistic power?

[marek1978]

Quite simple question, i know that roman legions had enormous advantage over phalanx and other ancient tactical solution.
But how can one limit that advantage in your opinion and in a game term?

[dans221]

Try to force them to attack you rather than attack them yourself. It's not even about your own defensive bonuses as much as eliminating the Roman entrenchment bonus which is absolutely lethal.

[bob.]

Also, if you have a big army remember to attack in Clear territory, as it has the highest frontage. 1 vs 1, the legion will beat more or less anything.

[marek1978]

Both points taken.
And it seems that comparing to the orginal AJE patches incrased chances of the helenistic soldiers.
As far as i understant in a game mecanics legions supperiority comes from fact that the fight on a distance ( pillum) and then that they are equally strong in melle combat? And it comes from their discipline?

[Pocus]

pilum is not that pivotal ... their overall quality is. Either you overwhelm them with sheer number, but for that you need an open terrain, or you have troops fit for terrains like forests and hills and you 'might' manage to inflict heavy losses on them... but only if they are on the move, not entrenched.
Basically what the others said

[PJJ]

Terrain plays a huge part in defeating legions. For example in the Cantabrian Wars scenario, the Roman legions are in serious trouble against tribal warriors who get nice bonuses when fighting in mountainous terrain.

If you don't have such special troops and special terrain, I've found that it really helps to be on the defensive and try to keep your troops well supplied and under decent commanders, especially if you don't have considerable numerical superiority. If the Romans attack you with poorly supplied troops that have lowered cohesions values, you have good chances of beating them, even when your troops are not as good as the legionnaires.

But if the Romans are led by Sulla, you're doomed.

[marek1978]

So probably in a late imperial scenarios – after Dioclecian or after 378 AD legions power will be limited? As they were not that coherent?

As far as I read – legions had a huge problem when facing strong cavalery force, I wonder if it will be shown at some point in a game – hopefully there will be some Parthian scenarios.

For me one more serious limitation for Hellenistic powers is the fact that very often siege machines supply is very limited – it actually means you need to starve the cities – when you cannot buy proper siege train thing.