They'll hold your line better and fight better. But experience definitely shows: Experienced units will be the last to break. In combat, weapons and armor upgrades are helpful but don't seem to make a huge difference. (No icon means basic equipment, while weapon or shield icons will be either bronze, silver, or gold to show respective quality.) Chevrons will indicate how experienced the unit is: More chevrons mean more experience, with silver chevrons being worth more than bronze ones, etc. The quality of troops: Little marks next to a unit's icon will indicate how good their weapons and armor are.Whereas a gladiator slave rebellion (Spartacus-style) will contain gladiator troops that, despite their small numbers, will take a huge bite out of any unprepared army. Bandit armies that pop up on the map can be almost anything - a huge army of peasants will melt before determined legions or even light cavalry. For instance, early in the game the barbarians North of Rome will field gigantic armies, but often they're light infantry that can be easily outmaneuvered or outfought. The type of troops in an army makes a big difference. The type of troops: You can't tell what type of troops the enemy is fielding until you actually move up a spy to check it out.More men doesn't necessarily mean a better army, but outnumbering the opposition obviously presents an advantage. A full banner represents roughly a thousand men. The size of the army: The little colored banner carried by an army on the map will show approximately how many troops are there.His numbers are bolstered by units of barbarian mercenaries, but they'll cave if the fighting gets ugly. He could use more missile troops and cavalry, though. A great general can win against a weaker one even when all the other odds are stacked against him.Ī three star commander? Excellent. In all of the Total War games this statistic is vital! The rank of the general determines how well his men will fight, how long they'll fight, how quickly the enemy will rout, how hard he is to bribe or assassinate, and more. The Rank of the General: The little stars beside an army show how good the leadership is, the tactical savvy of the General in charge.Not All Armies are Created Equal There are several things to take into consideration when you look at the quality of an army. Here's how to make sure you're always fielding better troops. Fair battles between evenly matched groups of troops are fun, but the easiest way to win is to always make sure your army is bigger and better than anything they ever face. Because you're in competition with your Roman allies to get wealth, you'll pretty much want to be in constant expansion from the first turns.

That's great, but cities won't be handed to you - you've got to TAKE them. Armies and the Strategic Map Okay, so you've been paying attention so far and now you know how to create productive, wealthy cities and a suitable navy ready for action.

League of war mercenaries tips