One of the niftiest elements in Caesar II is the way each enemy army presents you with new and different tactics - and greatly varying levels of discipline - as you advance from province to province.  The good people at Impressions have provided us with an exclusive orderof-battle summary that should prove invaluable in your quest to become Emperor. (We've ignored the Latin tribes you'll encounter at the start on Sardinia, Corsica, and in Cisalpine Gaul - they're basically rabble and can be handily beaten by any sufficiently numerous cohort).

Carthaginians
Home Province:	Carthage
Troop types:	Light infantry (spearmen) and war elephants
Threat level:	Moderate.  This is a professional army, and a large one.
Tactics:		Carthaginians attack in good order, light infantry in
			front of elephants.
Roman tactics:	Have lots of slingers concentrate fire on the nearest
			elephants, who will balk and eventually run amok.  
			Then you can cut the light infantry to pieces.

Greeks
Home Province:	Achaea
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (pikemen); light infantry (pikemen);
			missile troops (slingers)
Threat level:	Dangerous
Tactics:		Light infantry usually attacks ahead of the heavy
			Hoplites, and those pikes have a long reach.  Your
			chances of victory are slim unless your troops are
			numerically equal or superior.
Roman tactics:	If your slingers can disrupt their light infantry's line,
			the Greeks may halt to reorganize before the Hoplites
			can engage.  A Roman charge, timed perfectly, may
			rout them.  Try to hit their slingers, too, if you see an
			opening.

Egyptians
Home Province:	Aegyptus
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (spearmen); light infantry
			(swordsmen); missile troops (bowmen)
Threat level:	Fairly high; these are big formations of disciplined
			regular troops.  Man for man, however, they are
			mediocre fighters.  
Tactics:		Egyptians like to try flanking attacks, formed in
			columns, while their bowmen concentrate on the
			threatened wing of your army.  
Roman tactics:	Pre-empt the flanking maneuver by striking the
			Egyptians while they're in motion.  Use the largest
			columns of heavy infantry and auxiliaries you can
			muster.  Keep out of range of their bowmen as long as
			you can until their supporting infantry is tired, then
			attack the bowmen using the tortoise formation.

Galatians, Armenians, Parthians
Home Provinces:	Cappadocia, Armenia, Mesopotamia 
Troop types:	Cavalry/missile troops (horse-archers); light infantry
			(swordsmen) 
Threat level:	Very dangerous.  
Tactics:		Light infantry will attack first, usually trying to turn
			one of your wings.  They are clad in mail armor which
			makes them dangerous in close combat.  
Roman tactics:	Deal with the light infantry first, even if you must turn
			your entire wing against them.  The horsemen will
			rarely dismount and come to their aid.  Once the light
			infantry have been neutralized, attack the cavalry in
			front with two units in tortoise formation, then smite
			them on the flank with heavy infantry. (Special note:
			Unless you're experienced and have a very large force,
			your chances of victory are actually better if you turn
			command over to the computer!)

Mauri, Blemmyes
Home Provinces:	Mauretania, Cyrenaica, Africa Proconsularis 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (spearmen); Light infantry
			(swordsmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Low 
Tactics:		Mass attacks that often result in confusion.  
Roman tactics:	Enter tortoise formation and let them come.  Send a
			column or two after their bowmen, then turn your
			columns on the infantry mass and strike them in the
			rear.  As soon as the bowmen break and run, 
			order "pursuit."

Judians, Phoenicians, Cypriots
Home Provinces:	Judea, Syria, Cyprus 
Troop types:	Light infantry (swordsmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Low 
Tactics:		Rudimentary 
Roman tactics:	About the only blunder you can make is a premature
			charge at the bowmen, who tend to be numerous. 
			Cut down as many of the light infantry as possible to
			lower morale, then go all-out for the bowmen. 
			Victory should be yours.

Macedonians, Thracians, Cretans, Seleucids
Home Provinces:	Campania, Macedonia, Creta, Caria, Thracia 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (pikemen); Light infantry (pikemen);
			Missile troops (slingers) 
Threat level:	Moderate to high 
Roman tactics:	Their pikemen are very dangerous in defense.  Tie
			them down with light infantry formed in tortoise,
			then strike their flank with heavy troops.  You can
			usually ignore their slingers, who are neither numerous
			nor very good.  If you're outnumbered, just form all
			units into tortoise defense and let the enemy wear
			himself out.  Mediterranean armies rarely try flanking
			maneuvers, so you can extend light units out from
			your flanks, in effect "boxing" them in.

Cilicians, Bithynians
Home Provinces:	Lycia Et Pamphylia, Bithynia Et Pontus 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (spearmen); Light infantry (spearmen);
			Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Low to moderate 
Tactics:		Their infantry tend to spread out when attacking;
			don't break your line with flanking maneuvers until the
			Turks are heavily engaged - the very chaotic nature of
			their movements makes them unpredictable, and they
			will take advantage of any openings.  
Roman tactics:	When the Turks are committed fully, flank them with
			your auxiliaries, then order a methodical advance with
			your heavies; keep your slingers behind them and
			advance them in step with the heavies.

Dalmatians, Scordiscans Monte
Provinces:		Illyricum, Dacia 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(spearmen); Missile troops (axemen) 
Threat level:	Pushovers 
Tactics:		Disorganized attacks, often aimed at slinger units.
Roman tactics:	Just remember to protect your slingers with an
			infantry screen, and they'll wreak havoc at close
			range.

Celtiberians, Sicilians
Home Provinces:	Hispania Tarraconesis, Baetica, Lusitani, Sicila 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(spearmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Low 
Tactics:		They'll attempt to outflank you, but usually get
			disorganized in the process.  They tend to appear in
			large numbers, however, so don't get lazy.  
Roman tactics:	As soon as the Iberian flanking movement loses
			cohesion (their troops will more or less mill around
			aimlessly), smash them with columns of heavy
			infantry.  Station a century of infantry behind your
			slingers, and move them to intercept any 
			threatening Iberians.

Gauls
Home Provinces:	Gallia Narbonensis, Gallia Lugudunensis, Aquitania 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(spearmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Generally low, but their ferocity can make them
			dangerous.
Tactics:		Reckless, precipitate attacks.  Flanking attempts
			quickly become disorganized, but their numerous
			heavy infantry can go berserk and do lots of damage.  
Roman tactics:	Keep your wings strong and you should be all right.
			You might also consider a "sucker play" - withdraw
			just before the Gauls make contact - the farther
			they have to advance, the more confused they
			become.

Pannoniae, Chatti, Frisians
Home Provinces:	Pannonia, Germania Superior, Germania Inferior 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(spearmen); Missile troops (axemen)
Threat level:	Moderately dangerous 
Tactics:		They will close quickly and charge with their axemen.  
Roman tactics:	Form your men with a couple of columns on each wing
			- light infantry will do, if you can't spare any heavies.
			Move one column out to intercept flankers, use the
			other to hit the enemy center when it's still two -
			three squares away from contact; hopefully, this will
			take the steam out of the axemens' assault.  If you're
			greatly outnumbered, form all units into a tortoise and
			move the whole cohort off-center, throwing the
			Germans off-balance.

Britons
Home Province:	Britannia 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(swordsmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Extremely high 
Tactics:		British armies are disciplined and skilled tacticians, 
			and are quite adept at flanking maneuvers.  Their
			bowmen are both numerous and lethal and tend to
			appear in large numbers.  
Roman tactics:	Brave as they are, they're still barbarians, and they
			tend to become disorganized.  Your best bet is to hit
			them in the flanks before they can hit you in the
			center.  Despite the rain of arrows you must endure,
			avoid direct attacks on their archers until you've
			broken their infantry.

Picts
Home Provinces:	Caledonia, Hibernia
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(swordsmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Deadly 
Tactics:		The Picts are bad news; they can outflank, they like
			to mount quick sorties against your missile units, and
			they fight like demons.
Roman tactics:	If you're in Brittania, hire lots of Mauri bowmen and 
			try to thin out the Pictish ranks as they advance.  
			Use light infantry in tortoise to break up their charge,
			then deliver short, sharp ripostes with your heavy
			formations.  Always protect your slingers - Picts are
			drawn to them like iron filings to a magnet.  And don't
			even think about attacking their archers until you
			settle the hash of their heavy infantry.  Your only real
			advantage against this valorous foe is the fact that
			they can't maintain a tight formation.  Capitalize on
			that in any way you can, but be ready for a brutal
			engagement.

Alamanni
Home Province:	Noricum Exterior 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(spearmen); Missile troops (axemen) 
Threat level:	Moderate
Tactics:		They'll try to close with their axemen, and if you let
			them, there will be great slaughter and loss of morale.
Roman tactics:	Try shallow flanking attacks to slow them down, but
			put the center of your line in tortoise formation.  If you
			can avoid the full impact of their axemen, and can
			inflict even moderate losses, the Alamanni tend to
			loose heart very quickly.  When their morale declines,
			deliver another flank attack.

Arabs
Home Province:	None - they appear along the silk trade routes in
			many areas.  
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (spearmen); Light infantry (spearmen)
			Missile troops (bowmen)
Threat level:	Very dangerous 
Tactics:		Arab armies tend to have huge contingents of 
			archers.  Very dangerous at a distance, the bowmen
			are also impetuous and tend to break formation.  
Roman tactics:	Of course, when the archers are moving, they aren't
			shooting.  Keep your men out of range and wait for
			that moment.  Without their bowmens' support, Arab
			infantry can be crushed.

Numidians 
Home Province:	The sea; they are pirates 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (spearmen); Light infantry
			(swordsmen) 
Threat level:	Variable, but usually high 
Tactics:		The large number of heavy infantry and high level of
			zeal makes the Numidians formidable raiders.
Roman tactics:	Unless you have absolute numerical superiority, let 
			the computer handle these battles.

Vandals 
Troop types:	Cavalry/missile troops (horse-archers); Heavy 
			infantry (swordsmen) 
Threat level:	Variable 
Tactics:		Their swordsmen usually attack first, but tend to
			retreat when counterattacked by heavy infantry. 
Roman tactics:	Tortoise formations will blunt their attacks.  Once
			you've broken their infantry, try to surround the
			horse-archers from all sides, advancing your units in
			tortoise formation.

Visigoths
Home Provinces:	Dacia Exterior, Asia Exterior 
Troop types:	Cavalry/missile troops (horse-archers); Heavy
			infantry (swordsmen)
Threat level:	High
Tactics:		Visigoth tactics are basically similar to those of the
			Parthian regulars.  Any maneuver a regular army can
			perform, they can perform, so expect anything.
Rornan tactics:	Fortunately, you won't encounter them often until
			you're promoted to Emperor; if you choose to invade
			one of their home provinces, expect a long, arduous
			campaign.  Since their own tactics are so flexible, and
			their fighting proficiency so great, your best option is
			simple numerical superiority.

Huns
Home Province:	None - they can appear anywhere along the silk 
			trade routes.  
Troop types:	Cavalry/missile troops (horse-archers); Heavy 
			infantry (swordsmen) 
Threat level:	Murderous
Tactics:		The Huns are very skilled at combined-arms
			operations, mixing archers and infantry, keeping
			formations, timing their moves with uncanny skill.  
Roman tactics:	Better let the computer handle these encounters.  If
			your ego demands personal control, however, form a
			line and a column to deal with their swordsmen, form
			the rest of your men into a compact mass, in tortoise
			formation, and try to cut through to their horse-
			archers just as soon as they start firing.

Saxons
Home Province:	Germania Exterior 
Troop types:	Heavy infantry (swordsmen); Light infantry
			(swordsmen); Missile troops (bowmen) 
Threat level:	Extremely dangerous
Tactics:		Saxon armies combine the ferocity of a barbarian
			army with the discipline of seasoned regulars.  
Roman tactics:	Bring along as many archers/slingers as you can. 
			Saxon missile formations tend to be small and can be
			smothered with Roman firepower.  Meet their
			infantry attack with strong formations on both wings,
			and extend them early in the fight.  If you can distract
			them with these flanking attacks, your heavy infantry,
			in the center, may - and I emphasize "may" - be able
			to push them back.  Once again, numerical superiority
			is highly desirable, but a fight with the Saxons is
			always going to be a desperate and dicey enterprise.

Reprinted by permission of PC Gamer magazine, (c)1999.
