I think maybe they just happen randomly, but even when they do, i havn't found them to be that useful. I like Greece and getting Spartan hoplites instead.

I think it is very very randomly. when i was playing as the julli family or what ever you call them lol. I took over lots of reigons and had lots of huge army's. yes it was on easy im a noob. But the reform came very quickly. But im now playing as egyptions and ive been playing for ages its still not here. so i think it is just random

It has to be after a certain date (215 B.C. I think), you have to have a huge city on ITALY (not Carthage, Sparta or anything, only ITALY) and, if those conditions are met, it occurs randomly.

@t LXPeng

Do you know anyway I can change the date to an earlier one?

I've played several Roman campaigns, and the Marian reforms have been really random. I agree with Imao, the Greeks are really awesome when massed in phalanx.

The only thing I dislike about the Greeks is that you can't have a combined arms strategy. You have to rely on your hoplites as your cavalry is pure crap.

[This message has been edited by RomanKnight (edited 10-28-2005 @ 01:52 AM).]

For me it has always been a matter of timing. I usually send my Greek cavalry out wide to the flanks, then charge them when the opposing units retreat from the phalanx units and supporting archers. It's a simple tactic, but so far has proven useful for me.

What's the deal with spartan hoplites? Can they only be trained in Sparta?

In 1.1 they can be trained in Sparta and Syracuse. In 1.2 I'm not sure as I haven't played the Greeks on that patch.

Greek cavalry really is meek. If your coming up against something like cataphracts, they just come, see and run...

I'm playing a Greek campaign now, with the 1.3 patch that came with BI, and so far Spartans are only available in Sparta and Syracuse. If that changes, I'll let you know.

We still have marian reform threads?

Quote:

My advice would be to get 1.2. Now.

Both of my Julii and Brutii campaigns have undergone the Reforms on the dates 207 B.C. (Julii) and 203 B.C. (Brutii). I had a Huge City on the Italian Peninsula on each campaign, but that may just be coincidence.

To a previous question, you can change dates in the game, and perhaps even events tied to them, but I do not know how. Search the forums.

And as for Greeks, I played them once but I can't enjoy them as much as I would the versatile Romans. My thinking is pretty much the same as the Romans, in that I favour Heavy Infantry.

I already have 1.3 with BI, its just that I have not started a Greek campaign since I got it. Too absorbed getting my ass kicked on vh/vh as WRE I guess. Its just that I want to start playing RTW again to get the feel of owning the world as Rome again.