RE Leader on Tourney: “I have seen a LOT of other alliances defending with cavalry”

Alliances involved in the tournament who have battled Roman Empire [RE] are purportedly using cavalry to defend squares, according to RE co-leader and Consul jtk310. The remarks come from a diaglogue he had with Times editors on the Empire’s experiences in the tournament so far, noting that Holy Storm Company [Storm] have been their most direct competitor in controlling tournament squares.

RE has been competing chiefly for the square within their land claim in Westmarch, which is a plains square. Storm does have a robust presence in nearby Northmarch, and Storm member Dragon3 has apparently spearheaded efforts to challenge the Westmarch tournament square. RE is indeed dominating the square, according to tournament data, and there have been numerous battles involving RE and Storm, but TCOL, T?, and TfotR. jtk also noted recent challenges from vCrow as well.

A close look at the battle data reveals, however, that there have been a plurality of small skirmishes, and that these alliances are likely using elite strategies.

RE can also competed for the Coanhara or Huronire squares, and in doing so have adopted what they call a “water” strategy. “In other words, taking the easiest path to overcome resistance,” jtk explained. “Since we are smaller than a lot of our competitors, we have tried to be careful about when and where we use our troops. Every time we have taken Coanhara or Huronire, for instance, it has been a planned-out operation with long-term holding in mind.”

As for the observation of using cavalry for square defense — usually taboo in Illyriad — jtk attributes it to alliances’ adding to trade optimal troop types for getting troops to the square quickly. “I think that this is in favor of speed,” he explained, adding “but it has allowed me some nice kill ratios. We have made very heavy use of cavalry ourselves for attack in Westmarch. For Coanhara, we have made use of that large mountain to provide cover for our spearmen and archers, and in Huronire we made use of infantry by and large.”

Currently, Roman Empire is ranked 12th in the tournament overall and is occupying two tournament squares:

12

Roman Empire

30 days, 2 hours, 8 minutes, 44 seconds

-521/-2162 (Coanhara) -667/-1632 (Huronire)