Hi there this is my first post, so if the questions have already been answered then I apologise.
Almost all of the units in EB1 seem to be in a rank and file formation, even the units that would have had little or no training, like some of the levy units. Would it not be more realistic to have them in a mob formation (think peasant units in RTW) to represent their lack of training
In the case of the levy units the individual men would have been farmers, traders etc. who would have been called up, given a weapon and just enough training so that they might do slightly more damage to the enemy than to themselves and then pointed at their foes and told to go nuts. They probably would not have been taught how to march and drill in formation.
I think that this was one of the advantages Roman legionaries had over fighting tribal groups – the romans were in formation and fighting as a unit the tribes were in a mob and fighting as a individual.
Also possibly for the more elite tribal units such as the Gaesatae a mob formation might be more accurate as they emphasised individuals fighting-not a whole unit fighting as one.
Finally the mob formation might be more accurate for some of the skirmishing units. They too were the lowest in society and were not given much training in the way of standing and fighting in ranks. The bravest would have gotten as close to the enemy as possible and the most cowardly would have held back.
Obviously this is not true for all levy and skirmishing units but it is probably true for some of them.
Thanks and keep up the good work
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