Unit blocking my phalanx

[duncan.gill]

An interesting situation has arisen.

I was being besieged and led my phalanx-based out army out to do battle with the enemy. I advanced with a unified front to attack the enemy army; however the enemy positioned a solitary unit of hoplites in from of their main line. This presented an interesting dilemma.

1. do I halt the entire line to fight the hoplites. Given that they had a high command general with the army I would have had to spend most of the battle whittling them down (as they would not break). This delay limits the time for the rest of my line to spend fighting the enemy and so I may run out of time for the battle.

2. do I have the phalanxes either side of the hoplites turn inwards to attack the unit from the side (thus killing them more quickly) but then exposing my phalanx flanks should the main enemy line decide to charge.

3. Leave one unit to fight the hoplites and then have the rest of the line continue on to engage the enemy. This causes gaps to appear in my phalanx line that can then be easily exploited.

[pezhetairoi]

Solution: disable time limit for battles.

Solution: use one unit to attack the hoplites, then swing the wings of your phalanx inwards to attack the enemy's main line on the flanks. I hope you have cavalry to be the hammer. His centre will be 'embarrassed' by the hoplites standing in front, so they will be unable to do more than add to the weight in the centre, which your phalangites can undoubtedly withstand.

[Parallel Pain]

Don't you have reserves?

Do this E is enemy U is you

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
UUUUUUU_UUUUUUU

________E
___UU___U___UU

Have a reserve unit or two plug the hole or make a trap with it, and have other reserve units surround that hoplite and kill it.