What's your favourite battle formation ?

[Jxrc]

I know most of you would think that the obvious answer is "that bloody depends on the troops I have at hand " but whatever the army is made of I always use eastern defence.

Does anyone has a view on this ? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif

[Ryttare]

I never use the pre fixed formations, u migt as well place ur units my yourself.

[Lord Of Storms]

I would ask you two things what if your are the attacker and why you prefer this formation? http://www.smilies-world.de/Smilies/Smilies_klein_1/peepwall.gif

[Jxrc]

I use it even when attacking since it avoids me using the one picked up y the computer.

I would see the eastern defence formation as the safest one since horses and archers are placed behind the infantry. It avoids almost all risk to see your archers rolled over by cavalry before the infantry can do anything or the risk that you cavalry gets caught in the open by enemy missile units.

Infantry has the advantage of holding its ground againts almost anything the IA can throw at you and to be rather most resistent to arrows than most units (I usually end up having the enemy archers shooting at my spearmen while mine take care of softer units such as militia or horse units).

Do not get me wrong, I am not claiming that easter defence is "THE" battle formation but just that it is one that has saved me a lot of trouble lately.

Of course when defending army formations are useless unless you feel lazy and/or do not need to get the maximum edge using the opportunities offered by the terrain.

I just would like to know if I am not missing out any better options according to other players. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif

[Lord Of Storms]

I really do not care for the formations I guess I like to place my units myself.http://www.smilies-world.de/Smilies/Smilies_boese_1/sa72.gif

[Jxrc]

Ok but you cannot only do so when defending while you can still pick up any of the army formation.

[Jon von]

does anyone use the english formation?

[Fnord]

I just about always do infantry charge to start off and then go from there. I always modify it, but I find that infantry charge is a good basic lay out to build around. Of course I'm no nine star general so my opinion doesn't mean too much.

[pdoan8]

The only formation that I used was "Cavalry Skirmish" (during the Byz campaign) when I used 4,5 Byz Cav as the only missiles type on offense. The rest of the times, I start with default formation then reposition the units before advancing.

[HopAlongBunny]

Quote[/b] (Jon von @ Feb. 24 2003,16:23)]does anyone use the english formation?
Yes http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I like the distribution of units. Any units not placed where I want them can easily be shifted during the advance. Also, it is easy to deform the English set-up into different structures (?) for refusing a flank, loading a flank/center, forming square...etc.

[deejayvee]

I use the infantry charge usually because I tend to have an infantry heavy army and it has the units in roughly the right order I want. I usually end up changing on the march, but it's a good starting point.

[Red Harvest]

Probably not real creative, but I use that "three line attack" or was that defense? It generally gets my archers arbalests out in front with cav on either wing (and behind) with infantry through the center and the general safely in the rear. Key thing is that the unit formations are pretty good, even if not in precisely the best spot. Too many other formations are in column and must be rearranged rapidly if the enemy rushes forward before I'm set.

[Acronym]

If I ever use the standard formations, ottoman and half-square are my fav.

Ottoman is a good attacking formation, and you can easily move around the 3 different groups to decieve the enemy or protect a flank.

Half-square is excellent for defence and offense, especially with a little midification.

[Lord Of Storms]

Anyone use the Scorpion Missiles in the rear ? http://216.40.249.192/s/games/ultima/MON11.GIF

[Mori Gabriel Syme]

At the risk of sounding ignorant (which apparently I am on this), where are the names found which are being bandied about here?

On a related question, I there any way to edit the formations to use one's own?

[Red Harvest]

I just stumbled onto the formations folder/files tonight. Simple txt files as I recall. Can't remember where they were, but they are easy to recognize.

[Lord Of Storms]

To MGS the battle formation names are the ones found at the lower left at the beginning of a battle it prompts you to choose a formation which you can do by right clicking the shield in the lower left corner prior to a battle...https://www.clipart.com/sthm/thm5/CL/STGR007/broder3b2/children/crtch114.thm.jpg

[Mori Gabriel Syme]

Thanks. That will help immensely.

[Swoosh So]

You can make your own formations but i havent the energy to go into it right now http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Lord Of Storms]

Your welcome MGS http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Goal.gif