About the space which various units can take on the battlefield

I have noticed in regard to infantry that some units take a very little space on the battlefield in comparison to others (like with Averni then see milnaht and helveti phalanx in comparison to Neitos), so with the former units then you are forced to ignore them in your unit selection because it recoils upon your formation in whole on the battlefield, like when the enemy manages to outflank you with his own extended line or your units formation gets broken when you attack.

So I am wondering whether such spacing of units is historically correct and also whether you can edit such units to have more space on the battlefield when playing online battles? For with Averni then I feel like I am forced into picking always the same limited units not neccesarily of merit but rather because of an irrelevant issues, when I think it would rather be better to have a lot of milnahts in mine army then a few neitos and some cheap worthless units with them.

The denser formations do better in frontal combat (but are worse for breaking the enemy formations and flanking) so they have their purpose. Try using a unit like helveti phalanx and stretching it out so its only a few lines deep (perhaps putting it on guard mode) and using it to hold the center of your line. Because the individual men are closer together, you get some 2v1 situations in the midst of the nitty-gritty details, and don't expose any individual soldiers' sides.

Brother, are you saying that you're "forced" to overlook Arjos as... unfit for battlefield commission? I've got to disagree with that, mate, and quite strongly in fact. I always bring a few Arjos whenever I can afford it, and IMO they are better than Neitos. I mean, with better morale, a better shield, a higher mass and a spear instead of javelins (this one, I suppose, is personal preference though: I rarely use the javs anyway, so naturally I value the anti-cav protection more), what is there to complain about? They're cheaper too, as a matter of fact, and as Fred already said, a tighter formation is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's often very good.

All this combined makes a kick ass unit if you ask me. I mean, they're exactly what the Gauls need (besides some ranged support): an elite infantry unit which isn't ridiculously expensive or low in numbers (both of which Celtic elites - or at least those not on horseback - tend to be). You can see them as a bridge between the ultra-crazy Solduros and the Neitos if you like.

Now as for the Mori Gaesum, I'll say they're good too, though I use them far less often - but that says more about my taste than it does of the unit. It's performed good when I've felt so inclined to take them. Though I use the Milnaht slightly more often, I can say pretty much the same about them. They are solid choices both of 'em.

As for making their formations looser, there's nothing that stops you, technically speaking. However, for it to work in MP, your opponent must have made the same changes as well, and that's where I imagine it falls. I don't see this being changed in the standardized edu, and rightly so. It's better this way.

Neitos are more versatile in the line due to their javelins and wider spacing. Basically Arjos are most cost effective if you load your leading flank with a couple, to make your turning action as missile resistant and strong vs. cavalry as possible. Just remember to run as little as possible with the Arjos to preserve stamina, and if a cavalry unit charges them, counter charge using alt-attack so that they fight with their spears from the start.

Really though I basically agree with your critique, Arjos are IMO the coolest looking Gallic heavy infantry unit, but when it all comes down to it, lately when I have the money I just fill the center with neitos, with higher stamina/speed troops on the flanks like Uirodusios and bataroas, supported by Gaesatae and light cavalry for the win.

Other than unit spacing, can someone explain unit mass to me ? and also what would be the optimal mass if i wanted to break an enemy formation?

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Originally Posted by Lazy O

Other than unit spacing, can someone explain unit mass to me ? and also what would be the optimal mass if i wanted to break an enemy formation?

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any mass above one would do honestly (since almost all infantry are mass 1); 3-5 is optimal, depending on exact battlefield role.

1.15-1.2ish Mass is good for pushing. Spacing I dunno and I don't think it matters that much since they spread out while attacking.