Cavalry and formation

I seldom arrange my cavarly in wedge formation before issuing a charge order...sure, a wedge of heavy cavalry can dramatically bring down the cohesion of almost any target unit, but I prefer a straight line with no rank depth, so that my chargers can annihilate the enemy unit's first rank and easily disengage with no casualties...how do you arrange your cavalry charges?

if i use wedge formation i make sure that i get the enemy from behind, but right after that i choose close again, it have happen that when i charge spear units i used wedge in head to head charges also, hoping they would brake after a while. Most times it worked, but other times i had to take help from other units to brake the enemys,

attacking soft units as shooters, skirmishers, peasants, urbans i never use wedge

I only use cavalry for doing hit-and-runs on their archers while they skirmish. And for that i don't use wedge. Most of the other times my cavalry is fighting other cavalry, and im not so sure how wedge would work against cavalry.

Wedge when attacking from behind, never thought of that, but it makes sense, especially vs spear I always use broad formation, so the entire enemy unit suffers the charge bonus. Sometimes when I am on a hill I wedge my archer, they seem to make more kills then.

I dont use wedge because if you charge with a line the number of men affected by your charge increases as mentioned above. On the rear i still use line formation because then you can hit all their line at once not a single point. Also if the enemy starts running they will run straight into your arms because you have already covered all their lenght unlike wedge formation does.

When i was playing Shogun, i always felt that Wedge was the way to go

*Give the enemy the Wedgie and ride 'em all down*

But...

MTW has shown again and again that the wedge is not a particularly powerful battle tool.

Since Fortebraccio talks about using Cav, i shall illustrate this idea with regards to how i use Cav.

Mounted Skirmishers

They are best deployed in a square formation. This encourages greater dexterty of control. Long lines often mean that they get 'swiped' at when moving out of the paths of the enemy. Moreover, they also shoot less fast in such a formation, thus lasting longer on the battlefield.

Of course, with certain skirmisher-like units, say Boyars, use them as the Heavy Cav or Medium Cav they are. Ready to charge the enemy when presented a gap.

Light Cav

At the start of a battle, these fellas aint good for much 'cept to go after other Mounted Skirmishers. They aint much use in the main fight usually. However, after the crisis, when the enemy starts breaking and routing to mommy, release them to the slaughter.

Again, how best to maximise the 'Captured' level?

I think this is best done by long lines of 2. I usually find that enemies fall thru gaps in 1 long line, thus the need for 2.

Heavy Cav

The wedge is best used here. The question arises how to maximise the contact rate. How about this?

Pull the unit to 1-2 long line/s in the beginning of a battle. Click Wedge formation. This prevents the clumsy maneovre of long lines. When approaching the flank or rear of an enemy, use Wedge to charge home. Once charge hits home, click Close formation and the Heavy Cav moves into the original long line mode, thereby maximising contact points.

Med Cav

Med Cav refers to all others which defy classification into Light and Heavy. I cant conceive of them. Cant really think of a Battlefield Role for them.

Conclusion

I think that the Wedge formation is still pretty much a Designer concept that failed to take off when gamers prefer max contact rate to valour bonuses.

I have been told that units move faster in Wedge formation. Have not tried that myself. But definitely less clumsy than long lines.

yeah wedging archers\arbs helps to turn the game sometimes if the battle is very even.

Well said Si Geena, I have come to exactly the same conclusions myself. I often found my light cav letting silly numbers of troops through gaps in their formation, so I just made it a bit thicker and problem solved. Good post.

Wedge is not effective enough to justify the extra casualties that could arise from -3 defence. Also, it should be switched to close immediately after the impact. Therefore, I use it only when I have time to micromanage and only against the weak opponents to rout them even sooner. Against anything else it's just not worth it, IMHO.

wedge ? that triangle formation ? yucks.. never had any luck with them.

I started using it with pikemen after I read The Art of War in the Middle Ages by CWC Oman who described the Swiss as frequently using it. He also describes the loss of the leading unit, the captain, which also happens in the game.

He states, and I've seen this in the game with pikemen and other units in a wedge formation, that it splits the enemy line and allows supporting units to attack on the flank and destroy the defenders in detail.

It works better if you use it against an enemy unit that is ahead of its own supporting units, thus allowing your supporting units to take the flanks. Its a quick maneuver that leads to a quick rout of a unit and can help tip the balance in your favor.

I might try using it. I usually try keep my forces from digging too deeply into an enemy formation, so they can quickly disengage if something that can kill them comes around the flanks. But, if it is a well protected area, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.

I don't use cavalry in Wedges, I prefer the full contact charge and mowing the enemy down as they run...

Wedges I prefer to use Infantry that are charging into a unit, guys like Ghazi Infantry who are going to die quickly anyway can do a lot of damage with the attack bonus they get with a quick Wedgie