Really really stupid, yet insanely effective tactics?

Has anyone else noticed that Byzantine infantry and to a lesser extent other shock units become extremely effective when deployed in super long and skinny lines like 1-2 units thick?

I guess they get flanking bonuses this way or something, becuase they will quickly rout a unit they could barely kill normally when deployed in this fashion.

A really unrealistic, and just plain stupid tactic that works much too well.

It is actually a commonly used tactic. The reason it works well is because the edges of your formation wrap around the flanks and perhaps even the back of the other unit. You will a) have a maximum of units fight (instead of standing in the back rows being idle and b) get all the nice flanking bonuses (like increased attack and morale drops)

If you really want it to work. Send another thin line immediately afterwards. This one will wrap around too and boost your own troops morale (and fill in any gaps in the line)

Yep as long as you are winning that will be fine, but should any enemy reinforcements arrive to help or you start losing, morale will drop pretty damn fast.

i thought this was eliminated now cuz u could break lines. if this is true than another gamespoiler is added.

It's effective but very, very easily countered.

Try sending a shock unit (preferable cavalry or fast infantry) in a wedge straight down the middle. This cuts up the unit and then makes it very easy to cut it down.

But the AI does not do this (wedge, and break the line.

So it is OK (if somewhat cheesy) in SP. In MP you won't get far with it imho.

I have yet to try it, but it does make sense against the AI.

I think there was a post about how you could make heavy cavalry win against spears from the front, it was basically the same.

In MP if you see it is about to be done to your spears you can either:

a) Wedge them... or
b) Put them in Engage.

If you put them in Engage you have a better change of breaking ranks, as well as the men on the flanks will engage the flankers more aggressively.

------------------
BTW, Danish Crusades are true to history.

You may not care about war, but war cares about you!