Javelins in close combat

[bovi]

No, it's unlike Shogun, where archers would occasionally hit their own unit upon releasing their arrows, even if the enemy was a long way off. In RTW a unit cannot harm its own members, so all the members will attack perfectly well against the enemy unit that's trying to slay them. However, if another unit is in melee and you attack the ones they're fighting, you'll hit a lot of your own troops in the back, with the shieldless effects that entails.

Edit: Slow...