Holy Jesus...

[desert]

Guys...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ancient 'effin circular schiltron.

This is the final phase of the battle, charging the Romans' heavy men. He had 80 guards at first, but they were getting slaughtered. Then, at 35 men, the general's hoplites just formed a perfect circle and started stabbing. Many dead enemies later, and they haven't lost a single man.
I might just win this battle. 15 Hastati killing 50 Illyrians was making me worried.

Has anyone else ever seen anything like this?

[Megas Methuselah]

Cry to the heavens, and let strength and honour be your watchwords today!

[Βελισάριος]

Actually, I have seen something similar.
While the campaign map AI can easily be compared to a retarded crack baby with a big club in a china shop, the tactical map AI has improved.

I once tried to surround a troop of Hoplitai and the formed a similar schiltrom formation of their own.
It doesn't happen with units in phalanx formation but on occasion you will see the Phalangitai at the back of the unit drawing their swords to meet a charge

Great screenshot, by the way. If you had submitted it to the competition I would have voted for it!

[Antinous]

Soldiers are this city's tower of defense!!

[desert]

Well, as it turns out, the general was the next to die, and everyone just sort of...routed. Thankfully, the slingers had the presence of mind to flee from the scene just before it happened and were able to get back into the settlement and end the sally.

He did pretty well, though:

And you would have voted for it, Burebista? Too bad that competition is over. :(

I already have a screenshot for the February competition, though.

[Βελισάριος]

If you crop out the HUD and the "Pause", sure I would have.

I'm collecting screens for February too. See you there, eh?

[antisocialmunky]

Its probably caused by guard mode having them hold formation and they turning to face the enemy.

[SwissBarbar]

that's one great shot, my soldiers never did that so far i agree, this would be a great shot for a competition, keep it in mind for march ^^

[desert]

He wasn't in Guard Mode though.

[Maion Maroneios]

0.2 radius then?

Maion

[HunGeneral]

Wow. Now thats strange.

I haven't seen any hoplites act like that - maybe because I prefer to have them run over by horsemen...
I myself wonder if this "hoplite-circle" can be achieved by command or is it a rare coinsidence

[desert]

Nah, just regular phalanx mod.

[Maion Maroneios]

Ah, that explains the over-tightness then

Maion

[Βελισάριος]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[IMG]

Similar situation, less spectacular. There were enemies in front and on the unit's left flank, so they braced for the attack. Quite sensible of them, I'd say.

[Olaf The Great]

It happens sometimes when units are surrounded and "pushed" into a tight ball from all sides.

Probably the most awesome thing that can happen on a battlefield.

[lenin96]

I noticed that individual soldiers turn and face the nearest enemy before combat.

[antisocialmunky]

Well, I've seen it happen before. Its a weird move order bug. This happens ALOT more in MIITW. ALOT being very rarely. I've only seen it once or twice in RTW and several times in MIITW with units turning into a ball while being moved after getting out of shiltron.

[Βελισάριος]

Actually, in EB I noticed it tends to happen very often.

[theoldbelgian]

I once saw something like this with a phalanx in vanilla
while being in phalanx mode the back line turned with their pikes still out(no swords!)

[desert]

This was the first time I ever saw it, though. Maybe I should let my spearmen get surrounded more often?

[HunGeneral]

Maybe I should let my spearmen get surrounded more often?

Hmmm... You could try it but be prepared for everything.

P.S. - Know that I think about it I don't remember seeing my enemies Hoplitia take up a formation like that when my soldiers are around them. The only thing they usally do is realise there not the 300 Spartans form Themophyle and start panicking then trow away there shields then try to run in every direction (until they fall to the ground and come to rest for seemingly no reason).