Square formation?

**antisocialmunky** · 02-23-2009, 05:35

You probably could using the fire at will command but too much micro.

@AVSM - Well, I wasn't implying that ETW modeled it perfectly, simply answering a question. However, since these infantry squares are so small, what's stopping someone from planting spikes around it to use as obstacles?

Square + Sharpened Stakes seem like a good combo.

**ratbarf** · 02-23-2009, 05:41

Light infantry don't have the square ability in the demo at least.

**Sir Beane** · 02-23-2009, 12:22

Square formation makes an excellent 'last stand' formation. Your men can go down fighting back to back in a blaze of glory

. It will work even better when combined with cover or a town square for that extra movie style zest.

**pdoyle007** · 02-23-2009, 13:23

I think the battle where the regiment marched in column/square was Fuentes de Onoro (Sharpes Battle for anyone who has read it). The 7th division got placed too far away by Wellington but the light division marched over and escorted them back to safety.

This was interested because the divisions would march, then when cavalry came close move into square, then carry on once the coast was clear. They also had groups of riflemen inside each square who would run out, snipe at the cavalry and any gunners, then run back inside the square.

I think the French actually lost more men during this phase of the battle due to the British discipline.

**antisocialmunky** · 02-23-2009, 17:30

Originally Posted by ratbarf

Light infantry don't have the square ability in the demo at least.

What's stopping you from laying stakes with light infantry and then putting a infantry square in the stakes?

**Phog_of_War** · 02-23-2009, 23:38

Originally Posted by antisocialmunky

What's stopping you from laying stakes with light infantry and then putting a infantry square in the stakes?

Nothing! In fact this is a great idea for a defensive posture. I plan on using this one and seeing what the AI does to counteract it.

**quadalpha** · 02-23-2009, 23:56

Originally Posted by Phog_of_War

Nothing! In fact this is a great idea for a defensive posture. I plan on using this one and seeing what the AI does to counteract it.

A bit overkill, don't you think? Your foot would be cannon fodder.

**peacemaker** · 02-24-2009, 06:39

heh. Lots of interesting discussion about the square so far. Still, even if you can't break the square with the cavalry charge, you could just go and shoot 'em up with a bunch of infantry. Point is, the square is effective against cavalry but is not invincible.

**crazyviking03** · 02-24-2009, 06:49

I dont know if anyone has seen, I couldnt find group formations on the demo UI lol, but I hope we can group our infantry companies into groups of 4 and have them form a larger square. If we have to do it manually, it shouldn't be an issue since all it is doing is denying the enemy a flank, instead of adding some kind of defense bonus, that I know of anyway.