Slowing down the phalanx movement

**dejan07** · 08-10-2009, 16:59

Is it possible to slow down the phalanx movement equal to the shieldwall?!
Their are both special ability formations so maybe there is a posibillity to do that and it will be more much more historical...

**Aemilius Paulus** · 08-10-2009, 17:12

Hmm, that is a great idea. WHy has the EB team not done this? Perhaps they have historical realism as a justification? I have read of pike phalanx charges, but I would assume that in order to keep a neat formation, the phalanx would have to move slowly. Though scaling down to a shieldwall does seem slightly extreme IMHO. But if anyone has a good argument, I will listen gladly, as I have no data here.

**Belisarius II** · 08-10-2009, 18:25

I agree that phalanxes should indeed be slowed down, yet as AP stated, to the level of a shield wall would be extreme with the main reason being that shield walls barely moved at all.

The only problem I see with this is that lighter troops would move faster as well as the barbarians with a phalanx (Sweboz & Getai). Reason being, the type of wood. Lighter troops were given a lighter yet weaker wood, while heavier troops were given heavier more sturdy wood. So I think lighter troops should be slightly slower then they are now, with the professional phalanxes having a noticeable decrease in speed.

**dejan07** · 08-10-2009, 19:04

The shield wall "speed" was just an idea but it is fact that the phalangites movement was much slower.

In the wargaming community we have the rules which tells us that the phalangites movement is usually 3-4 points(inches) per turn and in the same time a much quicker hypaspistai have 4-5 points and the cavalry 8-9 points(depending on the quallity of the unit and its armour),
also in the rules we state that the phalangites can not make 90° face turns, they can only push forward (there was not one battle in the history that the phalangites have used 90° face turns to left or right) but of course this is not a wargaming forum and the RTW engine is very limited.

Aemilius Paulus i can send you some wargaming documentation about this if you are interested in and for others who do not know what the wargaming is, here is one good example:

http://www.fieldofglory.com/features/1.html

Battle of Magnesia

**antisocialmunky** · 08-10-2009, 19:09

They are about that fast. They are fine. RTW is unrealistic in the sense that the enemy army can completely run around yours unless you're doing 2 vs 2 huge. So having a little bit of an unrealistic agility bonus offsets that.

**dejan07** · 08-10-2009, 19:34

Sorry if i caused confusion Antisocialmunky but my question was is it possible to do that and if it is, can anyone explain it to me how it's done.I have no intention in changing the opinion of the EB team about their game.

I am doing this because i am a wargamer myself and i cann't stand these "arcade" battles with the phalangites(reasons stated above).
I need more time to outflank the phalangites with the lighter troops before they disperse themselves like the disorganized rabble.

Someone please help!