javelins too weak?

[Ludens]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a top armor bonus from phalanx as straight shooting weapons like slingers can still do a little bit of damage while all arcing weapons are ridiculously weakened.

If that's not the case then its not a shield bonus but an armor bonus. If IIRC AP is not effective against shield. It only halves armor values.

Ludens, correct me please.

No, you are right. AP does not work against shields. However, I doubt there is a special armour calculation for projectiles based on their arc. More likely this is caused by the AP effect, or perhaps because slingstones traverse more of the formation than do arcing weapons.

I agree. Phalangites have only small shields, not like the huge shields of traditional hoplites. Although their long sarissas might provide some extra protection, overall, the anti-missile defence ability of phalangites should be no better than that of hoplites with equally good body armour. Even in phalanx formation.

In vanilla R:TW hoplites also used phalanx formation, so this was not a concern to the programmer. But I agree that the pike formation would not have provided much protection in reality.