but you are talking about their purposes that are totally different than that of a phalanx. compared to Hoplite Phalanx they are worthless, a hoplite phalanx can push and use its 'many as one' mentality that is reflected in its gameplay use to annihilate a these style of phalanx. and on defense they are almost impregnable from many angles.
a real phalanx, or even German Pikemen are impenetrable from the front and can attack many enemies at once and are so much more useful than these in their stated purpose that it is a joke.
I don't want swordsmen or axemen, i want a unit who uses long spears to tie up and damage an enemy with minimal losses to my own when attacked from the front. however these units are worthless in this regard due to their immediate switching to secondary weapons and the fact that only the first line engages in combat
what are EB team members going to do about these units in EBII? Again, i don't see their purpose as being cute swordsmen with Phalanx in their name, i want a god dang phalanx. Iphrikates didn't reform Hoplites to combat Macedonian Phalanx only for them to be swordsmen, he meant them to be a mobile Phalanx with shorter spears. but as represented in game they are totally worthless except as swordsmen... but Macedonian Phalanx and Romans are already swordsmen too... and better swordsmen at that.
they don't have a use on the battlefield, i just don't see it. and i think that is a shame because some cool ass units use this animation/skeleton or whatever. The Helvetii are so freaking cool looking. Is there an easy way to animate/change them in a manner of German Pikemen? German Pikemen clearly have shorter spears than Macedonians, but long enough to engage multiple rows at the same time and tie up an enemy. I don't know the specifics but when the Iphriaktous Hoplite is explained to me in text it seems more like the German Pikemen (though with shorter tips) than big shield wearing swordsmen
Exhibit A) - notice first row engages only, and with swords. Also notice in background the veteran Massilian Hoplites who by far are more useful but it's cheap to have a wall of them. They only use spears due to EDU tweaks
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