
Originally Posted by
Titus Marcellus Scato
That's a great tip, thanks. Can the flank units actually be on the flank, but a little way behind the phalanx, or do they actually have to be behind the phalanx and then stream out from behind after the phalanx engages?
With the latter, it would take longer to deploy flanking units, I think.
I find that a partial overlap works. For example, three phalanx units (P) in the front line with two thureophoroi units (T) set back and partially overlapped - the underscores represent open space, they seem to be necessary to stop the forum software from compacting spaces:
__PPPPPP_PPPPPP_PPPPPP__
TTTT________________TTTT
I've also exaggerated the gap between the phalanx units to make it more obvious. The tactical AI (at least in ALEX.EXE) will respond by trying frontal attacks on the phalanx with most of its units, while sending one or two units (often cavalry) out to set up for a charge against each flank. By this time its attackers on the front of the phalanx will be fully engaged, so now you can either move up the thureophoroi to close the gap and stop attackers working their way around the phalanx, or pivot them outwards to face the flank attack. Below I've shown the left-flank thureophoroi pivoting, while the right-flank thureophoroi have moved up to close the gap with the phalanx:
__PPPPPP_PPPPPP_PPPPPP__
_T____________________TTTT
_T
_T
_T
At this point I'd probably be thinking about counter-charging whoever's on my left flank before they can get a damaging charge in themselves, and sending my own flankers (often axemen) around the right flank, where the enemy is now fully engaged and my thureophoroi have moved up to a good blocking position.
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