[Thureophoroi] How would you use them?

[Basileus_ton_Basileon]

Was that the way they were used by the likes of the Seleukids and Pergamon?

Are they solid enough to be front-liners against Kelts? I have a feeling that short of hiring a lot of mercenaries, hoplite-style infantry would be hard to come by. And besides, you probably want the centre of your line to be people you trust at least some.

As Ca Putt have mentioned, EB Thureophoroi are on the heavier end of the spectrum. I'd say the more experienced, better armed, thureophoros would take the centre (with the real heavy infantry right behind them), while the (lighter armed) raw recruits would support the specialists and cavalry in the flanks (behind them).

I think it would be a good time to mention that the term thureophoroi literally meant 'door-holder', likely a generic term for infantry heavier than peltastai that uses the keltoi shield. AFAIK, the EB team plans to replace them with the Euzonoi in EBII, as well as other units.