How to use Phalanx units?

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Yeah - but they were a huge meatgrinder of metal sharp thingy's which they didn't really use defensively if they were attacking - it would just close towards the enemy as quick as they could and have the cav advancing alongside, ready to flank. It's not like they just sat there and waited - they would just press forwards, having the bodies behind them pressing those 4-8 rows of pikes forward and gouging anyone in teh way.

Imagine the guy saying: "STOP PUSHING I HAVE SIX DEAD GUYS ON MY PIKE!!!"

Preciselly. The Phalanx was used throughout History as an offensive unit (just remember Alexander's battles), not just a defensive one. I guess that if the game doesn't allow the Phalanx to keep their formation with the pikes lowered, mantaining their attacking and defensive bonuses, while walking to attack the enemy, then the game isn't reflecting Historical beahviour correctly.

[Bob the Insane]

A unit that has the Phalanx special ability...

It has long spears which are normally pointed up. Like this they can walk and run...

Hit the Phalanx ability and they lower their spears and get ready.. You can still move them at a walk (same spped as normal) but they can not run....

I have not really experimented but what seems to kill a unit in Phalanx mode is getting the formation mixed up and broken...

[SpencerH]

I've been playing my second campaign (on medium) as the Selucids and have not had any problems with the hoplites. They've been very effective defensively, offensively, and in cities. Game level may be part of it of course. The highest losses my hoplites took was against axmen defending on a steep hill (so I couldnt send chariots to disrupt their formations prior to the spear wall hitting em).

[The_Emperor]

Actually the Phalanx keeps its formation quite well on the move... I ordered a unit of Spartan hoplites to advance in my Greek campaign and they moved quite well going forwards and recieved enemies very well.

The problems arisen when I actually clicked on the enemy to target them. The Phalanx tends to stop and naturally assume a defensive posture and poke the enemy to death.

Maybe someone should try to advance through the enemy with an unbroken solid line of grouped Phalanx troops rather than targeting the enemy and see what happens.

[Basileus]

Maybe someone should try to advance through the enemy with an unbroken solid line of grouped Phalanx troops rather than targeting the enemy and see what happens.

Ive tryed that sometimes it works sometimes not, the problem is in large battles you´ll have a hard time micromanaging your units , i myself never use the pause button so it makes it hard.