Wedge Formation and is it any real use?

[Red Harvest]

IIRC in MTW wedge provided a 2x increase in kill rate (both for and against.) So it should confer an advantage to the charge, because the charge bonus will be applied twice as often in the same period of time. Don't know about RTW, but Jeanne d'crc's results seem to bear out this sort of effect.

I admit I rarely use wedge in either game, but it was an "accelerant" in MTW. If you knew the match up was favourable, and you wanted to get the unit onto its next objective quickly, wedge could help.

[Daevyll]

It is useful for Cav vs Cav, but in most other situations you are better off using a wide frontage in my experience.

[Oaty]

On one of the Time Commanders episodes they said Alexander the great would use the wedge to charge in between 2 units. This would cause a breach in the enemy line and infantry following up could exploit this breach

[bmolsson]

I use wedge on cavalry charges. Never thought of why actually. I guess I just like to give orders..... :blushing:

[Jeanne d'arc]

Also it seems the wedge formation has the tendency to drift to the left when charging, this means the point of the wedge doesent hit the center first.Perhaps this is indeed done to open up gaps between units like oaty stated.

[Es Arkajae]

Is there any actual stat advantage given by charge?,. for instance the already mentioned charge bonus for MTW (although I can't say I ever noticed it )

I don't know Jean, everytime I've used the wedge in pitched battle my cavalry has been chewed up and the targeted unit has suffered little damage, granted I haven't really tested it against enemy cavalry (I will now) but against infantry it just leads to waste and ineffectiveness I've found.

I like to kill the enemy formation by panicking it, once its routed its easy to completely wipe out, that means maximum casualties as fast as possible such as in a sudden impact along a broad front (usually three lines), even better if the unit is engaged by infantry at the front and I'm hitting it from a flank or rear with my cavalry (standard stuff).

[Red Harvest]

The charge bonuses are rather large for some units in RTW. Greek lancers get a +15 charge bonus Round shield cav only get a +2 charge bonus. You probably wouldn't want to use wedge for frontal attack with cav unless you have a substantial charge bonus or heavily outmatch the other unit, because you will take casualties at an accelerated rate as well (I believe.) You might charge, then enter melee to hold them, while another unit charges into their flank or rear (with wedge if you like) and rapidly routs them.

Countercharges are imperative for many units. You stand a good chance of negating a charge by countercharging. Caesar said that it was best to countercharge to bolster the men's morale, rather than stand there and take the charge. RTW seems to be designed with this in mind.