So ... how are you supposed to use phalanxes?

[CrackedAxe]

Oh yes, funnily enough I was planning to ask this as well. Playing as Macedonia, my phalanxes seldom seem to get into any straight on fights, especially if they're defending. Even the AI isn't dumb enough to charge into a forest of pikes, so everyone just flows round the sides and attacks them from the flanks. As a result, my cavalry has to deal with the enemy army while my pikes try to turn around. Am I doing something wrong?

Sounds like you're being too defensive, you're giving the enemy too much initiative and the time to outmanouver you. Take the fight to the enemy with a tight line of phalanx units. Pin them then flank them.

Remember though, flank protection is important for phalanxes (as it is for any army). You have to screen your flanks with cav, and dont let these tear off after the enemy until after you've engaged your inf, as it will leave the phalanxes vulnerable. As a last resort, you can get your phalanx line to refuse their flank, just angle the last couple of units on the threatened flank inwards slightly, towards the flanking enemy, I find this usually works well against flanking cav if you spot them incoming early enough.