I have a problem with Spear Warbands (plz help!)

[unseen11]

It seems when ever i use spear bands against a enemy unit during sieges, the Spear warbands always do the same stupid thing whether they are assaulting a broken wooden wall or in attacking the plaza

ok heres my example: O=enemy unit
arrows=german spear warband's spear direction


OOOO
OOOO


^^^^

ok say the enemy unit is in the plaza and my SW is facing them. When I left click (once) to attack the unit this is what happens:


OOOO
OOOO

><
^^

the phalanx will get stop pointing there spears at the enemy and start running into them selves with the pikes facing the air

The enemy will then charge into them when they are disorganised


OOOO
O >>O
O>>
O

The Spears will point at like one enemy at the side or rear while the majority of enemies in front are doing the most damage

So basically the phalanx formatio is ruined when i order them to attack and when it finally gets itself fixed up it points the wrong way

Has anyone else had to put up with this when assaulting Cities? And is there a way to fix this?

[The Stranger]

i think that's because there is no space for them to line up. the flanks will switch flanks and the entire unit will rotate but still facing the right direction. you probably manually lined them up in battle

[Kekvit Irae]

Phalanx formations always run into a lot of trouble when going into tiny spaces (broken walls), or going into the city plaza. However, all troops have this problem (especially the city plaza), but the phalanxes more than most. Send in non-phalanx units to stall the enemy while you set up your actual attack force.

[unseen11]

Phalanx formations always run into a lot of trouble when going into tiny spaces (broken walls), or going into the city plaza. However, all troops have this problem (especially the city plaza), but the phalanxes more than most. Send in non-phalanx units to stall the enemy while you set up your actual attack force.

Ahhh ok, so in future maybe I should use Axemen or Naked Fanatics for sieges?

At least until CA fixes this problem up

[Kekvit Irae]

Ahhh ok, so in future maybe I should use Axemen or Naked Fanatics for sieges?

At least until CA fixes this problem up

When initially getting through a wall or a city plaza. Once your troops are safely in, or at least distracted the enemy, bring up your phalanxes and have the non-phalanx units fall back. You dont want any unnessicary losses, and once in a city street, the narrow-columned phalanx performs it's duty wonderfully

[tibilicus]

Thsi genrely happens with quite a lot of Phalanxe units.

[Magraev]

And it makes you weep or swear every time

One of the best tips for keeping the phalanx coherent is to move it through it's target rather than ordering it to attack. Only point a phalanx at a single unit if there is a good distance without obstructions between the units.

Inside the city there is nothing better than the phalanx for making the enemy bleed.

[Colovion]

Magraev has it - click the Phalanx to move past the enemy, once they make contact - then order the attack.

[Tribesman]

If you have rams in your siege equipment then during the set deployment phase allocate the units to the rams before you redeploy them , it puts them in the ideal formation for moving through the city . Though as you note , on the plaza things can go pear shaped .

[TF923]

yeah the plaza sucks for all infantry assaults. Phalanx is the worst just because a disorganized phalanx is worthless, while a disorganized heavy infantry can still do at least some damage if it runs into something.

[tibilicus]

I have found you can take a city more easily with just a few troops than many. Once i was the selucid and had sythed chariots in a seige and Elephant. They all ran amok and wiped out nearly all the army that came with me.

[Quietus]

Unseen11,

Do you use Right-click (hold) and drag function to move your units? It's the best way to precisely maneuver your troops.

In case of Spearbands. You only need to position (right-click drag ) them near the center square. The enemy will attack you at will.

You can disable their phalanx formation first (if you want to ) and just right-click drag and press < run >. Once in position, go back to phalanx.

Lastly, when entering broke-down walls or gates. Right-click drag at or near the mouth, that's all. The enemy will attack you. You just need a second opening so you can flank those enemies engaged. I suggest you go read my Guide on how to assault wooden walls.

Oh, and try to complement your Spearbands with flankers.

[unseen11]

Unseen11,

Do you use Right-click (hold) and drag function to move your units? It's the best way to precisely maneuver your troops.

In case of Spearbands. You only need to position (right-click drag ) them near the center square. The enemy will attack you at will.

You can disable their phalanx formation first (if you want to ) and just right-click drag and press < run >. Once in position, go back to phalanx.

Lastly, when entering broke-down walls or gates. Right-click drag at or near the mouth, that's all. The enemy will attack you. You just need a second opening so you can flank those enemies engaged. I suggest you go read my Guide on how to assault wooden walls.

Oh, and try to complement your Spearbands with flankers.

Lol, of course I right click to maneuver, I do know that much ;) but i think i realise what i was doing wrong

In the plaza for Barbarians there's this big stupid rock in the middle and the units would usually be positioned behind it and i think that's what was screwing up the phalanx, so from now on I'm gonna crawl up to the plaza and let them attack me.

But something else I've found weird is when Heavy Calvary (Like roman Generals) charge my phalanx at the front, the phalanx will stuff up and all the units bring out there swords It' weird how the calvary manages to get through all those spears without dying.

[Conqueror]

Frontal cavalry charges are just plain overpowered, and it's not just heavy cavalry. I've seen freaking equites charge straight into a 8-rank deep phalanx of Silver Shield Pikemen (the Seleucid *elite* phalanx unit) and go right through, splitting it half! It was on Hard difficulty though, and the equites did rout immediatly after the charge.