M:TW Attack and defence formations

[Colhir]

jus curious to what formation people use in attacking and defending heres my attack formation.

Attack



The 1st wave usually consists of infantry 5 or 6 units, usually arrmed with spears put off thoughs enemy cavalry charges. The 2nd wave is pretty much the same maybe sword men to plug in the gaps where the enemy may be winning or where they have attacked heavily. The blue strip is usually longbow men, i dont use any other form of firepower... the black boxes are my cavalry usually a unit of royal knights and a unit of mounted sargents or another 40man size unit, there for protecting the flanks, or flanking the enemy.

Thats it for my attacking, sometimes i might put all my cavalry on one flank for a heavy flank charge or to try and get round the back of my enemy.

Defence



well as it says, a line of spear armed troops again 5 or 6 units, at the front, set to 'hold position' command, i find they have more to gain by recieving a charge than charging, no ones gonna want to charge a wall of spears are they. behind them like in my attack i have my longbow men, usually 3 units. again set to hold position so they dont go chasing something they've started to shoot at. also i usually target one unit with all 3, much more destructive.
behind them i put the artillery e.g. catapults and balistas, to cover the ground infront of my main army. Again the black boxes are cavalry protecting my flanks, if i get the chance moving round the back of my enemy attacking them while they are already engaged. the other red boxes are troops i hold back to fill in any gaps or to re-enforce any fights that arnt goin exactly my way....


well thats all. i'd like to kno wot your tactics are and any sugestions/comments on mine welcome thanks.....

[m52nickerson]

Three units of Pavise arbalesters out front, followed by four Halberdiers then four Chivalric men at arms. Two units of Steppe Heavy Cav on the flanks back up be a unit of Chivalric Knights each.
My generals units in the center rear. I use this for attack and defence. Just when attacking the Steppe Heavy cav, breaks from the formation and skirmishes.

[Weebeast]

I'm more spread out type of commander. Basically the "wave 1" and "wave 2" are side by side when attacking instead of front to back.

My defense is pretty much the same as yours except I hide my infantry behind the visible units (if possible) and hide my cavalry somewhere else to flank the enemy later on with surprise.

[m52nickerson]

...hide my cavalry somewhere else to flank the enemy later on with surprise.

I've try that before, the AI seems to find them to often.

[Weebeast]

That's true, when the enemy gets closer they become visible. At least you get to separate some of your enemies from their main army (so is your cavalry lol but it's worth a try.)

[Conqueror773]

Usually i keep a line of spearman infront of my archers and some sword infantry either behind or next to with calvarly on both sides. I find that putting infantry behind my archers is a waste of man power because if my strategies are working the enemy wont be flanking me, and i usually dont have that problem.

[Ciaran]

Look in frog´s MTW beginners guide, under the "catholic" heading, the spear formation I use - and with good effect, too - through all the ages. From High on, the swords get supplemented by polearms, and some crossbow/arbalests are added in front, too, but the main part, the four spear units with the swords and cavalry a bit back remains throughout.