Class pictures

I don't remember RTRPE hoplites had the inflexibility of the Mak phalanx (or default RTW phalanx) though. If you kept guard mode off, the soldiers would proceed agressively, but still fought in a dense crowd (unlike normal RTW units, wich would get lots of space between individual soldiers when not fighting in guard mode)
As they used the short_pike, it didn't look as silly as default hoplites in RTW. Since historically hoplites used spears with counterweights on the back end, it even looks plausible. They also get to run and charge. The only downside I see with it is that hoplies as implemented in RTRPE didn't use a secondary weapon, and only fought with spears.