Phalanx Circles

[ZIM!!]

over the past couple of days I've been running into this same duo using phalanx circles these guys set up there own game and rules( no art only 1 ele they take like 10 minutes to set up these elaborate phalanx formations
then they just sit there with tons archers in the middle they never attack
the thing is I never pay attention to thier names so I dont know its them till the deployment phase and it takes forever when say whats taking so long they ask for "5 more minutes" then I see thier stupid phalanx formations(mostly maxed out spartans) and I brought barely any archers. attacking a phalanx circle with archers in the middle is difficult. when they win and I havent beaten them yet they gloat like theyre military geniuses..

One of them is ............?? or something
the other guy is ...........?? or something

anyone ever play them?

1) is this not a pansy ass way to play rtw multiplayer?

2) with no art 1 ele rules 2v2 whats the best way to beat this formation?

thanks!

[Monarch]

Best way to beat it, pretty simple really. At the corners their spears won't overlap, attack the corners. Alternatively attack just one section of the box, overload it, they'll need to dismantle the back of circle to reinforce front, then flank with cav ;)


Edit: Oh ye, do this after you hit em with arrows, like cow said :)

[NihilisticCow]

It's best to thin it out with archers first, a phalanx box means that there will be Spartans whose backs are turned to your archers, so target them and they die very quickly after the first couple of volleys. Once sufficient units have been weakened, it's much easier to exploit holes and corners. Taking hard rush armies (no archers) against Greece probably isn't the best thing to do really.

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

IIRC, naming online player is not a good idea... So you better edit your post.

Beside that; yes, IIRC, shooting back units it the way to go. I would also question your denarii amount: circles of max out spartans? I bet you don't play with 10k/ army...

It's not a pansy ass way of playing MP; it's a sure way to lose against a skilled opponent.

Louis,

[BHCWarman88]

I use a Seleciud Army,and use my Legions to distract and make those Nutcases screw up their formation,and I just swoop in and kill there archers and flank........

[x-dANGEr]

You can beat it with archers alone mate.. Go Germania/Scythia, Pick 6 chosen archers, and some HA (Scythia) along with some cav. Now you kill his archers in the middle, then thin out his line, and when your arrows are finished, make your archers as thin as thick as possible, and charge in one little area, now the trick is to march your archers through that unit, not just charge on it. When you do that, your archers will be too close to the Spartan unit, so it can't use it's spears and switches to sword, giving you the upper hand. Now, you can charge with your cav that unit and take no casualties (Remember they have no spears now), and retreat then charge and so on..

[KrooK]

Phalanx circles are very easy to defeat.
As mentioned earlier you have to kill archers at the beginning.
You can start from roman army. Kill their archers and appear with your cohorts. If you got some archers left - shot their backs. If you don't - no problem. Order your unit hold formation and hold fire - come close to them and find unit which is not exactly opposite to you - shot it with one of your units. And repeat it, until some of their units will be having big loses. Then attack these units with some of yours - other must cover flanks. Then they will be forced to break circle and help attacked units and they will be attacking your cohorts. So you can use your cav and hit their back.
You need a bit practise but it's quite easy.

[Wishazu]

Alternatively, remember the names of these guys and dont bother wasting your time with them.

[BHCWarman88]

that why I ban Greece from My Games,12.5K-15K or 88K,that why I like to ban greece,no nooby sqaures,no nooby Armies :-) :-)
I rather fight a Tough Roman Army then a Nooby Greece army

[Monarch]

that why I ban Greece from My Games,12.5K-15K or 88K,that why I like to ban greece,no nooby sqaures,no nooby Armies :-) :-)
I rather fight a Tough Roman Army then a Nooby Greece army

Greece? You seriously think the guys with only light cavalry should be banned? I could see banning Rome, maybe egypt, but Greece.

IMO the next stop is to ban those overpowered Thracians, just unbeatable

[Wishazu]

im sorry warman but with the kind of money you play with(88k), all armies are nooby. Why ban greece, they are hardly overpowered at all...

[Manstein]

I played against one guy who organzied his Spartans into a half-pentagon formation. He told me that I was going to lose, as I only had vanilla unupgraded legionaries and some Praetorian Cavalry and nothing else. I attacked his front with my infantry, and flanked him with some additional infantry and cavalry. He routed in 2 minutes.

[Reenk Roink]

Hi

Well, these are all good tips here (barring Cow's rehashed and unoriginal common sense of course ), but one of my favorite tactics has not been discussed, so I will take the liberty to do so now.

I just love taking Britannia when I suspect a Spartan Hoplite square tactic. Britannia is the natural counter to The Greek Cities anyways. The Chariots easily overpower the weak Greek Cavalry, and are simply great for frightening and disrupting hoplites, Chariot Archers can deal with the Greek missile threat, and the Headhurler unit is a Godsend against a Spartan Hoplite.

Now, the exact army composition varies with what I suspect my opponent to be fielding. If I suspect archers, I bring Chariot Archers, if not, I spend more on upgrading the other units, and perhaps bring several Chosen Swordsmen or Slingers.

The tactic is obvious. The Headhurlers simply soften up the Spartans (and they do a much better job than archers). Then, some are used to charge into a spot, hopefully drawing the Spartans out, and the Chariots crash in, dealing the disruption and leading to victory.

Hope this helped