Group Formations - Damnit!!

**gmjapan** · 06-12-2006, 21:58

hmm even with these formations I still cant use slingers successfully in my army :(

**Severous** · 06-12-2006, 23:05

Yes I agree with those sentiments. Slingers are not as easy to use as archers.

As for grouping I find its good for setting up and making armies look neat. But in the heat of battle I command each unit individually. Makes them do what I want much more promptly than commanding groups.

**Drusus Magnus** · 06-13-2006, 11:45

I never use slingers. When you place them behind your line they'll kill more of your own units than enemies. Place them before your line and they can't kill enough before they have to withdraw. Archers with long range or siege, nothing else.

**Garvanko** · 06-13-2006, 12:34

Slingers are horrible to use.

**gmjapan** · 06-13-2006, 15:56

I have a use for Slingers just now that was found by accident! I put them at a 30deg angle (ish) at the right side of my front line so they are facing out towards the enemy (so front line looks like _ _ _ _ _ / ). Behind them I have one infantry unit just hanging around (any infantry) and one or two cav near that but a little back (if no cav then more infantry).

If the enemy engage my front line my slingers can fire away happy and get free kills down the line and not hit my troops. More often though they become the taget of an approaching enemy unit. It doesnt matter what or where the enemy unit is, the intention is so obvious I have loads of time to start my infantry behind them charging forward to intercept and then run the slingers back a bit to safety (turning fire at will off!). Once they are tied up in melee the cav then manouvers for the flanks. It works great for disrupting an enemy formation since they seem to like taking the bait at any cost, usually with a cav unit but also with units from the middle of their formation. It creates opertunities which is great. Only tried it with a front line 5 or 6 units long so far.

Once the unit is minced I run the slingers out again to the same position to either re-run the trap or fire at will where they can reach right down my line.

The other units involved in the trap either go back again or if my front line is fully engaged they start with the hammer and anvil routine.

The infantry type behind doesnt matter so long as they can be relied on not to rout - they are there to tie up the enemy unit.

And (!) it works both for defensive and offensive action. So far. Hurrah!

**Slaists** · 06-13-2006, 17:03

gmjapan: why not put them on the LEFT side of your line? there, slingers would be able to get additional kills due to hitting the shield-less side of the opponents. something like this: \_ _ _ _ _ _

**x-dANGEr** · 06-13-2006, 18:28

Good point Slaists. And one thing you guys should know about Slingers, they are AP (At least in BI they are), and they destructive for hitting all units on the way. So, unlike your archers, if you miss the first unit you will hit the second, and any stones go beyond the secon, they will hit the third. While with arrows, a arrow that misses it's target is gone, with no use.

So really, Slingers 'own'.

**gmjapan** · 06-14-2006, 11:31

Originally Posted by Slaists

gmjapan: why not put them on the LEFT side of your line? there, slingers would be able to get additional kills due to hitting the shield-less side of the opponents. something like this: \_ _ _ _ _ _

At the time my Elephants were on the left so they could charge down the front line once it was engaged and the slingers were just being tried out but you raise a good point. Its something I hadnt even considered yet. Thanks.