phalanx maneuvering

**Djurre** · 10-10-2006, 15:17

When i want to attack a town square with my phalanx units. i find it impossible to make good use of them. all they do is twist and turn, en get charged when they brake formation. its so frustrating. is there a solution?

**Avicenna** · 10-10-2006, 15:46

Only walk forwards...

Also, rain arrows on them. Preferrably fire arrows. That way you should be able to walk through the gate undisturbed.

**NeoSpartan** · 10-10-2006, 15:50

Well phalanxes take a lot of MICROmanagment. Plus the AI in the townsquare will charge at you once your units crosses the flag, and will usually charge your weakest units.

For some reason phalanx units when in TIGHT don't automatically form a phalanx, instead they "re-organise again" (moving & twisting in the same spot). To avoid this, make sure the soldiers have had enough time to get in thier respective positions, then tell ur phalanx unit to form a phalanx BEFORE walking past the flags, that way they get any "re-organisation" done BEFORE walking past the flags. Once u see that they don't "re-organise", THEN send them past the flags. (The second u do the AI will charge you)

**Djurre** · 10-10-2006, 16:02

i tried positioning the phalanx wide behand the flags, but when they cross as a phalanx, they suddely ad ranks making the unit smaler, and thus getting flanked by the enemy generals cavalry. crappy little phalanx units....

edit: and EB just crashed after taking a roman city.

**NeoSpartan** · 10-10-2006, 16:13

Originally Posted by Djurre

i tried positioning the phalanx wide behand the flags, but when they cross as a phalanx, they suddely ad ranks making the unit smaler, and thus getting flanked by the enemy generals cavalry. crappy little phalanx units....

edit: and EB just crashed after taking a roman city.

Don't just click "Attack" on the enemy unit, instead, POSITION your phalanx in the formation you want them to be. Once they walk past the flags in phalax formation, and stop moving (the AI is now charging at u), press "HOLD" so that all units bring down thier pikes/spears. (sometimes, they hold them up for some reason)

OR just walk past the flags in normal, then stop soon after and press "Phalanx Formation".

Oh and your PC crashing, after taking the Roman City, it happens its a bug in .74v. (I encountered when attacking Rome). If it keeps happening, just siege the City and wait for the AI to send an Army to relieve the City. Once the battle starts, make sure not 1 of the garrison soldiers that come out to fight lives.

**Tuuvi** · 10-13-2006, 04:05

Yea, Phalanxes kinda suck for siege battles. What I do is turn phalanx off and have them charge at the enemy barbarian style. Probably not the best tactic, but it works for me.

**Pelopidas** · 10-13-2006, 15:41

It depends...in street fights, phalanx in very dense formation can make wonders.
They can also guard a door or the flag.

Personnaly, my other units are only there for opening the gates, once this is done, the phalanx finish the job, and they make this quite well, in street fights, the ennemy can't outflank you or win via number.