Quote Originally Posted by HoreTore
Actually, having "perfect lines" is a military thing. That's why soldiers are being drilled. Even today, most combat drills still focus on fighting in perfect lines. And other drills focus on being in the perfect line, and doing things at the exact same time... So I actually think that medieval battles were fought with very nice looking formations, so that the commanding officer could impress the ladies by making a perfect and exaggerated phallus formation....
Of topic
I really do hope that you are joking cause this statement is way out there. First: Military combat drills in stright lines haven't been practical since the arrival of the machine gun. The reason that the military still practices these drills has more to do with installing discipline then to drill units on propare comba techniques.
Second: "Ladies" on the battle field prior to the Civil War where most likely camp followers. Even in the Civil War the Ladies and Gentlemen that came out to watch the frist battle of Manasas or (Bull Run) were in for a rude surprise when the battle overran them causing mass panic amongst the ladies and gentlemen in attendance.
Third: Formations such as the Terico and the Phalanx, depended on formations and lines as their main strength. The reason the Terico was so devestating was the immense size of the formation, and the only way that it could move was if the soldiers marched in formation in lines under strict discipline.

On topic:
My battles tend to be rather controlled unless I'm in a forest, then it easy for me to lose track of where all the units are. I've actually come close to losing some battles because I wasn't paying attention to some units that were wavering and about to mass route.