In A.Seleukeia (this may be a bore and way too long):



AC-Pr Th P-P-P-P-P-P-Arg-Hyp-Tba H-G
Th Tox-Tox Ph H
EKI


see legend at the bottom.

the pezhetairoi+ argyraspists are always grouped into single line so as to present a wall of pikes 77 files wide (the unit scale is large, and the phalangites are in square ~11x11 wide, & the rear rank has 10 men only), and advance in a straight line or in echelon with the left end refused.

the square formation is a compramise Between manuevrebility, power, and safe flanks. the guard are to the right with the pheraspidai to the rear as a reserve or to go behind the nearby Hetairoi to tangle opposing cavalry( anyone seen Blitzkrieg?never mind). same for the rearward thorakitai on the left. the toxotai are to the rear to shoot away at the enemy as they close, or to at least to break the up or cause a stupid move from them. the thorakitai and the argyraspid thorakitai are flank protectors or the ones who typically flank, and are never sent on campaign without at least 3 bronze chevrons, bronze weapons and shield, due to the possibility of overly violent and hard fighting there ( one unit of thorakitai with 3 cheves bronze, silver arms held off 600 enemy(levies) for 10 minute losing only 10 out of 78, while killing 100 of them ). the elephant is there in the reserves to trample the enemy in case of failure in the line, or to give the enemy skirmishers something to munch on, in case of imminent defeat (the laugh was because that never happens). the left flank cavalry is to screen or to hold the left; the right is to deliver the decisive charge(1 unit of Hetairoi chalked up 150 men in 1 min flat!), and punch a gap in the enemy lines, and send the enemy routing, usually to the strongest enemy unit, or if badly outnumbered, the weakest large concentration of units. for anti-Harmata warfare I order the bold lettered regiments to stop thier advance, the normal lettered ones to stop when the sides of their front ranks are next to the points of the bold lettered one's pikes, and let the enemy ride through under arrow fire( Alexander's Moustrap):

P P P Arg
P P P

these tactics are a sample of what there is known; creativity and intiative are preferred to sticking to the book.modifying the layout if necessary is also recommended. it is also important to have a trailing army with siege weapons and auxiliary cavalry, infantry, or other.(yes 2 stacks for a campaign, one of 20 other of 10 units.)

assesement of nearby early enemies(how to deal with using above army):

1-Pontos:

poor rabble of troops of eastern types; good archers and heavy cavalry, but poor Heavy infantry and worse special units (harmata drepanophora). use above described tactics and casualties will be low for you (not to exceed 5%vs. best armies 1 full stack)

2-Ptolemaioi:

similar units to AS;their phlangitai are dangerous, as are thier Celtic Klerouchikoi, but little cavalry is used by them comparatively: flanking and double envolpement, plus liberal use of elephants, will bring them to heal, though casualties are expected to exceed overall 10-20%, 50% plus for the flanking infantry, and 80% for the cavalry due to pikesturning round from rear attack ( about 40% if they don't)

3-Hayasdan:

similar to pontos, though infantry is slightly better; cavalry dangerous and stubborn, and much use is made of horse archers in the north near the steppes; modify army so as to have more cavalry or flankers (type is left to one's discretion), then go your merry way! casualties not to exceed 5-15% as well.

4-Makedonia:
similar to the AS, more so than the Ptolemaioi; flanking will crush them too, but the casualties are lower, due to the poor quality of thier levy phalangitai used excessivly by the Makedonioi, especially early on. Casualties not to be over 20%, done properly.

5-Baktria:

has a flexible list of Kataphraktoi units and armoured Horse archers, plus units familiar to the Diadochoi kingdoms, such as the Pezhetairoi. using the Hetairoi to crush the weak cavalry, or run behind the pikes, the enmy cavalry can be impaled; the archers are good indian longbowmen, counter with Toxotai, thorakitai/thureophoroi with prodromoi support. the phalangitai can be defeated by superior training and Elephant use in weak areas or where the enmy Phalanggoi have lost cohesion and become squeezed into a small area.
Casualties: low(usually run over by mercenaries before they can muster.)

6-Pahlava:

the most dangerous foe by far: excellent Horse archers, long range and subpub archers, and terrifying heavy cavalry, but poor infantry: for them try to get Subeshi archers if possible, other wise blockade them in cities and towns and starve them out casualties in open battle will never be under 15%; cannon fodder in form of mercenary army is recommended.

THE END

P=pezhetairoi
H=hetairoi/ hellenikoi Kataphraktoi
Pr=prodromoi
Ph=pheraspidai
Hyp=hypaspist
Th=thorakitai/thureophoroi
Arg=argyraspids
EKI=elephantes Kataphraktoi indikoi
Tox=syrian archers
AC=auxiliary cav.(if any)
Tba=thorakitai basilikou agemata
G=general