Wedge formation

**Martok** · 05-31-2007, 19:18

How often do people here use wedge formation? I admit I'm not a big fan of it myself, as I find its increased attack power usually doesn't make up for its decreased defense ability. About the only time I use wedge formation is if I'm specifically charging heavy cavalry into the flanks/rear of lighter units, where I know my cavalry's losses will be minimal. And I almost *never* put light cavalry into wedge formation, regardless of the circumstances.

So what are your guys' thoughts?

**Noir** · 05-31-2007, 19:31

Its very good for pulling off unit maneuvers nonetheless especially cavalry ones (horse archers as well), as units are more easy to pass around due to the reduced front.
Few appreciate this "hidden" charm of it apparently.

Somewhere i read that it works better for offense with infantry than cavalry and i think that its true, particularly for "naturally" offensive units such as lightly armored and fast two-handers and the like. This is even more true if they flank as they need even less defence - although the counterargument i guess is that the No. of men attacking the enemy units is less.

I've seen use of it in MP in between engaged units i think too, so that the two sides of the triangle hit two different enemy units engaged on the sides - a true wedge, that is!

All in all - its good that its there available to all.

Many Thanks

Noir

**Agent Miles** · 05-31-2007, 20:28

I use the wedge a lot. In the Acre battle AAR I did, Saladin's unit can be seen using it. If you have one or more really strong units, you can use the wedge to rapidly smash your opponent's units one after the other. It doesn't give you better odds, so if your unit can't beat another unit, the wedge won't change that. However, if your unit can beat another unit, then you do cause more damage more quickly with a wedge, so that your target either routs or is destroyed in a hurry.

**Ironside** · 05-31-2007, 21:39

The wedge was the general killer in 1.1 and I still think it work well (just harder to pull of). A downhill charge of wedged hevy cav can kill even kings instantly. Why it worked so well in v 1.1 was that the comp considered a sole cav regiment vs an army as a duel and sent his units 1 at a time, and often the general unit first or among the first.

I use it occationally for flank attacks, often switching to line after the initial charge. Most often used in bridge defenses (let the enemy establish a small bridge head then hit from 3 directions).

**The Unknown Guy** · 05-31-2007, 22:16

I use it in a few contexts:

- When charging: Likely as not you´ll get a few units stuck in the melee & killed. And I WANT every single charging unit to deal as much charge bonus as it's possible. Right after the charge, I click on close formation and retreat (changing formation usually helps units to disengage). Also, as I stated in another thread, I've found that chained wedge charges can actually minimize your losses very keenly, althrough it would reçuire lots of micromanagement (I tried this tactic when putting down a big rebellion in Portugal,with the Almohads. They had a sergeant unit, several militias, and one xbows, I think. I had three desert archers -compound bow, pocket mod-, some Militia Sergeants, and three crown princes. Well, to be brief, the militias were elsewhere, and the sergeants were getting close to my bowmen. So I chain-charged the sergeants over and over, lossing only one horse by entanglement-.
This also applies to "rearguard charges". I want my worth of the charge bonus, so I use wedge, even if only for a bit

-Skirmish: simmilar. When I manage to slip a skirmish unit behind the enemy's front, I usually put wedge on the first charge, then close files afterwards.

-Charging swordsmen: At least in the initial charge, like above. I don't do this systematically, but if I´m profficient that I´m not going to suffer any sudden cavalry charge, and the enemy is favoring defensive units over ofense (say, I´m charging a bunch of sergeants), I like the first attack to deal damage, both physical and to the formation. I don't favor this one very much as more often than not the kill ratio is not worth it (better to keep your units intact longer, even if likewise it takes longer to destroy the enemy. You can always flank)

-"Suicide Sçuads": AKA: launching hordes of urban militia upon unsuspecting enemies. Since they will rout anyway, I want them to kill as many units as possible before fleeing. I used this extensively in my dead HRE campaign. These I leave in wedge, as they are "fire and forget".
Likewise, I don't favor it because trashtroops routing can affect the morale of your better troops (Like men at arms). I once tried to use a first wave full of trashtroops to deal starting damage, and then get the second wave into the battle without suffering from the morale penalty of all the units routing. Althrough I won the battle, in general it was a failure. The first wave did not deal enough damage, and my general (heir) eventually routed by Benny Hill syndrome. The day was saved by my feudal Men at Arms (6) which providentially appeared in a forest, and dealt catastrophic damage to the enemy divisions (which, by chasing my trashtroops, had broken formation and were in a "mooping up" mood). So it was useful, after a fashion.
Maybe it can be used when attacking strong defensive positions, to lure them out of there by a "real" "fake" rout.

Most often used in bridge defenses (let the enemy establish a small bridge head then hit from 3 directions).

What for? bridge battles are usually better in damage ratio by barring the bridge with some spear units, and then missileing the hell out of whatever comes on (arrows are good. Crossbows are better. Javelins and naphta are the best -and javelins can usually act as position holders-. If you can actually put in some organ guns, the day is won no matter what comes.)

**caravel** · 05-31-2007, 22:31

I pretty much only use it for throw away units such as Ghazi Infantry. They can be launched from ambush in wedge formation and deal some horrific damage. I will never use it for a faction leader's, heir's or general's unit or for a unit containing a valuable unit leader as it places him at the point of the formation where he is often the first to die. I must admit that I do also use it for maneouvring horse archers, and sometimes other units, out of tight spots.

**Ironside** · 06-01-2007, 08:14

Originally Posted by The Unknown Guy

What for? bridge battles are usually better in damage ratio by barring the bridge with some spear units, and then missileing the hell out of whatever comes on (arrows are good. Crossbows are better. Javelins and naphta are the best -and javelins can usually act as position holders-. If you can actually put in some organ guns, the day is won no matter what comes.)

That's during the initial phase. You know to smash the first 2-3 units that comes over. As I can't withdraw all three units, one unit remains as a plug (usually a spearman), letting the ranged units do thier job on the bridge.

It's merely a further development of what you mentioned. Can also be a napha unit on one flank if I got one.