janisary heavy infantry

[Agent Smith]

I would really like the men in all formations to find a sparring partner. Anyone else noticed how long it takes to get "IN" to the fight. Perhaps this should be tied to their training and discipline. Take ages to actually find someone to fight, even when their own formation is broken (I'm talking all units not just JHI). I see a lot of guys just standing around "Oh look there's John, he's dying I think ? Should we go help ?"...

That is probably my main beef with the game, which is a total lack of mixing of infantry troops when they charge into each other.

That's why it is kind of disingenuous (sp?) when they show "gameplay videos" where this stuff ACTUALLY occurs. Take a look at the Brittania Campaign preview for the Kingdoms expansion starting at about the 1:52 mark. THAT'S what I want to see. Unless they have changed some of the animations to make it look like that, then it is kind of wrong to make videos using the game engine to make it appear that that is actually what happens.

[Philbert]

I'm not so sure. It makes sense that the two pools of fighting men donot mix: If you have a clear battle line, then the guy on your left and the guy on your right are friendly and therefore pose no threat. This enables you to direct all your attention forward, the only place you will find foes.
If you intrude into the enemy group, suddenly danger can come from all sides making your life much more dangerous and therefore reducing your effectiveness as a warrior.

Of course if your infantry is of much higher quality than the enemy's and it is well armoured, they have more liberty to engage like that, but in a close match I would stay close to my buddies.

[WhiskeyGhost]

I'm not so sure. It makes sense that the two pools of fighting men donot mix: If you have a clear battle line, then the guy on your left and the guy on your right are friendly and therefore pose no threat. This enables you to direct all your attention forward, the only place you will find foes.
If you intrude into the enemy group, suddenly danger can come from all sides making your life much more dangerous and therefore reducing your effectiveness as a warrior.

Of course if your infantry is of much higher quality than the enemy's and it is well armoured, they have more liberty to engage like that, but in a close match I would stay close to my buddies.

I think the biggest issue with this is when Bob and Joe sit 2 meters away while Frank is having his arse handed to him by 2 enemies ganging up on him.

Bob: Think Frank can handle those two guys by himself?
Joe: No, but i didn't like Frank anyways.
Frank: Help me!!
Bob: Won't we have to deal with them after they finish killing him?
Joe: ........your right. Let's start running away after they kill him.
**Frank has been slain**
**Unit has routed**

[Kobal2fr]

Naaah, you got it all wrong. The truth is, every single unit in this game is actually composed of MMORPG players. Proof :

Joe : man, XP is slooooow. Let's charge something. Peasants ?
Jack : brb, afk bio
Jim : same
Bob : We can't get a good rush going on from here, we need to move 10 meters back and maybe have Tom pull them with his bow and then...
Joe : LEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOY !
*hack* *hack*
Bob : WTF ?!! IDIOT ! Now we've got the whole spear wall on us !
Jack : back.
Jack : WTF is Joe doing ?!
Bob : getting us killed.
Jack : figures.
Jim : I'm not healing him
Jack : and I'm not taunting THAT many.
Bob : why let him die ? We'll get aggro next...
Jim : Because he's a douche, that's why
Frank : peasant add ! RUN !
*whole unit flees*
Joe : At least I'm no chicken...