why? (formation disruption question)

[TWFanatic]

Ram=Collide with force. You can ram a ship into an enemy ship, ram a battering... ram into a gate, or ram a phalanx into the enemy line.

Knew that.

What he actually means here, I think, is order the phalanx to move beyond the enemy and eventually they will collide with the enemy and start poking.

Didn't know that. Thanks.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Yes. Order your Phalanx in a line in front of the enemy line. Then order them to a point behind the enemy. Use spacebar to control where the phalanx will go. As soon as the phalanx has contact with the enemy, it'll stop. Then I normally order them again to move to a point behind the enemy. The phalanx will move and get a bit "squeezed", but normally not losing more than 2 men. When it is squeezed, press backspace.

[Bellum]

I don't use phalanx units much in EB, but I can't remember ever having problems with them in RTW. At least nowhere near on the level I did in M2. But then, in EB, I rarely fight city battles. Theres so much extra time, I usual starve the garison until they give up or sally forth.