In single combat a warrior with a spear (not to talk about a sarissa) against a swordman is in dire straits. It is easy to deflect the spear with the sword, pass the tip and bring the sword into play. Try it with two sticks of different lenght.
In formation the things are different. The swordmen have to face a lot of points, coming from different directions. Remember that the normal Roman formation for hastati and principes was 4 cubits/6 feet/1,80m, while the spearmen stand closer. For sarissai pikemen the normal fighting space was 2 cubits according to Asklepiodotos, which is exactly the same what Polybios told us. A Roman soldier so faced about 2 adversaries when in fight with phalangites.
Let's have a look to Kynos Kephalae (bad landscape for pikes) and Pydna (perfect landscape for pikes). In both battles the Romans first performed rather badly. They were repulsed by the pikemen who placed their tips on/in the Roman shields and pushed them away. In the end the Romans were victorious because they were able to use gaps in the phalanx (ironically originating from the successful advance of the pikemen) or flank it with their flexible tactics. And not to forget the charge of the Roman elephants against the phalanx flanks (something some people like to ignore). It was not coincidence that at Pydna the left wing of the phalanx which was charged by the elephants broke first.
Btw, it is one of the frequent fairy tales that the professional Roman legionaries of the principate did not use spears. A lot of spear points were found in pure legionary castras.
I would say sword against spear should be balanced. In frontal combat the swordman at least should not have an advantage. Up till now I cannot say that the EB 1.0 balance is so bad. (However although I don't play Romani I'm also of the opinion that the cohors evocata should have better stats, to refer to the other thread. If not them who was an elite warrior? And yes, elite is always connected to experience and moral in formation close combat.)
Bookmarks