Hoplite

[Stone and Blood]

Hello, i would like to know more about these facinating units, and their habilities inside the game. So, i'll post some questions:

1) They keep their spears above their heads, while some other spearmen keep them near the shield. Does these diferent stances cause any difference while fighting?
2) Hoplite spears are bigger then other spearmen's spears, does it make any differente while fighting?
3)How should they fight? Keep guard mode to increase the line's stability, or let them free to move?
4)how they shall be used? In the flanks to protect cavalry charge?
5) About Hipaspistay: are they more effective against infantry using swords or spears?

Thanks for any information :)

[Mouzafphaerre]

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1 & 2 - They keep the enemy distant.
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[Pharnakes]

3) guard mode on, unless you are trying to put a lot of sudden pressure on one unit near to breaking.

4)To hold the flanks and support cav if you have phalignites (see gaugamaela sp?), otherwise just to make the entire line.

5)Not really an issue of inf vs cav, more that spears are to be used in defensive situatiions, spears are to be used against cav at all times, and swords should only be used to attack against infantry. Guard mode should always be engaged wen defending, and off when offending. Never use guard mode and swords.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Never use guard mode and swords.

Never say never! Shortswordsmen are supposed to perform in formation.
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[Stone and Blood]

Thanks for the information guys, so, swords are used to make pressure on enemy lines, and spears are used to defence and to fight against cavalry. Very interesting, seems like hoplite can fight like phalanx and like shock infantry, am i right?

[konny]

The guard mode effect really works with Hoplites and the same units (overhand spearmen with large round shields) only. I had tried it with other units that only met one of the two requirements to great disapointement, for example Thureophoroi or Persian Hoplites.