Thoughts and questions...

[Ibrahim]

Forgot I rarely use the elephant, and only if it's desperate, so they never run over the phalanxes or anyone else
sorry I forgot to say that

[Bactron]

Playing also for AS, this therad of yours made me wonder how did AS battle formation looked in reality? If anyone knows I would like to know. If there was something like standartizied formation.

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

[Watchman]

Given the massive size of the AS and the diversity in both geography and inhabitants it ruled over, nevermind now enemies, one suspects that in practice their formations were pretty ad hoc according to what troops the commander had at his disposal and what the adversary and battlefield were like.

The big set-piece battles with the other Diadochi and the Romans seem to AFAIK have generally stuck to the classic "Alexandrian" pikes-flanked-with-horse paradigm, though. But those would have been a rather small fraction of the engagements they fought.

[Decimus Attius Arbiter]

Playing also for AS, this therad of yours made me wonder how did AS battle formation looked in reality? If anyone knows I would like to know. If there was something like standartizied formation.

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

They were there for suppressing fire against flank attacks including cavalry.RTW can't do this. I like CNC 3 because units have a suppression meter where they move slower but have higher defense when shot at too many times. In front I don't know. Lots of armies put their cavalry and missles all in front and wings. It is weird.

[Watchman]

That suppression-o-meter sucks, then, except for the slowing down bit. Humans instinctively bunch together under fire, but that's actually the exact wrong thing to do - dense masses are only that much easier to hit. The correct solution is to open ranks instead; more of the projectiles will meet empty space between the warriors, each individual has more room to duck out of the way, and the whole bunch can move faster to get to grips with the ranged troops. (There's a reason the Athenians ran for the last circa hundred meters at Marathon.)

Of course, opening ranks is suicide if there's heavy cavalry in strike range which is specifically one reason the nomads liked their cataphracts - the heavies forced enemy infantry to keep close order, making the archery that much more effective.

Something of an exception is a testudo-style "shield fortress"; it requires rather large (and preferably rectangular; smaller shields simply don't give enough cover) shields and highly drilled troops to pull off, doubly so if the unit is to be able to maneuver effectively nevermind now go to the offensive. But then, that sort of thing is specialised formation designed for missile protection rather than the reflexive and counter-productive bunching up troops are prone to anyway.

[Pezlu]

They were there for suppressing fire against flank attacks including cavalry.RTW can't do this. I like CNC 3 because units have a suppression meter where they move slower but have higher defense when shot at too many times. In front I don't know. Lots of armies put their cavalry and missles all in front and wings. It is weird.

I've used the cavalry in front when defending sometimes: you can use it to lure a few enemy units away or to smash the weak points before they come in contact with your infantry; when the "true battle" begins, the enemy lines will be incomplete (or shorter, if they took time to reorganize). Best used in conjunction with some hidden troops to damage the enemy formation more.

When they make contact you can easily flank their isolated units, or their shorter line. And when your cavalry is done with the units the enemy kept back, you can use it as a normal "hammer".

Extremely useful when the enemy attacks you with a very small army; you can even rout it completely without using your infantry. And, maybe, prepare yourself for enemy reinforcements (they rarely attack you with small armies if they don't have reinforcements :P).

About the archers on the flanks, I guess you could still get an advantage: you would be able to hit the flanks of the enemy troops during the melee. However, you must find a way to protect your archers effectively. Never used them that way however, just guessing.

[Ibrahim]

your opinions are very good, and I appretiate the creative thinking involved. If anyone likes to know more, check out that thread on tactics used by individual members.

[konny]

One thing that I dont understand is why were archers on the wing? (assuming that they were placed there) I personally keep them rather in safety behind my phlanax line.

Fighting phalanx archers don't do any damage when shooting on the front of the enemy. The best angle would be (appart from behind) shooting into the right flank of the enemy (no shields!). And for that they are best placed on your left wing. In EB Syrian and Cretian archers are also of some use in melee, so they can fall on the enemy's wing after spending all their missles.

[Bactron]

Thanks for explanation guys, It makes sense. And I will change my formation when fighting against other phalanx armies by placing my archers on the left wing.

[zooeyglass]

Fighting phalanx archers don't do any damage when shooting on the front of the enemy. The best angle would be (appart from behind) shooting into the right flank of the enemy (no shields!). And for that they are best placed on your left wing. In EB Syrian and Cretian archers are also of some use in melee, so they can fall on the enemy's wing after spending all their missles.

and of course that's why cavalry was often used on the wings also - to chase down skirmishers, and generally secure the flanks more quickly.

[konny]

and of course that's why cavalry was often used on the wings also - to chase down skirmishers, and generally secure the flanks more quickly.

When talking of a phalanx army there is basically no other room for non-phalanx units than on the wings. The phalanx itself should be a wall of pikes and do not permitt units (either friend or foe) to pass through it. In fact, the only army that was able to let units pass thorugh the main line on a larger scale was the Roman army - thanks to the open order it was deployed in before actually attacking.

In EB, on the other hand, it is no problem to move say 200 archers and 400 skirmisher right thorugh the middle of your 1,000 men phalanx several times without throwing the entire formation into disorder.

[I of the Storm]

In relation to this, I remember (i think from reading Polybius), that successor armies often weren't so much one straight line of phalangites, but more a line with joints. IIRC it was in the Magnesia description (could be wrong here though, it's been some time...), that e.g. some elephants were placed in between sections of the phalanx as well as on the flanks. Same with missile troops and mobile inf.
Now, was this common for successor armies or was it a rather innovative (and failing) approach, possibly developed on macedonians vs. romans experiences?

[Pezlu]

In relation to this, I remember (i think from reading Polybius), that successor armies often weren't so much one straight line of phalangites, but more a line with joints. IIRC it was in the Magnesia description (could be wrong here though, it's been some time...), that e.g. some elephants were placed in between sections of the phalanx as well as on the flanks. Same with missile troops and mobile inf.
Now, was this common for successor armies or was it a rather innovative (and failing) approach, possibly developed on macedonians vs. romans experiences?

Elephants right between the phalanxes? I hope they don't run amok!

However, that formation with melee infantry to protect the flanks of the various "phalanx sections" seems intersting... but I guess the next "evolution2 would be to divide the line in the various sections, making them independent; you wuold obtain a few short phalanx lines with protected flanks that can act indipentently or be placed in a single line with "joints", as you said.

Thoughts?