learning the of the phalanx

[Ravenic]

As far as killing your own cavalry with Sarissas, I think its just a very rare bug because I have had it happen to me once, but only once.

And while I agree that Aemilius' tactics are certainly effective (boxing multiple units atop one another for example), I tend to shy away from that because that's not plausible historically. Indeed, no offense to Aemilius, but I'd consider it an exploit really.

Aaand on the last note, the poor pathfinding I'm talking about with phalanxs mostly involves trying to actually get through a gate, though half of the time my phalanx will just do something stupid while I'm marching through the streets or engaging an enemy in urban combat. Bah...much easier to use the infantry designed for it!

[craziii]

it does happen. just like your archer units killing your own troops with friendly fire.

[Aemilius Paulus]

. Indeed, no offense to Aemilius, but I'd consider it an exploit really.

Yeah, I'm kinda big on the exploits! (reloading when losing battles, FMs dying of old age, failed agent mission, shooting in the backs of the units, using the battlefield borders as flanking guards - that me allright!)

[Ludens]

And while I agree that Aemilius' tactics are certainly effective (boxing multiple units atop one another for example), I tend to shy away from that because that's not plausible historically. Indeed, no offense to Aemilius, but I'd consider it an exploit really.

In this particular instance, it's actually historical. Phalangites could form a impenetrable pike-block called synaspis (locked shields) where individual soldiers stood at half the distance for their neighbours. However, this formation was immobile. And I agree that the R:TW engine is far too lax when it comes to stacking-penalties.

Incidentally, I have little problems with pathfinding in cities as long as I remember that the units should be less wide than the road (the pavement). That way they will generally stay in formation. And the A.I. often won't deviate from the road to attack my phalanx' flanks.