best defensive formations

[V.T. Marvin]

For defense (and counter-attack later on) you can try this one:
- Put your Leves/Velites to the front in LOOSE formation, 5-6 men deep, with skirmish mode OFF, guard mode ON and fire-at-will mode ON
- Put your Hastati right behind them, in dense formation, 4 men deep, with guard mode ON and fire-at-will mode ON
- Put your Principes behind the Hastati in dense formation, 4 men deep, with guard mode OFF and fire-at-will mode ON
- Put your general behind the principes in the middle of the line to maintain their morale
- Put your Triarii and Rorarii behind the general to guard against any AI attepts to encircle your flanks

Wait until the enemy approaches your line and start to engage your leves/velites, they will suffer casualties, but the enemy even more as your skirmishers and both line of your infantry will pepper him with missiles. Once you see that your leves/velites are shaken or wawering (or even routing) order them behind your line to reform and shoot their remaining javelins into the melee, which is now taken by your hastati. Wait a while. Turn the guard mode of your hastati OFF so that they engage the enemy in earnest now. Wait a few seconds. Order your principes to charge the enemy. Order your reserves (triarii, rorarii, any allies you may have and the leves/velites withdrawn before from the front) to encircle and attack the flanks of the enemy. Have a good fun!