phalangitai... too few spears?

**Cute Wolf** · 11-08-2009, 06:09

Originally Posted by JMRC

The first man will not sit down. There are 2 ranks with spears lowered and if in Guard Mode, the 3rd rank will also lower the spears.

Bravo... so we could say goodbye to pikemen-ish formations we see on previous videos!!!

**Foot** · 11-08-2009, 15:41

Originally Posted by Cute Wolf

Bravo... so we could say goodbye to pikemen-ish formations we see on previous videos!!!

What pikemen-ish formations from previous videos? The animations haven't changed since you saw them in the macedon vs ptolemaioi video.

Foot

**antisocialmunky** · 11-08-2009, 15:49

Is there a way to make it so units don't run into the pikes and continue hteir run animation?

**Phalanx300** · 11-08-2009, 16:10

http://www.manningimperial.com/item....g_id=1&c_id=14

That point doesn't look very defensive to me.

The Phalanx was an offensive formation, not a battle winning force in most cases but the Diadochi wouldn't rely on them that much if they weren't an offensive formation.

**Foot** · 11-08-2009, 17:05

there purpose was to hold not to kill, and without some from of infantry or cavalry back up were eventually overrun (as we see on the left flank in Gaugamela). That would explain the strategies of Pyrrhus when he split the phalanx with close-melee troops. But they were use to aggressively pin an enemy (the only defensive formation was that which fortified a position - all others had to be used aggressively lest the enemy simply flank).

You need to define your terms properly, before you begin to define things with them.

Foot

**antisocialmunky** · 11-08-2009, 20:24

Well theory and practice can be very different...

He could be refering what the Macedonians were doing during the Macedonian War against Rome due to a shortage of elite horsemen.

**Phalanx300** · 11-08-2009, 20:41

Well all I'm saying is that the points on their spears weren't for show.

And from the way they were used they were to engage the enemy and eventually they became almost an independant force under the diadochi, if they truelly weren't used for the offensive then they wouldn't be massed like the Hoplites of the city states.