Noob box vs Skill box

[Varus12]

This is something very unknown to the most non-clan players and a lot of youtubers have tended to spread the confusion.

What is a noob box?Is making a box actually noobish?
A player makes a box in rtw when he sets up his pikemen so that there is no way for the enemy cavalry to flank any of his units.
A box is considered a "noob box" when the decision of making the box is completely irrational.
For example: Let us say I play 15k cwb and take macedon, my opponent decides to take carthage. Sacred bands gold/gold are much stronger than royal pikes gold/gold. Now since I know my infantry cannot beat sacred bands then it is obvious that I will need archers. So if carthage makes a box right after the start, then it will fairly easy for me to pick up his missiles and then destroy the box with my archers. In this case we have a noob box.

Now was the boxing tactic actually that bad? If Macedon doesnt have any more missiles left or is out of ammo, then carthage will end up winning with a box. So here you have it. Carthage could try and get the right amount of missiles and light cav to take out Macedon's missiles. Once Macedon's missiles are gone or if Carthage has been able to hold on long enough so that Macedon's missiles are out of ammo then a box is the perfect ending strategy. This is the skill box.

[IX Varangian Cohort]

You should use whatever tactics make you win with minimal losses no matter how 'noobish' they may seem. Why use a fancy battle plan if you loose more soldiers than a noobish one? I'm sure that commanders in history did whatever tactics made them win, no matter what they were like.

[TheFoolOnTheHill]

You should use whatever tactics make you win with minimal losses no matter how 'noobish' they may seem. Why use a fancy battle plan if you loose more soldiers than a noobish one? I'm sure that commanders in history did whatever tactics made them win, no matter what they were like.

Noon boxes will never make you better at the game. that is why most people don't use them and they are easy to break.

[Willowran]

I see no problem with making a GOOD "newb box", because those are NOT so easy to break. I advocate ANY strategy that will win, preferably against the largest variety of enemies/strategies. A GOOD newb box (Or hedgehog formation, or Pike Ring as i call it myself) is well worth it.

[IX Varangian Cohort]

I mean you wouldn't use noob boxes all the time, only when the situation requires it.

[Willowran]

Oh yes. What bothers me more than people who use the newb box all the time are people who use the newb box against an enemy army comprised almost entirely of archers...and they KEEP the newb box. They don't even TRY to move. *shake head*

[KittySN]

I usually brick if there's archers I can't combat. Very rarely do I need to make one.

Otherwise I'll make noob cube (if not use geography) if all my opponent has left is cavalry: