Cavalry width for best charge?

[SuleymanGroznii]

I used to think nothing about how the game can start your cavalry spread out, in a square shape, or almost in an 'I' formation. Then I read on one of the old RTR forums that you should spread cavalry units out in the front so that they hit more of an enemy unit in a charge. So I've been spreading most of my cavalry into just the widest triangle shape they'll make, which seems to work okay. THEN I read (in a military history book) that increasing a cavalry unit's depth does nothing for the force of its charge. Oy g'velt. Now I'm wondering if its better just to spread them as wide as they'll go, while I've also managed to be totally confused about the wedge formation (which typically sucks whenever I have used it).

What's the consensus, people? And while I'm bored and not out partying, are any advantages to spreading out your missile units? (your patience is greatly appreciated)

[Artax]

I used to think nothing about how the game can start your cavalry spread out, in a square shape, or almost in an 'I' formation. Then I read on one of the old RTR forums that you should spread cavalry units out in the front so that they hit more of an enemy unit in a charge. So I've been spreading most of my cavalry into just the widest triangle shape they'll make, which seems to work okay. THEN I read (in a military history book) that increasing a cavalry unit's depth does nothing for the force of its charge. Oy g'velt. Now I'm wondering if its better just to spread them as wide as they'll go, while I've also managed to be totally confused about the wedge formation (which typically sucks whenever I have used it).

What's the consensus, people? And while I'm bored and not out partying, are any advantages to spreading out your missile units? (your patience is greatly appreciated)

I do not know well how it worked in ancient times, but I can share my experiences using cavalry. If you use very wide formation (wider then the enemy unit you are going to charge) you are going to have more casualties, becouse cavalry men will change their moving direction and get traped between enemy units. So it is best to use as wide formation as the enemy unit. This way you can get the most kills. If unit still fights turn back and charge again. If it routs charge another unit. I remember that one unit of hetaroi (80 men) during one battle killed more than 900 roman principes and only about 100kills was done chasing routed units. After the battle there was still 50 men left + two chevrons

Wedge formation in RTR sucks, becouse only few units charge the enemy and wedges main purpose was to make a hole in an enemy formation. In RTR it's very hard to do this.

Missile units. I use loose formation only if they are getting fired at. Loose formation lessens casualties. But for attack I use standart formation as it concentrates missiles on one unit, especially if you are firing to the units back.

Hope it helps

[SuleymanGroznii]

I do not know well how it worked in ancient times, but I can share my experiences using cavalry. If you use very wide formation (wider then the enemy unit you are going to charge) you are going to have more casualties, becouse cavalry men will change their moving direction and get traped between enemy units. So it is best to use as wide formation as the enemy unit. This way you can get the most kills. If unit still fights turn back and charge again. If it routs charge another unit. I remember that one unit of hetaroi (80 men) during one battle killed more than 900 roman principes and only about 100kills was done chasing routed units. After the battle there was still 50 men left + two chevrons

Ah...now that sounds like what I remember people saying. Thanks. And I really, really, really, really, REALLY need to remember that whole thing about turning back to charge again if they don't route....Platinum 1.9 is BRUTAL to a cavalry unit that hangs out too long.

Wedge formation in RTR sucks, becouse only few units charge the enemy and wedges main purpose was to make a hole in an enemy formation. In RTR it's very hard to do this.

If get a good charge and hit a unit completely from behind, it seems like it scatters them quite a bit more than a regular charge. Then again, other times it just seems like it sucks

Missile units. I use loose formation only if they are getting fired at. Loose formation lessens casualties. But for attack I use standart formation as it concentrates missiles on one unit, especially if you are firing to the units back.

Hope it helps

That makes sense. Since the AI always automatically puts so many of your Horse Archers or regular missile units in these super wide, two men deep formations, I figured it was trying to tell me something.

I'm a big fan of disabling fire at will and pulverizing one unit, so keeping my missile units in a tighter formation will probably make that work a bit better. thanks for the quick reply!