Phalanx formation: Long or compact?

[Mythos_Ruler]

What are the benefits and weaknesses of drawing out a phalanx unit in a long line as opposed to a more compact square? Long line = better flanking bonus as you envelop the more compact enemy unit, but does it reduce attack or make your unit more susceptible to routing?

[khshayathiya]

Your phalanx will lose cohesiveness within a very short time and phalangites will stop using the spear and resort to using the sword (in a pretty Holywoodian melee), get chopped, get depressed and flee.

Quite a pessimistic scenario - not sure it would always work that way, but that's what usually happens to me.

[Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Well I am no expert but my own experiences have teached me how it is best to fight a phalanx.

It makes no sense to place more than 4 - 5 behind each other, in the longest line possible (if you have more than 6 units of phalanx, place them ticker).

Well I am more a Roman Type fighter.

Q.

[Korinthos Hoplites]

If the enemy phalanx focuses on a single spot, you'll be crushed.

Always use at least 5 men-deep phalanxes. If you need a longer coverage, it is probably wiser to use more phalanxes.

[G_the_Great]

Well a wide phalanx would be able to hold a larger position and you would be able to use fewer phalanxes to make a long battle line. You probably want to keep it 6 men deep so that it can absorb some decent enemy pushes.
THe advantage of this would be that you could use other slots for other units and hence encircle or outflank the enemy.
However, it makes the main line weak to a concentrated enemy push. If the enemy charges several strong units against one section, keeping the flanks curved to repulse the flanking manuver, it is liable to break and you end up with enemy pouring through. This assumes your opponent is at all intelligent.

A thick phalanx would be able to absorb any frontal assault but is vulnerable to flanking manuvers and so should be supported by flanking troops. THis means that to have a large number of flanking troops or something to halt enemy flanking manuvers like a handy bit of impassable terrain. This means that deep phalanxes are unbeatable in cities. The problem then is that your forces can be very spread out and it is hard to outflank the enemy and dish out some damage to their rears. Therefore you would need to use javelin throwers behind your deep phalanxes and plenty of cavalry or fast infantry to flank through other streets.

[Marcion]

Never at any point in a serious battle would I use a thin phalanx. They work best as stick-it-out, thick-of-the-fight heavy hitters grinding down the bulk of the enemy army. You'll always want to have some solution for the flanking problem, be it cavalry (my favorite) or some other higher mobility troops on the sides. If for some reason you were forced into using a pure phalanx army and didn't have any suitable flank guards, you could use thin lines, but would still have to do a lot of micromanagement to work around their disposition for immobility (they can still only fight in the direction they're facing). And if your enemy had cavalry, and knew how to use them, you could probably forget about winning that battle.

[Brusilov]

You'll always want to have some solution for the flanking problem, be it cavalry (my favorite) or some other higher mobility troops on the sides. If for some reason you were forced into using a pure phalanx army and didn't have any suitable flank guards, you could use thin lines, but would still have to do a lot of micromanagement to work around their disposition for immobility (they can still only fight in the direction they're facing).

At the start of the Macedonian campaign I will use Thracian Infantry to flank the phalanx. As my economy grows I can afford Hypaspistai to form the flank of the phalanx. First just a single sword unit each flank, maybe along with the Thracian Infantry. I eventually replace the Thracian Infantry with spear Hypaspistai.

The idea behind the phalanx is to hold the line and act as the anvil. The hammer will be your heavy cavalry helped out by some peltasts to soften up the target.

I don't thin out the phalanx line, although I can't remember how deep it is - maybe six or seven men deep. I have my archers safe behind the Phalanx. If you thin out the anvil too much the hammer may not have anything to hit but air......

[Mythos_Ruler]

Thanks for the reply guys. This is all pretty much hypothetical, because the computer doesn't use proper tactics. Is RTR PE playable online so I can test some of this stuff against human opponents?

[Finn]

Florin compiled a list of members who are interested in multi player matches in the RTRPE sub forum, post and I'm sure he'll add your name. http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=115074

[blacburn]

I don't use the longest line because it could be easily broken even by calvary and once that happen they rout more easily. For me the line of 4 is far better, your formation will hold the position for longer and you still get a huge battle line.

I only use the thinest line when I'm playing with a barbarian faction because their strategy is to cause fear in the heart of their enemy. A huge battle line almost twice the size of your enemy seems to work better.

[Artax]

The deep of the phalanx depends on what you are going to do with it: attack or defend.

When defending it is preferable to have longer front line, so the phalanx will be thicker. I prefer to keep it 5-6 man deep. But be aware, if enemy has heavy cavalry or cataphracts make phalanx deeper. Becouse heavy cavalry tends to disrupt formation and if they are followed by infantry you are in trouble.

For attack it's better to use deeper phalanx. It provides bigger mass and more spear points to the enemy ranks. Using two phalanx units you can make a hole in the enemy battle line.

[GracchusTheGreat]

Crucial Phalanx Tip:

Make sure their status is never "Fighting". Sound strange? Allow me to explain. In fact, this goes for any infantry unit. First of all, even when in "Ready" mode, your units will still fight, only now they won't lose either stamina or formation. This is especially important for phalanxes, moreso when attacking. If attacking, ALT+Right-click your target , then once enganged press Backspace to reset them to "Ready" mode. They'll continue fighting with spears and in perfect formation. Keep an eye on all your units and hit Backspace on any in "Fighting" mode.

[Brusilov]

Crucial Phalanx Tip:

Make sure their status is never "Fighting". Sound strange? Allow me to explain. In fact, this goes for any infantry unit. First of all, even when in "Ready" mode, your units will still fight, only now they won't lose either stamina or formation. This is especially important for phalanxes, moreso when attacking. If attacking, ALT+Right-click your target , then once enganged press Backspace to reset them to "Ready" mode. They'll continue fighting with spears and in perfect formation. Keep an eye on all your units and hit Backspace on any in "Fighting" mode.

I think within the game it's known as 'guard mode' but you are correct. I've been using guard mode for years as it stops the unit from chasing the enemy unit if it routs, opening up a gap in my line.

Guard mode does mean that the unit is parrying more than attacking. They don't get tired as quickly and also take less casualties. This helps make the anvil.

[HamilcarBarca]

I like to use the sarissa-armed phalanx fighting in the 'Macedonian style' as a deep square, as was originally intended.

As long as their flanks are covered, they can grind through the centre of the enemy!

[Darkarbiter]

Thin: Longer line in general that means they are covering more ground
Thick: higher morale, more resistant to cavlry, MUCH MUCH better defences against ranged attacks... a deep square doesn't get hurt much by ranged attacks at all.

[Avram]

I've liked to use phalanxes with depth ever since the new AI has figured out that flanking works quite well. I feel this way they're more solid from behind, and the sides.

Also that picture Hamiclar posted is quite interesting, I didn't know the Macedonian phalanax had it's troops at the front crouching down and getting more upright as you get further back. It makes perfect sense afterall.

[Brusilov]

Also that picture Hamiclar posted is quite interesting, I didn't know the Macedonian phalanax had it's troops at the front crouching down and getting more upright as you get further back. It makes perfect sense afterall.

I thought it more of a 'braced' position, ready to accept a charge or to make a push.

[The God of War]

there is no such thing as too long to too compact !!! It is how you form your phalanx to extract the most advantage from your unit and when you do you will feel great !!!

Firstly, there are three types of phalanx formations stretched horizontally forming a longer battle frontline, compact square type and in long rows forming a very short battle frontline !!!

The use of the longer battle frontline is to engulf your enemy but this will reduce the impact of your phalanx attack I used to use this alot but dont recommend it anymore !!! The compact square formation is to brace impact enemy and even shock combat that it hit your enemy hard (when attack and then slowly surrounding them !!! The last formation which was not mentioned before is goo to reduce casualties when facing archers almost to nothing if they use fire as they become more inaccurate !!!

You have to use all three formations and there is no ultimate formation !!! It is just how you use these three formations and when !!! This will make you the best at phalanx warfare !!! Have fun trying out this new tactic !!!