Unit depth

[RoutingUrban]

Playing online has made me think about many different deployment styles and formations.

I always make my infantry 3 lines long instead of the normal 4. I'm using Huge settings. My question is do you think the trade-off of depth for length is worth it ?

This also applies to calvary.

Tks if you can help

[Prince_of_Macedon]

I'll move this to Battle Planning.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

Well this fully depends on the situation and your opponents deployment. If you're the agressor, and want to pack a powerful punch, break open your enemies formation and try to beat them with that, then of course, greater depth is the best you can do to help it. But if you're on the defensive, with a long enemy line against you and the danger of being outflanked, then I suppose longer is better, unless you plan on making a box or something. It also depends on the type of unit. Some units work better in a pack, others work better and are more flexible when spread out. These little tricks are picked up as you gain experience in playing.

[Aristarchus]

I agree there are a lot of variations to answer this question. I'm curious what others think in particular instances. The only times I change depth are (a) for missile units, to 4-5 deep to make the line shorter and more manueverable around the field without running into an enemy unit, and even more of a box when dealing with phalanxes, so the missile units can run any direction and avoid getting pricked, (b) just the opposite for dealing with Scythia or other heavy horse-archer armies, where I spread the missile units out in as long a line as possible to try to snag the enemy horses and make them stop, and give them less room to maneuver, and (c) thinner rows of phalanxes when I only have a couple to defend missile units behind them against a massive army - typically though phalanxes are better in deep formation. I agree that regular depth is better to punch a hole in an enemy line, particularly because if successful, the unit can slip through the gap and flank the next nearest enemy while others attack from the front. A long line may get hung up in a direction you don't want to go.