A question on formations

**UnkemptGoose** · January 01, 2009, 05:24 PM

I'm rather new to SPQR so I was hoping someone could explain the advantages/ disadvantages of formations. Mainly, shield wall, guard mode, standard formation, anything else you'd like to explain to me.

**Ejergard** · January 01, 2009, 06:33 PM

Shield wall is mainly good against Barbarians, to prevent them to penetrate your lines. Its bad to use shieldwalls against archers and skirmishers, since you will take heavier casualties.
Against phalanxes, elephants and cavalry, I prefer not to use shieldwall or tight formations since you will take alot more casualties.

As for guard mode/standard. When guardmode is checked, the unit will just hold it ground, stay in formation and fight only if anyone is close enough to be hit. If in guard mode and the unit you are fighting routs, they will not follow! And it's the opposite if it isn't checked, then you're units will pursue any routing enemies they are fighting.

For archers and skirmishers, guard mode will automatically stop firing when own units are in danger of being hit, whilst if it is not checked, they will fire anyway.

Usually when defending, i use my front line on guard mode, and the ranks behind not on guard. And I never use horses on guard, since most of the time I use horses, the enemy I charge starts to rout and then I want the horses to continue the pursuit.

Otherwise, I mainly use the tactics in the spqr readme folder, and they do work

**Legio** · January 01, 2009, 06:35 PM

Also toggle guard mode off when in combat with the enemy general. That way if he routs you can still catch him.

**Hesus de bodemloze** · January 02, 2009, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by Legio Caesar

Also toggle guard mode off when in combat with the enemy general. That way if he routs you can still catch him.

don' t kille the general to fast.

the enemie armie needs him, it will roud to fast if you do kill him.

**czePowerslave** · January 03, 2009, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Hesus de bodemloze

don' t kille the general to fast.

the enemie armie needs him, it will roud to fast if you do kill him.

This has been an issue before and I believe now is solved in 7.0 right? With missile cav generals or smth like that? Its not about killing him too fast, its him charging the line of troops, and since horses are really useless in head on charge, he dies, aint our fault! Just happens, its war!

**Hesus de bodemloze** · January 03, 2009, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by czePowerslave

This has been an issue before and I believe now is solved in 7.0 right? With missile cav generals or smth like that? Its not about killing him too fast, its him charging the line of troops, and since horses are really useless in head on charge, he dies, aint our fault! Just happens, its war!

Not realy fixt, it is fixt for roman AI when having a legion reinforcing you on the battlefield. Enemy generals still charge to help the attack of there armie.

**Samariten** · January 02, 2009, 08:56 AM

If you fight against a enemy that is largely more powerfull you can use guard mode for front row troops to hold the enemy and make them tired. Then use second row rested troops to go in and finnish the job (not having guard mode on second row ofcourse). Tired troops have lower morale and route easier when facing fresh troops.

**Hesus de bodemloze** · January 02, 2009, 10:26 AM

indeed and guard mode makes units not run behind rounting enemies, this is helpful when you need all your units to win the battle.

**Samariten** · January 03, 2009, 05:29 AM

Hannibal did charge and died in 7.0 in my campign.

**czePowerslave** · January 03, 2009, 06:40 AM

Yeah he died in my campaign too on right wing. n00b.
Thanks for answer Hesus, good thing tho that generals are so expendable in the SPQR

**Hesus de bodemloze** · January 03, 2009, 08:18 AM

Well it is best to keep your own generals a live for as long as possible, AI generals don' t mather becous thy breed like rabbits.

You don' t kill them that fast becous else there armie would rout to fast and where is the fun of a routing army when your battle has just begun.

**Samariten** · January 03, 2009, 08:27 AM

Well ive noticed that the generals from gaul are alot more careful and stay behind their troops. Last battle their general didnt move much at all.

**Ejergard** · January 03, 2009, 09:12 AM

Yes, in my opinion AI generals are somehow more careful nowadays too, even though not being missile units. In my 6.4 campaign most enemy generals I faced didn't survive the first battle.
This 7.0 campaign is different though.
I've fought a total of 15 battles with AI generals so far, and of those, 6 survived.
And some generals have even survived more than 2 battles against me!
I fought Vindex in 213, he lost, went home to regroup and is currently preparing a large stack to come at me again.
And Vellocatus lost a battle in 212, home to regroup, and attacked again in 203. The second battle he lost 3146 men to my 567 (damn veteran enemy generals) but he still survived. Now I'm eagerly waiting for our next engagement.

Too little background yet, but my general feeling is that it is acceptable nowadays.
And if the entire army is destroyed, there is no shame for the general to die with it, unless he dies before them.

**Samariten** · January 06, 2009, 05:46 AM

Aye AI generals are alot more careful well except Hannibal perhaps, i guess he never learns. Anyway abit annoying is that when engage in a large battle between two of my legions and lets say to stacks of gauls. My AI general that is controlling my second legion always charge away or atleast expose himself for the enemy and dies. Ive lost about four or five good generals (if you can say they were any good) at large scale battles cause of not being careful. I havent thought of it until now but i guess it isnt much to do then using just generals the family members instead.