Shield Wall

[saamohod]

Does anyone know the purpose of "shield wall" in some spear units? (Not to be confused with "spear wall" and "schiltrom"). I've done couple of tests in custom battle and it doesn't seem to have any difference, only grafically:hmmm:

[nostradamouse]

Does anyone know the purpose of "shield wall" in some spear units? (Not to be confused with "spear wall" and "schiltrom"). I've done couple of tests in custom battle and it doesn't seem to have any difference, only grafically:hmmm:

Great defensive formation, allows a more compact formation and lets you have a denser ammount of spears in on location.

Good for attack as well. Don't know for archers though.

[Faramir D'Andunie]

Good defence formation, especially for tight places like city/castle fights. If I understant it correctly in game settings you will more or less have 2 soldiers beeing able to attack one of the enemy force, where without it you would have one in the same place.

Can't say I find it usefull for attack, unless I am planning to simply pin down enemy infantry, combine it with guard mode to minimise loses, while some flanking force wins the fight.
Also it tends to easily get surrounded when fighting as single unit against singe unit.

Also decent in fending off cavalry as long as they do not get charged by heavy ones, since their charge is deadly and the packed shield-wall formation might cause more damage.

[krshin1]

I don't think it makes a difference if you're attacking, but if you're defending the unit will perform better.

[Faramir D'Andunie]

In short as long as you don't depend on your infatry to charge head on and kill the enemy one, but simply keep em busy... shield wall is prefered.

[Massive_attack]

I find the shield wall to compliment the role of heavy infantry or spears nicely. For these units you typically want them to hold and tire an enemy force, the shield wall helps this out immensely. By keeping your troops closer together you prolong melee engagements, as no more can enemy troops surround or individually defeat single opponents, with shield wall enabled they must deal with the entire group.

As others have said though it is a defensive tactic, used to prolong fighting until you see fit to deploy reserves, or use a 'hammer and anvil' type charge from the rear with some heavy cavalry (or your general, since bodyguards are super men).

The wall has one crucial weakness though, it is extremely susceptible to any kind of ranged attack. Since the soldiers are bunched up they are easier targets, even peasant archers can kill quite a few men in shield wall mode, so if you are using this tactic be sure the enemy lacks, or will soon lack, ranged capabilities.

Also, as others have already stated, it works best with guard mode enabled, so your units will retain cohesion.