shield-wall

**Paladin94610** · September 06, 2010, 10:45 PM

Hey guys,
I am very new to total wars since I started my first RTW, my first TW game, during May. Then I comes for M2TW in July. And finally SS in August. So I know how to use spear-wall, schiltrom and wedge. But what about shield-wall? What are the benefits of shield-wall? and what are the disadvantages.

**napoleonic** · September 06, 2010, 10:57 PM

units that are using shield wall receive defense bonus and attack penalty, cmiiw

**RabidSheepLegion** · September 07, 2010, 01:04 AM

i think they get a mass bonus too, so more shielded from cav charges too?

**RollingWave** · September 07, 2010, 01:56 AM

i'm not sure about the defense bonus, but the anti cav charge aspect is fairly noticable, in that they won't be outright annihilated when they get charged by a strong cav unit .. which is obviously helpful in some situation for the units that get them (since most of them are fairly vunerable to charge)

**Paladin94610** · September 07, 2010, 02:44 AM

I have made a test in Grassy Plains with Scoutatoi Swordsmen against miles. The miles charged, the scoutatoi flew in the air. Scoutatoi get decimated ( when Miles change from lance to swords, only 9 men remained. Clear defeat.

Shield-wall may even encourage cav. charges. But when they form shield-wall, they are in the READY status which possibly increases defense from frontal missile attacks.

**Caesar Clivus** · September 07, 2010, 04:18 AM

This has to be one of the most asked questions on the forums. There are a few discussions on shield wall already, such as this one: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...ght=shieldwall

**Slyspy** · September 07, 2010, 06:38 AM

All the answers are so vague and sometimes contradictory though, while my own in game experience suggests that there is no significant bonus to be had. I just don't bother using the formation.

**SirRobin** · September 07, 2010, 11:27 AM

Yes that linked thread is really a "what I guess/hope the shield wall does", not explaining the actual, programmed effects.

**Ichon** · September 07, 2010, 04:51 PM

There does seem to be some defensive bonus with shield wall but it is small and not obvious how it works. It is so small I rarely notice it in SS but in TA high tier Dwarves in shieldwall take noticeably fewer casualties. The initial defense needs to be quite high to see some difference so I'd guess some small % bonus, maybe 10% or much less at most. So a defense of 10 gets at most +1 while a defense of 20 gets +2 etc which really starts to get noticeable the higher the initial defense.

Also the ability to pack more units into a given space matters in some circumstances where small but elite forces can pack into a tight space and have more contact with enemy formation not using shieldwall. So say 3 units in shieldwall get a frontline with 16 each x 3 = 48 vs 2 with frontline of 12 each = 24... in a long battle that makes its own difference.

I've never seen anyone post a conclusive answer... most of these special formations provide very small bonus. The most useful are simply loose and normal... you can play entire campaign using only those on VH with any mod I've tried.

**Caesar Clivus** · September 07, 2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by SirRobin

Yes that linked thread is really a "what I guess/hope the shield wall does", not explaining the actual, programmed effects.

I said it was a discussion, not definite answers

. And there are more threads than just that one. If people dont read the existing threads, then people will keep posting the same things on the same subjects time and time again (i.e. search before posting).