Phalanx Formation & Unit Sizes of Elite Units

[Artannis Wolfrunner]

While spying on the Seleucids, I slipped a spy into Antioch and was impressed to see a unit of Hypaspists sitting there. I was very confused to see that they cannot form a phalanx? So I went into a custom battle to see if it was just a mistake. . . not only were they not in phalanx, but these 'elite spearmen' carried only swords. Spears were nowhere to be found. The same goes for the Baktrion Agema, they only had swords too. This is confusing to me considering both units were in phalanx formation in their faction previews. Am I doing something wrong here?

Also, I think that the unit sizes for some of the elite units are woefully small. A unit of Armenian Libyan-Pheonician Heavy infantry (160 guys) managed to beat a unit of Agema and a unit of Baktrion heavy infantry (both unit size 120) in a custom battle, which doesn't seem to make much sense.

[mike^_^]

well the hypasists have a sword as their primary weapon, and a spear as their secondary weapon.

if im not mistaken

try alt-clicking, they'll pull out their spears and fight like a hoplite. I love em, they are steady assault infantry.

[QwertyMIDX]

They form a more traditional phalanx, try using them in guard mode.

As to elite unit size, yes they are small, use them wisely. You pay per man in the unit anyway so it's not as though you're getting stiffed, you'll just have to learn how to use elite units in key roles, not as wrecking balls.

[Aristocrat]

They are the anvil while the faster infantry and cavalry are the hammer (comprende?).
Like for Rome, I always use Triari to tie up the enemy and flank with the rest of my army.

[QwertyMIDX]

The Pezhets are actually the anvil, the Hypaspistai should be used to fill gaps in the battle or expliot enemy weak points. They're more mobile than the Pike Phalanx and this should be utilized.

[Aristocrat]

True, but I like to get my elite units more experience through fighting longer. Then I reverse the roles.
(In the beginning with small armies having that one 3 gold chevron elite unit allows you to win battles you really shouldnt....even given 1.2's AI).

[QwertyMIDX]

Hopefully the next build will see an undermining of the difference between full experienced and freshly trained units. I'm hoping to see them be about 1.5 times as good not 2-3 .

[Aristocrat]

I say just slightly increase the stats but give them a dramatic morale boost (that way they aren't supermen but won't run like raw recruits).
And by morale boost Im talking relative to raw recruits (not the open beta stats).

[QwertyMIDX]

It's more than slight, but compared to regulars it is mostly equipment and morale that makes the different.