Shield Wall Formation What Is It For?

**Bonemarrow** · March 10, 2011, 05:05 PM

So what exactly does it help with?
Thanks

**Andytheplatypus** · March 10, 2011, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Bonemarrow

So what exactly does it help with?
Thanks

I think it gives a + to defense and helps keep your guys together so guys arent able to run through their ranks.

But honestly it doesnt seem to work correctly. I always take a lot higher casualties when I use it and dont even think about using it against a heavy cav charge. It will obliterate all of your guys.

**Lugiahua** · March 10, 2011, 05:08 PM

it is mostly used to block city gates, or reduce casualty from arrows.
and you have to turn guard mode on.

**Ferdiad** · March 10, 2011, 05:52 PM

It doubles mass and shield as well.

**Hyaweh** · March 10, 2011, 06:01 PM

it can kill about 10 units is a siege(except walls) w/ a general present... given that they are is defense position and is not given any other order....

**Polycarpe** · March 10, 2011, 06:50 PM

Only spearmen type unit has an effective shieldwall, the other units is really badly done (like the viking raider for example)

**Liandro** · March 10, 2011, 09:09 PM

Even French Lancers have to deal with shield wall from Scoutatoi, they can't just blast them down with a charge, once the fighting starts tho, that's another matter.

**Andytheplatypus** · March 10, 2011, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Liandro

Even French Lancers have to deal with shield wall from Scoutatoi, they can't just blast them down with a charge, once the fighting starts tho, that's another matter.

Scoutatoi cant form shield wall

**Hyaweh** · March 10, 2011, 09:36 PM

I've found out that shield wall can be comparable w/ pikemen w/ spear wall(given that both are deployed correctly, and is not broken)

Shield wall is IMPENETRABLE, unless you kill about 3/4 of the unit, and missiles gets a wee bit less impact(still, nobody can get away w/ greek fire, xcept generals..) and believe me, they are seriously hard to kill

Spear wall for pikes(works properly only for pikes) can hold, but instead of holding, pikes kill fast enough not to get overwhelmed(thus being the nature of their defense)

so Shields will make them last twice up to four times the normal(sometimes, shield wall units would hold off a about 3 units at a time,usually in sieges), while spears will kill a bit faster... but shields aren't vulnerable to missile, but pikes are...

Edit: Scoutatoi can't, but you can always make them...

**Liandro** · March 10, 2011, 10:28 PM

They were able to in 6.1, I haven't played The Romans since that time, so I haven't had to either think about it when facing them or using them. I just remember in SS 6.1 even Lancers were ineffective at cracking through them at 2 men thick. I suppose that's why they removed it from the Scoutatoi in 6.3 and 6.4, which I just now looked up and noticed... now I'll add it. Scoutatoi without shield wall is like un-wet water.

**Bruce the Silver-Tongued** · March 11, 2011, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Liandro

Scoutatoi without shield wall is like un-wet water.

Agreed. Isn't Schiltdrom, Shield-Wall, etc. one of the most trademark Roman Scoutatoi moves, during battles?

So: I have observed this before too - how the shield wall results in the unit being overwhelmed and not killing, but very slowly. I am supposed to absolutely not move them and put them into 'guard mode'?

**preachercheeze** · March 11, 2011, 10:35 AM

Shield Wall is not a killing machine, BUT it halts the impact from HC... I usually use units w shield wall at my flanks so they can stop every flanking attack by cavs... by withstanding the onslaught of HC and hold the line, I can use my own cav to attack from the behind...

Shield Wall is best used by spearmen... I usually mod so that most spear units have it instead of the Schiltrom (which, IMO, is more or less worthless)... only bug is that the AI seldom uses it so it is only a human advantage rather than a flavor for the game...

**Ferdiad** · March 11, 2011, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by preachercheeze

Shield Wall is not a killing machine, BUT it halts the impact from HC... I usually use units w shield wall at my flanks so they can stop every flanking attack by cavs... by withstanding the onslaught of HC and hold the line, I can use my own cav to attack from the behind...

Shield Wall is best used by spearmen... I usually mod so that most spear units have it instead of the Schiltrom (which, IMO, is more or less worthless)... only bug is that the AI seldom uses it so it is only a human advantage rather than a flavor for the game...

Don't abuse it then.

**preachercheeze** · March 15, 2011, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ferdiad

Don't abuse it then.

Your replies always leave me tantalized....

It wasn't a complaint... nor was it a "why isn't blah blah blah"... it was a statement about hopes of flavor based on my experience of the SW-formation... nothing more or less...

The AI is really bad at using it... though I suspect that there is a script that can change that... like cav threat = activate SW... or similar....

if you don't have anything proper to say then don't say anything, please...

**Ferdiad** · March 15, 2011, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by preachercheeze

Your replies always leave me tantalized....

It wasn't a complaint... nor was it a "why isn't blah blah blah"... it was a statement about hopes of flavor based on my experience of the SW-formation... nothing more or less...

The AI is really bad at using it... though I suspect that there is a script that can change that... like cav threat = activate SW... or similar....

if you don't have anything proper to say then don't say anything, please...

Im not sure thats possible and also I QQ thats how you made me feel.