Battle formations ideas

[Byg]

I usually have a line of spearmen as my frontline, but if I have heavy infantry I mix their line into the same space, thinking that the spears will take the impact of mounted knights as they are very slightly forward of the HI, but that the heavy infantry will also be able to bring their attack to bear. The line is also valid versus a charge from infantry. I've no proof that it helps though.

[Ferdiad]

Same although i usually keep a unit or two of Heavy Inf behind the line to reinforce anywhere under pressure. I always put stakes in front because even braced spearmen take horrendous losses to Frontal Cavalry charges.

[TheRomanRuler]

I always put stakes in front because even braced spearmen take horrendous losses to Frontal Cavalry charges.

...and then inf in 2-3 lines behind them, and archers behind first line. So 4 lines of fresh troops...
Sometimes just 1-3 lines with archers in it. But usually 4 lines. Works in many situations:Enemy reinforcements, flanking move, heavy cavalry attack.. You can cuickly take nearest units where needed

[RaduAlexandru]

In my experience heavy infantry isn't as useful as spearmen are -in any case due to the way the battle system is set up you have to charge your troops before impact even if you defend - of course the costs and upkeep are factors to be kept into account as well.

Now concerning spikes I think they are a game breaker simply because the AI can't handle them - so I don't use them.

As for the main line of battle I think having one or two units of useless troops to place in front of your troops is always good as they will take the impact of an attack and allow you to counter charge

[Ichon]

As for the main line of battle I think having one or two units of useless troops to place in front of your troops is always good as they will take the impact of an attack and allow you to counter charge

I used to do that too but I found charging with heavy infantry or cavalry works better (fewer losses for more heroic victories). The only time it remains useful is if the enemy greatly outnumbers you in heavy cavalry or AP infantry.

Newer versions of Germanicus AI the stakes are not so bad- they protect a flank mostly but AI will move around or avoid them 90% of the time.

[Sassanid Saxon]

The AI has gotten better at avoiding stakes, in some custom battles I did recently the AI cavalry tried to flank my longbowmen and actually managed to do quite a bit of damage...

[Homeros]

As for the main line of battle I think having one or two units of useless troops to place in front of your troops is always good as they will take the impact of an attack and allow you to counter charge.

True, but I don't like using canon fodder units to take the enemy's (cavalry) charge.

The most effective way to handle heavy cavalry is to use your own cavalry to "interupt" the charge. I like to place my heavy cav just behind the front line; when the enemy cavalry charges I move my cavalry forward to block the enemy and stop them killing scores of infantry. When the momentum of the charge is gone, my infantry moves in to engage their cavalry while I pull back my own (to go flanking).

[Sassanid Saxon]

I like to use stake archers with javelin infantry lined up right behind the stake wall (it takes a little messing around on the deployment screen) and then heavy inf units behind, usually behind the flanks of the infantry formation. The combination of javs and stakes is really effective against later era European armies that posses both charge cavalry and armoured inf, I used it alot on Roman campaigns in the past, Mourtatoi plus Acritae worked like a dream.

[Scandinavian]

My House rules: No Stakes (Not even against the Mongols T.T), four units of Calvary MAX (General included), no more than four of the same units.
My formations as Denmark early game are haphazard but effective.
I have two units of spearmen forward either side + two-three units of militia spearmen/light infantry as the front line.
One-Three Archer unit positioned on my far left flank (why? Because arrows on right get caught easier on the enemy shields.
Two units of fast charging units on far right (preferably hidden) meant to flank enemy.
Two units of light Calvary on left side (protect archers/ slay enemy archers)
One Ballistae unit forward of archers a bit.
General on the right side.
(Optional)
One unit of Heavy Calv to flank

[k/t]

One-Three Archer unit positioned on my far left flank (why? Because arrows on right get caught easier on the enemy shields.

M2 doesn't have unshielded sides. Shields are 50% on either side.

[Ferdiad]

So say your the Turks or some faction like that you will only have 4 cav units, thats harsh man real harsh.

[Byg]

I almost never charge the enemy line. I harrass the enemy with HA and Cav if possible with the rest of the army reacting defensively to flanking manoevres & flanking with my own troops when possible, usually after the lines are engaged. No stakes in my mod.

[Galain_Ironhide]

A favorite formation of mine and find it to be very effective when I do use it every now and then.
When on the offensive (not defensive) I do something like below which will consist of mainly spears and swords, plus archers and 4-5 cav - the main objective is to still have spear support whilst easily being able to advance med/heavy inf through the gaps:


The med/heavy infantry on the 2nd line are to free advance left/right through the gaps past my spears on the first line, whilst the spears on the 2nd line, if required, can do two things -1. if required to stand a cav charge they just hold their position in the stagered formation which usually traps the enemy cav, or 2. if the enemy cav is to flank, these guys can move to the left or right whereever required.

Archers will generally move freely forward / backward through the inf lines, whilst the General will either stay put or help out the left or right side cav.

[Ichon]

Hmm... surprising so many people consider the composition of their armies and formations so closely. I guess that is a bit like roleplaying?

I don't have any hard rules though I usually try and engage the enemy with very limited units initially to minimize my losses while hiding the rest of the army or positioning them far away. Obviously cavalry and HA play this role the best but sometimes artillery or archers/crossbows work as well.

[rob-a-dogg]

Hmm... surprising so many people consider the composition of their armies and formations so closely. I guess that is a bit like roleplaying?

No, its a bit like playing a strategy game with real time military battles Im not sure why this is surprising.

[Ferdiad]

No, its a bit like playing a strategy game with real time military battles Im not sure why this is surprising.

No its not, real tactics fail in total war games. Simpler it is more succesful the batlle will go.

[HauptmanT]

Its all well and good, but the battles are already so easy getting that creative with battle lines is too much work

IIIIInfantrYYYYline
AAArcheRRRRline
....Catapults....
Cavalryreserve

Works for me every time.

[Byg]

Its all well and good, but the battles are already so easy getting that creative with battle lines is too much work

IIIIInfantrYYYYline
AAArcheRRRRline
....Catapults....
Cavalryreserve

Works for me every time.

That depends what difficulty and mods you use.

[Galain_Ironhide]

possibly fair to note that some players have no problem with how many casualties they may sustain in a battle, especially if you are a "get in and get it done" type of person - or if that is what hours and hours of m2tw gameplay has done to you.

Me on the other hand, I'm a micromanager from hell - more than 10% casualties in any battle and I start getting upset.

[Judeman266]

I've pretty much concluded that spear infantry in the centerm ranged infantry and heavy infantry behindm and cavalry on the wings is generally the most useful formation in M2TW. I have also noticed that knight infantry take cavalry charges much better than in vanilla so sometimes I place my heavy infantry on the front line if I think I can take on the enemy vanguard. Sometimes I try use other tactics used in history but the enemy troops usually don't take the morale hits like they should. So to put it concisely as other people have said, simpler is better.

However, once I reach the pike and shot era I usually place my gunpowder infantry 1 rank forward of my pikemen so they have protection from cavalry charges. If I have any ap infantry like halberd men at arms or halberdiers, I place them near the flanks. Medium/Heavy Infantry are placed behind the first line to support it at my discretion. Also when in the late era I usually make one of my cavalry flanks overpowered so they can defeat the enemy cavalry quickly as I have learned the hard way that having your cavalry engaged the whole battle does not bode well for your infantry.