Testudo Formation

[Andreius Pretorianus]

I tried using the testudo formation ,in every type of battle,siege etc.It s worthless.

After 5 minutes of "reforming" when they encounter 1 enemy soldier they simply break off the testudo formation and start fighting normal,under the arrow rain

Maybe if they would reforme a little faster ,the testudo formation would be valuable.

Is it possible?

[Hamilicar]

Romans dont actually fight in testudo so if you are wanting them to fight they break that formation. This way it is much more realistic

[menawati]

It ain't useless imo.
Bridge battles enemy skirmishers usually target a specific unit waiting by the riverside - testudo them and laugh.
Horse archers approaching on flank - testudo a unit closest to them and laugh as they run out of ammo doing little to no damage.
Approaching a wall near a tower when you attack in a siege - testudo them to avoid damage from tower.
Approaching enemy line who have many archers - testudo a few units in front of your archers to draw their fire.
Probably others too.

[Ferdiad]

I tried using the testudo formation ,in every type of battle,siege etc.It s worthless.

After 5 minutes of "reforming" when they encounter 1 enemy soldier they simply break off the testudo formation and start fighting normal,under the arrow rain

Maybe if they would reforme a little faster ,the testudo formation would be valuable.

Is it possible?

Not possible.

[CTD_or_Bust]

Testudo is amazing if used correctly and by that I mean at an appropriate time. If your enemy, say, is approaching to skirmish. Or you're tasking one of your flank infantry to occupy a horse archer unit. Then you want to use Testudo. Even in siege defenses, having four units turtled up on each entrance to the city square then releasing them once combat starts is a neat way to save on fatigue. Their adversaries will tire out much quicker than your own units will.

But it's not for marching. And it's not for charging the lines. And it's a very bad idea if the unit is surrounded.

Edit: Oops, it's also great for taking walls. Basically when you need to get or be somewhere without suffering casualties from arrows, testudo is your best ability. Otherwise guard mode would be a better choice.

[Pe Ell]

Testudo is kinda meh. I've used it occasionally to soak up arrow fire when there are no other options (like I have no archers or too little cavalry) but otherwise the loss of mobility is too much of a sacrifice. Testudo just makes you slow and vulnerable and Roman soldiers are pretty good at not dying from arrows as it is with their gigantic shields and high armor. I'd forget about that ability if I were you and focus on other things on the battlefield instead.

As for your question if it's possible to make the soldiers reform faster, I doubt it. I'm no modder though. I can see how it would be nice, if it could be microed against individual arrow swarms (like in the opening scene of Gladiatior woho) it would actually be pretty good. But I don't think it's doable.

[Julio-Claudian]

I tried using the testudo formation ,in every type of battle,siege etc.It s worthless.

After 5 minutes of "reforming" when they encounter 1 enemy soldier they simply break off the testudo formation and start fighting normal,under the arrow rain

Maybe if they would reforme a little faster ,the testudo formation would be valuable.

Is it possible?

If you wan't em to keep in formation turn on guard mode. Works for me... so far as I remember.

[chaplain118]

Put the testudos back to back, and just let the AI use up all of its missiles.

Some call it exploiting, I call it efficiency

[CTD_or_Bust]

What do you mean you don't think it's doable lol. That's exactly what I use it for! You know that part in a battle where you march up to the enemy and they start throwing arrows and javelins and all sorts of unpleasantness at you?

I for one welcome our testudo overlords.

[TheDarkKnight]

In a couple bridge battles when I'm the defender, and I have units that I'm holding back (mainly because I don't like throwing them all into the defense cause then they are vulnerable to arrow fire), I just put them pretty close to the bridge and let the enemy archers target them. It lets them waste arrows and takes the rain of arrows off my guys that are currently guarding the bridge.

Only problem is when the enemy brings artillery...

[atila9000]

testudo resists arrows, but can it resist ballistas and throwing stones?

[Ferdiad]

It can't seeing as Its a giant stone heavier than a Soldier.