Loose formation and shieldwall questions

**Jasper9080** · May 19, 2012, 08:15 PM

I understand its a good idea to set forward archers and skirmishers to 'loose' but what about infantry in close quarters combat? It seems to me if you have a 4 row unit setting them to loose would enable the 2nd line to get a piece in rather than wait to take the place of a first line attacker. Or does that completely negate the solid close in formation?

Shield wall, I know what it is but does it have a place in hand to hand or just when getting barraged with arrows? Ive watched a unit in shield wall and non shield wall formation and dont see a difference in casualties.

Oh, and lastly, whats a good distance to initiate a charge for cavalry/infantry?

Thanks. Heres a non related gif for your troubles:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**kyler721** · May 19, 2012, 10:31 PM

Speaking on the loose formation, I would NEVER set my legionaries to loose formation. In my opinion it is a useless formation. Legionaries were never meant to work in that formation. The point of a closed in position is to present the enemy with a solid wall that they cant get through. Setting them to loose formation would allow the enemy to get within the ranks and cause chaos. The shield wall formation is meant to be an impenetrable wall that the enemy cannot get through. Good if you are trying to hold the line or hold a position.

Are you using the shield wall sub mod with the current version 2.5 and is it working properly?

**Jasper9080** · May 19, 2012, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the info.

No Im not. Does the shield wall in 2.5 not work right?

**kyler721** · May 19, 2012, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Jasper9080

Thanks for the info.

No Im not. Does the shield wall in 2.5 not work right?

My assumption is no since it hasnt been updated since 2.2 but I guess it never hurts to try...just be sure to make backups of everything.

**Primo** · May 20, 2012, 12:08 AM

There is no shield wall in in RS2.5.

Only FGE and a submod for RS2.1 implented shield walls. The "vanilla" RS doesn't feature it.

However, any Unit performs better if they stick together close, while it performs quite bad if you set it to loose formation. I only use it if I am being attacked by Siege engines.