Hoplite Phalanx

[Dukhasinov]

This mod is breathtaking in its scope and brilliant in its execution, and after working out a few startup kinks, I`ve been glued to it. It has breathed new life into my Total War experience. The number of units that are essentially identical was annoying at first, (like, 48 different types of mostly identical horse archers) but I soon came to appreciate the variety it added to the look of an army. I have only 2 major gripes

1. The graphics of RTW was very cartoony, with each faction having its distinct color scheme, with banners of bright, easily identifiable primary colors, making it easy to tell your units apart from the enemies. The graphical improvements of Medieval Total War made the colors more realistic and subdued, making it harder to tell your troops apart from a distance. This was made up for my the button on the HUD that made all your units flash green, and enemies flash red. RSII desperately needs such a "ping and hilight" feature. I find myself pausing to drag a selection box around a melee to see who is who.

2. Hoplites, for some reason, no longer fight in a Phalanx. This is very disturbing to me, as it changes the whole way the Greek army plays. You might say, "Well, if you want Phalanxes, use Phalangites." THAT`S NOT THE POINT! Is this some unfortunate historical accuracy? Had Greek armies of this period lost the discipline of their forebears? My block of red-cloaked Spartan peers should be marching in lockstep behind a wall of shields and spears, not milling around each-other like a Barbarian mob, or a (gasp!) Roman Cohort! Is there a simple text edit I can do to give the Hoplites back there phalanxes? And if so, is there a danger of it ruining my game?

[ur-Lord Tedric]

Others with more knowledge may comment, but it's a general question perhaps for the main forum anyway....

RSII uses the RTW/BI/Alex engine. So, whilst the general graphics have been greatly updated, how it plays has not changed.

And I think you misunderstand what the word 'phalanx' means. When it comes to Hoplites, Legions or any regular army the word 'phalanx' means a regularly deployed line of troops.

'Phalangites' with long spears in 'pike-blocks' are different. If you want to keep your troops nice and lined up, use Guard-mode. The Alex engine is more recommended for pike phalanxes I believe.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

The hoplite phalanx wasn't the same as the Macedonian phalanx. The hoplites fought in a regular old shieldwall, while the Macedonians fought with pikes. Only the latter is represented in RTW. (The shieldwall is quite in the game) So the hoplites have no special formation.