Charge increase?

[Eugene of Savoy]

If you spread out your heavy cavalry or lancers before charging, will the charge take out more enemies? Because it would make sense since there are more lances able to hit an enemy

[Maklodes]

I think that generally charges were based on being close together and forming a sort of wall of lancers. Being spread out would probably leave them vulnerable to being dodged and outflanked by enemies (whether enemy infantry or enemy cavalry). I've read winged hussars, for instance, were noted for their skill at staying in loose formation for most of an advance, to reduce their vulnerability to enemy gunfire, but concentrating into a dense formation at the last minute just before charging. I suspect that they would have stayed spread out if spread out charges were effective. (Note: one can't assume that just because a given tactic or technique was used in the past, it was smart: there really are such things as military idiocy and tactical blunders. However, I think that in the case of the winged hussars, whatever their competence on the battlefield as a whole, they really knew how to charge effectively.)

[Vampiresbane]

If you mean that by spreading out you just make your front lines longer, I have found that to be effective. I would keep it at least 3 knights deep however since at least 3 ranks do in fact connect with charges. On the other hand, if you're refering to the "spread out" formation like what the AI typically does with archers that are being fired upon, I agree with Maklodes, this would be a bad idea.

[Aeratus]

If you mean that by spreading out you just make your front lines longer, I have found that to be effective. I would keep it at least 3 knights deep however since at least 3 ranks do in fact connect with charges. On the other hand, if you're refering to the "spread out" formation like what the AI typically does with archers that are being fired upon, I agree with Maklodes, this would be a bad idea.

Only the front rank does charge impact damage, so increasing the width of the formation increases impact area. However, when you have additional ranks, the back ranks also contribute by pushing the front rank further forward, due to the game's collision system. Your probably right that 3 ranks deep is good in most situations.

Loose formation is not ideal because the back ranks are not able to push the front ranks very well.

[Kaiser Nonsense]

I just finished Cornwell's "Harlequin" but was not clear whether the conroi took the shape of the wedge option in M2TW. Or is it the normal setup in tight (vs loose) formation?

Hm, I don't think it was an wedged formation, no. If you mean Crécy, of course.

Only the front rank does charge impact damage, so increasing the width of the formation increases impact area. However, when you have additional ranks, the back ranks also contribute by pushing the front rank further forward, due to the game's collision system. Your probably right that 3 ranks deep is good in most situations.

Loose formation is not ideal because the back ranks are not able to push the front ranks very well.

Yes, I always stretch 'em the most I can but always keeping three lines.

[Kaiser Nonsense]

If you spread out your heavy cavalry or lancers before charging, will the charge take out more enemies? Because it would make sense since there are more lances able to hit an enemy

Speaking realistically, a knight conroi charging had to be as close as possible to each other, as described by writer Bernard Cornwell "knee touching knee" basically, because the power of the charge wasn't concentrated on the lances solely, the mass of the conroi would also influence due to the mass force and weigh of knight, horse and armour, running over at fast speed... Well, you can imagine hehe, now leaving gaps open would reduce the effectiveness of the charge, by allowing men to survive in those gaps, therefore it was considered a poor charge when knights would distance themselves from each other.

Now in game, the charge is pretty much the same, if you leave your knights in loose formation, they would simple not cause the effect of running over the enemy's infantry.

[jackbush]

I just finished Cornwell's "Harlequin" but was not clear whether the conroi took the shape of the wedge option in M2TW. Or is it the normal setup in tight (vs loose) formation?

[lolIsuck]

Loose formation is less mass meaning less charge power.

[Aymer de Valence]

Very good question. I have always wondered this myself, and have always stretched out my cavalry rather than charge them in a block