What is the proper depth for units...

[Perdiccas]

hi,

I was curious about what is the proper depth for units in EB and does it even matter?

I understand phalanx should be 5 deep (correct?), but what about sword, missle and cav units? I think it mattered in MTW, but I am curious about EB. e.g. should archers and swords be 2 deep?

thanks

[Nad]

I don't think there's a correct answer, it's all about flavour, Partly depends also on unit size.

I play large settings, and my preference is as follows.

Heavy/medium infantry: 5 deep
Skirmishers/slingers/archers: 4 deep
Phalanxes: 8 deep
Cavalry: 4 deep
General's bodyguard cavalry: 3 deep

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

I play huge settings, and my preference is as follows.

Slingers: 2 deep (yes, a very wide frontage, slingers in deep ranks would be more likely to hit each other than archers IMO.)
Light Skirmishers: 4 deep if screening directly in front of the heavy infantry, 8 deep if on a flanking move)
Archers: 3 or 4 deep
Heavy Skirmishers: 3 deep if screening directly in front of the heavy infantry, 6 deep if on a flanking move)
Spearmen: 5 deep
Hoplites/Legionaries: 4 deep
Pike Phalanx: 8 deep normally, 6 deep if badly outnumbered.
Light cavalry: 4 or 5 deep
Heavy cavalry: 3 deep

[Cyclops]

I play archers (and all psiloi really) as fragile and spread them 2 deep (in line with RP requirements where I only have a few missile units and they get disbanded frequently so they don't accrue experience).

The deeper the setting the better units deal with charges obviously so akontistai set fat (say 8-10 deep) and on loose seem to absorb charges, which I feel is an exploit so I don't do it.

Nad's settings seem reasonable given the game is a simulation and you want certain formations to be more durable. IRL hoplite phalanxes were typically 8 deep, Macedonian-style pike phalanxes (phalangitae) 16 deep and in exceptional circumstances those could be doubled (or even more) in depth for extra pushing power eg the Thebans vs the Spartans at Leuctra IIRC.

Of course EB (and RTW_) isn't a man-for-man representation of the ancient battlefield, merely and approximation, so you could argue for any depth.

[Perdiccas]

thanks for the reply.

followup question... in MTW, sword units were most effective at a depth of 2 and cav at 3... are there no bonuses in EB similar to MTW (aside from the already discussed phalanx)

[Perdiccas]

thanks everyone