Phalanx Question

[Theoroshia]

When attacking with a phalanx unit, should I leave guard mode on or off? When it's on, it seems like they stay in one spot. When I turn it off, they start to push forward massively, but they always lose formation after awhile.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

When attacking with a phalanx unit, should I leave guard mode on or off? When it's on, it seems like they stay in one spot. When I turn it off, they start to push forward massively, but they always lose formation after awhile.

Whilst I don't have any experience with Phalanx units in RSII - I do recall some Vanilla Alex experience - and I have fought 000's of phalanxes over the last year with my legionary cohorts - and I use Guard mode a lot and toggle it sometimes. I will one day when I try something else and v2.6 is released and experiment then - but in the mean time I'd suggest trying.........and perhaps you can tell me!

For phalanxes, I would certainly suggest using the Alex.exe if you can as it has always been suggested that it works better for them and, from above, I've no reason to disagree.

Secondly, I would indeed suggest using them exclusively on Guard mode if you wish them to remain cohesive. Phalanxes were specifically designed to remain 'in line' and in line with each other - which is why the Romans, particularly, spent so much effort breaking up the cohesion. The Peltast-type units were there to support the vulnerable flanks and can be used as such. What I particularly suggest trying, however, is not to 'Attack' - but to keep your 4-8 units in their formation (line or staggered if that's how you set them) and simply 'March' them in the chosen direction. If one or more gets stopped, then stop the whole formation. Then use your other units on their flanks.

It will be interesting to see what happens - but the rub is that I spend my time disrupting those formations, but I wonder what would happen if someone were playing them 'better'. 'Hold the line' - it's all that matters! Then you'll also be using phalanxes as they were historically designed to be - immovable and irresistible forces.

[CatoTheYounger]

Whilst I don't have any experience with Phalanx units in RSII - I do recall some Vanilla Alex experience - and I have fought 000's of phalanxes over the last year with my legionary cohorts - and I use Guard mode a lot and toggle it sometimes. I will one day when I try something else and v2.6 is released and experiment then - but in the mean time I'd suggest trying.........and perhaps you can tell me!

For phalanxes, I would certainly suggest using the Alex.exe if you can as it has always been suggested that it works better for them and, from above, I've no reason to disagree.

Secondly, I would indeed suggest using them exclusively on Guard mode if you wish them to remain cohesive. Phalanxes were specifically designed to remain 'in line' and in line with each other - which is why the Romans, particularly, spent so much effort breaking up the cohesion. The Peltast-type units were there to support the vulnerable flanks and can be used as such. What I particularly suggest trying, however, is not to 'Attack' - but to keep your 4-8 units in their formation (line or staggered if that's how you set them) and simply 'March' them in the chosen direction. If one or more gets stopped, then stop the whole formation. Then use your other units on their flanks.

It will be interesting to see what happens - but the rub is that I spend my time disrupting those formations, but I wonder what would happen if someone were playing them 'better'. 'Hold the line' - it's all that matters! Then you'll also be using phalanxes as they were historically designed to be - immovable and irresistible forces.

Like Lord Tedric it's been along time since i have used the phalanx but guard mode is one of the most underated aspects of battle. I would try to inch them forward and stop until they tips of the phalanx is touching the enemy. Then i would hold ground. Let them try to get inside while you hold ground and hold formation. And of course protect your flanks. Without guard mode i BELEIVE they might push forward and get too disorderly and allow the enemy inside a bit. But im not an expert using them.

Guard mode is extemely usefull for Roman cohorts as well. I like to keep my cohorts in guard mode and move them into range until the front line just clashes with the enemies front line. Let the Barbarians exhaust themselves while your men stay fresh. Then unleash the men from guard mode and watch the fresh soldiers cleave through the tired and exhausted enemy. Then a well timed cave charge to the flanks and the enemy starts to break.

[Darth Bane1]

I would not advise to attack with phalanx units dircetly. Their formation breaks to easy if you disable Guard Mode and also when enemy units get into them. I always not attack with my phalanx units. I wait for the enemy. That works much better. Befor that I try to find the best area on the battlefield for them. Mostly high ground or put them on a hill. Let the enemy come to you or if he doesn't do that, bring him to that. Put your troops very near to the enemy and make flank attacks. The AI will correct his formation (but to stupid for that) and most time some units walk right into your sarissas. Then after a short time the whole army will attack you. Works always. Hehe.

[Josura]

Well, I have some experience with spartan phalanx.
Two most important things: Always have guard mode on (turn it off only if you want your phalanx to chase routers.. ) and
Use backspace often! Everytime you use backspace with your phalanx selected, they stop meleeing with swords and use their sarissas again.
Have your phalanx in one group and as often as possible select that group and click backspace.
Never click on enemy unit, always click behind them and use backspace when they meet your spears!

When starting battle, send your phalanx formation to move behind enemy line. When the first phalanx unit clash with enemy, use backspace and your whole formation will stop in nice long line. After that you can continue with advices that others already posted here (like flanking with cavalry, peltasts, slingers etc..) Never leave flanks of phalanx unguarded and you will conquer the world!

[tungri_centurio]

recently started a campaign with pergamon so josura s answer is gonna be verry handy to me cus its my first fight ever with phalanx army

[DwailerY]

Guard mode is the mode I usually use for Phalanx centric armies(Hellenistic Armies usually) as they usually keep their cohesion for a good while. But if I'm flanking with them...I usually take them off of guard mode as well phalanx formation and then when I'm close enough I turn Phalanx back on... and the Pikes drop on the enemy and causes lots of damage.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

......... But if I'm flanking with them...I usually take them off of guard mode as well phalanx formation and then when I'm close enough I turn Phalanx back on... ..........

I'd forgotten this little gem - an excellent idea if you want to move around the battlefield - for when in 'Phalanx' the troops move a lot slower.

[menawati]

I don't like using them much but I do remember some maneuver where you can get the phalanx up behind some enemy who are already engaged, take off guard mode, then click beyond the enemy and the phalanx just cuts through them faster than warcrying falxmen on a bunch of slingers. It's like a combine harvester.

[Love Mountain]

Leave guard mode on. To push, simple right-click behind the enemy lines, tell your units to stop when you are satisfied with the push and the phalanx will attack automatically. Also, enemy formations tend to try to split up and hit you from many different angles, or they just don't advance if you're the attacker and oftentimes you are forced to attack a hill. Just something you might want to think about.