what effects does testudo have in game?

[lalalax3]

what effects does testudo have in game?

other than deflecting missle attacks?

[Publius]

Not much. I rarely use the formation because it takes so long to form up and can be a real disadvantage if the enemy closes in hand to hand. Plus it is slow. However, it does look pretty cool, so theres something that must be said for that. Really though, I will often just run to where I need to go and take a little missile fire, as I figure in the amount of time it takes to move as well as reform, the amount of strategical advantage it offers is minimal. It would be great against nomadics probably though, where units are 90% missile. Especially horse archers, as you could wait for the to run out of ammo and then force them to either close with you or flee. But its true advantages are in my eyes minimal

[guyyug]

never put the formation on in the desert, even standing there wears the troops out quickly, i know a player who did that, he was complaining a bug had happened

[13ig_VV]

It can work in sieges sometimes when you know the unit is gonna be underfire for a while but not fighting. Otherwise, I'd recommend just using Loose Formation

[imthefrgt10]

The testudo does nothing unless your troops are outnumbered by missle infantry, for seiges keep you units out of range and in loose formation and run to the desired location, and in normal battles just running can keep your units alive from missile fire. But if you are looking for some good screenshots the testudo is a great fomration to use.

[Omnipotent-Q]

The testudo does nothing unless your troops are outnumbered by missle infantry, for seiges keep you units out of range and in loose formation and run to the desired location, and in normal battles just running can keep your units alive from missile fire. But if you are looking for some good screenshots the testudo is a great fomration to use.

Perhaps forming a Testudo, and speeding up the game speed for a few seconds is an alternative. Perhaps for getting through breaches in large or epic stone walls, where towers can cause many casualties.

[Cayo_Julio_Cesar]

it had a marketing effect on the game

august 2004: OMG THOUSE LEGIONS USED THE TRUTLE THING!! FRIIIGGGIN AWESOME DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!

but it really sucks, even thoug the animation is great, btw thoust shields were of woood but i hear metal when they use them.

[Korinthos Hoplites]

but it really sucks, even thoug the animation is great, btw thoust shields were of woood but i hear metal when they use them.

The metallic shield edges are what makes the metal noise when they clash.

Great for defeating lame players who camp with their armored hoplites in the map corner.

Those players understand the disadvantages of a Phalanx and then neutralize them.
Is that being lame??

[Ragss]

The metallic shield edges are what makes the metal noise when they clash.

Those players understand the disadvantages of a Phalanx and then neutralize them.
Is that being lame??

Yes...yes it is being lame...its exploiting the limitations of the game.

[Woger of Wome]

Those players understand the disadvantages of a Phalanx and then neutralize them.
Is that being lame??

Yes. To camp with hoplites in the map corner is lame IMHO. That's why I use the rather lame exploit with testudo when someone do.

@Necromancer: I never use this exploit in SP of course, feels like cheating....

[johnny5000]

Yes. To camp with hoplites in the map corner is lame IMHO. That's why I use the rather lame exploit with testudo when someone do.

@Necromancer: I never use this exploit in SP of course, feels like cheating....

Someone camping in the corner with a phalanx is also a good opportunity to bomb the crap out of them with onagers.

[Korinthos Hoplites]

Someone camping in the corner with a phalanx is also a good opportunity to bomb the crap out of them with onagers.

But then a good player would know how to avoid/counter that situation....

I sometimes use testudo, but just for fun. I order all my legionaries to form it then I place auxilia in the rear. I only give the AI missile troops and then it's just watching them waste their ammo.

Well, actually that's no funny at all... it's boring as hell

[John I Tzimisces]

Those players understand the disadvantages of a Phalanx and then neutralize them.
Is that being lame??

I agree, since we all know the perils of straying too close to those conspicuously huge red borders of squares that dot the european countryside

[Korinthos Hoplites]

I agree, since we all know the perils of straying too close to those conspicuously huge red borders of squares that dot the european countryside

Well, atacking a phalanx with a testudo was also a very common procedure in these times.... :hmmm:

It's a game, adapt to that fact

[Irishman3]

I've used it to some effect against other Roman factions after the civil war started. Since just about all Roman troops (even post Marian) are "missile" troops because the use of pilla or other javelin weapons, its helpfull when advancing your front line heavy infantry. Mostly only usefull on the attack and switching to that fornation immediately before advancing, and your timing of taking them out of testdudo and charging their line has to be impecable. Using groups and being fast on the keyboard is key there.

Hardly ever use it against non-Roman factions though as its not worth the time or effort usually.

[lalalax3]

what i cant figure out is why dont they put in the repel calvry formation, which in my opinion is awesome

[Woger of Wome]

I just had to reply here since the best use for testudo has not been mentioned! Use it to defeat phalanx head-on! Just set to testudo and guard and walk straight through the phalanx formation. Evetually they will penetrate the formation, then take them out of testudo and guard and proceed with slaughtering the enemy

Great for defeating lame players who camp with their armored hoplites in the map corner.

Testudo is great for weathering horse archers in defense as well.

[Necromancer]

I just had to reply here since the best use for testudo has not been mentioned! Use it to defeat phalanx head-on! Just set to testudo and guard and walk straight through the phalanx formation. Evetually they will penetrate the formation, then take them out of testudo and guard and proceed with slaughtering the enemy

Yup, it REALLY helps there, all you need to do is march them up to the phalanx in testudo formation, and they bust through by knocking all of the pikes out of the way, and from there, you're golden, your legionaries will cleave a path through the rest of the phalanx line. The Romans are the masters of organized sword combat, their shields are big enough where their entire front is covered, while the Greeks use the sword as a secondary weapon and their hoplons are mostly meant for group combat and don't provide as much cover as the Romans' tower shield in close quarters (sword length apart from one another).

THe tetsudo does indeed help in a siege, but you need to make sure that the enemy missle troops stationed on the wall you are going to climb/go through are cleared away for the most part as the testudo won't defend against everything.

Testudo is also great for when you lack missle troops and/or when the enemy has superior missle troops.

There's only one issue with the testudo in RTW, and it causes all of the problems associated with it... the formation-switch takes WAY too long. A testudo didn't HAVE to be a block, sometimes it was only 2-4 ranks deep. And it wouldn't take that long for a legionary to raise his shield above him or beside him. When enemy skirmishers were about to attack a maniple or century the troops would INSTANTLY go into testudo formation, unfortunatley in RTW it takes much longer for them to go into the formation so it gives the skirmishers time to pick off some of your legionaries before they enter the formation.

And whoever pointed out the anti-cav formation... I wish they included it too... along with the orb.. those formations could be LIFE SAVERS if they were implemented into the game.