Phalanx discussion

**Sandraker** · March 11, 2016, 05:46 AM

This thread is the result of a comment I made in an other one regarding pike phalanxes.

In essence, my point was that the better trained a phalanx unit is, the faster it should be. The reason for this is that an elite unit will be more cohesive than a levy, allowing them to move faster while staying organized.

Armor IMO isn't a notable factor. The bulk of the encumberance comes from the pikes themselves, and so a better trained unit should be more capable of handling that.

The way this would translate to the battlefield is simple: while basic pikemen are best used to just hold their part of the line, elites can double as an offensive unit, like a sort of ancient version of late medieval Swiss pikemen.

Oh, also, what about having some units who were known for using especially long spears (Dacians?) function as a pike phalanx with 1h spear anims? Long spears generally call for rigid formations, and those units could perhaps even function as melee infantry with phalanx turned off.

**Petellius** · March 11, 2016, 02:25 PM

We have a pretty strict way of dealing with phalanxes that arent pikemen and I would prefer that all units that dont have pikes (with very few exceptions) don't use that formation as it is very buggy. Also I've set up elite pikes to run faster than lesser pike troops.

**Sandraker** · March 13, 2016, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Petellius

We have a pretty strict way of dealing with phalanxes that arent pikemen and I would prefer that all units that dont have pikes (with very few exceptions) don't use that formation as it is very buggy. Also I've set up elite pikes to run faster than lesser pike troops.

Good call on the pike speed.
Also isn't the Attila implementation of pikes at least a bit less buggy in the way they fight? I think they actually push enemies back, unlike in Rome 2 where they walk straight through the pikes.

**Ferdiad** · March 11, 2016, 05:15 PM

Will they be as bad as they are in DeI?

**Petellius** · March 11, 2016, 06:13 PM

Phalanxes (unless pikes) are just units with formed attack, so no they will be less buggy. The stats are reflective of their formation, not the other way around like most mods.

**Petellius** · March 13, 2016, 05:12 PM

not really no, its the same.

**The Wandering Storyteller** · March 14, 2016, 05:41 PM

Why do phalanxes break so easily? They shouldn't, but what is it that you're trying to represent?

**Petellius** · March 14, 2016, 06:11 PM

they break because formed attack in Attila isnt as good as formed attack in Rome 2, dont ask why I do not know

**The Wandering Storyteller** · March 14, 2016, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Petellius

they break because formed attack in Attila isnt as good as formed attack in Rome 2, dont ask why I do not know

Is it possible to mod them in anyway possible?

**Tempest51** · March 14, 2016, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Petellius

they break because formed attack in Attila isnt as good as formed attack in Rome 2, dont ask why I do not know

I heard they patched that recently, maybe you guys can take another look?

**Petellius** · March 15, 2016, 04:54 AM

I haven't noticed any change I'm afraid.

**Willhelm123** · March 15, 2016, 05:27 AM

I'm not 100% happy with our pikes. I like how they perform in combat, i just wish the enemy wasn't able to stand so easily within the levelled pikes. I like it in R2 where they can rarely get within the levelled pikes.

**Argive Strategos** · March 15, 2016, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Willhelm123

I'm not 100% happy with our pikes. I like how they perform in combat, i just wish the enemy wasn't able to stand so easily within the levelled pikes. I like it in R2 where they can rarely get within the levelled pikes.

Question, how do the pikes work now in AE? Are they like DEI? Are they killing machines or do they hold?