Unit formations

[High King Fingal]

Hi all,

I am sure not only the Total War veterans have noticed this yet:
The huge impact of the unit formations (not the whole battle line, just every particular unit formation) In more detail this means in how many lines you deploy the unit.

After I had some tests running in the custom battle I thought it would be worth to start a thread about it. The results are amazing.

My conditions were 1 unit vs 1 unit flatland. I am actually using RTJ so the stats from there, Darth formations and HAs charge project (I think the last two are included in RTJ, not sure though)
I tested mainly infantry vs infantry so if someone feels like adding some own results, may it be cavalry or whatever, you are welcome!!

So here is my exmaple: Byz. Infantry(113) vs Dismount. Norman Knights(91)

The stats: Byz. Inf.: attack:11 charge:2 defense:24
Dis. Norman K.: attack:14 charge:4 defense:27

The Dis. Norman K.(91) are automatically deployed in three lines, and because I have more troops(113) the front line is as big as my Byz. Infantry although I had deployed them in four lines.
In all batlles I fought all units charged correctly and didnt fall back.
So here the result of my first run: Clear defeat with 30 dis. Norman Knights left.

My second one: Same line of the Normans (KI) and a three line formation of my Byzantines, my front line is now more spread (??my english is bad dont know the word but you know what I mean)
Result: close victory with nine byzantines left.

Third: A two line formation: close victory with 19 Byz. Inf. left. Be careful my battle line was split up by the normans because my middle couldnt absorb the charge anymore. For this reason I started a fourth test.

Fourth: I now used a 2 and half formation so that I had three lines where the charge would be faced and two lines on the sides.
The result was awesome:Cleat Victory with 30 Byzantines left. I had smashed them!! In a one to one fight with a milita unit! (you can recruit them in cities, dont know if they were really militas)

In campain battle this need some traning, but if you havent any cavalry...best tactic ever used. Make sure not to build a solid line, let some space between the units, so you can sourround every single enemy unit...I am actually not sure if this is more effective than good old flank tactic, but its a try.

I just wanted to share this, if you have other formation tactics, again, post them please.

The only one which comes me up to mind: build deep formations against cavalry to stop the charge early enough...

Hope you enjoyed reading.

[Zhou]

Yeah what you said is correct basically. You want your units to wrap around the sides of the enemy unit; in this case, it's like flanking really. However, in practice things aren't as straightforward as in your tests as when you have a multitude of units, they will tend to spread out and your "flanking" won't be evident in the center of the battle while it would still have some impact on the sides. You do need to keep in mind though that by spreading your units out so thin, you will be very vulnerable to cavalry charges. It's a trade-off, so when you know that the enemy army will be mostly infantry, you can choose this type of unit formation and when its comprise of more heavy cavalry, you should opt for depth formations.

PS
Byzantine Infantry are not militia units. If anything, you can categorize them as professional soldiers.

[Prince Constantius]

Yeah,after the Tarquonii Reforms.
The Byzantine Infantry were classified as 'State Troops' if you will,and like their Roman predecessors recieved prononai land grants for a minimum term of service to the Empire.

So there you have it!