Barbarians and formations

[Ano2]

Hey guys, loving the mod etc etc, one thing that's kinda bugging me. I'm playing as the Iceni and things are going well, but I have noticed that my men seem far too civilised in battle. I realised that the basic spear levy get a hold formation option (Auto checked, so automatically active for the A.I. I assume). Just wondering if there is a good reason for this (balance against other factions etc) or if it simply something the mods like, as I kind of feel that it goes against the barbarian spirit. I always thought that the lack of a coherent formation was one of the defining characteristics of the tribes in battle (Great individual warriors with poor group co-ordination who always try to one on one).

Also I know that CA reduced the matched combat system drastically in patch 9 to improve formations, is this perhaps part of the problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Aeimnestus]

I do agree formations in DeI are a bit too orderly, especially (but not solely) with the barbarian units. But the whole idea of barbarians fighting in a massive formation-less horde with heroic individual warriors vs poor inferior roman soldiers who won only because of their formation is outdated and largely based on both Roman propaganda and that of later nations (i.e. the 19th century glorification of Vercingetorix by French and Ambiorix by the Belgians.) They fought in formations just like the Romans, although their formations were indeed not organized to the degree as seen in the Hellenistic armies. Just because Celtic tribes had a what we would call warrior culture, doesn't mean they all went into battle with the goal of seeking heroic duels vs worthy opponents forgoing any sense of self-preservation.

 

[Selea]

When Reforms (0.8) will be in only Reformed unit for Barbarians (but only Gauls and Germans; Iberian will have a Loricati reform but they will not fight in formation while Britons will have no reforms) will fight disciplined (and it will come in late game).

For now since there are no reforms naturally the units are mixed (reformed and not-reformed).