Phalanx Formation Kinda.....

[Kdar]

OK, Here one idea. Maybe its abit lame but here it is.....

Probably most of people use spears riding horses but...

I guess there some which use them on foot

So here is one idea. Make them do the "phalanx" thing. So to have bonus with shields.

Lets say you can make a meak attack when you behind the shield, and then you can make strong attack (full power trust).
Meak attack have shield protection, full attack not (like normal one now).
So basically you can still attack and have protection against strikes of your enemies but have a bit meaker attack.
Or you can strike then with "full trust" to kill then off.

Also I guess you can have a skill for that, which will minimize the difference between two kind of strikes.

 

[Husar]

I use spears on foot against cavalry, because if you stab a horse from the front it will stop and can´t charge on you. Works only with polearms when stabbing.
You also don´t need much defense for that, because the horse stops and won´t reach you.
Though phalanx formations in general would be nice.

 

[okiN]

How would you make a phalanx with 15 people in it? It'd be the lamest thing ever seen.

 

[Orion]

lines 2-3 deep would be best, actually.

Say you have 18 men in your party, and you give the order "Line it up!"

They find the total number of AI units. If number = < 10, then it will make 2 lines. If number = < 15, it makes 3 lines. If = < 20, it makes 4 lines, etc.

Basically, the lines would be 5 across, and if you had 5 or fewer men, they would just make 1 line.

18 men would line up like this ---

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X
X -- X -- X

Of course, all of the above would apply to -infantry-

Cavalry would have a different set of orders. For instance, in place of a "Box Formation!" they would have "Wedge!" Which, pretty much everybody knows, means they form a big pyramid-shaped thingy.

However, how would you only order one type of unit?

Simple.

You get close enough to the unit, and look at it. It says the unit's name. You look at the unit, get it's name to show up, then press "O" to open the Orders Menu, and then you press the number that stands for the order you want to order.

If you're looking at a horseman, the orders menu would look different than if you were looking at an archer.

Example of archer formations -

Staggered Lines

X = Archer, -- = Empty Space

X--X--X--X--X--X--X
--X--X--X--X--X--X--

Since archers will not fire if a friendly is in front (above, below, level) of them, this would work best for them, if, of course, the enemy is in front of them.

Crescent

X = Archer, -- = Empty Space

-- -- -- X X X X X X -- -- --
-- -- X -- -- -- -- --- X -- --
-- X -- -- -- -- -- --- -- X --

In this formation, they could attack an enemy coming from the front, and from the flanks, however their fire would be spread thinner than a Staggered Line. Best used against slow-moving infantry units who try to surround you.

Archer Box

X = Archer, -- = Empty Space

X X X X X X X
X -- -- -- --- X
X -- -- -- --- X
X -- -- -- --- X
X X X X X X X

This would allow your archers to fire all around them, but their fire would be spread extremely thin.

Examples of Infantry Formations

Block (Box, Line, Phalanx (?))

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X

Basically, a big, filled-in version of the box. Weaker units would go towards the inside, the stronger units (determined by how much HP they have) would form the outside lines.

"Porcupine" Formation

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

X -- X -- X -- X -- X
-- X -- X -- X -- X --

Good against cavalry, in my opinion. If, that is, Pike Grounding were implemented. The front line would ground their pikes, as would the back line. It would be impossible to charge cavalry in to the front of this formation, because the horses would be slaughtered.

Infantry Crescent

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

-- -- -- X X X X X -- -- --
-- -- X X X X X X X --- --
-- X X -- -- -- -- -- X X --

As you can see, unlike the archer crescent, the infantry crescent is 2-deep, so that it would stand better against cavalry.

Examples of Cavalry Formations

Wedge (but of course)

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

-- -- -- X -- -- --
-- -- X X X -- --
-- X X X X X ---

Obviously, the wedge would be used against non-pike-wielding infantry. The cavalry would charge in to the middle of the infantry, and this would split the infantry in half, making it easier for your men to kill them.

Line

X = Unit, -- = Empty Space

X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X

As you can see, it is wider than the infantry lines. This is because with cavalry, you want to spread your forces wide, so you can trample more people

 

[powerg8]

I like it but almost looks like a RTS .

You could put a pic of you units on the side of the screen and then click on it to order them like Rome total war.

 

[Sir Prince]

Sounds good. *hits shift key* but powerg8 can you pls remove your avvie?

 

[powerg8]

Fine if it will make everyone shutup.

I don't want any comments about my new one.It will be here soon.

Any suggestions?

 

[compfreak]

Google says:

.
Though it is large, I prefer

Edit: forget the last one, this is so much better because it is funnier, smaller, and has a meaningful message.

 

[powerg8]

Thanks but no thanks.

 

[DaLagga]

How would you make a phalanx with 15 people in it? It'd be the lamest thing ever seen.

I think it would be pretty awesome to see! Sure, it would be alot cooler with 500 men in formation... But for some reason i didn't find that scene in Gladiator where they're in the arena forming a phalanx against the chariots to be "the lamest thing i ever saw". And there were only around 15-20 of them there. Badass doesn't even begin to describe it.

 

[okiN]

That wasn't a phalanx. That was something crrrrrrrazy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_formation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_phalanx

 

[Orion]

That's an awesome pic.

But I was thinking more like the formation system in Age of Empires 2.

Depending on how many units there are, the layout of the formation is different.

Say you have 8 Men-at-arms.

In AoE 2, it lines your men up 6-across. Always.

However, if you have more than six, but less than 12, how would the second line be formed?

X X X X X X
-- -- X -- --

^^^ 7 Men would line up like that.

X X X X X X
X - -- -- - X

^^^ 8 Men would line up like that.

X X X X X X
X -- X -- X

^^^ 9 Men would line up like that.

X X X X X X
X - X - X - X

^^^ 10 Men would line up like that

X X X X X X
X - X X X - X

^^^ 11 Men would line up like that

X X X X X X
X X X X X X

^^^ 12 Men would line up like that.

if you had more than 12 men but less than 18, the back line would be made up like the back lines above.

Example:

Recently, I played AoE 2 and selected 20 longswordsmen. I clicked the "Line" button. The result?

X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
-- - X X - --

I'm guessing, since im not a programmer/coder or anything like that, that the program finds the number of units you're trying to put in to formation, finds a template or something that matches the number of units, and then runs a script or something, finding the X,Y,Z coordinates of the positions your men would take. It then runs a script or w/e that makes the men go to those positions.

I probably sounded like a complete idiot.

Anyways...

We need to realize that this is NOT an RTS game, and that these battles are more like unorganized small-scale skirmishes between two parties.

You wouldn't be making huge, complex orders, devising extremely complex strategies, and flanking around behind the enemy, when it's just a 20 vs 20 skirmish.

However, SOME order would be required. So you tell your men to get in the most basic of formations.

Phalanxes, Wedges, Crescents, etc.

 

[Destichado]

"Schiltron" or "hedgehog" are word that accurately describe your mini-phalanxes, I think.

I'd love to find a defensable position and just tell my troops to form a battle line. As it is, I have to order a dismount and park the horses in a line to break up charges, because my infantry can't withstand warhorses by themselves.

 

[okiN]

They actually can, if you leave them on a hilltop (Or better yet, in a river). They'll slaughter all enemy cavalry.

 

[Destichado]

Yes yes, I meant besides that. Hilltops aren't always readily avalable, and we don't always have loads of time to find one before the *#@&ing knights come thundering down on our position.

 

[Questor]

Probably most of people use spears riding horses but...
I guess there some which use them on foot
So here is one idea. Make them do the "phalanx" thing. So to have bonus with shields.

That was the point behind asking for spearmen to be able to "plant pikes" just as knights can "couch lances".

 

[thebloodytalonofwoe]

A good formation would be a front line with archers behind infantry cuase when the enemy charge you can shoot at point blank range.

i i i i i
a a a a

 

[Questor]

Archers can't shoot over infantry yet.
They could do that on a slope. Not on flat ground.

I tried standing with my own char next to a xbowman; he almost shoot *me*.
That's why they run forward, so they won't hurt you.
If they could run at the sides, it would be nice.

 

[Destichado]

Actually... it depends on the range. At extreme range -or with a weak bow- if you're zoomed in you *can* hit enemys by shooting over the heads of your troops.

 

[Questor]

Actually... it depends on the range. At extreme range -or with a weak bow- if you're zoomed in you *can* hit enemys by shooting over the heads of your troops.

Can troops do the same?
We are talking about them, not the main char.