Formations

[CharlesRobinson]

I have noticed a trend where the heavy foot hoard armies are having a hard time winning.

One such example is Celt Iberians.

Under the same trend - the Pike Armies are very hard to take down.

I was trying to figure out the issue and I think I stumbled accross the problem.

In the miniature game you units are built around formations. Each formation could have 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 units in them. The larger the formations the less flexible your army, but the more larger your formation, the more durable it is. In addition, pike formations get bonuses for rows of pike units within the formation so they are powerfull, but tend to have short frontages.

Most of the "barbarian" heavy foot hoard armies allow 10 or even 12 units to a formation making their formations a lot more durable to other armies who have tougher units but smaller formation sizes.

Pike units are powerfull but more vulnerable to flanking.

In FOG digital the pikeman can stretch all the way accross the battlefield in 500pt armies where on the table top they would not be able to do so.

Since FOG digital does not have formations - just units - how can we replicate these into the game?

[deeter]

Lack of formations is also why horde armies are so effective.

Deeter

[CharlesRobinson]

But since a basic 500pt army can effectively control the game table, only medium foot horde armies really do well, and even then - in rough terrain.

[deeter]

MF horde armies are king with or without terrrain. They can take horrible losses and still have enough troops to swamp an HF army. I've had Seleucids slaughtered in clear terrain by hordes of Jewish MF. If they were in larger formations this wouldn't happen. A few losses would send the rest runing.

Deeter

[CharlesRobinson]

Yes - I have done well with some of the medium foot armies as well. Have not had the same luck though with heavy foot horde armies though.

[Xiggy]

A simpler rule set gave moral support if you had friendly troops on your flank. +1 for each flank. That way if you were scattered all over the place you generally were in trouble if you opponent would maintain his lines. Maybe for FOG 2 PC.