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Formation Combat
Vladimir:
Just a few comments on formation combat.
When fighting normally with a sword and shield, a fighter is free to move about, advance or retreat, circle around. In an attack, a fighter is able to put the full movement of his body and weight behind a blow while in defense, he is free to dodge, leap back, or otherwise avoid an attack without parrying or blocking.
Fighting in a formation changes the dynamics of combat.
A loose formation of fighters is normal for players standing next to each other and fighting. It allows players to mutually attack one or more adjacent targets and cover each others' flanks. In maintaining the integrity of the formation there are less options for independent movement.
A shield formation requires further attention to formation integrity. The shields for a unified wall against and opponent and limits the exposed areas that the formation members offer as targets. Except for the extreme flanks, the people in the shield formation offer mutual coverage, depending on the size and shape of the shields. Behind the wall of shields, the members' bodies are virtually impossible to hit as the legs, feet, shoulders, attacking arm and head are the only parts regularly exposed.
The limits to fighting in a shield formation are the same formational constraints of lack of individual maneuver room and that the men are fighting over a wall of shields, which restricts the power and placement of blows.
To maintain unit integrity, the formation moves at a slower, measured pace, usually not more than a walk.
The close shield formation has the members of the formation overlap their shields and use and arm to brace the overlap, with acts to lock the shields in position. It is a much tighter formation that forms a more solid wall against opponents and is often used in tighter confines, such as narrow passes or on a bridge. Not only does the close shield formation add to formation integrity but since the locked shields form a near-solid wall, the formation is better able to use the force of its members to push the opposing formation back, to gain better tactical position or to break the integrity of the opposing formation. Overlapping shields make body strikes very rare and the feet, legs, attacking arm, shoulders and head are exposed.
The limits are similar to the shield formation with further slightly more restrictions on offense for the front ranks.
The main reason to employ formations is to ensure a unit's survivability. Shields make a unit a moving fort that can outlast a less organized unit that isn't in formation. The Romans proved this repeatedly and subsequent militaries strove to copy them.
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