Well, there we differ. Not much to do about it. I think it could be a simple way to see whether the spearman holds out. As you observed, it is an unpractical tactic for a lone spearman, more suited to larger groups than the ordinary group extended contest in HW represents.
> What I really wanted to comment on though, was the statement that
> Gloranthans don't use this style of fighting... Since the Lunars and Sun
> Dome Temples field phalanxes and pikemen, it would be very bizarre if
> they didn't know the optimum use of their own weapons (especially since
> in the board game the SDT have a bonus defending). And since the nearest
> RW culture I know of to how I envision the Orlanthi were Scots hill
> clans, whose traditional defensive formation was a defensive round with
> set spears.
Not all phalanxes in history have used this. It is mainly a medieval tactic.
There is no evidence for Greek hoplites to have used it in antiquity, and they
are the main inspiration for Sun Dome Templars.
It is doubtful whether the Hellenistic did it, their massed formations could
well have made it redundant.
In the later Roman era, legionaries used a similar tactic versus Germanic
cavalry, but their spears were short and it was mainly their large shields that
did the work, presenting a firm obstacle to the horses.
Spears and pikes are good against cavalry even without setting them. This is an in games often overrated tactic. A horse will balk at anything pointing at its head, no matter if the other end is firm in the ground or not.
For the tactic do develop, there must be an enemy fighting using massed cavalry charges. This does not, apart from the Westerners, appear to be the case.
As for the Scots, yes they used it. But what has that to do with Heortlings? The Heortlings are Heortlings, not Scotsmen. They do share some characteristics with early Celts and Germans, but that does not by a far cry make them Scottish, and particularly not medieval Scotsmen (not that there are any older).
Gloranthan cultures are supposed to be on (more or less) a "bronze age" technological and cultural level, so, please, let us avoid medievalicisms.
-- Henrix
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