I agree with his comments and like the use of the monitor. I've been using a 7 man file (which I call Septoi) as part of the Native Imther Corps.
One of the benefits of the 7 man unit including a leader is that it can nominally cover all directions. With each person as a point in a hexagon and the file leader/monitor in the center, the group can quickly rotate its face to cover rear or flanking attacks. The monitor is somewhat protected in this arrangement so that he/she can apply magic to the current front even while they are under immediate attack. If the front turns, the monitor turns to continue magical application. If the front stabilizes, the monitor can order the flanks into the front with appropriate magic and still has his/her back protected.
It would not surprise me if this formation developed in the period of Sheng Seleris when units had to protect themselves from the cavalry tearing through their front pike lines and then turning back to hit their flanks.
Harald
End of Glorantha Digest V1 #206
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