Introduction on how to exercise battle formations - lesson 1

• Why using light shields from 3 layers of cardboard and 55cm long hot water PVC pipes of 2.5cm diameter as swords.
  • Unified weapons. We're not limited by bad weapons. Better control, longer endurance.
  • We don't need to get boiled in armor.
  • Shield size can be customized to fit body area between shoulder and hip joints.
    Shield rims and tips are softened (hot water pipe foam insulation) and covered by duct tape.
• Work safety with shield and sword.
  • Don't let weapon fall with force, you'll lose control.
    Use it to touch the target with tip like with own finger.
    Add increasing press after contact.
  • When attacking adversary from behind, hit lightly his helmet or the body area with best protection.
    Add increasing press after contact.
• Work safety with spear.
  • Touch with tip first, then press using legs.
    Avoid stabbing or slashing with force, avoid pressing with hands.
• Work safety with throwing and missile weapons.

• General is responsible for minimizing own casualties while inflicting the most painful hits to the adversary.
• General is responsible for equipment and armament of his fighters.
  • Equipment has to be of good quality and very light, not to inflict fatigue and limit soldiers' fighting abilities.
• General is responsible for proper training of soldiers so they can make good use of their weapons and armor.
• The purpose of teamwork during battle formation is to reduce losses.
• Each individual in a unit works together with colleagues, so the enemy individuals are always outnumbered. We work in a pack.
• Each formation has advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses.
  Each formation can be successfully used against another.
  Above all, the degree of training of soldiers and the speed of fulfilling commands are decisive.
  In the case of tight formations such as wall (packed rank) or wedge, it is necessary to have quality armor.

• Weapons are light, well balanced and of proper length. Shields are light, so we can use them for hours.
• Mobility, collaboration and reliance on friends.
• Spears and pikes in the second row at least 2.5m, preferably 3m; light tip, conical shaft.
• The first battle row has short weapons. Long ones interfere with close work, they are slow.
• The halberds belong to the first row, they're held in the middle of the shaft!

We exercise collaboration, timing, rhythm.

Small number of techniques and have to be well drilled.

The formation must have sufficient spacing to work, the deployment of soldiers is like on a chessboard.

• “row” distance between fighters equals to an outstretched arm with a sword to a colleague's shoulder.
• Gaps in the first row are filled with long spears from the second row, throwing spears or bows. Rows can be rotated through gaps.

Main idea:

• Infantry are killed at oblique angles, preferably two or more are attacking single adversary at a time .
• I will occupy the man in front of me to hit his colleague on my right.
• I will occupy the person in front of me, my colleague on the left from the 1st or 2nd row will take him down.
• I watch the man in front of me and on my armed hand side (front and right); my partner is taking care of my left side.

When practicing in armor, we need to reward people in heavy armor by giving them 2-5 hit points. Light armored fall on the first hit. Having more rounds of quick fights is more fun and teaches more experience than standing too long in single skirmish.

Shield bearer

• Passivity.
• Dealing only with the person in front of me.
• My armed hand isn't covered by shield, I put the hand in front of the shield rim.
• Raising or lowering the shield.
• The hand is not ready to strike, I waste time (tempo) pulling back to strike.

Spearman

• Passivity.
• Blocking with spear.
• Standing too much aback, doesn't have the same reach with spear tip like the front row weapons.

Formation

• Cramped space. Can't properly fight, dodge, dampen hits, can't use the 2nd row. Wall is suitable for rolling and dividing extended rank formations that has big spaces between soldiers.
• Disordered formation. Formation walks and runs at the speed of its slowest member.

• Opened - bent elbow by body, shield rim aims to adversary spine/face.
• Closed - shield area against adversary, spacing before own knee and body.
• Direct - like boxer direct with shield rim from opened position. Elbow pushes the fist.
• Economical shield movements.
• Guards, synchronizing weapon with the shield.

• Static ranks; no spears, no javelins.
  • Collaboration: The first one occupies target, the second hits him; colleagues of targeted person try defending him.
• Static ranks; long spears occupy the spaces between the first row.
  • Collaboration: The front row occupies the target, the spear hits him; colleagues of targeted person try defending him.
• Static ranks; javelins occupy the second row spaces between the first row.
• Rank marches forwards, the second attempt to withstand.
• Both ranks march: one forwards, the second orderly backwards.
• Rank runs forwards against standing rank.
• First and second row rotation in static rank.
• First and second row rotation during march in rank.
• First and second row rotation during run in rank.

• Oblique rank with receding right wing: attacks to the flank side of the enemy rank, against the wedge.
• Rank with reinforced left wing → Two oblique ranks: cutting off part of the enemy units.
  • The second oblique rank goes in pairs, one falls into the back of the enemy, the other covers the back against missiles.
• Rank: against rank, wall, wedge.
  • The length of the row can run around the closed wall, to the side and to the back.
  • The expanded rank also prevents outflanking by another rank.
• Wall: against attacking horses, can stop the wedge, against attack by volley of bows, crossbows or throwing spears.
• Wedge: can divide the rank, preferably on the wing and decimate the wing.
  • If the wedge is led to the center of the row, it may find itself in an alley.
  • Behind the wedge tip, the others must immediately run on the wings to occupy opponents who would otherwise attack the back of the wedge.
• Fence - hedgehog: At least three rows of spears in all directions protect the center, the king, the army commander; they allow him to move around the battlefield slowly.
  • The spearmen also have short weapons for close combat, and bowmen/crossbowmen/slingers are part of the formation as well.