GAME INFORMATION
- GAME BUILD #: 185872
- GAME PLATFORM: Steam
- OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 10
ISSUE EXPERIENCED
Hoplites appear to have lost the ability to properly use their 0.5 melee range when fighting in a formation, the second row of hoplites while using Stand Ground were able to participate in fights before the patch, now, with these changes to stand ground, they lost that ability.
Before the latest update, Hoplites in a stationary Stand Ground + Line formation could use their increased melee range to attack enemies from the second row while maintaining a formation.
After the latest update, Hoplites in the second row do not attack even when enemy units are within their 0.5 melee range. This occurs without using Patrol, Stand Ground Patrol, Attack Move, or any form of patrol stacking.
Side note: When in formation using stand ground, changing the stance to defensive or offensive mid fight causes additional Hoplites to attack from the second row, proving they are capable of doing it, but they then move out of the stationary formation, ruining the phalanx tactic completely. It seems the specific changes to stand ground command affected the way hoplites can fight.
The issue appears to be particularly relevant to the Hoplite because its melee range was previously increased from 0.3 to 0.5. in August 2025 Patch 153015, allowing this tactic to be possible WITHOUT any use of patrol stacking.
FREQUENCY OF ISSUE
- 100% of the time / matches I play (ALWAYS)
REPRODUCTION STEPS
Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:
- Open the Scenario Editor.
- Create a group of Hoplites (40-60 for a better view) and set them to use Stand ground + Line Formation
- Create a group of enemy melee units in front of the Hoplites.
- Allow the enemy units to approach and atack the Hoplites without issuing Patrol, Stand Ground Patrol, Attack Move, or other movement commands.
- Observe the engagement.
- The Hoplites in the first row attack, while Hoplites in the second row do not attack enemies that are within their 0.5 melee range.
- Repeat the test with another infantry unit with extended melee range for comparison. (Kamayuk 1 tile range or Phalangite 1.8 tiles of range maintained their ability to perform this stationary tactic).
EXPECTED RESULT
Hoplites using Stand Ground should be able to make use of their 0.5 melee range while maintaining their stationary formation.
When an enemy unit is within the Hoplite’s attack range, Hoplites in the second row should be able to attack without having to abandon the formation, making the tactic way stronger as intended with the previous buff, actually fighting like a phalanx.
The recent changes to Stand Ground Patrol should not prevent stationary Hoplites from using their normal attack range when Patrol or patrol stacking IS NOT BEING USED, since this tactic is not abusing patroling, instead, its based on effective use of melee range of 0.5 tiles.
IMAGE
In this video I show the difference before and after the patch, to ilustrate how it affects the hoplites performance when fighting as a formation.
GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)
Since I’m new, I can’t post 2 media files here, but the icon of the video shows how much worse the hoplite perfomance is at the moment.