The Line
Basic Set-Up
A line should be divided into subgroups for the following reasons: It's difficult to keep track of big groups and you will have difficulties shouting longer distances (more than ten people in a line).
Each subgroup should be 5 to 9 fighters strong and have one subcommander. If you lack subcommanders and the field is open (i.e. no woods) subgroups can be bigger.
An example of a standard formation could be as follows:
R = reserve and runners
K = command (plus bodyguards)
L = long weapons (spears / daneaxes)
O = short weapons (axes / one handed spears / swords)
blue = regular fighters
black = subcommanders
No matter what formation you choose, it is essential to keep reserves. The command should stay out of the actual fighting.
Zones
In a line, some distances must be kept, and some lines shouldn't be crossed. Following is a rough description.
The fighting area (red) is where the actual fighting takes places. Here the fighters can achieve hits. In the classical understandig this is the area in which the line is active.
The line has however a bigger area of impact. This is a bit difficult to explain and not yet fully described.
reform distance / The deployment area (white) is the distance you need to keep if you want to undergo a fundamental change in formation before meeting the opponent.
There's two formulas to calculate this distance:
Number of fighters in meters or the squared width of your formation on meters.
The fallback area (grey) is the area you need behind your formation to make your fighters feel safe. If the distance is too short, people will feel pushed against „the wall“. The fallback area is the same size as the reform area and can be calculated using the same formulas.
Keeping the fallback ares clean gives you the opportunity to fight while retreating.
The safe area (green) must be kept clean of opponents. An opponent in the safe area results in sever distraction of your fighters and general destabilization of the line. Because of fighters starting to look and possibly turn around, the forward movement of the line will stop.
The line must not be crossed by the opponent. Should this still happen you need to take control over them. Better fighters should be deflected or tunneld through your line.