More generally, I'd like to talk about "gap control". This takes into account not just your opponent's range, but your allies' ranges as well. There are three basic types of gaps I'll cover today: forward gaps, side gaps, and diagonal/backwards gaps.
Keep in mind, the strategies I suggest for each are intended to be the safest for you and your team. You'll see advanced fighters taking more risks because they've learned how to do so without being a liability. One of the perks that comes with skill is being able to get away from the basics and still come out on top. Armor helps, too.
Type 1: The Forward Gap
This is perhaps the most obvious type of gap - the one between you and the opposing line. In this gap, long-range weapons are king. If you're a polearm in the line, this is where you shine by keeping the opposing line from charging towards you, while gimping or killing as many as possible. You have the advantage if you're surrounded by good shieldmen, so use it!
If you're a shieldman, this gap is all about maintaining it while you protect your polearms. Even though you can't do much killing because of all that space, you can hold the enemy line back by being an obstacle. Lunging into this gap without a clear route past the enemy line will likely just get you killed; don't do it. You'll want to let the archers and polearms do their jobs as long as the line is intact. Once the gap closes far enough that shieldmen can finally swing on each other, that's usually when one line will start to crumble.
Type 2: The Side Gap
This is the space between you and the guy next to you. Unlike the first kind of gap, this one you want to keep closed. Depending on your ally's field-awareness, footspeed, and weapon choice, the size this gap can be before it becomes dangerous varies. Keeping this space small is natural instinct and why lines usually "fill in" as fighters start dying.
In part, your goal is to make sure that you and the guy next to you can kill anyone who tries to run between you two. More important, however, is keeping the gap closed so you have the opportunity to protect the allies next to you. If you are too far apart, you lose the option of fighting opponents on the enemy line who are diagonal to you. Instead, you are forced to just square up with a single enemy fighter. When you are close to one another, you and your allies can capitalize on the openings you create for each other in the opposing line. This might mean you spend a lot of time swinging diagonally to snipe an arm or leg opened by your friend, instead of straight across.
For this sake of keeping things simple in this article, the side gap can also be between you and the edge of the world or you and a flanker. If your line is tight but an opponent can still get past your side to reach your back without difficulty, you aren't doing a good job of controlling this gap. In most cases, communication is what drives success around keeping this type of gap closed. If you see a risk, make sure your line knows about it.
Type 3: The Back/Diagonal Gap
This gap is one of the hardest to control, and like the side gap, it needs to be kept closed. You will often see this when a large line splits into smaller lines and each does not stay even with one another. One line pushes forward, while another one hangs back behind them. This causes a diagonal gap between the fighters on the end of each line.
You can occasionally see this coming when a line begins to bow, a section of fighters being forced backwards while their allies don't step back to aid them. This type of hole is a flanker's favorite since unlike breaking through a simple side gap, they don't need to worry about two even fighters swinging on them at once. It's also easier for them to sneak through unnoticed, depending on how hard the back line is being pushed. Remember, what each line can see of the battle is very different when they aren't shoulder to shoulder.
Again, like the side gap, communication is key here. Sometimes you will need to hold back your attack to keep this hole from forming, since it's symptomatic of pushing harder than the line can actually sustain. If a gap like this does form, make sure someone is watching it for flankers. You need to notify your team or kill the flanker before the line completely falls.
So, what can happen when you don't mind your gaps?
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| Now that's a nice gap. Look at all those polearms and javelins. |
If you're a shieldman, this gap is all about maintaining it while you protect your polearms. Even though you can't do much killing because of all that space, you can hold the enemy line back by being an obstacle. Lunging into this gap without a clear route past the enemy line will likely just get you killed; don't do it. You'll want to let the archers and polearms do their jobs as long as the line is intact. Once the gap closes far enough that shieldmen can finally swing on each other, that's usually when one line will start to crumble.
Type 2: The Side Gap
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| Walking shoulder-to-shoulder means a tight side gap. |
In part, your goal is to make sure that you and the guy next to you can kill anyone who tries to run between you two. More important, however, is keeping the gap closed so you have the opportunity to protect the allies next to you. If you are too far apart, you lose the option of fighting opponents on the enemy line who are diagonal to you. Instead, you are forced to just square up with a single enemy fighter. When you are close to one another, you and your allies can capitalize on the openings you create for each other in the opposing line. This might mean you spend a lot of time swinging diagonally to snipe an arm or leg opened by your friend, instead of straight across.
For this sake of keeping things simple in this article, the side gap can also be between you and the edge of the world or you and a flanker. If your line is tight but an opponent can still get past your side to reach your back without difficulty, you aren't doing a good job of controlling this gap. In most cases, communication is what drives success around keeping this type of gap closed. If you see a risk, make sure your line knows about it.
Type 3: The Back/Diagonal Gap
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| Notice the line bending because of a few slow fighters. Just a little pressure and... |
This gap is one of the hardest to control, and like the side gap, it needs to be kept closed. You will often see this when a large line splits into smaller lines and each does not stay even with one another. One line pushes forward, while another one hangs back behind them. This causes a diagonal gap between the fighters on the end of each line.
You can occasionally see this coming when a line begins to bow, a section of fighters being forced backwards while their allies don't step back to aid them. This type of hole is a flanker's favorite since unlike breaking through a simple side gap, they don't need to worry about two even fighters swinging on them at once. It's also easier for them to sneak through unnoticed, depending on how hard the back line is being pushed. Remember, what each line can see of the battle is very different when they aren't shoulder to shoulder.
Again, like the side gap, communication is key here. Sometimes you will need to hold back your attack to keep this hole from forming, since it's symptomatic of pushing harder than the line can actually sustain. If a gap like this does form, make sure someone is watching it for flankers. You need to notify your team or kill the flanker before the line completely falls.
So, what can happen when you don't mind your gaps?
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| I think this just about covers it. |
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