On cavalry formations

[Nescio]

Aelian Tactica §18–19, Arrain Tactica §16–17, and Asclepiodotus Tactica §7 describe cavalry formation in detail. After rereading those a few times, I made a drawing of the various formations actually used by ancient cavalry:

Colour scheme: red is the squadron leader, blue the rear commander; magenta the flank guards; green the leader of the second line; yellow the standard-bearer; black the front line; grey the other horsemen.

From left to right:

• first row: square formations, used by Persians, Greeks, and Sicilians. They're simplest to form and hold together, but also the most rigid and hardest to turn around.
  • square with twice as many horsemen in a row as in a column; because horses are longer then they're wide, this one best approaches a square
  • square with three times as many horsemen in a row as in a column; this one is thus a bit wider, and useful if you want to outflank the enemy, fear being outflanked, or want to suggest you have more cavalry you actually have
  • square with the same number of horsemen, thus significantly deeper than it's wide; as such it's useful for hiding your numbers, misleading your opponents, making them believe your cavalry force is much smaller than in reality
• second row: rhombus formations, pioneered by the Thessalians (northern Greece); it's very flexible, and great for defending against incoming attacks, regardless the direction they come from.
  • a rhombus with neither rows nor columns
  • a rhombus with both rows and columns
  • a rhombus with only columns, not rows
  • a rhombus with only rows, not columns
• third row: wedge formations, favoured by Scythians, Thracians, and Macedonians. Great for fast charges.
  • a wedge with both rows and columns
  • a wedge with only columns, not rows
  • a wedge with only rows, not columns

The wedge formation in 0 A.D. is number ten; by removing the <ShiftRows> line you get number eight. Numbers one, two, three can be easily produced by setting <FormationShape> to square and <WidthDepthRatio> to 2, 3, and 1, respectively.

However, I have no idea how to produce number nine, nor any of the rhombus formations. I suppose it could be achieved by editing simulation/components/Formation.js, though I don't know how. I could really use someone to help me out.

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

Great for battalions (especially for depicting squadron leaders, flank guards and the like). 

HINT HINT HINT HINT