Basic Battle Tactics?

[llamabeast]

I don't think what Omni said about attack rear was right, although I could be wrong.

My understanding is that they aim for the back, but have some chance to be distracted by each unit they pass. So sometimes they will definitely run past everything and kill the enemy commanders (if they're unprotected), but quite often they'll turn in and attack the main block of enemy troops.

[JimMorrison]

Anything scripted to "Attack Rear" has a very high chance of not making it to the back. However, unless your opponent has a full line, they will still wrap around the flank of the line, adding to your damage potential.

Personally, in most armies to try to divide my squads to ~20 men apiece. Of course, higher power summons, or heavy cavalry may be smaller squads, and when the armies get large, some squads may range to 30-40 men.

In all though, you just need to experiment a lot, see what layouts end up with all of your men clumped up on one spot, inefficiently blocking eachother, and which layouts get the most men into the fight. Remember, if you aren't wrapping around your foe, he may well be wrapping around you. Also, don't be afraid to let your men clump up more, if you have a lot of mage support, so you want more targets of opportunity to fire on, or if you are planning to use a lot of battlefield summons, and you want them to be your flankers.