I DESPISE the trope of "everyone forms a shield wall/firing line but then breaks in to indvidual one on one fights as soon as the enemy comes in to contact." I hate it so, so much. I walked out of one of the Hobbit movies when the Dwarves formed a proper shield wall against the oncoming goblins and then the Elves jump over the fucking shield wall to attack. I was so excited because finally a fantasy movie was going to show a shield wall in action and then they were just like "lol no fuck you".
Like IRL, at least in early medieval England, battles were won or lost on who could maintain order and morale in their shield wall longer. If one side's wall lost cohesion the other side could push the weak spot and collapse the whole line, and if your shield wall collapses you're basically dead meat.
They could have so much tension and drama. Trying to hold the line when a spear could come through a gap in the shields at any time is terrifying. People are throwing rocks and axes and firebombs and all kinds of shit at you. If the enemy cavalry breaks through and hits the back of your line you'll die without ever knowing what happened.
But instead they do these ridiculous 1v1 hero fights while everyone is running around in circles like idiots.
I DESPISE the trope of "everyone forms a shield wall/firing line but then breaks in to indvidual one on one fights as soon as the enemy comes in to contact." I hate it so, so much. I walked out of one of the Hobbit movies when the Dwarves formed a proper shield wall against the oncoming goblins and then the Elves jump over the fucking shield wall to attack. I was so excited because finally a fantasy movie was going to show a shield wall in action and then they were just like "lol no fuck you".
Like IRL, at least in early medieval England, battles were won or lost on who could maintain order and morale in their shield wall longer. If one side's wall lost cohesion the other side could push the weak spot and collapse the whole line, and if your shield wall collapses you're basically dead meat.
They could have so much tension and drama. Trying to hold the line when a spear could come through a gap in the shields at any time is terrifying. People are throwing rocks and axes and firebombs and all kinds of shit at you. If the enemy cavalry breaks through and hits the back of your line you'll die without ever knowing what happened.
But instead they do these ridiculous 1v1 hero fights while everyone is running around in circles like idiots.