If you wanted to play a Spartan type in the standard campaign, ie. one where you won't be fighting shoulder to shoulder with brother Spartans all that often, Imp. Bullrush is a good way to go. Shoulder to shield, your going to force your enemy back. Shield pin is another good feat, going shield to shield you fight right over the cover as you force his shield into a stable position with yours. Character developement wise, great fortitude and iron will are key. Equipment wise, breast plate will do for the full armor of a Spartan man, add in a large shield and your standard spear, short sword and your done. Keep in mind the average hoplite was amoung the elite of the polis, they had the money to supply their own gear, they were the equivallent to knights in later European combat.
Warwise, the average phalanx was at least four deep and eight wide. For some really good pictures and research, go to "Greeks and Romans at War" by Peter Connelly{SP}. Great pics of weapons, formations and tactics. The formations were tight with men in the rear ranks driving those in front of them forward, the senior men having been placed in the rear to steady up the lines. The real killing in battle happened after ranks broke on one side or the other. In a fight, the formations tended to drift toward the left as each man saught the protection of the shield of his line mate. Thebes eventually stacked their formations heaviest on their right so the enemy would drift into their strength. For most of their history, hoplites fought unsupported. The use of missle weapons by the Greeks was originally restricted to a few opening barrages by the lower class 'peltas'{SP}, with slings, javilins and other ancient weapons, before the real fighting took place. Last fact of fun, Athenean men served from age 20 to 60, so old men in the ranks with years of fighting experience were not unheard of.
Kail
