Gang combat

[PMBardunias]

Evidence is so scarce in studying ancient warfare that I think its important to use all the anthropological parallels- and scientific evidence- as we can.

I agree, the forcing your foes to "shy" from attack is analogous to herding them, the way dogs herd sheep- a natural behavior that is a ferature of the cooperative hunting of many group predators. You could physically push your surrounded foes into s tight ball, but as you show above, this is not needed. All you need to do is either strike the outer edge so that they move back into the men behind them, or shoot missiles at the group and they will crowd together nicely.