[Gimli]

More formation info - if you leave the front rank empty and put characters on one flank and others in the middle and rear, the characters on the flank can cover that flank, the middle and the other flank if they have extended weapons.

Personally I like to have parties capable of doing lots of melee damage so I go with three short range melee guys in the middle and 3 extended on the flank - yes they can all be attacked but it also gives the enemy 6 different targets to hit which spreads any damage out.

Also use the formation editor in the middle of combats if you see your caster types getting exposed to melee. You can move them out of harm's way by swapping them with a better equipped character. No formation will be right 100% of the time, be flexible and change it within a fight if need be.