1.6.0 Client Release

[Narvad]

It seems the only reason someone would want to go hoplite is to use the pikeman + shield combo, which is only really useful in open maps.

What does mean "open maps" ?
Hoplits can shield as good as infantry hero classes, except RG. Even if you don't like stats of hoplit shields 45/1250(resistance/hp) or 48/1650, you can always pick up better one from the ground.
But they should be substituted with infantry(zwei/legio/jugg) in shield"wall", if there's one.

They currently have high dmg going for them, the issue is if their polearms are better off used behind cades without shields, then it'll be like the alien rod where 1 person spawns it in and everyone drops their weapon to use it (also making marauder useless).

Marauder is still superior by ~6% damage and ~2,5% speed per hit with melee weapon with current stats. And they are not only mangler-bringers. :]

I suggest hoplites are given +10 athletics and/or ultra light armour.

I'm playing often as warden/marauder. 2 athletic difference is not much(almost nothing, even with daggers loadout), aswell as armour, which is already light enough. Beside, you can always switch to godlike redshirt.

For this it'd be nice to have ultra long polearms (~300 reach) of avg dmg whiuch can be used with shields

It wouldn't work very well, not to mention that holding long weapons gives penalty to running speed.

idk how the cav mode guys run fast but they do so im sure there are ways

Agility increases running speed.