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Thread: Swiss Pikemen

  1. #1
    Ja mata, TosaInu Forum Administrator edyzmedieval's Avatar
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    Default Swiss Pikemen

    I always had this fancy about the Swiss Pikemen and Swiss Armoured Pikemen, but I never got around to actually using them in battle!

    Are they really useful?
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  2. #2

    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    They have always seemed to my to be tougher slightly more deadly spears. If you make use of spear units I would say you would find them very useful.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    You're gonna need some serious flank cover. Regular spears will do the trick - something with decent staying power that can suck up the charges and hold them until you can counter. Keep the pikeblock very tight and advance with extreme caution, so as to only engage the enemy dead on straight. They're very powerful in 1on1's, it's when they expose their flanks that the hits the fan. Also, and most importantly, they're suckers for missiles. Arbs will tear chasms in their ranks in seconds.
    Last edited by Martok; 05-20-2010 at 08:23. Reason: swearing

  4. #4
    Camel Lord Senior Member Capture The Flag Champion Martok's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    I pretty much second bondovic: Swiss Pikemen and SAP are excellent in most melee situations, but they're definitely vulnerable to missiles. Just about anything heavier than regular archers will shred them to bits.
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  5. #5
    VictorGB Member Trapped in Samsara's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    Hi

    Personally I think pikes generally are too expensive - and too much bother - for what you get, taking into account their build requirements. Plus, you get so little frontage out of them if you're looking to maximise their additional ranks bonus.

    And yeah, they're terribly vulnerable to missiles, and really unwiedly: as soon as they have to change facing or re-order their ranks they (which is to say you) are in trouble.

    I think in most situations I'd rather have Chiv Sargeants with some armour and morale upgrades.

    That said, Swiss Armoured Pikemen are one of the truely scary units to encounter in the AI's battle deployment roster, 'cos you know that, other things being equal, if they actually manage to engage your main battleline they're going to do serious damage. I can vividly recall a rebellion/reappearance consisting of several stacks largely composed of SAPs and Swiss Halbs. That one took several, very attritional, years to put down.

    Best regards
    Victor

  6. #6
    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    SAPs backed with Swiss Halbies are pretty tough to put down, especially on defense. It's a shame the build restrictions are so high on the Swiss APs, while the Swiss start Late with the County Militia, getting the Master Armourer is nigh impossible. They have to make do with the royal units (which of course makes the SAP unit even tougher).
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    Banned ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    They pretty good, I love using them, but they get eaten for dinner by heavy archers, so make sure you don't send them out on a sucide mission with a lot of enemy archers oppsoing them.

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    Retired Senior Member Prince Cobra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    Deadly. Perfect for me. Each time I play as the Byzantines Switzerland is a destination to my expansion. I remember Swiss Armoured Pikes to have lost two men in a head clash with Chivalric Knights. Combined with the S halberdiers (and the Byzantines archers (arrows!) and cavalry and the Byz inf and Spears for attracting enemy fire), these are unbeatable. Give them more credit, please!
    Last edited by Prince Cobra; 05-22-2010 at 17:37.
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  9. #9
    Ja mata, TosaInu Forum Administrator edyzmedieval's Avatar
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    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    Too bad they only appear late. By that time I almost conquered the whole world...

    Late era sounds good though.
    Ja mata, TosaInu. You will forever be remembered.

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    Been to:

    Swords Made of Letters - 1938. The war is looming in France - and Alexandre Reythier does not have much time left to protect his country. A novel set before the war.

    A Painted Shield of Honour - 1313. Templar Knights in France are in grave danger. Can they be saved?

  10. #10

    Default Re: Swiss Pikemen

    I remember I "discovered" an infantry triangle when I played MTW 5-6 years ago. There are SAP, JHI and Gothik FK. IMO, three best infantries. Every one loses from one and wins another, but I can't remember whether it's GFK or JHI that obliterate SAP. I do consider SAP the best infantry, and they are pretty cool with that number of 96 :D

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