Here I would like people to share their mind about the units they never train/hire (peasants are not discussed). We will not dwell on the cases when you have no other choice, rather I would like to hear people speak of an ideal game (you have access to all possible kinds of units).
In my case, I can divide such useless units in 2 categories:
1) redundant ones;
2) untamed ones.
The first are definitely crossbows. Does anyone use them if you can have arbalesters? Mounted crossbows belong here too as I see the main purpose of horse ranged units in disrupting enemy's formation and luring him into traps. But MCs are too slow shooters to do that, horsed archers of various types do it better. And the accuracy of MCs!
The second category includes the units I can't (because I don't want to) master as I see no reason to do it. Here I include all javelin units (Jinets as well). I realize the amount of angry javelin adepts' voices but I don't see the efficiency of such units. I will explain.
Javelins are range units. The main aim of this type of units is to kill the enemy at a distance. But the distance they can use their weapons at is ridiculously short. Thus, killing at a distance I leave solely to archers/arbalesters. When the distance allows javelins to do their job, the melee breaks out, so using the javs you are likely to hit your own units as much as the enemy's. One might say that I should use a junk unit to pin the enemy with. But to cause substantial damage you should have at least three jav units (and three junk units, correspondingly). I don't relish the idea of having my front line composed of three junk units (which are likely to rout very soon) just to let javs show their usefulness.
Moreover, The Guide recommends using javs from the rear. So, instead of sending the cavalry to hit from the rear and disperse the enemy, I should try to bring the long two-row formation of the javs around the melee (without letting them get entangled into the fight) and send them to the rear to do a questionable damage while the battle is raging on demanding for some prompt and effective measures.
The only case when I admit the usefulness of javelins is bridge battles. It's not that I use them there, rather I saw them used against me, they were deadly! But you can't have javs-a-plenty in your armies just in case one of them (armies that is)may encounter a bridge battle someday. Rather they can be specific assignment troops called for if you expect an attack over the river.
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