Arrows hitting the flank

[Michael the Great]

Do arrrows hitting the flank of an individual soldier cause more damage..can they even hit a flank?
...and,what protection does that shield give to Varagian Guards,considering the fact that they fight with it on their backs??

[LadyAnn]

To cover their behind, just in case of friendly fire http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

Annie

[longjohn2]

Troops shot from behind count as having lower armour, if they have shields (as their armour includes the effect of the shield ). The game doesn't look at whether a unit is being shot from the unshielded flank, because of the graphical limitations that mean that the shield can appear on either flank depending on which direction you look from.

Troops who use two handed weapons don't get the benefit of their shields while fighting.

[Panther]

eg Halbierders
as the turks my army of ottoman infantry(ive improved them alot because of lack of good units to fight byzantines and to make it more interesting for byzantines) concentrate on them. They decimate them for 2 reasons
1. halbierders have no shield so get wasted with massed arrow fire
2. They are very slow so my ottomans can just get away and keep firing at them (i got one unit down to 3 men http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif )
thats why a shield is very important

[Michael the Great]

Well,Halbardiers have heavy armor,wich is more usefull than a shield,when shot upon.
The good fact about shields is that they give defence and protection from arrows,but they don't come in to the aromour pierceing effect,so troops with armor pieceing don't get bonuses vs units with shields,like they normally do vs troops with heavy armour....
Hope this was clear... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif