how to use billman

[Stormer]

Does anyone know any effetive ways of useing Billman there my fav unit but dont seem to be too good aginst much except Cavlary

[some_totalwar_dude]

Pin the enemy down with spears or a comperable unit and then flank with Billmen. They'll rip everything apart.

*rip rip shred cut cut hack poke shred.. gooo Billmen*

[Lechev]

Hows the meele for Billman? I would usually deploy CFK as they are good both in melee combat and take out Cav units.

[Stormer]

its a shame billmen have a low moral http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[ShadesPanther]

most polearms have low morale except for JHI, But they can defeat most units anyway. They are good against spears and horsies but cant remember if they are good against MAA

[some_totalwar_dude]

Billmen had a melee of 2 and a morale of 2 IIRC.
And about the morale, if you build the guys in mercia with the valor bonus they recieve another 2 morale. plus the boneses from building you can get them with a nice morale of 7.

[Kongamato]

Ceteris Paribus, MAA are going to beat polearm units. I use Halberdiers and as far as use of polearm units is concerned, they are best used as a deterrent to cavalry. Keeping your polearm units free and out of melee with non-spear units will make a "no-cav zone" around the free polearm unit where the enemy dares not send cavalry near. Polearms command a wide berth from cavalry, which basically means that the enemy having to avoid a unit when flanking will buy you time to intercept the enemy's cavalry with your own. With such great anti-cav bonuses, morale should not play much of a part in a strict polearm-cavalry battle, and often the enemy will assume that the polearms will win against cavalry at all times. I would place them in the second line or on your flanks, which should keep them free and discourage the enemy from trying a flanking attack. If all goes well, the enemy cavalry will bypass the polearms, freeing the polearms for use as reserve assault infantry.

[ShadesPanther]

The strange fact is not many people know onlin that polearms are anti cav.
I have played many who charged my JHI with their general http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif
then 10 seconds later:
"your enemies general has been killed, Good job http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif "
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Kongamato]

Ahh, yes, they may not know the anti-cav abilities of the polearm, but be careful when engaging their cavalry. I have a little saying that is "Never touch a newbie's general"; most often they power them up ridiculously. Be cautious.

[ichi]

Stormer:

One comment about Bills (and Halbs, too). They seem to me to quite vulnerable to missile fire (arrows and bolts). My hypothesis has been that since they use a two-handed weapon they have no shield, making them open to getting a bolt in the eye.

Otherwise, ditto Kong, Panther and Dude.

ichi

[Stormer]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Michael the Great]

Ehhh,I use them on hold formation,so they'll have 6 defence.
Their AP should compensate a little for the 0 attack(on hold).

[Stormer]

i wish CA improve billman in VI

[insolent1]

Polearms r great against all infantry & cav their main weakness is ranged units. They r great against MAA. Bills r good u should use them for flanking