A few questions

[johnross11]

ahhh not again... computer acting weird. press tab(not alt-tab) and it flips thru my open files. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

I have read these forums since before MTW and never posted
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
Well I was kinda wonderin just how great Bulgarian Brigands are. I have only started using them today as i have never got a master Bower as Byz up until now. could you compare them to longbows, and other good archers please?

Also what is the difference between Halberds and spears? I know halberds are more heavily armored but to me it seems like yall refer to them as different types of units to be used differently.

[Gregoshi]

Hello johnross11. Thanks for finally taking the plunge. If you had only registered sooner, you might be johnross2 or johnross3 instead of 11. But who would have thunk there'd be so many johnrosss? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Alas, I can't tell you anything useful about your questions as my experience with those units is limited. But I'm certain someone will be around very soon who can.

[johnross11]

Thanks anyways Gregoshi, guess there's not many byzantine fans like me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Oh lol i just like to have johnros11 because everything i use the s/n is johnross11 or the_bomb9234. I don't know why i use 'em i just do. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Lord Of Storms]

The halberd is not a straight tipped weapon as is the spear it is a hooked weapon I believe and it is effective in ripping and slashing at cav units. The Swiss have an especially strong Halberd unit ,plus the halberd units have a better armor bonus then the spears who I think are -1 armor bonus to the halberds 5, the spear unit is larger than the halberd unit but I would say are very different http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Clever.gifP.S. Welcome JohnRoss good to have you with us all.hope I was of some help.

[Gaius Julius]

Hi johnross11
I like Trebizond archers, better than Bulgarian Brigands.
Trebs have: 3 melee, 2 valour.
Bul. Brig.:2 melee, 0 valour.
Bulgarian Brig. tend to run away easier.

[pdoan8]

I have never used Bulgarian Brigands, so I can't tell how great they are compare to others. In another post about Bulgarian Brigands and Treb Archers, many still prefer Treb over Brigands. I also only used Treb Archer.

Longbow is the best archer in the game. They have longest range and have AP capability. I am not comparing the melee capability and other stats of the archers.

Against cav, spear is more defensive while halberb is more offensive. Spear has +1att/+4def bonus against cav and Halberd has +3att/+1def bonus against cav. Halberd has AP capability while spear has higher charge bonus (spear = 5, halberd = 2). Halberd has better armour and defense factor while spear can use shield. Spear is faster than halberd. Spear has 100-men while halberd has only 60. Spear also has rank bonus.

Spear is a basic defensive unit which is easy to train. Spear is better at withstanding arrow fire (has shield) and defense well in formation (rank bonus), so usually spear is used as front liner, blocker for the main army. Halberd has better defense (high armour) and offense (AP capability) than spear and very effective at attacking cav, so usually halberd is used as flanker and mainly as anti-cav. Spear-halberd combo is very effective against cav.

[desdichado]

spears to hold them. halberds to kill them.

I have used bulgarian brigands a little as mercs. Uphill they are as fast as kataphractoi. good as skirmishers but run easily. Trebs are better imho. Longbows even more so but costly and run out of ammo real quick. Trebs & longbows can melee quite well while brigands are pretty weak.

Best bet is to take a few in some custom battles and make up your own mind.

[Elwe]

And actually, you'll find a decent handful of Byz-lovers on these forums... myself included http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

Trebs are the better all-round unit of the two, and by far easier to build. I built up Bulgarian Brigands in Bulgaria for the Valor bonus, but usually my armies consisted of Trebs/Arbilasters when I got the the Master Bowmake stage.

Cheers.

[Nikitas]

The Bulgarian Brigands get more defence than the Treb. Archers but both have the same ranged stats. It comes down to do you want a unit that will hold longer (Brigands) or kill at a faster rate (Treb. Archers).

Personally I go with the Treb. Archers because that 2 honor keeps them in the fight long enough.

Oh and the Brigands are faster than the Treb. Archers so they are more effective at chasing down routers and into a position to flank the enemy. It all breaks down into your style of play. After your archers are done shooting, what do you want them to do?

[Cazbol]

Quote[/b] (Gregoshi @ Feb. 27 2003,21:22)]Hello johnross11. Thanks for finally taking the plunge. If you had only registered sooner, you might be johnross2 or johnross3 instead of 11. But who would have thunk there'd be so many johnrosss? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Alas, I can't tell you anything useful about your questions as my experience with those units is limited. But I'm certain someone will be around very soon who can.
Oh no Gregoshi You forgot to wave. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
Isn't johnross11 as welcome as the rest of us? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[GranCactus]

I love the Byz too. You're far from alone.
When I'm the Byz, I use Trebs for attacking and arbs for defending. The only time I use Brigands is when I'm short on archers or in the desert. I like to have fast, light guys in the desert, so I load up on Brigands and Steppe Cav. North Africa is very rough on regular Byzantine units.