Billmen or Halbardiers? [Archive]

View Full Version : Billmen or Halbardiers?

Servius

07-26-2003, 19:34

Since, as England, you can get both Billmen and Halberdiers in the High Age, and they're both escentially the same unit, which is better and why?

Big King Sanctaphrax

07-26-2003, 19:42

I opt for Billmen. Cheaper, less tech needed and they just feel better. Plus they go through cav like nothing on earth. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

Brighdaasa

07-26-2003, 19:55

billmen have better speed, so they're my favourites

RisingSun

07-26-2003, 20:55

I use both. Billman=The ULTIMATE anti-cav. I once tried billmen against infantry, and they were rocked off the field. maybe it was a fluke, bt I've never used them against infantry since. Thats what the halbs are for.

frogbeastegg

07-26-2003, 21:06

Generally speaking I'd go with billmen. However for those times when you need someone to be a big, heavily armoured target I go with halberdiers because of their higher armour and defence. Halberdiers are good for drawing fire from archers (not the armour piecing types though), holding a defensive line, crossing bridges and being first into a castle wall breech. A halberdiers lot is not a happy one

pdoan8

07-27-2003, 01:11

Billmen.

Billmen are great as fast flanking troops, specially against Cav and high armoured troops. English best troop against mounted Knight (+5 to +7 att bonus).

Halb are great when defensive strenght is needed. They will generally do well against all non-AP troop providing that they can get there in time.

DemonArchangel

07-27-2003, 02:18

Halbreds, Bills? Who needs those when you've got massive swarms of longbowmen? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

RollingWave

07-27-2003, 07:06

Billmen obviously.... Halbs have a bad tendency of routing when you need them the most..... any routing unit is a bad unit....

Alrowan

07-27-2003, 07:06

i need to play SP

alkalineruxpin

07-27-2003, 07:15

Billmen, but that's just because I am an Anglophile.

someone

07-27-2003, 14:20

billmen, played as english not to long ago, and they did great, they even was able to hold other inf units. they saved me a dozens of time. and as posted above, use lots and lots of longbows http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

the Black Prince

07-27-2003, 14:24

Billmen, better againsrt cav, can hold theiur own against the inf that the AI will throw against you, but HAlbs are better all rounders and defensive units

The_Emperor

07-27-2003, 20:25

Billmen all the way... trained in Mercia with a Master Spearmaker your looking at Valor 2 Billmen, and I'm afraid that normal valor Halbs are less useful in my opinion.

Billmen, Longbowmen and Chivalric Men at Arms make up the core of my High period armies, with a Mixed force of cav to round it off.

I seldom bother with the Militia tech Tree (except when dealing with the Swiss for their Pikemen).

Lehesu

07-27-2003, 22:12

Billmen. Not only are they fast and fight well, they also collect money for you in their spare time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

DrHaphazard

07-28-2003, 03:49

I have a REAL problem, since i have both mercia and Switzerland i can make bills and swiss halbediers. The swiss have silver (soon to be gold) shields, but the billmen get that +1 to valor (soon to be +2 because of master spearmaker.)

My Solution: Make them both and liberally sprinkle some of each on all the front lines.

Can't wait for those pikemen...pikes pikes pikes pikes....