Swiss "NOT ARMORED" Pikeman

[Game Over!!!]

I was just able to build and use Swiss 'not armored' Pikeman for the first time. How many ranks deep do they work best at..? I thought they would work well against FS as defending, WRONG Strictly attack only. In my first battle my @$$ got handed to me by the Spanish using FS against them. My second try I was attacking hobilars and they rocked Just wanted to know how many ranks deep?
Thanks.

[katank]

Pikers should be in 6 ranks to take advantage of full rank bonuses.

SP and SAPs are the same in terms of optimal rank depth as are regular pikes.

[CBR]

Pikes have 4 supporting ranks so you have to use them in minimum 5 ranks. As a unit will sustain losses, it will slowly lose the bonuses from its supporting ranks, so put them in 6 ranks or more.


CBR

[Game Over!!!]

Bummer...they're only 60 men in the unit. Six ranks deep mean only 10 across, this sucks. Oh, well they did work well against hobilars...just have to try them out on RK or AHC and see what happens.
Thanks for the fast replies.

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Game Over @ July 14 2004,21:59)]Bummer...they're only 60 men in the unit. Six ranks deep mean only 10 across, this sucks. Oh, well they did work well against hobilars...just have to try them out on RK or AHC and see what happens.
Thanks for the fast replies.
the key then is to make sure you have enough of them and make sure they cannot be flanked.

At any rate Swiss pikes are very nasty... (though i fear the Halbs a lot more for their flexibility against Armoured troops in general)

[katank]

the narrow front is what lost the battle against the FS as their lines can wrap around and auto flank, messing up your formation.

swiss pikes are awesome defense.

try them as plug for a bridge or guarding a gatehouse.