Very thick spear formations

[Doug-Thompson]

A militia spear unit seven files wide by 11 ranks deep whips a unit of mailed knights, although they have to charge while the cavalry's approaching and keep attacking after they withdraw to form up for another charge.

That's much more micro than anybody wants to spend with a spear unit, but it can be done. Perhaps the trick would be to have two spear units in a shallower formation up front and a third, deeper formation in reserve.

[katank]

Have you tried 2 rank loose formation out in front to absorb the charge and then tight formations behind to wade up to add power in the melee?

[Doug-Thompson]

Have you tried 2 rank loose formation out in front to absorb the charge and then tight formations behind to wade up to add power in the melee?

Yes, and it seemed to work well.

It is not, however, what people want. It seems people miss a reliable spear line to serve as a base. That would require the old rank bonus of MTW1. It seems like spear units in MTW2 act more like melee units with an anti-cavalry bonus.

Frankly, I got better results in melee with infantry with a spear unit about four ranks deep and in loose formation. This also worked well against cavalry when there was another spear unit able to rush in. With loose formation, you'd have two spear units occupying the same space.

[Shahed]

Do spears and pikes get rank bonus in M2:TW as they did in MTW/VI ?
I think they don't, right ?

[KyodaiSteeleye]

nope.

I personally haven't got a problem with spear units not being cavalry killers - in single player, I very rarely get crushing charges from AI heavy cavalry (and I tend not to pull them off very successfully), and besides, I'm of the opinion that only pikes should be able to stop a HC charge anyway.

[Shahed]

Thanks. No I have no problem with it, anymore, since I installed the PureFixer which is close to unofficial 1.20.

[Miracle]

Spear and pike units get a +8 attack bonus vs. cavalry.

Formations that minimize impact area, such loose two rank, dense 11 rank or the schiltrom, increase survivability but decrease lethality when charged by cavalry.

So if your goal is to kill as many cavalry as possible in the shortest amount of time, a traditional dense 2/3 line formation is the most ideal, since every front-line charging knight will be met with at least one corresponding spear.

If you intend to drag out the fight for the purpose of sending a support unit to help, or if you simply want to preserve your soldiers, minimum area formations are more suitable.

Spear militia are best used with the latter strategy due to their low survivability, but better units such as Armoured Sergeants and Pikemen should use the former.

[Shahed]

Excellent Advice.

I'm playing Enlgand and have decided to use Spear Militia (+ Halberdier combo) so the latter strategy you described is the one I'll be using.