FactionHeir
01-27-2007, 01:34
I've been intrigued by the recent pike fixes, but instead of downloading them, I've done a few tests on vannila pikes on Elevation vs no elevation and have come to an astonishing conclusion:
Pikes only work properly on completely flat terrain.
Only then will they actually kill cavalry/infantry charging into them while braced on impact and actually use their pikes for a little while before using swords to do the rest (and actually quite effectively against knights)
However, on elevated terrain, pikes seem to be merely an obstacle that another unit cannot easily bypass but is simply blocked by - it won't even kill a single cavalry charging into the pikes because the cavalry just keeps charging and charging into thin air, being held at a distance by the pikes. This also means the cav never gets to engage the pikes either.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2651/pikeslc3.jpg
This is a representative screen I took. I would have taken a video if I could, but this screen shows a Polish early bodyguard unit charging frontal into pikes at an elevation (VH, Redoubt map)
They are being held at a distance and I got bored watching this go on for over 10 minutes and just ended the battle. They just kept running and running and nothing happened.
This occured repeatedly in the tests and only if the cav actually (or rather rarely) managed to break through did the engagement start, but not with pikes but with swords (and somehow those scot pikes are formidable swordsmen against cavalry)
Also, besides pikes jsut holding enemies at a range, those pikes don't do any damage on elevation and/or flat terrain if the enemy just walks into them instead of charging. They can just bypass the pikes entirely by walking the gaps (or getting stuck and keep walking on the spot) and the pikemen in the back rows won't even get the idea of slightly turning their pikes or even using their pikes to stab. It seems medieval pikes are unable to stab at all and are doomed to just hold still like a flagpole.
In conclusion, while many are aware of the pike problem regarding switching to swords, this highlights another problem with pikes that will need some attention.
Pikes only work properly on completely flat terrain.
Only then will they actually kill cavalry/infantry charging into them while braced on impact and actually use their pikes for a little while before using swords to do the rest (and actually quite effectively against knights)
However, on elevated terrain, pikes seem to be merely an obstacle that another unit cannot easily bypass but is simply blocked by - it won't even kill a single cavalry charging into the pikes because the cavalry just keeps charging and charging into thin air, being held at a distance by the pikes. This also means the cav never gets to engage the pikes either.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2651/pikeslc3.jpg
This is a representative screen I took. I would have taken a video if I could, but this screen shows a Polish early bodyguard unit charging frontal into pikes at an elevation (VH, Redoubt map)
They are being held at a distance and I got bored watching this go on for over 10 minutes and just ended the battle. They just kept running and running and nothing happened.
This occured repeatedly in the tests and only if the cav actually (or rather rarely) managed to break through did the engagement start, but not with pikes but with swords (and somehow those scot pikes are formidable swordsmen against cavalry)
Also, besides pikes jsut holding enemies at a range, those pikes don't do any damage on elevation and/or flat terrain if the enemy just walks into them instead of charging. They can just bypass the pikes entirely by walking the gaps (or getting stuck and keep walking on the spot) and the pikemen in the back rows won't even get the idea of slightly turning their pikes or even using their pikes to stab. It seems medieval pikes are unable to stab at all and are doomed to just hold still like a flagpole.
In conclusion, while many are aware of the pike problem regarding switching to swords, this highlights another problem with pikes that will need some attention.