I Stand Converted

[Lokiss]

I've never been one to use missile troops - I didn't know how to properly use Jinettes, nor regular archers nor mounted archers/xbows. I usually just leave them out of my armies entirely, only using a few regular archers as cheap garrisons (and beastly when it comes to enemy sieges).

However, I just started an Early Poland campaign, and you start with a HA unit and can build mounted crossbows later on. I just conquered Denmark using more or less nothing but those two units (along with some spear + armor) and wearing down the insane number of princes Denmark had - 2 turn victory, got to love it.

I'm converted, these things rock.

[Misfratz]

I had a game very early on with the Vikings in Early, against the six units of Vikings in Norway. I used a good number of archer units and managed to whittle away at the enemy Vikings so that I could weaken them before finishing them off.

It went so well.

Then I became cocky and sloppy.

The Norwegians final unit - their general - managed to bring a charge home against my archers, and I'd been slow to reorganise my Vikings in support. Although I outnumbered the enemy by at least eight-to-one at this stage my army routed and fled the field!

I've always had a great respect for missile troops since using them so effectively in defensive battles against the Hojo in Shogun, but they do require more care and attention to use and you do get punished if you let it slip. Plus I've always found it much harder to use them when attacking, but that's to be expected.

[Lokiss]

Aye, my main problem is that I had so little faith in their ability to know when to back off, but the mounted ones have proved rather okay at it.

[Martok]

I've always valued missile units to some degree, going back to Samurai Archers in Shogun. How I use them, though, depends on the situation.

It took me a long time (too long!) to realize it, but I eventually learned that I generally prefer to eschew foot missiles while on the attack -- the exceptions of course being when the enemy has no (or almost no) missile units themselves, and/or my missile units outrange the defenders'. Maybe it's just because I'm not that great a general (see the other thread ), but I find it nearly impossible to position/maneuver foot missiles to do any real damage while on offense. It's a very rare offensive battle indeed where my archers/arbs/whatever manage to actually make a significant contribution....at least a positive one.

On the other hand, missile cavalry is excellent for attacking. They can be very effective at drawing a defender away from a strong position (especially important in bridge & mountain battles!), and of course excel at harassing the enemy in most situations. In addition, missile cav such as Jinnettes or (especially) Mounted Crossbowmen can be very good at taking down generals from a distance -- which is naturally far preferable to sacrificing 300-500 of your infantry/spearmen to the enemy's 8-star Jedi with the "Great Warrior" trait.

Still, my favorite use for missiles -- and foot missile units in particular -- has always been in defensive battles. There's nothing quite like flinging a flight of several hundred arrows/javelins/bolts into the advancing enemy to say "hello" (gotta give them a proper greeting, after all).

[Roark]

Ditto what Martok said.

On the defence, nothing beats a constant blanket of deadly shafts to deplete assaulting forces.

Against the Mongols it's essential, unless you prefer to hide in the forest for two hours like a big girl's blouse.

[Knight of the Rose]

RE: Foot archers on offence. I absolutly agree when it comes to vanilla archers, and to an extend vanilla crossbows. They can be used to lure the enemy into ambushes (approaching a formation and rout when they take the bait. Only then the spearmen in the forest come out to play) or as cannon fodder (standing in loose formation, pretending to do an archery duel, but in reality emptying the enemy's quivers and nothing more). But to be fair - woodsmen could do that job too.

But Arbalasters! These wonder-guys are absolutely essensial when doing offensive maneuvers! Their range is often great enough to push the enemy off the hill and force them to charge you. Just use two, or sometimes one is enough, and watch as the enemy commander charges your formation knowing it's the only alternative to stand and die.

I've lost countless offensive battles charging up a hill, but won most where I could meet the enemy in the valley.

/KotR

PS - on the original poster: Rock - Paper - Scissors