Swedish Faction

**KarlXII** · 03-07-2009, 19:49

My greatest disapointment is the lack of swedish uniqe units and the low quality of the line infantry

Indeed. Though according to some friends on Steam who have played Sweden, she starts in a relatively stable and strong position. Definately will be my first Grand Campaign faction to play, it should be nice to refight the Great Northern War.

(Also, Sweden was one of the few countries to continue the use of pikes, is this replicated in the game?)

**TB666** · 03-07-2009, 20:19

Originally Posted by SwedishFish

(Also, Sweden was one of the few countries to continue the use of pikes, is this replicated in the game?)

Well there is a pikeman unit available but not sure if it's available for the rest(only played Sweden so far).

**RZST** · 03-07-2009, 21:06

pikemen are available to other factions as well.

**BeeSting** · 03-07-2009, 21:32

In 1700's, most, about 80% of battle wounds and casualties were inflicted by musket balls, so melee combat was rare.

**A Very Super Market** · 03-07-2009, 22:21

Not for the Swedes. Pikes were an integral part of their army, until Sweden was defeated and became the cold, neutral nation we know today.

**Pinxit** · 03-08-2009, 01:17

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

Not for the Swedes. Pikes were an integral part of their army, until Sweden was defeated and became the cold, neutral nation we know today.

In what way is Sweden more "cold" now, than before?

**Vlad Tzepes** · 03-08-2009, 01:22

Well, I think with global warming, this is about to change (unfortunately).

**TB666** · 03-08-2009, 02:59

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

Not for the Swedes. Pikes were an integral part of their army, until Sweden was defeated and became the cold, neutral nation we know today.

Indeed, we were a bit old fashion.
However the game starts just 9 years before Poltava which was the end of Sweden as a major power so I can see from CA's point of view that spending time and effort on making Sweden unique when it was being outdated shortly afterwards as slightly pointless.
Hell I'm even surprised they even bothered to do give them swedish voices(some of it is really funny).

Still I have no problem with it's army in the game, it's does it's job well enough.
Even if it's weak stat-wise it just kinda adds to the fact that Sweden became a major power thanks to superior tactics despite being pretty much outnumbered and out-gunned in most battles.

**Alsn** · 03-08-2009, 03:09

It would've made more sense to give Sweden one of the formation techs to symbolize their use of tactics over raw strength at the time. Prussia starts with the first bayonet tech so I don't feel that would be too much of a stretch.

**DisruptorX** · 03-08-2009, 03:35

Originally Posted by TB666

Indeed, we were a bit old fashion.
However the game starts just 9 years before Poltava which was the end of Sweden as a major power so I can see from CA's point of view that spending time and effort on making Sweden unique when it was being outdated shortly afterwards as slightly pointless.
Hell I'm even surprised they even bothered to do give them swedish voices(some of it is really funny).

Still I have no problem with it's army in the game, it's does it's job well enough.
Even if it's weak stat-wise it just kinda adds to the fact that Sweden became a major power thanks to superior tactics despite being pretty much outnumbered and out-gunned in most battles.

From my experiences, I would avoid pikes like the plague. They do not seem to have the massive bonus against cavalry that they had in medieval 2, and fight with sabers unless you set them in a pike wall or square formation.

In my custom battles of pikemen against cavalry, the cavalry defeated the pikemen, even when they were in pike wall formation. Only when in square formation could the pikes win.

And in melee against muskets? They have either the same stats or lower, so by the time they reach melee, they are already at a disadvantage.