Fixing Hypapists

**Darth Revan** · 05-29-2009, 12:04

Hello everyone. I've read in a couple of threads that people have problem with Hypaspists about them using spear vs. infantry & sword vs. cavalry, so I decided to fix it. I opened the file export_descr_unit in the sp game edu backup folder of EB & replaced their primary & secondary weapons which I guess anyone can do by opening two notepad++ (never use windows notepad as it corrupts the file) & than replacing the file. I tested them against some elephants & they fought them with spears untill the elephants started routing & then they used their swords.

As I have a shortage of time I won't be able to test it, so I request you to test this & see wether it works & do make a backup of you file in case you mess it up.

Edit : changed the spelling of Hypaspist

**Zett** · 05-29-2009, 13:13

They are called Hypaspist or Hypaspistai. Sorry that I nit-pick, but the next one will write it false again and so on.

You said you replaced them (secondary and primary Weapon) but with what? Did you changed their primary to secondary and their secondary to primary? That means you have to change their animation too AFAIK, otherwise they will stab with swords and slash with spears.

On the other hand I have to admit, that the combination, that the Thorakitai Hoplitai have (spear as primary weapon and sword as secondary IIRC) is much better to use than the combination the Hypaspistai or the Massaliotai Hoplitai use (sword as primary weapon and spear as secondary weapon).

That is, because soldiers slowly switch to their secondary weapons if they fight another unit and got knocked down. So if Hypaspistai encounter an infantery unit, and you give an order to attack them with sword (secondary), they will start with swords and then switch to spears after they got knocked down. Thorakitai Hoplitai will attack with swords (if you alt + klick) and maintain their swords, until you give new orders. Of course, if you order them to attack with spears, they will slowly change to swords too, but normally you encounter far more infantery unit then cavalery units with your elite infantry. Ceterum censeo Romam esse delendam.

**mcantu** · 05-29-2009, 13:31

i doubt you've fixed the issue. try charging with the unit and let us know what weapon is used...

**bobbin** · 05-29-2009, 14:24

All he's done is switched the stats around so now the spear has the swords stat and vice versa, changing the animation will cause them to stab with swords and slash with spears.

I'm afraid the only way to change the weapons around is to alter the model which requires a lot more modding knowledge.

**Darth Revan** · 05-29-2009, 14:32

Originally Posted by Zett

They are called Hypaspist or Hypaspistai. Sorry that I nit-pick, but the next one will write it false again and so on.

You said you replaced them (secondary and primary Weapon) but with what? Did you changed their primary to secondary and their secondary to primary? That means you have to change their animation too AFAIK, otherwise they will stab with swords and slash with spears.

On the other hand I have to admit, that the combination, that the Thorakitai Hoplitai have (spear as primary weapon and sword as secondary IIRC) is much better to use than the combination the Hypaspistai or the Massaliotai Hoplitai use (sword as primary weapon and spear as secondary weapon).

That is, because soldiers slowly switch to their secondary weapons if they fight another unit and got knocked down. So if Hypaspistai encounter an infantery unit, and you give an order to attack them with sword (secondary), they will start with swords and then switch to spears after they got knocked down. Thorakitai Hoplitai will attack with swords (if you alt + klick) and maintain their swords, until you give new orders. Of course, if you order them to attack with spears, they will slowly change to swords too, but normally you encounter far more infantery unit then cavalery units with your elite infantry. Ceterum censeo Romam esse delendam.

Oh no.......so this won't work.....

.....anyone knows how to add animation......& about the spelling, yes Zett....you are right, I misspelled it by mistake.......so now this remains an serious issue, I guess we should contact the EB team members about this...

One more thing as Zett wrote that Thorakitai Hoplitai switch to swords if we alt+click, can't we do the same with Hypaspistai ????????? so that they switch to spears when fighting cavalry.......

**bobbin** · 05-29-2009, 14:49

Originally Posted by Darth Revan

Oh no.......so this won't work.....

.....anyone knows how to add animation......& about the spelling, yes Zett....you are right, I misspelled it by mistake.......so now this remains an serious issue, I guess we should contact the EB team members about this...

One more thing as Zett wrote that Thorakitai Hoplitai switch to swords if we alt+click, can't we do the same with Hypaspistai ????????? so that they switch to spears when fighting cavalry.......

As i said above changing the animation is what messes up the unit.

You can use alt+click to order them to use spears but its a problem when you want them to defend a position as you order them to attack to switch to spears which will make them go out of formation or start chasing the cavalry if you're not paying attention.

**Darth Revan** · 05-29-2009, 14:57

So I have just written this problem in the bug report section of this forum.......Hope someone fixes it cause the problem is complicated

**Watchman** · 05-29-2009, 17:00

Bug my left foot. It's a salient and unfixable shortcoming of the game engine itself, and the chief reason most units that could have a secondary melee weapon don't.

**Aper** · 06-12-2009, 20:37

if you are not satisfied by sword/spear units (I guess you are not, & you shouldn't: sorry EB team, but sword/spear combination is CRAP) the best alternative is simply to get rid of the spears: they don't need them anyway, they can chew whatever cavalry with their longsword easy enough

**Watchman** · 06-12-2009, 21:20

Wimp.

The only instance where it's actually a problem is wall battles, or in any case I've been unable to get the buggers to switch to swords there. Otherwise it just requires some micromanaging (namely, occasionally "reissuing" the attack order so they swap weapons back to whatever is desired) to deal with. Not a big deal with the likes of the Hypas and other elites, which shoudn't be present in very large numbers anyway, but I'd imagine it could be a bit of a hassle with, say, large numbers of Massilian hoplites.