The Missile Thread - Hints, Tips and Information

[Oleander Ardens]

This is part two in the discussions about missiles:

5) Javelineers: All skirmishers armed with javelins have a range of 80 and have a fairly high shooting rate compared to archers. Most do a damage of 90 with a large ap component and a +15 bonus damage against cavalry and elephants. In general more expensive skirmishers have more javelins, a higher rate of fire as well as special abilities while the rest of the range-specific stats remain the same. The Burgundians have special ones, which inflict 105 damage, almost all normal with the usual bonus and are thus devastating with precision shot. The Franks on the other hand have good quality skirmishers which have a range and melee bonus of +30 against cavalry which makes them quite devastating in this regard. Avoid the Brigands with their lowly 4, although one might be fun to play around with.

Their lethality in typical field battles can be high, as Slaists already noted, and is typically only outmatched by crossbows. Be however aware that a large portion of their kills can be friendly troops, which requires together with their short range more attention to them. If they can shoot it out with enemy missiles they tend to win cost-efficiently, the problem is getting in range.

a) Personally with the Franks I liked to have two-three on the left flank with cavalry support. This way you concentrate your short-range firepower on one flank which enables you to win the cavalry fight if the AI offers any and to wheel your skirmishers as one unit into the enemy's shieldless side*. With relative little micro you can devastate engaged melee troops or enemy skirmishers. If charge into a cavalry duel they do actually surprisingly well, rather similar to standard spearmen. Archers, Slingers and Crossbows were usually later part of the ranged mix.

b) With the Nordic factions you get amazingly cheap and low-upkeep javelineers and some higher quality ones, but you lack good long-range skirmishers. In single-player it pays off to mass low-cost troops, among them those cheap javs as you can easily outnumber the enemy with two or even three such stacks. With a lot of cheap javs you have a vast amount of javelins which will rather quickly take down even heavily armored units out of testudo or shield-wall.

*I'm usually defensive on my right and aggressive on my left as I have an easier time to micro and can attack the shieldless side of the enemy center.