Archers on fire at will

[ahogue82]

I've been playing post patch for a little while and I have a question thats been bothering me.

In everyone of my battles I spend an excruciating amount of time watching my archers/missile units during my battles because I'm paranoid that my own troops are going to get mowed down if I let them be.

I usually take them off fire at will but then later on in the battle i'll forget I turned it off and start swearing at them because they're not shooting anyone. Then, out of a blind rage, I order all my archers to charge heavy infantry as punishment...

So my question is, if i leave my archers behind my infantry with fire at will ON, will they be smart enough to only fire when they have a clear shot and not risk raining death on their own buddies?

[Spetulhu]

They try not to hit their own, but it doesn`t always work out so well...Still, you`ve got reserves, haven`t you?

I`m more concerned with my archers wasting hundreds of arrows shooting at a lone cavalryman straying near before the rest of the enemy are close enough...

[Gregoshi]

Sentry #1: Did you hear that?
Sentry #2: Yeah, but don't worry, it was Nothing.
Sentry #1: So you heard something too?
Sentry #2: No, I heard Nothing.
Sentry #1: But you just said...
Sentry #2: ...what we heard was Nothing.
Sentry #1: Now I'm confused. Did you or did you not hear anything?
Sentry #2: I didn't hear anything but I did hear Nothing.
Sentry #1: Now I'm really confused because I heard everything you just said but understood Nothing.
Sentry #2: Whew Then your hearing is fine. I was worried you were hearing things instead of hearing Nothing.
Sentry #1: Just what are you trying to say?
Sentry #2: Simply Welcome to the Org King_Nothing55.
Sentry #1: So all this was just for Nothing.
Sentry #2: Yup And Nothing more.
Sentry #1:

[Gregoshi]

Sorry for the above. It just kinda happened.

As I recall, fire at will allows the archers to choose their targets and fire as long as it doesn't jeopardize their own men. If you don't care about friendly fire kills, you turn off fire at will and target the enemy. The archers will then fire at the target regardless of the danger to friendly units.

[Qilue]

Use 'Hold position' as well to stop them running after a fleeing enemy.

[MonkeyMan]

Quote[/b] (Qilue @ Nov. 28 2002,09:13)]Use 'Hold position' as well to stop them running after a fleeing enemy.

Yes this is what i always do with archers, hold position and hold formation. This way, they just stay exactly where you left them and don't start intersecting your spearmen infront and shooting them. also in this way, you can choose their targets and not have them do anything stupid.

I tend to leave fire at will on, until i make a chrge with my melee troops to route them from the field at which point the archers can be a hinderance.

Having said that that can make the difference in a closely run combat, given that they hit the enemy troops more often than yours, the extra kills and morale hit can turn the tide in your favour. Often with missile units, tying down a good enemy unit with some cheap units of spearmen or peasants can allow you to shoot them much better. This is particularly useful when hiding naptha throwers on hold formation , fire at will in a unit of peasants and moving both near to some tightly packed enemies. BOOM

[tarkins]

I think it is ok to kill 10 ennemis royals knights even if you kill 40 of your men at the same time.