Hyrbrid unit question

[Yukon]

first off, i just purchased MTW a couple weeks ago, and VI a couple days ago...fantastic games, the type of games ive waited for since i got into computer gaming 10 years ago

i just have a question about Missle/Melee units like Jinnettes. is it possible to make them charge into melee while still having ammunition? it is frustrating to me that i cant direct them as i see fit, like when the enemy is routing and i want my Jinnettes to charge in and clean up the fleeing troops. if they have ammo all they do is run up and TRY and throw Javs but never do. i just want them to draw swords and ride the enemy down. is this possible?

also, ive seen references to Huge units on these forums...what does this mean exactly?

thanks in advance

YK

[Rocket_Boy]

Hold down alt. and click on the enemy to engage them in melee. Huge units can be set in the options and doubles the default unit size eg. 200 peasants. Most units take 2 turns to build with this option on.

[Nowake]

try the tutorial

[Asmodeus]

With short range Skirmish weapons (e.g. javelins, darts etc) it's best to put them on Hold Formation rather than Skirmish otherwise just as they get close enough to throw them they back off to safety However be careful they dont get caught in melee. I normally only use them on an enemy armoured unit that is already engaged in melee. For best results fire javelins into the enemies flank or rear and watch the body count go balistic Jinettes are really good as they pack a powerful punch when charging so when they've finished lobbing javelins in the enemies back charge in for the kill or hunt them down when they rout

Skirmish mode does work well with horse archers or mounted crossbowmen though, i like luring enemy spearmen miles away from the main battle continuously peppering them with arrows and exhausting them

If you have a decent line of spearmen then putting Kerns or Spanish Javelinmen in a thin line behind the spearmen (on Hold Formation again) is another good way to slaughter armoured troops.

And as said by Rocket-Boy, use to force them into melee.

[vortex]

yes, hold and click on an enemy unit to tell it to use its melee attack. I agree with asmodeus - tell your dartmen/kerns etc to hold formation, because if you tell them to skirmish, they will never engage the enemy.

[Yukon]

thanks for helpin a newbie guys

and fire i did the tutorials but didnt remember anything about missle/melee or huge units.

[ChaosShade]

your basic question was answered..so I'll post some tactics that you can use with ranged troops in melee.

first off cheap ranged troops that arnt very good in melee (like the basic archers) can still be used in melee and used well. Lets say you have some troops fighting a front line of spearmen and you have a few units of archers. Because the archers will not fire into your own troops they wont be doing much. If your spearmen are having a hard time it would be wise to move the archers around to the flanks and tell them to charge in. Just the moral penalty to the enemy from getting attacked in the flanks can bring a victory

If your using Cavalry archers and are getting beaten by enemy ranged units (maybes pavise arbs or longbows) tell the cavs to charge They are weak but thier horses give them a good advantage over foot archers...just be careful you dont charge foot archers that are good in melee (like bulgarian brigands)

One of my favorite archer melee tactics is with horse archers against spearmen. The AI will send spears after any horse troops that get near. Often while I am on the attack i'll bring horse archers up to the front to pepper the enemy position. The AI will usually send spear units after the cav archers. Rather than fall back behind your forces draw them out to the side and surround them with your horse archers on skirmish. The spears should have difficulty choosing a target and when they do will have a hard time getting to it. Rather than lose your circle send thier target cav archers into melee with the spears...the cavs will take heavy losses but the other ones will hit the spears in the back and sides where thier shields wont save them from arrows. If you charge a second cav archer group into thier backs they'll route. With no or few anti cav units left in thier amy you'll be free to make a heavy calvary charge

and the last one I commonly use is an improvement on the first. Rather than using basic archers, longbows or other weak melee archer i'll take something tougher in melee like bulgarian brigands or triebizond archers (check unit descriptions to find ones that are good in melee) I put them in front of spear types (usually more advanced spear types like armored spearmen or civalric seargents) I set the archers to skirmish and the spears to hold ground and formation. The archers will inflict damage on enemies as they draw near and fall behind the spears when they get to close. The enemy will attack the spears and get anchored onto them in melee. At that point my archers wont be shooting much as to avoid friendly fire so I set them to attack at will, bring them to the flanks and charge for an even more devasting effect than the first strategy

[Gregoshi]

Hello Yukon Hello ChaosShade Welcome to both of you from the Org, its patrons and the little spider who lives under my desk.

Here's my tactical tip of the day: when in doubt, rout.

[ChaosShade]

lol greg...you mean route the enemy right?

[Gregoshi]

Nope I meant rout as in flee, run away, etc. And I was referring to reader, not the enemy.