archers who needs them :)

[bmolsson]

There's also no counter for an all archer army - you just get pwned left right and center before you even get within melee range.

Speed. Fast troops and fast commands, that's the counter.

[Ptah]

Try fighting the "Warlord Style" Egyptians in MP - six chariots, and the rest are all Pharao's Bowmen.

Good luck trying to beat that without any onagers or weak cavalry.

[ToranagaSama]

Are you guys talking about MP or SP?

[Quietus]

Archers are great (I use 1 or 2, depending on the situation)! Especially when you outnumber the enemy. Just concentrate on one unit to rout and use that area as the place where you do a big flanking maneuver. You can sweep and devastate the enemy with this.

[*Ringo*]

I agree, archers are extremely useful. I used a unit of Cretian Archers for the first time last night, one unit managed to obliterate over 300 Hoplites (playing on huge unit size) but it's not just the number of kills, it's the morale bonus they give also. Troops under constant fire suffer a morale penalty, using tactics like these give you a real advantage. The 300 Hoplites killed were from three different units all of which routed at the first sign of my cavalry charge from the flanks, this left a gapping hole in my opponents front line... just big enough to fit my hardcore melee units through. Needless to say the battle was over very quickly after that. And all down to one unit of archers!

I also disagree that archer were useless in MTW, i would rarely consider going onto battle without at least 2 units of archers (in Early anyway) Later i would compliment them with crossbows. Not having them on fire at will meant you could use both very effectively to destroy armoured and unarmoured targets. Especially good at taking out light cav, i found.

Just my opinion but i like these men firing pointy sticks!


*Ringo*

[Sinner]

I'm now trying a basic 1:1 ratio of Legionary Cohorts - preferably Praetorian or Urban - and Archer Auxilia. I aim for 5 of each, but if after cavalry, the general and any siege engines I have spare slots, I add extra archers.

Although the large number of archers weakens my frontline when the close quarters fighting occurs, they've usually already tipped the balance and in a pinch can be used to flank and backdoor the enemy. A heavy cavalry presence is poised on each flank to keep the enemy honest, joining in the slaughter when the foe start to crumble.

[Zatoichi]

Yeah, I never leave home without 'em! I usually have at least 2 units of archers when going on an expedition - yes they require some micromanagement to avoid too many friendly fire casualties, but it's generally worth the effort. Another added bonus if you get the micromanagement wrong and they get accidentally mown down by enemy cavalry or shot to bits by the enemy archers (surely, that doesn't just happen to me?), they tend to be the most prolific healers after the battle, so the losses are never as bad as other infantry. They're also a must when defending cities, of course.

[Boudicca]

Archers are of high value on the side of the defender in a siege. I have conquered Bruttium and have a city with stonewalls and seven archer units on the walls...It rarely happen that the enemy ladders reach my wall. The only thing they don´t usually stop are the siege towers.

(Playing Realism mod 2.2 at highest difficulty)

[Sinner]

Another added bonus if you get the micromanagement wrong and they get accidentally mown down by enemy cavalry or shot to bits by the enemy archers (surely, that doesn't just happen to me?), they tend to be the most prolific healers after the battle, so the losses are never as bad as other infantry.

Apparently losses to missile fire and cavalry are more likely to be wounded casualties rather then actual dead compared to losses from infantry. Try getting your archers to melee with infantry and you'll see far fewer recover than what you've seen so far.

[Quillan]

Another added bonus if you get the micromanagement wrong and they get accidentally mown down by enemy cavalry or shot to bits by the enemy archers (surely, that doesn't just happen to me?), they tend to be the most prolific healers after the battle, so the losses are never as bad as other infantry.

Heh, tell me about it. I made an oops in a battle earlier today. I was playing the Gauls, and was in a big battle against the Scipiones. I tried to sneak an archer unit around to the right where there was this big cornfield, and it got ridden down by a unit of Cav Auxiliae. I lost the entire unit of 80 right there. 78 of them healed after the battle...