relative effectiveness of missiles

[yesdachi]

In unmodded MTW their missile is exactly the same as vanilla bow, so you might want to treat them like the turcoman foot and cav...

Sounds like a solid plan. More valor gives more accuracy, right?

[Zarax]

Sounds like a solid plan. More valor gives more accuracy, right?

Yes, be aware also that the mongol warriors are better suited for attack than defence, sort of armoured trebs they are...

[CBR]

Valor doesnt give that much of an increase so dont count on upgrades to boost your missile power.


CBR

[crpcarrot]

Valor doesnt give that much of an increase so dont count on upgrades to boost your missile power.


CBR

doesn't valour above 4 start to really show a difference?

been a while since i played havent got any upto 4 in my current campaign yet. i know i know i'm being lazy.. but no time to do testing so would appreciate any update on that

[CBR]

I think it starts to become noticable after valor 4 yes. I also think its a question of what unit (what accuracy the weapon has) as it seems arqs, that has low accuracy, does seem better with just a few valor on it. But not sure though.

I play mostly MP and valor can max be 4 there and in general its not worth getting valor to get better missile power.


CBR

[LoboSoulman]

I like to be on a hilltop with attacking enemy units walking up slowly while i pepper them with arbs.
But sometimes when u get attacked again and again u get sick of the slaughter :)

[Ludens]

I think it starts to become noticable after valor 4 yes. I also think its a question of what unit (what accuracy the weapon has) as it seems arqs, that has low accuracy, does seem better with just a few valor on it. But not sure though.

I play mostly MP and valor can max be 4 there and in general its not worth getting valor to get better missile power.

I remember that in S:TW there was a set increase in accuracy for every honour point the unit gained. The increase was equal for all units so samurai archers, which already had good accuracy, didn't benefit from it much, while arqubusiers and musketeers, with low accuracy, clearly performed better at higher honour. Does it work the same way in M:TW?

[CBR]

I cant remember any specific tests done for arqs in MTW but from battles I sometimes have seen very effective salvos from valor 3-4 arqs so yes I think they get more out of valor because of the very low accuracy they start with.


CBR

[yesdachi]

Yes, be aware also that the mongol warriors are better suited for attack than defence, sort of armoured trebs they are...

Thanks, I’m thinking of raiding until I can establish a base of provinces to call home. I would kind of like to see just how far west I could go if I just stay on the attack.

[Zarax]

MHC is ideal for raiding, they are pretty much like mongol katanks...

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Arquebuses are great. You just didn't use them right. The way to use arqubuses is to engage the from of the enemy with cheap units and bring the arquebuses behind them and really really close. Then let a volley go, and see what I mean. I killed 15 Royal Knights and an English King with one volley.

[antisocialmunky]

@Mongols

It's quite funny how many times in history animal herders in the middle of nowhere just slaughter everything in their collective path.

@Longbow

During the campaign, I find it handy if I'm playing defensive to have reserves of longbows so I can rotate spent longbows and bring in fresh ones. It's especially fun against the Horde in Russia.

[Patron]

Against the AI or crappy multiplayer humans, it is best to have Arbalesters as they will probably have arbalesters or longbowmen of their own and you can expend your arrows into enemy units that matter, then charge your fresh un pepperred troops in.

In multiplayer though I prefer longbowmen as they can kill more before the enemy close in and can continue to fire on enemy units which have not engaged after my halbs and elite infantry deal with the enemy charge.

Once I'm in range I usually send a defensive unit like spearmen in to get rid of enemy ranged units, then charge in with the rest of my units. The spearmen survive too long for the enemy to obliterate them and they help my slow infantry to flank.

[Procrustes]

Arquebuses are great. You just didn't use them right. The way to use arqubuses is to engage the from of the enemy with cheap units and bring the arquebuses behind them and really really close. Then let a volley go, and see what I mean. I killed 15 Royal Knights and an English King with one volley.

Hmmm - I wasn't really close, but I was close enough for them to engage on fire-at-will. I'd assumed this meant they were close enough to be pretty effective, but I'll do as you suggest and use them at closer range next time. (Actually, I still have the save-game, I may be able to re-fight this battle.)

[Procrustes]

Regarding arbs vs lbows, I still use archers and lbows much of the time because they can fire over the heads of my foot soldiers, and I like the rapid rate of fire sometimes - especially when I'm on the attack. But I have felt that on the defense it's fantastic to have a couple of arbs. They outrange most everything, especially if you can get a little elevation. I don't know the stats, but they seem to do a better job per-volley at taking out armored targets than longbows, and they don't get the rain penatlies that the other bows do.

[Ludens]

Interesting experiment, Procrustes.

Hmmm - I wasn't really close, but I was close enough for them to engage on fire-at-will. I'd assumed this meant they were close enough to be pretty effective, but I'll do as you suggest and use them at closer range next time. (Actually, I still have the save-game, I may be able to re-fight this battle.)

My arquebuses seldom hit anything unless it is really. Their accuracy is the worst of any unit in M:TW, with the possible exception of handgunners. You can't use them for softening up the enemy before the charge like other missile units, since the enemy needs to get within charge distance before it takes any serious damage. I therefor use them in the same way as evil_maniac. When I use them, that is, because I seldom do.