Attack, Charge.....What's the Diff?

[Puzz3D]

I don't think the distance between the ranks will have an effect on the combat - I can't see CA going into that kind of detail. I think it's just there for the appearance of realism. (I hope so, otherwise the micromanagement of it sounds like too much hassle!)

Actually they did go to that much detail, and LongJohn answered this question once*. You only get the rank bonus when the animation shows the spearmen/pikemen fighting in synchronization. I try to keep the spearmen/pikemen units in good order and mostly use them in a defensive posture. By default spearmen/pikemen are in hold formation, and you have to put them in engage-at-will to get anything at all out of a charge which further disrupts their formation. If your spear/pike outnumbers the enemy unit by 2:1 or more, you might be able to use engage-at-will to advantage. However, if your spear/pike is sufficiently outclassed, I think it's better to stay in hold formation and bring up another unit in support.


*Reference:

longjohn2
10-22-2002, 23:49
I'm not aware of any problems with pike rank bonuses. However, the rank bonus is not nearly as simple as "this unit is nominally in 5 ranks so it gets 4 ranks worth of bonus". In order for a fighting man to get a bonus, it is necessary for the men supporting him to be closed up behind him, facing the same direction etc. As a fight progresses, these conditions are met less and less frequently, and the pike unit gets less and less bonues. Look at whether or not the back rank guys are doing their fighting anim to tell if they're counting or not. One thing I've noticed that really screws up a pike unit, is making a turn just before contact, as it disrupts the whole formation. Try to make sure they charge straight.

I've made a couple of adjustments to pikes in the patch, to give them more pushing back power, and to give them an advantage against spears, on the grounds that they have longer weapons, and historically replaced them.