Spanish Square

[Geezer57]

Handgunners, unlike many other gunpowder infantry, have enough morale to take most cavalry charges, especially if set three ranks (or more) deep. At three ranks, they "ripple fire" quite quickly, keeping the enemy fearful. And they actually have a positive attack factor, so can deal out some damage in melee.
I've fought a couple of campaigns where I used hangun-heavy armies - all my melee infantry were handguns. They'd get close, fire a volley, and charge in - it worked surprizingly well, considering they're such an under-rated unit.

[Grey_Fox]

Handgunners are absolute killers online. Give em 2 valour and some armour (or just 3 valour), shove them in hold/hold and they are potential battle-winners.

No Late era army should go without them.

[yesdachi]

Handgunners, unlike many other gunpowder infantry, have enough morale to take most cavalry charges, especially if set three ranks (or more) deep. At three ranks, they "ripple fire" quite quickly, keeping the enemy fearful. And they actually have a positive attack factor, so can deal out some damage in melee.
I've fought a couple of campaigns where I used hangun-heavy armies - all my melee infantry were handguns. They'd get close, fire a volley, and charge in - it worked surprizingly well, considering they're such an under-rated unit.

They seem to take a little extra micro managing but are effective.

[antisocialmunky]

Hand Gunner have gunpowder shock bonus and swords. You can break weakened units quite easily with them.

[Vladimir]

Good info; I wish this game was more modable so I could create new formations like this, as well as curved formations and a few other gems I'd like to crack .

[MuseRulez]

They seem to take a little extra micro managing but are effective.

Your right. Sure, you can also win by slamming some super units, like high valour JHI, head on into the melee. But anyone can do that. If a unit is not easy to handle, it isn't used. Those people often underestimate short range missile unit, that is, until they meet someone who can. So please, learn to use them. Winning this way will feel much, much more rewarding.