Peasants -- can they be more than fodder?

[AntiochusIII]

Ah...peasants. Sure, they have their uses on the battlefield. Fodder, numbers, and all that.

But, unfortunately, that makes the game easier for me; therefore I do not use them.

For those who like to complain about a lack of challenge, why not stop using them?

Strategy map not a challenge? Too bad. Try not use peasants in cities. I don't garrison with peasants--keeping order thus becomes a challenge to me now: the upkeep for other units isn't cheap. Besides, I intend on creating a proud empire and not a one-generation feudal "conquered area" and the police surely needs to be more than just a bunch of thugs (as many lowly cases) and neighbors (ala the American Revolution "patriots") keeping "order" and support for me as the peasants seem to represent. They need to be at least a semi-professional force, or citizen armies (hoplites?).

And in battles, you receive more of a beating by enemy arrows and forces if you can't just pin them down with numbers from your peasant forces.

My only use for them is populating frontier cities since I always like to exterminate, let rebel, exterminate again, wipe out all buildings, and rebuild from the ashen ruins of Rome. By that time the population of those cities reach a record low in decades--a few smaller towns fell back to the 400 limit. Also, it lifts population/squalor pressure off my core cities.

[LordKhaine]

Well minefields weren't used till WW1.. so I don't see any proper use for them . Other than abuse their shockingly cheap costs for keeping order in a city, and to move population between cities.

[Celt Centurion]

As you say, peasants are useful in sieges - it doesn't matter about their casualties when trying to take a section of wall with ladders or a siege tower. Just as long as enough survive to man the equipment Also useful on rams and as you say sapping points - if saps collapse, then at least you haven't lost your backbone siege force.

However, you should use them to take the walls, once the siege equipment is in place. As long as you keep them well away from the defenders (totally avoid melee), you can have a unit or two of peasants run round the perimeter of the walls and take the remaining 3 gateways. This way, you can choose an entrance that suits you, and more importantly, the towers you have taken will fire inwards upon your foes - less to butcher when you reach the town square

Look for unguarded sections of wall - you can always redeploy your siege equipment to confuse the AI. Take hold of 2 sections around where the enemy are positioned, and simply take the remaining perimeter.

Also, peasants are useful at bogging down enemy shock weapons like elephants and chariots. Casualties may be high, but at least you can temporarily halt an enemy assault, and then launch your own counterattack.

I had considered using them to run around the walls, but prefer to use light infantry who usually fare better if they run into some defenders. I may try that though.

Strength and honor

Celt Centurion

[Saracen_Warrior]

I never ever use peasants. Not using them really doesnt make the game that much more challenging, it just make syou feel better. I like knowing my cities are policed by at least 1st tier troops, seems more realistic to me.

[Ragnor_Lodbrok]

They are nice WRE garrisons.
And they easily defeat Egyptian heavy chariots if they are exp 4 or better.