Question on Swordsmen in MTW...

[rvg]

Specifically, what in the world is their purpose?

I have developed an intense dislike for swordsmen after playing a Dane camaign and watching those dirt-cheap Vikings slaughter MAA, Cavalry and anything else in head-on melee...
Basically, no matter what the task, swordsmen do not shine at it. What, killing Spears? Well, welcome to the Anything-But-Light-Cavalry club. Charging Archers? Nah, Swords usually get shot up too badly during the charge. Flanking? Pretty much every other non-spear melee unit makes a better flanker. Heck, even Urban Militia will do a better job, not to mention those magnificent Gallowglasses.
Even when I play the sword-heavy Byz, I only make Byz Inf until I get the Varang assembly line going.

Now, I'm rather new to MTW, so I really hope that I am missing something about the use of Swordsmen. Can anyone please enlighten me on the subject?

[Gtafanboy]

They are usefull against spearmen and pikemen. With 2 or more units you can use them to take out archers. So yeah they are useful. Really onlf for the things listed though.

[Papewaio]

Swordsmen... I use them for a countercharge... I prefer Vikings and Billmen. Vikings and billmen get armour piercing, they are a great counter against swordsmen.

However swordsmen are good once the spearmen have received a charge from cav you flank with the swordsmen.

Also if you don't have any swordsmen, vikings or billmen you will find it hard going against an army with a lot of swordsmen if you are spearmen heavy.

Combined arms are always good.

[rvg]

Swordsmen... I use them for a countercharge... I prefer Vikings and Billmen. Vikings and billmen get armour piercing, they are a great counter against swordsmen.

However swordsmen are good once the spearmen have received a charge from cav you flank with the swordsmen.

Also if you don't have any swordsmen, vikings or billmen you will find it hard going against an army with a lot of swordsmen if you are spearmen heavy.

Combined arms are always good.

Well, my armies are usually VERY archer/arbalest heavy. They do most of the killing (both in offense and defense). The rest is mostly a mix of Cavalry and Anticav units.

I was just curious whether or not there is something that sworsmen are REALLY good at. Something that will make you say "Hey, this is a job for the swordsmen."

[ichi]

Welcome to the Org rvg

I'm a big sword unit fan, FMAA and CMAA make up the bulk of my armies both in SP and online.

Spear units can be useful in the campaign against the AI's cav and for holding a main line, but they genrally lack morale and have low attack stats.

Try using your swords on Hold Formation, 3 ranks deep. This works well especially if you have 4-5 units to set in a line and keep close together. It helps if you can get them up to valor 3 or morale 8, and of course armor will help against those nasty missiles.

Check these recent threads from the Main Hall

FMAA and CMAA

Swords and Polearms

ichi

[Gtafanboy]

I use them 2 ranks deep. To help them wrap around the enemy.