Princepes

**Arman616** · 01-13-2006, 08:03

I noticed that the princepes only use their spears, yet they have a short sword at their disposal. Is there a way, or will there be a way, to allow they to switch between spear and sword? I know there is the javelin to factor in too. I would very much like the ability for such units to be able to switch between sword and spear, like hoplites. I don't know if the triarii do this or not.

I didn't post this in the bug section because i don't know if its a bug or not.
Thx.

**econ21** · 01-13-2006, 10:38

Triarii definitely switch between sword and spear. I'm finding them a little hard to use (the early phalanx ones) because sometimes cavalry get among them, causing them to draw swords and cut them up. They seem to do best against enemy heavy infantry. Principes seem more robust against cavalry - they have no phalanx formation that can be disrupted - perhaps because they don't seem to automatically draw swords?

**Slider6977** · 01-13-2006, 10:48

Originally Posted by Arman616

I noticed that the princepes only use their spears, yet they have a short sword at their disposal. Is there a way, or will there be a way, to allow they to switch between spear and sword? I know there is the javelin to factor in too. I would very much like the ability for such units to be able to switch between sword and spear, like hoplites. I don't know if the triarii do this or not.

I didn't post this in the bug section because i don't know if its a bug or not.
Thx.

No its not a bug. The TW engine, as it stands now, only allows for two weapon types to be used by a single unit. For infantry units such as Roman hastati, principes and similiar units, their first weapon is their pilum, and the second would be either a sword, spear, etc. The engine simply does not allow more than this. So for phalanx units, it is different, their have their spear for when in formation, and a sword for when on walls or out of formation.

So they can only use two types of weapons. Principes throw their pilum and then only have their spears. It would be cool if you could have three or more weapons. Some units historically had a bow, a mace, a sword, a lance, etc., all equiped for battle. I would personally like to see this, if only for the reason you brought up - that principes and similar units that use spears, but also have swords, could use both when the right situation calls for it. But it is simply not possible.

**Arman616** · 01-13-2006, 11:51

Originally Posted by Slider6977

No its not a bug. The TW engine, as it stands now, only allows for two weapon types to be used by a single unit. For infantry units such as Roman hastati, principes and similiar units, their first weapon is their pilum, and the second would be either a sword, spear, etc. The engine simply does not allow more than this. So for phalanx units, it is different, their have their spear for when in formation, and a sword for when on walls or out of formation.

So they can only use two types of weapons. Principes throw their pilum and then only have their spears. It would be cool if you could have three or more weapons. Some units historically had a bow, a mace, a sword, a lance, etc., all equiped for battle. I would personally like to see this, if only for the reason you brought up - that principes and similar units that use spears, but also have swords, could use both when the right situation calls for it. But it is simply not possible.

But it is possible, with units that have only 2 weapons. The triarii don't throw javelins, so they can only switch between spear and sword, right? But then again, I saw the bactrian body guard units (the ones with the big round hoplon shield and the macedonian style helmets and red capes) use non-phalanx spears and swords, but it seemed that they arbitrarily switched between the two. I saw another celtic unit do this as well.

What determines when when non-phalanx units switch between spear and sword? Can we control it?

**econ21** · 01-13-2006, 11:55

Originally Posted by Arman616

What determines when when non-phalanx units switch between spear and sword? Can we control it?

Doesn't ALT+attack make the unit use their secondary weapon?

**Mouzafphaerre** · 01-13-2006, 12:08

.
It sure makes missiles and missile-ables (pila throwers) melee

but I'm not sure of a global secondary weapon switcher.

.

**Slider6977** · 01-13-2006, 12:16

Originally Posted by Arman616

What determines when when non-phalanx units switch between spear and sword? Can we control it?

Well, yes I have read of units with a pilum or other attack switching spear and sword in melee with virtually no control over which to use when. I'm thinking this has something to do with a conflict between weapon animation (from the models folders) and the actual weapons the unit are given in the actual animations. However I did not think this was possible as usually this conflict would cause an instant CTD. So I don't really know whats going on. But the fact remains that it is not possible to control what they use when. There is some type of conflict there.

**QwertyMIDX** · 01-13-2006, 16:13

Using alt+attacks makes a unit use it's secondary weapon.

**Mouzafphaerre** · 01-13-2006, 19:18

.
You learn something new everyday...

.

**Arman616** · 01-13-2006, 22:45

Originally Posted by QwertyMIDX

Using alt+attacks makes a unit use it's secondary weapon.

This only works with cavaerly or units who have javelins available.

The question is how to get regular non-phalanx spear units with no javelins to switch between spear and the secondary weapon.

Can a dev give us a heads up on this?