New unit at the .com: Woodsmen

[screwtype]

That axe would be way too big and heavy to use on a tree. You'd exhaust yourself after a few strokes. And the handle is much too long, you couldn't control the aim of the blow properly.

Unless you were using it in an overhead swing of course, but you don't cut trees down like that. Hmm, yes, seems this guy has stolen the huscarl's axe.

Other than that, he looks okay. Oddly enough though, I *still* can't load the janissary.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Neither can I, even when waiting for minutes...

Btw woodsmen were one of my favorite units in MTW1, when I could use them properly I felt like a good tactician. I used to train a few woodsmen instead of peasants for garrisons in Poland and Russia, and in early battles they were quite good to send around the flanks charging into the rear of an enemy pinning to halberdiers or militia sergeants hidden in forests.

[econ21]

I'd be happier if someone could give me a historical reference to a medieval battle in which a unit of "woodsmen" armed with axes played a significant shock role. As a concept, the unit does not seem very plausible.

[Herkus]

Well I guess this unit is phantasy one and I believe that there aren't also any references or proofs that Russian peasants beared huge axes in battles just because the forests are thicker in northern Europe. Russian peasant weaponary(spears, axes, daggers) was the same as in Scandinavia, Balkans, France etc.
This unit just gives no sense to me.

[Dead Moroz]

Looks like XIX century professor dressed in carnival attire.

[Rodion Romanovich]

I'd be happier if someone could give me a historical reference to a medieval battle in which a unit of "woodsmen" armed with axes played a significant shock role. As a concept, the unit does not seem very plausible.

I agree, but they weren't much stronger than peasants in MTW1 either, so that means they are realistic from a weapon-tech point of view. I however, just like the rest here, doubt that woodsmen would form own regiments and would be employed as a fighting force by any professional army, but maybe in some extreme case could form a part of a rebel army...

What I mainly like about them in MTW1 was their stats, they had very interesting unit stats and a very special usage. But I hope they stick to historical units and skip unrealistic peasants and instead give such stats to interesting and realistic militia units.

[Subedei]

I once read a book about the Russian resistance against the invading Mongols....There were hideouts of peasants in the forrests & swamps & there is a legend of a guy who chopped down tons of nomads with his axe in the woods...but well. No regularl unit of the Zar, as i would guess. "Unleash the lumberjacks!"...I don`t know....

[naut]

What I want to know is why does his axe have a spear point on top, . When is a lumberjack going to use a spear point when cutting down a tree.
I have a bad feeling that M:TW2 is going down the same path R:TW went down. CA is not being very imaginative or historically correct .

[Joshwa]

Just a brief thought: how many of you who are complaining how impractical that axe is have actual experience in lumberjackery?

[phred]

Oddly enough though, I *still* can't load the janissary.

Try using Mozilla instead of your current browser - that worked for me.