Results 1 to 30 of 35

Thread: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member Member Afro Thunder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    1123, 6536, 5321
    Posts
    219

    Default Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    Am I missing something here, or does it seem like levy spearmen and spear militia are the most useless units in the game?

    - In a one-on-one fight against peasants, the peasants win. (How does that work exactly?)

    - Even the most basic cavalry unit just runs them down like blades of grass. (A direct frontal charge, mind you!)

    - They even lose to peasant archers in melee.

    Maybe I'm meant to use them in the streets of siege battles, where cavalry essentially lose the ability to charge, or do they provide some sort of hidden garrison bonus, like they increase the garrison effect in your cities?
    Last edited by Afro Thunder; 11-21-2006 at 03:06.
    Proud Strategos of the

  2. #2

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    I had problems using the Italian Spear Militia in cities as well. I asked them to attack sergeant spearmen in the city square. They went in a ridiculously thin line, with people following in the back doing nothing. I was in tight formation, too. Only a few spearmen of mine were engaging. I was trying hard to get them to close ranks but they stayed that way, spread apart. They took forever to kill the spearmen that the peasant archers at the back inflicted a ton of damage to the militia in the back.

    Spear units usually spread out too much that they lose the ability for multiple ranks to hit the enemy, which is what made them so effective.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    First off, I'm pretty sure that the spear units didn't have long enough spears to engage with multiple ranks. Those were pikes.

    Secondly, there is a solution to the front line thingy. Just charge a unit behind the one you're trying to kill, and the spears will bunch up really tight and then start fighting the unit that's in front of them. Works wonders.
    If I wanted to be [jerked] around and have my intelligence insulted, I'd go back to church.
    -Bill Maher

  4. #4

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    Actually, they do. It doesn't take much for at least a 2nd or even 3rd row of spears to engage. For pikes, pretty sure they can engage up to the 4th or 5th row.

  5. #5
    Sovereign Oppressor Member TIE Fighter Shooter Champion, Turkey Shoot Champion, Juggler Champion Kralizec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    5,812

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    Can you post a screenshot of spearmen using multiple ranks? It sounds interesting and I don't have the game yet.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Senior Member naut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    9,103

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    Quote Originally Posted by andrewt
    Actually, they do. It doesn't take much for at least a 2nd or even 3rd row of spears to engage. For pikes, pretty sure they can engage up to the 4th or 5th row.
    Historically in Medieval times, two rows no more, and in most historical situations there were no defined ranks either.
    #Hillary4prism

    BD:TW

    Some piously affirm: "The truth is such and such. I know! I see!"
    And hold that everything depends upon having the “right” religion.
    But when one really knows, one has no need of religion. - Mahavyuha Sutra

    Freedom necessarily involves risk. - Alan Watts

  7. #7

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    I like them. They are good for fixing the enemy, providing nice targets for cavalry. And they do quite well against... militia spearmen :)

  8. #8
    Texan Member BigTex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Arlington, Texas, United States of America.
    Posts
    1,187

    Default Re: Levy Spearmen/Spear Militia: Completely Useless?

    Quote Originally Posted by PaulTa
    First off, I'm pretty sure that the spear units didn't have long enough spears to engage with multiple ranks. Those were pikes.
    The unofficial standard of the time had spears around 5-5 1/2 feet in length. So yes the man behind could usually engage. But ordered formations during the early and high periods were used very rarely. Though in a game sense it would be difficult to really see that effect with the units as the are.

    The weak militia's arent useless. If used in huge masses they can be incredibly effective. Once they close the mass of the militia tends to quickly push, suround, and destroy most other units while encuring few losses. I've had quite a few battles with massed militia's and it can cause an enemy to rout very quickly.
    Wine is a bit different, as I am sure even kids will like it.
    BigTex
    "Hilary Clinton is the devil"
    ~Texas proverb

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO