How to get a good Charge, V2.0.

**Mordred** · 11-21-2006, 17:02

The interface of RTW and MTW is much more simple and intuitive than MTW/STW, which was one of the problems in RTW because it was poorly implemented. They have streamlined it a lot in MTW2, and I do find the options now, the choice between a charge with lances or just swords an improvement. It is far from difficult to graps, all it needs is a little practise. I use it very intuitive as I have always played this game by the way. Also MP.

RTW had no learning curve at all, which was a major drawback. MTW2 has.
The game deserves much more credit than it gets right now.
A lot of the moaning is simply not being familiar with the game yet.
I find the battles against the AI much more surprising than MTW, I might even state that in some occasions I am outclassed by the AI as was the case in Shoggy sometimes, where I ususally won my battles quite easy nonetheless.

If the patch is well thought of ans some glitches removed, to me MTW2 will outdo Shoggy in every aspect. And Shoggy has been the standard up till now for me.

**Doug-Thompson** · 11-21-2006, 17:45

This is an outstanding post that should be stickied. Still a little long, but it's good.

**Quillan** · 11-21-2006, 17:52

In the V1.0 thread, someone was wondering if there were any situations where it would be better to charge with swords than with lances. I can think of one: you're trying to run down a powerful foot missile unit, like English Longbowmen. You do not want them to get more shots at you than necessary. In that circumstance, it's probably better to just race in without spending the time forming up.

**shifty157** · 11-21-2006, 18:04

Impressive guide. Ill try your advice out in my campaigns and see if ive been missing out.

**Slaists** · 11-21-2006, 18:09

Originally Posted by Quillan

In the V1.0 thread, someone was wondering if there were any situations where it would be better to charge with swords than with lances. I can think of one: you're trying to run down a powerful foot missile unit, like English Longbowmen. You do not want them to get more shots at you than necessary. In that circumstance, it's probably better to just race in without spending the time forming up.

In the previous TW version (RTW), ALT + right clicking made the cavalry use their alternative weapon in attack. I was just wondering if this is still the case in MTW 2. Have to test that. My hope is: it would help to alleviate the disorganized formation problem when the MTW 2 cavalary is trying to proper-charge skirmishing opponents. Well, I just tested it: does not really work that way anymore: it seems, some riders randomly switch to spears, some to swords using ALT + right click for attacking.

Also, I think, the BIG problem with the current charge implementation (right click the target once from outside chargint circle) is that for the charge to kick in the target unit has to be in a pretty good formation too (or, so it appears). If the target unit is in a messy formation more often than not, my cavalry would just walk up to the target and engage (rather than charge); the opposite should be true though (the charge being deadlier against messed up target formations). I suspect, this problem is related to cavalry not being able to target routing units properly... and units performing better in loose formation.

**Arifel** · 11-21-2006, 20:25

Double-clicking charge works perfectly fine as long as the formation does not fall apart due to changing directions and or obstacles.

When double-clicking a target, your heavy cavalry will "March" to the target at "Run" speed and then automatically lower lance to "Charge" as long as the formation is in tact. You do not need to single click from within "Charge" radius.

Heavy Cavalry can flank-charge in this game as much as Light Cavalry can. Try it on a small unit setting with a General's Body Guard unit in box formation. It works nearly every time. But as you make your formation wider, and use bigger unit settings, there's a higher chance of cavalrymen being lost in the formation and gets lagged behind, aborting the charge.

The problem with charges not being carried out with cavalry is the same problem as infantry stopping short of a charge with only first line engaging. It's mostly a problem of unit spacing vs unit collision size. It's a bug, not a feature.

**Kobal2fr** · 11-22-2006, 00:59

Originally Posted by Slaists

In the previous TW version (RTW), ALT + right clicking made the cavalry use their alternative weapon in attack. I was just wondering if this is still the case in MTW 2. Have to test that. My hope is: it would help to alleviate the disorganized formation problem when the MTW 2 cavalary is trying to proper-charge skirmishing opponents. Well, I just tested it: does not really work that way anymore: it seems, some riders randomly switch to spears, some to swords using ALT + right click for attacking.

Against skirmishers and routed units, I find it is best to order your horses into loose formation. They won't try to "proper charge" along the way anymore and will only use their secondary weapons. They also won't stop to get back in formation so much.