Archery in M2 - Analysis from in-game testing

[Reapz]

Reapz, did you manage the LB while AI always controlled crossbowmen in everytest?

I tried it both ways at the beginning. It made no real difference to the casualty numbers. So after a while I managed all the LB and let AI manage the XB

[CeltiberoMordred]

I tried it both ways at the beginning. It made no real difference to the casualty numbers. So after a while I managed all the LB and let AI manage the XB

In my custom battle tests, I always get more kills than AI when I face same units in a missile duel. In addition...

Some time ago I tried peasant crossbows Vs peasant archers.

When I managed crossbows, crossbows got more kills than archers.
When I managed archers, archers got more kills than crossbows.

I don't do anything special, just let them fire at will (in loose formation, because AI do it too) and wait for all their ammo being expent.

Regards.

[Reapz]

In my custom battle tests, I always get more kills than AI when I face same units in a missile duel. In addition...

Some time ago I tried peasant crossbows Vs peasant archers.

When I managed crossbows, crossbows got more kills than archers.
When I managed archers, archers got more kills than crossbows.

I don't do anything special, just let them fire at will (in loose formation, because AI do it too) and wait for all their ammo being expent.

Regards.

Show me the numbers

[CeltiberoMordred]

Show me the numbers

I didn't take notes. I remember I usually got nearly 1.5x - 2x more kills than AI, no matters which unit I took.

[SMZ]

I've noticed the same thing when doing tests... with both missile units and melee. Whichever I control performs marginally better, even when the task is as simple as advance to range and begin firing or advance slowly and charge.

The AI often advances closer than maximum range before firing, also it often reforms it's men while taking fire... this means the human player gets crucial initial kills, and more volleys off in the same amount of time. With melee troops the AI seems to sometimes approach at funny angles and/or wait too long before charging... the end result being that whichever unit the human player controls performs better.

This isn't really that important of an issue when you're considering campaign play, it would only matter if you're doing research for multiplayer battles. If the longbows win as long as you're controlling them... well, that's all that matters.

[Reapz]

I didn't take notes. I remember I usually got nearly 1.5x - 2x more kills than AI, no matters which unit I took.

Then if you have no notes why don't you retest it and take some - and post the results?

This kind of vague I remember such and such doesn't serve us well - there is no way to further the discussion without you providing details. You aren't providing anything other than a vague impression from an unspecified number of trials, in unspecified conditions, with unspecified units sustaining unspecified casualties, etc. - you see my point?

There might be an effect from handling the unit vs. letting the AI do it, there might not. I didn't see it. However in executing my missile attack my control of the unit being tested was limited to a single right click attack on the target. I did no micro after that. Maybe you did. If that is the case and it affects outcome that is important to know - got to micro your archers to increase kill rate. Without data it is of no value in helping us understand the game better.

[Carl]

I didn't post any statistics on Retinue Longbowmen vs. Milita Crossbowmen so I am assuming that your reference to "a battle against a militia pavise crowsbowmen with 2/3 of my retinue longbows dead" is about an experience you had in the campaign or in MP?

I think he thought the initial test was with retinue Longbowmen, I did until I re-read it.

[Kraxis]

I think he thought the initial test was with retinue Longbowmen, I did until I re-read it.

I thought it was pretty clear they were basic Longbowmen. But it matters not.

[Not directed at you Carl] Did the Genoese carry their pavises in said battles? And how many times did the Genoese face the longbow? And how many times were the longbows in a higher position while the crossbowmen had damp strings?

When two Israeli tanks held off an entire Jordanian armoured brigade it must have been because the Israeli tanks were invulnerable and could make any lesser tanks blow up in flames by looking at them. Bah!