The Shield Problem(s)

[Revenant]

Considering pikes are a Late era, expensive, elite infantry in most armies I don't think they are cheap line holders, plus Swordsmen (even with the sheild bug), are much better at that anyway due to their better attack and defence stats. if they arn't using their Pikes, Pikemen are infiriour to EVRYTHING, including most types of spearmen.

Also, whilst people HAVE got them working in vanillia, they have to mess about and work really hard to make them work, and they STILL don't beat the units they should without massive losses. Considering their vulnrability to flank and rear charges they have to be able to beat supiriour stat units head on convincingly to justify their price.

I am not expert on pike units, but did some tests. In the hands of player and with hold mode offTercio pikemen always defeated Sword and buckler men. In one to one combat. I was using vanilla stats. Take also the fact they are impenetrable to frontal attack from cavalry and they do not have very high upkeep. And are also relatively cheap (cheaper than armored sergeants, for example).

With computer using pikes, well that entirelly different matter, computer just cannot handle them I think it is because comp has always hold mode on and pikes just not attack in this mode.

But it probably belong somewhere else.