Pike and Musket tactics?

**_Tristan_** · 03-27-2007, 18:40

One of the thing you may have done wrong IMO is leaving your cav behind...

When faced with archers and if the infantry line is sufficently lagging behind, I often use my cav to charge on those missile units simply getting the m to skirmish back behind the line of infantry lets you concentrate your fire on higher value troops...

Logically, doing so, archers should have shot less volleys of arrows and your musketeers should have made more kills in his infantry...

You're talking about a valley... Was there a river and a bridge ? Or was it more of a mountainous area ?

If so, could you use a hill to place your battle line thus making the enemy climb up to you....

You should have loosened you pike formation and closed it in time with the enemy advance...

As to their cavalty trying to flank you, try maybe to lure them away with your cav w/o engaging or try to drive them towards your pikes...

The total balance should then have been in your favor...

For the finishing touch, if possible, when the two infantry line engaged, you should have tried to send your cav in the back of the enemy line (on any point where you thought your own line was breaking) to rout those units and then repeat with any still fighting...

I don't know the stats for muskets but IMO they should have been longer than the Eng Bows (correct me if i'm wrong...)

Anyway, it proves that despite a faulty AI, one never knows...Surprise...

**TeutonicKnight** · 03-27-2007, 18:53

I think you might be right.

I did not use my cavalry offensively. I used them only to protect my flanks. They are not fast though. I was afraid of losing too many to the English archers. Still, you raise a valid point. I tend to hold my cavalry in reserve until I absolutely need it.

It was a non-river valley. However, there was very little space to fortify on high ground. I was able to make use of some, but most of my line was on flat and level ground.

I don't understand about loosening the pike formation. They take so long to get into position as it is, and it didn't seem like the muskets had any problem filtering through. It is an option I will have to explore further.

I could have tried to lure the cav away from my flanks I think. I did not consider that. I am not sure how I could drive them into my pikes though.

Muskets are the longest ranged gunpowder infantry. I don't believe they outrange longbows though. Checked - Longbows 160, Musketeers 180. So a marginal range difference.

I think some spearmen or dismounted knights for a reserve would have been smart.

**_Tristan_** · 03-27-2007, 19:08

Yes it would have been a nice solution if you knew in advance what ou had to face...

And maybe lighter and faster cav (Mailed Knights or mounted sergeants) would have been better than chiv Knights

**vonsch** · 03-27-2007, 19:42

Originally Posted by Tristan de Castelreng

Yes it would have been a nice solution if you knew in advance what ou had to face...

And maybe lighter and faster cav (Mailed Knights or mounted sergeants) would have been better than chiv Knights

Spies, spies, spies! Intel is all!

**Xehh II** · 03-27-2007, 21:05

Why does everyone have problems with this tactic, I seem to be the only person that can do this, it is all I do, pikemen are the best! Pike and musket armys beat everything.

**vonsch** · 03-27-2007, 21:10

Originally Posted by Xehh II

Why does everyone have problems with this tactic, I seem to be the only person that can do this, it is all I do, pikemen are the best! Pike and musket armys beat everything.

Heh, practice, I suspect. I know I lack it. Practice sure makes a large difference with HA.

Maybe you should write a short guide on how to use pike & gun formations with the existing game. Step by step.

Do you run any mods to fix any of the bugs?

**Xehh II** · 03-27-2007, 21:21

Originally Posted by vonsch

Heh, practice, I suspect. I know I lack it. Practice sure makes a large difference with HA.

Maybe you should write a short guide on how to use pike & gun formations with the existing game. Step by step.

Do you run any mods to fix any of the bugs?

I do get a lot of practice because all my armies are made up of them.

My giude is just have the pikes in spearwall and put them somewhere, the guns in front and let them do their thing. I don't know why people have trouble with this.

I have Lands to conquer but in the readme it doesn't say anything about pikes.