Why should 2H/Polearms be different in M2:TW ?

**Brutal DLX** · 04-11-2007, 11:05

Well, I think you can't compare MTW VI to MTW2, mainly because the cav in VI never had such a strong charge (apart from the swipe exploit in early versions). This changes everything, the player attacking with his cav does not have to come up with smart maneuvering to position his cavalry, he can do a frontal charge and come through with it.
The defending player must find new ways to break or avoid that charge, be that by using terrain or cheap units to throw in against the charging cav, or to counter a cav charge with one of his own. The polearms, even if prepared, cannot resist even a frontal charge by cav, we could just employ them in such fashion in VI because taking such a head-on charge wasn't so costly to your unit.
What the polearms in MTW2 should be able to do is, as others already mentioned, holding their own once the melee starts and having a reasonable chance to pierce the knight's armour and drag them off their horses. If the unit size of polearms would be larger though, they might have a chance of defeating the cav even after taking a charge. Alas, it isn't and the point is moot.
Basically, I do like the greater charge impacts, however, they should not apply to light cav as they seem to do now. Polearms like Billmen and Halberdiers are offensive troops, i.e. to be used to do most of the killing, preferrably by flanking moves while, say, armoured sarges hold the enemy in place.

**Garnier** · 04-11-2007, 13:08

I agree with the OP. Halberds in MTW1 were good against armoured infantry and against cavalry. Just like in real life. I hate how they work in M2TW. But I guess it has to do with how the animations work. It would be hard to make a realistic looking "drag the horseman to the ground" animation, which is what halberds should be doing.

**gardibolt** · 04-13-2007, 18:02

Originally Posted by Garnier

It would be hard to make a realistic looking "drag the horseman to the ground" animation, which is what halberds should be doing.

Oh, but that would look so cool.

**edyzmedieval** · 04-13-2007, 20:22

I find it shockingly disturbing that halberds peform excellent against infantry. A unit of 54 Halberd Miltia, 1 experience, VH/VH campaign completely rollered over a unit of Spear Miltia, and lost only 7 men!!!

**Whacker** · 04-13-2007, 20:31

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

I find it shockingly disturbing that halberds peform excellent against infantry. A unit of 54 Halberd Miltia, 1 experience, VH/VH campaign completely rollered over a unit of Spear Miltia, and lost only 7 men!!!

Why, that makes perfect sense. Halberds are generally shorter, offensive oriented, and more versatile than spears, which are by nature more defensive.

**edyzmedieval** · 04-13-2007, 20:36

80 vs 54.
no experience vs 1 experience
Spear+Shield vs Halberd

Kill 75 and lose only 7? What's this? Halberda Invicta?

**Whacker** · 04-13-2007, 21:31

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

80 vs 54.
no experience vs 1 experience
Spear+Shield vs Halberd

Kill 75 and lose only 7? What's this? Halberda Invicta?

Oh I dunno, far better offensive weapon for melee against infantry, vs. poor generic short defensive weapon?

Spearmen were just having a bad day maybe?