Archer stakes

[Caoimh1N]

Hi @ all

long time lurker first time poster.

I just reinstalled m2tw again after a good while, updated to the latest patch and started a new game.

Playing as the English, a good few turns in and i'm tech'd up nicely after building a nice economy and conquering the isles for my self. Other than holding the isles and fending off some small landings by both spain & the danes I hold tunis with a very strong garrison after a crusade and am turtling in my 2 cities in northern france, while my 2 full stack armies commanded by 5 star generals wreak havok against the spainards and the (extremely) unreliable French.

I however strayed my armies too far south and a spanish army was able to sneak into rennes and launch an attack. I looked at my garrison and it was woefully small, 3 archer units, no cav and 2 spear militia v a full stack. I noticed when the battle began the Spainards were cav strong & no siege equipment other than 2 ladder teams,it was then i thought of something I hadnt thought of before. I placed one unit of archers behind the front gate, and placed stakes(pulled the archers back then). Sure enough it wasnt long before the ram was through teh gate and the Spanish gen's bodyguard led the speartip through the breach, and I watched with grim satisfaction as a command unit were slaughtered faster than I thought possible.

I ended up losing the battle but I have been kicking myself for not thinking of this rather simple tactic before now, anyone else tried this? I am hoping to use it from now on in seige defence, one row of stakes behind gate, and 2 off to the sides where the walls usually get battered down.

[Don Esteban]

Nice idea!

i usualy play the English as well and to be honest I've never thought about using stakes in sieges.

Another oprion would be to put stakes near the central square so if they break through that far more slaughter results.

[Lupiscanis]

I think, although don't quote me on this, that you can't use stakes at higher setllement levels - I believe you can only lay stakes on actual 'ground' as opposed to stone/tarmac whatever.

[Don Esteban]

I think, although don't quote me on this, that you can't use stakes at higher setllement levels - I believe you can only lay stakes on actual 'ground' as opposed to stone/tarmac whatever.

that makes sense - certainly on a field battle you can't lay stakes over roads.

[Lupiscanis]

that makes sense - certainly on a field battle you can't lay stakes over roads.

Of course.. and I'm not sure if it would work, but it shouldn't stop you from laying stakes outside your walls if your archers move quick enough, methinks.

[trickydicky]

Of course.. and I'm not sure if it would work, but it shouldn't stop you from laying stakes outside your walls if your archers move quick enough, methinks.

I didnt think you could deploy outside the walls?
If that's the case how do you get your archers to lay down the stakes?