Infantry & cavalry weapon variety and technology tree

[lars573]

What variety of infantry & cavalry weapons are we likely to see in ETW and what technological development will there be during the time period.

One of the great things for me about M2TW is the large variety of troops available which stems from the great variety of weapons employed. We have axes, swords, spears, pikes, javelin, long bows, cross bows, the list goes on. I have often acquired a new unit just because they looked cool or their weapon seemed different (apparently acknowledging you have a problem is the first step in overcoming it )

Now from the artwork I've seen ETW is likely to have a colorful mix of troops, grenadiers, fusiliers, rifleman etc but their variety seems limited to their uniforms whilst they all employ similar arms, namely pike, musket, rifle, pistol, saber, lance and grenades. Am I over simplifying things here or is this all that was available?

Secondly I cant see how the unit types are going to develop its weaponry technologically. M2TW saw pikes and firearms introduced and armor develop as the time period evolves where as ETW looks as if it will only loose pikes early on and maybe have rifles become more available later. Is this the case because if so I feel I'll spend the entire game fielding armies of similar infantry and cavalry with unit variations limited to moral and experience.

Your not oversimplifying the arms they used. ETW is set between the major developments of personal arms. That is the introduction of the bayonette in the 1680's and the development of the precussion cap musket, and revolver pistol in the 1830's. The technologies of war that did develop in the 18th century were in organization and tactics rather than personal equiment. For example military formations developed in the period ETW covers are still in use today. They being, the corps, the division, the brigade, and the battalion. Rifles are going to be around from the start. IIRC the first rifled muskets were made in the 17th century.

Now on the diversity of arms used is another matter. Once again were are going to have western europe doing things a certain way (fighting with the weapons you listed) and when you go outside that area things get more intersting. In Russia for example they're militia units could come armed with anything from pikes and muskets to farm implements, axes, or clubs. This comes from my knowledge of the Russia's Napoleonic era Opliniechne (SP) whom were only issued a uniform (consisting of a brown or grey overcoat and a cap with the imperial crest on it) and had to provide their own weapon. In north africa and the middle east things aren't going to have changed much from the late era units of M2TW. Bows were used right along side muskets in ETW era. In fact you could use the exact same M2TW models for Sipahi lancers, Jannisary hvy inf and musketeers, Ottoman infantry, Azabs, and Sipahi HA for the ETW Ottoman faction and not be inaccurate. All that would change would be their effectiveness. As Jannisary equiment and tactics hadn't changed in 200 years by that point. In India you'd also see melee units and bow units.

[Matt_Lane]

Your not oversimplifying the arms they used. ETW is set between the major developments of personal arms. That is the introduction of the bayonette in the 1680's and the development of the precussion cap musket, and revolver pistol in the 1830's. The technologies of war that did develop in the 18th century were in organization and tactics rather than personal equiment. For example military formations developed in the period ETW covers are still in use today. They being, the corps, the division, the brigade, and the battalion. Rifles are going to be around from the start. IIRC the first rifled muskets were made in the 17th century.

Now on the diversity of arms used is another matter. Once again were are going to have western europe doing things a certain way (fighting with the weapons you listed) and when you go outside that area things get more intersting. In Russia for example they're militia units could come armed with anything from pikes and muskets to farm implements, axes, or clubs. This comes from my knowledge of the Russia's Napoleonic era Opliniechne (SP) whom were only issued a uniform (consisting of a brown or grey overcoat and a cap with the imperial crest on it) and had to provide their own weapon. In north africa and the middle east things aren't going to have changed much from the late era units of M2TW. Bows were used right along side muskets in ETW era. In fact you could use the exact same M2TW models for Sipahi lancers, Jannisary hvy inf and musketeers, Ottoman infantry, Azabs, and Sipahi HA for the ETW Ottoman faction and not be inaccurate. All that would change would be their effectiveness. As Jannisary equiment and tactics hadn't changed in 200 years by that point. In India you'd also see melee units and bow units.

I'm encouraged that the factions outside of Western Europe are likely to offer us some variety of units . I just hope that we utilize them tactically so that they don't just become cannon fodder for units armed with muskets.

I agree that historically development during the period was less about infantry arms and more about tactics and organisation but I'm not sure that CA will be able to represent these changes in the game. I've read that the divisions of armies was brought about by their increase in size and need for flexibility and mobility. Playing TW however allows us an omnipotent control of our generals so we divide our units as and when needed. Similarly I cant see the game dictating an evolution of tactics to the player other than the way it uses its own AI. If this is the case will the game be able to offer us a progressive development in a similar way M2TW.

I must say that for a gismo junkie such as myself I'm hoping that an armory of new fangled artillery and harbors filled with pretty sailing boats with placate my need for shiny new things.

[magnum]

I think they very much need to include new variables, specifically along the lines of training. During the time period this game covers the factions started to become similar in general tactics and unit types. While various factions did keep unique units or army compositions (thinking Napoleans love of cannon heavy armies), the real differences were in their ability to perform certain types of maneuvers in an orderly fashion. Whether it be reloading their rifles, accuracy of their shots, ability to maintain formation while advancing, etc, those are some of the things that truely differentaited the various armies.

[lars573]

I'm encouraged that the factions outside of Western Europe are likely to offer us some variety of units . I just hope that we utilize them tactically so that they don't just become cannon fodder for units armed with muskets.

Well since arour had been dropped before ETW starts bows are going to be much more effective than in M2TW.

I agree that historically development during the period was less about infantry arms and more about tactics and organisation but I'm not sure that CA will be able to represent these changes in the game. I've read that the divisions of armies was brought about by their increase in size and need for flexibility and mobility. Playing TW however allows us an omnipotent control of our generals so we divide our units as and when needed. Similarly I cant see the game dictating an evolution of tactics to the player other than the way it uses its own AI. If this is the case will the game be able to offer us a progressive development in a similar way M2TW.

Well CA calims that they are changing the way fighting in done to include the increased importance of things like unit cohesion and training.

I must say that for a gismo junkie such as myself I'm hoping that an armory of new fangled artillery and harbors filled with pretty sailing boats with placate my need for shiny new things.

Two words, Congreve rockets. Some more words, which were based on Indian (spefically Mysore) designs.