Quote Originally Posted by Jxrc
Always start the campaign in Early so that's usually game over before they become available.

When MTW came out (and before the very first patch), you could build any unit irrespective of the time period and I remember using SAP a few times but I never found them that great due to their lack of manoeuvrability. Perhpas I was using them in a less than efficient way since that was the my first experience at a TW game.
Yeah if you're in a campaign, whether you started at early or not, when you eventually get gunpowder units etc...this is when I find the pikemen to be of most use.

I like to use them in front of any gunpowder or artillery units, as well as strategically placed to "tie up" the enemy on them while I hit them with missle units and flank them with cavalry.

Especially with the Italians, I do like using them. Arbequisers, Culverins, pikeman and italian infantry forms a pretty nice army.