When all is done

[Youngie]

As far as I remember, the victory screen isn't graphically impressive (wouldn't fit with the overall look of the game anyway) but in any case better than the RTW popup (which isn't difficult...). But I do recall that it was very atmospheric. And it's a full-screen thing, not a tiny popup.

Aye, it was a tear jerking moment. Thank god i completed it though it was starting to send me a west.

[Heidrek]

I've never really used gun powder troops much, do you actually find them effective?

[Ironsword]

I've never really used gun powder troops much, do you actually find them effective?

Neither have I. The fact they don't work in the rain pretty much discounts them in a lot of northern European battles. Also, I've had arbalestors on one ridge and aquebusiers on another. Guess which got were more effective?

I never seen much of the 'fear' of gunpowder on the battlefield either. Large rocks and cannonballs however...

The only gunpowder units I tend to use are culverins, cannons, serpentines etc.

[The Wandering Scholar]

Im guessing nobody has ever completed it then

You only gave us an hour!! :P

[Martok]

The only gunpowder units I tend to use are culverins, cannons, serpentines etc.

Same here. I'll build the gunpowder siege pieces, but that's about it....and even then, I usually don't build very many.

[ArtistofWarfare]

Same here. I'll build the gunpowder siege pieces, but that's about it....and even then, I usually don't build very many.

What kind of an army (unit wise) would you comprise to handle an enemy who is high up the tech tree in gunpowder units?

As in, just for example, lots of handgunners and gunpowder artillery protected by spearman/halberdiers/pikeman etc...

[Martok]

What kind of an army (unit wise) would you comprise to handle an enemy who is high up the tech tree in gunpowder units?

As in, just for example, lots of handgunners and gunpowder artillery protected by spearman/halberdiers/pikeman etc...

Good question. If I ever actually run into such an army when playing, I'll be sure to let you know.

Yeah I jest, but I'm not really exaggerating -- I honestly don't think I ever have come up against an army with a lot of gunpowder units. I've usually won the minor victory by the time that could ever happen, so the scenario you've posed is pretty much outside of my experience.


That being said, I would probably employ a large contingent of long-range missile units -- Arbalesters, Longbowmen, etc. -- along with enough cavalry to take care of the enemy artillery crews. Missile units in MTW (especially the higher-level ones) generally outrange gunpowder units, so they ought to do the job.

I repeat, however, that I'm only guessing here. The odds are that you probably have more experience against that kind of army than I do!

[ArtistofWarfare]

The only experience I have in it (that I can recall) is in custom battles...

And when it happened, your strategy was the same I went with. Missile units are often considerably more effective than Gunpowder units so I stock up on them, with some rows of defensive spearman/pikeman in the front, and I set up my cavalry on the flanks (and or some in the center) to be able to screen and pursue the enemy gunpowder.

Assumably, I'll play enough in the coming months to see an enemy composition along these lines and see how during a campaign, things ought to be handled. On the field of battle as well as logistically beforehand.

[bamff]

My own approach to an enemy loaded up with gunpowder units is to flank with mounted archers (turcopoles/mxb's/ha's - whatever is available).

These guys won't do much damage, but they can cause havoc by drawing the attention of the enemy.

The damage is then done by arbalesters.

I have encountered AI armies that contain numbers of handgunners. I prefer to take them out from a distance because they are surprisingly tough if you try to mix it hand to hand.

[Vladimir]

I've never really used gun powder troops much, do you actually find them effective?

Yes. A spear and arb army in arid to semi-arid terrain: Devestating. They don't want to charge you from the front because of the spears and if they get close enough, you blast 'em. Keep a couple cav and swords to be safe. Valor 7 arbs rock!