I'm curious: what's the advantage of spears over pikes?
Spears over pikes?
I'm curious: what's the advantage of spears over pikes?
The following statement is true. The previous statement is false.
New to the Org? Say Hi Here!
The Main Hall for Medieval:Total War
Re: Spears over pikes?
Not much of one, unless you want a wider front. Spears get the rank bonus for 2 ranks behind the front, while pikes get 4 ranks. Therefore, pikes are optimal at 5+ ranks, while spears are optimal at 3+, so it's not best to stretch your pike formations out. But since they are the same unit size, the formation becomes square. Because of this compact formation, pikes can get flanked easier if you are not careful with your lines.
The .Org's MTW Reference Guide Wiki - now taking comments, corrections, suggestions, and submissions
If I werent playing games Id be killing small animals at a higher rate than I am now - SFTS
Si je n'étais pas jouer à des jeux que je serais mort de petits animaux à un taux plus élevé que je suis maintenant - Louis VI The Fat
"Why do you hate the extremely limited Spartan version of freedom?" - Lemur
Re: Spears over pikes?
^^^What he said.
Aside from this vanilla pikemen are not that great a unit statistics wise. You're better off with Chivalric Sergeants every time. The Swiss variety are the only pikemen really worth training.
“The majestic equality of the laws prohibits the rich and the poor alike from sleeping under bridges, begging in the streets and stealing bread.” - Anatole France
"The law is like a spider’s web. The small are caught, and the great tear it up.” - Anacharsis
Re: Spears over pikes?
^^^What he said. Get the swiss versions if you can, otherwise stick to CS spears or move to polearms. Pikes work great defending bridges or gates, and theoretically should be better than spears everywhere, but in practice their uses are limited.Originally Posted by caravel
Last edited by drone; 02-20-2008 at 17:48.
The .Org's MTW Reference Guide Wiki - now taking comments, corrections, suggestions, and submissions
If I werent playing games Id be killing small animals at a higher rate than I am now - SFTS
Si je n'étais pas jouer à des jeux que je serais mort de petits animaux à un taux plus élevé que je suis maintenant - Louis VI The Fat
"Why do you hate the extremely limited Spartan version of freedom?" - Lemur
Re: Spears over pikes?
Aren't pikes much cheaper?
Reinvent the British and you get a global finance center, edible food and better service. Reinvent the French and you may just get more Germans.
Ik hou van ferme grieten en dikke pinten
Down with dried flowers!
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Re: Spears over pikes?
The vanilla Pikemen are just as expensive in maintenance as the Feudal and Chivalric Sergeants. The Swiss Pikemen are much cheaper (in maintenance, not in purchase). For me the main difference is the pikemen can be used offensive, while spears are purely defensive, but only the Swiss are any good in this offensive roll (and the Swiss Armoured Pikemen are even better). I like polearms better (again the Swiss Halberdiers are best, but the regular ones are not bad either)Aren't pikes much cheaper?
Wij Friezen buigen alleen voor God!
(We Friesians bow only to God!)
Re: Spears over pikes?
From FBE's Unit Guide:
Pikemen - cost 250, upkeep 62
Swiss Pikemen - cost 525, upkeep 48
Swiss Armoured Pikemen - cost 750, upkeep 60
Chivalric Sergeants - cost 300, upkeep 62
Gothic Sergeants cost - 350, upkeep 62
Swiss pikes are pretty expensive, but normal pikes vs. chiv sergeants isn't that much of a difference.
The .Org's MTW Reference Guide Wiki - now taking comments, corrections, suggestions, and submissions
If I werent playing games Id be killing small animals at a higher rate than I am now - SFTS
Si je n'étais pas jouer à des jeux que je serais mort de petits animaux à un taux plus élevé que je suis maintenant - Louis VI The Fat
"Why do you hate the extremely limited Spartan version of freedom?" - Lemur
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks