Results 1 to 30 of 104

Thread: Riff-raff units too strong?

Threaded View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #11

    Default Re: Riff-raff units too strong?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rahl View Post
    He named the best tactic for LIGHT infantry to defend against cavalry, but hoplites or phalangitai aren't light troops...
    I know those aren't light troops, but that really isn't the point. The point is, he said light, unarmored, low-tier troops (dudes in robes and sandals holding sharpened wooden sticks) are utterly fantastic units for taking out heavy cavalry. Just stick them in a loose formation, the cavalry charges, and these dudes will plant those sharpened wooden sticks and impale horses, or hurl themselves into the air and tackle the armored opponent off his horse. Or, they will just outrun the horses and kite them to death. He said that's a historically accurate depiction.

    I said that given what he said, I don't know why you'd ever field heavy phalanxes and spearmen. I don't know how or why that evolved, either in the classical age, or the medieval age. Basically commanders must have been stupid to go through all the expense and armor and hassle when almost naked troops with sticks standing in loose formation murder cavalry. That speaks to your point. You are saying there's a difference between light infantry and heavy phalanxes. I know - I'm saying the difference is that the light infantry is apparently (according to the dude above) far superior, as they get the job done great at far less cost in time, money, mobilization, etc.

    In case it's not apparent, let me spell it out. I've never in my life heard what this guy is saying. I don't believe it. My guess is, he's making this up according to how he thinks it must work and did work historically. He was presented with an example I gave (my horses were murdered by the Numidians), and since he thinks the game is working properly or depicting things accurately, he then, quite logically, came up with some way this must work. My take is what a few others have alluded to in this thread - that the engine doesn't quite work correctly for dudes standing around in loose formation. In other words, I think he's wrong. I think dudes standing around naked with sticks were murdered by heavy cavalry historically, and that tight rows of spears and a phalanx was a response to the fact that heavy cavalry murdered other stuff. But good for him in creatively trying to work out how it must have worked, given my experience.

    Anyway, it's good you say that you believe elites are cost efficient. Just remember in your testing not to put a single elite against a single non-elite (reading your text, it seems that's what might have done). Rather, put the same COST of elites vs. non-elites, i.e. it might take a 2/3 ratio of elites to non-elites (you'd have to work it out).
    Last edited by Nightmare; 12-12-2011 at 04:14. Reason: typo

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO