Thank you and question

[AlexandersForlornHope]

Hello. I posted this question in the alchemist section. Is this possible? If so how?
Thought I would plumb the depth of your collective knowledge.
Thanks in advance.
Alex

[Brandy Blue]

Hello. I posted this question in the alchemist section. Is this possible? If so how?
Thought I would plumb the depth of your collective knowledge.
Thanks in advance.
Alex

Funny place to ask, but okay.

Follow this thread https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...85#post2195585

The agressive/passive issue is addressed in there somewhere. Post #46 I think?

[AlexandersForlornHope]

Thanks Brandy Blue, that was just what I was looking for!
Cheers
Alex

[Peasant Phill]

Alex, I hope you don't mind hopping on your P&M thread with some questions of my own.

I've started today with a Spanish campaign in the age of exploration setting (early game). This is actually a restart of my abandoned first P&M game (so this will be my second try).
I've started with a turtle/teching up strategy. I planned to go on the offensive once I get an army of good units. First I took out the Muslim rebels in Grenada and bribed the last survivers once it became clear I had to storm the citadel to get the province. I've bribed myself in possession of Morocco, Algeria and Malta and have connected them at last with my ships. Malta revolted but was easily put down without reïnforcements. Then Navarra attacked just when I finally came close to producing a decent army. BTW I repelled them easily enough, I didn't expect my rodeleros to be able to stand up against landsknecht-halbards and landsknecht-pikemen but they did admirably (My missile troops were also responsable for the victory).

Now my questions:

1. I haven't played much MTW in late so I have little to no experience with cannons but I didn't expect serpentines to be so weak. I had 2 serpentine crews set up so they always had a clear shot. They both had a valour of 2 and they always shot at the most bunched up group of units. They shot until they were out of ammo but only killed 12 and 14 enemies. With this experience in mind they aren't worth fielding. Am I doing something wrong with them? What cannons are worth fielding?

2. The Province of Vallencia (?) is famous for its arbuceros but I can't research the needed technology there (arqebus -> caracol -> tertio). Is this a bug or are there some rules I'm not aware of?

[seireikhaan]

Now my questions:

1. I haven't played much MTW in late so I have little to no experience with cannons but I didn't expect serpentines to be so weak. I had 2 serpentine crews set up so they always had a clear shot. They both had a valour of 2 and they always shot at the most bunched up group of units. They shot until they were out of ammo but only killed 12 and 14 enemies. With this experience in mind they aren't worth fielding. Am I doing something wrong with them? What cannons are worth fielding?

2. The Province of Vallencia (?) is famous for its arbuceros but I can't research the needed technology there (arqebus -> caracol -> tertio). Is this a bug or are there some rules I'm not aware of?

Cannons are a bit odd in P&M. The only cannons worth fielding, in my view, are regimental cannons. However, they are so strong that I've actually lately taken to forbidding myself from using them as a house rule. They need a military academy and a basic forge, IIRC. The regimentals function essentially like a super-archer- they are entirely moveable, fire four shots per volley, and because their size is so small, they are capable of racking valor up like nobody's business. An entirely lethal unit.

2. There are "hidden" requirements for the tertio line. You need at least a basic level of most of the military buildings, including a horse breeder, in order to start the military tech upgrades. I belive upgraded gunsmiths of some sort are also required.

[Peasant Phill]

Thanks, Shinseikhaan.

I'm sure I'll be here asking new questions in no time.

[Peasant Phill]

I had my first major battles today in which I could get a real taste of the capabilities of the different units and the tactics that can be used. These are some of the observations I made for the early game (If you have things to add, this could be made in something of a guide):

1. Like I said before, early cannons are best only used in sieges. Even with there long range, any other missile unit will make more cassaulties and tactically be of more use.

2. Bows beat guns. Guns have their extra effect on morale but bows can decimate gununits before they can fire there first shot. This is especially true when you're on the offensive and your opponent is camped on a hill. I'm not saying that there is no place in your army for gununits but there should always be room for bowunits as well.

3. Put a lot of care in manouevring your army. Pike formations are, although very powerful in melee, very slow and cumbersome. Always move as on or your pikes can become isolated very easily.

4. Make extensive use of missilecav. The best way to win a full on pike on pike melee is to avoid one. Petronels, mounted xbows, mounted arqebusiers, ... can all disrupt/lure away advancing pike formations easily. There slow speed will ensure you can decimate a pike unit as long as they don't get help.