MTW Melee Combat

Introduction

This is meant to be a detailed explanation of the melee combat cycle in Medieval: Total War. Currently a work-in-progress.

Unit Combat Statistics

Each unit type has fixed values for various combat calculation parameters. These values can be found in the UNIT_PROD.TXT file.

Charge

Bonus added into kill chance when charging. Explain when this bonus occurs and when the charge "effect" wears off. Discuss running vs. charging (click vs double click), distance to charge, in-game cues (horns?).

Attack

Basic attack statistic. The higher this value, the better chance to kill. Add discussion of Metalsmith upgrades.

Defence

Basic defence statistic. The higher this value, the better chance to survive in melee. Defence applies to melee combat only, not missile defence.

Armour

The amount of armour worn. This value gets added to defence when determining kill chance. Gets reduced by armour piercing weapons (put formula down in the Combat Modifiers section). Explain armour for cavalry units. Armour also applies to missile weapon survival. Add discussion of Armourer upgrades, and quickly cover armour and deserts.

Speed

Walk, Run, Charge. Convert this value to meters.

Morale

Mainly discuss morale as a function of combat kill chance. Morale really deserves it's own page for routing purposes.

Weapon Type

The unit's weapon type can have a large impact on it's combat role and effectiveness. Armour piercing, unit counters, rank bonus availability, etc.

Shield

Discuss the types and bonuses of shields: small, cavalry, large, pavise. Shields are not used in the kill computation if the bearer uses two-handed weapons. Discuss shield coverage (front and left side), and briefly mention their usefulness against missile weapons.

Combat Modifiers

Various circumstances affect the kill chance during a combat cycle. These modifiers all get thrown in the mix, and can be the difference between success or failure in combat.

Rank Bonuses

Spear and pike attack/defence bonuses for ranks, number of attacks, animations

Flank and Rear Attacks

shield annulment, attack/defense modifiers, morale modifiers

Armour Piercing Weapons

Put formula for armour reduction here

RPS bonuses

swords against spears, spears against cav, halberdiers, etc.

Terrain Modifiers

trees, higher ground, crowding

Formations

Unit formation and battlefield stance can be set during combat from shortcuts or from the menu buttons at the top of the screen. These formations affect the units combat ability, effectiveness, and aggression.

Wedge

Discuss combat stat adjustments for formation. add comments on formation usefulness here.

Hold Formation

Discuss combat stat adjustments for formation. add comments on formation usefulness here.

Engage At Will

Discuss combat stat adjustments for formation. add comments on formation usefulness here.

Hold Position

Discuss combat stat adjustments for this formation. add comments on formation usefulness here.

Loose Formation

Discuss combat stat adjustments for loose. Best used when under missile attack, but not in danger of melee attack.

Skirmish

Discuss combat stat adjustments for skirmish. Find out skirmish distance.

Routing

Discuss combat stat adjustments for routing units. pursuers CAN be killed!

Fatigue

Affect on attack/defence, morale. Fatigue rates. Affects of snow and desert. Reinforcements' fatigue.

Valour

Combat stat adjustments for valour. Note that valour is per man, not unit. Men positioned in unit according to valour level?

Command Rating

Bonuses applied to combat stats based on the general's command rating. Discuss effect when the general flees/withdraws/dies/surrenders.

Combat Turns

attack process, initiative, maximum attacks on a single model, miscellaneous details

Combat Breakdown and Kill Chance

Formula and lengthy explanation for kill chance goes here.

Miscellaneous

Cover valour transference/jedis and valour leveling. Hit points. Killing versus capturing of fleeing troops (anybody know about this?).

References

credit Prima's MTW guide (get ISBN), credit/link FBE's guide, find and link to relevant forum combat guides and threads

TBD - fill in placeholders. mainly I need to do a lot of fact-checking and referencing, there is a lot to discuss here, currently this is just a layout exercise. cover morale, fatigue(deserts, snow) on a different page.