Crossbows

[Confederate Jeb]

I'm not going to spam the war thread with this, so I'm going to ask it here while we decide on whether or not we have a Wars Discussion sub-forum. I'm not an expert on crossbows, but I thought they were able to pierce armor, which was why kingdoms started using them (except Scotland, because we didn't need them). Am I right, or are they only good against lightly armored units?

[Magic Man]

They cant pierce steel plate.

They can pierce chainmail, but still not all of the time.

100 Crossbows firing one volley at 100 men in Plate, you're only going to see 1-5 men wounded/dead from that.

100 Crossbows firing one volley at 100 men in Chainmail, you're going to see 10-15 men wounded/dead from that.

[Rebel Jeb]

Bert fired 3k crossbows at my militia and killed over 2k of them O_o.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Listen RJ, there is a couple of reasons for that, but the main one is that I like high casualty wars and you would receive the same result if you were to fire on peasants.

[Magic Man]

Thats because your peasants were running forwards, in tight formation, little to no armour, short range.

Versus elite Crossbowmen.

What did you expect? You're fighting an unwinnable battle.

Using 1000's of your militia as a speedbump was a particuarly bad idea.

[Rebel Jeb]

It wasen't a speed bump Magic Man..Nobody reads the threads! I used it so the rest of my army could get back to my city instead of being out in the open. And Ephialtes, I don't want you modding if you just want to do it to see us lose millions of men for the fun of it.

Also note Magic Man, these are by far not "elite" crossbows. His best are Trained Medium.

[Magic Man]

Using it to slow his army down so yours can escape, is a speed bump.

[Rebel Jeb]

Possibly... . Anyways, I still have 26k militia charging into his army like drunken brutes sooo..This should be enjoyable.


Anybody notice some guy named "SeniorBatavianHorse" looking at this thread? Creepy...

[Confederate Jeb]

Man I wasn't talking about your fight bro so don't bring that here. I was wondering because I might get crossbow tech, but I couldn't remember what they were good against.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

And Ephialtes, I don't want you modding if you just want to do it to see us lose millions of men for the fun of it.

It wouldn't be for the fun of it, medieval warfare had lots and lots of casualties.

[Rebel Jeb]

I see. Hopefully IF my militia get there they all don't die in a second.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

They wont die in a second, although they will have a hard time with Bert's Halberdiers. Also, keep in mind that I believe that to storm a city you need 5 to 1 odds.

[Rebel Jeb]

And hes outnumbered by I think..20 to 1 maybe...Anyways, the crossbows are in the front of his lines correct..?

[Confederate Jeb]

And my bro has about that in his favor...Bert's going to lose some units.

[Magic Man]

If i know Bert, and i do; he has no intention of storming the city.


Good luck finding enough food to feed your citizens and the huge army you've got holed up in there.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Yeah, there's always that possibility.

[Magic Man]

I'd bet a dollar to a dime its a certainty.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Yeah, same here.

[Rebel Jeb]

He said he would charge in, but I doubt it.

Also, that is my MAIN city. It should have food to hold off for a long time.

Also, if almost everybody just seiges out the town then what is the use of defense? They never will do anything then. You don't even need many troops cause you just seige out everything...

[Problem Sleuth]

And hes outnumbered by I think..20 to 1 maybe...Anyways, the crossbows are in the front of his lines correct..?

You'll know soon enough. It might be wise to assume I won't let my crossbows get into combat, even if they can best your conscripts.

Also, who says I'm going to assault the walls?

Also, that is my MAIN city.

Except it's not. I'm not assaulting your capital, dude.

Also, if almost everybody just seiges out the town then what is the use of defense? They never will do anything then. You don't even need many troops cause you just seige out everything...

It gives you a TON of time to react. You can easily throw together an army to relieve the siege.