Can anyone recommend a good way to fight with Pikemen?

[Sulla's Dog]

I've been trying and maybe 1/10 I get pikemen to fight like pikemen (i.e. slowly walk forward with pikes DOWN instead of up in the air).

Most of the time my pikemen just walk with pikes up in the air or at an angle, then stumble into the enemy and pull out their swords.


Anyone have a strategem?

Thanks!

[Xeno_cws]

You mean besides praying, um.....

[Professor S]

Well knocking over their beer and chatting up their girlfriends usually works for me! Sorry... I really couldn't resist.

I believe you need to put Phalanx in their formation line in the EDU. That should do it. I believe it still works although I haven't tried it myself. GOM had the Phalanx formation working when he was testing RTW models in M2

Hope that helps

[STReetSamurai]

What ^ said.

Or I use a build that forces the enemy to charge into them.

[nutranurse]

^ What both of them said. I also removed swords from the Pikemen...

[Phil Stanbridge]

Have them in formation and use a single click to their target. I've just had the same thing, playing as Scotland. I had a large battle (3,000 +) and my army was almost exclusively pikemen. They walked in formation AND kept their pikes down - worked a treat is most cases, they obliterated the cavalry - although some infantry got through in between the pikes, as you'd expect, and then they drew their swords. The formation began to break at this point, so I stopped them in their tracks, regrouped and started again. It's not perfect, but it just about works I believe.

ps. I lost the battle LOL. doh! Muslim swordsmen flanked me, and the generals bodyguard attacked from the rear. Very painful.

[Sulla's Dog]

When you 'keep them in formation', is it with guard mode on + spearwall on?

What is best?

spearwall + guard mode ?

just spearwall ?

just guard mode?

Honestly the other day was the first time I had ever seen the pikemen do their "correct", as intended attack, where the first two rows had lowered pikes and would take two steps forward at a time (attacking while doing it)

When pikes actually work, they're pretty cool to watch...

[Phil Stanbridge]

I might need to run some tests but I keep them in guard mode and formation, with spear wall selected. Whats the difference between phalanx and spear wall?

[headsh0ts]

When you 'keep them in formation', is it with guard mode on + spearwall on?

What is best?

spearwall + guard mode ?

just spearwall ?

just guard mode?

Honestly the other day was the first time I had ever seen the pikemen do their "correct", as intended attack, where the first two rows had lowered pikes and would take two steps forward at a time (attacking while doing it)

When pikes actually work, they're pretty cool to watch...

* Spearwall always on
* Guard mode on until you have a clear upperhand (then they start looking for fights rather than staying put in formation)
* GROUP THEM WITH OTHER UNITS - well it works wonders for me, theyre proper slow and everyone else around them goes on ahead unless theyre grouped.
* Dont forget to stand still if cavalry attacks you

Im sure theyres better ways, but this hasnt let me down!

[deums]

I use pikemen like this:
First step in guard formation to stop the charge.
When the enemy line start to be dispersed, I switch to agressive stance, then the phalanx start to move forward and kill the first enemy line. Switch again in gard formation to avoid close combat and reform the phalanx, and push again .
Pushing is very effective, but if you are too agresive, if an enemy soldier reach the spear wall, it's the end for your soldiers .

[deums]

I use pikemen like this:
First step in guard formation to stop the charge.
When the enemy line start to be dispersed, I switch to agressive stance, then the phalanx start to move forward and kill the first enemy line. Switch again in gard formation to avoid close combat and reform the phalanx, and push again .
Pushing is very effective, but if you are too agresive, if an enemy soldier reach the spear wall, it's the end for your soldiers .

[Sulla's Dog]

I'm not sure what you mean by phalanx vs. spear wall...

Has anyone tried removing the 'phalanx' attribute from pike units? I read somewhere this may help? I'm not sure how, tho...

[Phil Stanbridge]

Has anyone tried removing the 'phalanx' attribute from pike units? I read somewhere this may help? I'm not sure how, tho...

That's what I mean - how can you select phalanx when it doesn't appear to exist?

[Rex Inanimatus]

I am more of the defensive type and let them always reamains into formation nad guard mode until battle swings in my favour and the enemy retreats to a defenive possition. Than I move slowly forwards lke the the RTR way. It takes some time though with some losses it's a sure victory with VH/VH. btw I always try to fight with minimal forces to try to ensure an heroic victory.

So far the heroic victories aren't that important to train your generals though Torn promissed than in his next release these things wil become more important.

[headsh0ts]

speaking fo heroic victories, is there any way to change the requirements for a heroic victory?? ive defended a siege while horribly outnumbered, but because i had sooo few units remaining it classed as an average victory!

was also wondering if your able to add the number of units to the "sites of a great battle" on the campaign map.

[Ion_StormH]

I tried this yesterday and the French Knights didn't even know how to attack me:

I called it the "Pentagon":

It's quite simple. Get 5 stacks of a unit who can form a Spearwall, and align them in form of a pentagon. Just be careful that the edges are covered, otherwise the mounted units will be able to rush through. You have to provoce the enemy though to attack you - I just stood there 10 minutes, and they didn't do anything because everything would've resulted in the cavalry dying.

Now, if you have archers inside the pentagon, or even more units to make the walls thicker, it's an awesome way to fight against melee/mounted units. If there are ranged units, then try to recruit some mounted units to run them down in an hit and run manner.

It works for me!

Edit: I did this with the DLV Flemish Pikemen but it should work with every other Pikemen unit. At least in DLV they can form a Spearwall if I recall correctly. Another good way to fight against mounted units is simply to form this "Shildtrome" but it's only possible with Spear Militia/Spear Seargents and Armoured Seargents or so.

[Mr.Elendig]

Remove the sword from the pikemen, like SS have done, and they will behave alot better. I love playing as scots in SS, heavy pike militia + noble swords + border horse = awsome and damn cheap army

[Ion_StormH]

Oh, I just love the English. I didn't fight with pikemen but with these spikes the longbowmen are able to set up as their special ability. I created a near-circle of spikes with only 2 main gaps, filled with feudal knights (excellent defense!) and let the french attack with their "mighty" and "chivalrous" lancers.

What a lot of fun to see only one or two knights actually make it through the spikes, while my Feudal Knights butcher the ones attacking them and my Yeoman Archers punishing the ones standing idly there not knowing what to do so severe, that I only lost like 3 men in the whole attack, while nearly wiping out the whole darn bloody French army!

It was so much fun to look at - Does anybody now where the screenis are saved with MTW? If someone would like to see them I'd be glad to put them up.

[ciciocle]

It was so much fun to look at - Does anybody now where the screenis are saved with MTW? If someone would like to see them I'd be glad to put them up.

...\Medieval II Total War\tgas

show us some blood!!!