Method for Defending Cities Without Using the Walls

[Vaxholm]

I was getting really frustrated when the AI was using a spy to open my gates during a siege (how dare they), so I began looking for alternative ways of defending myself when the walls fail me. Before, I would try to scramble my troops up to the walls before the enemy got there, but this often doesn't work, or you take lots of casualties. So what's a person to do? Well, I developed this nifty tactic. Sorry, if it is common practice or has been discussed before, but I like it.

What you need to do is use your infantry men to create a funnel at the center of the town (the square) where the buildings serve as one side of the funnel and the infantry as the other side. Your missile troops are at the end of the funnel pounding away as the enemy comes down the road leading from the gateway. Essentially, the enemy comes right down the road and attacks you infantry, thus allowing your missile troops to decimate them from behind. If they send their units towards your missile troops, just collapse the funnel in on them with your intranty, thus pinning them against the building side. Your cavalry just serves as clean up units.

I've used this a handful of times and here are some helpful tips. Put your crossbows in front on your archers so they have a clean shot. Often the infantry will break as they get closer. If you have stakes, place them in the ground, then run your crossbow unit behind your stakes/archers if the enemy gets too close. At least you're now protected from cavalry charges. The AI rarely attempts to enter the square from any alley but the one directly in front of the gates, but if they do, it's usually just a small force. You can break off some infantry and cavalry to deal with them. If it does happen to be a major force, just shift your funnel to the other side.

I'm telling you, this works great. Here's a pic as an example.

[Kahn]

Don't the crossbowmen take hits in the back of their head from the archers?

In fact, does anyone have tips on how to keep my friendly fire down? Why don't they freaking stop shooting when somebody stands in front of them? (sorry to stray from Vax's topic)

This is an excellent tactic. It leaves a clear shot to the enemy while they funnel down the street and thin themselves out. Perhaps some stakes set inside the "funnel of death" or at the front gates might help keep their calvary out of the equation entirely.

[Vaxholm]

The crossbowmen don't take hits to the back of the head (so far as I can tell). The archers shoot lob shots over their heads and onto the enemy. In fact, the only time I've seen friendly fire is when you're attacking an enemy at a distance and the arrows are falling all around. I've never seen crossbowmen or archers shoot directly into their own men.

As for the stakes at the gates or inside the funnel itself, that would probably work well, but it might also have the effect of forcing the computer to take an alternate route to avoid the stakes, thus bypassing your funnel of death. Don't know for sure until it's attempted.

[Kahn]

As for the stakes at the gates or inside the funnel itself, that would probably work well, but it might also have the effect of forcing the computer to take an alternate route to avoid the stakes, thus bypassing your funnel of death.

That is a super-valid argument. I would like to do a few experiments over this. The AI certainly knows that stakes=bad, so I think you might be right.

[Mr Longbowman]

Intresting tactic,´I have done the plugg the street stragegy but this i have to try.

Though i doubt it will ba as effective as creating a V in front of the gate with some peasants inside the V so the cavalry charges stops.

[Vaxholm]

I've never heard of creating a V in front of the gate. Is it like this:

Gate
\P/

Where the V is made up of infantry? If this is the case, then the advantage to the death funnel is that you are able to get your missile troops involved, and they do good damage since it's at close range. Also, you can get more usage out of your infantry, since the buildings serve as a wall that you can pin the enemy against.

[Mr Longbowman]

I've never heard of creating a V in front of the gate. Is it like this:

Gate
\P/

Where the V is made up of infantry? If this is the case, then the advantage to the death funnel is that you are able to get your missile troops involved, and they do good damage since it's at close range. Also, you can get more usage out of your infantry, since the buildings serve as a wall that you can pin the enemy against.

Yes the wall serve the purpose as a second line that you dont have to defend but the advantage in the V formation is that when the enemy comes in through the gates they automatic get the "Worried about unsecure flank" thing.

The "Funnel" stragegy is good with the Archers and Xbommen but with a low-tier city with a preatty low Garrison the V stragegy is a good one.

But the V thing work better on Rome with Phalanx units. I havent tried the "Funnel" stragegy yet so i have something to look forward to

[Vaxholm]

I used a modified version of the V where I just stack my troops up and created a mass of units at the gate. I didn't like this so much, so I'll have to give the V a try. One thing I hate about defending at the gate is that the units sometimes squeak through and get up on the walls to attack my units there. Once they do that, all is generally lost. So, I tried to come up with something that takes the walls out of it all together. I'd like to hear others experiences and see if they're as effective as my own were.

[Drag529]

just make a stand in the streets...with pikeman halting their advnace and missles behined them...lol just got to youtube and find a siege battle...

[Vaxholm]

I wanted something more effective than what you see on YouTube. You don't get the most usage out of your troops with the street stand, because there's not enough room. Also, the crossbowmen can't fire through pikemen, so they don't do anything.

Perhaps you should give it a try before deriding it.

[Kahn]

Perhaps you should give it a try before deriding it.

Oh snap !

[Defiancy]

I don't use the V much in MTW2 but in RTW it decimates all when you have phalanax units.

As for cities without the walls. It really depends on what units I have and what city level it is. Usually I just use the plug the street method, but I will definately give this a try tonight!

[supekele]

I've used the V formation extensively when those annoying computers (particularly France) blow lots of holes in your walls.

It's really effective, especially with Spearmen, because as the computer troops go through they get the whole "were being flanked" sensation and take a morale hit. After a minute or two of fighting, they usually break.

It's also a good idea to have back up units, usually a hard hitter (I like Dismounted English Knights) when the Spearmen start to wear down. Usually, the second line is only resorted to if the enemy dedicated a lot of troops to one breach.

[Drag529]

I wanted something more effective than what you see on YouTube. You don't get the most usage out of your troops with the street stand, because there's not enough room. Also, the crossbowmen can't fire through pikemen, so they don't do anything.

Perhaps you should give it a try before deriding it.

of course using crossbow men with my stragetyu isnt a good idea, i ment use archers.

[Oberhut]

1) I like what I see from the funnel and will give it a try ( propably later in the day as I am at work rigt now )

2) I have already used the V Formation to great success in RTW and MTW
Ideally you have two heavy spears or pikemen making up the V ( with another two as reserve should they wear down ) - and one or two melee units that you send in as soon as the enemy is engaged ( this hepls the pikes staying with their primary weapon ). This worked perfectly with Spanish Tercio pikemen and Sword and Buckler man or Sword militia - I was able to kill off full stacks of mongols while loosing < 100 men in this way.