Missile Fire

[Highfly]

Firing burning arrows is frightening to targeted units. But do they do less damage then? And how much less damage? If there is no damage reduction it seems like there is no reason to not use the burning arrows all the time...
Also, wich and how much difference does higher ground gives to missile units? More damage, greater range, more demoralisation on the targeted unit...?

[^Gr8^Xander]

Firing burning arrows is frightening to targeted units. But do they do less damage then? And how much less damage? If there is no damage reduction it seems like there is no reason to not use the burning arrows all the time...
Also, wich and how much difference does higher ground gives to missile units? More damage, greater range, more demoralisation on the targeted unit...?

I'm not sure, but I think flaming arrows reduce range and accuracy.

And higher ground gives huge advantages to all units. As for archers; they do lots and lots of more damage, they get a huge range, better accuracy and so on..

[pwijnands]

I'm fairly certain flaming arrows don't have reduced range, they do have lower accuracy and firing rate is slowed down heavily.
If you are going for max casualties, use normal arrows. If you want to rout a particular unit, use flaming arrows.

[Ephialtes The Dog]

Firey missiles have less accuracey, speed and damage, but there usefull for making units with low morale run.

[Eccentric]

Yep, I agree with both of the posts above me.

[Legionem Insanis]

if you have more than one group of archers you can set some to fire while leaving the others.

[Highfly]

Thanks a lot for all the replays and information

[zedestroyer]

You can use normal arrows in the beginning and switch to flaming arrows when the enemy is getting closer. This way you will kill enemy soldiers at a distance and reduce their morale before they reach your lines.
Flaming arrow seem to do a greater damage to the heavy units. Units with heavy armor and shield are able to survive to an intense rain of arrows, but when using flaming arrows they seem to fall much more easily.

[Double A]

Cause it burns them.

[Iron Juggernaut]

I would use the normal arrows if I were you to inflict the maximum amount of casualties possible against my foe. Flaming arrows are only useful for routing the enemy. They are deadly, but the normal ones are much more effective. Note that they have reduced accuracy and range against the enemy (flaming arrows).

[zedestroyer]

I would use the normal arrows if I were you to inflict the maximum amount of casualties possible against my foe. Flaming arrows are only useful for routing the enemy. They are deadly, but the normal ones are much more effective. Note that they have reduced accuracy and range against the enemy (flaming arrows).

But I think that flaming arrow are more effective against more armored foes and at close range flaming arrows can be really devastating.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

Flaming arrows do more demoralisation than damage most of the time. It slows down the rate of fire and accuracy, which means there are greater chances that you will hit your own men, but I think the range is the same.
Personally, I like using flaming arrows most of the time, as it demoralises the enemy at a distance, then does better damage than normal arrows at close range.

[achillis]

fire arows do less damage and have less accuracy.
and they take longer to fire. I NEVER USE FIRE ARROWS

[Orcs_Forever]

I mostly use fire arrows just before the two main armies clash as lowered morale before the clash is very useful and anyway fire arrows do the following:


More Damage
Frightens Men
More Time to Fire
They are Innacurate


Just because they are innacurate it doesnt mean they do less damage
And...for example take the onager, the onager is very devastating when using fire and it can kill a general with a shot, which a normal boulder cannot . Am i the only one that knows these things?

[general nuisance]

Fire arrows do have reduced accuracy and are slower BUT they are superb against enemy elephants (if you don't have pigs then these are the best weapon) and against enemy cavalry
Fire arrows are wasted against enemy skirmishers and enemy infrantry

[_TubbZ_]

Fire arrows do have reduced accuracy and are slower BUT they are superb against enemy elephants (if you don't have pigs then these are the best weapon) and against enemy cavalry
Fire arrows are wasted against enemy skirmishers and enemy infrantry

Fire arrows in the back of units while being held from the front will cause any units major loses to both morale and unit numbers. But most the time, normal arrows are better and more effective. Just because units have a special attack it doesn't mean its better in all situations...

[conquestor]

the flaming arrows "killing heavy armored units" strategy doesnt work on certain units. flaming arrows do little or no damage to spartans or cataracts.

also, note that flaming arrows shouldnt be used on enemies your army is engaging in close combat, thats just friendly fire.