Spatharioi Emperor's Guard: Identity Crisis

[Handbanana]

They want to be spear men and swordsmen at the same time! I want to use them as heavy spear men since the Romans already have another heavy sword unit, but I've had little success. I'm playing 1.05.

I'm having trouble using this unit. It just seems like every time it enters combat it automatically uses their swords, even against cavalry. I've experimented a bit and the only time I've had some success (i.e. managed to keep the swords in their scabbards) is when I attack in guard mode. However, even while doing this some men in the unit use their swords. Anyone have any advice on techniques for this unit?

[Miraj]

Yeah, this has been an issue with sword/spear units in M2TW. They seem uber-sensitive and all of them revert to swords at the slightest touch. I have no idea to fix the initial spear usage behavior.

I know "alt-clicking" is useful for getting them to switch to swords immediately.

[Numenor]

exacly. alt makes them change for sword.. mas they change for the sword anyway!

[Darvist]

Iv had them use the spear a few times but most often its the sword. They still seem to be effective at horsemen despite.

[Handbanana]

Maybe they should just be made into spear men then. Romans are lacking a heavy spear unit; their cheap pike men are good but vulnerable to missile fire. And they already have a good heavy sword unit... whose name escapes me at the moment.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

I don't really have a problem with this but find them more useful as swordsmen anyways tbh.

[AnthoniusII]

Under AI they fight perfectly with both weapons!!!
Units like them are the future in moding!

[beatoangelico]

if it's like RTW double weapon units will always charge with secondary weapon, anyway you can always alt + click to switch manually

[Evan]

This is just like the problem pikemen had in vanilla where they switched to their swords as soon as they engaged the enemy!

[whhyy]

Would making them mainly swordsmen change things?

Edit: Damn, just realised that wouldn't make them very good guards then...

[Handbanana]

I fooled around with this unit again tonight... not sure why people were recommending to use the alt key. I guess maybe you misunderstood, I'm trying to get their primary weapon (spear) not secondary. Unless it's reversed for this unit, but it doesn't seem to be so. Pressing alt seems to ALWAYS bring out the swords.

Regardless, I've found that keeping them in guard mode and double clicking once they engage cavalry keeps their spears out. And they kick ass at this too, tearing through heavy cavalry. It's gone from one of my least favorite units to a pleasant surprise.

[suntaiguy23]

give the spearman shiltrom formation, thats the fix laca produced when he released his heavy spearman. itl stop the switch to swords in most cases, thiers no way to them from charging with swords

[Darvist]

give the spearman shiltrom formation, thats the fix laca produced when he released his heavy spearman. itl stop the switch to swords in most cases, thiers no way to them from charging with swords

The schiltrom is way to powerful for that unit.

[AlfonsoVIII]

The way to have them go back to their primary weapon is to stop current orders and then click on the unit to attack. They will go back to using their spears for a short time and then revert back to swords. It is heavily micromanaged in order to do so, but it is the only way.

[Fenix_120]

They will use the spear for horse's and the sword for anything else for me...

Unless I alt click, then they use swords for everything.

[Shadowcry]

I hate them thyey are unkillable for me haha, too many arrows go into them to make them die and then become almost as bad as bodyguards haha.