How to use gunpowder

[Ravager]

What is the most effective formation for arquebusiers and musketeers? The Frostbeagg guides say in Shogun and MTW u arrange them in 3 rows for maximum effectiveness. I was wondering in M2TW is it better to use 2 rows or 3?

Also, what's the best pike unit in the game?

[jo the greek]

i think the better way is to stretch them in their limits this can cause massive fire-power and also u choose between skirmish or not .

[Ravager]

But doesn't that means it will take them forever to reload? That's one of the weaknesses of medieval gunpowder. That's why i couldn't decide between two ranks(maximum firepower) or three ranks(allegedly better ROF)

[jo the greek]

i do not think that three ranks works in mtw2 after all in most battles u wont get
many times to fire .
I also use the skirmish button to fire at will in some occasions it seems to help
What i have found it seems that the shot that is lost doesnt hit other units that
are behind unrealistic.

[homefry]

Line them up in 2 rows.... Even if you line them up in more than 2 rows, the next row stepping up to fire will wait for the previous row to move to the back.

[Ravager]

Thank you all for your opinions!

[BlackAkula]

This is why I like the Stainlees steel mod.My cossack gunners would deploy in 2-3 ranks (depending on situation), and the first rank would reload on their knees, letting the second row fire almost immideatly.

[jo the greek]

This is why I like the Stainlees steel mod.My cossack gunners would deploy in 2-3 ranks (depending on situation), and the first rank would reload on their knees, letting the second row fire almost immideatly.

this is cool

[Old_Scratch]

While I agree with everything said above, it is true, two ranks will take a bit of a break after they've both fired in order to reload. If I'm going to be in a prolonged firefight I will set them to three rows.

As for pike units, by the numbers alone Aventuros are the best pike unit. I don't generally like them though because they cost as much as dismounted chiv knights. If you're using them all spread out to protect muskets or what not, they are going take missile casualties along with your gunners. So, I find the 150 florin pike militia work best in this role. They're still going to stop a cavalry charge, but you wont really care if they get all shot up.

[jo the greek]

sometimes i think that the best is handcannoners cause of the armour the melee and the way they fire.A constant fire sometimes is more useful than volleys.

[homefry]

It also depends on the terrain and how many units you have and how many units the enemy has.

If you 4-6 units of gunners with trees and rolling hills scattered around, it may be better to bunch them together in 5-6 rows instead. Keep them packed tighter.


But does anyone else find gunners (not the handgunners with awesome melee stats) useless. They are only good when the enemy is first approaching. After that, they are useless.

[Dr. Croccer]

If you use gunners (any kind) in a smart way then you can easily take down the front line of an average unit, which is 10 men per volley. They are extremely handy in longwinded firefights, which means they are excellent against the Mongols and Timurids, again, if you use them in a smart way. Don't use them as frontline troops in an offense but as defensive flanking troops. Only Janissaries and Cossacks are fit as front-liners, in most cases.

[SaintOfTheSword]

How to use gunpowder: You put it in the musket, push it deep with the stick, put the bullet in the musket, push it deep with the stick, light, and press the trigger. Make sure the weapon is held with the thin end towards the enemy. Don't do it in front of cops, coz you will get arrested. I hope it helped.

[homefry]

Only 2 gunpowder units are worth it.

Handgunners for their melee abilty and scare tactics with loud guns fired so close to the enemy.

And the long range gunners. The medium range gunners are crap units.

[Engrish]

Unfortunately, most factions only have arquebusiers available to them so they must make do with as you say "crap" units. Hand gunners are highly innacurate and fail to do much damage to the enemy beyond moral penalties, not to mention their short range and long reload time.

Musketeers are great if you can get them, but alas, not everyone has them. They do have their penalties though through a slower reload time.

Arquebusiers have a shorter range than the musket, but their reload time is slightly faster with the same damage as the musketeers.

What this means is that while the musketeers are good at pummeling the enemy at a distance as they approach your formation, once they arrive, there isn't much good left to be done.

Arquebusiers, with the benefit of their shorter reload time, can still run around the enemy mass engaging your own troops and still be moderately effective lobbing volleys into them.


Just my 2 cents.