the kontaratoi pikemen of the ERE

[TGRX]

first let me say, BC kicks ass... if CA packaged it in a box with BC markings and added a few intro vids they would of fooled me into thinking that it was an another expansion game

ok just started as the ERE a week ago, which i love since to death especially since they are not purple

now them kontaratoi pikemen seem pretty weak to me compared to their cousins.... the spearmen, with like 3 attack and 2 defence in their stats etc.

now i have a few questions about them for those that played the ERE campaign, how are you guys suppose to use them strategically?

are they better defenders at city/castle doors or would you mass spam them to put them in the battlefield a in a giant row to hold the enemy frontlines? i did the latter once, about 6 units of them and they got their asses kicked pretty easily (not only poor stats but low morale as well ) is their some superior quality they have over regular spearmen that i am missing? or are they added in just for flavor?

also i read somewhere in this forum that they have some kind of new animation(with a quickfix about it) done to them, i just dont see it... what is it, exactly? its been so long with rtw where they had hoplites and such

[Kennylz]

Do some custom battles with 1 on 1 unit comparisons. How were they beaten, did they get flanked? Were the units attacking them assault infantry? Pikes in M2TW were best used for simply holding the enemy. Mobile walls for you to easily flank the enemy for the real killing. They also did a hell of a number vs cavalry, but they don't run right into pikes too often.

[Numenor]

I think kontaratoi pikemen are well balanced. If flanked, they are very vulnerable, but if they are protected in the flanks, they are almoast indestructable (unless someone shoots arrows at them). Anyway, i think they are perfect the way they are. Reflects the power and weekness of the pikemen REALLY well.

[Imperator of Rome]

first let me say, BC kicks ass... if CA packaged it in a box with BC markings and added a few intro vids they would of fooled me into thinking that it was an another expansion game

ok just started as the ERE a week ago, which i love since to death especially since they are not purple

now them kontaratoi pikemen seem pretty weak to me compared to their cousins.... the spearmen, with like 3 attack and 2 defence in their stats etc.

now i have a few questions about them for those that played the ERE campaign, how are you guys suppose to use them strategically?

are they better defenders at city/castle doors or would you mass spam them to put them in the battlefield a in a giant row to hold the enemy frontlines? i did the latter once, about 6 units of them and they got their asses kicked pretty easily (not only poor stats but low morale as well ) is their some superior quality they have over regular spearmen that i am missing? or are they added in just for flavor?

also i read somewhere in this forum that they have some kind of new animation(with a quickfix about it) done to them, i just dont see it... what is it, exactly? its been so long with rtw where they had hoplites and such

Put them on the flanks.If the enemy makes their flanks too small,they will face a wall of spears,it has happened in alot of my battles and my enemy usually routed.

[Slash5]

The animation is how they hold the pikes, and they don't do the thingy where the first row goes on their knees and the third holds their pikes overhead.

I usually had around 2-3 of them and positioned them in the middle of my army. Although they have poor stats they can hold off units for a very long time, including bodyguards. They just need some cover.

[Manco]

They're the anvil to your hammer. Let the enemy engage them, take assault infantry (the two kinds of varangians) to their sides and flank the engaged enemies, a dose of heavy cavalery as the hammer to the enemy's rear and voila, you win :p
(classic Macedonian strategy works well with ERE in my campaigns)

[Numenor]

I use them in the middle of my formations, with stratakoi spearmen in the flanks.. Nothing passes THOSE guys.

[Samariten]

As their descriptions says ingame...They are good against cavalry not much else so put them on flanks where cavalry mostly hit.

[crazyorc]

Pikeman keeps the battle line while the heavy infantry and heavy cavalry break it.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

They are great for being the first few guys in through a settlement gateway. Make sure you mix in a few other stronger troops though. They are great for pushing in and taking a foothold, though.