A shattered hope.

[Old Geezer]

Because pikemen can be modded to remove their secondary weapon so that they don't drop their pikes almost immediately, I had hoped that the same could be done with archers and musketeers who are helpless against any foe with armor. Alas, I removed peasant archers' secondary weapons but to no avail. They continue to pull out their itsy bitsy knives and threaten the enemy. Actually they cut up the Highland Rabble so badly that they won! That's how I know that it is not just an animation and that they actually have sharp pointy knives that work, at least on unarmored knaves, swain, villians, and such.

Does anyone know if this is is hard coded? 'Twould make my last few days in this vale of tears more bearable if I could just keep musketeers and archers firing away at those proud, impetuous nobles on valiant steeds and not have to watch the Grim Reaper standing there smiling as my wretched commoners undergo certain execution.

[Akimbo]

Hmm if the pikeman trick didn't work maybe it is hard coded, could be different since they're ranged units? Either way it'd be unfair to be shooting muskets in melee lol ^^ it's be like having a cannon crew continue firing in melee, at point blank...with explosive shells lol.

[Theseus1234]

you could probably decrease the attack value of the secondary weapon to like 1 or something. but CA knew that archers would be confronted in melee and gave them a little self defense knife jsut so they dont all die out

[Old Geezer]

Now I am really mystified. When my Feudal Knights and Bodyguard units charged into some Hussite crossbowmen the crossbowmen did not drop thier crossbows even after becoming broken! What's with this. I've never noticed this before. Am I just unobservant? They kept holding their bows and looked like they might be aiming but I had no indication on my unit cards that the men were under fire and I don't think that any casualties were sustained.

[MrMofo]

when the attacking unit hits your spear wall, IF a good number of them break through and your guys start to break out their swords, hit the Special Action Button 2x. This will make them reform and push back.

I love pikemen. There's a good thread in the battle planning about how to use them well. This one: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165637