Crossbow Formations/tactics

[G.Seimore]

I usually play with archer support, but now I would like to test the crossbow and would like to know from the veterans here, how to use them properly and which formations to use. I figuered to put them in front of your main line. But I'm not sure which formation to use. I noticed that, when used in a square like formation, even the 4th or 5th ranks fire, but are they as effective as the front ranks? And what do you do with them once the enemy is close? Obviously you get them the hell back behind the front line, but what then, aren't they useless after that; as archers are able to still fire somewhat accurate over the head of the front lines.

Let me know...I would like to be a proper Genoese crossbow general

[Oddball_E8]

i think they are as effective as the front ranks... they all fire straight forward and not up... so i dont think it matters that much what formation you use...

but definatly put them in the front... they are useless at indirect fire...

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Place them in the front rank. When the enemy charges, counter charge with your spears and remember that crossbows are VERY slow in responding to orders. so charge the spears early enough to cover them regroup the crossbows/bow and concentrate fire on solitary units comming up for support.

Or if your not chivalrous take out the other guys general. {You Kurd!}

[henyo10]

Question what do crossbows have over longbows?

[meese]

Armour Piercing so they're much more effective against armoured enemies. They don't run out of ammo so quickly? Against anything unarmoured normal bows win easily. Oh and they get shields usually.

[preachercheeze]

IMHO crossbows is not so good in comparison to archers, due to the fact that they loose a lot of their power if the can´t aim straight at the target... and the reload time is a pain in the arse... but on the other hand, a crossbow that get to fire in a straight line have a real kick!

but when I play a faction that has only crossbows (HRE e.g.) and lousy archers I tend to place them as such:

crossbows in the front of the infantry... cavalry on the flanks and the general in the back



first i let my crossbows shoot away... when the enemy comes near I withdraw them to the back and then out to the flanks... I let my cavalry charge forward and threaten the flanks of the enemy OR draw their cavalry out... my crossbows set up positions at the flanks outwards so they can fire inwards to the melee in the center, like this \___/


My general is then placed at a flank ready to outflank my potentially weak flank in this example...

When I get Pikemen I usually put my crossbows/muskets in the same ranks as the Pikemen... this way they will stand behind the deadly pikes but in front of the pikemen so they can still shoot straight... it´s great when the enemy get stuck at the pikes and then get a volley of arrows or muskets in the face....

one important rule that I have for Cb is that I always place them in a full line of 2 so that it is as thin as it can be.... this way every one of the Cb can shoot guaranteed straight....

[moosey]

in SS, they have armor peircing which i think was removed from longbows. Also generally, a peasant given a crossbow for a day to train could kill a knight with it but it took years of training to fire a longbow well and powerfully. In real terms, if youre crossbowmen army got killed, you could easily get a new one, if you lost all youre longbowmen, then youre in trouble.

[TheLastPrivate]

use them just like muskets.
First row, fire the volley into the first HEAVY CAVALRY. Don't waste the ammo/time with other units. Only enemy cavalry. when they come near have your spearmen cover your xbows, while ur xbows move back. Wait and see how infantry lines up, and watch enemy cavalry carefully. If you have cavalry advantage focus on protecting your xbows while your cavalry block charges/charge enemy infantry. If you're behind in cavalry power use xbows on the flanks to take out cavalry. Once you've neutralized enemy cavalry your xbows can do a lot of dmg by close-range volley fire (a lot more than archers) - almost like javelines.

[G.Seimore]

Thanks a bunch folks, some nice tips there

[Notimeforaname]

mass crossbow spam. if you are fortunate enough to have pavise crossbows (with good range) this works very well. Other wise, the city militia and mercs are passable. Peasant crossbowmen usually only get one shot before being engaged unless you stagger the formation in echelon and flee in stages.

I mass them into two wings placed on the flanks of my infantry and cavalry. the enemy will come into range to get at your cavalry and infantry and you shoot them in the flanks with the crossbows. Once the melee begins the cavalry (for sure) and crossbows (if they are not dead)will outflank the battle line and attack from the rear while the spearmen hold the line together.

[jepva]

I use the method used by the English at Crecy. I alternate spearman and cb/arrow units in my formation - e.g. SP CB SP CB SP CB SP CB SP The frontage of the CB unit is about 6 to 8 men, much less than that of the spear unit, and the space between units is minimal with the CB unit ever so slightly recessed from the leading edge of the spear unit. You MUST turn off the skirmish mode for the cb units. You get the advantage of full frontal firing from the cb units, plus when the line is charged by cavalry it usually hits the spearmen and self destructs. This system is best used against a cavalry heavy force such as the French or Muslims.

Against an infantry heavy force - place them on the flanks extending outward at an an angle from the main line with heavy infantry support behind the CBs.

\ __________ /

This enables the CB to fire at the enemy troops in melee with the main line and positions your HI to take the enemy in the flank once melee begins. Take Skirmish off since the CBs are unbelievably slow at withdrawing. Do it manually instead and charge the HI at whatever is attacking the CBs. The benefit of getting additional volleys in outways the losses.

[NW Leyt]

I don't know if this is a great tip, but here's what I usually do:

I'll put my crossbows in the front, so they can fire as the enemy advances. Then, as they near, I have them retreat behind my infantry. If there's a hill, I'll send them up there, possibly with a cavalry escort, and fire at anyone who may not have charged. If every enemy unit is engaged, I'll either fire into the fray or wait for a unit to rout and make sure it doesn't come back. However, cavalry may be better at that. This can work well, be disastrous, or just be useless.

[Rugin84]

I agree with the use of the CB on the flanks, but you leave them exposed to attack and agro if you let them fire too soon. What I do is set up my CBs in 2 rows on one flank. [ ___// ] Kinda like that with cav support behind them (light is prefered). I use another CB unit in the front rank in front of the infantry or a faster archer unit if I have one. Now I take the flank CB off "fire at will" and use the center ranged unit to draw the enemy in to my center. Once the enemy is good and commited to the center charge, I open up with my flanking CB units. (careful, if the rear CB unit is lower or too close to the CB unit in fron, they will have friendly fire). Use the Cav behind the CBs to protect them, and I use my opposite flank free of CBs to stack up all my other cav, for a nice charge on the enemies flank. [ -- ___// - ] ( - = cav, ___ = infantry, // = CBs). The beauty of this is once the enemy is engaged with your center you can have your unmolested CBs ( because you waited a bit to let them fire) charge with their swords into the enemy flank after firing a few vollies, with their supporting cav unit moved forward to screen your CBs.

This rolls up enemy armies beautifully, and your main cav on the opposite flank can roll up the enemies archers or cav, or even slam them into the enemy flank opposite the CBs

[frederickm]

Muskets ftw, spam them like hell and outnumber that ways you have almost 0 casualties because whenever they get close they rout.