Spain's lack of spears

**henyo10** · February 17, 2009, 02:46 AM

I'm quite troubled that castles of Spain can't train any spear units. While the AI constantly spams cavalry on my ass it has me realize why Spain or Iberian factions have no spear units(except Moors).

**lordextra0** · February 17, 2009, 03:03 AM

I don't quite ccatch the question

if you are asking for help then i'd recommend using the factions strenghts
if you're asking for why doesn't spain have many spears
then I ask why should they???

**Musthavename** · February 17, 2009, 03:06 AM

Spam spear militia. That's about all you can do.

Remember though to use your own strengths aswell. Stick a layer of Javelinmen / Almughavars behind and watch them tear into the infantry lines. Knights of Santiago/Montesa are excellent shock troops, just don't let them be the ones to take the charge, but the ones to go in and finish the job.

**henyo10** · February 17, 2009, 03:44 AM

Actually I'm asking both why they don't have spear units and how to counter this lack of spears.

**Gogolometro** · February 17, 2009, 03:49 AM

With jinites.

**Navajo Joe** · February 17, 2009, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by henyo10

Actually I'm asking both why they don't have spear units and how to counter this lack of spears.

If you go into France, no doubt you can recruit Mercenary Spearmen to swell your numbers, send a General see what is recruitable

**Spartan90** · February 17, 2009, 04:29 AM

I'm not 100% sure, but can Javelinmen / Almughavars be utilized as spearmen when they enter into melee?

Apart from that, Jinetes will outrun any cavalry, and will be able to smash them from a distance with their javelins.

Spear Militia is the next option, but you will still encounter heavy losses when facing cavalry.

**Gogolometro** · February 17, 2009, 04:34 AM

Almugavars put i loose can absorb charge, hide everywere, javelins pierce armor, they use sword in melee, jinites are jinites, can be a very good general killer.Add some xbows, and some andalusian merc to be confortable with your general security.Easy way, rememmber hispania is full of hills.

**Caesar Clivus** · February 17, 2009, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Spartan90

I'm not 100% sure, but can Javelinmen / Almughavars be utilized as spearmen when they enter into melee?

Pretty sure all javelin units have a different secondary unit (i.e. not a spear)...at least I can't recall any off-hand :hmmm:

**Gorrrrrn** · February 17, 2009, 06:47 AM

Apart from bodyguards the moors don't have much by way ofheavy cavalry.

Moors have lots of spears though. (which should be easy enough to defeat with swords)

later on L-C get 2 types of pikemen.

**Musthavename** · February 17, 2009, 11:42 AM

I'm not 100% sure, but can Javelinmen / Almughavars be utilized as spearmen when they enter into melee?

Left alone in melee they'll get ripped apart pretty quickly. Take there melee abilities as somewhere inbetween archers and full blown melee. To combat cav charges as any of the Iberian factions:

1) Spam Spear militia. They're not great, but they're something.
2) Have a few Javelinmen (or Almughavars if you're Aragon) behind your lines. Once a cavalry charge sets in, lay into them. Those javelins are quite effective.
3) If you're not Aragon, Jinettes are a godsend. Heavy cavalry can be kited around, and light cavalry can be taken care of by your spear militias.
4) Flank them. Spear militias are cheap & expendable, you can afford to lose some. Let them take the charge, then flank the cavalry quickly, that way, they're trapped in a melee, which they will lose.
5) Try and draw some cav units into a fight with your General. It means you can't use him as a shock tool elsewhere, but he'll beat Mailed Knights 1 on 1. Keep in mind the numbers in his unit "regenerate" by themselves, so you can afford losses there (aslong as you don't get too suicidal with him

).

Late game though you get Tercio Pikemen if your Aragon/Castille-Leon, and I think Portugal gets a different pike unit (Aventuros?), so it's only early game where Spear Militia stand up where the problems generate. I know in my Aragon campaign I was getting Pikes around the same time Feudal Knights were popping up, and I could deal with Mailed Knights fairly comfortably using the tactics above beforehand.

The other suggestion is this. Remember that your neighbours Portugal/Castille-Leon/Aragon ALL have cavalry problems early on, so use that to your advantage. Exploit their weakness to cavalry before they can exploit yours!

**crsutton** · February 17, 2009, 12:31 PM

You just have to make do with what you have. Purchasing merc spearmen is the best solution and I try to keep a few in each army. Don't worry, just hack it out. Your late troops are just deadly and the pikemen you get are better than spear units. Just wait it out and you will be fine.