Civis
How do you use Shieldwall?
I've never been able to use Shieldwall well in any mod ever since I first found it in Barbarian invasion. My guys seem to die faster in it :/
Is there a situation that makes it useful to use? I just started a high elf campaign and wondering if I should even push the button for the spearman. Thanks!
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
When you're playing a siege battle and you're defending, it's a good idea (if they have rams) to put a shield wall at the entrance to the gate. It helps them hold their ground against units especially cavalry, I've found it somewhat useful...
Libertus
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
And also it is useful when there are holes in wall.
The Screen Door Slams
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
I find it useful to hold a line, and a shieldwall can make extraordinary pushes.
Centenarius
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Shieldwall, in general, is better against infantry.
Schilstrom, in general, is better against cavalry.
Personally I don't really ever use it because it makes it so you can't make use of the charging bonus your units have. The best use I've found for shieldwall is if the infantry in question are really cheap. That way I can use shieldwall to halt the enemy's charge and fight them off (shieldwall undoubtedly makes your units die a bit less quickly) while my stronger, more expensive units move around the line and flank.
Semisalis
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Probably only use the formation if you're planning to keep the unit in question in one place for the whole battle, as they are far less manoeuvrable like this and they take a long time to re-form into an effective wall.
Third Age: Total War! (!!!!)
Senator
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
actually... someone (with knowledge) told me that shield wall was changed from RTW to M2TW. In as much as the shield wall in RTW was good against infantry (and cavalry) but in M2TW its mainly just good against charging cavalry...
tests ive done show that some troops even die faster if you put them in shield wall formation.
addicted modder... but crap at it
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Some of my favorite dwarven units have them. I use them in that oh poop moment, like when I was unprepared for the charging cavalry and can't countercharge them because I am too late. Shield wall gets everyone tightly packed together and blunts the casualties. It also draws that enemy cav into a tighter position so my meat cleavers can do their work. There is a vital point where you simply cannot countercharge. this is usually when you see the enemy go from march to charge pose. Before this point Countercharge can work. too close to it or after it and you better use shield wall or preferrably schiltron. But it can be useful.
Centenarius
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
This is what I meant by shieldwall being good against infantry. The initial enemy charge casualties seem to be mitigated by shieldwall and places the enemy in a prime position to be flanked. As far as schilstrom working better against cavalry, the enemy tends to wrap around the circular formation making a counterattack from another unit much more effective as the cavalry are thinner and individuals get surrounded easily.Originally Posted by gary0044187
Shieldwall is bad against javelins because they are so accurate and damaging. Aside from that, the heavy concentration of troops makes it hard for any javelins to miss... You'd be much better served charging at the snagas--anything you can do to halt their throwing is necessary.
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
but my dwarves can never catch them and they tier so quickly. poor litle dwarvsies
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Really? Im gonna test this using dwarven warriors against
cav
two handers
Swordsmen
Spearmen.
See what happens. Thers no point in having a mechanic that doesnt help much. Shieldwall should drastically reduce the amount of front damage done by arrow fire or infantry charges. Cavalry not so much because the shield, unlike a pike, does not discourage the horse from charging home.
Could you post the results of your tests too so we can get some consistency?
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
I would like to note that it just gets toggled, once the initial charge is blunted turn it off so your troops can start to fight again.
Ducenarius
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
i use shield wall for about 99% of my battles as the dwarves, the thing with shield wall it takes constant attention to make it effective you cant just press shield wall, then attack and let it go.... what you do is activate it then click drag making your troops march into a box formation in the middle of the enemy's formation, they will march in and push the enemy back a bit, then when all of your men are pushing double click so they attack, the charge will crush lots of enemies and push them back, it will also make most group of orcs morally afraid if you do this one or two times
Senator
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Lol, like those riot squad, hitting me with tonfa in the legs, through under their shields, in France (the "CRS").
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
I tend to find it quite useful; if nothing else it counterracts the "only four of a unit of 100 fighting" syndrome. RC or 1.1 may fix that syndrome so my opinion may change.
Does anyone know what the actual game effects of shieldwall are (other than making the unit bunch together)?
Franbo
Ordinarius
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
Just to note, Harald's shieldwall at the Battle of Hastings was more than capable of resisting the heavy Norman cavalry, charge after charge. It was only when the fyrdmen left the wall and chased the retreating Normans down the hill that they were wiped out.
What I'm saying is, shieldwalls were not good against just infantry and archers....
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Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
the shield wall at the battle of hastings was mainly effective because the norman knights were charging uphill, flinging javelins, then retreating. The tactic which they favoured was fling the stick and get amongst the enemy. But! the effect of the charge was innefective, they couldn't build up the momentum.
try using shieldwall in a push(to push them out a gate for example)
let me know if it works..
happy gaming!
Semisalis
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
I use it in every battle with my dwarves, mainly to improve the ratio of guys actually splitting orcs. I engage the enemy in tight packed formation and disable shield wall right before they hit each other to get charge boni and stuff. Works fine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|>Deus ex Machinegun<|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
yeah it cannot be understated how useful it is at manipulating your formation.
Foederatus
Re: How do you use Shieldwall?
You've clearly haven't even seen the Tapestry....If you actually knew about that battle, you would know the Normans weren't flinging javelins. They charged.
I don't think I have heard about any Norman ever using a javelin. Besides, a heavily armored knight, wouldn't be flinging javelins. It's simply too tiresome. Also, no Western European country used javelins at that time, or at least from my knowledge. (which may or not be wrong, I think Spain might have used them, but I don't consider them part of Europe.)
Try to watch the History Channel more.
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