Shock Troops.

[Lord Lancelot]

Hello. I readed unit information to Kievan Berdiche Millitia, there is riten that they are shock troops . What's that mean? How i must use them?

[BURNY26]

That you must use them to charge the front , you can translate this as tank troops

[Kaledon]

Shock troops, are intended to be able to punch through enemy lines. The term for shock troops, Stoßtrupp, is translated as shock troop. However, the Stoß is derived from Stoßen, which means to push. Shock troops are generally offensive and mobile. In Medieval 2 Total War, the usual Shock Troop would be the units with heavy two handers that are designed to kill enemies, rather than just holding the line.

[JorisofHolland]

Use the search function. There has been a thread about them a few months ago.

[bɑne]

Shock troops are infantry units intended or able to lead an attack. They are most often strong enough to stand on there own for a time, breach enemy defenses etc. In Roma Surrectum I use Triarer as shock troops or independandly against flanking actions - as to the Bardiche Millitia best have a look at their value beside the unit description. Do they frighten the enemy? High bonus on attack? Good defense? Nice charging bonus? If they exceed similar units in those values then you can be sure to use them as speartips for attacks on such enemies.

[Lord Lancelot]

Ahh thenks all Now i understend why my Berdiche militia always are craashed when i defend and hold them in flanks

[Gogolometro]

Hold line with spears at the cavalry/infantry charge and contraatack with shock troops from wings.

[meese]

You don't even need to attack from the flanks (as this is sometimes impossible), you just have to make sure the enemy is tired before you charge the front.

[Gogolometro]

Right. In city streets is easy, I was suggested this on the field battle.

[meese]

On the field, if you don't have good enough cavalry or the enemy has a second line, flank charging with infantry is almost always suicidal. If you wait for their first line to tire then commit your shock troops (and hopefully you've got a third line of reserves) you might stand a better chance. It's all circumstancial but it's always good to have a back up plan if the typical flanking maneuvers aren't going to work.

[Gogolometro]

If you are on field without cavalry, especiall heavvy one is suicidal. Only way the infantry works is when deploy some pikes and halebards. Sorry but a good heavy cavalry can kill 5-10 times more enemy then their numbers. This mean no one go on their foot alone if his name is swiss pikes.
Ideal is how you say meese, problem appear when these "half chargers" good to kill infantry in some situations who cost ussuall 3-5 times more and are rare to recruit are wasted because a general is charging their lines.
The infantry in my tactic is suport for knights and defenders of the wall. The shock troops must be keep it like reserve, used in special favored situation and always considerd like a brand and image bearer than effective killer. The kill job work best for cavalry, is the medieval times and blitzkrieg is maded by these guys. If I will count of VHI or something like that to conquer world I will became a turkey for thanksgiving. we love these troops, we recruit them, but when things became worst we all yell, the cavalry must purge the enemy. At least to gunners and pikes age, but even then cavalry is the unit. At least in my opinion.

[meese]

I can see where you're coming from and I totally agree that shock infantry really are only good for special situations but, suppose you had to use them because you really had nothing else, their tactics can change.

Take, for example, Scotland. In the early era, the Scots really only have highlanders, spear militia, border horses, highland nobles and the occasional feudal knight. Against the French, your cavalry will be -constantly- outmatched and so you might want to commit the highland nobles to supporting your cavalry. Alternatively, you may figure that knights are too costly and you'd be better off taking more spears instead. If so, chances are your highland nobles will again be tied up in combat with knights who have charged your line and won't be able to make any flanking maneuvures because those knights will keep moving back to charge again.

Anyway, I think we're basically hammering the same point just worded differently

Morale of the story: Shock troops look cool.

[JorisofHolland]

They have their uses on the walls, mind you. If the enemy places ladders/towers, move your (common) infantry unit to one side, so they will attack it. Once they start fighting, bring in some shock troops to charge their back. Archers or crossbowmen (against heavily armoured foes) can do the same thing, though you should let them fire their ammunition instead of charge.