Crossbows shooting from walls.

**Terrewyn** · September 19, 2010, 10:25 AM

Hello i just had a quick question, whenever í use crossbowmen on stone walls they just stand there. Doing absolutely nothing, wich i found rather strange since the description of crossbow militia suggest them to fire from walls. Is this normal or maybe just a bug with my version? I'm using 6.3 btw.

**Josh Knight** · September 19, 2010, 10:37 AM

Its a game problem, the parapets(if thats what there called) sticking up from the wall interfere with the Line of sight. The crossbows can't figure out how to fire between them most of the time lol. I think there is something you can edit in the files to help with it, but somebody with technical knowledge will have to tell you what to edit.

**bɑne** · September 19, 2010, 10:52 AM

The help you are most likely refering to is to allow crossbow units to arc their fire more strongly. Basicly turning them into archers.
A search on that will turn up better instructions then I could write up at the moment so I suggest you do just that - a forum search

**Terrewyn** · September 19, 2010, 10:54 AM

Oh okay thanks for the responses

I tried searching but i guess i searched for the wrong things.

**bɑne** · September 19, 2010, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Terrewyn

Oh okay thanks for the responses

I tried searching but i guess i searched for the wrong things.

Just now that the result might be... weird.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Mega Tortas de Bodemloze** · September 19, 2010, 11:08 AM

Crossbowman in siege defense...

1. Should stand on the side walls where they have a clear field of fire against ladders and siege tower boarders. They will decimate heavy infantry siegers.

2. Place crossbowmen on the ground back from the front walls with clear field of fire to ladders and siege tower boarders. DO NOT place defenders on wall in front of the crossbowman's field of fire or they will be slaughtered by friendly fire.

Hope this helps...

**bɑne** · September 19, 2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Terrewyn

Oh okay thanks for the responses

I tried searching but i guess i searched for the wrong things.

Have a look at the last lines of the first post:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=375398
and make backups of your file before editing.

**Terrewyn** · September 26, 2010, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by bane_tw

Have a look at the last lines of the first post:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=375398
and make backups of your file before editing.

Tried doing changing the min and max angle, but it's still pretty much the same, my crossbowmen cant shoot from the walls, only maybe 2 or 3 out of the whole squad is fireing

I'm not really sure how much i should change it.

**TheBard** · September 26, 2010, 12:48 PM

I have a question about a different possible solution. Is it possible to remove the parapets entirely from all castles? I realize this would make defenders (infantry or archers) on the wall vulnerable to enemy fire, but that's a trade-off I'd be willing to make. Presumably, the same quality archers on the wall would be able to fire farther and better than the same archers on the ground.

I have a feeling this is hard-coded, but figured I'd ask.

**bɑne** · September 26, 2010, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by TheBard

I have a question about a different possible solution. Is it possible to remove the parapets entirely from all castles? I realize this would make defenders (infantry or archers) on the wall vulnerable to enemy fire, but that's a trade-off I'd be willing to make. Presumably, the same quality archers on the wall would be able to fire farther and better than the same archers on the ground.

I have a feeling this is hard-coded, but figured I'd ask.

It would be enough to remove the collision block of the parapets just enough to give them a line of sight - but its much work, if it is possible. Those battlemaps/buildings are not easy to edit. Still don't know if it is possible without having them actually walk into the parapets (my solution includes having a smaller "collision" parapet to prevent that).

**Gogolometro** · September 26, 2010, 01:03 PM

Probably you not understand. The crossbows are not maded to fire like bows. This is important. Second, crossbows are deadly because release with terible streght a bolt who can pierce armors. So you must shoot directly not like a arrow from bow in arc.
Back to ideea from the topic, removing parapents will afect defender. The units will be killed by enemy archers and crossbows. Ideea of parapet is to defend the soldiers and allow them to fire than hide. Good medieval siege system.
No, back to player problem, try to uderstand how things works, and how to use crossbows and arbalesters, even handguns corectly. I said this before but worth repeat it. Crossbows need clear sight to fire effectiv. Noe arc fire. Even like this will notice how some crossbows, will fire if are in front of a blank spot on walls.
Put crossbows on walls in a nice square formation, like 8X8. than place them near tower wo are at margines of walls. Not very close, leave them 10 meters. Wait the siege towers/ladders to reach the position. Let the atacker climb walls, than fire with your crossbows. All soldiers fire at once. is a crossfire from both ways. Watch the DFK die like flies. In this way alvays will work killing anyone. Can be played in same way with gunners and even archers(Irecomend fire arrows for absolute success and tons of fun).
So learn use them, and not to bend SS.

**Mornai** · September 26, 2010, 03:17 PM

Stone shield for what? The AI never shoots at my archers with anything when they're on the walls, and if infantry are sent up, no stone shield will stop the archers from being slaughtered.

**Terrewyn** · September 26, 2010, 05:58 PM

That's weird, i thought the crossbow was ment to be used from castle walls etc because of the slow reload speed. I just found it was weird that they couldent even shoot from walls, and even if they did only a handfull did, i thought you could point the crossbow in either direction. I guess i was wrong

**Paladin94610** · September 27, 2010, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by Terrewyn

That's weird, i thought the crossbow was ment to be used from castle walls etc because of the slow reload speed. I just found it was weird that they couldent even shoot from walls, and even if they did only a handfull did, i thought you could point the crossbow in either direction. I guess i was wrong

I think the crossbowmen being [SKIRMISHER] make this bug.. I noticed that the skirmisher units are likely to refuse fire orders when they don't have some direct line of sight. And I found them more accurate than [MISSLE] units. Do you guys notice a crossbow unit with [MISSILE] unit type in 6.3? I only found them to be [SKIRMISHER] unit type.

**k/t** · September 27, 2010, 10:32 AM

PB: -Bows are divided into 'Missile' and 'Skirmish' types, with their own updated animations
* 'Missile' units shoot faster but with less accuracy to a greater range - these units create a real 'arrow shower' over a wider area
* 'Skirmish' units shoot more slowly but with better accuracy, over direct sights (ie a shorter range). Foot skirmishers are the most accurate archer units

Skirmish units are placed by the formation file out in front of the main battle line and usually skirmish away from danger.

Consider 'Missile' archers as having a lower lethality overall, but that it is applied rapidly due to their faster shooting rate, and skirmish archers a higher total lethality that takes longer to apply.

You really want to have Missile archers shoot into bunched groups of enemy units for maximum effect.

**Tears of Destiny** · September 27, 2010, 01:03 PM

I am confuzzled, my Crossbow men always manage to shoot from the walls...

**RollingWave** · September 28, 2010, 01:00 AM

they can shoot, but it usually takes some manuel targeting, mostly try to target the units furthest away from you in a realtive strait line. that way they usually fire better. if you let the AI seek it's own target they usually mess it up pretty bad.

Also. if you have a side angel wall try to put the crossbows on them, it seem to reduce the effect of the parapets (possibly because most units now have a little distance bewtten them, and more importantly if someone lands on the walls adjecent to you you can rip them apart with point blank shots, AND this also works for the typical super mass charge through the gate, let them in a bit so they form a big blob just inside the gate, then hold them with your best spear / pike units, and then fire into them with crossbows (archer works too but in this situation x-bows are much more devastating). from the side walls. in this sort of situation my x-bows often end up killing several hundred , even if they're not particularly good onces.