How do I use artillery

[Rowdytavern]

In field battles would I place my artillery (serpentine, culverin, basilisk, ect) behind my main line? Or should I place them in front to achieve 'line of site/direct fire? What about placing them on the flanks of my main line. What does more damage against enemy troops? exploding shot or standard shot?

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I never seem to get many kills with cannons. I didn't have much luck searching this forum for answers like I usually do so any advice from the community would be very helpful.

[Wegen7 die Große]

Up on a hill or right beside your troops(make gaps in your line and put the cannons there). Also do NOT put them on the flanks because cavalry will eat away at them easily and it is best to use the exploding shot when the enemy are grouped together, while the normal shots are best used on walls and buildings.
Hope that helps

[Ishan]

In field battles would I place my artillery (serpentine, culverin, basilisk, ect) behind my main line? Or should I place them in front to achieve 'line of site/direct fire? What about placing them on the flanks of my main line. What does more damage against enemy troops? exploding shot or standard shot?

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I never seem to get many kills with cannons. I didn't have much luck searching this forum for answers like I usually do so any advice from the community would be very helpful.

During deployment place your entire army at the last point of deployment so that your cannons can fire for a long time before the enemy approaches you.
Exploding shot is more devastating while they are inaccurate, while normal shots have a higher accuracy.
Also Serpentines & Mortars(when defending a city) are the best for killing enemy troops.

Up on a hill or right beside your troops(make gaps in your line and put the cannons there). Also do NOT put them on the flanks because cavalry will eat away at them easily and it is best to use the exploding shot when the enemy are grouped together, while the normal shots are best used on walls and buildings.
Hope that helps

[... where did it run?]

A lot of people underestimates the accuracy of mortars >.>

[rubenandthejets]

They're a bit hit and miss-literally. I generally use up to 4 culverins / basalisks in a full stack. I use them as a "grand battery" of two two unit groups in the center of my line, with some good reliable heavy infantry behind them. I target the biggest mass of enemy troops in range with explosive shot and just pound away. Smaller groups or moving cav get normal round shot, and if anything is getting close I tell them to flee, stopping them once they're behind the line of heavy foot. I loike their ability to break units and take down generals. If you like playing defensively they're great.

Getting them to flee to keep their casualties to a minimum is a big help. They're expensive and they're usually fighting a long way from a retraining base and take a long time to move on the campaign map. As I'm so careful with them in my battles I really hate autoresolving with an army with any arty-they always take disproportionate losses.

[Kameraden]

I use exploding barrels alot. First use loose flank maneuver to gather up enemy in one place and just burn them all. Target those units that are most far so that flames burn all enemy units. Although the rate of fire is not long it's perfect in bridge battles and such. Hope that helps

[FriendoftheDork]

I use exploding barrels alot. First use loose flank maneuver to gather up enemy in one place and just burn them all. Target those units that are most far so that flames burn all enemy units. Although the rate of fire is not long it's perfect in bridge battles and such. Hope that helps

Exploding BARRELS? That doesn't sound very safe, lol.

[Kameraden]

What?! Are you questioning my style? It's perfect, no doupt.

Do you have a better plan?

[Ishan]

Exploding barrels?You guys talking about Mangonels?
Those are deadly alright, KaBoom.

[SturmChurro]

Exploding barrels?You guys talking about Mangonels?
Those are deadly alright, KaBoom.

Yes. I have been lazy and just put them on fire at will they were burning up my troops.

[Kameraden]

Yes. I have been lazy and just put them on fire at will they were burning up my troops.

Never use fire-at-will with artillery. That I've learned the hard way For some reason they target enemies nearest to my troops. Friendly fire -- isn't.

[Silverheart]

Mangonels are awesome for Batteries.
While rather inaccurate (can be improved by moving closer) they cause both heavy casualties and panic among the enemy.
If you deploy around 5 units, they can maintain a nice barrage, blowing most of the enemy right where they belong

With Cannons, I prefer to simply deploy them in front of my infantry, protected by archers on the flanks, while I use cavalry to keep the enemy distracted (buying the cannons the time they need to fire a nice amount of rounds)
In one battle against Milanese, they just huddled together in the middle of the field and didn´t dare to move, out of fear that my cavalary (positioned slightly behind them after killing their archers + general) would charge them from behind. So my cannons could fire everything they had, before the enemy gave up when my infantry crashed into their main line
On top of hills or on the sides of a bridge is also a good strategy.

[Rowdytavern]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Ive been playing as HRE right now and I'm using armies mainly comprised of pike militia and Gothic knights with arquebusiers and dismounted gothic knights. I never really tried using Mangonels but wow they are deadly. I use two batteries in all my armies right now at least.

[Kameraden]

I told you, Mangonels are the way to victory.

[avion365]

i like the grape shot in the retrofit mod, but it only will work against the A.I. since people are stupid enough to walk inf. to my artilliry