Ottoman Melee Spam.... ¬_¬

Okay, first things first I'm more of a noob than anyone you have ever met, your Grandad could beat me on Napoleon while he figures out how to send an email. I play mainly for fun but i would like the odd win.

Anyway I keep coming up against guys who play as the Ottomans and spam melee units with multiple chevron upgrades.

Obviously I get pwned which leaves me with an expression more along the likes of this O_o.

tips?

p.s I tend to lean towards western traditional armies I don't want to ban the Ottoman faction i would like to beat it [eventually]

Well first thing you could tell the situation you were in. Without that essential data we would just be guessing what you would do better without knowing the context.

Some tip and hints.
Use cavalry charge against melée units, melée units can´t form squares. Exploit that weakness.
If you really want to punish the melée users bring a cannon, preferably a horse cannon to the front line.
Make sure to use hammer and anvil tactic (cavalry charge on the occupied melée unit) to the most extent and be wary of the enemies lines.
Light infantry can kite melée units and wear them down quite effective.

Those were atop on my head at the moment.

Originally Posted by Obvious Spycrab

Those were atop on my head at the moment.

what were they doing there?

cav is very crucial, so take strong cav, they will kick melee units to the ground.using effective meatshields (like militia) to soak up losses is also helpful.

Engage with cav units before they can melee your line then shoot them to peices,6lber canister shot also will tear em a new one.

use the grenade launcher attachment on your lines muskets. quite effective.

Originally Posted by underworld965

use the grenade launcher attachment on your lines muskets. quite effective.

If only we had those....

Pretty much yeah,use cav to punish them,if they brought line infantry to support make sure your charging head on to minimize losses from musket fire (and don't charge if they're already engaged,you'll just kill your own guys).Reserves also do wonders; place a couple line units behind your main body and keep them so that they're just in range of the rest of your units so that when melee units charge,they get shot up AGAIN while they're engaged (yes,friendly fire will happen,but the engaged unit is likely going to die anyway).Forming square right before the engagement will also make it easir for reserves to shoot.

Also,some general tips that may help you out-

*Keep your men spread out to 2 lines thick;3 lines means that 2/3 of your men aren't firing

*Hammer and Anvil attacks mean that once melee units are engaged, you sneak cav around and slam them from behind.This will route any melee unit fast

* Shooter cav are also helpful; spread them out behind your lines and they'll get some extra shots off at oncoming charges. Plus you've got a highly mobile flanking-fire weapon that doubles as a melee platform

*Use lancers or shooter cavalry; NEVER us plain heavy or light cav unless you're a nation without lancers/shooter

*Meat Shields (putting a cheap unit like militia in front of your main body) can hold up cemats and let you get free shots; they can also let you advance against line units unscathed

Originally Posted by AqwertyBqwerty

If only we had those....

Pretty much yeah,use cav to punish them,if they brought line infantry to support make sure your charging head on to minimize losses from musket fire (and don't charge if they're already engaged,you'll just kill your own guys).Reserves also do wonders; place a couple line units behind your main body and keep them so that they're just in range of the rest of your units so that when melee units charge,they get shot up AGAIN while they're engaged (yes,friendly fire will happen,but the engaged unit is likely going to die anyway).Forming square right before the engagement will also make it easir for reserves to shoot.

Also,some general tips that may help you out-

*Keep your men spread out to 2 lines thick;3 lines means that 2/3 of your men aren't firing

*Hammer and Anvil attacks mean that once melee units are engaged, you sneak cav around and slam them from behind.This will route any melee unit fast

* Shooter cav are also helpful; spread them out behind your lines and they'll get some extra shots off at oncoming charges. Plus you've got a highly mobile flanking-fire weapon that doubles as a melee platform

*Use lancers or shooter cavalry; NEVER us plain heavy or light cav unless you're a nation without lancers/shooter

*Meat Shields (putting a cheap unit like militia in front of your main body) can hold up cemats and let you get free shots; they can also let you advance against line units unscathed

Thankyou this was a brilliant replay I loved the tip about squares well all of them really thankyou very much.

can I rep you at all? is there anything like that on here?

There is at 50 posts.
Also..i hate to suggest this..Kiting could be effective against that..

Originally Posted by Rosenkruz

Also..i hate to suggest this..Kiting could be effective against that..

Lol yeah,it is,although against mixed line/melee builds it might cause trouble

Squares used to be incredibly op in melee, but it seems they were nerfed and mostly die quicker now then in a spread line

They were nerfed?Never noticed ...aw well,I still find that it's easier to shoot troops wrapped around the square since fire gets focused at the flanks (plus it's just a habit now)

Thankyou this was a brilliant replay I loved the tip about squares well all of them really thankyou very much.

can I rep you at all? is there anything like that on here?

There's a rep system for people who've been here awhile,but I don't need any rep;thanks for considering though!

Originally Posted by Rosenkruz

Also..i hate to suggest this..Kiting could be effective against that..

Lol yeah,it is,although against mixed line/melee builds it might cause trouble

Squares used to be incredibly op in melee, but it seems they were nerfed and mostly die quicker now then in a spread line

They were nerfed?Never noticed ...aw well,I still find that it's easier to shoot troops wrapped around the square since fire gets focused at the flanks (plus it's just a habit now)

Thankyou this was a brilliant replay I loved the tip about squares well all of them really thankyou very much.

can I rep you at all? is there anything like that on here?

There's a rep system for people who've been here awhile,but I don't need any rep;thanks for considering though!

Oh,btw,not sure how helpful this is but I found a Point_Man vid where they face ottoman melee spam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlQhRhdDeas

Not Sure how helpful it would be though, I can't really see a definite tactic that they used to beat them

I was under the impression that squares are not that great against infantry melée attacks and charges.

Originally Posted by Obvious Spycrab

I was under the impression that squares are not that great against infantry melée attacks and charges.

Squares used to be incredibly op in melee, but it seems they were nerfed and mostly die quicker now then in a spread line.

lol, spare me.

Originally Posted by Tyler_the_Great

lol, spare me.

Why? LET THE SHAME BEGIN!!!!!!!

JK,you actually did very well under the circumstances

still either square, run, or charge the enemy melee troops as standing them there will only mean that his melee troops will get a high kill rate in the charge and you cant square anymore so you are susceptible to rear charges.

Squares may not be as effective as they once were but before i get meleed i always square as i dont want the melee unit to run out and then cav to come and kill me but this wont be an option for them if im already squared. Also if your squared you can make 2 lines and the sceond wont shoot your own guys. The shooter cav as effective a they are when your in melee you will shoot your own men with them so i personally wouldnt use them to shoot against units in melee. The best way is cav to attack before they engage but make sure you dont charge too late as you will kill your own men before they get to the oncoming melee units, 2 lines of men with the better melee units in front in squares and the line behind shooting and try to charge cav into there rear. Also if you have lancers dont keep them engaged run them in and out over and over again.

hope this helps

Does falling line tactic work against melee spam?

Originally Posted by Obvious Spycrab

Does falling line tactic work against melee spam?

hehe, Point Man would know all about that.

Originally Posted by Obvious Spycrab

Does falling line tactic work against melee spam?

My build and tactics with my "Ottoman Rush Build" has all the units necessary to face kiters.

I keep my Mounted Nizam behind my third row of cemaats. I keep them there for support when my cemaats attack and for disorganizing my opponent's troops. They are also good for keeping units in their place.