How to use? -Pike and shot-

[Olivierus]

Hello, KGCM and Medieval TW fans, I wish to ask, how to succesfully using late-medieval, renessaince, early baroque formation.

Let's say, that I am playing as Kingdom of Portugal and my army composition is like this:

1x General's Bodyguard
3x Portugal Knights
6x Aventuros
6x Musketeers
2x Cannons
2x Shock Infatry (I believe Dismounted PK.)

Okey, so I move aventuros to the front and create a line. Musketeers behind them, forming line as avanturos do. On the sides, shock infatry. Cavalery at far side, for flanking and cannons on the higher ground.
When I do this, I always get pwned', in both attack and defence. What am I doing bad?

[Jedi Knight]

This is a good army but pikemen and halberdiers like Swiss Guard are overrated.I tested Swiss Guard against Canons of the Holy Sepulcher i got heroic victory easily.

[vietanh797]

not OP
it is realistic
like you can't charge into a phalanx in RTW here you can't charge into a wall of pike

[Jedi Knight]

not OP
it is realistic
like you can't charge into a phalanx in RTW here you can't charge into a wall of pike

Elite halberdiers should win against heavy infantries but this is Canons of the Holy Sepulcher they have 2 hitpoints.

[vietanh797]

Elite halberdiers should win against heavy infantries but this is Canons of the Holy Sepulcher they have 2 hitpoints.

ever been in front of a pike team?
you will understand it when you are there

[PrestigeX]

I would say that you have too many Muskets -- I'm imagining that your force is facing other europeans -lot of infantry, decent amount of cav.

they just end up engaging you too quickly, your muskets only fire off 1 or 2 volleys with little damage.

I usually go with 2 muskets, and also crossbow / elite archers -- the pike units just have to hold a position, I kinda see why people have trouble with them but honestly its because they expect too much from pikemen -- its like like a unit of spears except, a little more resistant from the front when they're set-up.

with fewer muskets, its easier to run them away to safety, than when you have 6 muskets -- they'll just get stuck and mess up all your fromations, and you'll start on the losing path after so much casualities.


Try pike in center, muskets on one side.. some Pavise Xbows on the other -- muskets near pikes, pavise xbow with cav behind. no infantry to clog their escape if necessary.

[ErmanesTheSecond]

How bout giving some of your infantry troops the shield wall option formation in the EDU,(this includes the Musketteers mind you), now you cant give that to Pike troops, but if you give it to your gunners, well, for one i'd say you'll hit many more shots on your opponnets, as it allows for a higher concentration of fire in a area, two, try using a heavy poleaxe or Two-Hander Sword unit in a shield wall, it works well!
Three, err yea The Ai isnt dumb, its not gonna just sit there and take volleys of musket fire before rushing, usually when you have a lot of gunners or archers more than 3 stacks ive noticed, the AI charges you even if it has inferior troops.