Throwing javelins over your own troops

[buncheesy]

I am not sure about this. I recently had a battle on a bridge where 2 prussian units formed a spear wall accross the end of the bridge and javelin infantry threw javelins from directly behind them into the malleeing enemy. I came to the conclusion that only 50-60% of the javelins were actually going over the prussians and the rest were spearing them in the back! After action casualties showed quite a few own kills. In another bridge battle I used quite a few javelin units throwing into a surrounded enemy in mallee and noted very high own kills, as well as the destruction of a very superior force.

is it just a really bad idea to try and throw javelins into the fray over the head of your frontline troops engaged in mallee? Would it be better to have the javelin infantry (chude militia) frontline in guard mode throwing javelins and being sacrificed prior to medium/heavy infantry joining the fray?

[Maltacus]

Javelineers are better than many troops at shooting/throwing over the heads of others but the best thing is, as always, to find a spot with a clear view if that is practicable. If javelineers are positioned behind a line of infantry, try to target enemies that are well behind those that melee your infantry. Then the javelins will be thrown in a greater arch and more will fly over the infantry line.

Personally I dislike having missile troops stand in front of infantry as a fodder unit, but it can be useful in times. At bridges (and gates) I have never had as good results as when not entirely blocking the enemy flowing inside or across. By that I mean giving them a bit of space to spread out so they have less chance of pushing back your infantry by their sheer mass. That will also cause some enemy units to be separated from others so you can make out which ones to target to minimise friendly fire. In the case of the two prussians, they could position themselves forming an open "V" or a corridor into which the javelineers can throw. Those formations will give the enemy soldiers a bit of space to spread out - thereby becoming less effective - and get in the way of each other.

It is not really a bad idea to throw javelins over the heads of engaged troops, but it is much harder than it seems at first glance to do it very good. I do not think it is generally a better idea to have them at front but it may be worth it if you for example face units with a very dangerous charge that and you need to protect more valuable units (perhaps like axemen who are good in melee but lacks defense against charges).

[Homeros]

Use one or two disposable units to hold the bridge plus a healthy number of javelineers to hammer the enemy. Those disposable units will eventually break, but at that point your javelins should have decided the battle in your favor anyway.

Another effective way to defend bridges is to deploy your troops in a V formation. You can place missile units in front to slaughter the enemy from the front, left, and right. They'll have a clear shot which makes them far more deadly. When the enemy has most (or all) of its units on your side of the bridge - but still without anything resembling a battle formation - hit them with your infantry and cavalry from all sides. The enemy will break almost instantly!