Battle idea: mantraps/spikes

[boxleitnerb]

Again this comes from the Simon Scarrow novel I just finished and I really like the idea:

Spikes. Tetraedric metal or wood spikes that always sit on three ends with one end pointing upwards:


(Special?) Units could be able to deploy them directly in front of their line once or twice during a battle (or before if one assumes a fixed defensive position).

Positive effects:

• devastating against cavalry charges
• moderately irritating against advancing infantry in loose formation
• more irritating against advancing infantry in tight formation

Negative effects:

• Once deployed it cannot be cleared or only very slowly
• While the spikes are being deployed, the unit is vulnerable as the formation is not closed
• Dangerous for own units if forgotten

This is a great thing to be researched. Only then would it be available. Very effective against bow cavalry like the Parthians if used properly. But not a wonder weapon, just something to even out the odds a little.

[The Great Montrose]

Brilliant, special units should have that as an ability, and brilliant books

[maximusdecimusm]

Great idea! I'm not sure if we should be able to use these all the time or just when defending.

By the way, those spikes are called caltrops (or they were during medieval times).

[The Roman Republic]

Yeah that would be epic for defending seiges ect, also what is needed would be fossa pinica for defending camps and small forts.

[Lord Dakier]

As long as its something simple like you deploy with a specific area and it reduces unit speed by -10% and lose -1 attack... not so over powered that way.

[TheRomanRuler]

You should not be able to use them during battle, unlike mines in modern day, ancient soldiers were not carrieng these with them.

[Gaius Marius Maximus]

You should not be able to use them during battle, unlike mines in modern day, ancient soldiers were not carrieng these with them.

+1, perhaps an addition to the Roman fortifications but not an option for the troops

[boxleitnerb]

You should not be able to use them during battle, unlike mines in modern day, ancient soldiers were not carrieng these with them.

In the novel they were. You always have a whole column with provisions, materials, ammo etc. Why not?

[Ichon]

ehhh... this had been mentioned in at least 5 threads already. Just small search would show that and then bump any one of those.

[SturmChurro]

It would be useless, as wooden stakes would be sufficient and that isn't to mention it would be hard to implement properly. What would it really do to units that wooden stakes couldn't? Slow them down by poking their feet?

[The Great Montrose]

It would be useless, as wooden stakes would be sufficient and that isn't to mention it would be hard to implement properly. What would it really do to units that wooden stakes couldn't? Slow them down by poking their feet?

caltrops would be less easy to see than stakes and there would be more of them so no easy way through them, plus shoes werent very good back then and caltrops would cripple someone taking them out of the fight

[Lord-Fisher]

I like the idea, but wouldn't this encourage allot of camping?

[Ichon]

Caltrops were more against cavalry and elephants than anything else and would be interesting to use with men dismounting now. Could simply wound the horses if cavalry charged through area with caltrops and force the cavalry to fight dismounted. Perhaps simply in deployment phase if a general has the right skills and doesn't mind spending a little extra money can deploy 1-4 small areas of caltrops.

[The Great Montrose]

really starting to hope these can be in the game, idea keeps getting better each time I see it

[zg0301zg]

nice suggestion, although the most logical would be that this kind of thingies is available for auxilray troops, since there will be over 700 units in game, it would be nice that some units have certain abilities since they also said there will be a tech tree....so it would give you high varierty of combaning and battles would be more interesting
+1

[JaM]

if they add it, i bet it will be the same nonsense, as immediately deployed stakes light infantry had.... so i guess we will be better without this...

[Ne Obliviscaris]

Perhaps a 'Sapper' type unit of Engineers for the 'Civilised' Factions could provide such. Or the abilities to be unlock-able for Legionaries provided you et the Tech Tree upgrades to build a Training Ground. Caltrops (The Spikes), Trenches and protective Earth works are all historically attested to.

[Coleus]

Spikes are a must, hope to see them in the way that Light Infantry have them in ETW/NTW.