Scoutatoi and Scoutatoi Swordsmen?

**rebypox** · January 27, 2016, 04:26 PM

Why are Scoutatoi split into two units? Why not just give them swords and spears?
The same thing goes for many units in the game. Spears were very common even for high end soldiers able two afford swords. They would carry spears as primary and swords as secondary. Why does the Kievan city guard, and Senior militia only get spears?
Why are there light men-at-arms AND seargant spearmen? It's ridiculous for a unit to carry swords but no spears.
Cavalry, archers and pikemen have secondary weapons. Why not the rest of the units?

**jurcek1987** · January 27, 2016, 05:17 PM

Sword/spear combo doesn't work as it should. It takes too long for the unit to switch weapons, that's why they were split into two units.

**MWY** · January 27, 2016, 06:32 PM

Great Idea! Lets mix some archers in aswell, I bet some bows could be afforded too. And who actually went to war without fire-support? While were at it, lets call some cavalry units in too, since most high end soldiers were mounted anyways. Would be ridiculous to go into battle without a horse. In fact, lets just call this unit "army" and we have max 1 for each faction. Strategical and tactical use of units is overrated anyways!

Sorry, I couldnt resist. On a more serious note, part of it is atleast because some spear units get boni against cavalry which is not defined for the weapon specifically. Also the tactical play/counterplay-aspect comes to mind.

**rebypox** · January 28, 2016, 09:12 AM

In rome total war most elite units had secondary weapons, that didn't seem to upset the countering aspect at all.
Since we're talking historically, hardly any man went to war armed only with a sword. A sword is a backup weapon, not a primary. A spear has excellent reach and can keep foes at bay. If they close in you can drop is and draw your sword.
In history there were virtually zero successful military units that only had swords.

**+Marius+** · January 30, 2016, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by rebypox

In history there were virtually zero successful military units that only had swords.

Plenty of soldiers throughout history choose a sword as their primary weapon of choice, it is just that, overall, spears were more popular.

**Basileus of Byzantium** · February 02, 2016, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by rebypox

In history there were virtually zero successful military units that only had swords.

Be wary when it comes to making such broad statements like this, especially when it comes to history.

**jurcek1987** · January 28, 2016, 04:16 PM

Like I said above, sword/spear combo doesn't work in M2 because when you order the unit to switch weapons they stand still for about 2 seconds which isn't a good thing if the unit is engaged in combat, hence why they were made into two units.

**Påsan** · February 02, 2016, 03:33 PM

Because the unit variety is important, spears function differently than sword unit by design and primarily because its limited what the engine allows in terms if making it balanced. Why would a spear 'n shield unit switch over to swords anyway, they have no minimal range. The mechanic you are thinking of only applies to Pikemen which Scoutatoi are not.