Modifying Billmen

**Daovonnaex** · January 16, 2007, 09:43 AM

English infantry-centric tactics required excellent, flexible units which could slice through infantry and cavalry alike. While billmen do crush most infantry in M2TW and LtC, they have no anti-cavalry bonus. I know for sure than the Danes and French both have units which are anti-cavalry and armor-piercing.

I just modified all of the bill units by a spear bonus of 8 (spear_bonus_8), which is equivalent to most other anti-cavalry infantry.

Also, I noticed that the morale stats of the bill units are equivalent to bill militia units. Perhaps one or the other should be changed? I think there should be an advantage to using professional soldiers over militia units.

**Lusted** · January 16, 2007, 09:59 AM

I just modified all of the bill units by a spear bonus of 8 (spear_bonus_8), which is equivalent to most other anti-cavalry infantry.

And you've just effectively made them much worse in combat against other infantry. The spear bonus gives a negative effect in combat against non-cav units. Thats why i haven't given the billmen it.

**Daovonnaex** · January 16, 2007, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Lusted

And you've just effectively made them much worse in combat against other infantry. The spear bonus gives a negative effect in combat against non-cav units. Thats why i haven't given the billmen it.

How does the negative effect manifest itself? Is there a way to counteract it, perhaps by increasing the attack value of the weapon and maybe decreasing the spear bonus to 4?

**Lusted** · January 16, 2007, 10:04 AM

How does the negative effect manifest itself? Is there a way to counteract it, perhaps by increasing the attack value of the weapon and maybe decreasing the spear bonus to 4?

It manifests itself as a negative bonus against infantry, whilst what you suggest may help Billmen would still be weaker against infantry. I am keeping them as what they were in normal M2TW, shock troops for use against other infantry and engaged cavalry.

**Daovonnaex** · January 16, 2007, 10:06 AM

Sorry to keep bugging you, but does the spear bonus result in an equivalent drop in attack value against infantry, or is it more drastic?

**Lusted** · January 16, 2007, 10:07 AM

Sorry to keep bugging you, but does the spear bonus result in an equivalent drop in attack value against infantry, or is it more drastic?

I am not sure, i do not think it is a drop in attack, just a modifier aplied tot he unit making it weaker against infantry.

**Daovonnaex** · January 16, 2007, 10:12 AM

All right, in light of this information I have restored my billmen to normal until I can find out more about how the anti-cav modifier works. I suppose English players can just keep using Longshanks tactics against cavalry.

**Soulghast** · January 16, 2007, 10:16 AM

Isn't the billhook bugged guys?

**Lusted** · January 16, 2007, 10:21 AM

Isn't the billhook bugged guys?

In M2Tw yes, but i've got a workaround for the bug in my mod.

**Soulghast** · January 16, 2007, 10:25 AM

Wasn't this fix only for axe units? That's what I have been thinking.

**Daovonnaex** · January 16, 2007, 10:25 AM

What's the bug in vanilla?

**Lusted** · January 16, 2007, 10:28 AM

Wasn't this fix only for axe units? That's what I have been thinking.

Billmen use the 2 handed axe animation so they're bugged as well. The full list of bugged units is:

Billmen
Bill Militia
Heavy Billmen
Heavy Bill Militia
Dismounted English Knights
Dismounted Noble Knights
Dismounted Portugese Knights
Free Company Men At Arms
Varangian Guard
Norse Axemen
Woodsmen
Croat Axemen
Berdiche Axemen
Tabardariyya
Pilgrims
Religious Fanatics
Eagle Warriors

The bug with 2 handed units is where they will not attack cavalry in melee combat, and very rarely attack infantry in melee combat, meaning they dont really kill anything after they've charged. My workaround gives the units with the bug the JHI animation, and rebalanced stats as a result.