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Skirmishers, something to ponder....
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:08 am
by TimDee58
Why (I wondered to myself) do Javelinmen get the same number of shooting opportunities as Archers?
Surely they cannot be as mobile as Bow armed troops, given that archers would (most likely) carry a good number of arrows (say 12-20?) and no skirmisher anywhere could possibly carry more than say 2 or 3 Javelins....
So why do both get 5 shots?
Obviously Javelin armed are usually better in hand to hand combat than bow armed because they 'hang on to' their last javelin for melee use..... (?)
Wouldn't it be more realistic to allow Javelin Skirmishers 3 shooting attempts, Archers say 4, and Slingers perhaps 5
Just an observation, I'd be perfectly happy to be told why I am wrong in this assumption but perhaps it's worth pondering on?
I came up with this after winning a good number of battles without actually engaging my heavies / mediums until the last minute to clinch victory.
Re: Skirmishers, something to ponder....
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:40 am
by Cunningcairn
TimDee58 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:08 am
Why (I wondered to myself) do Javelinmen get the same number of shooting opportunities as Archers?
Surely they cannot be as mobile as Bow armed troops, given that archers would (most likely) carry a good number of arrows (say 12-20?) and no skirmisher anywhere could possibly carry more than say 2 or 3 Javelins....
So why do both get 5 shots?
Obviously Javelin armed are usually better in hand to hand combat than bow armed because they 'hang on to' their last javelin for melee use..... (?)
Wouldn't it be more realistic to allow Javelin Skirmishers 3 shooting attempts, Archers say 4, and Slingers perhaps 5
Just an observation, I'd be perfectly happy to be told why I am wrong in this assumption but perhaps it's worth pondering on?
I came up with this after winning a good number of battles without actually engaging my heavies / mediums until the last minute to clinch victory.
Good point.
Re: Skirmishers, something to ponder....
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:51 am
by rbodleyscott
Because the javelinmen are throwing one javelin per "shot" and the archers are shooting several. Not unusual for troops to carry 5 javelins.
Bear in mind that 240 javelinmen vs protected Medium Foot are only inflicting an average of 29 casualties per "shot".
TimDee58 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:08 amI came up with this after winning a good number of battles without actually engaging my heavies / mediums until the last minute to clinch victory.
That will work in exported battles - you probably have a large points advantage anyway. It may also work vs the AI in normal SP battles. It won't work so well in MP.
Javelinmen are already disadvantaged relative to slingers and archers because they have to be in an adjacent square to shoot. We really don't want to make them worse.
Re: Skirmishers, something to ponder....
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:37 pm
by Geffalrus
rbodleyscott wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:51 am
That will work in exported battles - you probably have a large points advantage anyway. It may also work vs the AI in normal SP battles. It won't work so well in MP.
It really, really won't. Useful unit for sure, but you can't take a competent human opponent out with just skirms, especially javelin ones.
Re: Skirmishers, something to ponder....
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:21 pm
by SimonLancaster
Overall, I think javelinmen are about right in the game. You have to balance history with game mechanics. Javelinmen have to run right up to the enemy and they are easily charged. Archers or slingers can sit back.