Archers: An Observation & Question

[101rstImperial]

I've noticed that, over a few Custom Games on different difficulties, that even with the lowest difficulty on it becomes impossible to use archer-volleys without getting rushed.

Scenario:

You send your archers out ahead of you, they throw out one volley before your opposition sends a few units - maybe all - charging at them.

I'm just curious, since it's really fairly aggrivating, anyone found a way around this besides just retreating?

 

[jeriko one]

I've noticed that, over a few Custom Games on different difficulties, that even with the lowest difficulty on it becomes impossible to use archer-volleys without getting rushed.

Scenario:

You send your archers out ahead of you, they throw out one volley before your opposition sends a few units - maybe all - charging at them.

I'm just curious, since it's really fairly aggrivating, anyone found a way around this besides just retreating?

This does not cease the rush but lets you to fire a couple more volleys.

1. Support your achers with infantry at the expense of breaking you lines.

2. Use Cretan Archers(very long range) so that even if Archers are in shooting range they will still be behind main line of the infantry away of the infantry charges of the enemy.

3. Guard the flanks of your archers and flank the charging enemy troops.(But do not charge, the enemy troops will be anxious because of their troops and would retreat)

 

[Dell19]

Archers still rule and I think you can turn off skirmisher mode to stop them from running.

 

[101rstImperial]

Archers still rule and I think you can turn off skirmisher mode to stop them from running.

Yeah, only problem is, they get bumrushed by the enemy.

Jeriko One: I'll try that out, thanks.

 

[Dell19]

I'm imaginining when your archers run all the way to the edge of the map and eventually get caught up by the enemy cavalry. Very annoying since it means sending your own cavalry after them or losing the archers.

 

[Truronian]

I just sit my archers behind my infantry. Usually they unleash a few fire arrows on the enemy before I rush them and they route. In more difficult battles I will swap them to regular arrows and aim them at any large groups of enemies.

 

[jeriko one]

I'm imaginining when your archers run all the way to the edge of the map and eventually get caught up by the enemy cavalry. Very annoying since it means sending your own cavalry after them or losing the archers.

The only solution to that is to put the defensive infantry(hoplites, pikemen, triarii etc) right behind the archers. However there is a risk of friendly fire when the archers shoot nearby enemies when archers get behind the defensive infantry.

 

[Dell19]

I just sit my archers behind my infantry. Usually they unleash a few fire arrows on the enemy before I rush them and they route. In more difficult battles I will swap them to regular arrows and aim them at any large groups of enemies.

I usually start with the archers in front and end up with them behind on the flanks ready to chase down routed troops. Usually I will target light enemy infantry or cavalry if it is slow moving or heavy infantry that is moving backwards.

My current formations look something like this:

----SS AAAA SS
---LLLHHHHHHLLL
--C------C------C

S-Skirmishers
A-Archers
L-Light infantry
C-Cavalry

The light infantry supports any skirmisher units that I may have and can engage enemy cavalry with my own cavalry charging in whilst the archers eventually move behind the infantry which engages. The middle cavalry can be used to charge into gaps that form in the middle or eventually flank if necessary. The proportions of troops will vary massively but thats sort of what I try to work towards even if it is levy hoplites on the flanks rather than light infantry.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

This does not cease the rush but lets you to fire a couple more volleys.

1. Support your achers with infantry at the expense of breaking you lines.

It's a calculated risk I avoid by starting my archers behind my main battle line (unless they're slingers).

2. Use Cretan Archers(very long range) so that even if Archers are in shooting range they will still be behind main line of the infantry away of the infantry charges of the enemy.

I believe they also have a stronger attack.

3. Guard the flanks of your archers and flank the charging enemy troops.(But do not charge, the enemy troops will be anxious because of their troops and would retreat)

Just set your infantry to the "Guard" stance, and they won't budge. At least in my experience they haven't.

Also, as much fun as it is to see your enemy go up in flames, don't ignite your arrows. It just slows your rate of fire. I only ignite when I'm vastly outnumbered and need to add a slight bit of panic to the enemy.

 

[Dell19]

Another option might well be to start more offensive battles. When the AI attacks it tends to charge fast moving infantry at the first engagement however on the defensive they seem much happier to sit there whilst your archers hit the lightly armoured troops.

 

[Hitti-Litti]

I use archers/slingers to trap the enemy. I order them to attack their general or heavy infantry. When they try to attack my archers, I take my cavalry from the flanks to outnumber their chasing troops. Works most of the time, just don´t attack to spearmen, coz if you have bad luck, they can slaughter your cavalry.

 

[101rstImperial]

Another option might well be to start more offensive battles. When the AI attacks it tends to charge fast moving infantry at the first engagement however on the defensive they seem much happier to sit there whilst your archers hit the lightly armoured troops.

That's a good point.

I'm actually playing Medieval: TW, as it'll take a few days before I get around to buying Rome.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Actually in RTW, when you attack, the enemy sits and waits for you. That is why when I have a large number of ranged units I try and be the defender. As that moronic AI generally charge across the field to get to you, no matter how far away you are.

 

[RickFGS]

Archers?

1st - Always use the same archers over and over, a 4 group of archers on 3 silver chevron experience can dissimate all (cretan, foresters, bowmen, you name it).

2st? protection for archers? -let me think....phalanx anyone?

3st-When playing archers you have the ability to deal against anything and at any time - chariots, elephants, snipe out enemy generals, route spartans (by cross firing, hit them on the sides not on the front), kill enemy archers, slingers, catapults, ballistas, defend just-taken cities.

4st-Archers allows you to play on defense- put your hole army on that far back hill, make a circular phalanx turtle formation and just watch as your enemy kills his entire army against you

5st-Great combo with archers - onagers, onagers drawn the enemy in (not to mention the sight of a bulder crunching 10 or so in a row), archers kill the aproaching and soften up, and your troops finish off the tired remains.

 

[Dreadnought]

2st? protection for archers? -let me think....phalanx anyone?

Sythia??????????

 

[RickFGS]

240 stacks of meat infantry on a guard mode formation staked like this:

.....................................................................................
.....................................................................................Unit1
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Unit2
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------Unit3

Archers Archers Archers Archers and so on

Note: Protect flanks the same way.

The trick is to expand the line (2 columns is the limit) to its full and stack 3 or even four weaker infantry units behind the first one in guard mode. This formation can kill even catas, once the inital blow is absorved the infantry and archer combo will route the enemy. Try playing carthage and having to use town watch and iberian infantry against roman and gauls on hardest difficulty level.

 

[Takhisis]

Or you can use skirmishers to make the AI come to you, engage them, and start shooting them fro the flanks/rear. if you can pull it off, it´s very good. If you have slingers in a forest you can use the archers as decoys and ambush the enemy with the slingers.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

I hate the fact that weather didn't affect range units as in MTW. Archers in RTW are way too strong.

With horse archer its even scarier. I can decimate an entire full stack of opposite units with just 4 units of horse archers.

 

[Takhisis]

Really? But, which horse Archers? It´s not the same to use Persian Cavalry (or Cataphract archers) or to use Scythian mercs [3(7)/2]. And, against what infantry? Try it with heavy infantry, and it´s not the same...

 

[starlifter]

I can decimate an entire full stack of opposite units with just 4 units of horse archers.

Not really. It depends on the composition of the "entire full stack of opposite units"...

If I choose, you lose... if you choose, then I can see that is a possibility. I'm assuming you have standard ammo in those 4 units of horse archers. If you have unlimited ammo, then in most cases, I'd agree with you, if units are contemporary.