animalguy
Ermahgerd
Okay I can understand these opinions but i still would like to see an upgrade to pikes prior to rifles so they can defend themselves against later medieval units other than knights
Are Pikemen useful?
- Thread starter animalguy
- Start date
jeffah3539
Leviathan
Pikemen historically were very effective units in close quarter combat. I don't really understand where Firaxis got the idea that they should just be purely mounted counter units. In my English Civil War mod (which falls during the Pike and Shot era) I adjusted the Pikeman unit to have 14 base strength and only a 50% bonus vs mounted units. This makes them useful as infantry even against Musketmen and they still have 21 (14*1.5) modified strength against mounted.
Where Pikemen were vulnerable historically was against ranged units due to their compact formations. So if I was going to modify the base game I would give them a trait that gives them -25% vs ranged attacks. I would also compensate Swordsmen and Longswordsmen by giving those Iron units a 20% bonus vs cities.
Where Pikemen were vulnerable historically was against ranged units due to their compact formations. So if I was going to modify the base game I would give them a trait that gives them -25% vs ranged attacks. I would also compensate Swordsmen and Longswordsmen by giving those Iron units a 20% bonus vs cities.
They're huge on the civil service GL slingshot Optional mentioned (which can be pulled off pretty frequently on anything short of deity if you've got the start that suits it). Even if you don't plan to mass them and go offensive that early wonder rush will leave you quite weak militarily and likely to get a DoW. But finish GL and make a quick buy and even one well-used pike will absolutely crush a warrior/archer rush. Even if you don't plan to to a GL rush that top part of the tree is great economically and pikes are the only thing in there, so you use what you have. The difference in swords and pikes is pretty negligible other than the upgrade paths.
Also, as was mentioned, if you've only got 2-4 iron (which seems very common to me) I think it's better in the long run to spend that on siege and use pikes. It'll be a slow crawl if you have to face longswords with your treb + pike army but if you've got 4 siege with logistics in place already when cannons come on line you'll make up for lost time quickly.
I end up using them quite a bit.
Also, as was mentioned, if you've only got 2-4 iron (which seems very common to me) I think it's better in the long run to spend that on siege and use pikes. It'll be a slow crawl if you have to face longswords with your treb + pike army but if you've got 4 siege with logistics in place already when cannons come on line you'll make up for lost time quickly.
I end up using them quite a bit.
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