Question about Swordsmen

[Lonkut]

Are Swordsmen better than spearmen for defence? If yes why is the javelin thrower beating the living crap out of my swordsmen? One jav just killed 3 fortified swordsmen. I had a few spearmen on that tile and they were holding out pretty well but as soon as I removed them I lost 3 swordsmen. What the hell is going on?

 

[Dell19]

Technically they should defend the same but Spearmen are probably more likely to have been fortified and they are used far more often in defence so their defeats are more equalled by their victories. Also spearmen are cheaper to build so even with the same defence value it makes sense to keep the spearmen around so that if you do lose on defence, at least you only lost a spearmen rather than a swordsmen.

 

[Prince David]

Swordsmen are equal to spearmen for defense - both have a def of 2. Luck is always a factor in battles regardless of attack and defense. Also key is experience. A veteran spearman would be markedly better than a regular swordsman, and an elite spearman would be MUCH better. Check out the combat calculator for rough ideas of how things could go. (Sadly, I don't know where it is or I would link it. I always have to search when I want to find it)

 

[Prince David]

Here it is. Cool little utility, I really should download it . . .

www.civfanatics.com/civ3combatcalc.html