Bluko88
Sergeant
As the October release is quickly approaching, there's one issue in particular that rather irks me. And that is the usefulness (or lack there-of) with spears/pikes on foot.
On horseback, yes, polearms are generally your best melee option. Couched lances deal tremendous damage, and even simple spear thrusts at high horseback speeds deal reliable, if not lethal, damage. Add in the extended reach and it's pretty much a given you'll want to use polearms on horseback.
The problems arise when you attempt to use a spear/pike on foot. Let's be clear: swinging polearms (glaives, billhooks, menavliatons, etc.) are just fine on foot, if not a bit overpowered due to their ability to often one-hit kill. They are kept somewhat in check by the fact swings require a lot of free space, and the swing speed is sort of slow and predictable. So no beefing up is needed for those.
BUT thrusting spears and pikes are practically useless on foot. They have some utility in their ability to stop cavalry by stunning them, and it's bit easier to land hits on the rider as well. Though most any two-handed weapon in this game is effective for anti-cavalry use. Now spear bracing was added for pikes some updates ago, and this greatly boosts their anti-cavalry function, but outside of initial cavalry charges it isn't that practical to use. Even in the hands of the player spear bracing is difficult to make use of given the chaotic nature of battles and the fact it requires you to remain static.
So here's fix #1: Allow pikemen to move slowly (walk speed) while braced
Edit: Apparently this already possible for players by toggling walk - just the A.I. can't use it
Here's the thing; you can already turn while braced - so the argument you need to completely stationary is a bit mute. Yes realistically you need a spear planted in the ground to truly stop a horse. And while Bannerlord might have some pretensions of being a "simulator", it's ultimately a game first and foremost that needs elements of "rock, paper, scissors" to it's combat to keep it balanced, engaging, and fun.
Allowing pike braced entities some mobility would greatly boost their utility as anti-cavalry. As is the Vlandian Pikeman is quite literally probably the worst unit in the game since most Shock Troops are better at anti-cavalry or at least decent enough in melee infantry combat. Vlandian Pikeman are so poor in both regards that I consider it a "trash" unit i.e. you should never use it in-game.
If nothing is done to make pikes more effective, particularily with the A.I., I wholeheartedly believe the Vlandian Pikeman should be removed from the game.
So that addresses the anti-cavalry issues. However pikes and spears are still quite a liability on foot against infantry. Now yes as melee weapons they do have the benefit of greater range than swords and axes. However since combat in-game isn't really all that formation based you are never going to make ideal use of pikes/spears. Now while I believe in 1v1 situation a swordman/axeman should generally have the advantage over any spearman - it shouldn't be guaranteed victory.
So here's fix #2: Allow thrust-only polearms to perform a knockback sweep (in place of kicking)
So whenever an entity is using a thrusting-only polearm in both hands, allow that unit to perform a stationary sweep attack with the opposite end of the pole. Any foot troop caught in the sweep should be knocked down. Full-disclose I'm NOT a weapons expert, so this sort of move may be complete "fantasy". But again since Bannerlord isn't really a simulator I believe gameplay > realism still stands.
The problem in-game is while a spearman may be able to land a hit against a charging enemy, more often than not the enemy will still advance and reach the no-strike zone of a spearman and basically have free reign to hack them down. Unless they are also a spearman, in which case you get a lot of awkward attack attempts.
I'm not a multiplayer guy so I can't say whether this sort of attack would be balanced. But again given spears slow thrusts and the large no-strike zone I have to believe it wouldn't be that problematic. Plus to me it seems really silly to perform any sort of kick while using a spear... the whole reason you use a spear/pike is so enemies don't get that close to begin with.
So we've addressed pikes limited anti-cavalry, and pikes/spear uselessness in melee. But what about one-handed spears i.e. spear and shield? Without a doubt this was likely the pre-dominant kit of most medieval infantrymen, certainly the ancient world. So if spear and shield was so widely used, why is it so terrible in Bannerlord? Now to be fair: I'm sure spears were widely used due to the fact spears are relatively cheap weapons, and it's much easier to train someone to use a spear versus a sword.
Now yes simply having a shield does greatly help one's survivability in Bannerlord; since you can block projectiles and melee strikes. The problem again here is as soon as swordsman/axeman/horseman is close enough you cannot thrust your spear. And that's a reasonable limitation. The problem is the spearman has no other means of defense other than to perform perfectly timed shield bashes, which don't really give much of a strike opportunity anyways.
So here's fix #3: Allow spear and shield units the ability to brace
Instead of simply dangling one's spear while a shield is up, entities should be able to brace their spear head near the shield. This would both punish aggressive cavalry as well as other infantryman. Spear and shield bracing ideally would work similar to my suggestion of reformed pike bracing i.e. entity would be limited to walking speed while bracing this way. Also the damage multiplier would be no where near that of pike brace, actually probably shouldn't be any damage multiplier at all. It's simply a defensive stance spearmen with shields can adopt so they aren't completely defenseless in close quarters.
So there's my little essay. Yes I hate cavalry that much.
On horseback, yes, polearms are generally your best melee option. Couched lances deal tremendous damage, and even simple spear thrusts at high horseback speeds deal reliable, if not lethal, damage. Add in the extended reach and it's pretty much a given you'll want to use polearms on horseback.
The problems arise when you attempt to use a spear/pike on foot. Let's be clear: swinging polearms (glaives, billhooks, menavliatons, etc.) are just fine on foot, if not a bit overpowered due to their ability to often one-hit kill. They are kept somewhat in check by the fact swings require a lot of free space, and the swing speed is sort of slow and predictable. So no beefing up is needed for those.
BUT thrusting spears and pikes are practically useless on foot. They have some utility in their ability to stop cavalry by stunning them, and it's bit easier to land hits on the rider as well. Though most any two-handed weapon in this game is effective for anti-cavalry use. Now spear bracing was added for pikes some updates ago, and this greatly boosts their anti-cavalry function, but outside of initial cavalry charges it isn't that practical to use. Even in the hands of the player spear bracing is difficult to make use of given the chaotic nature of battles and the fact it requires you to remain static.
So here's fix #1: Allow pikemen to move slowly (walk speed) while braced
Edit: Apparently this already possible for players by toggling walk - just the A.I. can't use it
Allowing pike braced entities some mobility would greatly boost their utility as anti-cavalry. As is the Vlandian Pikeman is quite literally probably the worst unit in the game since most Shock Troops are better at anti-cavalry or at least decent enough in melee infantry combat. Vlandian Pikeman are so poor in both regards that I consider it a "trash" unit i.e. you should never use it in-game.
If nothing is done to make pikes more effective, particularily with the A.I., I wholeheartedly believe the Vlandian Pikeman should be removed from the game.
So that addresses the anti-cavalry issues. However pikes and spears are still quite a liability on foot against infantry. Now yes as melee weapons they do have the benefit of greater range than swords and axes. However since combat in-game isn't really all that formation based you are never going to make ideal use of pikes/spears. Now while I believe in 1v1 situation a swordman/axeman should generally have the advantage over any spearman - it shouldn't be guaranteed victory.
So here's fix #2: Allow thrust-only polearms to perform a knockback sweep (in place of kicking)
So whenever an entity is using a thrusting-only polearm in both hands, allow that unit to perform a stationary sweep attack with the opposite end of the pole. Any foot troop caught in the sweep should be knocked down. Full-disclose I'm NOT a weapons expert, so this sort of move may be complete "fantasy". But again since Bannerlord isn't really a simulator I believe gameplay > realism still stands.
The problem in-game is while a spearman may be able to land a hit against a charging enemy, more often than not the enemy will still advance and reach the no-strike zone of a spearman and basically have free reign to hack them down. Unless they are also a spearman, in which case you get a lot of awkward attack attempts.
I'm not a multiplayer guy so I can't say whether this sort of attack would be balanced. But again given spears slow thrusts and the large no-strike zone I have to believe it wouldn't be that problematic. Plus to me it seems really silly to perform any sort of kick while using a spear... the whole reason you use a spear/pike is so enemies don't get that close to begin with.
So we've addressed pikes limited anti-cavalry, and pikes/spear uselessness in melee. But what about one-handed spears i.e. spear and shield? Without a doubt this was likely the pre-dominant kit of most medieval infantrymen, certainly the ancient world. So if spear and shield was so widely used, why is it so terrible in Bannerlord? Now to be fair: I'm sure spears were widely used due to the fact spears are relatively cheap weapons, and it's much easier to train someone to use a spear versus a sword.
Now yes simply having a shield does greatly help one's survivability in Bannerlord; since you can block projectiles and melee strikes. The problem again here is as soon as swordsman/axeman/horseman is close enough you cannot thrust your spear. And that's a reasonable limitation. The problem is the spearman has no other means of defense other than to perform perfectly timed shield bashes, which don't really give much of a strike opportunity anyways.
So here's fix #3: Allow spear and shield units the ability to brace
Instead of simply dangling one's spear while a shield is up, entities should be able to brace their spear head near the shield. This would both punish aggressive cavalry as well as other infantryman. Spear and shield bracing ideally would work similar to my suggestion of reformed pike bracing i.e. entity would be limited to walking speed while bracing this way. Also the damage multiplier would be no where near that of pike brace, actually probably shouldn't be any damage multiplier at all. It's simply a defensive stance spearmen with shields can adopt so they aren't completely defenseless in close quarters.
So there's my little essay. Yes I hate cavalry that much.
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