Multiplayer Siege Tactics discussion

[TMAN78]

A tactic i would suggest in siege when the flag is in danger. Is to make a circle with muskets in the center,  and a second, outer circle with pikes. I doubt this tacic would be used with pubbers, but if you are playing with a clan, or with your mates, I think this would be a good defenceive tactic.

Has anyone god any tactics taht you want to share?

 

[foxmoor]

Well on defensive sieges i order all to hold in front of a ladder stand closex2 and switch to mellee weapons.
Basically i never lost with this tactic. i have like 100 casualties and the enemy like 350.

 

[TMAN78]

Sorry, i mean multiplayer siegies.

 

[TheGrim]

For multiplayer sieges, as a Defender, I usually go to one of the higher positions on the walls. I put all the starting money into good bullets and the best musket. From there, I start trying to pick off the enemies as they come from their spawn. Once I've got enough money, I'll get a pistol and some better armor, then camp out by the ladders and pick off the enemies as they try to rush inside.

If you are aiming for money, that should do it well for you.

 

[Majestic7]

The usual problem in sieges is...not enough infantry. The flag is taken or lost due to this little fact. Sure, it is good to have musketeers for support, but few musketeers dare to engage up close. As an attacker, I think any faction could roll the siege on the attack simply by having 50 - 75% infantry and engaging en masse on specific point. Then just going for the flag, ignoring shooters on the walls etc.

Likewise, when I'm (rarely) defending, I see the flag lost mostly because defenders don't have enough infantry by the flag itself. Musketeers on the walls shooting downwards at the yard do little good in the end. I should really learn how to fight in close combat one of these days, so I could start playing infantry without just dying...

 

[TMAN78]

yes inf is needed to defend, just nobody goes for it...

 

[nalmighty]

i dont see the fun of musketeer anymore  i got bored of  missing all the time i like to be inf if the faction is right such as sweeden so i can get a halberd but if its cossacks i  will give up.

 

[TheGrim]

The problem is that everyone started out normally, like in WB. However, then people got one or two lucky shots with the pistol or rifle, and got hooked. Because of this fact, tons of people start out as Musketeer with the thought that they are going to be running around popping Cavalry off their horses and sniping Infantry from long range.

And this almost never happens, and usually they get easily cut down by Cavalry or Infantry.

The only problem I have with Infantry is their power. I cannot tell you how many times, as Cavalry, I'll be charging towards some enemies, only to have an Infantry unit jump up, swing his massive two handed axe, and kill both me and my horse with one hit.

Even using a top tier War Horse, and the strongest armor, even STANDING STILL, I will get one hitted. The top tier two handed Infantry weapons are absolutely slaughtering weapons. I'd love if they did less damage, and also if pistols did MORE damage. At close range, if an enemy in low armor is rushing me, I'll pull out the pistol, take aim, and shoot them in the chest. They will then hit me twice and kill me.

 

[Autumn]

I play alot of cav and infantry, I totally agree with the first part of your post about the way newer players get drawn to the musket but i disagree with your sentiment about 2 handers and the pistols power.

I disagree regarding the horse because at the end of the day from horseback you should be using the lance and as such have the advantage of range over the two hander. if he has managed to jump up past your lance to do a jumping twohanded swing then tbh he deserves a kill. Also in regards to the pistol, enough people choose guns over infantry weapons as it is with out making them more attractive and it isn't like you can't have a sword as backup for fighting the two hander who comes at you.

there are some really talented musket users playing but alot of the time as an attacker i feel like half the defending team are just canister shot, most of them missing wildly but one of them will hit due to sheer probability... sure they get the odd kill but are no match for a sustained infantry assault. There are a few maps that this isn't the case such as Vyborg and Osheck (pretty sure I have spelt those wrong) where infantry have to get down corridors or through tight choke holds and even the worst musket player can sit just aiming at the middle of a doorway knowing an infantry body will have to pass via that exact spot. Mind you, even in this situation mass infantry is still the way to go, Vyborg is such a badly designed map but it doesn't help matters when over half the attacking team choose muskets and stand outside the castle trying to pick defenders off the walls.

I do love breaking through a choke point as infantry and slaughtering serveral panicking musket players... always suprises me how many you can kill before you come across a decent player who can block good times

 

[Thunderbird Anthares]

theres a reason to that 
newbs like me use muskets because theyre EASY and you can stay hidden way back and spit lead on someone who just happens to stay on one spot for half a second.... melee is very hard in WFaS compared to ranged and most just cant cut it... i have a problem with it myself despite knowing how it works - also,ranged works VERY well in SP - most people expect the same in MP
and yes,people tend to panic when infantry gets close,thats why inf-swarm always works so well 

 

[TheGrim]

theres a reason to that 
newbs like me use muskets because theyre EASY and you can stay hidden way back and spit lead on someone who just happens to stay on one spot for half a second.... melee is very hard in WFaS compared to ranged and most just cant cut it... i have a problem with it myself despite knowing how it works - also,ranged works VERY well in SP - most people expect the same in MP
and yes,people tend to panic when infantry gets close,thats why inf-swarm always works so well 

That's the problem with the MP. With all the noob players spamming as musketmen, a lot of the time they don't necessarily aim, they just try to snipe anyone they see. Subsequently, almost all of their shots miss. Then, they will camp a predictable location, but if more than three or four infantry move up, they freak out, fire randomly, and try to run.

Needless to say, they die. Because so many untrained, ineffective players are choosing a support role, they are unable to do their job correctly and can get the team killed, unless there happens to be a veteran player to save everyone.

I have seen examples where there are musketmen standing ON THE WALLS above the flag, with infantry standing there, shields up, backs turned, facing somewhere else, and the noob players are SO CLOSE. Then, they decide not to fire at the infantry, but think, "Oh! Sweet! Look at that charging cavalry dude! I'm gonna shoot his horse and totally pwn him!" and they fire at the horse, miss, and we lose the game.

Everyone was pissed.

 

[Autumn]

I supose not every one is playing for the win, I myself don't always choose the most effective setups but that which i find more enjoyable. For example I never use spears but i know that when used in a group they are very very effective. I do find it funny when the musket troops sitting on the wall are still aiming at targets near their spawn when there are closer enemies sitting on the flag

 

[Scully]

Go inf, hide for a little bit until they get inside/on the walls, then rush out and chop musketeers heads off. I got 7 kills in under 10 seconds that way.

 

[KidKoala]

If im playing on a siege map I usually go musketeer, It's too frustrating to go infantry because A) you die all the time mostly for little or no gain atall B) the magority of the defending team are Musketeers and so if you try running at them with a sword you just get shot and regardless of armor unless it's that half plate the swedes have, two hits and you're dead.

If Im attacking and want to try and be useful (only on map's that aren't a bottleneck spam fest such as Castle on a Hill and Monastary Fortress. Vyborg, Nomad camp and Osherek are just not fun atall when attacking) I usually go cavalry, remove the horse, equipe myself with a decent sword, light armor and a carbine and try and get in the fortress round the side. This tends to make me more versatile

 

[Majestic7]

I mostly play as attacker because it is more challenging. I enjoy being a musketeer, because there is just something fun about taking out enemy snipers through tiny murder holes from the outside. Other favorite is sneaking inside through some back door and sniping ignorant defenders from behind. That and dropping lancers/horse archers that come riding in the spawn area for easy kills. Dropping a horseman at full gallop from far away is very satisfying. (I think I've got Autumn a few times like that and it has certainly made my day, hehe.) I actually enjoy the challenge of going without any melee weapon at all, makes it all more exciting and tactical.

When Swedes are attacking, then I play as a defender and enjoy potshooting them. Once Swedes are balanced (hope that day comes), then I'm sure I'll enjoy playing them, but till them, I'll just always be killing Swedes whenever possible.

All those things being said, I try to be tactical and provide advantage for my team, not just rack up kills. When I defend, I concentrate on killing gate breakers etc. When I attack, I try to drop the guys who are defending ladders from behind to let our guys take the walls etc. Killing without purpose is bad playing, in my opinion, even if it gets you at the top of kill list.

Does anyone else think the Cossacks get too little air time? I like playing Cossacks because they get Miquelets without being totally overpowered.

 

[Autumn]

yup i am sure you have popped me off my horse a few times at full gallop.

 

[Costello]

Totally agree. Never enough infantry. Really every musketeer needs a melee soldier to defend him. Nice to see some formations. Muskets forming line behind the gate for instance. They said it would never happen!

 

[Archonsod]

Likewise, when I'm (rarely) defending, I see the flag lost mostly because defenders don't have enough infantry by the flag itself. Musketeers on the walls shooting downwards at the yard do little good in the end. I should really learn how to fight in close combat one of these days, so I could start playing infantry without just dying...

If the attackers are at the flag it's only a question of time before you lose regardless of how many players defend it; it raises a lot slower than it falls.

The problem isn't the amount of muskets, the defender should go predominantly muskets as it allows them to attack without having to leave the defences exposed. It's how they use them that's usually the problem; sniping off the walls is utterly pointless. Not only are you unlikely to hit, but defenders win by making the attackers run out of time; if you're killing them at the spawn point it's a lot less effective than forcing them to spend a minute simply walking to the fight after every respawn.
Generally speaking, the best strategy for the defenders is to set up musket lines at chokepoints, covered by a few infantry. When the enemy tries to attack, you fire a volley and let the infantry mop up anyone still standing. Only thing you need to be wary of is grenades.

For the attacker the issue is largely the same as warband - people spawning and simply running in so they arrive piecemeal rather than en masse. What you need to do as the attacker is form into larger groups and push forwards. Don't push constantly for the flag either; if half of your group goes down then hold the position till they catch back up from the respawn. Think of it as a push - keep pushing the defenders back and don't give them a chance to regain the ground, apply constant pressure and eventually they'll collapse.

Totally agree. Never enough infantry. Really every musketeer needs a melee soldier to defend him.

Not really, I've clobbered a fair few to death with my musket. Saves ammo.

 

[Majestic7]

If the attackers are at the flag it's only a question of time before you lose regardless of how many players defend it; it raises a lot slower than it falls.

This might be true for small amount of players, but definitely isn't for 60-100 player sieges. I've played those a lot and it usually takes several tries for the attacker to take the flag. During that there is intensive fighting by the flag itself. If there isn't defending infantry there to push the attackers away, they will win, no matter how many musketeers there are sniping on the walls and stuff.

 

[TMAN78]

^^ this