Rhodoks, again (possible bug and suggestion)

[Spec]

Hi there.

I know I'm not the first one to complain about Rhodoks vs cavalry, but I searched and could not find satisfying answers.

Firstly, and most importantly, it appears to me that Rhodok troops never change to their spears, and stick with their swords & spiked staffs instead. While that might not be too bad of an idea against infantry, I have not seen one sergeant using his glaive against cavalry yet, which is quite a waste and should be easy to fix - and be it by taking away the swords of some of them, like in the original Mount & Blade. Maybe I just haven't seen it happen, though, and they actually do it, if that's the case please tell me ^^

The fact that polearms (when used by AI that is) seem somewhat underpowered against cavalry has been noted already several times, and so has been the suggestion of "bracing" the polearm. I support that suggestion, at least for AI.
What I'd also suggest, specifically for the Rhodok troops, would be splitting up their infantry tree into two unit types, one (ending with Sergeant) for melee, and another (ending with Veteran Pikeman or sth) against cavalry. The latter should, at their highest tier, be equipped with pikes to really play out the "anti cavalry" card. The Sergeants can stick with their swords and (mainly) glaives/spears, and protect the pikemen from enemy infantry and dismounted cavalry (Obviously I'm kinda inspired by the Swiss here, though it's not quite certain what exactly the Rhodoks are - they always seemed to be the anti cavalry faction, though). That split into pikeman and regular infantry should exist from spearman on, of course. The pikeman tree would be the equivalent (or counter-part, rather) of cavalry.

I'm not demanding this change - I'm fine with anything that makes them more useful against horsemen - I just thought it'd be a suitable way to focus them to their anti cavalry specialization. I was not exactly sure where to post this. I'm sorry if this is the wrong section or if the suggestion appears to be a demand of any sort, it really isn't. And I do know that Warband is released and major changes are unlikely to happen, I see bad need for a little boost of Rhodoks against cavalry, though, and I don't appear to be alone.

 

[TatteredBanners]

Hi there.

I know I'm not the first one to complain about Rhodoks vs cavalry, but I searched and could not find satisfying answers.

Firstly, and most importantly, it appears to me that Rhodok troops never change to their spears, and stick with their swords & spiked staffs instead. While that might not be too bad of an idea against infantry, I have not seen one sergeant using his glaive against cavalry yet, which is quite a waste and should be easy to fix - and be it by taking away the swords of some of them, like in the original Mount & Blade. Maybe I just haven't seen it happen, though, and they actually do it, if that's the case please tell me ^^

The fact that polearms (when used by AI that is) seem somewhat underpowered against cavalry has been noted already several times, and so has been the suggestion of "bracing" the polearm. I support that suggestion, at least for AI.
What I'd also suggest, specifically for the Rhodok troops, would be splitting up their infantry tree into two unit types, one (ending with Sergeant) for melee, and another (ending with Veteran Pikeman or sth) against cavalry. The latter should, at their highest tier, be equipped with pikes to really play out the "anti cavalry" card. The Sergeants can stick with their swords and (mainly) glaives/spears, and protect the pikemen from enemy infantry and dismounted cavalry (Obviously I'm kinda inspired by the Swiss here, though it's not quite certain what exactly the Rhodoks are - they always seemed to be the anti cavalry faction, though). That split into pikeman and regular infantry should exist from spearman on, of course. The pikeman tree would be the equivalent (or counter-part, rather) of cavalry.

I'm not demanding this change - I'm fine with anything that makes them more useful against horsemen - I just thought it'd be a suitable way to focus them to their anti cavalry specialization. I was not exactly sure where to post this. I'm sorry if this is the wrong section or if the suggestion appears to be a demand of any sort, it really isn't. And I do know that Warband is released and major changes are unlikely to happen, I see bad need for a little boost of Rhodoks against cavalry, though, and I don't appear to be alone.

Yeah it's an AI issue... Rhodoks are suppose to be an Anti-Cav Infantry faction, but the AI is so terrible they could get ran over by hordes of cavalry, and not once switch to a polearm that they all have.

The same problem is with the Nords. Sometimes lower tier units will have spears like the footman, and trained footman but they will never use them -- not even against cav. Sometimes the Huscarls have 2-handed axes but rarely ever use them as well. They will throw all their axes, and javelins at any given opportunity though.

I think it would be nice if they added a "secondary option" in the Firing Orders. For example with your Sergeants -- their 1st choice would be sword/shield or whatever, and their "second" choice would switch them to Glaives.

I think that would be a nice feature, we may see it in the future -- the Warband AI needs a lot more work done too it.

Other than that, I like the way you think.

 

[BobSels]

Hi there.

I know I'm not the first one to complain about Rhodoks vs cavalry, but I searched and could not find satisfying answers.

Firstly, and most importantly, it appears to me that Rhodok troops never change to their spears, and stick with their swords & spiked staffs instead. While that might not be too bad of an idea against infantry, I have not seen one sergeant using his glaive against cavalry yet, which is quite a waste and should be easy to fix - and be it by taking away the swords of some of them, like in the original Mount & Blade. Maybe I just haven't seen it happen, though, and they actually do it, if that's the case please tell me ^^

The fact that polearms (when used by AI that is) seem somewhat underpowered against cavalry has been noted already several times, and so has been the suggestion of "bracing" the polearm. I support that suggestion, at least for AI.
What I'd also suggest, specifically for the Rhodok troops, would be splitting up their infantry tree into two unit types, one (ending with Sergeant) for melee, and another (ending with Veteran Pikeman or sth) against cavalry. The latter should, at their highest tier, be equipped with pikes to really play out the "anti cavalry" card. The Sergeants can stick with their swords and (mainly) glaives/spears, and protect the pikemen from enemy infantry and dismounted cavalry (Obviously I'm kinda inspired by the Swiss here, though it's not quite certain what exactly the Rhodoks are - they always seemed to be the anti cavalry faction, though). That split into pikeman and regular infantry should exist from spearman on, of course. The pikeman tree would be the equivalent (or counter-part, rather) of cavalry.

I'm not demanding this change - I'm fine with anything that makes them more useful against horsemen - I just thought it'd be a suitable way to focus them to their anti cavalry specialization. I was not exactly sure where to post this. I'm sorry if this is the wrong section or if the suggestion appears to be a demand of any sort, it really isn't. And I do know that Warband is released and major changes are unlikely to happen, I see bad need for a little boost of Rhodoks against cavalry, though, and I don't appear to be alone.

If that happens I would not mind if all rhodok infantry just get pikes.

 

[Sarashi]

Actually the pike is my favourite weapon when playing rhodoks vs cavalry...seriously..i get most kills with it. Nothing is easier but waiting with a pike when cavalry comes towards you...(( The 2cnd tier pike of the Rhodoks, is it the Ashwood pike? Idk but its awesome)), one hit and the enemy is down.

 

[socks]

^assuming you're referring to MP, the second tier pike is the creatively named Pike It's longer than the ashwood pike, but it's much less suitable against infantry. Still, it's the only thing in the game longer than a great lance, so..

Anyway, the suggestion is good. Seems more like something a mod would do, but I'd be happy to have it in native.

 

[Jaytaro]

I sugest someone make a new comand.
you know the "Hold your Fire" or "Use blunt Weapons" they should make one that goes "Use Polearms" or "Brace For Charge" wich make all Units (If they have them) use Polearms.

 

[Faranox]

Still, it's the only thing in the game longer than a great lance, so..

Ah, but is it really? If you look carefully, you'll notice that the great lance is held much farther down the shaft than the pike and thus negates the pikes superior range.

 

[regiment77]

Hi there.

I know I'm not the first one to complain about Rhodoks vs cavalry, but I searched and could not find satisfying answers.

Firstly, and most importantly, it appears to me that Rhodok troops never change to their spears, and stick with their swords & spiked staffs instead. While that might not be too bad of an idea against infantry, I have not seen one sergeant using his glaive against cavalry yet, which is quite a waste and should be easy to fix - and be it by taking away the swords of some of them, like in the original Mount & Blade. Maybe I just haven't seen it happen, though, and they actually do it, if that's the case please tell me ^^

The fact that polearms (when used by AI that is) seem somewhat underpowered against cavalry has been noted already several times, and so has been the suggestion of "bracing" the polearm. I support that suggestion, at least for AI.
What I'd also suggest, specifically for the Rhodok troops, would be splitting up their infantry tree into two unit types, one (ending with Sergeant) for melee, and another (ending with Veteran Pikeman or sth) against cavalry. The latter should, at their highest tier, be equipped with pikes to really play out the "anti cavalry" card. The Sergeants can stick with their swords and (mainly) glaives/spears, and protect the pikemen from enemy infantry and dismounted cavalry (Obviously I'm kinda inspired by the Swiss here, though it's not quite certain what exactly the Rhodoks are - they always seemed to be the anti cavalry faction, though). That split into pikeman and regular infantry should exist from spearman on, of course. The pikeman tree would be the equivalent (or counter-part, rather) of cavalry.

I'm not demanding this change - I'm fine with anything that makes them more useful against horsemen - I just thought it'd be a suitable way to focus them to their anti cavalry specialization. I was not exactly sure where to post this. I'm sorry if this is the wrong section or if the suggestion appears to be a demand of any sort, it really isn't. And I do know that Warband is released and major changes are unlikely to happen, I see bad need for a little boost of Rhodoks against cavalry, though, and I don't appear to be alone.

i honestly dont see the problem agaisnt cavalry to rhodoks, i mean, they only have a problem if the cavalry outnumbers thm really, just bunch all of them together on top of a hill, every horseman to get into contact dies

 

[Spec]

Well, kinda, no. All-Cav charges always work against Rhodoks unless the terrain is extremely steep or they're in a castle. But anywhere outside the Rhodok territory, their armies don't stand a chance against horsemen at all.

 

[ironpants]

Either the AI need to start using secondary weapons or we need to be given a command to make them do so. Currently they have weapons they never use, but would be extremely useful; it's broken by design.

 

[regiment77]

Well, kinda, no. All-Cav charges always work against Rhodoks unless the terrain is extremely steep or they're in a castle. But anywhere outside the Rhodok territory, their armies don't stand a chance against horsemen at all.

i'm going to personally disagree, but that is my opinion, also, i am on very easy, so that might alter things a bit, so i'll concede the point to you guys