The Famous Shield Wall

[Archonsod]

Modern infantry squad based tactics work well. You can't put down suppression fire with a crossbow, but a bolt or two can distract or duck the enemy long enough to move from one point of cover to the other. The old sectional advance; splitting the group in two and having one advance from cover to cover while their comrades cover with ranged weapons; can be highly effective.

 

[Temujin]

Too many 300 fans running around?

yes because only 300 has ever mentioned shieldwall ey?

The saxons don't mean anything to you I guess? or scandinavians, also a lot of us are also total war players, we've had shieldwalls in barbarian invasion, M2TW and kingdoms, as well as pikewalls


@op: the idea, the thought of standing in a shieldwall just like your norse in MTWII did in so manny of your battles is just wonderfull, I don't care if I play 100 times  and stand in a shieldwall 100 times and die in that shieldwall 100 times 5 seconds after the round started, I've stood in a shieldwall like my saxons of barbarian invasion and my norse in kingdoms.

Alltough lately I'm trying out different troop types for myself, archers, and xbows but I'm a horrible shot, need lots of practice but it's fun to take up the supportive role

 

[Temujin]

I still say the french approach is the best in warband.

Spit ont he floor, mumble filthy peasants, and charge whilst screaming: Montjoie St Denis?


oops doublepost can a mod merge posts please

 

[Skot the Sanguine]

Usually it is only held tight when getting shot at by archers from a distance.  Once the cavalry closes we usually spread out a small amount to maneuver but stay close enough to support each other.

Doing that the opposite way around might be a wee bit more effective

I know logically you are right, but the reasoning is as follows....
Tightening when archers are near has apparently prevented arrows from finding a lucky gap in the shield.  It has also stopped archers who had a slight angle on the line from hitting someone in that way, since the next shield down the line is blocking him.

As for spreading out when cavalry comes....realistically you would want to come together densely to prevent getting stampeded...unfortunately the game does not model that effect at all.  If you stand close together it just means the horse can run over each of you in turn...and your tightness impedes you ability to strike back.

So...in the real world you are right, but in Warband....heh.

 

[Archonsod]

Tightening when archers are near has apparently prevented arrows from finding a lucky gap in the shield.  It has also stopped archers who had a slight angle on the line from hitting someone in that way, since the next shield down the line is blocking him.

Yeah, but that just wears down the shield. Even with the best shields you'll lose the shield long before I'm out of arrows, and a shield wall without the shield is pretty much a euthanasia queue. The key thing is the randomisation of the trajectory. No matter how good an aim the player is, the arrow will still scatter. The further away the archer, the more this affects the shot. Spread out, and either I hope to get lucky with my scatter 'rolls', or I'm forced to close in so it's no longer an issue (thus making me vulnerable to your own archers). Close together and it doesn't matter, even if the arrow scatters I'll hit something.

If you stand close together it just means the horse can run over each of you in turn...and your tightness impedes you ability to strike back.

Depends on the horse. IIRC a warhorse can roll over three guys or so before it stops.

 

[Skot the Sanguine]

That is true about the shield breaking before you run out of arrows.  Luckily the more recent versions' shields are more resilient to missile damage.  The reality in my experience though is that the enemy rarely is patient enough to expend enough arrows (or even focus on just one person) before either they come charging in closer, or more commonly, their infantry and horsemen do.  At that point they are either killed or victorious and (if not the latter) we now just need to mop up those pesky archers

As for the horses....this is where I wish the new maneuverability given to the lighter horses remains but their ability to stomp infantry is severely cut (and their health too).  Warhorses on the other hand should be less maneuverable but have both higher health/armor and, yes, the ability to slam into formations with confidence!

 

[Ati]

What does "IIRC" mean?

 

[stygN]

If I Recall Correctly.

So, IIRC, IIRC means If I Recall Correctly.

(Or... maybe its Remember... I don't remember)

For that matter, AFAIK means As Far As I Know.

 

[EvolutiveBrain]

Are you one of these cavalries that just go rushing and dies, without participating it teamwork? Shield walls in plain open fields won't work, sure. But near buildings they are good because all your infantry cover each other so cavalry that try to attack one infantry in the rear gets piked by another. Same for archers/xbowmen, they're covered  from cavalry now more than just hiding in houses. Shield walls means teamwork and teamwork and skill decide who wins in M&B, and not mass cavalry or faction, equipment is just a minor part.

Sometimes there will be no buildings nearby, or no buildings at all,  but I very much agree with what you say, very good.