What to do when outnubered (melee)

[darklon7]

How do you fight off multiple foes in close melee-combat bye yourself? What weapon is best for the situation?

 

[Sir Lulzalot]

A glaive is good for slicing up enemies and keeping them at a comfortable range. If any get too close for comfort a club or other blunt weapon is a good choice.

 

[Magthadood482]

When you're ootnumbered, you definately need an armored horse or you will be dismounted and dead fast. I usually hold on to my 1h lance + shield, 2h polearm/2h weapon, or sword + shield. I use the 1h pole for couch-lancing enemies and the other two for fighting while I get ready to leave and come back with a couched lance.

 

[Captain Pyjama Shark]

I think that this scenario is talking about mano-a-mano combat, though.

 

[InstantBlade]

I use a 2 hander. usually an axe, but sometimes a sword.

-Better the weapon (+ skills) that allows you an almost sure 1 hit one kill (big axes and big hammers are niiiice).
-If you get the hang of it, aim for the soft spot of the opponent (if any), or is head. Medium to good armor and a scarf over the head? The head!
-Take good swings at the enemy, meaning:
-Don't stay put! Learn how to move, swing, dodge blows. The AI isn't that varied and usually makes a few mistakes (is quite predictable) - learn them.
-Sometimes you don't really need to defend yourself. Move in the direction of your enemies strike (the blow is coming from your right and cutting from there to your left? Go to your left - or some rare times, your right - it really depends), specially if he is using a bladed weapon. Often that is enough to get 1, 2 or even 0 damage points - if your armor isn't too ****ty, of course.
-If he is piercing you or using a blunt damage weapon (and he is powerfull enough), then it might be a good idea to block him, or avoid the blow altogether...
-If the enemy has mostly spears you don't want to run directly towards him, specially if you're alone. You can circle him and fall back or just circle him/them. Keep striking..
-If necessary, and in dire need, take out your shield (carry a shield on your back. Good for the sissy archers and for such situations as these). Try to get some distance from your enemies before you can strike again with your weapon.
-If you notice you are as fast as your enemies while they are advancing and you're retreating... then you are faster then them. Need I say more?
-If you have more troops, but they aren't by your side, call them. They might create the caos around you in order for you to make some kills or get away from danger.


Hope it helps... I'll write more if I remember.

PS: Oh, and none of these are rules of engagement. Sometimes this stuff doesn't work, or - it doesn't work in every situation. Make up as you go along

 

[Lord Bryggan]

Actually, I could use the advice too.  I'm making my first char that was not milk fed on couched damage kills till he can smash people apart with a two handed axe, letting the plate armour do the defense.  Now I'm going for the sword/shield jarid combo, and, well... I'm not dominating the way I'd like to.

Right now when outnumbered I run backwards, blocking mostly but going for the odd swing here and there.  If I have 5 guys on me I can usually kill about 2 of them if I'm on my game(unless I back up into a tree accidently).  With getting stunned and getting knocked down it seems pretty hopeless.

 

[Bruhlan Revan]

I use a halberd when their in medium range. When they get closer I woop out my 2h Sword. If I was outnumbered while I was on a horse and their army were on horses then I will just have a bow and some arrows. I'll be running away from them while I shoot them in the head! 

 

[Lu]

I love using a good bastard sword.  Very versatile weapon.

 

[Hellebore]

heavy 1 handed axe + shield

don't even really need any skill to survive one against many with that. That one hit kills like a 2 hander, just time the swings so when you drop your shield to swing you don't get hit first.

 

[Bruhlan Revan]

I don't really like using shields when I'm up close and personal. But when I know that I'm against a good little force of archers then I'll use it.

 

[Tibertus]

If you've been dismounted, your best chance is to head towards the enemy and take as many out one by one before they have a chance to clump around you in large numbers. I'd suggest a great axe for good one hit kills while they are still spread apart, and then switching to mace and shield when you need to be more defensive.

 

[Magthadood482]

I think that this scenario is talking about mano-a-mano combat, though.

Well, anyway I rarely end up doing that. But yes, I start the melee by couching.

 

[Thundertrod]

I face this a lot in turnaments I try to keep one enemy betwwen myself and the rest of them. I like to use eather the blanced iron staff or a fighting pick.
fast wepons like dggers work prety has well becuase you can stun lock the opponit by attacking faster then it can recover from the last hit.

 

[duracell]

How do you fight off multiple foes in close melee-combat bye yourself? What weapon is best for the situation?

If you have a two hander you should keep your distance like running diagonally and swinging the axe like a madman, if you have good armor and a shield just run into their face and beat them with one of the short maces, they are devastating at very close range (and the knock down effect is a nice bonus too)

Overall its better to NOT get mobbed, the best way to train yourself and learn the tricks is to do the always available melee fights in the arenas.

 

[darklon7]

Thanks guys, I'll try some of the suggested tactics. I love using infantry armies. My personal strategy is to use a long 1h-axe w/shield and throwing axes. But what I meant is when you are surrounded by the mob on foot (by the way, usually don't try to get outnumbered). What usually happens is that I'm fighting multiple small waves of horse archers with sabers and shields as there melee weapons. I set my archers on a hill nearby and set my infantry in front while cavalry sweep the flanks. The enemy has their main force protecting their leader. They constantly send waves of horse archers over small periods of time causing mass chaos. The aftermath usually ends up involving my few troops left near the edge of the map in small bands of 5-8 soldiers trying to stay together while I'm by myself hiding behind rocks or trees taking cover with some ammo left trying to fire it off on approaching dismounted horse archers with some discouraging enemy cavalry left trying to flank me out of cover.

 

[Kraven]

Hmm, i tend to use my trusty bastard sword and use medium /sometimes heavy armor (depending on my athletics skill, the higher, the heavier armor, always wanna be faster than me enemy), then i run out of the mob, run through it, kill a few, run out, run back in kill a few, constantly trying to scatter them.

Playing full damage ofcourse, so it gets risky if not done properly.

 

[Amroth]

A well-aimed throwing knife to the face puts a few down before they get to me, I just go for the guys who have weak head armor first.  After that I rely on my Sword of War to take down most guys in one hit..has wicked range on it, too.

 

[Taateli]

Oh, in those situations I alt+tab, put some Amon Amarth on, unsheat my nordic sword and just slaughter them.

If there is literally TOO MANY coming, walk backwards. They'll form a line, and you just have to slice and parry, until whole line lies dead colouring the grass with deep red.

"For each of us, there are four of them
It matters not to us
We won't leave this field in shame
We are here to crush!"

 

[Taateli]

When you're ootnumbered, you definately need an armored horse or you will be dismounted and dead fast. I usually hold on to my 1h lance + shield, 2h polearm/2h weapon, or sword + shield. I use the 1h pole for couch-lancing enemies and the other two for fighting while I get ready to leave and come back with a couched lance.

Hah, I sense a rookie here.

 

[killer-blead]

When you're ootnumbered, you definately need an armored horse or you will be dismounted and dead fast. I usually hold on to my 1h lance + shield, 2h polearm/2h weapon, or sword + shield. I use the 1h pole for couch-lancing enemies and the other two for fighting while I get ready to leave and come back with a couched lance.

Hah, I sense a rookie here.

The smell of rookie flesh.. mmm. nope no rookie.