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Legionary
posted 20 June 2009 04:55
EDT (US)
1 / 17
think of it as softening the enemy before the main battle, would you rather fight 60 enemies or 70?
SaikotikGunman
Legionary
posted 20 June 2009 12:27
EDT (US)
6 / 17
Using archers to support flank and rear attacks is especially devastating.
Tittus Labienus
Legionary
posted 20 June 2009 12:31
EDT (US)
7 / 17
Archers are the counter to horse archers for nations that don't get horse archers.
Lab
Imperator Romano
Legionary
posted 20 June 2009 12:51
EDT (US)
8 / 17
How important were archers in ancient history? Very. It's the same story in the game, if used properly, archers can be very effective during battle.
I've had countless enemy units rout before even hitting my front lines because archers kept raining fire arrows at them (which lowers their morale). If you face an enemy with heavy armour then position your archers to the side protected by at least cavalry or another unit.
On a hill, or mountain, archers can devastate an entire army, especially cretan archers. And then if you're the Romans, by the time they get close to pilum range, you can finish off who's remaining. They're effective if used right.
mrcash
Legionary
posted 20 June 2009 23:02
EDT (US)
9 / 17
If you use fire arrows, you can rout elephants before they get anywhere near your lines. All factions benefit from archers, even the Romans (which hate them, apparently). They are used to wear down the morale of the enemy. Troop kills isnt everything you know...
If your looking for extra firepower though, go for onagers. Innacurate yes, but lucky hits can take out plenty of guys at once. Even the heavily armored ones. Try it =).
blakkmantis
Legionary
posted 21 June 2009 01:58
EDT (US)
10 / 17
I once won an entire small battle with nothing but archers, and I was out numbered about 2 to 1. Took a while but, I killed them all, and I didn't suffer a single loss, lol. For me it's the spearmen I don't seem to have alot of use for.
tbarak
Legionary
posted 21 June 2009 17:29
EDT (US)
14 / 17
Archers - especially when massed and using fire arrows - are also effective at routing elephants.
Also, once archers are out of arrows, you can use their secondary attack to pin an enemy so you can do hammer and anvil strikes if you have cavalry left. I've routed phalanx squads using this technique and it's funny to watch archers attacking armed phalanxes with their little knives!
Frontal attacks by archers on armoured infantry is useless, but from the sides and rear, their fire is effective. Like American Express, I never leave home without at least 3 - 4 archer units.
bobandirus
Legionary
posted 22 June 2009 05:04
EDT (US)
16 / 17
Like everyone has said, fire arrows are brilliant morralle suckers. Just re-inforcing a point.