I've found that wildlings are an excellent option for fighting against cavalry. Especially against vlandian banner knights and Imperial cataphracts. Let me explain: One of the factors that determine how much damage is taken from any attack is velocity. This is important. The base damage value for the wildling's hooked javelin is 117. While I haven't been able to find the exact formula for calculating the actual damage taken by the target based on combat variables, I can say after many "tests" (read: absolute massacres) that a thrown javelin deals about twice as much damage to a charging cavalry unit as it would deal to an almost stationary infantryman. The reason for this is that the infantryman is being hit with the force of a thrown javelin, while the cavalry is being hit with a javelin that, relative to him, *has the same velocity as the horse he's riding.* At that speed, the javelin effectively stops being a javelin, and becomes a ballistae bolt. Despite the excellent armor worn by banner knights and cataphracts, two hits is the most I've seen them survive. And when they're charging a 100+ size loose formation of wildings, the end result is consistently half of the enemy cavalry dying in the opening seconds of the battle, and almost no casualties suffered by the wildlings.
that's similar to my testing experiences too. Javelins units aren't good against cav because of their raw equipment but because of the DMG of the javelin after the calculation. As you say, it must be said that loose works very well, while other formations aren't as good for that. unfortunately this video is lacking when it comes to add information like this, as it was the very first of the series and i was trying to understand what worked while keeping it short. The later videos include information like this and are honestly much better than the very first i made
While the wildling isn’t really good, thats not how it’s supposed to be used. Most of the Wildlings in these test weren’t able to throw all of their javelins. The correct way to use them is either mixed with heavier infantry or in loose formation and backoff til they used all of their javelins.
Isn't that roughly what i say in the video towards the end? I haven't given a vote to them for the reasons you describe ( it's probably a 3/5). It's a uique unit who plays in a very different way, But, all units have been tested in the exact same way. The wildling might have had better results if other tactics where to be used but the Melee efficiency is still an important value when evaluating infantry. Not all the wildlings will have the chance to throw their javs. So calculating the Melee survivability and have them throw some javs i think makes for a good indication of the unit. But you can see the destruction their javs can cause in the 3 step cut ( 4:21): Where they just destroy low tier (T3) units holding ground. that's what they excel at.
How on Earth do I make a unit of just skirmishers? I keep getting Oathsworn in the unit because they both have throwing weapons. This is soooooooooo frustrating.
Since this was the first video of this format i didn't quite had the entire thing pinned down. altough the information in the video is still valid i will re-make this one in the future. I am just not happy with it. Same goes for most of Battania
Im planning on doing a roguery heavy empire culture character that'll mostly use bandits and battanian troops using bandits to fill garrisons and make up the bulk of my field and siege forces with contingents of wildlings, mounted skirmishers, and fian champions. Mostly using sea raiders for frontline infantry and using the wildlings and mounted skirmishers as flankers and chasers and the fian champions along with bulk forest bandits. The reason I picked empire is because of the character creation options. I plan to mostly invest in one-handed, throwing, roguery, charm, and athletics. Eventually I'd get stewardship and engineering for when I start doing kingdoms and sieges.
The Wildling synergizes well with the Fian exceptionally. Why not just field only the fian then? Because troop wage costs for fielding a full fion army is nutso and because I've lost full fion armies to shooting heavy armies mixed with troops and cav because they have no shields and crossbows ignore their armor. The Wildlings are not great in melee but Fions are. The Wildings do however absorb the enemies ranged fire with their shields, protecting the Fions long enough for the fions to rend shields and weaken enemy troops/cull ranged opposition enough so that by the time the enemy has closed in, the high damage of the javelins greatly complements and even adds to the ranged competence of the fions and shreds the enemies remaining shileds and culls many of them. Ensuring very few make it into melee where the wildings then rely on either close quarters shooting from the fions into the mostly de-shielded enemies, a counter charge from the fions behind them to devastate with greatswords or their own numbers to swiftly defeat the remaining injured opposition. The mixture of bow and javelin also makes short work of horses and wildings are decent at surviving the initial charge of cavalry due to shields and incredible body armor. Honestly I have only ever done wondrously with this mixture. and sometimes I add in a small unit of horsemen (yes I'm aware they suck, but they can do cleanup well due to speed.) to cull the remaining weakened ranged opposition while my fions and wildlings are busy against the now closed in enemy troop line (if it survived long enough to get close that is.) or (if there are a lot of troops and my Ai has been cruel to me with accuracy) charge across the side of the enemy troops as they charge into my shield wall. destabilizing, stunning/damaging them and allowing the wildlings and fions to get kill hits while the enemy recoils. The horsemen can also act as sacrificial pawns to keep the enemies calv mostly just out of shiledwall range but def within jav and bow range. Works every time.
Exactly! I run a 60/60 Wildling and Fian Mercenary band with some cav thrown in their to protect the backline of fians and then give chase. When I fight a battle on my own, even while outnumbered I rarely have deaths. Only in sieges or joining a bigger battle is where I get 5 or so deaths which are easily replaced by a wonderful troop tree. Wildlings are great when paired with a one-handed and throwing focused companion who makes them faster and quicker at destroying shields. Quite literally, when a nation hires me I change the outcome of wars and have allowed the Battanians to survive so long, even thrive. I'm having fun being a mercenary and only wish forming your own kingdom had more to offer. A tip with wildlings, go loose and engage until within 40-60 of range, and then disengage (fire at will on) until their numbers are substantially diminished and your fians are close enough, then overwhelm them. It rarely gets to a melee bout though since my range is so overwhelming. If the enemy has a lot of range then park your wildlings a bit further up from the fians in a shield wall and let your fians destroy their range. Fians have more ammo to outlast anyways.
One way to use them defensively in a hilly map esp against an advancing AI that has lots of ranged units is to utilize reverse slope defense. Position the Wildlings on the reverse slope of the hill so enemy ranged has to go up the hill to get a line of sight to shoot. But the moment they do that, the Wildlings can just throw some javelins into their faces.
Combine with archers and make different groups. Keep them separated from themselves and the enemy. Make sure to keep them at distance using retreat command if needed. Suddenly they are brutal skirmishers.
You understand that with wildlings you need to use engage command not just charge or stay at place, yes? 10 or with skill 12 javs at 120+ each with 150 (captain bonus) throwing skill and bonus shield damage. I doubt a lot more than half enemy infantry will get to a melee. They only problem is heavy shock cav. They don't heave spears and not able to throw enough of javs before cavalry hits. For any missile cavalry wildlings are scourge.
no shit Sherlock. i only conquered Calradia back in the day using only wildlings and myself as a throwing captain. Still the Wildling was very limited, prone to dying a lot and needed massive turnover to keep the army going. Javs where great for the start of the battle and then not so much as there is no AI behavior that rotates troops that run out of javs with troops that still have them. And yes i did make separate groups; and yes i did make thin lines to maximize Javelin throws. Therefore the rating is fair for the time this video was made Summer 2022 and if i dare to say it even slightly overrated. And if you want to question my tactical skill at the time you have twitch vods and higlights of battles. There are a few even here on YT. Enjoy them you might learn something about combat at the time, some tricks might even be good today.
I've found that wildlings are an excellent option for fighting against cavalry. Especially against vlandian banner knights and Imperial cataphracts. Let me explain:
One of the factors that determine how much damage is taken from any attack is velocity. This is important.
The base damage value for the wildling's hooked javelin is 117. While I haven't been able to find the exact formula for calculating the actual damage taken by the target based on combat variables, I can say after many "tests" (read: absolute massacres) that a thrown javelin deals about twice as much damage to a charging cavalry unit as it would deal to an almost stationary infantryman. The reason for this is that the infantryman is being hit with the force of a thrown javelin, while the cavalry is being hit with a javelin that, relative to him, *has the same velocity as the horse he's riding.* At that speed, the javelin effectively stops being a javelin, and becomes a ballistae bolt. Despite the excellent armor worn by banner knights and cataphracts, two hits is the most I've seen them survive. And when they're charging a 100+ size loose formation of wildings, the end result is consistently half of the enemy cavalry dying in the opening seconds of the battle, and almost no casualties suffered by the wildlings.
that's similar to my testing experiences too.
Javelins units aren't good against cav because of their raw equipment but because of the DMG of the javelin after the calculation.
As you say, it must be said that loose works very well, while other formations aren't as good for that.
unfortunately this video is lacking when it comes to add information like this, as it was the very first of the series and i was trying to understand what worked while keeping it short.
The later videos include information like this and are honestly much better than the very first i made
thanks for the info keep up the hard work appreciate ur efforts ^^
While the wildling isn’t really good, thats not how it’s supposed to be used. Most of the Wildlings in these test weren’t able to throw all of their javelins. The correct way to use them is either mixed with heavier infantry or in loose formation and backoff til they used all of their javelins.
Isn't that roughly what i say in the video towards the end? I haven't given a vote to them for the reasons you describe ( it's probably a 3/5). It's a uique unit who plays in a very different way, But, all units have been tested in the exact same way. The wildling might have had better results if other tactics where to be used but the Melee efficiency is still an important value when evaluating infantry. Not all the wildlings will have the chance to throw their javs. So calculating the Melee survivability and have them throw some javs i think makes for a good indication of the unit.
But you can see the destruction their javs can cause in the 3 step cut ( 4:21): Where they just destroy low tier (T3) units holding ground. that's what they excel at.
How on Earth do I make a unit of just skirmishers? I keep getting Oathsworn in the unit because they both have throwing weapons. This is soooooooooo frustrating.
These videos are great rlly useful series
I would like to point out that wildlings are one of the fastest infantry units.
What troop are you guys interesting in seeing next?
Since this was the first video of this format i didn't quite had the entire thing pinned down.
altough the information in the video is still valid i will re-make this one in the future.
I am just not happy with it. Same goes for most of Battania
Im planning on doing a roguery heavy empire culture character that'll mostly use bandits and battanian troops using bandits to fill garrisons and make up the bulk of my field and siege forces with contingents of wildlings, mounted skirmishers, and fian champions. Mostly using sea raiders for frontline infantry and using the wildlings and mounted skirmishers as flankers and chasers and the fian champions along with bulk forest bandits.
The reason I picked empire is because of the character creation options. I plan to mostly invest in one-handed, throwing, roguery, charm, and athletics. Eventually I'd get stewardship and engineering for when I start doing kingdoms and sieges.
The Wildling synergizes well with the Fian exceptionally. Why not just field only the fian then? Because troop wage costs for fielding a full fion army is nutso and because I've lost full fion armies to shooting heavy armies mixed with troops and cav because they have no shields and crossbows ignore their armor.
The Wildlings are not great in melee but Fions are. The Wildings do however absorb the enemies ranged fire with their shields, protecting the Fions long enough for the fions to rend shields and weaken enemy troops/cull ranged opposition enough so that by the time the enemy has closed in, the high damage of the javelins greatly complements and even adds to the ranged competence of the fions and shreds the enemies remaining shileds and culls many of them. Ensuring very few make it into melee where the wildings then rely on either close quarters shooting from the fions into the mostly de-shielded enemies, a counter charge from the fions behind them to devastate with greatswords or their own numbers to swiftly defeat the remaining injured opposition.
The mixture of bow and javelin also makes short work of horses and wildings are decent at surviving the initial charge of cavalry due to shields and incredible body armor.
Honestly I have only ever done wondrously with this mixture. and sometimes I add in a small unit of horsemen (yes I'm aware they suck, but they can do cleanup well due to speed.) to cull the remaining weakened ranged opposition while my fions and wildlings are busy against the now closed in enemy troop line (if it survived long enough to get close that is.) or (if there are a lot of troops and my Ai has been cruel to me with accuracy) charge across the side of the enemy troops as they charge into my shield wall. destabilizing, stunning/damaging them and allowing the wildlings and fions to get kill hits while the enemy recoils. The horsemen can also act as sacrificial pawns to keep the enemies calv mostly just out of shiledwall range but def within jav and bow range.
Works every time.
Exactly! I run a 60/60 Wildling and Fian Mercenary band with some cav thrown in their to protect the backline of fians and then give chase. When I fight a battle on my own, even while outnumbered I rarely have deaths. Only in sieges or joining a bigger battle is where I get 5 or so deaths which are easily replaced by a wonderful troop tree. Wildlings are great when paired with a one-handed and throwing focused companion who makes them faster and quicker at destroying shields.
Quite literally, when a nation hires me I change the outcome of wars and have allowed the Battanians to survive so long, even thrive. I'm having fun being a mercenary and only wish forming your own kingdom had more to offer.
A tip with wildlings, go loose and engage until within 40-60 of range, and then disengage (fire at will on) until their numbers are substantially diminished and your fians are close enough, then overwhelm them. It rarely gets to a melee bout though since my range is so overwhelming. If the enemy has a lot of range then park your wildlings a bit further up from the fians in a shield wall and let your fians destroy their range. Fians have more ammo to outlast anyways.
"This is where we hold them, this is where we fight"
"Give them nothing, but take from them everything"
One way to use them defensively in a hilly map esp against an advancing AI that has lots of ranged units is to utilize reverse slope defense. Position the Wildlings on the reverse slope of the hill so enemy ranged has to go up the hill to get a line of sight to shoot. But the moment they do that, the Wildlings can just throw some javelins into their faces.
Combine with archers and make different groups. Keep them separated from themselves and the enemy. Make sure to keep them at distance using retreat command if needed. Suddenly they are brutal skirmishers.
ouch the head armor
That's their killer right there
@@LyonExodus so much to watch right, trying to keep up
With the 1.2 update wildings are OP now
lol why is it so bright
You understand that with wildlings you need to use engage command not just charge or stay at place, yes? 10 or with skill 12 javs at 120+ each with 150 (captain bonus) throwing skill and bonus shield damage. I doubt a lot more than half enemy infantry will get to a melee. They only problem is heavy shock cav. They don't heave spears and not able to throw enough of javs before cavalry hits. For any missile cavalry wildlings are scourge.
no shit Sherlock. i only conquered Calradia back in the day using only wildlings and myself as a throwing captain.
Still the Wildling was very limited, prone to dying a lot and needed massive turnover to keep the army going. Javs where great for the start of the battle and then not so much as there is no AI behavior that rotates troops that run out of javs with troops that still have them. And yes i did make separate groups; and yes i did make thin lines to maximize Javelin throws. Therefore the rating is fair for the time this video was made Summer 2022 and if i dare to say it even slightly overrated.
And if you want to question my tactical skill at the time you have twitch vods and higlights of battles. There are a few even here on YT. Enjoy them you might learn something about combat at the time, some tricks might even be good today.