Re: Hyborian Wars: Why hire Mercenary Spears(M1)?

From: demigod@groupz.net (Nick Nefsick)

Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Although denied the use of both arms due to a freak bowling accident
baidins@copland.udel.edu (Juris Baidins) managed to scrawl:

>Why would any kingdom capable of hiring the four standard
>mercenary types ever hire type M1, mercenary spears, instead of
>M3, mercenary foot?
>
>  			   M1		    M3
>	Category	Heavy Inf.	Heavy Inf.
>	Missile		Adequate	   Good
>	Melee		  Good		   Good
>	Morale		Excellent	Excellent
>	Movement	    3		    3
>	Wages		Very High	Very High
>
>The only apparent difference is that mercenary spears are less
>capable in missile combat.  That both are heavy means the armor
>is presumably the same.  Finally, since there is a seperate category
>for pikes, no benefit should be implied by the fact that M1 is spear
>armed.
>
>Comments?
>
>
>
>
>--
>Juris Baidins
>baidins@strauss.udel.edu

There has long been speculation that spear troops perform better
against cav than regular infantry.  Whether this is true or not, RSI
isn't saying.  Likewise, regular 'horse' supposedly does better in toe
to toe battle than 'lancers' because lances are primarily for the
charge phase.  None of this is substantiated.

Todd

References

Hyborian Wars: Why hire Mercenary Spears(M1)?
baidins@copland.udel.edu (Juris Baidins)
Sat, 01 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000