[MR] WoW Observations from a CA

[Richard E]

Siegfried,
 
Thank you for such a detailed post! That’s just the kind of input I was looking for. Now if we can just get people practice some of those tactics together. If shield men, spearmen, and combat archers don’t practice together, they will not work together in the chaos of battle!
 
Unfortunately do to work, I don’t get weekends off unless I take leave. As a result, I have only been making it to the wars, and I am not sure what types of training events we have up here in Atlantia. When I lived down south, we would have training events a month or so before any upcoming wars. In the mornings we would do drills to get the tactics down pat, and then we’d have Melees in the afternoon to put the training into use. Do we have any events like this up here???
 
In Service, 
Wolfram
 

 
> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:50:39 -0400
> From: siegfried at crossbows.biz
> To: richarde62 at live.com
> CC: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
> Subject: Re: [MR] WoW Observations from a CA
> 
> > Secondly, I’m just tossing out some ideas here for discussion to hopefully help us fight better against Combat Archers (CA) in the future, and to make our CA work better with the rest of the Atlantian Army. I am relatively new to CA (only 2 years) with most of my experience from fighting sword and board (over 20 years), so I hope you more experienced combat archers will jump in here with some suggestions. If we all work together we can make the Atlantian Army even better and stronger!
> 
> Wolfram, you have made some very apt observations, and ones that mirror
> much of the information I've shared when giving classes on CA tactics
> (which are also anti-CA tactics)
> 
> You are correct, that one of the best defenses against Combat Archery,
> is a tight line of shields. When Combat Archery is on the field, the
> idea of a skirmish line of spears in FRONT of the shields, an otherwise
> semi-common tactic, falls short, since an unprotected spear, is an easy
> target for a combat archer. As it's been said, rock/paper/scissors in
> the SCA can also be shield/spear/CA
> 
> Having well trained shieldman, who understand to keep an eye on archers,
> and keep covered up, will not only rarely be killed (nigh, even
> targetted) by combat archers, but by extension protect everyone behind them.
> 
> The second most important thing (actually, perhaps the most important
> thing) when facing serious combat archery on the opposing side - is to
> have your units understand one extremely important word: "CHARGE" (Or
> PRESS for that matter)
> 
> As long as the armies are pressing together, in a scrum, combat archery
> is effectively eliminated. Not only because it's hard for the combat
> archers to be in that press and get a clean shot off. But simply
> because given the press, the chances of an arrow hitting true and solid,
> and being detected by the opposing fighter, are GREATLY reduced.
> 
> The worst thing you can do w/ combat archery on the field (Unless you
> have superior forces of Combat Archery - Is to sit back and play a
> waiting game. That is just giving the other side all the time they need
> to pick you off one-by-one.
> 
> AS to some of your other points:
> 
> * Xbow vs Bows in the 2nd line
> 
> Yes, Bows can operate just fine in the 2nd line of battle. In fact, as
> a primarily crossbow user, I'm often envious of the bowman's ability to
> do so. You see, as a crossbow shooter, you stand mostly 'square'
> usually, and you have to be careful of the limbs of your xbow, making
> sure you have room for them, and that you don't 'ping' someone in the
> back of the head with a limb when firing, which not only is annoying to
> them, but messes up your shot.
> 
> Therefore, as a crossbowman, I need 'extra' room in the 2nd line. I
> can't just find a narrow gap and slide-in. On the other hand, a bowman
> has a much slimmer profile, with vertical bow, and standing sideways
> when shooting. I therefore often see them slide between two people on a
> second line, and pop off a shot.
> 
> For this reason, I'm often actually on the 3rd line, firing over the
> shoulders of the 2nd line warriors, and between the helms of the 1st
> line, as I feel that works best for my style.
> 
> * Tactics/Units/etc
> 
> You make a good point, about working w/ a 2shield-spear-bow team. That
> works very well in a skirmish environment. In a static line, it tends
> to work best instead for the archers to 'float' behind the line, finding
> the best points to do the most damage.
> 
> But that also brings up another point. There are often, IMO, two best
> uses of an archer in said situations. And it typically comes down to
> the archer correctly identifying their own skill level, and commanders
> understanding that as well.
> 
> Which is basically, that the higher skilled archers, can be deadly
> effective as 'aimed archers'. Floating solo, knowing instinctively the
> best targets and best place for them to be, at that time. Allowing
> these archers to do that, is greatly effective. On the flip side,
> taking the 'less skilled' archers, who aren't as good at the "Kill him,
> BAM. Kill her, BAM" game, and having them work as a unit, laying down
> harassing fire, can stop an opposing unit in their tracks, and keep them
> from charging/pressing. Or if aimed at the opposing archers, keep their
> heads down and less effective. Even if this crew gets very little
> kills, due to firing into 'not-easy-to-kill' scenarios, they can be an
> effective battle changer.
> 
> In my opinion, the most effective use of combat archery, is combining
> these two tactics. Mass harassing fire, and 'aimed death', by
> appropriate combatants.
> 
> This translates also into your extended triad situation, if not on a
> static line. It's just weather it's a triad (quad) of 'aimed death'.
> Or a larger unit (3 shields, 3-5 archers) who lay down harassing fire.
> 
> In Service,
> Siegfried - Baron Highland Foorde
> 
> 
 		 	   		  
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