ME Ulm Vs Jotunheim advice wanted.

[thejeff]

I haven't had much luck relying on pikeneers and repelling.
That's just 1 damage and the accompanying morale check right?

It probably depends on which giants you're up against.
The militia run from their own shadow. Some of the others will just ignore the pinpricks and smash the silly little people with the long sticks.

[Kalin]

Yeah, but that's 1 wasted attack, and there's only 1 giant per square due to his size, so you just got 3 chance to hit him back. When shields and armor does nothing, repel is the about the only thing you've got left... ^_^;; all of Jotun's troops morale is generally 12-13, and they don't have that great of a defense (mostly prot and HP), so unless he's accumulated a ton of experience, that means you've got a decent chance of negating the damage.

In general, I've found that pikeneers are subpar when compared to heavy shielded troops for tanking size 3 and below enemies. However, when you are fighting size 4 and above who doesn't trample, pikeneers shines. Usually large creature have massize strength and will kill you in one hit regardless of armor, so the ability to repel and negate their attack works great. There's the question of the Vaetti in between the giants, but those guys shouldn't be able to scratch Ulm's armor. Pikeneers also happen to be one of Ulm's cheapest national troop, so it's pretty good for the price of a foddler.

[Sandman]

Ulmish pikeneers also have 11 morale, compared to 10 for their other infantry.