Lancers vs short spear/devastating charger

[badhabum]

If you compare Formed Average protected cavaly, rather funny ;.lancers + melee expert cost 128 points ...but short sprear/devastating charger + melee expert"only" 126 points . So same effetc, not the same points Ok Lancers do not need to be in 2 ranks - who does charge in one rank ? -but need flat terrain . The devastating charger is OK vs foot PA, the lancer is not . Short spear and devastating chargers do get their bonuses even if affected by terrain . The Short spear bonus remains vs Nellies .So the cheapest is better 

Ok CL cancels mounted PA ..How many times does that happen ?

Only my opinion .

[lionheartrjc]

Clearly depends upon the situation - also can you make use of the 12 points (assuming a UG of 6) that you save!

The two ranks can make a difference if your opponent is shooting at you when you charge.

Richard

[daveparish]

 .... or if you are going on to a second combat (or breaking off and charging again) - Dev Chargers go downhill faster in their combat abilities (because of needing two ranks)

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Seems pretty even to me.
CL you want to crash home so I often go 1 rank deep with 2 files for extra shatter chances.

S

[badhabum]

12 points make a world of difference if you need one more point to get your legendary general 

Very rarely saw lancers charging one rank deep ...to me ti means desesperate mesures ...

[prosi]

Or quite a wide flat front. In Pacto I would give it a try, but I am quite newbie yet. As all, it depends on the situation. Loose or close formation? Depends. Also dev chargers MUST charge, while lancers not and sometimes you lack the cards to stop those evil numidians teasers.

[badhabum]

Sorry but CL as DC  have a mandatory charge even if CL are shooty

[nikgaukroger]

Sorry but CL as DC  have a mandatory charge even if CL are shooty

CL do not have forced charge if they are also missile focused - page 117 B2 first bullet.

[badhabum]

  Charge only is not missle focused ...I do not know of hordes of lancers that are missile focused except for khazars and perhaps some other list but the VAST majority is either lancer or lancer with charge only ...so MOST of the CL have mandatory charge as DC

[nikgaukroger]

Indeed Charge Only is not Missile Focused but to say CL "have a mandatory charge even if CL are shooty" is misleading as it does not specify the case where shooty types will not be missile focused and that is important - best to not be an unreliable prophet in a time when we have a lot of new players I think   

[nikgaukroger]

I'd also add that there is also the related case where any TUGs that are within 1 BW having a forced charge - again unless missile focused - so it is important to be clear IMO.

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Jacques

Give it a try with lancers in 6s and have them 4 wide with 2 at the back.
Maximises the bang for the buck of shatter.

Works great with Superior F Arm Knights with ME as they can usually handle the melee and lose at most 1 base. Break off and do it again.

Si

[nikgaukroger]

Doing it with ALex led companions can be pretty devastating. Always worth a thought for hard hitting troops IMO.

[badhabum]

Doing it with ALex led companions can be pretty devastating. Always worth a thought for hard hitting troops IMO.

Well ...if our friend Alex is legendary and the companions exceptionnal ...it helps a lot   

But my next tournament will be with the later carthaginians ( I painted them 3 years ago and it will be the first time I will play  them ) so no lancers for me but I will face some ...

[badhabum]

Indeed Charge Only is not Missile Focused but to say CL "have a mandatory charge even if CL are shooty" is misleading as it does not specify the case where shooty types will not be missile focused and that is important - best to not be an unreliable prophet in a time when we have a lot of new players I think   

hence my "explanation"