Art De La Guerre

[muz177]

Is it a mistake in the rules that mediocre pikes cost 8 points?  This is 3 points less than ordinary pikemen.
All other mediocre troops have a cost reduction of 2 points (other than elephants).  We are now seeing a concentration of armies in competitions based around mediocre pikes. They may not be quite as attractive at 9 points each, although probably still good value even at that cost.
Muz 

[ethan]

Their effective combat factor in melee is identical to that of Elite H Spear (Mediocre + X after you work out the factors is the same as Elite + (X - 1)) which cost 10AP. They are unmaneuverable and are considerably more vulnerable to shooting.

I shooting vulnerability and unmanevuerable worth -2AP?

A Pavise is worth 1AP and gives a +1 vs shooting and going from + 1 elite (average roll of 4) to +1 mediocre (average roll of 3) is about a drop of -1 so that is pretty close to the same value as a pavise.

So the real question is being unmaneuverable worth a -1AP?

[fdunadan]

it is not a mistake

as for the cost of unmaneuvrability, impetuous unit (bonus of impact but unmaneuvrable) cost the same as the basic unit, so 1 pt seems the fair cost.

pike are a real pain... on the front. Turn them and they will be sitting ducks.
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[madaxeman]

It potentially "could" be an issue, but IMO the abundance of armies with plenty of access to 2HCW - especially in the late theme, where you get quality, HA Foot Knights - more than counterbalances the 'value for money' of Mediocre pikes.

They are also pretty rare, and need to be used in decent numbers to be effective - which then acts as a kind of multiplier on their lack of maneuverability.

So, stick some 2HCW into them, or avoid them - they are not particularly good value at any points level in either of those scenarios
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[Hazelbark]

My Ilkhanid Mongols have shot mediocre pike to death often.

[madaxeman]

[ethan]

One thing I really like about ADLG is that the point costs are remarkable internally consistent for all the various bonuses.

[Icaunais]

Ordinary Pike was costing 10 pt in V2 and their price increased to 11 pt in V3 cause Pikes army was too much dominating the AdG battlefields.
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