The other day I posted on the KoW forum about the loss of our beloved polearm troops. This was the post:
As I read the review om KoM my mate from regum aeternum 2 posted, I agree with a lot of his assessments.
Generally we’re both very happy with the way Kingdoms of Men have gone from 2nd to 3rd. The indomitable will upgrade is a good army special rule; the passive boost to charge ranges for hordes help us and our medium flier and war machines are actually fieldable now.
While he’s also very disappointed with the rebranding of the beast of war (something I somewhat agree with, but I can live with ) there’s something that both of us feel as a loss that hurts (or in his words “stings”)
It’s the loss of cheap infantry troops other than shield wall.
In KoW version 2 we had access to troops of spears, shieldwall, polearms and militia in addition to foot guard and fanatics and the various shooters. Especially the polearms and the militia were taken a lot, the previous due to CS(1) and the latter due to the point cost of 50. In KoW 3 we lost access to troops of polearms, spears and militia.
Of these, I fully understand the loss of the spears (they don’t bring very much to the game compared to the shield wall troop) as historically, fielding spears in just two ranks was not that useful. Also, the loss of the militia troop is understandable as a 50-point troop might be a little too cheap.
I just don’t understand why the polearm troop had to go. I loved the 70-point unit that could serve both as chaff and mini-hammers. I have played armies where I fielded 8 troops of these guys and even though it wasn’t super-effective, it was fun as hell to play!
Especially as the alternative choice (+1 def/no CS) is still in the game, even at a discount!
Is there a specific reason they were taken out? Can we expect them to return in a future implement or are they gone for good?
~Vince
The replies were encouraging:
from the boss-man himself:
and
which is indeed what happened:
So, my conclusion:
During the development of KoW 3rd edition (which, most likely, would have been an intensive if not stressful period) someone -probably Matt- made the call to axe the KoM cheap infantry troops.
As things go in a development, this then becomes “canon” (i.e. Kingdoms of Men don’t have access to cheap troops). and attention is diverted to other areas.
Now, at the first days of KoW 3rd edition a lot of KoM players mourn their loss (ironically, far more than the balista on the mammoth) , therefore I have good hopes this goes on a “to do list” for the RC to look at for the Clash of Kings 2021 update.
This may or may not result in including the Polearm and militia troops again, but at least we will have a good explanation!
Why is this such a thing to me?
Probably because I own 10 troops of polearms over my two armies and I love using them.
It may be a legacy from my Warhammer days (when the halberd was the signature weapon of empire state troopers), but Mantica lore too describes the polearm as the most used weapon in the successor kingdoms.
And this makes sense, because historically the polearm (Halberd, Bill, hook, and all those other names) was the main used weapon on the midieval and renaissance battlefield until the rise of the pike-and-shot warefare in the early 16th century. So, it makes sense to have them be prevallent in my Topaz armies which are a blend of late midieval warfare and renaissance steamtech.
Vince on all things Kings of War 