Pike & Shot or Line Infantry Better Against Traditional Fantasy Horde?

[Viking]

Why not let science settle this? Train and equip two different midget armies and have them fight a horde of normal-sized folk.

You're so awesome Brain.

And in response to the earlier point on lances, they seem to have made a comeback after the disappearance of the pike from the battle field. I don't think that's a coincidence.

The were brought back from the east after the heavy lance cavalry is abandoned. Lancers are light scouting cavalry which don't seem to use the lances to attack formed infantry, but rather (like all other cavalry) pursue broken infantry and counter sword cavalary, which leads to curassiers.

[Razgovory]

I seem to have read about cavalry attacking the sides and rear of infantry formations during the Napoleonic wars.  Were they lancers or sword eh, guys?

[Admiral Yi]

I seem to have read about cavalry attacking the sides and rear of infantry formations during the Napoleonic wars.  Were they lancers or sword eh, guys?

Can you be a little more specific?

[Razgovory]

I seem to have read about cavalry attacking the sides and rear of infantry formations during the Napoleonic wars.  Were they lancers or sword eh, guys?

Can you be a little more specific?

They rode horses.  I think some of them wore funny hats.

[dps]

Anyway the advances in artillery would seem to make the 18th century armies superior for monster killing.

Yeah, "a whiff of grapeshot" would probably be even more effective against 9-foot monsters than against human-sized opponents.

[Josquius]

I was leaning pikewards but on reflection...no, superior fire power ftw.
A pike to these giant monsters would be a pin prick. A musket shot though...that's going right through them whatever happens.
Hit something vital and down they go.

[jimmy olsen]

I was leaning pikewards but on reflection...no, superior fire power ftw.
A pike to these giant monsters would be a pin prick. A musket shot though...that's going right through them whatever happens.
Hit something vital and down they go.

A pike would go stab through any of the monsters I named and even a LOTR Troll would get a foot in the gut.

[Josquius]

I was leaning pikewards but on reflection...no, superior fire power ftw.
A pike to these giant monsters would be a pin prick. A musket shot though...that's going right through them whatever happens.
Hit something vital and down they go.

A pike would go stab through any of the monsters I named and even a LOTR Troll would get a foot in the gut.

I dunno, I just picture a minotaur with a club smashing them aside.

[Syt]

This discussion is relevant to me.

[jimmy olsen]

This discussion is relevant to me.

You were thinking of writing a Renaissance fantasy at one time weren't you? 

Tyr, one and one I can see that. It'll be a bit more difficult if they're charging a battalion of pikes. 

[Warspite]

Are the monsters subject to morale, or are they the usual horde of ruthless automatons?

[Viking]

Are the monsters subject to morale, or are they the usual horde of ruthless automatons?

This is a very good point. Sources of the time report that bayonettes were almost never actually used in battle. The records from Les Envalides have a miniscule ammount of bayonette wounds. There are almost no cases in linear warfare of infantry contacting infantry. In almost all cases of infantry assaults the attacker either broke and retired or the defender broke and ran.

Does the attacker have enough morale to weather the withering fire? If yes, what does that say about how much of a murderous psychopath the average attacker is? Do you really want to fight a guy that will rund through gunfire just for the chance to kille you or will you run?

[jimmy olsen]

Are the monsters subject to morale, or are they the usual horde of ruthless automatons?

Almost all hordes are portrayed as being so, or if not then more afraid of the Dark Lord and his head minions then the enemy.

[Viking]

Are the monsters subject to morale, or are they the usual horde of ruthless automatons?

Almost all hordes are portrayed as being so, or if not then more afraid of the Dark Lord and his head minions then the enemy.

Basically FreddyII is the dark lord?

[PDH]

What do you mean?  The hordes break all the time.  Smaller numbers of better equipped and motivated humans are always causing panic and flight.  They might fear the whip, but they always have a more pressing fear.