Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-31382381-20171031110100

So after watching all six LotR movies as well as a bit of The Battle of the Bastards as well as playing some Third Age Reforged, I realized something about the NPC pikemen in the mod. They're pretty weak. They're almost like another spearman unit. Maybe they have greater range in single player, but that reach is pretty much nullified by the lag on servers.

That is why I am suggesting giving the pikemen a whole different AI, like an Archer. I propose that pikemen hold their pikes horizontally out in front of them instead of pointing them aimlessly towards the sky. I mean try to imagine me how the current attack of a Gondorian Pikemen looks in real life. I would also propose lengthening the reach of the pike. With this new pike position, any enemy that comes within range of the Pike's outstretched point should receive damage.

Because of this potentially more dangerous situation, I also suggest that the Pikemen move slower than would other NPCs. When an enemy touches the pike point, the pikeman should not have to attack; rather, the pike should act as a stalactite dealing less damage, but damage all the same. Only when the enemy continue to lurk at the pike point should the pike man begin to attack and deal more damage.

I also suggest a new guard mode for the Pikemen. With this guard mode, Pikemen would still deal damage with their pikes so long as an enemy is within range. Think of a wall of stakes. Pikemen placed in this fashion in a narrow choke point would have more chance of holding the line. The Pike's should also cause knockback to prevent most NPCs (excluding trolls, other Pikemen, and archers) from running past the pikes and dealing damage.

Just my thoughts for a more epic pike force. 