I have recently built a Dogs of War army and I am trying out four Pikemen units in a mainly Infantry based force.
Try as I might, I can't seem to get them to work. They die very quickly to enemy charges, as they have very wide flanks that are hard to protect. Their inability to support other infantry or be supported by them makes them very fragile.
I generally run two brigades side by side, each brigade has one unit of Crossbowmen in front of 2 units of Pikemen with a unit of Swordsmen protecting the exposed flank.
Typically the enemy charges the Crossbows and Swordsmen, kills them and then falls back, as the Pikemen cannot lend a hand in support. Next turn the enemy flanks the Pikemen with cavalry and rolls up the line.
Does anyone have any advice on how to make Pikemen work?
I'm considering house ruling that the "no support" rule is ignored, so that they operate like other infantry, just based along the short edge. This would actually make charging a unit with Pikemen in support a daunting prospect, instead of an easy kill as it currently stands.
All feedback appreciated.
Iain