Pikemen seems to be real HEROES for the infantry. THE perfect anti-cav infantry. But that's BS.
It's not an anti-cav, it just acts as a scarecrow. And it doesn't even work from behind. I can't recall how many pikemen i saw getting mobed by two cav. And usually, the first suicide charge of one cav isn't real suicide if well-timed, cause the horse doesn't die in one hit. Then another cav comes, bumping/couching/thrusting/killing the pikeman.
Plus, you don't need to be AWARE to be a pikeman. You need to have a radar and eyes behind your back 24/24. The only way to actually kill cav as a pikeman, is to feint being afk, and have the awesome best timing to turn-thrust, stopping the cav, then doing two good thrusts on the horse (luckily not blocked by the player) and horse is dead. But now, with maneuver and jet ponies, it doesn't even work anymore.
You can't win being passive, and that's exactly what are pikemen. And seriously, playing as a pikeman is too much nervous and tired. Compared to the thrill of cav. I can't play more than 1h straight of pikeman without getting bored and tired. So yes, it's usefull for the team but it's bs for the player.
That's against cav, of course. Luckily, it's still enjoyable against infantry.
But when being a pikeman is more enjoyable against infantry than cav, then there's maybe something wrong.
Sound engine, of course, would help dearly our dear pikeman. It will lessen the stress to always look at the back and the sides, everytime, every second, every... *pikeman killed by horse archer*
omg. . . .
I even wonder why GK clan takes so much expanse trying to defend horses. I know some of them are decent enough to easily overcome a -2 maneuver, -2 speed nerf. But then, there are the others...