Question: Do the different styles of bayonets available in ETW actually improve or in any way affect unit stats?
In my experience, they do not. Standard Line Infantry unit stats for melee do not seem to improve after plug bayonets are made available, nor do they once ring or socket bayonets are available. The New Model Bayonet Drill technology does list a +3 charge bonus to bayonet-equipped units, but this appears to be the only bayonet-related technology that actually gives units an improvement to their melee statistics.
I don't have Empire quite figured out in this regard. Does the presence of bayonets affect unit performance on the battlefield while not changing melee stats on the unit cards? I could see this being the case if, say, soldiers from a unit with bayonets are given some new form of animation on the battlefield while in melee, which improves melee effectiveness. How could this be proven, if so? Does the presence of bayonets improve unit resistance to cavalry charges? In theory, they would, but again if the unit card does not reflect improved stats how can this be proven?
I also wonder about whether perhaps existing regiments of infantry are not equipped with the latest bayonet technology until they are re-trained. I would doubt this but have thus far not proven nor disproven it. Another potential issue could be that unit cards on the campaign map do not reflect bayonet upgrades in melee statistics, but that those same unit cards when reviewed on the battle map would, similar to experience upgrades.
In summary, I would like feedback on this topic so I can better plan my tech research in my campaigns. Thus far, varying by country, I have attributed far more importance to obtaining canister shot (Notably GB, France, and Sweden, but this is often my first tech regardless of campaign), the first and second level farming techs (Russia), and the first several enlightenment techs which unlock the ability to build colleges and upgrade ports and plantations (UP, Spain, France). You will notice that plug bayonet is not listed here. Thus far I have only seen benefits in researching the bayonet techs as a means to either obtain access to more advanced military techs such as Fire by Rank, or to unlock the ability to build advanced barracks. Aside from a means to the above-mentioned end, the bayonet techs do not seem to be incredibly useful.
I welcome any insight on this topic and specifically any reports of experimentation done to prove or disprove bayonet effectiveness.
In my experience, they do not. Standard Line Infantry unit stats for melee do not seem to improve after plug bayonets are made available, nor do they once ring or socket bayonets are available. The New Model Bayonet Drill technology does list a +3 charge bonus to bayonet-equipped units, but this appears to be the only bayonet-related technology that actually gives units an improvement to their melee statistics.
I don't have Empire quite figured out in this regard. Does the presence of bayonets affect unit performance on the battlefield while not changing melee stats on the unit cards? I could see this being the case if, say, soldiers from a unit with bayonets are given some new form of animation on the battlefield while in melee, which improves melee effectiveness. How could this be proven, if so? Does the presence of bayonets improve unit resistance to cavalry charges? In theory, they would, but again if the unit card does not reflect improved stats how can this be proven?
I also wonder about whether perhaps existing regiments of infantry are not equipped with the latest bayonet technology until they are re-trained. I would doubt this but have thus far not proven nor disproven it. Another potential issue could be that unit cards on the campaign map do not reflect bayonet upgrades in melee statistics, but that those same unit cards when reviewed on the battle map would, similar to experience upgrades.
In summary, I would like feedback on this topic so I can better plan my tech research in my campaigns. Thus far, varying by country, I have attributed far more importance to obtaining canister shot (Notably GB, France, and Sweden, but this is often my first tech regardless of campaign), the first and second level farming techs (Russia), and the first several enlightenment techs which unlock the ability to build colleges and upgrade ports and plantations (UP, Spain, France). You will notice that plug bayonet is not listed here. Thus far I have only seen benefits in researching the bayonet techs as a means to either obtain access to more advanced military techs such as Fire by Rank, or to unlock the ability to build advanced barracks. Aside from a means to the above-mentioned end, the bayonet techs do not seem to be incredibly useful.
I welcome any insight on this topic and specifically any reports of experimentation done to prove or disprove bayonet effectiveness.