Defeating the "tanks"

[VAE VICTUS]

ok, i pretty much always play with Western European factions, and lately ive been messing about with the "other" europeans, Russia, Poland and with the muslim factions, and i dont have an answer for the heavily armored foot soldiers. they slice through my armies before i am developed enough to have a stack of decent hit and run units, and when they besiege me its over because my measly spear units are decimated. this is a pretty basic question, but one i am having trouble with...any suggestions?

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Use Anti Tank weapons.

Crossbows and ballistas will destroy them quickly. Especially crossbows if you manage to flank the enemy and shoot them in the back. Archers with fire ability can also lower their morale which is a good thing.

There is also the option to use your generals/heavy cavalry to hit them in the back while they have engaged your infantry.

You can also develop a general with high dread. He will scare away most units and those armoured soldiers will run away just as easily as other units.

[Myth]

Walls + Bows/Crossbows. Also a high chiv general will ensure your paltry melee forces hold their ground long enough for you to hammer and anvil the enemy. The AI cannot protect istelf vs flanks/rear attacks. Just because you are playing Poland doesn't mean you have to play with HAs.

[Wytchfynder]

Crossbows and archers are good against heavy infantry types. Plenty of crossbows up front and centre, and archers firing sides/flanks and the heavy inf start dropping like flies and losing morale. Finish them off with almost anything.

[Bilgediver]

As Poland I loved using the Strzelcy? I can't spell that thing. Basically its the only mounted crossbow unit offered at the first turn for a European faction. I always sallied forth as Poland and just surrounded those heavy knights and peppered them with crossbow bolts until they ran out or ran away. But yea, crossbows = win. Crossbows are my favorite ranged weapon in the game (especially the "metal" ones that have long range). Sure archers and longbows have a higher rate of fire, but in my experience they just can't penetrate armor enough to be worthwhile.

[Bilgediver]

Especially as Russia. Your militia suck BALLS until Huge City level. Notice the unit stats, I just stack tons and tons of crossbow militia and I've been able to hold off Hungary/Poland/HRE quite well.

[sharpshooter]

As Turkey I've used all horse archer armies very successfully against hordes of dismounted feudal knights - Turkomen, and especially Sipahi. They always face front. Surround them and concentrate on their flank units. When the flank unit is less than half charge its flank with a Sipahi and they break and run. Chase the routers with one unit, while concentrating fire on the next in the line.

I also find JHI munch DFK. Am I the only one?

[PrestigeX]

The only time you're really screwed is when you have to defend in a siege as an eastern faction - i'm thinking more like poland/hungary/russia - the muslim factions get decent infantry, as do the byzantines.

The trick is to try and prevent the enemy from sieging in the first place, keep free upkeep units ofcourse, but take them on in the field. You don't even really need infantry as these factions. Heavy Horse, Horse Archers, and foot archers. While on the defensive, try to give the enemy sometihng to march towards... Archers with heavy horse behind... your Horse Archers split into two grounds, and ride out and to the sides, hiting the enemy from the sides as they advance, or even from behind. Then your foot archers are firing at them as they advance, but the time they are withing striking distance -- "Our men will ride them down like grass"... "Send the horse, Full Attack". (and if you get decent foot archers like foot dvor or foot lithuanians you can even send them into the fray afterwards)

[Myth]

I think you don't know the trick to defending sieges? Units on walls get a very high bonus vs the guys coming off a tower or climbing ladders. The AI rams the gate only. Surround the gate with a mob of units and the AI will break morale once it is flanked from 3 sides (make sure to box them in but leave some space for two stacks to fit).