rear armies

[trader/warrior]

to make your conquering campaigns go much faster you should have 1 or more "rear armies". the first is one province away from the main army and the second two provinces away and so on. these can be used to do sieges, assaults so that the main army can go faster forward into enemy terretory and can help the main army if the main army meets a too large enemy force. the rear armies can be ca.500 men each if it is a big campaign, but can be less if it is a small one.

good luck
good warring
merry Xmas
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[TheViking]

I usually have it like that but with a bigger rear army, I think thats a very good tactic

[chilliwilli]

I have armies like that, but they are mostly packed with mercs and are disbanded during peacetime.

[Jeroen Hill]

I actually use something like this but it serves as reserves actually. In every battle my main army units suffer casulties. My reserve army contains 2 units of each unit type that I use. I just fill up the original unit with men from the reserves. this way you dont loose valour as well. Sort of see it like retraining when you do not have resources.

[Major Robert Dump]

They called me the Rear Admiral in prison.

[Brother Derfel]

Quote[/b] (Major Robert Dump @ Dec. 22 2002,17:26)]They called me the Rear Admiral in prison.
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[MizuKokami]

Quote[/b] (chilliwilli @ Dec. 21 2002,19:18)]I have armies like that, but they are mostly packed with mercs and are disbanded during peacetime.
mercs are expensive upkeep, almost double that of what it would cost to build and maintain your own. i personally only hire mercs for invasions. longshanks said it best in the movie braveheart, "the dead cost nothing".

[TheViking]

Citera[/b] (MizuKokami @ Dec. 23 2002,16:55)]mercs are expensive upkeep, almost double that of what it would cost to build and maintain your own. i personally only hire mercs for invasions. longshanks said it best in the movie braveheart, "the dead cost nothing".
why use mercs at all, they cost more to get and as you said their upkeep as much more expensive.

Its better to train your own men. And theres never any rush to get troops that fast.

i used mercs once long time ago, now i dont even build any inns

[Terrax]

I have never used mercs, but I always build Inns. Where else would my travelers stay? Gotta have a complete province...

[Satyr]

I only use mercs when I am in deep trouble and need troops fast and so I always have a few inns around my borders. I will also watch for those 'special' mercs that are better than what you can build or your faction can't build them and I will occassionally hire them for my front lines.

[Cash]

Good advice, Mary. The Mercs have saved me more than once. You are right, some times using the ole Inn can get you some updated warriors, and then you can disband after the crisis is over. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[pdoan8]

Before the patch, I used to have siege army just for starving the enemy in their castle. However, I changed that tactic a little since siege army cost double in upkeep beginning from the second year of the siege. In stead of Attacking, Defending/Sieging and Reserve. Now, I have Acctacking with their Reserve/Attachment (siege weapons) and Defending and Reserve. If I am going through a large portion of inland provinces, the reserve would be double and include all types of unit I use on both defense and offense.

Mercs are great in a number of ways (depending on how you use them). But most Mercs are not meant to be keep for long. I use Mercs very often. Most of the times, I hire the good units that I can't train. I also use mercs as suacidal attackers, use once and discard. Also Mercs are great in case of emergency when I had to put down a Rebel Army but don't have a spare army or can't move any other army. Another use is as temporary garrison force for a few years while training a new regular army then the Mercs can be wasted on another battle.

[Cooperman]

I usually have some rear armies consisting of a few thousand peasants, great for preventing rebellions while the main army marches on to conquer another province.

mercs are great for quick attacks especially in the first few turns when you can catch the enemy unawares.