View Full Version : 2day's featured unit(s) are.....
Michael the Great
02-14-2003, 21:22
Well,we'll have 2 featured units today....
1)Kerns
2)Nizari
So,how do ye use'em?
Well, i dont use them. Archer/fighter units are jsut worthless, the space they take up could be better used.
Whow, I totally disagree. On the contrary, units like futuwwa, Janissary Infantry, Nizari, and to some extent Ottomans, constitute my ability to defeat any and all armies the AI sends at me. If the AI could execute the strategies I use with these units, people would be setting the game difficulty to easy. The actual historical successes of these units in combat is credit enough to dismount any claim that such units are worthless.
As in any type of unit, it has cons and pros, but understanding one's role on the field means everything to success.
Kerns:
They are fast Urban Militia without the AP but with javelins. Nothing to jump up and down about but they are damn cheap, so cheap that they are possibly the unit in the game the greatest (damagepotential/cost).
Using javelins is tricky, they are close supportunits, so my initial tactic with them on the far flanks was very wrong as they got run down by cavalry or got killed by archers. So in time I learned to use them in two ways.
The first one is very very easy and quite effective, just position them very close to your main line and engage the enemy, then let the Kerns throw the javelins over the heads of your men. You will most likely suffer one or two FF losses, but the enemy will lose many many more. This tactic gives great protection to the Kerns, and it gives great mobility to them so they can run over and thow the javelins at the strongest enemy.
The other tactic is hard but has greater potential. Place the Kerns on the flanks and about a unitwith backwards, then engage the enemy. Run the Kerns around the enemy flanks and thow the javelins there if the target is good enough or else run along the enemy line to the general or strong unit. You risk routs from the Moraleweak Kerns and the enemy archers most certainly don't like them running around the rear, also cavalry has a great chance of intercepting them.
Most important rule with javelins, don't try and throw them at an enemy attacking them unless you have a good heightadvantage.
Nizaris... A hard unit...
I treat them as shocktroops with bows. Meaning they stay right behind the main line on the flanks. I make sure they don't get caught up in a ranged duel as they are too much worth in a melee. I let them fire at anything they can fire at and I let them fire for a while after initial contact. Not because that in itself is a great tactic but mostly because I want the lines to settle, I want to know where I'm losing and where I'm winning before I commit the Nizaris, in the meantime they will rake up a few kills with their bows. Then it is time for the great flanking move. A fast movement forwards, not too far to attract enemy archery, and then around to hit the enemy. I always try and hit a weak enemy. I don't want to lose too many Nizaris per battle, also against the weaker units they will work wonders causing a massrout quite fast, then I can beat up the stronger units. Most import is to stay well clear of cavalry, they will kill the Nizaris like nothing else with that powerful charge.
Nobunaga0611
02-15-2003, 02:33
I agree with Kraxis. I use Kerns all the time, they're some of my favorite units. I like skirmishers though. I put the Kerns behind my front line. They get a good amount of kills, are fast, and can kill a front lines' morale.
Nizaris are a lot like some of the Turk archers. They are good at combat and I don't really like to use them in head to head archer battles as they're too expensive to just waste like that. Instead, I'll use desert archers for the purpose, and when my army is advancing, then use the Nizaris. Once my army is engaged, then they can be used as foot soldiers.
well nizaris are great, they are strong in early especialy. Use them as you basic archer/h2h line with support behind them. One place where they outclass your enemy is in the desert. This is grea for high and late era when your enemy might take arbs onto the field. Stick with your normal desert strategy (waiting till thier armour has tired in the heat) and then move them in to shoot, once arrows are speant, i just use them to smash up the enemy formation before my main force arrives.
Kearns are different.. ive found that taking them from skirmish to hold posistion you can easily leave them behind your main line to fire over thier heads, this is the same as i use naptha and muribitian infantry.
Nobunaga0611
02-15-2003, 09:34
Opps I forgot to add that as well. I always use them on hold/hold formation. It keeps their morale up, eventhough both types of skirmishers have pretty good morale I think. I never have any less than a v4 Kern unit when I take them. v4 they're like 500 or so florins, not sure the exact amount.
Kerns and other units with javelins (jinettes and murbatin)are great because they practically never hit your own guys that are in combat.
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.