Viking vs Feudal Swordman

[smakkz]

i play danes a lot, (mainly of their ability to create vikings, one of the best starter units in the games) but after a while i pondered... how does viking fare against the feudal swordman? tried it a couple of times in custom games but haven't made up my mind... seems like they are like yin and yang http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif neither is better than the other on the battlefield. But on the strategy map, you only need to build a fort and you get vikings while you must upgrade to a castle and swordsmith to get the swordmen maybe others in the forum can fill me up on this?

rejoice world, a despot has fallen http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[terryblack825]

I think that FMAA are better because they are armourered so they have have some protection aganist achers.

[ChaosLord]

I've had Vikings tear up CMAA before, with the charge and ability versus armored troops they do pretty well. I've seen AI danes overrun Europe with them before. Given the choice between either Vikings or FMAA i'd go with Vikings since i've had more success and love that bonus vs armored troops.

[ShadesPanther]

Ive had Viking tear up my jannies in MP http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif
But they won in the end. TBH i underestimated them, then when they were about to engage i thought to myself OH S*** these are AP They got my jan inf and JHI down to ten men http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif
so the Vikings probably will win

[econ21]

This question has been discussed before and there was no consensus. In SP with no upgrades, head to head, etc, it is close but my money is on the FMAA. The reason is their mail compared to the Vikings light armour.

The Viking attacks with 4 (3 melee + 1 for AP) against the FMAAs defence of 4 (2+2 for shield) making it a 0 modifier.
The FMAA attacks with 4 against the Vikings defence of 2 (0 defence + 2 for shield), making it a +2 for the FMAA.

The Viking does have higher morale, 4 compared to 2, but in my SP games my men generally don't break so I would put money on the FMAA.

The Vikings are easier to build and cheaper, IIRC, though and so I would not be in a hurry to ditch them for FMAA if I were the Danes.

[Polish Crusader]

It seems lately that I have been facing a lot more Danes as of late. I really like facing them on the field, for some reason to me they seem like juicy targets for missiles and cavalry. I try to use my cavalry on them first and then on the more traditional units like CMAA.

[Asmodeus]

If you keep the Vikings on Hold Formation they would stand a better chance of winning.

[t1master]

i think in mp it really depends on how ya use em(vikings). i've had them tear through and route byz infantry, but put a few pav arbs on the vikings and they get shot up right quick. the heavy cav also rolls over them... they're good for charging spears and flanking, but you gotta watch em close, mine tend to do alot of running around...eventually towards the map edge.

a plus is they're good in the desert.

[DDogwood]

The main reason I think Vikings are better than FMAAs is that the Danes can create hordes of Vikings with only 1 building per province. While income from agriculture, resources, and trade can be nice, the cash you get from looting and pillaging your enemie's countryside can be more than adequate to sustain your swarms of cheap, effective troops.

[Surprise]

FMAA -> CMAA
FMAA -> Vikings

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[Gregoshi]

Welcome aboard DDogwood.

Let's call the Vikings inexpensive, not cheap. We wouldn't want to get them angry at us. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Rageagainst20]

i generally like FMAA because they seem more organised compared to those crazy vikings http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Mr Frost]

Vikings are more versitile , they can do both the Feudal Men At Arms' and Militia Sergents' jobs throught the Early Period . Put Denmark to work making them with +1 valour and build up Sweden with Metalsmith so you can get their attack buffed and when you replace them with Chivalric Men At Arms and Halberdiers they will still be good for garrison duty in vunerable provinces and in the Desert where their low leval of armour will be an advantage {will tire at a slower rate} .

[A Nerd]

High honor vikings are imposing indeed I've had them tear through gothic foot knights and hospitallier foot knights