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View Full Version : lib Are Polish Retainers any use?



Lord of the Isles
12-03-2002, 13:08
Finally got round to playing Poland last night and this has prompted some thoughts on the v1.1 changes to units. I was looking forward to using Polish Retainers, having read the favourable comments about them in the War Assembly. Then I realized that they are no longer available in Early; you have to wait till the High period before they become available.

The trouble with that is that their main attraction pre-1.1 was that Poland got decent medium cavalry when other nations only had light cavalry (read the comments in the 1.0 War Assembly). Now that they aren't available till 1205, you might as well go with Feudal Knights, which are better units (though costing 425 against 300 but by 1205 money isn't usually an issue, whereas unit quality is).

This isn't a criticism of the 1.1 changes. I *like* the way that units are tied to a particular period. I just suspect that CA might like to rethink some of the decisions; particulary with Polish Retainers, since Poland has a tough enough time as it is. Can anyone come up with examples of other units that have become effectively obsoleted in this way?

And I know I can mod it myself, and probably will.

I've also seen some wierd point scoring in this GA game: at 1100 I went into the lead with 5 points Half the major powers stayed at 0. But I'll comment on that in another thread.

Swoosh So
12-03-2002, 13:10
Sheesh i was going to play as them last night but decided to play byzantine instead, just as well i dident cause i would have raged if i found that out through playing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


Swooooooshooooooooooowl

Leet Eriksson
12-03-2002, 13:13
use them just like using armenian heavy cavalry(almost same stats).they are still good if you flank with them or run down archers and MAAs you won't have any trouble with them.the only problem is they are no match for nobility.

Daevyll
12-03-2002, 13:21
They are faster and tire less quickly than full knights if I'm not mistaken, so they still have their uses.

Alrowan
12-03-2002, 14:26
damn... too bad i hear this now... i guess poland will have a slightly tougher time for the first centuary.. especially with thier rather large neighbours... they really need some specail advantage

Ckrisz
12-03-2002, 15:38
How about Turkish Sipahi being regulated to Late period, when they're totally useless against and heavy infantry?

MizuKokami
12-03-2002, 18:54
they are usefull....in early period. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

i use them in mulit play. at 300 florins and cheap to upgrade, it saves florins for infantry.

solypsist
12-03-2002, 19:44
I started a Poland campaign the other day, for the very same reason of wanting to see what these retainers were all about after reading about them here.
So I waited and waited and finally got them, and they're pretty good. Right now it's me vs. the Mongol Horde, and my little retainers are holding their own; I like their speed. I don't know if one could build a whole campaign around them, but so far no real complaints.

MizuKokami
12-03-2002, 23:19
further, i just fought a battle in egypt. i think their lighter armor comes in handy in the heat.

deejayvee
12-04-2002, 01:43
My Polish Retainers are specialists at chasing down fleeing cowards. They're the best unit for that in my opinion.