Oaty
07-07-2003, 23:38
I was wondering if it is better not to have upgraded armor in the desert or if it makes very little to no difference at all.
I noticed a great strategy for the desert. I was the almahods and attacking the turks. As soon as I hit the begin battle button the turks automatically sent in there horse archers to try to take my forces down, after taking some casualties I deprived them of there fast horse archers. After the horse archers routed or withdrew they immediately sent in there ground troops 1 at a time. I had no idea why in the hell they were doing this but I sent 2 units that were there counter for destroying them and swapped out units after each attack. This kept going till most of there army was FRESH reinforcemts and there general. So then I finally had to bring the attack to them. Well after watching the replay a day later I finally realized why the comp was doin this, trying to wear down my troops before I met there main army. The reason they did this was before I engaged most of there units they were already exhausted from the desert heat. Well I looked at the status of my units wich were all desert units minus my ghoulam bodyguards. Well all of them were quite fresh minus the ghoulams who were very tired when they came face to face with the enemy. So from now on if they have quite a few non desert units and I'm attacking I'll wait there a good 5 minutes till they start exhausting themselves just from standing there or make them bring the attack to me. I noticed quite the opposite shortly after though. Most desert units don't do well outside the desert.
As I'm still a bit new to MTW I'm gonna make a list of what units work well in the desert and what desert units you can actually trust to leave the desert. Feel free to add on or correct anything that's wrong or have a different oppinion on
Nubian Spearmen- basically north african peasants with spears. Seem to be the most versatile unit in the desert with not too may units being able to deal more damage than they do as long as there flanks are protected. There armourless body allows them very much stamina and any armoured unit will be exhausted or near exhaustion when they prepare to engage them. There biggest enemy would be the archer even the poorest ones get good target practice.
Do not take these guys outside of the desert
Camels- Basically anti horse units that frighten horses due to there bad smell and there nature to spit on every living thing they come in contact with even there loyal riders. Most units will be in fear to engage these beasts except Nubian spearmen. Do not take these guys out of the desert.
Desert archers- I don't think I need to say anything here but I've noticed this is one of the few that can work outside the desert with effectiveness.
Saharan cavalry- All there stats are poor (except for there good charge) and should only be used to hit a flank as I don't think theres a single unit that would get beaten from a frontal charge. Only use these guys to hit a flank and even when they hit a flank it is not too good of an idea if the unit is a good unit, Use camel jockeys instead if you got them. There best use is to chase down routing enemies and either kill or capture them.
With there great speed and most units being exhausted, 1 unit can capture up to 300 units for ransom or killing for your pleasure ( : These guys can work out of the desert but there best use there is to take some enemy spearmen or good cavalry for a long walk.
Mamuluk horse archers- havent used them as I've used berber camels instead. So any comments here would help
Urban militia- not a desert unit but have about the same armour as a Nubian spearmen wich gives them prolonged stamina compared to many other units. There big bonus is bonus against armoured troops, should the enemy be foolish enough to bring them in the desert. Although they seem to do poorly everywhere else it seems they can wreak havoc in the desert.
Murabitin infantry- (javelin throwers) (not sure if they are desert units are not) There javelins are deadly if used properly. Although they are skirmishers I find them best used in hold formation with either a unit right in front or behind. They seem to love big targets like horses. In hold formation I can have them take out up to 20 for poorly armoured horses but usually 3-10 mainly dependent on there armor and that is just from the charge. I've gotten better at using them letting them unleash there javelins and then withdrawing them. Yes they do need to be babysat cause of there short range and poor attack but as long as a unit can hold there ground in front of them or a unit hitting the horses in the flanks they can hold there ground for a short durations as the ones getting hit will use there javelins as spears for defense. They seem to work well everywhere.
Arab infantry- shock troops for the desert don't even seem to do that great there either but best left in the desert due to there poorly armoured body
If you noticed any units that I missed please feel free to mention them or any non desert units that I didnt mention that you know work well
I noticed a great strategy for the desert. I was the almahods and attacking the turks. As soon as I hit the begin battle button the turks automatically sent in there horse archers to try to take my forces down, after taking some casualties I deprived them of there fast horse archers. After the horse archers routed or withdrew they immediately sent in there ground troops 1 at a time. I had no idea why in the hell they were doing this but I sent 2 units that were there counter for destroying them and swapped out units after each attack. This kept going till most of there army was FRESH reinforcemts and there general. So then I finally had to bring the attack to them. Well after watching the replay a day later I finally realized why the comp was doin this, trying to wear down my troops before I met there main army. The reason they did this was before I engaged most of there units they were already exhausted from the desert heat. Well I looked at the status of my units wich were all desert units minus my ghoulam bodyguards. Well all of them were quite fresh minus the ghoulams who were very tired when they came face to face with the enemy. So from now on if they have quite a few non desert units and I'm attacking I'll wait there a good 5 minutes till they start exhausting themselves just from standing there or make them bring the attack to me. I noticed quite the opposite shortly after though. Most desert units don't do well outside the desert.
As I'm still a bit new to MTW I'm gonna make a list of what units work well in the desert and what desert units you can actually trust to leave the desert. Feel free to add on or correct anything that's wrong or have a different oppinion on
Nubian Spearmen- basically north african peasants with spears. Seem to be the most versatile unit in the desert with not too may units being able to deal more damage than they do as long as there flanks are protected. There armourless body allows them very much stamina and any armoured unit will be exhausted or near exhaustion when they prepare to engage them. There biggest enemy would be the archer even the poorest ones get good target practice.
Do not take these guys outside of the desert
Camels- Basically anti horse units that frighten horses due to there bad smell and there nature to spit on every living thing they come in contact with even there loyal riders. Most units will be in fear to engage these beasts except Nubian spearmen. Do not take these guys out of the desert.
Desert archers- I don't think I need to say anything here but I've noticed this is one of the few that can work outside the desert with effectiveness.
Saharan cavalry- All there stats are poor (except for there good charge) and should only be used to hit a flank as I don't think theres a single unit that would get beaten from a frontal charge. Only use these guys to hit a flank and even when they hit a flank it is not too good of an idea if the unit is a good unit, Use camel jockeys instead if you got them. There best use is to chase down routing enemies and either kill or capture them.
With there great speed and most units being exhausted, 1 unit can capture up to 300 units for ransom or killing for your pleasure ( : These guys can work out of the desert but there best use there is to take some enemy spearmen or good cavalry for a long walk.
Mamuluk horse archers- havent used them as I've used berber camels instead. So any comments here would help
Urban militia- not a desert unit but have about the same armour as a Nubian spearmen wich gives them prolonged stamina compared to many other units. There big bonus is bonus against armoured troops, should the enemy be foolish enough to bring them in the desert. Although they seem to do poorly everywhere else it seems they can wreak havoc in the desert.
Murabitin infantry- (javelin throwers) (not sure if they are desert units are not) There javelins are deadly if used properly. Although they are skirmishers I find them best used in hold formation with either a unit right in front or behind. They seem to love big targets like horses. In hold formation I can have them take out up to 20 for poorly armoured horses but usually 3-10 mainly dependent on there armor and that is just from the charge. I've gotten better at using them letting them unleash there javelins and then withdrawing them. Yes they do need to be babysat cause of there short range and poor attack but as long as a unit can hold there ground in front of them or a unit hitting the horses in the flanks they can hold there ground for a short durations as the ones getting hit will use there javelins as spears for defense. They seem to work well everywhere.
Arab infantry- shock troops for the desert don't even seem to do that great there either but best left in the desert due to there poorly armoured body
If you noticed any units that I missed please feel free to mention them or any non desert units that I didnt mention that you know work well