clovenhoof
07-09-2003, 09:31
Finally, after being seduced by a few History Channel documentaries on the Eastern Roman Empire, I decided to play a campaign as the Byzantines. I am shocked and mildly disapointed at how easy it is, even on the hard setting. It's 1257 and I own more than half the map. All of the eastern most territories, all of the mideast, Egypt, all of the Italian penninsula, all of what was the Hungarian and Polish factions, as well as some originaly German provinces. My next step is either to totaly take over eastern europe, taking over Novogrod, or to storm through Africa and wipe out the Almohods. I could have taken the whole map by now, but I figured I'd be a good emporer and develop everything I possibly could while taking over the world.
Nothing seems to be able to withstand the Kataphraktoi or Pronai Alligion. Army Corps made up of four units of each in addition to 4 Vangarian Guard, 2 Trebizon Archer and 2 standard issue Spearmen seem to be invincible on the attack. I usually move my center of screening spearmen backed by 2 single rows of archers within range of the enemy formation while moving my Kataphraktoi and Pronai Alligion to the flanks. If flanking is not possible than the Kataphraktoi usually do a frontal assault with the Pronai Alligion manuevering to the enemy rear and striking there. In any case, the defending army is usually pressed between four heavy calv. on one side and four on the other. The Vangarian Guard are sent in to totaly overwhelm the defending units (and hopefully hold off spear-units) and thats about it.
Likewise on defense, a Corps made up of 2 Kataphraktoi, 2 Pronai Alligion, 2 Vangarian Guard, 4 spearmen (pikemen now),4 arbalester and 2 Catapult seem to hold anything and everything off easily. The spearmen are in the center, the Kataphraktoi split evenly on the flanks, and staggered behind them on the far flanks are the Vangarian Guard- behind these are the Pronai Alligion units, behind the flanks. Whichever side the assault hits first or hardest (usually the side that is either less wooded or on less of a slope, as I always either choose the highest possible ground or a bottleneck in the forest), the infantry of the opposite side swings down and hits its flank, while the Pronai Alligion of both sides wing out and to the rear so that the attacking force is counter-attacked from all possible directions while under the constant withering fire of 4 arbalester units and two catapults. I send the Kataphraktoi or Pronai Alligion (whichever is closest) and after the enemy general and once he is dispatched (if not before) their assault dwindles, their lines collarpse and they move from general retreat into a full on paniced route.
Bothe the defense and offense have worked incredibly well as I have not lost a battle in well over a hundred years (lol), but I am especially fond of the defense. The Golden Horde fell easy under my counter attack, tried attacking Kataphraktoi and were easily dispatched in a single battle. Likewise with the intimidating loyalist rebellion lead by the re-emergening papal faction with 250 royal knights, and scores of foot knights. They were even charging down hill, failed upon my swiss pikemen, the pope bit it under arablaster fire and once the last wave retreated I sent my army forward to annihlate the remaining foe.
Likewise for the Almohads who attacked Egypt with 4k troops more time than I can count- it was getting boring.
The greatest challenge I have found with the Byzantines is keeping my traderoutes totaly open, all the way around the world. Fleets of firegalleys, 5-10 each, patroling every waterway in the world and yet a single enemy galley in a single sea zone breaks the chain of ships and screws up my trade route. But thats the difference between 10k a year in profit and 30k.
I really wish they would have made this faction a little tougher (more fun) to play. As it is, it is extremely easy, almost not fun.
You know what IS fun? Holding my side of a map with a single bridge, using only one unit of swiss pikemen and two units of arbalesters. Watching the knights and everyone else pile up on the bridge and then retreat- 16 units beaten by two.
sorry for the looong post, but I wanted to vent.
Nothing seems to be able to withstand the Kataphraktoi or Pronai Alligion. Army Corps made up of four units of each in addition to 4 Vangarian Guard, 2 Trebizon Archer and 2 standard issue Spearmen seem to be invincible on the attack. I usually move my center of screening spearmen backed by 2 single rows of archers within range of the enemy formation while moving my Kataphraktoi and Pronai Alligion to the flanks. If flanking is not possible than the Kataphraktoi usually do a frontal assault with the Pronai Alligion manuevering to the enemy rear and striking there. In any case, the defending army is usually pressed between four heavy calv. on one side and four on the other. The Vangarian Guard are sent in to totaly overwhelm the defending units (and hopefully hold off spear-units) and thats about it.
Likewise on defense, a Corps made up of 2 Kataphraktoi, 2 Pronai Alligion, 2 Vangarian Guard, 4 spearmen (pikemen now),4 arbalester and 2 Catapult seem to hold anything and everything off easily. The spearmen are in the center, the Kataphraktoi split evenly on the flanks, and staggered behind them on the far flanks are the Vangarian Guard- behind these are the Pronai Alligion units, behind the flanks. Whichever side the assault hits first or hardest (usually the side that is either less wooded or on less of a slope, as I always either choose the highest possible ground or a bottleneck in the forest), the infantry of the opposite side swings down and hits its flank, while the Pronai Alligion of both sides wing out and to the rear so that the attacking force is counter-attacked from all possible directions while under the constant withering fire of 4 arbalester units and two catapults. I send the Kataphraktoi or Pronai Alligion (whichever is closest) and after the enemy general and once he is dispatched (if not before) their assault dwindles, their lines collarpse and they move from general retreat into a full on paniced route.
Bothe the defense and offense have worked incredibly well as I have not lost a battle in well over a hundred years (lol), but I am especially fond of the defense. The Golden Horde fell easy under my counter attack, tried attacking Kataphraktoi and were easily dispatched in a single battle. Likewise with the intimidating loyalist rebellion lead by the re-emergening papal faction with 250 royal knights, and scores of foot knights. They were even charging down hill, failed upon my swiss pikemen, the pope bit it under arablaster fire and once the last wave retreated I sent my army forward to annihlate the remaining foe.
Likewise for the Almohads who attacked Egypt with 4k troops more time than I can count- it was getting boring.
The greatest challenge I have found with the Byzantines is keeping my traderoutes totaly open, all the way around the world. Fleets of firegalleys, 5-10 each, patroling every waterway in the world and yet a single enemy galley in a single sea zone breaks the chain of ships and screws up my trade route. But thats the difference between 10k a year in profit and 30k.
I really wish they would have made this faction a little tougher (more fun) to play. As it is, it is extremely easy, almost not fun.
You know what IS fun? Holding my side of a map with a single bridge, using only one unit of swiss pikemen and two units of arbalesters. Watching the knights and everyone else pile up on the bridge and then retreat- 16 units beaten by two.
sorry for the looong post, but I wanted to vent.