tactics discussion.

[|OCS|Virus]

well, I play as the egyptians usualy, but after I make it through spain and to the places with heavyer armour it seems like I just get crushed. there heavy armoured knights and chivalric foot knights just destroy my armyies. what are some good tactics for these heavy armour enemies? I usualy advance myself fairly well before I get to them so I have most of the good egyptian units.

[ichi]

Well equipped high quality Egyptians can beat the cheap AI armies that are full of Peasants and Urban Militia, but I have a very hard time beating Late Era Catholic Knights and other professional soldiers with Egyptians. The only thing I have found is sheer numbers (lots of mounted archers).

So I cheat a little. I build lots of inns and pick up high quality Catholics when they are available. I fight my way over to Morocco, maybe pick up a few Mediterrainian islands. Then I go around the right side of the map, through Khazar andthe steppes.

Along the way I use emissaries to bribe decent Christian troops. Then turn them around and use them on the tougher fights.

ichi

[Shahed]

I only played one Egyptian campaign.

What I did is that each time someone launched a Crusade at me out of the blue, for no reason whatsoever, I'd send my fleet up to Danmark and drop in 3 full stacks of elites. I'd then proceed to go through each province and destroy everything. SO by the time we hit Late period, most of the European factions were still going round with archers, militia, feudal knights at the very best. Once everything for the faction concerned was destroyed, I'd regroup my armies, build a port and come home. Eventually though these raids turned into permanent conquest of at least some areas, so it was easier to raid again should war break out.

The AI rebuilds very fast, on the other hand, it loves to Crusade at the worst of times, so you should have enough of an excuse to fight back.

[Revenant69]

Hahahaha I used the same tactic in my Byzantine SP game. I was so fed up with the crusades that i built and hired 7 stacks of mercenaries and elite toops and send them all thhroughout Europe to pillage and raise everything in their way.

With Europe a smoldering ruin, i just sat back and drank my cofee http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Its a dirty tactic but it works.

[Lazul]

As an egyptian speed is the ticket... build alot of horse archers and train some crossbow men for the knights, and if the knights attack you keep your spearmen close at hand, if they start to loose against them have about 2 or 3 mamluks to attack the knights form behind, and keep the other AI units bussy with the HA.

works for me all the time... allmost... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Si GeeNa]

I've always been looking around for fellow players who enjoy playing the Egyptians.

Some of my observations...

The Egyptian Homelands tend to be richer. Their units tend to be cheaper. All this compared to the average Catholic faction like England and France. Which means that often you can raise an army or Striking Force larger than theirs.

Muslim units have good to better morale when compared with the average Catholic units, 'cept in the Late period.

Muwahids have better morale than Saracen Spears. Usually good enuf for a standup encounter against most of the Catholic units. Dont expect them to last too long, send in the mad-crazy Ghazis onto the flanks of the enemies.

*Nothing hurts more than Ghazis on the flanks*

Nizaris are always giving a good account of themselves. Their hybrid-ness means lotsa flexibility in using them. Dont be afraid to throw them into the heat of any battle. They might not last long with their lack of armour, but they certainly take alot down with them. Their morale means they stay in the fight and dont chicken out.

Mamluke HA are one of the best HA in the game. Employ them as Medium Cav if necessary to do the extra dirty.

I think that Muslim units require better micro-management skills to fight. They cant be expected to slug it out in a 20 min skirmish. They dont wear enough. However, they are often cheaper to build and maintain, thereby giving them a competitive advantage in numbers.

Dont be afraid to throw away large number of men in a fight. You can always build them at a lower cost than the Catholic nations.

In any case, the Jihad is always a good way to raise armies fast.

Good luck If u need more advice, i'll be glad to share with what i have learnt from the game.

[A.Saturnus]

If you happen to have a Master Horse Breeder in Lesser Armenia, you can build v2 Ghulam cav there, ship them to Spain and retrain them with weapon upgrades. This way they are more than a match for Knights.
I usually rely very much on Saracen inf. They can hold out against almost everything (well, not CFK), and in the meantime you can flank with Ghazi or Nizari.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

What about the Abysinian Guards? (have I got the name right?), I have never played Egypt but I have run into those as Turks, they seemed quite nasty.

[A.Saturnus]

THey are usefull. Good damage, but too expansive in my opinion. Better use Ghazi (or mod them cheaper - like I did).

[Crash]

Quote[/b] (Revenant69 @ Aug. 30 2003,21:37)]Hahahaha I used the same tactic in my Byzantine SP game. I was so fed up with the crusades that i built and hired 7 stacks of mercenaries and elite toops and send them all thhroughout Europe to pillage and raise everything in their way.

With Europe a smoldering ruin, i just sat back and drank my cofee http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Its a dirty tactic but it works.
My favorite strategy too, and the only viable one when the Catholics won't stop sending crusades against you (why should they?). I always try to accumulate a big pile of florin for that very purpose - to send armies of mercenary raiders against your enemies to plunder and pillage, but not hold their provinces. They will eventual succumb from their wounds...