Units you HAVE to have

[DemonArchangel]

I'll start this off

Vikings: Beserkers or Jomsvikings (both are f*ck awesome)
Catholics: Chivalric Foot Knights (SO USEFUL)
Orthodox (Byz): Varangian Guardsmen/Byzantine Infantry (can't decide which, both are just too damn good)
Orthodox (Russian): Either Rus Spearmen or Boyars, both are indispensable, as are Druzhinas.
Muslim (Egypt): Faris, or Saracen Infantry
Muslim (Turks): Janissary Heavy Infantry (Damn useful)
Muslim (Almoravid): AUM (lifeblood of almos)

[Revenant69]

Yep I agree on all counts. But i think you forgot:

English: Longbows, Billmen http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Cheers http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Kraxis]

I would say Ghazi to all the Muslims.

Who wouldn't like a cheap Fire and Forget weapon that blows up in the face of the enemy?

[Qilue]

Do agents count? If so, then assassins and spies. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Otherwise -
Disciplined units, doesn't matter which ones, as long as they are disciplined. When I give the order to stop and return, I want them to stop and return, not give me the finger and keep on chasing.

[ShadesPanther]

CMAA as they are very tough and available to most catholic factions

[katar]

at the moment archers, Swabian Swordsmen and knights. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Rocket_Boy]

One word: Arbalesters.
Even as the English I always have a unit or two. In a drawn out battle, no missile unit performs better. The ultimate heavy cav and general killer

[LestaT]

I can post here ? eheh. well.. artillery (finally get the right spelling) and lost of them. Targeting the general units first and all the units thats cloce with each other and see hoy they disperse.

[rory_20_uk]

I like catapults and the later cannons (things that TURN). Aiming at what you want to hit is not going to work, but aiming at the screen of archers / front troops means that the later bounces will (with any luck) slaughter the units behind - regardless of what they are. And due to their range, if need be they can be off the battlefield with the reinforcements on the way before the battle is joined (in an ideal world). And regardless of their use compared to other units, I laugh my ass off when those bolders hit their troops Ahem...

[Vanya]

GAH

"He who claims to be indispensable is often the one that dies first."
-- Vanya

GAH

[NewJeffCT]

Depends on the faction, I guess. I've played the English the most and find billmen indespensible, even more so than longbows. As the Turks, I would say the Janissary Heavy Infantry - my slayers of Mongol Heavy Cavalry; with the Egyptians, I love the Nizari. With the Spanish, I love Jinettes - fast and tough. All others, I would say Chivalric Knights. For the Italians, I love Italian Infantry - especially early. For Italy and the HRE, I also love Gothic Knights and Swiss Halberds.

[Spino]

Well I simply HAVE to have spear units otherwise my ass is grass, especially in the early game (any era). Saracen Infantry are my pet favorites but for Catholic factions its Feudal Sergeants.

I also simply HAVE to have missile units; any kind and any flavor and 3 or more if you please. However, once the High era arrives I find the basic Crossbow and Arbalester units to be perfect.

Outside of the necessities I always find myself buying Halberdiers. Not the quickest of units but they're so damn perfect for keeping your flanks secure on defensive battles, especially when the enemy brings a ton of ponies out to play.

Ah yes, but since we're discussing pet favorites I must confess Gallowglass are the apple of my eye. Superb Charge, armor piercing and absolutely vicious on the attack.

[The_Emperor]

What do I HAVE to include?

Good solid Spearmen are essential in my armies... Saracens and Feudal/Chiv Sergents.

Of course you have your Archers... Arbs, and Longbows (If English) are essential for me.

Cavalry, I always have a couple of units of Fast light Cav, Mounted Crossbows are often hired as Mercs, or I have Hobilars/Mounted Sergents. Muslims we have the fearsome Turcoman Horse, and the Faris/Mamluks.

The rest will be made up of Ultimate Heavy Cavalry, (Kataphraktoi, Royal/Chiv Knights, Ghalums/Kwarazmiam Cav)

Any spare spaces are made up with Men At Arms units in varying forms.

[Yoko Kono]

Depends on faction really

Russins - Halberdiers are a must when facing the golden horde, suddenly heavy mongol cav dont seem all that scary http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Hungarians - Szekely are THE ultimate light cav, fast with both ranged attack and melee skills
English - Longbowmen and Billmen combo armies cut threw pretty much anything add in Gallowglasses for extra flavour
Arbalesters, Arquebusiers and Organ guns are faves for bridge battles on defence and steppe heavy are also particulary valuable as the slav warriors for the sheer barechested craziness they bring to the battlefield

[Revenant69]

I have a sneaking suspicion that every unit in the game will manage to find its way into this thread http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[el_slapper]

Every unit has its own usefulness. So, yes, every unit can get here.

Personally, the best unit of my faction that can turn cav into shish-kebab is mandatory to correct my usual lack of mobility.....

[rory_20_uk]

The_Emperor, thanks for limiting your choices to the units contained within MTW http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif If I find that there are any units or groups that you did not mention, I'll be sure to point them out...
I do think that most units do have some sort of place, whether they are great as killer units (but very expensive / require many buildings to create), are the mainstay (good solid backbone), or are cannon fodder (cheap, easy to make, basically there to absorb arrows / "tactically" run away and get slaughtered).
And of course some like the sharp rapier of a attack by a small killerarmy, others like the battlefield to be filled with bodies, and are less than concern over whose they are

[Dhepee]

Longbowmen, hands down, a couple of units of longbowmen will cut just about anything to shreds if given a couple of volleys.
I prefer to Feudal Sargents to Chiv Sargents, because Feudals don't seem to rout as easily.

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (rory_20_uk @ Sep. 16 2003,13:53)]The_Emperor, thanks for limiting your choices to the units contained within MTW http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif If I find that there are any units or groups that you did not mention, I'll be sure to point them out...
Did I mention Naptha? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

The problem is I rarely play as the same faction over and over... and each faction has its own special lineup, whats good for one may be impossible with another so I cannot list what is good for ALL

But if you want a simple answer then here it is... Since I sometimes play campaigns as the English more than the others, The one unit I cannot do without in those armies is the Longbow, all else in the English line-up comes secondary to that.

But as I say it always depends on the faction I play as to what I can include in this thread... hence the long-winded answer http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I guess I just can't do without anything http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Longasc]

I love cavalry, but the mainstay of my armies are still Feudal or Chivalric Sergeants. (SP campaign game)

[Fortebraccio]

Culverines...in offensive battles expecially. At last I completed my Hungarian GA campaign, and each of my offensive armies would bring 5 to 10 culverine teams. With a high ranking general, Culverines fare as good as Wuhrframer Half-Tracks in Close Combat 3. Nothing can bring dismay and destruction to the enemy lines like a 10 culverines artillery barrage.

[LestaT]

Quote[/b] (rory_20_uk @ Sep. 15 2003,09:29)]I like catapults and the later cannons (things that TURN). Aiming at what you want to hit is not going to work, but aiming at the screen of archers / front troops means that the later bounces will (with any luck) slaughter the units behind - regardless of what they are. And due to their range, if need be they can be off the battlefield with the reinforcements on the way before the battle is joined (in an ideal world). And regardless of their use compared to other units, I laugh my ass off when those bolders hit their troops Ahem...
Yeah dude. I truly agree. Especially during large battles with waves upon waves of reserves. Sometimes half of my frontlines are cannons (preferre serpentine) the rest spears unit of the best. Line all the spears as wide as I can infront the cannons and started pounding on the enemy. 8 cannons targeting on a single unit is better than having single cannon on 8 different units.

These weapon truly cause fear.

[rory_20_uk]

I think that sign of a well balanced game is that what is the favourite unit is spread amongst so many - if there's one that everyone thinks is cheap, fast, high moral and kills everything, the game would be so bland as each side masss produces that one unit (apart from the Ai, which would then get slaughtered).
I've never tried serpentines. What are they good at? Do they fire further, or what?

[Lunael]

I have to disagree, to some degree.

I rarely base my building and training choices just on the effectiveness of the unit / building. Having 16 überunits rolling over the map would simply be goddamn boring, at least to me. I want variety in my armies. I want those special units my faction has, even when there perhaps is a bit better choice available. Sometimes I just feel like building christian shrines everywhere and immediately - pious king has to show he´s pious, right?

What I´m trying to say is that when playing is reduced calculating the most effective way all the time, it´s not gaming for me, it´s accounting. Same with pretty much all games I play - in Master of Magic it is simply fun trying out the gnolls even though they are arguably the worst race, and in Combat Mission I never would buy just a huge horde of SMG armed troops because the system is biased towards them.

And I´m naturally talking about SP, where the only person who has to enjoy the game is you. AI probably won´t care either way. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

A matter of personal preference, I think.

-Juha

[lancer63]

As the bizantines it has to be trebizon archers, varagian guards and bizantine cav.
As the muslims it would be anything that spells mamluk, jannizary and ghulam.
Haven't been in cath realms for quite a while.

[Fortebraccio]

Very true Lunael... flavor is much more important than sheer effectiveness. (that's why I disdain Armoured Swiss Pikemen)

Btw...your reference to Master of Magic brought me memories about entire campaigns won by Torin the Chosen one man armies. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ichi]

For Orthodox, VG, Byz Cav have been mentioned. But also Boyars and Porno Cav. boyars are the best horse archers in the game;fast, can outfight any other cav archer, and hopped up are tanks. Pronoiai Allagion are fast AND tough - not Gothic Knight tough, but tough. They are faster than anything that is tougher than they are, stronger than anything faster.

For Muslims its Faris and Trebs. For Christians, Dhepee is right on about Longbowmen.

ichi