Newbie Questions

[Mightycheese]

Hi,
I'm new to Total War (last weekend), but I'm really enjoying it. Totalwar.org has been really helpful so far (especially the newbie guides) but I've just got a few questions:

1) I've been playing as the English, and I've read a few threads that recommend invading Flanders asap because of the income from that province.
I've taken over Flanders in under 2 years, and offered a ceasefire (declined). Then the French retaliated and I had a wee war with them (I think I defended at all times, as I didn't want full-on war), but I got exxed by the pope and the French didn't. As this was pretty early on, I didn't stand a chance against the Crusades.
Any tips on why I got exxed and the French didn't, and also some tactics for taking over Flanders without an all out war?

2) If you bribe a tribe (i.e. Welsh, Scotish etc), do they take more money to upkeep than a regular army?

3) During a battle, is there any way to know where the enemy army will be coming from? I generally go from where the troops are facing at the start of the battle, but last night I set an ambush so that the enemy would come through a valley of trees, and the enemy started off way over to the left, and came straight through the forest.

4) I know this one will have been covered before, so I'll apologise now, but how do you get Ireland? Is it just a case of building a port, then a line of ships to Ireland and putting troops over there?

5) How big an amrmy would you recommend on key provinces (i.e. Flander, Wessex etc). I've found that I'm not making much money because of the size of forces (not too big, maybe 500 troops) on key provinces, but I don't want my army to be too small as I want to fend off any French invasions.

Thanks for any help.

[Hetman_Koronny]

*bows*

Hello Mightycheese (:D) and welcome to the org http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I am not an expert here but I'll try to share what I think I know.

1. I usually get excommunicated but in most cases the pope won't go that far to send a crusade on me. I suggest you take the Flanders (capturing the castle or whatever they have there), have a good army residing there and DO NOT attack the French anymore. At least for 10 years. You should be able to avoid an excomm.

2. No, the support cost is no higher, but remember you've paid to bribe them. It is usually worth the money (especially the Welsh longbows are, IMO).

3. I thought the armies always face each other initialy. It then depends on an enemy general if he decides to maneuver his troops and move them around some terrain obstacles or whatever. Usually, the better enemy general is the more likely it is that he will try to outsmart you and flank your army, take advantage of hills, forest and so on.

4. Yes, I think that's the case. Well, you can try to bribe the army there, too, but it takes almost the same (other than you can use other fractions' ships to get there) However, it is risky since the Irish will be likely to rebel and the army you bribe may just not be enough to bring back peace to the island.

5. Hard one. I'd recommend whatever is necessary for the Flanders as it can become a wealthy province in time. Defend it agains the French at almost all cost. Later, when you expand onto neighbourhood provinces you will be able to keep less troops there as it will no longer be border brovince. At that point, usually 150-200 soldiers are enought to keep a tight rein on the peasants (well, provided that the governor or the king are not of those bad vices that decrease the loyalty plus generally your kingdom is in a good shape, not loosing wars, with successful crusades and such).

I hope that helped you a bit.

*bows*

[chilling]

To avoid excommunication, taking Flanders as an example.

Year 1.
You invade Flanders and defeat the army that's there. They retreat to the castle and the Pope tells you to cease hostilities within 2 years. This year counts as your first year.

Year 2.
Attack the castle and defeat the enemy. Take castle. This is year 2 of the Popes warning so you are safe.


Don't attack the French for 10 years otherwise you'll get excommunicated.

The Pope will mainly side against the player when two Catholic factions are involved.

[Imperial Buffoon]

Hello Mightycheese and welcome http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

(1) Chilling's suggestion is probably the best you can do to capture a province quickly and not be excommed. Notice that you can also attack several provinces at the same time, as long as you're done invading and capturing the stronghold in 2 turns.

(4) A word of caution on Ireland (and islands in general): whatever army you send there will be stuck in the island until you build a port (you can transport troops to an island without a port but not from one without a port), so early in the game, you want to be careful not too send a large fraction of your army or your king.

(5) Because as the English you probably want to capture first the richest provinces in France and the British Isles, you don't need to leave large forces in your British provinces to fend off an invasion as early in the game that would require too many ships, so leave a sizeable force in Flanders (it's your doorstep&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif but don't worry too much about Wessex and Mercia unless you see a clear threat (200 peasants will do). If you do take scotland you'll need to leave some more people there as it rebels easily. I usually don't leave peasants there and rather churn out those mighty Clansmen, ensuring that there are three units at the ready and sending troops to retrain.

IB

[Ja'chyra]

For Ireland you do need the ports and ships, but you also need to ensure you send enough men to defeat the Irish and ensure enough are left over to stop any rebellions. One point is that it is quantity of troops that stops rebellions not quality, so, you can send an army to defeat the Irish and include 5-6 units of peasants to hold Ireland. As soon as you build a port in Ireland you can then move your forces around.

I don't think you can bribe the Irish as there is no port in Ireland to send your emissary to.

Hope this helps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[The_Emperor]

Given I often play as the English I find the best strategy is to attack the French right off the bat and keep the pressure on them until their faction is obliterated.

Of course that means I get excommunicated, but at this early stage of the game no-one has any chapter houses built, so without enemy Crusades its no big deal.

Ally with the HRE and they will help you out in your wars with the French, an Alliance with the Aragonese or the Spanish is also a good start.

When France is yours your free to build up for decades, and I sugguest you raise your armies in England by province specialisation (Archers in Wales, Spearmen in Mercia, Cavalry in Wessex, Clansmen/Swordsmen Scotland, Kerns, Gallowglasses & More Swordsmen in Ireland, Militia in Northumbria... etc)

Use the rest of France for Farmland, Agent Training and Coastal Shipbuilding, (except for Tulouse, where you rush for More Knights with the Valor bonus there) once you get a fleet going you can crank out armies like crazy and deploy them anywhere within a few years

I hope this helps. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Canute]

Enemy's approach

I spent a lot of time laying brilliant ambushes, only to see the best laid plans dashed by the enemy's approach from an unexpected place.

I read somewhere on these boards that, when you are placing your units (before you click begin battle) the small map in the upper left corner has a red zone in which you are allowed to place troops. The red zone is round, except that one side is indented, as if someone has taken a bite out of the cookie. This indentation reflects the general direction from which the enemy will approach.

Once the battle starts, you need to lure him into your ambush. I'm still working on that.

[Mightycheese]

Thanks for all the help so far. I'll put it to good use tonight.
I think I was a bit confused about there being a crusade against me. I had a pretty big battle with France so I only had few troops left over, and one of the provinces rebelled. I think this was some kind of religious rebellion, but the size of it made me think it was a crusade (15 spearmen, archers, cavalry etc).

[Hajduk]

Hello and welcome Mightycheese

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Lord Of Storms]

Greetings and Welcome to MightyCheese I love the name mate http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif hoe did you come about choosing it?...LOS

[Mightycheese]

I think I was probably drunk when I chose the name, and it made me laugh. I've stuck with it as I can use it on any message board without having to have 4521 or whatever after my name.
Pretty useful.

[Mightycheese]

Hi again,
Just a quick note to say cheers for all the advice.
I've now got to grips with the game a lot better and have managed to take Flanders and Brittany (killing the French King) without being X'd by the pope.
Cheers.

[Sun Tzui]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
Hello Mightycheese

Here's one suggestion for garrisoning your provinces.

I usually leave 1 Spearmen, and 1 or 2 Urban Militia, early in the game, it's usually enough for those provinces that aren't too rebellious, and allows for an useful defensive battle (if you want to wear out a small attacking force). When available, leave 1 Feudal Spearmen, 1 Feudal Men at Arms, and one other unit of you choice( suggest 1 militia sergeants).




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