HRE MedMod IV, Normal, Early

[Demequis]

Hi guys. I've started and died in 4+ games this week. I downloaded MedMod recently and had played a game as Turkish (lots of fun). I'd never played HRE even in the original game (too many factions too litle time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif ), so I decided to give it a shot in medmod (early).
Since I was unfamiliar with faction (and medmod) I took the difficulty down to normal....

I've not been able to stay competitive past 1100 it seems in every game. This morning was my best shot, but I just gave up a half hour ago in 1112 approx.

I've been facing three problems:

1. Infinite number of border provinces. It seems virtually every province I own borders my enemies. While incredibly difficult...I managed to keep a hefty garrison in each one in my last game.

2. Poor units/no time to build infrastructure. I'm relying on defensive armies of spearmen/archers. My poor little Bavaria produces Knechte for all its worth. By the time I can actually produce swabian swordsmen I'm already at war (game over).

3. Eternal conflicts. No matter how hardcore I garrison my frontier, how many alliances I try to secure (I managed to get the poles, hungarians, papacy, and english...), which seems exceedingly difficult, (it's been my experience that the computer is anxious to ally with everyone at the start of the game) I'm always attacked by someone. Usually it's the french, but if I weight burgandy with a ridiculous stack then the opening move falls to the hungarians or italians. Once the first battle occurs all my allies except the papacy invariably desert me (papacy waits a little bit), EVEN IF I massacre the opposing force. I believe that if you win the first battle that is usually how your allies decide who to pick to remain allied with for the upcoming war (more or less)? Once the initial war occurs the situation spirals out of control. I managed to hold the french, hungarians, and italians at bay, and then destroy upper italy. But then of course the Poles decide to join in the fun, presenting a fourth front...followed subsequently by the english. I lack the resources and troop quality to fight everyone off at the same time. All attempts to ally, or make ceasefire are denied once I am at war, no matter what (even if I have great position....etc...).

Can anyone offer a strategy here? I've never played HRE in the original game, but I'm sure it's absurdly easy compared to medmod. I'd like to abandon my indefensible position and relocate to england, but of course homelands make that impossible playing medmod (which is a good thing).

Have any of you successfully won as HRE in medmod, in early? Can you offer me any tips to solve my problems?

Thanks

[torsoboy]

Well rest assured you are not the only one to have a challenging time with the HRE. I must admit I had to replay a battle to get where I wanted to be.

Heerban are quite good when used properly but can die in droves if you're not careful. Knechte are great in Bavaria, but costly. The HRE lack a good spear unit in Early, I suggest not building many of those. Some archers are fine, not too many of those either. You need some archers in Burgundy and Saxony, because those are bridge defending battles. Some archers go a long way to minimize Heerban casualties against Italian infantry too. I feel that Swabian Swordsmen are awesome, even in this mod but you can't seem to build them in time. Mounted crossbowmen are great, try to get those ASAP.

The trick to using Heerban is that they absolutely destroy cavalry in woods, and will probably win against most infantry in woods. Norman knights might give you problems because their +1 attack is painful, but swarm them and pray the Heerban don't run. You will need to try lure enemy to the woods.

Your most important territories are Franconia, Bavaria, Burgundy, and Saxony. Build and garrison those and try to hold onto them with all your might. Franconia especially can net you 2000 gold with all farms, and still spit out Heerban at +1 valor and full weapons and armor upgrade. Until you set up trade networks it's the best province you can have.

Reducing your borders is hard, but the HRE is blessed with many homelands, which means you can build a massive army faster than any one else over time. I suggest taking Silesia when you have the chance, because it shields Franconia. Lothloringen is also great because the entry point from Ile de France is also a bridge fight if I remember correctly. If you hold Provence it's also a bridge defending battle from Toulouse.

France can be very strong because their knights are more numerous than yours, and their FMAA are slightly better than your Heerban. You need to take Flanders, this will cripple them. Try to take Ile de France to and sack it. They will never recover technologically.

The English can give you problems because you can't hurt them if you don't control the seas. Dedicate Friesland and Flanders to building ships and never stop until you do.

The Italians have better infantry than yours, and theirs can even beat up your cavalry badly. The key to destroying the Italians are Mounted Crossbowmen. They can outrun all their units and if used wisely, outshoot Sailors. If the chance presents itself, a combined charge of multiple Mounted Crossbowmen will decimate those sailors.

Hungary and the Polish shouldn't give to many problems, but may tie a garison to the borders you don't want them to be. The Danish and Swedish have never attacked me, but keep Saxony well garisoned just in case.

Other problems just stem from your leaders. Whereas France gets two 6* generals in Early, Italy gets one, and the English a 4*, you will have to make do with a 3* at best. Your princes can be competent, but will be most unloyal. In fact, you will be spending the first turns just building watchtowers/border forts/town guards just to make things magageable. If you stick with it you will eventually get some great leaders, like Henry the Lion, who has 4*. I was lucky to have a great emperor (Friedrich II) who had 5*, and whose offspring included several 7*.

I hope this helps.

[Demequis]

Excellent advice, thanks much I'm off to start a new game. :)