How to keep princes from getting lazy

[WorkNeglecter]

I play MTW normal - med mod and I have a recurring problem: my princes get lazy from not going into battle. I usually use them to garrison important border provinces where the enemy has two or three stacks across the border, since I don't have any other decent generals. But since the enemy is too tough to take out, the princes just sit there 'til they get fat and lazy. Also, I usually only have one active battle front at a time, so I use only one general, and all the others get fat and lazy.
Does any any one have any suggestions?
Can I cross the border and withdraw before combat just to keep the prince in form? Or will he get some unpleasant vice?

[Leodegar]

if you invade and choose to not attack your general might get the vice hesitant (-moral)i think.

but if you choose to personally command the attack and withdraw at once when the battle starts, yuo won´t get a bad vice. at least i haven´t yet...

but i don´t know if that prevents your generals from getting lazy, but give it a try... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Bhruic]

If you don't mind cheese, a good strategy is to pick a province that you don't care about (no valuable resources, low income, etc). Tank the loyalty of the province so that it keeps revolting. Use your princes to mop up, then withdraw them back to their positions. Helps them get exercise (and command points), and you don't really lose much.

Bh

[WorkNeglecter]

Quote[/b] (Bhruic @ April 09 2004,08:05)]If you don't mind cheese, a good strategy is to pick a province that you don't care about (no valuable resources, low income, etc). Tank the loyalty of the province so that it keeps revolting. Use your princes to mop up, then withdraw them back to their positions. Helps them get exercise (and command points), and you don't really lose much.

Bh
Okay, this worked the first time. There were 5 stacks of peasants and fanatics. I took a 15 catapult army in every turn, shot and retreated, working the catapult valour up to 4-5 for each of the 15 units (do you have any idea what damage this kind of army can do http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ). But when I finally wiped out the peasants and withdrew to provoke another rebellion, the 5 stacks were knights templar, feudal sergeants, OFK, and mixed missile units.
This means I don't dare touch the province (Brandenburg).
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-oops.gif I'm playing medmod, BTW.

[Bhruic]

Oh, ok, that might be an issue. I don't know how medmod works in this case.

Generally, speaking, I find that I don't often get killer stacks with revolts for neutral units. Factions reappearing do, of course.

Well, if the units are really good, you might consider bribing them. That way, you get the province back, some good units, and you can repeat the procedure (bribe if good, fight if not). Worth a try. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

Bh

[Yushal]

Wow, what a great idea on the artillery. Im going to try that out. I wonder, can you upgrade artillery units? Prob;ly not eh? Only royal guard types?

I, too, hate my generals getting lazy, and you cant retreat or they lose command stars, so military exercises are out of the question. Sometimes you just cant afford a war...

[Tricky Lady]

Quote[/b] (WorkNeglecter @ April 09 2004,15:46)]But when I finally wiped out the peasants and withdrew to provoke another rebellion, the 5 stacks were knights templar, feudal sergeants, OFK, and mixed missile units.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif That's a good one. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-thumbsup.gif

I suppose you were like http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-stunned.gif ?

[VikingHorde]

If you keep the prince out of a stack (alone) and out of the castle, then he should not get the lazy vice.

[makkyo]

You can purposefully start rebelions and use your princes to put them down or got nuts and attack everybody...

[Yushal]

Has anyone just plain moved them around all the time? Not that I would do so, even if it worked, because.... I am lazy.

[katank]

moving around helps.

do so for governors too.

keep em in stack and keep em fighting.

retrain when necessary makes em very good fighters and no vices

[insolent1]

The lazy vice does not appear until a unit has had Pride first & the pride vice is pretty random(although a lot of heirs get it). There is only 1 way to stop a heir or unit becoming lazy after they have the pride vice & thats to keep them either by themselves or in a stack with someone else in command. Keeping them in a castle by themselves does not work. There is no way to reduce or increase the chance of a unit/heir getting pride although reloading to before they get the vice works but it can still happen.

Btw the same technique can be used for most vices & its also a very effective way to deal with disloyal generals/heirs.

[JAG]

Work - why noy rotate your princes / generals leading your main attacking army?