Gotta Try This on Expert

[Assassins_Shadow]

I was playing as the Danes on normal difficulty awhile ago, and figured out something pretty interesting(and kinda funny too). I attacked Saxony(HRE had civil war) with my RKs, a group of archers, and 2 Vikings. The Saxon forces comprised of a group of vikings and a group of Spearmen. When I fought the battle the enemy had arrayed his forces, one behind the other, at the top of a hill on the edge of the map. I decided to try and flank with my RKs, so I put my archers in front of my vikings, and sent my RKs off to the side. I got to the foot of the hill and my archers started firing just as my RKs starting approaching from off the the enemy's right. The spearmen didn't come down the hill, so I moved my vikings in front. Before my vikings finished moving the group of spearmen turned and began running toward my advancing RKs. I thought I had blown my flank. I started to retreat my RKs, but the spears kept up the chase. So I slammed a group of vikings into their back. THe spears turned around and had just started battling my vikings when my RKs slammed into their backside. I routed the enemy forces about half a minute later. I dunno if this 'fake flank' attack would work on better AI (Expert mode?), but if it did, it would be a great way to breat up an enemy line; let them do it for you
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Doug-Thompson]

Luring the AI out of a strong position is a good tactic. What were the opposing unit of Vikings doing all this time, though?

[Gregoshi]

Any maneuver that gives you a flank to attack is a good one, whether it be intended or not. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Way to go guys Just the way we practiced it - Little League coach to his team on a lucky play

[barocca]

the AI can be tricky and aggressive on expert,

flanking in the manner you describe also works well with Horse Archers,

bring the HA's into range, let fly a salvo or two while your main force approaches from a different direction,

the ai will send a unit or three to deal with the HA's,

if the HA's can continue to keep the ai detatchment busy the ai will often reinforce their detatchment,

you can often get up to half of the enemy trying to pin down 2 HA's while your main body hits the rest and then turns on the detatched forces.

especially usefull if the ai has more archers and/or better quality troops.

especially effective if you can bring your main body in on a directly opposing axis to the HA's

remember to let the HA's engage first and bring your main body in after the ai has sent a detatchment to counter the HA's
remember to keep the HA's from being pinned down

TWO units of HA work ten times better than one

B.

[katank]

so true. maneuvering into insane positions would sometimes yield a nice victory.

constantly ride around the enemy with cav provided they are inf based can easily distract them and make them vulnerable to flank and rear attacks when they respond to a threat.

feigning cav charges even form long distances will often get the AI to turn and putitself into compomising positions.

expert AI is a bit tougher to sucker but still pretty dumb.