Historical Campagin - Agincourt?

I’m trying to play through the Historical Campaigns after ending my Viking Invasion game as Mercia and
I have problems finding a reliable way to win Agincourt (the 3rd english battle) in the campaign.

Unlike the real battle there is no defile that forces the french into a narrower front, no mud that slows and fatigues them and no stakes to prevent them charging the archers. :book2:

So after I draw out the 4 units of longbowmen into thin red lines of 2 ranks the french advance on me with a front wider than my own, the longbowmen can send 3 or 4 volleys at the french and then they charge into the english ranks. :wall:

Can someone share his tactics that won the day?

I have managed to win this battle, but it was a touch and go thing... The best you have for slowing down the French advance is to draw up behind the tents, and iirc the real heroes were a bunch of men-at-arms I'd hidden in the trees on my right flank who managed to massacre a whole load of disadvantaged knights trying to outflank me. You really do need to use the benefit of the trees with so many cavalry against you. I also left the longbows in 'engage at will' so they got down and dirty rathert than running away all the time in skirmish mode. A well-timed cavalry counter-charge was also an important factor. It seems the French morale was a bit flimsy, for a few of the knights started fleeing after being well-feathered.

As I said, I have won this battle - but lost it quite a few times as well ~D

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Originally Posted by ConjurerDragon

I’m trying to play through the Historical Campaigns after ending my Viking Invasion game as Mercia and
I have problems finding a reliable way to win Agincourt (the 3rd english battle) in the campaign.

Unlike the real battle there is no defile that forces the french into a narrower front, no mud that slows and fatigues them and no stakes to prevent them charging the archers. :book2:

So after I draw out the 4 units of longbowmen into thin red lines of 2 ranks the french advance on me with a front wider than my own, the longbowmen can send 3 or 4 volleys at the french and then they charge into the english ranks. :wall:

Can someone share his tactics that won the day?

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If this could serve as a guide. But I lost it several times before this one.
Attachment 20308

Was there an expert difficulty setting in the original Medieval? I bought the Gold edition off of Steam the other night and it has an expert difficulty setting for all modes, historical battles and single player campaigns included. I beat a couple of Saladin's battles on Expert but Bannockburn, I've lost three times in a row. The English cav is just so many and there's really no way to keep your flanks from collapsing early. Once you commit Robert himself, Edward flanks the rear and attacks your low level infantry. Definitely a tough one, although I do manage to inflict 600-900 English casualties every time.

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Originally Posted by WebOfComplexity

Was there an expert difficulty setting in the original Medieval? I bought the Gold edition off of Steam the other night and it has an expert difficulty setting for all modes, historical battles and single player campaigns included. I beat a couple of Saladin's battles on Expert but Bannockburn, I've lost three times in a row. The English cav is just so many and there's really no way to keep your flanks from collapsing early. Once you commit Robert himself, Edward flanks the rear and attacks your low level infantry. Definitely a tough one, although I do manage to inflict 600-900 English casualties every time.

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My successful tactics at Bannockburn was to climb the hill behind your troops. It has a wooded front approach and two clearings free of trees. I positioned most of my troops to cover possible attacks through the clearings and one or two units to watch for the woods. If they attack with cavalry through the woods the English are at disadvantage, so beating it is not a problem (though it does take time). Normally they don't throw in all of theit cavalry at once so I could hold out using the general in the most critical moments.

I have this battle saved.Attachment 20985

As for difficulty, I also bought the game on Steam, but there is a choice of difficulties. Yet I always choose the expert.