Originally Posted by [b
Quote[/b] ]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.
