Army Formation Advice

Hi all,

Ive been playing STW for a while and have only recently started to play MTW campaign mode relatively recently. Unlike STW where Where I found the troop management rather straightforward in battle, Im finding difficulties in larger MTW battles.

My main problem seems to be how to form up my main line before engaging the enemy. I generally try and have an uninterupted line of spearmen to engage the enemy front line, but all to often find units drawn out of position and surrounded before I can counter the threat. When I try to have a shorter line with more reserves, then all to often I found myself flanked and on the back foot. Maybe a main line of spears interspersed with CMAA/FMAA prove more fruitful, but then I am afraid of cavalry hitting these weak points.

Essentially Im wondering if there is any particularly good model army set up? What would you suggest for a combined arms army atacking an army of similar composition?

:bow:

**************
"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it."

"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."

Voltaire

Hi Ginger,

It’s been a while since I’ve played MTW but I have a few (very) general tips that you might be able to put to use. Some players argue that you need a different army type for every occasion, and that an attacking army should substantially differ from a defensive one. This being said, everyone seems to develop their style of play with time, but in the meantime you might find the following useful.

Jonny’s Basic MTW defensive army

The spine of your army should be a solid line of the best spear infantry you can build. Don’t stretch them too thin since the deeper the line, the better odds they have. Also, make sure that there are no gaps between the units even if you have to individually place them to achieve this. Behind that stick 4 archers, in rows 3 archers deep, (two double rows) and behind that your general. On each flank position one of the best flanking/anti flanking units you have (i.e. cavalry) and maybe one elite type foot unit, any group of hard b*stards should suffice. All units should be ordered to hold position, and NOT attack at will. Micro manage your units if they start doing anything funny. Your archers should NOT be on skirmish mode. If there is a nice convenient hill, stick the army at the top, where your archers will fire further, the enemy has to fight up hill and your cav get a charge bonus. Let the army come to you, only adjusting position so that the army is always facing the enemy.

As the enemy comes in range carefully use you archers to target generals, elite units etc. By the time they engage most units should have taken some damage and if you took out their general that’s a bonus! If the army attacks your flanks that’s fine, target the flanking units with your archers, then as they close, pin with the foot unit and flank them with the Cav. Meanwhile get your archers to shoot at any other approaching units. If they attack your spear line, let them….just let them engage and slug it out,… then as their troops tire, flank them with the cav and foot unit in support.



The things to watch with your spear line are….

Set them to hold position, don’t get them to attack.
Troop quality…….the better more disciplined troops hold ground more reliably.
What unit attacks them: If a cav unit with irresistible charge smashes into a bunch of crappy spearmen then they are going to break the line…
How thinly they are spread: always avoid long thin lines of troops. It’s bad for moral, less ranks are in reserve, just trust me, deep ranks are good! (Obviously the reverse is true of archers)

Experiment with the exact composition of your army, but always remember that an enemy army will often attack your flanks, therefore it’s predictable, therefore you can use it to your advantage….usually by having some killer units waiting on your flanks to counter with.

Good luck

Check out the frogbeastegg's beginners guide.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=31445

there's a nice section on battle tactics and army formation(section 3.7)

THanks, forgot about that guide. rereading has proved most useful. Never even realised I was no longher a junior member, that shows how often I post :charge:

Cheers