Infantry recruitment question

Playing as the Franks, my towns are at the point where there is a choice of units to recruit. I understand the differences between spear, sword and cavalry types and what they are best at. My question is how different the Sword, Axe and Francesca Heerbaum are. Looking at the statistics, there seems to be little change between the sword and axe units. (a slight increase of upkeep for axe). If I recruit Francesca, I gain the missle use and give up slightly on defense, shield wall etc. Why bother mixing these units? My army could consist of cavalry, spear, and for a slight increase in maintanance and loss of defense, the axe units.. Am I missing a subtlety here?

Terry

They don't even have different morale values or other mental states.

Shield wall function is missing from throwing axe guys. I am also confused.

Generally, I don't find it necessary to mix infantry units. I tend to standardize my armies around one type of infantry unit, one type of archer unit, and one cav unit. For example in my last Alemanni campaign I pretty much relied on Lombard archers, Chosen axemen and Warlords.

I find a unit one that works and stick with it. Mass production of a good unit is better than selective production of a somewhat better one. Pump em out, fight, win, retrain and repeat.

If I vary, it's usually the difference in my offensive and defensive (garrison) armies. I tend to favor archers and spearmen more on defense, and more heavy cav/infantry on offense.

I like the Francesca units, and always like to have a couple of them in my front line, just to disrupt the enemy's charging units.

As for the differences between the standard sword and axe units, doesn't the sword unit have a slightly faster attack rate/swing? I think the swordsman also has a higher defensive skill, but I could well be wrong! It would explain why their upkeep is a little more.

On the whole though, it's nice to mix things up a little simply from the visual side of things in my opinion.

I wouldn´t mix them. Francisca is the best, but you get them later. Swords are a little better than axes but axes are cheaper. Use axes if you have to look on your money, otherwise swords until you get Francisca.

Swordsmen have a higher armour value and the axmen have lower upkeep(S 144/turn,A 124/turn) otherwise they're equal.

i usualy moddify the stats, giving axemen higher attack stats and low defence, while keeping the same atack stats for swordsmen with high defence skill...that way i use some for aggresive tactics, and others for defensive ones...i also give all axe units armour piercing ability, just like in MTW

Francesca really break up an ememy charge don't they. It's beautiful when their stupid general charges and axes go everywhere followed by the flashing white flag!