I've noticed a tendency in Mongol deployments which may be useful to know.

When the AI divides its Horde units in a province they own, a stack has a couple of Mongol foot, 4-5 Mongol heavies, 5 Mongol HA, and the rest are Steppe Cavalry.

However, when they attack, they are echeloned in the same manner every time. The first wave of units is 2-3 heavies, 4-5 HA, and the rest are Mongol foot. Reinforcements come as follows: all the remaining Mongol foot, then all the remaining HA, then most of the remaining Steppe cavalry, then a long period of Heavies, followed by whatever is left of the Steppe and other types (ie: peasants, spears, etc)

I offer the caveat that my observations were made in Kiev, where the Mongols are attacking from Khazar, across a bridge. I THINK I recall the same from my Khazar defense, but, their deployments might differ in a plains environment. I've fought three engagements there (Kiev) against 9K+, then 6K+, then 4K+ Mongols. (There's another assault coming when I return to the game&#33

I've found it useful in Kiev because I can choose the best mix to begin with and now know when to conserve arrows for the more difficult units.

One other observation.... after you've finished with the HA reinforcements, placing units in 'Hold Position', 'Hold Formation' on the bridge fixes the attention of the following reinforcements. Like moths to the flame, they all head for the bridge in contest.

In my first bridge battle I allowed my foot units to pursue the HA onto the bridge (I now advise AGAINST this) and they retreated to their side of the river. Some retreated too near the OTHER Kiev bridge and, logically, decided THAT looked like a good place to cross.

With my position turned, I had to retreat into the nearest woods and I took a lot of losses. By initially setting up at a distance just beyond the HA range from the bridge, they are compelled to cross completely and their following units disperse on MY side of the river. Then I just send my flank units in to herd them back to the center, killing many, routing many.

Immediately I return my flank units to their previous positions and the Mongols ride into the same trap. This decisively destroys their Horse archers (remember, they all come on in one echelon) and, when they are departed from the field, I can use my foot units to hold the bridge with no fear of becoming pincushions.

My method for deploying them on the bridge is to target my unit on a Mongol unit but halt my unit (on the bridge) before contact, requiring him to receive the attack. When he tires I target a replacement unit on the Mongols presently in contact. Just as he reaches that unit, again, I issue the 'Halt' order. He now forms the front line and I can either leave the previous frontline unit in place to rest or withdraw it.

You can keep marching fresh units onto the bridge in this manner, each a little further upon the bridge. Make sure you do this on the FLAT part of the bridge. Remember,if you fight uphill, you give away advantage. Additionally, because the unit is 'standing', its endurance holds up very well.

It takes management but I found it fun. Be prepared to commit 3, 4, or more units to rescue the zealots who FAIL to follow instructions and just won't stop advancing. Last night's finale had a unit with 28 Chivalric MAA (who'd JUST achieved 8 Valor) chase into Mongol heavies off the bridge. The brave fools simply would not stop

I wound up committing 5 more units to 'rescue' them. Instead, they chopped the living daylights out of the Mongols Only nine survived their being surrounded before I broke their encirclement, but, the Mongols broke and fled the field, despite their having 2K more in reinforcements.