The Saxons

[Cheetah]

summary

[Sjakihata]

Going to add a little info here, I just played some with the saxons, and I will hand out some of my expirences.

First, you need to develop your capital. You will need to construct some better forts, so you get access to horse and saxon huscarls.

When you are developing the capital, and preferably one or two other provinces, begin to build two armies as well. One for defence and one for offense. The offense army will be used to crush rebels in the vicinity, take two or three provinces. In these begin to build ports, because controlling the sea is important when the vikings arrive.

Politics. You will also need two or three strong alliances. The Mercians and the Scottish worked weill for me, one close and one far away. It will be clever if you forge this alliance with blood ie. you marry a princess.

When all these steps have been completed, you will need to develop you military strength. Disband peasents and other low-tech, or send them to battle. Recruit horses, armoured spearmen, archers, huscarls, and other good stuff if you got that.

Let me also stress, that it is important not to develop each and every provinces completely. While development is required, it is prudent to focus different aspects on different provinces. Eg. SuthSaxe train archers, westsaxe trains spearmen, other for catapults and horses etc. this will be important when you are advancing, because you will not have enought funds. When you have your tech increased, then apply it into a couple of armies and grab some land of opportunity.

When you got a peace, then begin to develop your economy, build farm upgrades (you got good farmland), abbeys, trade etc.


--more to come--

[katank]

don't quite agree.

me like more aggressive game.

attack mercians instantly.

they have rich lands and also teched up facilities capable of huscarles in very short time.

if you take it, your saxon huscarles are going to pop out a lot faster.

with your lands and their's, you have some of the best farmland in the campaign and you'll never have to worry about the cash.

pound on the factions at the beginning of the game and save the neutral for grabbing a bit later.

[Doom Train]

Grab many rebel lands as you can in the beginning of the game. Then take out the mercians as soon as possible because they ll grow stronger every turn in terms of military.

In my last Saxon Game i waited for huscarles and horseman to attack mercians saxon king (def - 1500k ) vs Mercian king (att- 5000k) bridge battle saved me from losing the game. So dont wait for any units just attack and wipe them out:).

[katank]

I still insist on grabbing rebel lands after the mercians are dead.

the mercians build up and become stronger due to better facilities at the start of the game.

no risk of anyone taking the rebel lands except the vikings who you have to fight regardless so no point in not leaving them until later.

also, taking the rebel lands will increase length of coast line and increase chances of viking raids.

[UltraWar]

I recommend building forces up
*kicking the **** out of the Welsh until they submit*
then taking over south of england
finally expanding into mercia....

All i have to say...

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

My experience with the Saxons is that you need to start building up your forces while at the same time forcing the Kentish, the South and East Saxons out. At the same time you should upgrade those provinces that have Basic Farms to create more money.

Once you have things ticking over and you have the Fyrdmen/Archers/Horsemen combo ready start pressing the Mercians, you should try not to be too heavy handed so that you actually bring them to battle, then crush their military. Take all the Saxon provinces back from the Mercians, then take a few turns to rest up and consolidate. At this point if you've managed your kingdom properly Huscarles should have arrived, use them sparingly. Wipe out the Mercians, steadily and mercilessly

Do NOT attack the Cornish first, that will probably prevoke the Mercians before you are ready. Once you have the Mercians all but finished you can start on the Welsh, don't take too long or you'll face Longbows.

After that just march north, watch out for Vikings and take on Ireland at your leisure.

[Vikings]

Well something seem to be unfair here when i played the Saxons (German) on expert level. Within ten years from the beginning French attacked one of my province then i retake it... The stupid Pope warned to to cease fire so i send a someone over there to cease fire so the stupid french rejected. French came again with HUGE forces took that land back and again i took it back lol. So the sorry ass pope excomm'ed me and not doing a damn thing to the french. The stupid french started it. How odd it seem it seem Frenchies and The Pope are smokin grass.

I use to play easy level to get use to it, been awhile since i played. So expert must be bugged or just plain bullsh*t, esp for catholic players.

Hmm tho the Saxon province are the germans... oh well wrong place to post the infos. (Sorry guys)

[Roman_Man#3]

got this in the eras package, so i gave it a whirl. i started by taking out all rebels in the vicinity, while leveling up the frontier towns for military purposes, while using the inner provinces for economy.i took the provinces to the south, as to secure my flanks.it was the rebels to the east and the welsh? to the west.i then attacked the welsh in the north, and will use that alley to send troops to the rear of the mercians, who i am reluctant to start war with as they have the strongest military. if all goes well, ill post again.