Finally got VI and it rocks!

[Krakra]

On Friday I went by the local Walmart and lo-and-behold it had one copy of VI expansion. So, I got it, installed it last night and installed the MedMod 3.14. Thought I should give the viking era a first shot and started a game on Expert for the Welsh. Man, it is hard

The Welsh start bad and the two neighboring provinces aren't exactly a giveway Chasing those buggers up the steep hills isn't exactly my cup of tea. After I took the second rebel province, I got blitzed by the Vikings. Had to give one of the provinces :-(

Once I finally got some good units going, I took the second province and the island in the middle. From then on, I attacked the Irish, who were close to owning much of Britian. My allies were the Mercians, the second more powerful faction after the Irish. Just as I was whopping some Irish ass, here come 6,000 angry Mercians Man,, what battles. Each battle will take like 4 hours, with my guys outnumbered 6:1 but on defense. Incredible. Welsh longbowmen are pretty awesome, but the Welsh Warriors aren't really on par with the Saxons man-at-arms. Haven't found any decent infantry yet.

Anyway, it is an incredible campaign, that had me totally immersed and, I have to admit, I came very close to quiting a few times after those Marcian hordes got all over me. It was borderline Then suddenly my luck changed and they got some nasty rebellions after some spectacular wins on my part and the death of their king in one of the battles. Awesome

(you can probably telll my excitement, which in my age isn't very common

[Gregoshi]

Memories...

Nothing quite like those first thrills eh?

[Krakra]

Nothing quite like those first thrills eh?[B]

Yeah. Played almost the whole day to my fiance's astonishment and anger... Oh, well, real life can take a break until Monday

[HopAlongBunny]

Grats

The Welsh are a tough faction to win with; if you manage you're way ahead of me

Kill'em all

[PseRamesses]

They key to winning with the Welsh and other minors are economy. Some prefer blitzing but I find that game-style pretty unrealistic. Build abbeys, abbeys and more abbeys and don´t forget to go with the farm upgrades directly. I know that it looks like 16 years of basic farming upgrades is a long time but you´ll capitalize on it later. With the Welsh you also don´t have any tradable goods so you just have to build a couple of boats to protect your borders. For further insight check out the Guides in this forum.
Good luck

[Krakra]

Yeah, taking the two seas between Ireland and Britain was the key. I had to take it to stop the Vikings from constantly attacking me. It was a nightmare at first -- the vikings will attack one province, I will counterattack it, then they will attack the other one and it will take me 2 turns to get there.

The economy isn't too bad for the Welsh, although the absense of tradable goods puts slows down the money growth. I didn't not bother with Abbeys in some of my provinces, as my goal was to build up quality (rather than quantity) units. After a few defensive battles, I was in awe with the Welsh Longbowmen. Three units of these guys on a hill killed 2 units (including the general) of norman knights before those even got to my front. Also, I unjustly criticized the Welsh Warriors. Those guys did not look like much to me at first, but they tore apart anything in front of them save for knights and the saxons men-at-arms.

Right now I own all of Britain and expanding into Scotland and taking Ireland looks fairly easy. The money is no longer an issue (have ~100,000 saved up). I even find myself lazy enough as to resolve some battles the old-fashion way -- via autocalc ...

I am thinking of my next challange -- winning with Bulgaria in BKBs mod. Haven't seen any mention of anybody else that tried yet.

[katank]

well, I prefer blitz.

first hit the mercians and then the saxons and then the rebels.

this will give you sooo much rich lands, take out two big threats, and give nice facilities from Mercia (which could have been for huscarles, but now may help your get bandits).

abbeys are good for developing income of poor provinces. Too bad they get raided so easily by vikings.

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (katank @ April 25 2004,11:59)]abbeys are good for developing income of poor provinces. Too bad they get raided so easily by vikings.

Hmm, maybee my vikings are nicer that yours since I´ve only been raided twice, both times as the N.B´s. I usually have ships pretty fast to protect my provs but didn´t in those two cases.

[katank]

yeah, but losing two abbeys in short succession really hurts.

however, as the vikings, I love abbeys instant 2k. yay don't even need to assault to get that.

Me like large instant payoffs.

[octavian]

Quote[/b] (katank @ April 25 2004,12:59)]well, I prefer blitz.

really???? i would never have guessed if you hadn't told me

[dedmoroz]

VI is a must have. u did the right thing m8 - now be ready for more bloody fights

good luck

[Maychargewithoutorders]

I have to say VI has improved an already great game, def the best expansion pack i've ever bought.

My first game was with the welsh as well, those longbowmen rock They were responsable for killing many kings on the battlefield, then I just had to run the broken army down with some cavalry. Personally i went for ireland first and set up shop there, those provinces did well to swell the coffers.

Just started a new campaign with those picts and these vikings just dont quit Much fun....

[octavian]

another note, make sure you get the 2.01 patch off the .com

[Krakra]

The Welsh are a lot of fun. Kinda hard to get going in the beginning (unless you play katank style and blitz everybody early on -- I, personally, prefer fighting with good units against good AI units), but once you get the longbowmen, it is much easier, particularly on defense.

I currently play for the Irish on Expert. The Irish are a bit of a different story. The isolation means no bother from the vikings (or at least not much) or anybody else, but the units are weaker and no archers.

Since you recommended the Pics, I will try them next.

[lancer63]

Isn't VI great Krakra?
As you said the Irish don't have archers but their javs and dartmen more than make up for its lack if you use them correctly. Plus they have in their gallows a really dangerous melee unit, just make sure you upgrade them sa much as you possibly can.

[Krakra]

I am not sold on jav units. Yeah, they get in 4 throws in total, but once the melee starts they are underpowered. I am even more disappointed by the dartmen -- haven't seen much good from them, although the kerns are decent at reducing the count of charging knights. As to gallows, it has been another disappointment for me. I had high hopes for them, until I ran into a mere bysque infantry and the gallows lost the fight attacking it on the flank?? I just about freaked out.

[SirOsis]

Noob I just picked up MTW and the expansion and I'm really enjoying it. I don't know much about the units or gameplay yet but I'm learning.

My first game was a disaster as the Vikings. My economy was very weak and I had rebellions everywhere. The second game is going much better. I realized I needed some Forest Clearings and Farms to support my hungry troops. I also am pumping out the heirs. I think the queen has been pregnant for the past 10 years. :)

The Saxons are very strong and I am at war with the Scottish. Those Beserks can carve through peasants like crazy.

I fortunately control Fib and the iron is helping out greatly.

How much money can I expect in overseas trade?

Why do the storms have to hit and sink my ships when I need to reinforce my troops? :( Bad luck I suppose.

Can I upgrade my troops to better weapons and armor if they are already fielded? I think I read I could but not sure how.

[Krakra]

SirOsis, I don't even know where to start to answer you questions... Let's see, my first recommendation is for you to read the beginner's guide to MTW by frog(something) -- you can easily find it if you go to the guides section.

Economy/money should not be a problem in this game -- even playing for the Welsh and Irish and not trading, I can easily save over 40K, and that's for a bad game. As vikings, your rading ability will allow you to have many times this.

Peasants? Is anybody using them in battle? I personally NEVER user peasants in battle. They rout too fast and don't do much killing. About the only use of peasants is for deep garrisons, and even then I don't recommend it -- occupies the slot of a much better unit.

Troops can be upgraded. Just click on the troop, then open the 'build troops' button and move/drag the troop in the queue.

As for heirs, I wish there was something to be done about the fertility of the queen, but unfortunately (or fortunately) there isn't. As long as your king is married, he seems to be doing alright on that ... ehmmm ... home front

Good luck with the game. It is a lot of fun. Reminds me of soccer -- it is great when you are out there dribbling and scoring goals, but catch a better opponent, and things suddenly turn south ... just like some of my attacks, which I prefer not to talk too much about One advice on the attack: try NOT to lose your general. Things don't go your way if you do. You won't necessarily lose the battle (there were instancies where I ultimately won) but unless you have the numerical superiority it is not a good idea to lose the general.

[Lord Godfrey]

As the Welsh you have to constantly monitor what is going on between the Saxons and Mercia. Ally yourself with the weaker (usually the Saxons) and help him take out the stronger (usually Mercia). If you ignore your two closest neighbors, one of them gets too powerful.

[SirOsis]

Thanks for the advice. I am also wondering if there are a lot of people on multiplayer and how long do the battles last?

I can't wait to get home and play some more.

[VikingHorde]

VI is a most, it's so cool

[katank]

@ krakra, I don't blitz everyone, just most factions

actually I limit myself to about 2 or 3.

I don't think it's that feasible to turtle with the welsh. abbeys help with that greatly although you definitely need to guard them.

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (katank @ April 26 2004,19:14)]@ krakra, I don't blitz everyone, just most factions

I can personally certify that Katank has played a turtle-duel against me where no offensive conquest was allowed unless GA-goals. So maybee there´s hope for Sir Blitz Katank still to be an avid RP-player heh?

[Krakra]

Oh, Welsh is one of the easiest factions, imho. Their units are very strong, and the economy is very decent if you live on a budget I don't build large army, just a small, but very high quality force

By the way, katank, your suggestion on using spies to discipline the generals hit a sweet spot Now I regularly chop generals heads and all love me greatly

PseRamesses: how did you play MP in campaign against katank? I didn't think it was possible If this is possible, it opens a whole new dimension to this game Heck, I can start hosting such MP games

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (Krakra @ April 26 2004,22:32)]PseRamesses: how did you play MP in campaign against katank? I didn't think it was possible If this is possible, it opens a whole new dimension to this game Heck, I can start hosting such MP games

I´m sorry for not being more clear and thus cetting your hopes up Krakra but we played an e-mail game. He played his game single on his PC and I played a single game on mine, both with certain specific rules.

[Bhruic]

Quote[/b] (Krakra @ April 25 2004,11:50)]I currently play for the Irish on Expert. The Irish are a bit of a different story. The isolation means no bother from the vikings (or at least not much) or anybody else, but the units are weaker and no archers.

Are you kidding? The one time I tried playing as the Irish, I easily took the island. Tried to build up, get some boats going, etc. The Vikings raided me like mad. Eventually every province that I didn't lose to them revolted, and I get my butt kicked. I've never had them raid me as heavily with any other faction.

Bh

[Krakra]

to PseRamesis: man, you got my hopes up ... oh, well, will wait for Rome TW.

to Bhruic: the key to stopping the Viking raids is a good fleet holding the sea between the two isles. I generally have at least 5 ships there, with one province producing ships only at all times. Holding the sea makes 2 provinces safe, which leaves 3 others. In those, I put in 2 units of spears (preferrably bysque infantry to asturian foot), a unit of kerns (or dartmen), 2 units of gallows and 2 cavalry units.

One the vikings attack, see who they brought in and park your troops either on a hill or in the woods (if facing lots of archers). Put in the spearmen as your front line, keep the kerns in front to skirmish and keep the gallows on the flanks. Once the vikings engage your spears, hit them with the gallows on the flank. The cavalry is to mop the archers left behind the figthing frong line or to hit the enemy units from behind. This strategy works for me every time on defense and I have perfected it to such a degree that generally mop out an AI army 3 times mine.

One word of caution: asturian foot will not hold for long against good infantry, so use the bysque instead. The gallows have a very low morale, so once your center caves in, they start running.

Another thing: money is no object for the Irish, so keep churning units in your 2 iron provinces. I generally produce units and then disband them to select the bravest souls

[Maychargewithoutorders]

A little side note 2 what Krakra said, pick a hill/wood that's miles away from where their army starts. Then they'll have to trek the whole level just to get to u and have a long way to go back once they break. Then your cavalry has plenty of time to chase them down and u can get ridiculous kill ratios. Great for thinning out armies and not to mention the ransom money

P.S watch those reinforcements tho

[Krakra]

Indeed. Well put. Let me add one little thing as well. DO NOT, under most circumstances, chase the enemy UNLESS you get the message that they are feeing. Here is a quick illustration:

I am on defense as the Welsh with about 1,500 men. Against me are the Marcians with 6,000+ men. I am on a hill, in winter, almost at the end of my zone.

The AI attacks and gets beaten wave after wave. I hold the hill and don't chase them. At some point, with a quarter of the time left, I felt they were breaking up and gave chase. I chased the AI all the way to their zone, with my men onthe brink of exhaustion. The AI units are routed and running. Suddenly I get there, and their reinforcements start popping up like daizies Good units too I almost lost the battle that I had been so resoundingly winning before.

The morale of the story: if you are on the hill and winning, sit on your bloody hill until the enemy breaks. Of course, once in a while they will start marching backwards to escape and you can miss a chance to capture a few more prisoners, but don't risk this in an important battle.

[Maychargewithoutorders]

LOL i think u just described my entire welsh campaign (against the mercians that is), they had a totally stupid amount of troops from really early on. So i grabbed their Mercia (or something like that the name eludes me at the mo) province and sat there, probably on the same hill to be honest.

Year after year they attacked me with 5000-6000 odd troops each time until there was only a few one-stack armies in neighbouring provinces. No chance against some battle-hardened troops and soon got wiped out.....

Aggressive Defense - bit repetitive but your command gets bonuses all the time and just look at the bodies on the ground