Have just started playing a few MTW Campaign battles with 2 - 3,000 troops per side and wondered what are the most effective ways to handle reinforcements?
I know all about how reinforcements work and that many people consider the reinforcement system flawed. What I am requesting is how to make the best use of reinforcements when you are attacking - given the current restrictions in MTW?
For example, I found when you are attacking, the battle normally takes place on the far side of the map in "enemy territory" since the enemy does not usually come to you in this situation. So usually my troops have lost some of their energy while walking across the map and redeploying into particular formations. The first part of the battle was then fought and by the time your archers were out of arrows, the enemy was usually either very considerably weakened or routing. So a Ctrl+W then to remove your archers from the field of play and await the reinforcements. Now your archers usually tire before they reach the edge of the map so end up walking the last part and taking forever to disappear. Reinforcements then have to trek another 3/4 of the way across the map to assist your spearmen/swordsmen and cavalry troops. Not good!
Of course, long before your reinforcements can possibly arrive, the first enemy units have routed quickly off the map and new enemy reinforcements come charging on at breakneck speed with only about 1/4 or less of the map to cross before engaging. The result can be none too pretty
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So I have successfully tried the following and wonder what others do?
I usually have about 6 units of archers if possible in the initial troops (or 4 if I am short) and use half of them in the initial front line assault. As soon as the first half are out of arrows off they go on Ctrl+W and the second half of my archers take over but I try to use them very sparingly now encouraging the already weakened enemy to engage my spearmen and infantry with my cavalry attacking units on the point of routing from the flanks. This means I still have operating archers available for the second stage of the battle while awaiting reinforcements. The poor old cavalry units are getting a bit tired though, especially if you allow them to chase routers.
At this time, as soon as the enemy bring on their first reinforcements, I attempt to carry out a coordinated tactical withdrawal of all my forces to at the very the least the centre of the map, preferably nearer to my side. Since the enemy reinforcements are usually running onto the map in great spirits, they usually go for this bait and carry on following me fast. All my initial units are getting rapidly more tired by retreating like this, but with a bit of luck and some good timing, my reinforcements should arrive to join them and then the final carnage phase can begin since the enemy have fallen into a nice trap. I usually set the rally flag (adjusting as necessary) about a quarter to a half way onto the battlefield towards the side being fought on so the reinforcements have as little distance as possible to travel to where they can be effective and I have control of them.
With the reinforcements, I try to have another half contingent of archers (3 or 4 units) come on first followed by horse units. The cavalry can get to the front line quickly but it is usually the archers that are need fastest. I have not so far found it necessary to have spearmen/swordsmen reinforcements high up in the reinforcement queue and have never reached the point anyway where they come onto the battlefield since the battle has always been won long before this - so far anyway!
How do others manage large battles and how can I improve my tactics?
Tomcat
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