Another Mongolian Solution

[Hold Steady]

I had a meeting with the Horde last night. Played Byz (expert, late), had 4 spearmen, a VG, 2 Kat's, 1 Prognoi A, 2 byz cav, 1 byz inf and a merc town militia and a merc feud sarge (and some missiles). First wave were 50 percent Mongol heavy cav and 50 percent foot soldiers. I only really began preparing 5 years in advance, and realized the only spear/polearm type troop I could muster, apart from mercs, were ordinairy spearmen!
So I xeroxed them, along with byz cav (for the Mongol HA, not as fast, but much stronger, can play a little of their game with these guys) and Prognoi. Still had a lot of KAT's, my emporer doesn't lie still in bed..

Now, it does work fine, I mean, I slaughtered them, thanks to a nice tree topped hill. As soon as the foot mongols came the byz infantry kicked two of them of the fieild and I started to pick off units that strayed too far from the heavy Cav cover (the mongol AI has this peculiar habit of trying to encircle your position, even when his troop types aren't suited for it. Had he had HA in the first wave, it would have made more sense). Later on he maneuvred the bulk of his Heavy cav to my left, so I set up most of my spears there militia and Varagians in reserve, and called their bluff when the trotted too close by. It were 3 or 4 charges from either side, but it it was too easy pinning them on spears and flanking or hammering them from behind with Kat's, PA and VG, even with Byz Cav! A massive rout, including the general, follwed: He lost 500, I captured another 450, I lost 77, mostly spearmen, and probably most because of catching stray arrows. I think I lost 10 cavalrymen (inlcuding Kat and PA) and one or two VG's. The next wave consisted 80 percent of HA, but they allmost all fled the field, all went like the wind after I managed to drive two of his HA units to death with 2 byz cav and a PA (He attacked with only 1900 men).

Remains a question: how do you guys counter the Mongol army, especially the heavy cav? I only could think of bringing enough spears and cav, but the unit roster of byz: Am I mistaken or is the sole spear-bearing (or pole for that matter) unit in the byz army a spearman? Not that it really matters, for obviously, they do fine, especially under wood cover against arrows and a bit of armour upgrade. But one does like to bring some fancy things to the battle. Here's my brand new top of the line Prognoi Agliance! Along with my old but still pretty undefeatable Kataphractoi! yes and in the rear the unsurpassed: SPEARMEN!! ??

[Ludens]

Yes, the Byzantines only get ordinary spearmen. As for polearms they have to make due with militias, which don't get a bonus against cavalry. If you want to have a pinning unit, you have three options:

• Mercenary spearmen: it's expensive, but the Byzantines are rich
• Byzantine Infantry: these are very though units and although they don't get a rank bonus they will hold out for a while. You can also use Varangian Guards, but I think that a waste of money.
• Counter charge with Kataphraktoi also seems to work. Byzantines always seem to have a limitless supply of princes and ex-princes.

[cutepuppy]

If you want a byzantine anti-golden horde unit, just train some varangians.