Armor in the desert?!! Heh, whatever

[m52nickerson]

The desert can be tough for catholics. In my Polish games I have always just used the feudal line of troops in the hot places of the world. By the time you are ready to fight across africa you should have captured a provence or two that can train feudal units, just destroy the armorer. The only problem is cavalry. You will have to stick with mercs, or other very lite cav.

For Catholics,

Feudal sergeants.
Charge 5 Attack 0 Defence –1 Armour 1

Armoured spearmen
Charge 5 Attack -1 Defence 2 Armour 3

Chivalric sergeants.
Charge 5 Attack –1 Defence 3 Armour 3

Italian light infantry.
Charge 5 Attack 0 Defence 3 Armour 3

Feudal men at arms.
Charge 3 Attack 3 Defence 2 Armour 3

Bulgarian brigands.
Charge 1 Attack 2 Defence 0 Armour 2

Woodsmen.
Charge 8 Attack 1 Defence -1 Armour 2

Pikemen.
Charge 4 Attack 1 Defence -1 Armour 1

Billmen
Charge 2 Attack 2 Defence 4 Armour 3

Militia sergeants.
Charge 4 Attack 2 Defence 3 Armour 3

Hobilars
Charge 6 Attack 1 Defence 2 Armour 3

Steppe cavalry
Charge 6 Attack 2 Defence 1 Armour 3

all go into the desert well, just don't make them with armor up-grades.

[ichi]

Kerns, Vikings, Fanatics, and Clansmen also work well in the desert. Alans are a decent cav.

ichi

[Geezer57]

Kerns, Vikings, Fanatics, and Clansmen also work well in the desert. Alans are a decent cav.

And if you can take Ireland, don't forget Gallowglasses: Charge 8, Attack 5 (AP), Defense 0, Armor 2, Morale 0. They're about the greatest "Fire and Forget" troops you can have...

[dgfred]

And if you can take Ireland, don't forget Gallowglasses: Charge 8, Attack 5 (AP), Defense 0, Armor 2, Morale 0. They're about the greatest "Fire and Forget" troops you can have...

What exactly is a Gallowglass? How did they get that name?

[Gawain of Orkeny]

I dont think its a what but a who were the Gallowglass. I believe they were a sort of mercenary Irish fighter. Their weapon is a large two handed sword or a broad sword I believe.I maybe wrong here though.

[BAD]

What exactly is a Gallowglass? How did they get that name?

Nice info about Gallowglasses

ph34r teh powA of Google.

[antisocialmunky]

They cameoed in Macbeth along with some Kerns.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

I believe that gallowglasses have been used for hundreds of years including the American Civil War. Like I said its just a term for Irish mercenaries.

'Gallowglass' at Antietam:

[crpcarrot]

And if you can take Ireland, don't forget Gallowglasses: Charge 8, Attack 5 (AP), Defense 0, Armor 2, Morale 0. They're about the greatest "Fire and Forget" troops you can have...

i dont have the exact stats but i think ghazi's are better fire and forget unit unless u were talking speciafically about catholic units

[Mithrandir]

Yes, gallows have a low morale, hence they need managing..ghazi's on the other hand :D.

For discussion on the history of units, please visit and post in the Monastery.
Thank you.

-Mithrandir.

[econ21]

i dont have the exact stats but i think ghazi's are better fire and forget unit unless u were talking speciafically about catholic units

No, I don't think so. IIRC, Ghazis have -4 defence with same attack and two lower charge as Gallowglass. This means they die much more easily. They do have much higher morale, but in SP a decent player should not need that to keep his men in the fight.

I agree with English Assassin, mail armoured infantry are ok in the desert - perhaps especially if you are defending - as they help you win the all important first engagement. But knights tire too easily and are not really worth it. (If heavy cavalry was as powerful in MTW as RTW, they might be useful to help win the first engagement too but it tends to be secondary to the way I fight in MTW.)

One point about withdrawing armoured units during a desert battle - it's not good to replace them with other armoured units, as IIRC, they come already tired.

[OlafTheBrave]

Yes reinforcments do come on already tired, however that is better than tottaly exhausted and unable to recover. The best way I have found to use heavily armored foot soilders in the desert is to bring lots of them and as they tire rotate them off the field. Also do not let them chase routers, use lighter troops for that.

As far as heavily armored cavalry, they are just too slow and tire too quickly to be of any use.

[lugh]

As far as heavily armored cavalry, they are just too slow and tire too quickly to be of any use.

I have to disagree. Try charging two units of 6valour/gold armour Lancers at the middle of the Muslim army. AI envelops as per standard procedure, then rout when they realise each Lancer is killing a barreload nearly before falling!
They all die in the end, but if you manage to get the general, the other waves break on the usual spear/pike wall with pavise arbs and artillery.
If it's mainly horse archers, sit behind the spears and let the Arbs and cannon take care of it.

[Geezer57]

i dont have the exact stats but i think ghazi's are better fire and forget unit unless u were talking speciafically about catholic units

Ghazis = Charge 6, Attack 5 (AP), Defense -4, Armor 1, Morale 8, so they're also great cheap units, especially on attack. Ghazis burn themselves down to very small remnants, sometimes dying to the last man. Head to head with Gallows, unless morale factors become predominant, the Gallows win due to the horrible defense factor of the Ghazis.
But you're right, I was stuck in a Catholic mindset when I made my original suggestion. Either unit does fine in the "fire and forget" role, although if I was playing a Muslim faction (and had the navy to reach Ireland), I wouldn't hesitate to incorporate Gallows into my armies - just to add a little variety to the mix!

[EatYerGreens]

Either unit does fine in the "fire and forget" role, although if I was playing a Muslim faction (and had the navy to reach Ireland), I wouldn't hesitate to incorporate Gallows into my armies - just to add a little variety to the mix!

On the MTW tech tree, the Gallowglass unit has the name in red text, which indicates Catholic only, IIUC.

Mind you, the Highland Clansmen symbol, right underneath it, has green text on it (all other items in green are Muslim) and symbols to indicate it's available to Catholic and Orthodox.

Work that one out!

[Geezer57]

On the MTW tech tree, the Gallowglass unit has the name in red text, which indicates Catholic only, IIUC.

Mind you, the Highland Clansmen symbol, right underneath it, has green text on it (all other items in green are Muslim) and symbols to indicate it's available to Catholic and Orthodox.

Work that one out!

Yep, you're right on the money with that one - I used Gnome to check the build requirements - Gallows and Highland Clansmen are both limited to Catholic factions. Oh well, a bit of "wishful thinking" on my part - so when playing Muslim, just be happy with Ghazis, eh?