Your favorite army

[Graphic]

My favourite high/late era army is a Turkish defensive army:
6 Futuwwas, 2 Janissary Infantry, 4 Janissary Heavy Infantry, 2 Ghazi Infantry and 2 Cavalry (Armenian Heavy Cavalry, Ghulam Cavalry/Bodyguards or Khwarazmian Cavalry).

Basically, I line them up into two lines. The six Futuwwa units form the first line of defense, and because of their tight formation, they all fit in a line and can decimate the enemy with arrows. Behind them stand the four JHI's flanked by the JI. Cavalry stand at the back or flanks, depending on the terrain, and the Ghazis are deployed in a forest or on a hill nearby where they can launch a suicide mission against the enemy's flanks.

The way this whole thing works is the enemy sees the sky blackened with arrows from 8 units as it climbs up the hill towards my front line. When they come close I charge all six units of Futuwwas at them. JI and Ghazis and cavalry begin to flank. If this manhandling isn't enough the JHI march down like Saruman's army against Helms Deep and finish the job. "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!"

Futuwwas sound really fun, I need to try them sometime. Last time I looked at their stats I got the impression that they're basically Ghazis w/o AP and with bows.

[tigger_on_vrb]

I love early, love the rest of the game too but get a bit fed up of pole-arms and arbalesters.
Anyway heres my favourite early army for my favourite early faction the Turkish:
3 saracen inf
2 ghazi inf
4 futtuwas
4 turcomon horse
1 ghulam bodyguard general
2 Armenian heavy cavalry (or camels for desert)

You might say that its a bit light on infantry, but saracens are very solid and outlast most early infantry and the futtuwas step in after shooting all their arrows - anyway their army is going to be fairly disrupted by the time it gets to my lines after harassment on each flank by a pair of turcomon horses.

The tactics I use is to set up my infantry in a good defensive position with ghazis on the flanks. Futtuwas in two lines, one infront and one just behind the infantry. Cavalry behind ready to flank, except the turcomons which are as far ahead of my position as possible in two pairs on the enemy flanks using classic horse archer tactics. I harass the enemy until they approach my lines. If I have managed to create enough destruction with my horse archers and forward fuuttuwas (particularly targetting individual units to try and induce a rout) then I go for a quick kill with a ghazi/front futtuwwa/cavalry charge, if I judge they are not broken enough then they retreat behind my lines and fill the sky with arrows and lure the enemy into attacking my position against my solid saracens. These tactics also work in high and late, but mostly in the desert or against an enemy without many arbs.

Anyone have alternative early turkish tactics?

[Vladimir]

My early Turk tactics can usually be summed up by three letters: THA. When I'm able to build bigger and better cavalry I go with the usual HA, light, medium, heavy pairing. The game usually get's boring after the initial success against the Egyptians and Byzantines so I've never used any Janissary troops. I hate fighting in the steppes because it's a more balanced cav slug-fest and I don't have that normal superiority.

[Roark]

Try playing the Turks on Expert and High period. Lots of replayability in that combo. Janissaries are a MUST.

[m52nickerson]

3 Pavise arbalesters
4 Halberdiers
4 Chivalric men at arms
2 Chivalric knights
2 Steppe heavy cavalry
1 General unit.

Works well for both attack and defence, at least in the campaign.

[Knight Templar]

My favourite early Novgorod army:

4 Boyars (1 general)
3 archers
4 Feudal FK (60 men)
3 Rus Speermen
2 Steppe cav

It's great, although Boyars are too expensive so I use Druzhina cav (if I have no money) instead.

[The Darkhorn]

As Byz:

1 Katank General
1 Byz Cavalry (missile)
1 Steppe Heavy Cavalry (missile)
1 Byz Lancer
1 Pro All
1 Steppe Cavalry (for chasing Horseys with arrow firing fiends riding them)
2 Byz Infantry
2 Varangian Guard
1 Spearmen (I should note that these are all teched up, but especially these)
2 Bulgarian Brigands
2 Pavise Arbs
1 Arb