Your favorite army

**m52nickerson** · 12-01-2005, 21:38

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** · 12-01-2005, 21:53

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** · 12-01-2005, 23:11

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

**The Darkhorn** · 12-01-2005, 23:19

As Poles:

ANTI MONGOL ARMY - Put one of these in Kiev, Ryazan, Chernigov and Muscovy (all with bridges between them any Mongol start provinces) and the Horde can batter them all game with no success. I don't care if they bring 15,000 per attack. You will beat them. Even in open battle, this army beats 10K+ Mongols 4 out of 5 times...EVEN on the attack!!

Divide into three stacks.

INFANTRY:
4 Halberds
2 Huscarles

MISSILE:

5 Arbs
1 Brigand
1 Catapult

CAVALRY:

2 RK
2 Avar Nobles (teched up....it's the best Heavy Cavalry for 200 years)
2 Steppe Heavies
2 Steppies
2 Mounted Crossbows

KICKS THEIR......KNEES!!!!!!

**Saracen_Warrior** · 12-02-2005, 05:17

Not my favorite but very fun to use against weaker armies. 15 Chivalric knights and the best dang general I have. Its very fun jsut to tell them all to charge. Don't do it anymore, I now prefer a balanced army, but 16 units of knights on the largest unit setting attacking ona nice flat battlefield is jsut cool to me. I used to like to pause right before the clash and then set my camera up at a nice vantage point and sit back and enjoy. Only enjoyable though if its very winnable. I wouldn't charge a bunch of billmen, its not fun to send my men to die.

**The Darkhorn** · 12-02-2005, 13:56

Originally Posted by Saracen_Warrior

Not my favorite but very fun to use against weaker armies. 15 Chivalric knights and the best dang general I have. Its very fun jsut to tell them all to charge. Don't do it anymore, I now prefer a balanced army, but 16 units of knights on the largest unit setting attacking ona nice flat battlefield is jsut cool to me. I used to like to pause right before the clash and then set my camera up at a nice vantage point and sit back and enjoy. Only enjoyable though if its very winnable. I wouldn't charge a bunch of billmen, its not fun to send my men to die.

I haven't tried the all Cavalry army yet. This could be due to (A) lack the guts to chance it or (B) I just love all the variety of units and generally try to find at least one use for each type I am capable of building if only one unit for one duty. I have by necessity on defense had armies made up of three quarters horseys 'cause that's all there was!

**m52nickerson** · 12-02-2005, 05:53

Originally Posted by The Darkhorn

As Poles:

ANTI MONGOL ARMY - Put one of these in Kiev, Ryazan, Chernigov and Muscovy (all with bridges between them any Mongol start provinces) and the Horde can batter them all game with no success. I don't care if they bring 15,000 per attack. You will beat them. Even in open battle, this army beats 10K+ Mongols 4 out of 5 times...EVEN on the attack!!

Divide into three stacks.

INFANTRY:
4 Halberds
2 Huscarles

MISSILE:

5 Arbs
1 Brigand
1 Catapult

CAVALRY:

2 RK
2 Avar Nobles (teched up....it's the best Heavy Cavalry for 200 years)
2 Steppe Heavies
2 Steppies
2 Mounted Crossbows

KICKS THEIR......KNEES!!!!!!

Your are a man after my own heart

**Weebeast** · 12-02-2005, 06:40

Can the Poles get huscarles though?

Well my favorite attacking army is made up of cavalry, lots of em; horse archers, byz cavarly, royal knights, feudalsgt or turcopoles, etc. They're just easier to use when attacking than the foot ones. If it's a river then it's a different story. I never bring artilery when attacking because it takes space when I can just put another unit of spear, sword, or archer.

My defending army would consist of cavalry too I guess although most of the time I garrison my citadels with balanced armies. I love horses.

**The Darkhorn** · 12-02-2005, 13:50

Originally Posted by Weebeast

Can the Poles get huscarles though?

Yes, but you have to take Prussia within a turn or two of starting the early period and tech straight to ships for invading Sweden forthwith if you want to have 10 or so Huscarles with +2 armor and +1 weapon by 1205 when you can no longer build them. The trick is to build them as soon as available then start upgrading them about 1094 or so when you finally have the max number of upgrades in place that are feasable (SP?). There is actually time have 2-3 with +2 armor and +2 weapon or +3 armor and +1 weapon, but you really must invade Prussia on turn 1 and Sweden asap, etc. Must have no hitches or screwups...OR LACK OF CASH...along the way.

But the real glory of defending a bridge against the Mongols is the Catapult! The Mongols bunch up to cross the bridge and also to shoot at me. It's great for my men's morale to hear the musical...CRASH...Crash.......crash. Turn the camera toward the unfortunate ground on the Golden side of the bridge and watch the Chinese Fire Drill....er....Mongol Fire Drill.......complete chaos!!

I may consider a couple more, but that would mean little cavalry for exploiting with quick little hit and run raids accross one of the bridges...at least until the Brigands run out of ammo and can be withdrawn and exchanged for a reserve Steppie.

**The Darkhorn** · 12-02-2005, 13:58

Originally Posted by m52nickerson

Your are a man after my own heart

Then what a stout and noble heart it must be!

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, but truly....I mean really....NO ONE expects the Polish Inquisition...right!!?