Byzantines, for original MTW.
(For me is more important the support cost than the build cost, never Pronoia Allagion, i hate their)
-Universal Army (a good chance against all, 960 men and 16 units, not very expensive, for the byzs of course):
3 Byzantine Infantry (three lines)
3 Varangian Guard (four lines)
2 Trebizond Archer (two lines)
3 Kataphractoi (four lines)
3 Byzantine Cavalry (two and then three lines)
2 Steppe Cavalry (three lines)
Byzantine cavalry and Trebizond archer retreat quickly to the rear, the general is the KT and with VG make the rear line, the VG of the rear behind the BI of the centre. When the archers finish their arrows fight with the sword, the BC outflanked after the first shoots, KT fight mainly against other cavalry and try to flank; the two VG support to the BI or the KTs. Only if it is necessarily the SC flanked, their roll is pursue and do especial works for example: quick raids against siege machines unprotected or archers isolated, SC placed behind the KT for a quick attack.
KT
SC VG SC
KT-VG-BI-BI-BI-VG-KT
BC-BC-BC
TA-TA
--------------------------
Enemy
-Army for the poor times:
8 Byzantine Infantry
6 Naphta Trowers
2 Steppe Cavalry (or byzantine cavalry)
-Army of the Mongols (well i never fight against the mongols with this army, curiosly all my battles with they was with very poor armies, but my experience say me that...):
First engagement:
1 KT (the general)
2 SC
4 BC
6 VG
3 TA
Second and infinite engagements

: Infantry + Archers, archers and archers
-Army of Orient (difficult if the enemy come with many shock troops):
1 KT
3 BC
2 SC
3 IB
2 GV
5 TA
-Army of the West (especially hard catholic enemies)
7 GV
3 IB
4 KT
2 CS
-Cavalry Army (when i played to Shogun Total War: MI always take with the mongols their cavalry, and put the infantry as garrison, in that game was a strong army but in MTW not than. But is a good weapon against enemies like rebels)
8 KT
8 BC
-Garrisons: Peasants.
When i begin, i fight mainly with the "poor army", and then i try to make the universal army the bulk of armed force. When the game is finishing, i have many universal armies and a few special armies, with these armies i put the reinforcement needed: if mongols archers, if catholics many cavalry and infantry... or reinforcement for all: we need 4000 men, 960 for the main army and the others inf, cavalry, archers...
If i lost all the time, especially when i fight aganst a superpower like the almohads, thousand BI and a new battle for the own AI.
bye

Sorry
Bookmarks