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[Sankte Pär]

If i had a game company i should hire you, for sure.

Really nice work.

[caius britannicus]

As we are putting together the final game we are also taking the opportunity to test the stats more thoroughly, which means some kick ass online battles. So I am going to share with you an AAR of a battle between myself and Reiksmarshal (another developer on the mod). Before this battle we had already played a battle in which I as the crusaders had attacked his light saracen infantry and out numbered and out gunned was eventually totally destroyed. I chalked this up to lack of cavalry. I had with me in that attack two units of mounted knights. And although they are powerful they were easily bogged down by numerous saracen light cavalry. I was determined to use more cavalry in the next battle. Eventhough it would mean being out numbered even more than I already was. So with that setting up the battle lets get started.

The battlefield would be the dunes of Arabia.


I had chosen for my army 4 units of heavy Byzantine Cavalry (only available to the Crusades/Saracens in custom battles not the campaign), 4 units of Teutonic foot knights, 3 units of german heavy infantry, 3 units of english men-at-arms


2 welsh longbowmen, 2 Genoese sailors


and the templar grandmaster as my general.


As the battle started I quickly surveyed my opponents army which vastly out numbered my own. He had at his disposal 4 units of Ayyubid Infantry, 4 units of of Jarwajaraya Militia (javelineers with large shields), 4 units of thaqlah infantry, 3 units of Mamluk Foot Askars,


2 units of heavy mamluk cavalry, 2 units of jaridah cavalry


and a unit of Sibyan al Rikab for the general.

I
n all, the battle would pit my 1860 men against his 3534 men making me outnumber nearly 2 to 1. Almost before I could react to his army, Reiks began moving them quickly to my right attempting to take the high ground. I was closer to it but slower. despite this I made a move for it anyways.


Reiks was faster and took the high ground with ease. All I could do was use my archers to screen my army as they essentially pivoted on the spot to face the saracens now lined up on my right flank. For a few minutes our archers exchanged volleys. My longbowmen were getting the better of his mamluks and so he decided to send his light cavalry to deal with them. He moved them quickly to engage my welsh men. As soon as I saw what he was doing I orderd 1 unit of kataphraktoi to make an attempt to intercept his light cavalry


My slower kataphraktoi, which also had to race uphill, didn't make it in time and one of my welshmen units was over run. However before reiks could withdraw his Jaridah cavalry my kataphraktoi were able to engage them.


The Jaridah were quickly beaten by the far superior kataphraktoi. I quickly sent the kataphraktoi back into position while I continued the archery skirmish. Unfortunatly it wasn't going well. His mamluks, which now had numerical superiority quickly ate up my archers and so I was forced to begin the main assault.


The plan was simple. I had arranged my units in a classic cavalry charge formation. My Kataphaktoi would charge first, break up the enemy line and my infantry would fill the gaps.


The charge was more devestating then I could possibly imagine. I had targetted the infantry line behind his mamluks expecting them to fall back as my cavalry approached. However, they stood their ground and were completely trampled by the heavy cavalry as they plowed through them on their way to the light infantry.


As the charge was underway I moved up my infantry and prepared to send them into the gaps created by my heavy cavalry. Already it was working, the cavalry had pushed itself almost right through three lines of saracen light infantry and had effectively isolated the entire line into four parts.


I was still holding back my english men-at-arms and at this point the battle had not yet been decided. His overwhelming numbers were beginning to have an effect on the foot knights and german heavy infantry. So I sent in the last of my infantry to support the wavering units.


Reiks still had two units of Mamluk heavy cavalry, things weren't going well for him and so he threw those men into the frey.


With their armor piercing axes they were cutting through my english and german infantry near the center of the line. The last unit I had left were the Templar Grandmaster and his Inner Circle knights. I quickly told them to charge into the melee and try to engage the Mamluks.


For the next 10 or so minutes there was nothing more I could do. I had to hope that my infantry would prevail against the remaining saracen light infantry. Several units started to falter but in the end his right flank began to rout. Soon his entire right and parts of his center were in full rout.


His left and parts of his center held out a little longer. However his general was soon killed and his entire army was in flight. So ended the battle, of the 3534 men that opposed me at the start of battle only 383 remained. Of my 1860 men some 1125 brave men still stood.


All in all, an excellent battle that displayed the superiority of heavy cavalry. However, the saracen army lacked heavy infantry of any kind. Had he brought Black Guard, Daylamites or Syrian heavy infantry to the battle things may have turned out differently.

[Shishan]

This is a proof not only he is good in moding but superb in tactics..is there any tutorial here to brush up my skills..

[Kali]

Excellant stuff Caius,
glad to see things are coming along so well.

[Shishan]

it would be nice to see a teaser trailer of this game b4 its release..screenshots making me drooling..if a movie..would make my jaw drop

[paullus]

very cool shots, a very good battle, and those are awesome arrows (showing troop movements). but about the welshmen, are you going to fix the crease down the face? and should they have swords? how about some sick-looking maces?

[Crusader Invasion]

WOW! The other guy had almost twice the men you had and you were triumphant!