Post thy Truely Epic Battles

[Cesare diBorja]

I am going to send images ofmy next battle.
I had an epic fight with the Milanese as the French.
To give you some idea; I had 1479 men and the milanese had 2500 in two armies. I had 500 archers and crossbowmen, plus four bombards and they had nearly 1400 crossbowmen. I wished that I had a couple ribaults. I lost over 80% of my force and was forced to retire from the field.

My cavalry: 500 men
Their cavalry: 4-500 men

Arrows and bolts and explosions everywhere!

Gonna get backat them with abetter army now.

[IrishArmenian]

My Spear men at the gate collapsed into a wave of calvary, as my Druzinhas charged through the gate, making the gateway chokepoint a larger mass grave. The Feudal Knights (Dismounted) kept coming on and being slaughtered, taking a few Druzinha with them every time until there were 5 left at which point all wa lost. The General charged, and spilled more Hungarian blood. His elite bodyguard was really tearing up the enemy, but there was no end to the reinforcements. As the bodies piled up, my forces rapidly became weaker. The Peasant Archers finished off 6 Feudal Knights on the walls but were hacked to bits by Croat Axemen.
The fearless general fought on bravely, but after slaying even more foes, he dissapeared under a wave of Knights.
Kiev was in Hungarian Hands.
Revenge was swift and sure, Ivan, son of then Grand Duke Vladimir, brother of Grand Prince (Now Grand Duke) Miroslav (Now the Cruel) retook the city with 2 units of Dvor, 2 Berdiche Axemen units, 3 regiments of Dismounted Dvor, 2 Trebuchet units and Sidor of Zabolata.
The town was sacked and since this tragic defeat, I have learned a lesson. I always keep 9 Dismounted Dvor, 2 Druzinhas, 2 Bombards and my generals just to repel attackers. Since then, Kiev (a large city based on mostly slave trade) has been near impregnable, mostly I sally forth and position my bombards just outside the gate, guarded by Dvor and wreak havoc on the attackers. I learned and Kiev will be held!

[Strappy Horse]

While trying to master the art of the single-click cavalry charge, I had an excellent battle in my English campaign.

The Danes were a general pain in the ass, and were blocking my ports every 2 turns. King Rufus decided to punish them by taking Bruges.
King Rufus gathered an army of 4 units of mailed knights, 4 units of longbowmen, 4 units of billmen, and 1 unit of dismounted feudal knights.

Landing in Flanders, King Rufus marched is army around Bruges for a couple of turns. Eventually the Danes took the bait and attacked. The Danes sprung a surprise attack with the garrison of Antwerp, consisting of 4 units of Townguards, behind this vanguard, the main army of Bruges assembled, evenly composed of Townguards, Viking Raiders and Dismounted Huscarls (about 5 units of each).

The English quickly set up a position on a clear, open ridge. Archers first, second row of knights, third row of infantry, and King Rufus' bodyguard in reserve behind.
Noting that the Danish van was caught out in the open, 120 knights (3 units) galloped down the hill, reorganised at the base, and then charged directly at the townguards of Antwerp. The result was 24 dead knights (one charge was interrupted by a single tree) and 200 dead and 25 fleeing townguards.

Repositioning on the ridge again, the English awaited the main Danish army.
As the Danish climbed the ridge under a hail of arrow fire, the flower of English chivalry, strengthened by the King's guard, charged down to meet them, followed at a run by the English infantry.
A perfectly executed charge, followed up by infantry, made short work of the Danes. After that, it was chasing routers.

It wasn't the odds, or the enemy that made this battle epic. It was the sight of 5 units of knights charging down a hill into the enemy, shattering their frontline, followed up by an infantry charge, just as the knights pulled out of melee that made it worthwhile for me.
Also I liked how my strategic plans translated in a tactical advantage on the battlefield.

The one negative thing about this battle was that the prisoners I sold retreated back to Bruges, so I didn't capture the town. After the battle, the Pope forced a temporal ceasefire upon me.

[Reapz]

Great thread here. I wanted to post about an experience that really showed me the AI in this game is better and it makes a difference. Sorry no screenshots but diagrams.

Playing Venice I just fought a pitched battle, even numbers (16 units a side), against a Sicilian army that had predominantly infantry units - mixed militia and merc spears, 1 missile cav, a Frankish Knight Heavy Cav unit, and a General's unit (two star). My army was mainly mixed archers and crossbowmen (peasant and merc - no venetian archers or anything quality) and a few militia units, only one spear unit, and 4 mounted Sgt.s and my General (three stars). The battle field sloped left to right with both armies deployed facing each other in the middle. So my left flank was high ground. When the battle started I moved to seize the higher ground, which the AI let me do. I ended up facing them down a slope.

I didn't like my chances if their spearmen got a hold of my archers or cavalry in melee so I planned to put my mounted Sgt units, 2 on each flank of the enemy, to try to pin their infantry in place (by threatening a charge into their rear if they advanced). Then my plan was to try to avoid a melee and let my missile units devastate the enemy infantry from higher ground. The problem was the two AI heavy cav units (General and Franks) I knew they could chew up the 2 mounted Sgt. units at each flank. So I wanted to try to destroy the Frankish knights so I could operate as planned expecting that the enemy General's heavy cav unit would then stay parked middle rear.

Initial Position (after rush to gain high ground)

Low Ground


------------------ Gen(AI) ---------------
-----------Sp Mil Mil Mil Mil Sp -----------
--FrK----Sp Sp Mil Mil Sp Sp Sp----MisCav



Sgt---PA MC PA PA MA MA PA PA MC PA---Sgt
Sgt------------------Sp------------------Sgt
---------------------Gen(V) -----------------

High Ground

FrK - Frankish Knights
Sp - Spearmen (mercs)
PA - Peasant Archers
MA - Merc Archers
Mil - Militia (Some Spear, some Town Militia)
MC - Merc Crossbow
Sgt - Mounted Sgt

How to destroy the knights? As the armies were repositioning I ran a mounted Sgt. unit up close to the Franks which had deployed left flank (their missile cav to the right flank) hoping my captain would taunt them into battle. He must have because they came charging at the lighter cav unit and chased it uphill blowing by my archers and the other cav unit. As they chased I charge my General and one of the Sgt's from the right flank to the left flank. I then had my fleeing unit turn, fight, and mostly get destroyed (1/3 strength) but pin the Franks while 3 other cav units charged into the flank and rear. It worked well,there was a hard fight and I whittled the Franks down to 19 from 40 and they ran off broken. I wanted to finish them but they are tough to kill with weaker cav and moreover I was anxious to get my cav on the flanks of the AI infantry otherwise it would advance on my weak archers. I left the depleted Sgt. unit to chase the Franks to the edge of the battlefield before I pulled them back to the main battle. Meanwhile I advanced my Sgt.s to the flanks of the enemy infantry, one unit chasing away the missile cavalry. The hail of arrows started.

However once away from the enemy the Franks recovered their morale and returned. I didn't notice as I had assumed them routed and thus no factor. Next thing I know my left flank archers are routing - the Franks are back in the battle charging my left flank and tearing up the weak archer units. Now I am in trouble as I have one of my cav units away chasing their missile cav, one on each flank of the AI infantry and the weak unit that the Franks had destroyed in the springing of the trap held back in reserve with my general.

Position: Returned Franks hit my archers

------------------------------------MisCav
------------------------------------Sgt


------------------ Gen(AI)------------------
Sgt--------Sp Mil Mil Mil Mil Sp --------Sgt
----------Sp Sp Mil Mil Sp Sp Sp----------



FrK->PA MC PA PA MA MA PA PA MC PA-------
---------------------Sp---------------------
--------------1/3 Sgt-Gen(V)----------------

So I charge the Franks with my General and my depleted Sgt.s and send my single spear unit out to that left flank. It isn't looking good as my archers die but my General and the Sgt.s halt the carnage. Then spears arrive (phew) and tip the scale and the pesky Franks, now 13/40, break and run away from that left flank to leave the map - I hope - I'm not chasing them with my General.

Time passes and the missiles are depleting the enemy units - slowly but surely. My two intact Mounted Sgt units seem to be pinning the enemy infantry effectively who stand and take the pelting from the archers. Time passes and I'm thinking I might pull off a defeat of a superior infantry force with peasant and mercenary archers. The AI infantry units are down to 40/60 even 30/60 in some spots.

But no it was not to be - the 13 Frankish Knights are back. This time they are charging the rear of my Mounted Sgts on the left flank and pushing them towards a nearby AI spear unit that has broken ranks to charge the Sgts - they are pinned. I consider and I think I'm not sending my General down into the ranks of AI spears to rescue my cav unit. I do charge my spear unit down the hill to attack the Franks again. Another AI spear unit breaks ranks and joins that melee on the left flank. My cav unit is on the way to being history and soon my only spear unit will be. Now I'm left facing 13 depleted units of AI merc spearmen and militia spearmen (attack 7/defense 13) with 8 units of peasant and mercenary archers (melee attack 2/defense 2) and 2 merc crossbow units (melee 6/defense 7) and what is left of my single unit of spears (30/60).

Of course I have the battle paused at this point. It's these situations where the battle is about to turn on one unit engagement that make Total War gaming so compelling for me. Basically it is time for a change of tactics or I'm dead.

Position: Returned Franks hit my Sgt.s, spears to the rescue

--------------------------------------------Sgt-->MisCav





------------------ Gen(AI) ------------------
FrK->Sgt<-Sp Mil Mil Mil Mil Sp --------Sgt
--------<<<Sp Sp Mil Mil Sp Sp Sp----------

-----Sp

-----PA MC PA PA MA MA PA PA MC PA-------
--------------1/3 Sgt-Gen(V)-----------------

So I redirect the spears charging at the Franks instead to hit the flank of the enemy spear unit thats going for my Sgt.s, I melee charge the one left side unit of merc crossbows down into the other unit of spearmen going for the Sgt.s, and I send my General and the wrecked Sgt.s in reserve at the Franks on that left flank. I'm thinking that my spear and melee crossbowmen will keep the AI spear units from getting to my cavalry long enough to rout those Frankish Knights again and to get the pinned unit of Sgt.s to retreat out of that mess without triggering a rout. My spears fight the AI spears with downhill charge and flank attack bonus as do the crossbowmen in melee. The General hits the Franks on a full charge and they break and run. My Sgt.s get free from the trap (about 23/40 left). Meanwhile my Sgt.s away chasing the Missile Cavalry catch and shred them, and can come back to the main battle.

I have to feint charge my Sgt.s on the right flank to keep the AI infantry there worried enough to stay in place and not charge my archers or join that left flank melee. I thought for a second my plan was back on track - death by a 1,000 arrows - but it was not to be. The AI spears had snagged my General, who wouldn't break free, and tied up the two units I sent to rescue the Sgt.s...... then the enemy General charges into that melee. As he does so the rest of the AI infantry turn towards my General and start to advance on him. It looks like the whole AI army is coming for my pinned General and if he is gone I'm dead - it's that simple.

Position: Generals in melee left flank, whole AI army moving in

---- Gen (AI) -------------------------<--Sgt
-----Gen(V)<-Sp<Mil<Mil<Mil<Mil<-Sp ------<--Sgt
1/3 Sgt<<Sp<Sp<Mil<Mil<Sp<-Sp<-Sp----------
2/3 Sgt-Sp MC

-----PA MC PA PA MA MA PA PA MC PA-------


So I charge all the archer units down the slope into the flanks of the militia and spearmen who are moving to join that left flank melee. I charge the full strength mounted Sgt.s on the right into the backs of the weakened militia (kill/rout a few weakened units quickly and maybe hit morale, change the balance in my favor). The other Sgt. heads along behind the AI army and charges into the rear of spears attacking my General in the melee, trying to fight through to my General.

What followed was a pitched battle of epic proportions. The pressure eases on my General a little. The depleted units of Sgt.s are in that fight with him, along with my one spear and merc crossbow unit, fighting the AI General, 3 units of spearmen, and a couple of militia. Its an even fight on the left. The units the Sgt.s charge rout pretty quickly (depleted and charged in the rear by a full strength cavalry unit). My archers did not fair so well, particularly against the spearmen in melee. Most of them are destroyed although they kill dozens of militia. Many units on both sides were destroyed or reduced to one or two men. The AI does not get to bring it's full army to fight my general and we are having a vicious little fight on the left still. I am watching the numbers drop - my General down to 8 then 6 then 4, the AI General 9 then 7 then 4 then 2 ...... I'm on the edge of my seat. There is nothing left to do but let the units fight it out. I zoom in and watch some of the action up close - great animations. The fight between the Generals is in the balance... and then ... I don't believe it ... 7 Frankish Knights return and charge my General from the rear and he is dead, all the units rout and it's over.

Those returning Franks - some kind of uber unit I'm thinking, definitely earned their pay. And after a while I start to muse on the rout and return thing. Silly me - should have read the developer's blog about the new AI:

Morale was the area that was given the most attention and rightly so. In my opinion it makes or breaks the battle experience. We wanted to avoid mass chain routing as soon as melee troops engage. We also wanted to ensure that if you want to keep the units broken you must chase with a significant force or they will recover and fight back. Right now, during a large infantry engagement, you will be lucky to see any unit’s rout in the first 30 seconds and if it does happen, the rest of the army if they’re elite units, will stay and fight. Best of all, units that do rout will recover within 150m unless chased off the battlefield, so you can quickly throw them back into the melee.

I have noticed a real difference in battles, compared with other TW series games, in the area of routing units and morale. Used to be if you routed them - forgetaboudit. Even if they come back you just fire a few arrows, say boo, feint a charge and they are routing again. Not now. So now I know this is a deliberate ploy by the developers - and I really like it. Rout and return - it has a real effect on battles and it definitely won this one for the AI.

[Barny Bangs]

Great threat, great battles and a nice read for my lunch break

Best battle to this time (101st turn):

Golden Horde arrived some years ago. I was happy holding Jerusalem and Gaza, while being harrassed in Europe by HRE, Sicily, Venice and the sorry remains of the French. Had my hands full keeping the people of Jerusalem happy, though fortunately Egypt wasn't a problem any more as my massive army of priests, bishops and cardinals converted the heathens on a lightning fast rate and led to rebellions all over the Egypt Empire.

The Mongols, six full-stack armies strong lingered near Antioch, playing out three different alternative realities, I knew they would head for Jerusalem sooner or later.

So, two of my youngest princes out of the good arm of my royal family (16 years old, six star commanders and high chivalry ratings) assembled two mighty armies in Gaza and marched north. I occupiedthe bridge near Antioch, the Egyptians just holed up in their castles waiting for their deaths. Prince Thomas, my heir, led an army consisting of:

General (six star, four chivalry, +2 morale)
3 English Dismounted Knights
3 Dismounted Feudal Knights
1 Crusader Sergants
1 Fanatics
3 Levy Spearmen
4 Crusader Knights
4 Templar Knights

The Mongols attacked the bottleneck with two full-stack armies, led by two eight-star generals.

Thomas held an inspiring speech, the Infantery in two lines on one end of the bridge, the Mongols did not wait for one second and began rushing over the water. At the same time their rockets pierced the night sky and my frame rate dropped to the speed of a slide show.

The first wave of Mongol Cav crashed into my spearmen, shortly after the ground was black with dead bodies. My spearmen's numbers were dwindling fast but I was lucky: the Mongol general, silly as he was, led the charge and was killed a few minutes into the battle.

His troops though did not waver for a second. They seemed to grow more determined by the minute and threw all his armies (even his archers) the weakened forces holding the bridge. I threw in in quick succession the Fanatics, and my English Knights, finally breaking the spirit of the Mongols: they routed.

I was leaning back, happy over the outcome, when I noticed the Mongol reinforcements coming in. They rushed twoards the bridge (and if you've seen Mongols in full speed, you know what I am talking about). I barely had time to regroup my Infantry, my spearmen already wiped from the face of earth. Every man to the end of the bridge, my Cav, up toi this moment without any real work aside from chasing down occasional Mongol Cavs breaking through my lines.

The second Mongol wave hit me much harder. Men were dropping like flies, one flank was growing weaker by the second. A charge by three Templar Cav units mended the hole, yet the tide seemed to turn against me. With my Infantery reduced to a handful of men, I ordered them to retreat and threw all my remaining cav units against the Mongol tide.

I was lucky again: THe charge killed the second Mongol general, and slowly, very slowly I pushed them back on the bridge. The Mongol rocket launchers, obviously desperate in their attempt to save the day fired wildly into the night, but they should have trained aiming: in quick succession three rockets exploded in the middle of the bridge, Mongol bodies flying everywhere. A minute later they saw the futility of their attempt and routed.

My few remaining units chased after them, to no avail.

Result: a hard earned victory, five of my units surviving with only a few men in them. The Mongols Horde retreated in the following turns towards the desert where I could surround their army with single unit stacks and hindered any fast advances towards either Jerusalem or Antioch. My assassins picked of a few of their generals, the leaderless armies were singled out and fought in the open plains of the desert.


The battle may not have been one of tactic or finesse but one of brute force, yet I got the feeling that I single-handidly repelled the Mongol Invasion, leaned back and opened a nice bottle of wine . (The feeling didn't last long as Mongol reinforcemnts dropped in shortly after)