Tips for MP Battles

[pike master]

when someone uses horse archers and deploys them at the start of the battle i give them the initiative since they are basically launching an attack. so i will choose to fight defensive until i can defeat that attack. the best way is if you have good missile units such as long range bowmen is to draw your army within their missile umbrella. if the opponent uses the more accurate regular skirmish formation his horse archers get shot down. if he uses cantabrian circle he will waste a lot of arrows and still get shot up but not as bad. also face your targeted units toward the horse archers so that their shield will protect them.

i am beginning to guard mode a lot for my infantry just like in mtw/vi. it seems pre patch 1.2 it did not work so well.

of course sword and shield infantry seem to be the best infantry because of the shield fix. axemen are valuable but should be used when they can deliver their irresistable charge. they are good to keep in guard mode as well but i would not leave them stationary to recieve a charge. they should be commanded to attack when they are used where as opposed to advance to a postion as you would other infantry.

keeping a solid well organized line can by itself cause enemies to become shaken if they approach it disorganized.

of course my advice will be looked down upon as i am written off as a fanatical loon by some in the community.

also use any unit that does not have a special ability and you can use the bugle option just like a generals bodyguard and that bugle can make a big difference if you have that unit in the right place as it not only increases your troops morale but it can cause a drop in the enemies morale.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Mongols are always a good faction to use, if you pick the right army,good enough and aren't bounded by cav rules.

[Betito]

I've found that HAs work much, much better if i use them with light melee cavalry.

To be concrete: if i get to play turks, i try to make 'combat groups', as Doug-Thompson suggests. The group consists of 2 sipahis and 1 alan cavalry. If it's a low budget game, i might replace one or both of the sipahis with turcoman horses. It helps a lot against light cavarly attempts to rout the HAs, because a single light cavarly unit won't do to stop your harrassment. If the enemy tries it regardless, you should be able to crush them.

Another thing is to set guard mode for all spears. It makes them a bit more solid when it comes to recieving charges and holding their ground, which is what you want them for, after all. Also, spears are not top notch attackers, let them recieve the charge, especially if its against horses. Keep them away from Sword and shield infantry as much as possible.

Never underestimate the power of naffatun. Those little guys are extremely effective, both kill and morale-dropping wise. If you can get them, make sure you get at least one of them. Additionally, you might want to set skirmish off from the start and place them right behing your spears, or some other infantry

After the main engagement has started, i find it useful to set skirmish off for all my archers, so they can keep on firing at all moments. Thweir flanks must be protected if you want this to be effective.

I once saw a gyu using a different approach ofr light cav: This guy playes as the moors, and he set a line of missiles (peasant x-bows, or something with that reach) and his light cavalry right behind them. Behind the light cav there was his inf and heavy cav a little back in the flanks. I had a very hard time trying to attack that formation with HAs, and maybe it's worth a try.

[FearofFucy]

Never attack with all your armie just 1 unit. If you decide to attack, try to click behinde enemy line with all your units. While they are marching forward, micro manage your attack then.