Beginner Playing As The Irish

[caravel]

You're correct. Bonnacht are 5 attack, -3 defence, and the Kerns are 2/-3. Further more, Kerns have 4 javelins and are fast. Very good skirmishers. When you get all Ireland, the +1 valour bonus on Kerns fades in front of the Iron in Ulster and Munster (and Likely Manau, as you get naval superiority): Laigin and Connacht are usually money producing after a while.

I took a huscarles unit charge staight on with my bonnacht and it went as follow: the volley of 100 javelins killed about 10 huscarles (whoa... very good), but then the fighting rapidly turnd to their disadvantage, and I had only about 50 bonnachts when the huscarles where still around 35 (thats something like a 1/3 kill ratio). I had to charge the huscarles with cavalry to free them...

The tip about weather is excellent. Archers and Cavalry are a plea for Irish low defence and low armor troops...

And of course, but this applies to almost any campaign: The Saxons and Mercians have to be kept in balance, and if possible weakened. As several said, once they get huscarles, it will hurt. A lot.

Never take on Huscarles unless you've shot them down to below 50% and then pinned them down with Armoured Spearmen first. Then, and only then, flank them with Royal Bodyguards and Gallowglasses.

Gah! I had made an error in that post of mine that CountMRVHS was referring to, and I have just noticed it now:

On the subject of Bonnachts and Kerns, I actually use both, but I use Kerns Bonnachts in a more "throw javelins and charge flank" capacity, whereas I use Bonnachts Kerns as skirmishers only.

I only use Kerns as occasional Flankers - if I'm desperate. Bonnachts are what I was referring to as "throw n charge".