Britannia Divided: Factions

[naut]

The Kingdom of Wessex

Difficulty: Fairly Easy

Essex will be the main rival of Wessex; because if you are not quick they will snatch up the weak provinces of Kent and Sussex before you can react. Cornwall is also a tempting target. However, you must prepare for the eventual conflict with Essex and Mercia.

Initial Strategy:
1. Take Kent and Sussex
2. Build up garrisons along your borders with Mercia
3. Focus on your economy after taking Kent and Essex

Positive:
a. Strong unique unit
b. Rich provinces
c. Rebel provinces for the taking

Negative:
a. Military is expensive to train and upkeep
b. Limited army options early on

Unit List:

Cavalry:

Mounted Eorls
Mounted Eorls are the precursor to the medieval Knight. They are well equipped and trained, and less likely to flee the field than more common troops. The combination of their mobility and their fighting skill makes them a very effective medium cavalry, able to engage all but the heaviest opponents.

Eored
Really just a foot warrior on horseback, these scouts add mobility to the battlefield and are good for chasing down routing troops. Although they are unlikely to dominate the battlefield, in the right place at the right time they can turn the tide of battle.

Infantry:

Huscarles
Huscarles are the professional entourage of a King or Noble. In peacetime they act as a bodyguard and personal staff, and in times of war they are the professional spine of the leader's army. They are an elite chosen from the ranks of the Thegns, armed with swords and Dane-axes (axes in this mod).

Thegns
Thegns are the middle class of Saxon society, land-owners who are required to serve their King or Lord in times of crisis for military obligations, the building of fortifications and civilian matters. In return they receive favour and better arms and armour.

Fyrdmen
Fyrdmen are the men of a levied Fyrd. They combine the lower ranks (available for active duty if needed during a legislated number of weeks each year) and more professional troops (retained on duty rather than only called up at a time of crisis). They act as the rank-and-file of Saxon infantry, but have little in terms of protection other than an iron helm.

Ceorls
Ceorls are the freemen of Saxon society, from which the levies of the Fyrd were gathered from mostly. They are armed with a spear and shield, supplied by their local Lord or Thegn.

Hundrademen
A hundrademan is one of a hundred levied by the reeve to defend the local area and act as policemen and wardens. They are most suitable as garrison troops, and can not be expected to act as a strong core of fighting men.

Acerweras
Literally meaning "farmer band", these men hold more status than a Gebur, but are lower than the Ceorls or Cotsetlas. They can be levied into the Fyrd in times of crisis, or when better men are needed at the front. All they take to the fight is the few farming implements they own.

Missile:

Yrweras
Archery is a survival skill: it helps put food on the table, assuming that the archer isn’t hanged as a poacher! Using the same skill in battle can bring down an armoured man, although short bows are not quite as efficient as true war bows.

Unique:

Billweras
These champion swordsmen use the Saxon Bill, a two-handed sword. Little could rival the honour provided by fighting in armed combat with a sword, as such these men are in a manner the very best warriors; armed and armoured in the best that can be provided.