Volga-Bulgars in High Era

[Heidrek]

Ok, so I became enthralled by the promise of a good allround Javelin unit in the form of Bashkorts and decided to try out the Volga-Bulgars.

I decided to try them on High/expert as this would be the biggest challenge given their proximity to where the Golden Horde will appear in the near future.

Wow, the VB's have got it rough. Their king is only 2* and most heirs begin with the Drinking vices. They have one, reasonably poor province and almost no army. Added to this, They have the Russians on the northern border, a rebel force stronger than their army to the south, the Cumans to the south west. To the east is the tempting province of Ryanzan but his seems very prone to religious rebellions.

To cap off thier difficult starting position, the only wealthy and developed province nearby is Muscovy, held by the Russians and well garrisoned across a River. Their army has decent options, mainly the very very cheap and nasty Bashkorts, a bargain at 150 Florins and only 22 upkeep, but the only good infantry available besides them is the Kazanchi's, a good Halbard unit, but a whopping 400 Florins to build and 70 upkeep!

I've found so far that money is the biggest problem, as well as a lack of long range missile units what out range horse archers. I'm now tryign to take Muscovy in desperation, I think I can take out the agrrison, but I'm not sure about what sort of troops the Russians can bring out to try and liberate it.

anyone played VB's in high and got some advice? Also does anyone know the building requirements for Varangian Swordsmen?

[BAD]

Also does anyone know the building requirements for Varangian Swordsmen?

The second Swordsmith building. Also only in Novgorod, Smolensk and Kiev. Think you can only train these in Early though. . .

The Kursybays are a nice spear unit. Same as Chivalric Sergeants but one less defence and one higher morale. Cheaper to build and support too. Lower build requirements also, just the second level Spear building.

[Roark]

Yeah, I played the Volga Bulgars in High.... twice.

FIRST ATTEMPT

1. Floundered in poverty
2. Took a couple of wasteland provinces
3. Got steamrolled by the Mongols

SECOND ATTEMPT

1. Floundered in poverty
2. Took a couple of wasteland provinces
3. Got steamrolled by the Mongols

[Heidrek]

The second Swordsmith building. Also only in Novgorod, Smolensk and Kiev. Think you can only train these in Early though. . .

The Kursybays are a nice spear unit. Same as Chivalric Sergeants but one less defence and one higher morale. Cheaper to build and support too. Lower build requirements also, just the second level Spear building.

Oh great, the only real heavy infantry unit available to them, and I can't ever make them? That bites..... that really only leaves the very expensive Kazanchi's. Not exactly an appealing prospect. I'm thinking that it's going to have to be a case of Bashkorts all the way.

I've decided that the only hope for the VB's is going to be to take Muscovy from the Russians and make that my new home. I'll defend Volga Bulgaria against the GH when they arrive, but I'm prepared to lose it if necessary. Muscovy will serve me much better in the long run.

I've built 5 catapults to use to fight my way into Muscovy. If I can take Muscovy and use that as my base, there's hope - I can hold off the horde for a long time there with relatively few troops thanks to the river....

Still going to be mighty tough.

[seireikhaan]

Heh, good luck. Frankly, I've not yet dared to try the VB's in high, it seemed a bit, I don't know, suicidal? Bakshorts might be nice, but they simply won't stand up to hordes of Mongols. Rather low defense and little armor, plus only 60 men means they can get ground up pretty well by good cavalry, which the Mongols kinda hava a lot of. Meanwhile, Kurysbas are decent, but will get shot to pieces by Mongol archery if defending a bridge. You're main hope, imo, is that the Mongols decide to go south instead of north. But perhaps I'm just being a tad cynical...

[Peasant Phill]

Heidrek you can add anything your tactics, discoveries and advice in the XL-guide section. AFAIK, there is nothing on high when it comes to V-B.

[Heidrek]

Ok, well I've taken Muscovy from the Russians in a nasty bridge battle. I pummeled them with Artillery from my side of the bridge, while they just stood there and took it. I also had half a unit of Merc Pavise Arbalesters that I marched down to the river line and started firing from.

The Ruskies soon started to shoot back at the Mercs, which was the whole point - get them to use up their arrows on him.

After running out of artillery, I marched my forces across both bridges and went hand to hand.

It turned out that once I took Muscovy the russians had nothing left. The People of Novgorod seem to own everything in sight. At 1230 the Mongols turned up in force. I sold up everything in Volga Bulgaria except the castle and left 1 unit in there to defend it. Likewise Kazar. They are doomed to fall, so I might as well get what I can from them and leave the Horde nothing.

The Horde is now attacking Muscovy and I have a pitched Bridge battle on my hands. I've infliced heavy losses to them, but they keep coming.

Bashkorts have proved brilliant in this battle. A hail of Javelins killed the Horde's general and these guys fought the Mongol heavy cavalry back across to their side of the bridge.

I've adopted a "car crusher" formation that seems to work pretty well at the moment. The last remaining Bashkorts, only about 19 left now form a shield wall a little way back from my end of the bridge. I also have a unit of heavy cav on each side of it of to the side.

Enemies cross the bridge and move to engage the Bashkorts, at which time my heavy cavalry charges from both sides into their flanks and mashes them. I then disengage them and move them back to their positions.

even if I win this fight, I'm not sure I can survive another one the same, I'm simply running out of troops and can't replenish them fast enough.