How to deal with rebels?

[drone]

I always wanted to win the Vikings campaign as the Welsh. I think it would be a good idea to do so

The Welsh are the only faction I haven't played in VI. Archers just aren't my thing.

[Gilrandir]

The Welsh are the only faction I haven't played in VI. Archers just aren't my thing.

Did it once and, well, saw it through. You should attack Mercians and capture Mierce before they start spawning Huscarles, that is before they build the fort (4 years) and the royal palace (10 years, IIRC). It wasn't a problem for me. The problem was Saxons, who did start spawning Huscarles. Yet the key thing here is to have many-starred generals.

[Age]

The Welsh are the only faction I haven't played in VI. Archers just aren't my thing.

Yaeh I ma a lot like you archers aren't for me either and Celtic Warriors don't do that well.I have tried going aster Mercia but their Frydman are to much not to mention if the Vikings pop on you.

[macsen rufus]

You can win with every faction - and I always go for the 110% win in VI - ie I also take the Viking lands with carfeul use of agents. I've done it with all the British factions, including the Welsh, though I think this is the hardest faction, a serious 'turtle and tech-up' scenario. You get iron and valoured-up archers, on the plus side. On the downside, nasty neighbours with huscarles... you probably have to play diplomacy more with the Welsh, and make maximum use of agents, too.

But that's a bit o/t - with regard to rebels, if you're struggling with loyalty problems, try shuffling your troops around so that you leave the most defensible provinces (eg ones with a guaranteed river map) with the lowest loyalty, so if the rebels do pop up, they are easily defeated. You can even use this to 'farm' rebels - ie keep 'em coming and take lots of money off them in forfeited lands etc, but that is a bit on the cheesy side.

[Gilrandir]

But that's a bit o/t - with regard to rebels, if you're struggling with loyalty problems, try shuffling your troops around so that you leave the most defensible provinces (eg ones with a guaranteed river map) with the lowest loyalty, so if the rebels do pop up, they are easily defeated.

IIRC, in VI there is only one river border - somewhere between Cantware and East Seaxe.

[Cyprian2]

I played a wonderful campaign as the Welsh a couple years ago -- and actually attained a total victory. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the TGAs to prove it. From what I recall, macsen rufus is right on the money: ally with the Vikings and take over Ireland ASAP. After that, you have a safe staging ground from which to gradually beat down the West Saxons/Mercians. The Celtic warriors actually pack quite a nice punch when used en-mass, and can certainly take apart most spear units when required.

I think I had about seven kings named "Conan" in that campaign, which was also kind of awesome.

Seeing that this thread is actually about rebels, I will say that bribing them (especially stacks that contain huscarles, etc.) to get different troop types is always a good idea. Once your economy can handle it, of course.

[macsen rufus]

IIRC, in VI there is only one river border - somewhere between Cantware and East Seaxe

There's also a one-way river border where the Severn Bridge now stands - so any invasion from Somerset into Gwent gives the Welsh a good defensive position

Cyprian2 is also right about bribing rebels - they tend to have very low loyalty making them cheap to bribe, and I often find in my games rebels can have some surprisingly high levels of acumen, making for some good governors to boost your income.... It's always worth taking a good look at them before deciding to just attack them - they may be worth more as new recruits.

And back off-topic Celtic Warriors have good initial impact but tend to lose heart in a prolonged melee, so they need to be used carefully. Tactically, if you can make them the 'hammer' and flank a pinned enemy unit, that helps get the most out of them (their speed helps here) and also using them for ambushes also boosts their initial impact. Strategically, get them as many upgrades as you can - morale especially, but armour and weapons, too, of course. And then, be careful after battles to merge together valoured-up units rather than simply retraining them for numbers. This helps get some good 'veteran' units together. Overall, they're not the best infantry, but can serve if well managed.

[Gilrandir]

Some Welsh battles of mine (if I did it right for others to see them).
heroic welsh.zip
wise welsh.zip

[edyzmedieval]

The Welsh are the only faction I haven't played in VI. Archers just aren't my thing.

Archers are always fun - particularly with the Welsh which have a specific ability to it.

Problem is, as macsen said, you've got neighbours with Huscarls. And Welsh infantry aren't particularly tough so you've got a good chance only if you turtle, defend and make maximum use of archers otherwise the Huscarls will fly away with your infantry. Use plenty of archers, defend them well, and you will see results.

[macsen rufus]

Plus, with the Welsh, if you can a) get an alliance with the Vikings, and b) get boats out before the Irish, you stand a good chance grabbing Ireland - once you have a foothold, the Irish tend to melt with plenty of archers against them. And then you've got two more iron provinces and a good defensive situation.

I like arrows. And my enemies learn to loathe them