Faction Guide: Denmark
Denmark
Stainless Steel 6.2 RR/RC Compilation
Early Era
Long Campaign
Overview
Denmark is a relatively new kingdom in the world of Christendom, emerging from centuries of paganism under Viking rule. Exactly one hundred years ago, Harold Bluetooth, the Viking King of the Danes, embraced Christianity, not just personally, but also on behalf of his people. Though the Vikings' fierce conviction in battle was a true asset, forsaking these pagan ways and embracing Catholicism is what has actually elevated Denmark into a true northern power. With the Reich and other Catholic Kingdoms offering support against stubborn Viking pagans, the Kings of Denmark now enjoy an absolute authority that has never been seen in the region before. The Danes have no illusions that maintaining such authority abroad is an easy feat, having lost control of England within the last half century. In fact, forging agreements of co-operative leadership with the Norwegian royal court almost saw an end to Danish rule over the Kingdom of Denmark itself. So it would seem that both diplomatic and militaristic expansion are something the Danish Kings are yet to master. Arguably the most expedient move that the present King Knut II could now make would be to try to take the Scandinavian lands to the north rather than continue to negotiate with them. No mortal army could possibly dream of approaching Norway or Sweden's northern reaches, making the region an ideal set of easily defendable homelands. Crossing the Baltic Sea is also an obvious option that offers the Danes several access points into Eastern Europe without having to deal with the Imperial forces in Saxony. It is more than a little ironic that the Catholic powers of Europe that have secured Denmark's future are now the main obstacles to seeing that future improve.
Victory Conditions
Eliminate Factions: Norway & the Holy Roman Empire
Conquer Settlements: Århus, Lund, Turku, Roskilde, Reval, Hamburg, Uppsala, Dublin, Visby, Antwerp, Stetting, Trondheim, Kalmar.
Total number of settlements: 70
Faction Strengths
Denmark is located strategically perfect, right at the entrance to the Baltic sea, providing excellent trading opportunities. They are a strong infantry based faction, with many of their units choosing to wield axes instead of swords, providing plenty of options for armour piercing units. Viking Raiders, Dismounted Huskarls, Norse Landsmenn, and Huskarl Axemen will provide a strong force early on, only to be further bolstered with Dismounted Men-at-Arms, Dismounted Armoured Clergy and a variety of pole arms, such as Halberd Men-at-Arms, and the Danish unique unit Obudshaer later on.
Faction Weaknesses
While few can match Denmark's strength in infantry, it's an entire different story when one looks at archery. While Denmark has access to both archers and crossbows, the Norse Archers are average at best, and the crossbows are regular crossbowmen. Later on there's access to Arbalest Militias though. As for Cavalry, they have access to the generic Feudal and Chivalric Knights, as well as Scouts light cavalry, Huskarls and later on Armoured Clergy. The Huskarls and Armoured Clergy are good Melee Cavalry, both with armour piercing weapons, but lack a lance for effective charges.
Units.
Navy
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Ranged Units
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Infantry
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Gunpowder Infantry
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Cavalry
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Ranged Cavalry
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Artillery
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Strategy
Starting Strategy
Denmark starts with 3 settlements, Århus, Roskilde and Lund. All of them are towns, meaning getting hold of a castle will be top priority. There'll be several options; Hamburg to the south, owned by the HRE, and the rebel owned Kalmar(Wooden Castle), Skara (Mottle and Bailey) and Oslo(Wooden Castle). Denmark's first long term goal should be to unite Scandinavia. This will be a race against Norway. Therefore, Oslo would be a good target for Denmark's first conquest. Not only will it gain access to castle troops, it will also cut off Norway from the rest of Scandinavia. With Oslo secured, Denmark will have plenty of time to assimilate the rebel settlements in Sweden. Norway will usually either focus on the British isles, or the rebel settlements in the Netherlands. Eventually they'll probably attempt to assault Oslo though. This isn't so bad, as Denmark need to eliminate Norway in order to meet its Victory Conditions. With some patience, and some strategically smart provocations it should be possible to bait Norway into getting excommunicated. Once that happen, be ready to jump and conquer their two settlements, Bergen and Eikundarssund. Keep their king save, until you've got the settlements you want, as they most likely will be recommunicated if he dies. This way, Denmark will control all of Scandinavia, and still have a good reputation. Since there's so many castles in Scandinavia (Bergen, Oslo, Kalmar, Skara and Uppsala, and you'll pretty much be safe from invasions, it'd probably be wise to convert most of them to towns, in order to maximize your income. Keep your 1-2 most advanced castles.
Try to establish as many alliances as possible early on, in order to make sure your reputation always will be good. Just don't ally with anyone you'll want to conquer later on.
Expansion options
Once all of Scandinavia is under Danish rule, it's time to take a look at the rest of Europe. There's 3 main target areas. A: The British Isles. B: The Baltic. C: Central Europe.
The British Isles
Pros: Dublin is part of Denmark's Victory Conditions, and will need to be conquered eventually. Usually, Scotland and England are busy with each other, leaving Ireland still rebel, and free to take. The British Isles, are like Scandinavia very easily defended. If you manage to take castles in England, you'll get the ability to train Longbowmen, and by that negate your greatest weakness - archers. For that alone, it's a very desirable target!
Cons: Both England and Scotland are catholic like Denmark, and the Pope will easily be angered, unless he already have excommunicated your victim.
The Baltic
Pros: Reval is part of Denmark's Victory Conditions, and will need to be conquered eventually. Lithuania is Pagan, and Novgorod + Kiev are Orthodox Christians, meaning your can wage war against them as much as you like, without having to fear the Pope acting up. In fact, you can even call a Crusade against Vilnius and Reval! If taken, you'll also controll most of the Baltic Sea, giving you tons of money, without having to think about invading navies blocking your ports.
Cons: All enemies you'll face here will have access to horse archers, and with your infantry-centric armies and poor archers, this could prove troublesome. Eventually the Teutonic Order will appear at the Baltic, and if you control the settlements they want, war with them is inevitable.
Central Europe
Pros: The HRE often finds itself on the Popes bad side, getting excommunicated, and threatened from all sides. This could provide a scenario where you're free to attack without any bad feelings from the rest of the world, and lightly defended settlements, you can grab quickly.
Cons: If the Pope on the other hand still likes the HRE, and they haven't got too many wars on their hands, they can be a formidable foe, capable of outproducing you easily.
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Originally Posted by Kawee
