Poland: Late Era Stainless Steel Guidebook
This is a work in progress, more in-depth information will be provided in later posts.
-Silhouette
The Nation
Late Era & 1450 Campaign
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Poland has seen much of it's territory gained by King Casimir of the Piast dynasty lost by the 14th century. Poland has endured centuries of strife with it's powerful neighbours of the German Electorates of the Holy Roman Empire to the west, the Pagan refuge of Lithuania in the lush forests to the east. Heaped upon this, is the continuing amount of foreign influence being forced upon the fledgling monarchy. For a time, Poland was even ruled by the Angevins. The Piast dynasty has died out with the death of King Casimir, and the nations future is in question. The specter of becoming just another province in the Holy Roman Empire has once again reared its head, and the treacherous Teutonic Knights and Lithuanians continually conspire against their western neighbour. Poland does have it's strengths though. Their knights have honour without parallel in Eastern Europe, their swords sharp and their bows strong. If they can secure an alliance with their Catholic neighbours and overcome Lithuania, they can become a Christian bulwark against the steppe peoples. Otherwise, they can unify with Lithuania via diplomacy or force, and overcome the Teutonic order. Their options for expansion are as many as their vulnerabilities of attack.
The Polish Army
Polands strength lies in it's nobility. Their knights are well armoured, devastating in a charge, and keep their composure in melee. They also have access to a great many Baltic mercenaries, which range from German knights, to Lithuanian skirmishers and even formidable steppe warriors.
Polish Knights
Mounted Polish Knights can devastate even the most professional infantry lines, except of course for Pikemen.
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Polish Foot Knights
Dismounted Polish Knights can either be used as reservists, once your peasant or militia troops have absorbed the enemy charge, as shock troops used to flank enemy lines, or to bring down troublesome heavy cavalry that have already begun an engagement.
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Strzelcy
Strzelcy (Polish for "Shooter") are my personal favorite Polish unit in their functionality. These mounted crossbowmen are excellent for scouting (given that you don't "cheat" by turning off restricted camera,) are excellent at preventing enemy cavalry from charging your infantry flanks, have "enough" armor to withstand enemy archers, and can still participate in a melee decently. Most importantly, they are cheap effective light cavalry used to pursue fleeing forces.
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Polish Retainers
Polish Retainers are an excellent "Early" unit, in their ability to operate as a functional Polish screening force, that are easily the equals of some of the Lithuanian light cavalry forces.
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Lithuanian and Baltic Levies
Lithuanian Archers are cheap effective garrison units, when coupled with Pavise Spearmen or Halberdiers.
Their shields provide them with enough defence to defend against lower tier archers, but don't count on them to withstand enemy cavalry or crossbowmen. They are also extremely cheap, so you can use these to defend your cities while your professional troops are where they belong; the battlefield.
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Mobile Army Composition
Poland lacks an effective militia force, so generally you will have units from your castles, which will form your mainstay army, and then your lower tier militia and peasantry units to defend your homeland. I suggest capitalizing on your skirmisher cavalry, foot knights and light cavalry in your conquering armies, and your reliable halberd and spear militias, coupled with famed Polish crossbowmen to defend your cities. An ideal (and realistic) late period Polish army, in my opinion would consist of the following:
- General's Bodyguard (1)
- Strzelcy (2)
- Polish Knights (2)
- Polish Retainers or Piast Nobles (1-2)
- Polish Foot Knights (1-3)
- Halberd Men at Arms (2)
- Light Men at Arms (2)
- Pavise Spear Militia (2)
- Lithuanian Archers (3)
- Crossbow Militias or Livonian Auxilia (3)
Poles In Action
Stzelcy scouting a German force. (In this battle, two units of Strzelcy tire out and eliminate the entire Imperial Cavalry detachment.)
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Polish Husarze preparing to flank the already engaged Imperial Knights and Men at Arms.
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Sometimes its the most simple checkerboard pattern formation that does the trick against massed infantry.
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Husarze capture the German general by outmaneuvering these heavily armoured knights. *Wheeze*
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Stzelcy once again preparing to shine, as the enemy breaks formation and flees!
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Agents
Since Poland is almost entirely surrounded by fellow Catholic nations, it is paramount to maintain Papal favor if you are playing on Hard or Very Hard difficulties. Lithuania is an ideal crusade location, especially the bulwark of Vilnius, which can provide you with a perfect position to strike right into the heart of Prussia, Pomerania, or even Novgorod, should you choose to awake this sleeping giant.
Active diplomacy is often disposed by players as mundane and troublesome, but a tribute here and there might save you from the wrath of the Holy Roman Empire, or keep Seljuk or Ottoman expansion from crossing the Carpathian basin.
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Originally Posted by Point Blank
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