Use your Ally!
The situation playing as English in RTJ pre 1100: France, my “ally” by marriage calmly walks across my lands in a bid to take Antwerp ( I just have taken Bruges to forestall that occurrence!). I am not in any shape to make it a race, as my troops are tired and my investments in trade and land haven’t started contributing enough to scoop up enough mercenaries to take on the tough Flemish pikemen. What to do? If I take on the French, I may win but face the consequences of poor reputation plus I have stripped my continental forces to take Bruges already and Caen and Rennes are very thinly garrisoned. I won’t be able to move enough troops to get to Antwerp fast enough to snatch the prize. Hmmm….
Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! The French aren’t sure victors as the have primarily lower grade milita, some spearmen, one or two archer units. I move 1 archer, 2 crossbows, one merc spears and one spear unit up, attack, set to build one ram. End of turn. France attacks. I set up as close to their flank as possible. Move the Ram to the gate nearest the French flank which draws the Flem’s out of the square and to the gate. When the French break in, I drop the ram and move everyone to the broken gate at the rear of the French. ( This has the “disadvantage” of bringing the pikes into the flanks of the French)
Then I watch, taking no part in the ensuing melee until the French break the initial charge at the gate. I then move into the city setting up on both sides of the gate, start the arches firing fire shots into the front lines (oops! Was that your man, Monsieur? Sorry!) Again, wait and watch. The French leader goes down! (oh no! ;^)) The battle moves to the square. The French bolt is shot. The rebel leader falls but it is too little too late! My French companions flee the field! (oh no!) dragging the remnants of the rebel up to the gates where I feel obligated to start a deluge of crossbolts into their flanks to assist there unfettered retreat. As a matter of fact, I just keep pumping bolts until the rebels are spent and only a very few lonely rebels are left in the square. At this point, I feel soooo bad about the fall of the French I exit the battle (primarily, because if I complete it, the town is awarded to those remaining brave Gallic warrior who, now having suffer 900+ causulties to my measly 70). To save the French pride I retreat as well. Too sad!
Next turn, the exhausted French are still camped on my property, but Antwerp is now garrisoned with one depleted archer unit, one new Pikemen, and another new spear unit. I can’t let my “defeat” go unrevenged! I move the same stack in, this time with a general (Bruges has settled down now). Uneventful victory….I am so ashamed of myself, I probably ought to gift the town to my ally…..not!
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Danes landed on my shore with a full stack of army and besieged me. I was allied as well to the Pope so I just hold the castle waiting for the Pope to Excomunicate Danes, plan my attack, send diplomats to their capital ready for a ceasefire call once I've murdered their armies in Caen and ask for some money for any damages they could have done. For a couple of turns, bloody Pope didn't take any action and french armies is still there just watching the Danes, I hate to see my people dying and starving so I faced the Danes, surprisingly that french sitting on the starbucks coffee shop outside Caen join the battle and get me excited thinking how they will support me in the battle. So I position my army ready for battle and started it. Got the reinforcement message saying that french army will be delayed so be prepared WTF!!! 
Originally Posted by Lord Sherwin
Go Vikings!!!! 
