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Thread: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

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    Default BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    For ease of access, this topic is for a list of the factions and their topics. Click on the factions links to see more details about the factions units roster.


    Playable

    MUSLIM

    The Ayyubid Sultanate
    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: A newly formed dynasty in Egypt headed by Saladin, rising from the wake of the conquest of the Fatimids by Nur Al Din's lieutenants. With both Egypt and much of Syria under their control, the Ayyubids stand as the chief enemy of the Crusaders, and a major player in the Muslim world abroad.
    Tips:
    1) Though the Ayyubids possess better infantry than some of their Muslim brethren, the lack of sufficiently heavy or experienced spearmen is a critical weakness in the face of Crusader knights.
    2) While Makuria is less of a threat than Jerusalem, it would be wise to secure the south of Egypt (or Africa itself) before moving onto the holy lands.
    3) Yemen and the Hijaz remain as valuable a territory as they were under the Fatimids, and it would be smart to send a strike force to quickly seize the whole of Western Arabia before the Crusaders or Omani arrive.
    4) The Ayyubids are inheritors to military traditions from the Turks, Arabs, Greeks and even the Crusaders, affording them a flexibility in warfare that allows for a wide range of tactics and strategies.


    The Abbasid Caliphate
    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: If there was another power to seem Eternal in the Middle East besides the Romans, it surely would be the Caliphate. Since seizing it from the Umayyads in the 8th century the Abbasids have seen better days, yet managed to endure through the domination of foreign powers. Just as the Islamic world has grown beyond the Arabs to incorporate Persian, Turk, and other, so too does the Caliph's armies reflect beyond an Arabic heritage.
    Tips:
    1) The Abbasids reflect upon a pre-turkish tradition of military tactics, largely based on infantry and archery with cavalry waiting to take advantage of the unfolding battle. Yet given the struggle the Caliphate has had for Autonomy from the pressures of Greater Empires (Buyid, Ghaznavid, and recently Seljuk), their military is not as polished as might their neighbors be. The caliphate's armies are not swift nor speedy, so a slow and steady expansion is best.
    2) Though possessing of excellent upper class soldiers, the Abbasids have much to be desired in their early soldiers, relying upon spirited but untrained bedouins and Tribal Arabs as well as cheap Nubian Soldiers. If they can sustain themselves to the higher levels then they are in the clear.
    3) Baghdad's abundant pool of mercenaries should be well exploited to make up for the weaknesses of the Caliph's native forces.
    4) Anti-Armor infantry are the mainstay of the later Abbasid infantry, with the Abna Infantry wielding mace and javelin being particularly deadly.
    6) With the Arabian Desert to their West, the Abbasids have a buffer placed between them and the powers of the levant. Yet coming into a confrontation with them is necessary as the conquest of Northern Iraq is a priority for the Abbasids. In order of conquest, Smarra, Kirkuk, Anbar, Hillah, and finally Mosul should be taken.
    7) Yet there's little time to catch their breath, as soon afterwards Southern Persia's provinces of Ahvaz, Shiraz, and firuzabad should be taken.


    The Great Seljuks
    Difficulty: Very Hard
    Summary: Though nearly all of the Western Turks draw an origin from the Oghuz, perhaps above all are the Great Seljuks the true successor to those original Turks that forever changed the face of the Near east. Upon the efforts of Seljuk Beg in the early 11th century was the empire founded, uniting the fractured Eastern Islamic world and providing themselves as the key defenders of Islam in the first and second Crusade. Their rule was modeled after tribal organization, a sort of "family federation" that started off strong but grew fractured as time went on. Thus, a once Great Empire dwindled into divided Atabegs and Emirates. Broken Crescent has chosen to provide a somewhat ahistorical version of the Great Seljuks, representing them as a dwindled version of the United Seljuks of the past.
    Tips:
    1) With access to Turks skilled in close-range horse archery, the Seljuks may be one of few Factions able to completely win with horse-archery alone. And with their weaknesses in infantry and foot archery, they will have to rely on their horse-archery to succeed.
    2) Despite the native abundance of horse archers, the Seljuks have a wide selection of high-quality Ghulam lancers. Too valuable to throw about, they are best used to lead the charge with the enemy weakened by archery.
    3) While most of the Seljuk infantry are poor, their Azeri troops (Located in Western and North-Western Iran) are equal or superior to many of their enemies best infantry.
    4) In general, the Seljuk military is a balance of abundant cheap tribal soldiers and a small core of professional, high-quality soldiers. Strategy is to use the best of both to compensate for the weaknesses of either.
    5) The Great Seljuks must deal with a wide range of fronts and enemies, but Azerbaijan is of utmost priority, seizing Tabriz Ganja and Shamakha providing a secure rule of the region.
    6) Take initiative in the Khorasan and daylam region, and attempt to take the fortress of Astarabad in the North-East.
    7) Above all, be prepared to fight Khwarezm, the Abbasids, and Georgia at once.


    The Turkish Sultanate
    Difficulty: Very Hard
    Summary: With the East Roman's defeat at Manzikert, the gateway to Anatolia was left wide open for Turkish dominion to be established. Though many Turkoman tribes migrated into the region, it would be the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum established by Suleyman I bin Kutalmis that would reign as the champion of the Turks in Anatolia. Having solidified their rule in Central Anatolia, the Turkish Sultanate of Rum may look to any horizon and see potential conquest - of Cilicia Armenia to the South-East, their old foe of Constantinople in the West, the newly freed from Seljuk dominion Georgians up North, or even East to the divided Turkish world.
    Tips:
    1) With no spears and a lack of armor, defensive tactics are ill-suited to the Turkish Sultanate. Their strength lies in both speed and aggressive offense.
    2) Like all Turkish Dynasties, the use of light horse archers is a staple of any strategy. Unlike the Seljuks however, the Turks of Anatolia cannot rely wholly on their bow-armed horsemen and instead must balance their use with lancers and javelin-based horsemen.
    3) "The best defense is a good offense" holds true of the Turk's infantry, largely equipped with axes and javelins. They might lack armor, but they will see to it that so does their enemy! Ghazi in particular will be a backbone of your infantry.
    4) Your infantry are suited to besiege, not to be the ones being sieged. Keep mobile light forces instead of heavy garrisons.
    5) Though tempting, a direct confrontation with the ERE will be like water crashing upon the rocks. Instead, the Turks should defeat Armenia and go East into Northern Syria, focusing on seizing Amasia and Sinop quickly.


    The Khwarezm Shah
    Difficulty: Medium Early / Very hard Late
    Summary: Situated at Transoxania, the crossroads of Asia and the very limits of the Islamic world, the Khwarezmian's arrival is linked with that of the Seljuks. Like many dynasties their patriarch, Anushtigin Garchai, was a Ghulam. He served the Seljuks as a general entrusted to retake Northern Greater Khorasan from the Ghaznavids, and upon his success was entrusted to the role of Governor to the region, beginning his dynasty's rule of Khwarezm. Though Persian culture embedded itself in every facet of Khwarezm's society, there was ever a strong presence of Pagan Cumans in their military and even the royal blood.
    Tips:
    1) Analogies to the Sassanids of old can be made with the Khwarezm Shah, of whom sought to emulate the ancient Persian dynasty. Much like the Sassanids the Khwarezm Shah rely upon their heavy cavalry and cataphracts to succeed, the wealth of Transoxania affording them the ability to field such horsemen in larger numbers than their neighbors. The proximity to the steppe too allows for plentiful access to cheap, light Turkish tribesmen.
    2) While Khwarezm's archers are lightly armored, the traditions of massed foot-archery amongst the Iranians gives them access to large and cheap levies of archers. A useful tool indeed against more nimble horse archers.
    3) In Transoxania itself Khwarezm's infantry are unremarkable, but upon gaining access to Northern Iran they can produce excellent Daylami Warriors. Given their limited access, such soldiers are best used for siegework, being put at risk to be used in field-battles where lesser infantry might fulfill the same role.
    4) Any challenges, at least early on, to come to Transoxania will be from the south. First and foremost is to take the 3 cities of Western Khorasan soon. Nishapur, Mashad and Tus are your gateways to Persia proper.
    5) Balkh is a rich town to the south-east, yet lays in the eyes of the Ghaznavids as well. it would be wise to seize it before they do.
    6) Jalaluddin's starting stack should be designated as a truly Steppe-inspired one, recruiting more Horse archers to join their ranks to form a massive and mobile Horse Archer Army.
    7) Muhammad's army should be designated for siege-work, with much persian infantry and lancers.
    8) The Mongol's arrival into Transoxania is the greatest threat Khwarezm is to face. Though your holdings in Khwarezm may be lost, they are crucial towards the goal of securing Afghanistan and Persia. These will be the base by which you work your counter-offensive


    The Sultanate of Ghazni
    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: Like many Empires of the Islamic world, the Ghaznavids have their origin in the esteemed ranks of Slave-Warriors, their fore-bearers being Mamluks to the Persian Samanids. Though holding to a Turkic origin, the Ghaznavids would become thoroughly Persianized, starting the practice of Turkish rulers encouraging a flowering of Persian culture and arts. Unlike the later Seljuks however, the Ghaznavids would draw such influence from their Iranian subjects that their armies far more resembled the Samanids than their Turkish ancestry. Broken Crescent has chosen to reflect a slightly ahistorical Ghaznavids, still located in their ancestral capital of Ghazni instead of at Lahore as refugees of Ghorid Conquest.
    Tips:
    1) The Ghaznavids are one of few Muslim Powers able to field armies that would appear "European" in their focus of heavy infantry and abundance of armor. Yet their spearmen are not their main strength, rather, it is the combined arms approach that affords Ghazni the greatest power. They may be a jack of all trades, but if not masters they are certainly disciples in all.
    2) The armies of Ghazni were born to fight defensively. A solid line of spearmen with massed archers behind them and armored horse archers dashing out will be a staple tactic of any Ghaznavid general. Yet any cunning commander might easily take the strong individual assets of the Ghaznavids and string together a brand new tactic.
    3) Ghazni's biggest military weakness is the lack of shock-cavalry, the bulk of their cavalry being armored horse-archers. The role of Ghazni cavalry is not to charge in and break the enemy, but weaken them for the infantry to have an easier time.
    4) It's better to let the Ghorids expell their strength on the conquest of Northern India as you secure East Khorasan (Afghanistan), before either turning on the Ghorids in the Khyber pass or invading into India through Sindh in the South.


    The Ghorid Emirate
    Difficulty: Hard
    Summary: An East-Iranian Tajik Dynasty of the Khorasan region, if the Ghaznavids put the foot of Islam in the door of India, the Ghorids stepped through it in full. After swallowing up the Ghaznavid's domains of Khorasan and the Punjab they swept across Northern India, conquering Delhi and giving rise to the Sultanate of Delhi. With their conquests would Northern India permanently fall under the sway of Islam. Broken Crescent has chosen to reflect the Ghorids as a Jihad State, which while factoring into their conquests was not the absolute historical nature of the Ghorids.
    Tips:
    1) Although Infantry are the primary strength of the Ghorids, the lack of spearmen demands an ever-offensive strategy. Which is not too difficult, given the wide range of aggressive infantry available to the Ghorids.
    2) On foot Axes, Javelins, and swords make up the mainstay of the Ghorid's arsenal. Along with a typical lightness of armor, subtly is not the way of their infantry. The attack should come quick, hard, and fast.
    3) Sitting upon the cusp of the Islamic world has afforded the Ghorids a wide pool of fanatical Ghazi to call upon for holy war. It will be these unbreakable warriors that form much of your army.
    4) Though not entirely strong in cavalry, they are not without their merits. Light javelin-armed horsemen can harass the slower Indian armies, while heavily armored Ghorid nobles can skirmish and fight brutally in melee. So ominous are their Jihad Ghulams that many lesser infantry are prone to rout at the sight of them!
    5) India, India, India. Conquering Eastern Khorasan and fighting the Ghaznavids is pointless and dangerous when the wealth of Northern India is ripe for the picking, and it is crucial for the Ghorids to sweep across to Delhi before Sindh or the Rajputs can manage to.


    The Imamate of Oman
    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: A land divided, Oman like much of Arabia was fragmented into various tribes and city-states. Often has the region fallen under the sway of foreign powers, the last of which was the Great Seljuks. Yet it would be a union of Nabhanid Emirs and Ibadhi Imams which would manage to oust the invaders and begin to unite fractured Oman into a power to be respected.
    Tips:
    1) Oman's military is one entirely untouched by the changes brought on by the Turk's arrival. Rooted in the earlier Arabian martial practices, importance is placed upon light lancers and swordsmen who form the mainstay of their forces.
    2) Flexibility is a virtue of the Omani's, with infantry as capable on the defensive line as taking to the offense.
    3) Lacking in armor-piercing weapons as well as armor, Oman's horsemen must fight as is the traditional practice of Arabian horsemen - A quick charge and a rapid retreat to repeat the motions.
    4) With their armored troops being of medium-quality, simply standing and slugging it out with heavy infantry is not a real option for the Omani.
    5) With the security of the ocean and Arabian desert putting much space between Oman and the greater powers around them, Oman can advance nearly anywhere it desires. Rather than charging into Eastern Iran or India one would be wiser to seize the whole of the North and South Eastern Arabian coast, which not only grants a solid base from which to operate from, but opens up the Hijaz and Africa to future conquests...


    The Malikate of Sindh

    Difficulty: Very Hard
    Summary: Northern India has always been the proving grounds of powers invading the subcontinent, and the spilling and settling of such diverse bloodlines has given rise to a rich and vivid culture and people. The ruling dynasty of Sindh, the Soomro, are a result of synergy between the Islamic Arab Invaders and slowly converting Hindu Rajput subjects. As always, they are straddled beside rising Empires, yet with the wealth of Sindh below their feet there is a chance they might well be a rising empire. Tips:
    1) Sindh's military inherits primarily from the Arabs and Indians but also draws from the Turks. One problem is that what is drawn is not really the greatest strength, so that Sindh while not worthless has no over-arching strength to preside over their neighbors. "A jack of all Trades, master of none" might serve to describe Sindh.
    2) Like the Rajputs, the Sindhi have a large population to draw from, and possess very large numbers of men in many of their units to help overwhelm the smaller but superior armies of their neighbors.
    3) Having only light spearmen, the Sindhi can mange to fight defensively a little better than the Ghorids, but lacking in armor should only be used to hold the enemy long enough for their macemen and axemen to strike on the flanks. A slug-fest with better armored troops is not an option, and the need to skirmish or flank with more mobile troops is critical.
    4) Sindh's light cavalry serves a valuable role, able to chase down Ghorid's skirmishers or harass the Rajput's Infantry.
    5) Overall, Sindh's military is half in the Muslim world and half in the Hindu, with success requiring the balance of either's tactics and strategies.
    6) With the expansion of the Rajputs and the Ghorids, Sindh runs the risk of being wedged between two superpowers. Whether they advance north to face the Ghorids in the Punjab, or cross the Rajasthani desert to raid into the Rajput States, or simply wait in Sindh until the right moment, depends on what the circumstances are.

    CHRISTIAN

    The Eastern Roman Empire
    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: Of the Middle East, there is no power that has stood the test of time longer than that of the Eastern Roman Empire, a continuation of the mighty Romans, though such mightiness has truly seen better days. The heartlands and great source of its power, Eastern Anatolia, has fallen to the Turkish invaders and after disaster and despair at last a capable dynasty has risen. Theirs is a legacy inherited long ago, and built upon by countless peoples of the ages, a people deeply conservative yet a military ever willing to adopt new ways. Broken Crescent has chosen to depict the Eastern Roman Empire's military with an earlier bend, reflective of their Pre-1204 AD armies particularly of the 1000-1190 AD Era.
    Tips:
    1) The Eastern Roman Empire stands upon centuries of military development and influence from countless sources. Avars, Bulgars, Huns, Goths, Persians, Arabs, Turks, and Franks have all come to influence the Eastern Roman's, ever willing to adopt to meet the needs of the times. Broken Crescent has chosen to reflect the Eastern Roman Empire militarily as it was in years past, depicting an army of heavy infantry and cavalry who rely on foreign auxiliaries and mercenaries for foot and mounted archery.
    2) The Eastern Roman Empire's military is highly polarized, with elite upper class soldiers, inexperienced lower class levies and militia, and a very small semi-professional class. In this way they are more like the Muslim Factions than Armenia, Georgia, or Jerusalem, which receive their "General Issue" soldiers very early. The result is that the Romans must have their entire army fight together - with all quality of troops supporting one another they become a hard nut to crack, yet separate and their lesser soldiers can be overwhelmed.
    3) If a term might define the Eastern Roman Empire's infantry, it would be "Defensive". Though they possess one of the best shock infantry, and a well-armored swordsmen, the Eastern Roman Infantry are not the sort to take to the offensive like Armenia's. With Pikemen, spearmen, and medium swordsmen fulfilling the mainstay of your infantry their role should be to catch the enemy for the cavalry to fall down upon.
    4) Foot archery is a marked weakness of the Romans, whose only virtue is that their levied archers are of massed numbers. Even so, foreign troops best serve the role, and the ranged strength of the ERE is in their javelins. Much like the Greeks and Romans of old, such skirmishers should advance to prepare the enemy line for the arrival of the Roman's battle-line.
    5) Though mounted archery is absent in the Roman cavalry, shock is there and in force, equals only to the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the amount of lance-armed cavalry they can field. Though like the infantry, their early cavalry are not high quality, and should be used in support of infantry or in the support of the much more elite Cataphracts and Heavy Lancers.
    6) The direction the Eastern Romans are to go in is quite simple: East. East to reclaim once lost Eastern Anatolia, east to defeat the Turks once and for all. It is how they do so that is less simple. First, given the wealth of Constantinople, it's advisable to send a small force to seize the whole of Cyprus as well as Rhodes. The Crimea is an option, but it runs the risk of incurring the wrath of the Kypchaks.
    7) With those lingering provinces taken, the reconquest of Anatolia can begin proper. Rather than a direct strike to the Rum Turks, moving along the Black Sea coast to conquer to and reinforce Trebizond will afford a foothold in the Caucasus and a way to strike down upon the Turk's flank.
    8) Once Anatolia is taken over, it would be advisable to go north into the Caucasus or south into Antioch, but with such a strong foundation there is no limit to where the Eastern Roman Empire could expand.


    The Kingdom of Jerusalem
    Difficulty: Very Hard
    Summary: As though a migration of the Germanic tribes of old, invading Europeans from afar had come to settle in a foreign land. Yet this was not a migration of old but an invasion of new, the conquests of the holy lands from Muslim hands by Latin Christendom. The remarkable success of the 1st Crusade has been unchallenged by the subsequent attempts, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem has come to be forced into the defensive against the rising tide of the Ayyubids.
    Tips:
    1) The Kingdom of Jerusalem remains largely untouched by foreign influence, save for its Turkopoles of an East Roman origin. Their armies are largely like those fielded back at home, with crossbows, spears, and knights forming the mainstay of the army.
    2) Exploit your access to Templars and Hospitaller Knights, they are critical to utilize as the KoJ will always feel too strained militarily.
    3) Knights, Crossbowmen, and Spearmen are your bread and butter troops. Heavy swordsmen are not your strength and relying on them for anything but siegework is not advisable.
    4) Jerusalem's campaign is a defensive one, and has been ever since the First Crusade. The following Crusades sought to emulate its success yet failed, and any rush towards the offense will likely result in the same. They forgot what you will have to take to heart - "It's the Economy, Stupid"
    5) There are one of two options for Jerusalem's first step. The first being to disband the core army and send small squads of knights to seize baalbek, and a small army to capture famagusta over on Cyprus. Afterwards to slowly build up cash for the eventual capture of Antioch.
    6)The second is to gather up all your starting forces and head to antioch right away, and then build up your economic base form there on.
    7) In order to make any inroads against the much larger Ayyubids or Eastern Romans, you'll need to fight the defensive fight and build up your economy.


    The Kingdom of Armenia
    Difficulty: Very Hard
    Summary: It would not be with a bang that the Kingdom of Cilicia Armenia would be established, a sudden and violent invasion like that of Jerusalem's or the Sultanate of Rum, but with a steady migration having started around 965 AD as the Romans expelled the Muslims of Cilicia and encouraged Armenians and Syrians to settle there. With the fall of Greater Armenia to first the Romans and then the Seljuks many Armenians would migrate south, and soon would Cilicia be thrown from the yoke of the Romans to be ruled independently by Armenians. They are a small kingdom wedged between larger and ambitious ones, just as their ancestors were ages ago.
    Tips:
    1) The Kingdom of Cilicia Armenia is one which has drawn from myriad of military traditions, stemming back to their ancient own to Turkish, Roman, and Frankish influence. The wide range of martial warfare has given them plenty of options for tactics and strategies, though above all lies the strength of heavy infantry, light archers, and heavy cavalry.
    2) Amongst the Christians, only Georgia and Armenia have all the ability to field abundant amounts of non-spear armed infantry. Though Armenia's light and medium spearmen are good, it is their javelin, sword, or mace armed infantry which truly shine and should be used in large numbers.
    3) Armenian Archers, though lighter than other's, are high-quality, and are an essential part of any army.
    4) While early cavalry is of an Eastern-Bend, being light and light-medium horse archers, Armenia's later horsemen are far heavier. Latin Knights and Nakharar provide Shock-Cavalry, the latter of which adding armor-piercing maces to their talents, and Aspet Horsemen operate as heavy skirmishing horsemen with javelin and sword.
    5) Syria is the proving grounds for Armenia, the place in which the kingdom will be made into an Empire or broken into another's. Yet before this critical location can be seized, the Kingdom must secure the Cilicia passes by seizing the fort of Vahka to the North.
    6) Immediately afterwards, rally your forces east to take Antioch, and soon afterwards move into Northern Syria defeating the rebel turkish garrisons of Edessa, Diyarbakir, and Malatya. From there is the route north into the ancestral homelands of Armenia.
    7) Above all, take a sophisticated approach to alliances and do not make too many enemies.


    The Kingdom of Georgia
    Difficulty: Hard
    Summary: Despite the Transcaucasus often being the proving grounds of Great Empires, the Georgian Kingdom has largely managed to retain its autonomy until the arrival of the turkomans. Theirs was not a conquest but a colonization of the region, wreaking havoc upon the settled populations of Greater Armenia and Georgia. Only a few mountainous areas remained out of Seljuk control or turkoman havoc, and it would be from here that King David the Builder would mobilize his country into a great power of the Caucasus. Since ancient clash of Sassanian and Roman, if not before, has the Caucasus been a meeting point of cultures, and Georgia though fervently Orthodox Christian has adopted much of the warring ways of their Turkic and Persian Neighbors.
    Tips:
    1) The Kingdom of Georgia is one that sits at the crossroads of Christendom and Islam, and has come to draw from either as well as from the Northern Cumans. Of all the Christians, they are perhaps the closest to an "Oriental" style of warfare, with most of their cavalry being horse archers, yet their infantry being exceptionally armored.
    2) Along with Armenia, Georgia is one of few to recieve a high-quality swordsmen early on. It's an advantage to push home in the plentiful sieges of the Transcaucasus region, though the abundance of horsemen in the Seljuk's ranks demands more spear and bow armed infantry.
    3) Georgia is the sole Christian power to possess heavy-horse archers, and though you will be able to (And should) access heavy lancers later on, horse-archers will make up the bulk of your cavalry.
    4) Georgia's is a Transcaucasus campaign, with securing control of the region of utmost priority to the budding Kingdom. First, go straight for yerevan and secure Armenia and then Azeribaijan to the east.
    5) Create a solid Transcaucasus state, but do not go engage in war with both the ERE and the Seljuks at the same time. Though both are far greater in power, the Georgians are well able to adopt their armies to face either, but will be too taxed to take on both large empires at the same time.
    6) Once you've established a secure hold over the Caucasus, you'll need to focus either on Armenia and thus Anatolia or Azerbaijan and thus North-Western Iran.


    The Kingdom of Makuria
    Difficulty: Hard
    Summary: The Kingdom of Makuria is the result of two centuries old Nubian Kingdoms uniting some time ago. It was they who were one of the first to stand successfully against the armies of the Caliphate, and it would be there that like Tours and Constantinople the armies of Islam were stopped time and time again. Yet Makuria now faces an Egypt with all the vitality of the Fatimids in their youth, yet unlike the fatimids, this is no dynasty with a kind eye to Christians in their south when there are Christians to their north.
    Tips:
    1) The Makurians have a military history developed from Nubia, Abyssinia, the Beja Nomads, and the migrating Bedouin. While technologically inferior to the Muslims of the north it had stood time and time again in the past to success. Amongst its most prized tools is the longbow, though sword and javelin play a major part as well. All but the most elite troops are lightly armored, with any and all tactics requiring to compensate for such a disadvantage.
    2) A defensive battle is not a very smart one for the Makurians unless they are going to be ambushing their enemy. Only the Beja Swordsmen and Makurian Spearmen are sturdy enough to stand in a battle line, and are far too valuable for such a meat-grinder role. Instead, speed and aggression should be the methods the Makurians use.
    3) Massed Longbow fire will cut the advantage of Ayyubid Horse archery and horsemen, while the swift and brutal attack of their more savage infantry can take advantage of the Ayyubid's earlier and less enthusiastic infantry.
    4) Camels are the ace up the sleeve of Makuria, and using them in conjunction with javelin cavalry is critical to your success against the cavalry of the north.
    5) Although the Ayyubids present themselves as the chief enemy of Makuria, it would be foolish to try and simply defeat them early on. They have the Crusaders to worry about, and so long as you seize Aswan to form a bulwark on any Ayyubid expansion south, the distance from their military production to your lands will protect Makuria.
    6) Instead, expansion should be eastward, towards Axum and Masawwa, with Yemen as the goal in mind. Just as the Ayyubids should seek to secure their south before truly fighting northward, so should Makuria secure its rear before advancing to fight the Ayyubids.

    HINDU

    The Solanki Rajputs
    Difficulty: Easy-Medium
    Summary: There is a rich irony in that the stalwart defenders of India against the latest invaders were once like the very invaders they do battle with. The Rajput Clans originate with the mixing of Iranian Nomads like the Kushans and Saka with the Hepthalite Huns, and have become the strongest of all the Indian Kingdoms. Yet in their martial pride lies a feudalism which has dotted the landscape of Northern India in divided Kingdoms and Clans. Broken Crescent has chosen to depict not a specific Rajput Kingdom but rather the Rajput States, starting off as an individual one but coming to unite these divided warrior clans into a Rajput Confederacy. Tips:
    1) The Rajputs are still of a deeply conservative tradition of Indian Warfare at this time, only recently having adopted the use of heavy cavalry from their conflicts with Mahmud. As a result, cavalry is largely non-existent, and armies are primarily of infantry, archers, and elephants.
    2) With light and heavy swordsmen as well as 2 handed axemen, it's possible for the Rajputs to focus on offensive-infantry, yet with their abundant spearmen it is safer to stay true to the Indian tradition of massed longbowmen supporting the elephants.
    3) Much of the Rajput's lower level troops have below-average moral, having the inspiring presence of the Kshatriya a necessity to keep the other troops fighting.
    4) Elephants are your armies lifeblood. Without them your infantry are prey to the Muslim's Horsemen, yet without your infantry your elephants shall too be prey. Perhaps more than in cavalry the armies of the Rajputs contrast the Muslims in requiring them to fight together, rather than operate as independent units.
    5) India remains a land divided, and the rival rebel kingdoms are very large. Be swift but stable in consolidating power, securing the regions around you and making the seizure of Ajmer a priority [But do not sack or exterminate it]. Ajmer will serve as the foundation for any wars against the Ghorids or Sindhs, whether you choose to strike it out across the Rajasthani Desert or surge north towards Delhi.




    PAGAN

    The Kypchaks

    Difficulty: Medium
    Summary: Before the dawn of the Mongolian's domination of Asia, it would be the Turks which struck fear in settled people's hearts. While the Seljuk's momentum had come to slow, the vitality of the Kypchaks remained strong. The Khans of the Kypchak Confederacy must make themselves a Khagan, an emperor of the steppe, if they wish to be able to resist the Mongol's arrival and to cause as much fear in their sedentary neighbors as the Huns of old did. Though they had come to inherit the age-old traditions of the steppe, influence from neighboring Russ has been felt with the use of javelins by some low level tribesmen and a willingness for the Russian-influenced nobles to dismount. Tips:
    1) The Kypchaks have inherited the age-old traditions of the steppe, relying on swift horse archers to carry the fight and adding onto that the presence of light javelineers, and lancers of various quality. Though possessing some decent infantry, they are a luxury meant for when there are citadels and cities to defend and not to be a mainstay of the army.
    2) The Kypchaks differ from the Seljuks and Rum Turks in that lancers are a much more embedded part of their armies.
    3) Take advantage of cheap local mercenary Horse archers.
    4) With much ground to cover, it is best to split up your armies into small Horse Archer Squads. With these, attack Caffa and Agmesit early on and force them to sally forth as soon as possible.
    5) On the steppe you should force your enemy's garrison to sally forth. A siege there is pointless. But once you've seized the entire steppe then you can begin to produce Slavs and Dismounted Nobles for siegework.
    6) Once Caffa and Agmesit are taken, take Majar and then expand slowly.


    Emergent

    The Mongol Empire
    1. Location: Emergent in Khwarezm
    2. Armies:
    3. Strengths:
    4. Weaknesses:
    Last edited by Ahiga; April 02, 2008 at 04:40 AM.

  2. #2

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Bumping. Topic is now open and features the Tips & strategies posted in the readme. You can discuss your own suggestions and tips, or requests for them in this topic.

  3. #3
    Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Check it out guys. Its like a free guide.

  4. #4

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    You mean it's free? I already paid for it

    WOOOOT can't believe it's finally happened Thank you BC team, and sweet guide Ahiga.

  5. #5
    The King Of Peasants's Avatar Senator
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Extracting now. Anyways I'm going to use makuria and then probably do some multipayer in a few hours. I never saw these descriptions before as they were from may and before I got in twc have you changed anything since?
    "July 14, 2008: I think this is a case where Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are fundamentally sound. They're not in danger of going under. They're not the best investment these days from a long term standpoint going back. I think they are in good shape going forward. They're in the housing market. I do think their prospects going forward are very solid."
    -Barney Frank

  6. #6
    Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    The original post is from may.. but the guide is brand new written by Ahiga. Give you at the least a good idea of what to expect.

  7. #7

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Wow, what a thoughtful and historically accurate faction selection you guys have developed. I'm still downloading the mod (10%), but I'm really impressed at what your team has managed to accomplish.

  8. #8

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Not many easy factions, are there?
    The Dude Abides

    I just noticed I'm a drummer AND a fifer. Are you two people at once? Didn't think so.

  9. #9
    Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    BC is not for the faint of heart.

  10. #10

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    I should add these general tips:

    • Most spearmen have a lower attack than a comparable sword or ap-armed infantrymen. It's not a severe difference, but coupled with the penalty towards infantry that the 'spear' attribute entails you probably will not be able to use your spearmen as all-purpose infantry as much anymore.

      However, cavalry should prove deadly to any unprotected sword or ap-armed infantry alone, so it's a balancing act for how you want to develop your forces.
    • There are 'asymmetrical' numbers of men in the ranks of certain units. What that means is that not everyone's swordsmen are the same size (120 on huge), not everyone's archers are the same size, ect. This will help encourage you to use certain soldiers over others, though you are not forced to - it's merely more bang for your buck.

      More important is the fact that your enemies using such units will have 'more bang for their buck' too. If you try and outfight your enemy with a similiar quality unit of smaller size, then even if you win it's not cost effective. Examples of these asymmetrical units include:
      • Hindu, Makurian, ERE, Armenian, and Georgian Light archers have 10-30 more men than the average.
      • Some Omani, Armenian, Georgian, and Ghorid swordsmen have 10-40 more men.
      • Most Turkoman Lights of the Muslims & Kypchaks have 10-20 more men.
    Last edited by Ahiga; January 13, 2008 at 07:13 PM.

  11. #11
    Rodrico Stak's Avatar Miles
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Ajmer (from the Rajput advice) is the Fortress guarded by the 19 unit rebel stack, correct?

    (I really hope it isn't the city right by your starting castle - I sacked it for the money...)

    I'd check myself, but I can't load the game right now, due to it being almost 9:00 PM here.

  12. #12

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    So, what's wrong with 9 PM? If I had BC right now, I would be playing quite possibly to the wee hours, despite my big test tomorrow.
    The Dude Abides

    I just noticed I'm a drummer AND a fifer. Are you two people at once? Didn't think so.

  13. #13

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Quote Originally Posted by Rodrico Stak View Post
    Ajmer (from the Rajput advice) is the Fortress guarded by the 19 unit rebel stack, correct?

    (I really hope it isn't the city right by your starting castle - I sacked it for the money...)

    I'd check myself, but I can't load the game right now, due to it being almost 9:00 PM here.
    Well you don't have to go by the tactics. I'm not really going by Ghazni's (I'm going to invade through the Khyber after the Ghorid's attacked me, not try and conquer the rest of East Iran). And Ajmer is the castle to the north-west of Anhilvara, the city you likely sacked.

  14. #14
    Rodrico Stak's Avatar Miles
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Quote Originally Posted by kabeast View Post
    So, what's wrong with 9 PM? If I had BC right now, I would be playing quite possibly to the wee hours, despite my big test tomorrow.
    Perhaps, but I have to deal with my parents.

  15. #15
    ImKyleJames's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    ELEPHANTES!!!!

  16. #16
    The Sweeper's Avatar Miles
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Can anyone offer advice on how to use the Kypchaks horse archers effectively in battle? Since downloading and playing BC, I've been using the Kypchaks, and my tactics thus far comprise entirely of having the enemy sally out (all battles have been sieges so far) and me running my melee cavalry around the map whilst the horse archers circle shoot the enemy chasing the melee cavalry. The enemy always go straight for the melee cavalry....

    Is there a more effective way of dealing with sieges? I can't really use infantry right now, nearly my whole armed forces are cavalry. And for when I start encountering larger armies on the field, how best should I deploy my horse archers and what do units to you recommend to make up my army?

  17. #17

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    In BC horse archers are (in my experience) mellee cav wth bow instead of lance, use them to harass the enemy cav, or force them to attack to than win the cav mellee.

  18. #18

    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    You can whittle down enemy armies with the kipchaks too. When fighting the predominatly armored spear armies of the Georgians, I force them into battle, devastate them with HA, and retreat when the arrows are running low. Just choose to make a last stand when your ready.

  19. #19
    Zephrelial's Avatar Eternal Sorrow
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    I'm playing with Kypchaks on medium/medium difficulty and have reached the year 1208,sofar it's been a pretty comfortable campaign,there was decent space to extend and now with 15 provinces under my dominion,and having been allied with Georgia and Khwarezm,all I'm doing is sitting on my arse while waiting for the Mongols to emerge and crush me...

    Oh btw my reputation is deceitful.. I noticed that with the Kypchaks the most appropriate strategy is to take advantage of the early building up time before factions begin to jump on eachother;and gain terriotory as much as you can..

    Finally I do not fear the Mongols,let them come I say if they are the Mongols,we are the Kypchaks!
    Last edited by Zephrelial; January 14, 2008 at 12:41 PM.
    Shine on you crazy diamond...

  20. #20
    The Mongol's Avatar Primicerius
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    Default Re: BROKEN CRESCENT: Faction Tips and Strategies

    Playing the Kypchaks on H/H, not very far, just woke up.

    Very fun so far, sieges are challenging because my economic problems. I have to recruit local HA mercs instead of Slav infantry so I'm forced to make the enemy sally forth. God help them when they do though. Kypchaks on an open field = hell.


    How convenient... I'm sick today *cough cough*
    Last edited by The Mongol; January 14, 2008 at 02:26 PM.

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