Need help with Wales

[Goatsie]

Im almost 10 turns into my Wales campaign, playing on VH/H and im seriously considering restarting it already. The only settlements I hold are Cardiff and Pembroke, neither of which have been developed very much because I struggle to make money. Only general im left with is llwellyn, all the others died trying to stop the english. Cardiff has about a 3/4 stack defending it, Pembroke has just under a half stack. I have a few other units dotted around Wales, the ones you are given when one of your original settlements is taken, but there are about 5 full english stacks roaming around preventing me from uniting them into a big army to help out my last 2 settlements. What should I do?


Also, im having trouble using the welsh units effectively in battle. eg, how do you use Gwent Raiders? they always get their arses kicked. What units do you guys use to make up your armies? How do you use them?

[Swagger]

PRAY IS THE SOLUTION AND CAUSE FOR ALL LIFE PROBLEMS

[Panzerbear]

longbows + spears = solution to all your problems.

[Bachias]

longbows + spears = solution to all your problems.

Quoted for truth.

.....except when it comes to facing two or more massive norwegian, scottish or irish armies filled to the brim with shock infantry and siege weapons. I still manage to usually win, but with massive losses. Oh, and once you're high up the tech tree it's a good idea to take some Magnelwyr, Teulu or
Mortars/Culverins with you. I like to have 8 Saethwyr, 6 Morgannwg Spearmen, 3 Magnelwyr, 2 Teulu, 1 General.
The Saethwyr deploy the stakes in front of the line of spearmen during deployment, but as soon as the battle starts I move them behind the spears. The Magnelwyr take their place behind the stakes and then you really just wait for the enemy to come into the range of your gunners and longbows. Your spearmen are very solid and can hold their ground against virtually any unit, especially when their ranks have been SEVERELY thinned by the Saethwyr and Magnelwyr. Try to keep them away from shock infantry charges, though.

[Captain Spanky]

I use gwent raiders to fill lines in battle, or to hit the flanks of an already engaged enemy. Do not rely on them too far though, as they are pretty crappy in terms of stats. Focus your forces on mainly longbowmen and spearmen, the heavier the better, with a few axe-men if you can. You dont need loads of cavalry to get the job done, a few will do, and only use these to flank or chase down routers, as in this respect you are outgunned by the English. If things are as bad as you say it may be worth restarting your campaign, but dont give up hope. The welsh roster can be challenging, but its really satisfying when you win.

[TWoxy]

There is, in truth, no way to win as the Welsh. You must simply bow down to English awesomeness! Accept your fate as a vassal!

[Goatsie]

Just a little update on the situation: I was reduced to Cardiff but managed to out-manouver all the english stacks and retake the city to the north (can't remember its name) So now im trapped on all sides by the english, have a tiny army and ****** all money.

Im getting better at using the welsh units but the real trouble im having is on the campaign map. How do you get the Welsh economy going?

[Oploc]

I has/have the same problem, at around turn 7 i have -1362 gold. BUT that's because i didn't build mines strait off, and i also had troops in towns that wern't milita type, and were costing me money. Dirt roads+mines FTW. XD

[Goatsie]

Im still not sure if I should spend my starting money on more troops to try and take some english settlements before they start invading, or try and build my economy a bit so I can defend what lands I do have :S I might try taking Dublin as it often rebels, then if the english push me out of wales I guess I can retreat, but I might have to face england and ireland at the same time :S this campaign is so ****ing hard!

[Aper]

I have the opposite problem for me wales campaign is too easy even on VH|VH ... I don't use elaborate tactics, I play very aggressive since the first turn and most of time Auto Resolve battles

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

- Insert welsh sheep joke here -

[Captain Spanky]

- Insert welsh sheep joke here -

I had to restrain myself.

[Big War Bird]

When starting out as the welsh I found it very impotrant to save money by putting units in teh small castles to save money.

[Rabain]

I think the key to any Brittanna campaign is Ireland. Get a foothold on the island and push the irish out or if you are the irish push everyone else out.

The AI very rarely (if ever) will land on the island.

I assume the same would work if you take Norwegian islands, especially if you are wales or ireland as they cannot effectively fight you by sea (they don't make enough use of sea landings).

[Augustus Lucifer]

I think the key to any Brittanna campaign is Ireland. Get a foothold on the island and push the irish out or if you are the irish push everyone else out.

The AI very rarely (if ever) will land on the island.

This is odd, because in my only campaign in Brittania which was as England since I enjoy the whole empire falling to bits on all sides thing, saw Wales invading Dublin with a full stack while I was still repelling numerous other full stacks on the mainland.