Denmark vs Holy Roman Empire

[Frederick]

I was playing as Denmark in the Tuetonic Campaign. I seiged a city posessed by Holy Roman Empire and decided to starve the garrison. Eventually, the reinforcements arrived and the garrison sally forthed, fighting on a battlefield on open plains. At first, the meter says that I was at a advantage. The Holy Roman army consisted of 5 units of Imperial Knights and 1 unit of armoured sergeants. The Imperial Knights then charged abreast and charged frontally on my Dismounted Husclars and Axemen. My norse archers fired in return but since they did not have "effective against armour" trait, they could do minimal damage on the knights. They impaled the whole ranks and the husclars and axemen routed immediately. Suddenly, my army evaporated and routed. It was dumbfounded. How do play as Denmark when fighting against Roman Empire's cavalry? It was too late to commit my norse war clerics, just too little too late? Any idea how to pin the german cavalry down with danish infantry?

[Captain Spanky]

What I do in this situation is use the huscarls, (DFKs are more useful for this if you have them), and place them in front of the axemen, but so that the axemen are still able to run forward, for example:

HHHHHH
___AAAAA
H = Huscarls
A = Axemen

The Huscarls will recieve the charge because of their higher armour rating, at which point you counter charge immediately with the axemen. Because of the way they are positioned, they should wrap around the flank quite easily. I find that axes make mincemeat of cavalry, provided the axes can avoid being charged initially. Be aware, however, that you will lose a fair amount of Huscarls in doing this.

Perhaps its worth in future taking a few units of armoured spear militia. They really can make all the difference.

Good luck!

[Oberhut]

use spears, later on use sverdstaff and pikes

[Lost Crusader]

When fighting against cavalry, don't forget to bring your spearmen. Your spear militia can have 3 armor upgrades, giving them heavy mail. Maybe they won't defeat the knights, but will be able to hold the line long enough, giving you the opportunity to charge the flanks with your axemen.

Besides, the crossbowmen have AP, so used them to soften the knights before they reach your line.

[Captain Spanky]

Besides, the crossbowmen have AP, so used them to soften the knights before they reach your line.

Thats a good point. While Norse Archers are better hybrid units, I would take crossbowmen over them any day. The fact is that the Danish already have far better infantry than most, you wont need your missile troops to help in melee.

[The Sundance Kid]

I love Denmark's infantry, I live for infantry-orientated factions, but their cavalry and spearmen seem oddly lacking, both of which are the best ways of stopping enemy cavalry.

The spearmen obviously impale them, so just situate them in front of your close-combat infantry so they can wrap around like has been said. With cavalry, I always charge into enemy horse before the infantry has even engaged -- even if my cavalry are worse and get defeated, I save my precious infantry for the slog ahead, and if the enemy still choose to charge them, they'll at least have less men to do less damage.

Is the Obudshaer a spear unit, or does that not work in the same way? I always wondered, they seem like a pretty good all-rounder for me....but other times they get minced by Early infantry....