Playing as Egypt is hard.

[M2TWRocks]

I've always loved Egypt ever since the first Medieval Total War came out. I enjoy the position, not having to deal with the pope, and most importantly, the culture in that area.

I'm having trouble playing them in M2TW because, frankly, their unit roster, particularly for infantry, sucks. I believe the best spear unit they have is the saracen militia which stats rival that of most Catholic factions middle tier spearman. And they have literally no heavy infantry. The Mamluks are supposed to be their "powerful" cavalry, but they don't help out much in a siege nor does it make up for such lackluster infantry.

Here's the real problem:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...=94692&page=54

The "Gaza tea party" this fella mentions has been my experience with Egypt as well. After just about 5 turns, the pope declares a crusade and about 10 factions declare war on you. I was able to defeat 2 of them, but ran out of infantry and patience for the remaining 6 stacks on my homeland. If Egypt had some heavy infantry, or just better units in general, it would STILL be challenging. But my militia grade Nubian spearmen and other lackluster units were at a huge disadvantage against knights templar, dismounted knights, etc.

Does anyone have a strategy they could recommend to me for being successful with Egypt? I want to play with them. I enjoy the Black African units. I thoroughly enjoy Naptha throwers, and I enjoy the location. So can someone help me?

[y2day]

I know it stinks but if you abandon the city that has had the crusade called on it. Let who ever gets there first have it. Then after the Succesful crusade take it back. I havnt played as Egypt in a long time. So as far as army compsition sorry couldn't help you.

[TheColdTruth]

Once you get naffatun units it gets a lot easier to defend. I set up my defense from crusades as this... 2 Naffatun Units 1 on the gate house and the other behind the gates. 1 Saracen Militia to put right behind the gates (Put the naffatun a ways behind them so they can throw over their heads). 2 Halberd Militia Put one on each side of the gates but far enough away so they wont attack the enemy on their own (don't really need them they are there just for back up) 2 Archer Militia Units to be up on the walls. 2 Tabardariyya Units to be on the walls beside archers and 2 units of Hashashim on the walls in front of the Tabardariyya. And you should be able to win all the sieges with only like 75 losses to their 1k+ losses. It's okay if the naffatun hit your militia units because they are just there to keep the enemy bunched up and get the most splash damage from the naffa. Hope this helps

[M2TWRocks]

Once you get naffatun units it gets a lot easier to defend. I set up my defense from crusades as this... 2 Naffatun Units 1 on the gate house and the other behind the gates. 1 Saracen Militia to put right behind the gates (Put the naffatun a ways behind them so they can throw over their heads). 2 Halberd Militia Put one on each side of the gates but far enough away so they wont attack the enemy on their own (don't really need them they are there just for back up) 2 Archer Militia Units to be up on the walls. 2 Tabardariyya Units to be on the walls beside archers and 2 units of Hashashim on the walls in front of the Tabardariyya. And you should be able to win all the sieges with only like 75 losses to their 1k+ losses. It's okay if the naffatun hit your militia units because they are just there to keep the enemy bunched up and get the most splash damage from the naffa. Hope this helps

Thanks for the tips folks.

I did a custom battle with your configuration to see if it worked. And it worked like a charm. I was surprised that just 2 naptha were enough, but you were right. Thanks.

I've decided to try what you guys suggested. I will start another campaign as Egypt and just let the city fall to the infidels. Then I will recapture and there will be hell to pay for those cross toting blasphemers.

I'd also like to point out that I've never used the Hash units. I suppose I'll let a thieves guild or two be built around my main cities. Maybe I could use them on my flanks? Thanks everyone!

[Blakdust]

Dismounted Ghulams merc sarcens & Tabardariyya

if you cant get them ^

for field battles make a line of halberd militia or dismounted arabs
with maybe some hash's or ghazis behind like line or on flanks
but depend on ur missle an cav, send horse archers far forward to harras there flanks an charge unprotected missle units, when they get close
send a volley of fire arrows an nap engage them with your halberds an charge there rear with cav

id go something like ex

4 halberds
2 ghazi
4 horse archers
4 archers
2 nap
2-4 light/heavy cav

hope it helped somewhat

[M2TWRocks]

Dismounted Ghulams merc sarcens & Tabardariyya

if you cant get them ^

for field battles make a line of halberd militia or dismounted arabs
with maybe some hash's or ghazis behind like line or on flanks
but depend on ur missle an cav, send horse archers far forward to harras there flanks an charge unprotected missle units, when they get close
send a volley of fire arrows an nap engage them with your halberds an charge there rear with cav

id go something like ex

4 halberds
2 ghazi
4 horse archers
4 archers
2 nap
2-4 light/heavy cav

hope it helped somewhat

Thanks! Any recommendation for assaulting castles? I'm going to try out your configuration for a field battle.

[Blakdust]

Cool
remember the idea is to not have them engage your inf for to long
do your dmg with missle an charge their rear while there fighting so they rout
an keep your cav ready to charge any unprotected non-spear an retreat-n-repeat

as for assulting castles thats a lil more tricky an no heavy inf really sucks
mangonel's are good to kill inf on the wall, an if they dont have many units swam them with loads of militia(2 towers a ram an as many ladders as pos)
if they have a big army send in a smaller more technically sound army
an they should sally forth an attack you, they usually bunch up at the gate
where missle units can cause slaughter then they usually throw the general straight at you so kill him, have the horse archers harassing there sides as they go towards your inf, if you can make any if follow your horse archers GREAT split there army up ( works in field battles to)

You could also retreat from the sally forth an hope half there army chases you then make an easy defence sitting on a hill ( make em walk as far as possible to you an distract with horse archers the whole way an break em up an tire em)

as for a direct assault I wouldnt really recommend in but
something like

e.g
2-3 heavy inf(mercs if you have to even if you have to sail somewhere to pick em up)
1 peasant
2-3-4 mangols
6 mixed inf
2-3 archer
1 ram + 2 towers

use mangonels on the troops on the wall
send peasants in loose formation to soak arrows
send mix inf with ram an heavy inf in towers
when you can keep inf going up the towers
when you break the gate if they dont come out
use your archer to shoot through the gate
if they move run in if not keep shooting
use peasants to set off boiling oil then charge the gate
keep your general close to the walls to blow his horn an keep morale up
if you take the gate but still fighting on the walls
send archers inside an shoot the defenders in the back while there on the wall with fire arrows ITS DEVASTATING they should flee
if they camp in the middle of castle use up all your arrows on them
if you cant draw them out surround them an charge every angle

Sorry for bad English an if i got carried away

oh Naf can go with archers in the last 1 to

[Point Blank]

Why do you say they have no heavy infantry? They have Hashishim, Tabardariyya and Halberd Militia.

[Schweizergarde]

Egypt controls the best trading spots in the game, and is surrounded by mostly rebel cities. When the first crusade gets called, no faction should have heavy infantry yet (exception dismounted crusader knights).

Give up the crusaded city, then take back.

[dstarsboy]

Egypt controls the best trading spots in the game, and is surrounded by mostly rebel cities. When the first crusade gets called, no faction should have heavy infantry yet (exception dismounted crusader knights).

Give up the crusaded city, then take back.

This is true, the income you get from the cities you own as Egypt should rival or even dwarf that of the Byzantines. I think having a crusade called on you right away is a good way to balance it.

[DanMLee88]

Here's my two cents:

Having played a Muslim kingdom (Seljuk Sultanate), fending off crusading armies was always the most fun part of the campaign. 3-4 naffatuns, halberd and Saracen militia + some cavalry always worked wonders for me, fending off 3-4 crusading armies each turn one after another (defeated all 3-4 armies without having the chance to replenish). It's an awesome way to raise a 10 star general. Grab some popcorn and watch the carnage at the gate house as crusaders are boiled alive with oil and generally rushing into a wall of spears a.k.a 'The Meat Grinder'.

Hope this helps....if they come with siege weapons, I generally tend to send out my cavalry and quickly decimate the artillery crews then quickly run back into the city/castle. This seem to trigger the AI to start advancing with other generic make shift siege equipments, which always run into a hail of arrow and ballista fire long before they can breach the gates

As for the Fatimids not having heavy infantry, I think they have some formidable ones that can almost rival the western knights. Sure they may not have 22 armor chivalric knights ,
but they have two very unique and powerful infantry that tips things in their favor: Tarbaridyya (did I spell that right? feel free to correct me), a fearsome two-handed axe wielding soldiers almost eqivalent of Varangian Guard of Byzantine Empire (7 attack armor piercing, 10 defense, but + from wall defense bonus when fighting on walls). These guys are freakin monsters. I first encountered them in SS6.0 and both of my crusader foot knight units got routed trying to take the wall from them. They lost maybe 10. I lost close to 140. Even on plain ground they are deadly.

Also, Dismounted Gulams (again, feel free to correct me if I am wrong). Another armor piercing (ap) unit that wields a mace and is well armored (I think 17? that's almost comparable to knights). I can't forget the first time I engaged these guys in melee with my dismounted knights....routed my knights after twenty seconds or so.

Use these two infantry units in conjunction with the halberd, saracen militia, as well as the excellent mamluk cavalry (did you know that mamluk units both have ap secondary weapons? It's even better than their primary spear/bow).

To sum it up, Fatimids are in no way disadvantaged. They do not have armor 22 infantry because fighting in the desert wearing half a ton of steel isn't exactly a bright idea (they really need to implement some fatigue system for heavily armored western troops). You have counters to almost every thing, and naffatuns are there to get you out of tight spots when you are besieged by superior forces. Plus, you start out in a great position of trade and commerce. On a side note, as many posters have mentioned, hashashim are gained once you train enough assassin agents, execute successful missions, and get the guild. These guys make up for any lack of heavy infantry, especially in sieges.

Note about the crusades: If at all possible, DO NOT abandon the target city. It's a really good way to have fun and train a 10 star general. Intercept the crusaders with horse archers and wear them down, so you would not have to face the "gaza tea party" situation. Then sit back, grab some snacks, position your guys around the gate house, and watch as your meat grinder does its work.


Sorry that was too long.....hope it helps though! Don't forget about killing the artillery crew with cavalry (this is actually quite important; AI does not protect their own crew in the beginning and if you get there fast, you can kill them and run away before the whole army is on top of you). Happy gaming

[Inhuman One]

Egypt has the most infantry units of all muslim factions I believe. Half of the european factions doesnt have as good infantry as them. They do get pikes though.

Those two handed axemen are fierce though, good for killing foot knights.

[s0meguy]

I find that playing as egypt is pretty easy. Ally with Moors and maybe the other surrounding islam nations, or just with all of them except one that you want to invade. If you ally with all nations, you can just take a ship and attack Italy, the pope will call crusades to protect themselves and not attack your homeland. Egypts economy is good, you'll be able to make a steady supply of new armies to attack Europe.

[Nightbringer]

You should also try to get some mountede archers early on as they are great for destroying the heavy, slow christian armies.

[Iscariott]

Mamluk archers till the sun stops shining. Mamluk archers till the skies rain iron and wood. Mamluk archers till the rivers are blood.

Walls = tabardaria/merc saracens

[Mr.Elendig]

Defending large towns and up are so easy it's like cheating :/

The über town defense as egypt:

1-2 balista or bombard

1-2 units of archers

6+ units of spear/halberd (only need 4, but what the heck, reserves are always handy)

1-2 units of naftatuns (if you got them, not really needed)

anything on a horse.

Place everyone in guard mode, exept the cav. Forget the wall set up on the plaza.
Place 2 units of spears/halberds, on eatch side of the entry to the plaza. Like if it was the goal for a bicycle/marathon race. Place the arty on the "finish line" shooting up the street. If you got nafta, place them a bit behind the spears/halberds.

Just wait for the enemy, and open fire when they are coming down the street. Flaming shots for archers/balista, normal for bombards.
Generals can be a bit irritating, since you don't have stakes to kill them off, but anything else routes before you can say "Sons of a motherless goat" or "You all smell of pee" (got to love the m2tw insults)

Let the enemy route and come back a couple of times, until you got almost the whole army on the route at once, then send in the cav to whipe out the cowardly infidels.

2 units of bombards, one general and 7 units of halberds with heavy mail defended Alexandria for me, against 11 more or less full stacks of crusaders. I lost more people during the siege while the enemy were building siege eq, than I did in the fighting :/

Dosn't work to well against mongols tho, since they tend to stay at the end of the streen and just peper you with arrows, but I often prefer to fight them in the open anyway as egypt. A good mix of royal and normal mameluks, desert archers, mameluk archers and some arty, combined with picking favorable terrain, and the mongols ain't to bad to fight in the open. Having a general with night fighter trait is a must tho.

[shenryyr]

you could always relocate.

[Laconian]

The best way to stop the Crusades are by not letting them reach you. The Crusader armies can only reach you via ships or through the Dardanelles. Maintain a strong fleet and block the Crusaders who are passing through Constantinople by blocking the land bridges and for the Crusaders who come by sea have a fleet of around 8 ships waiting and give them a nasty suprise.

[Blakdust]

Assassins are the very best way to stop a crusader

[dr_guerra]

Egypt for me is the easiest faction to play, first because they have the best position, near the best cities with the best trade resources, and second because they have a WONDERFUL unit pool. Just amazing.

Try the hashies, they are Godlike.

Also, don't neglect Ghazis. They are one of the cheapest and best infantry you can get. Yes, they are light, but they have great stamina, can chase down the enemy, and can actually butcher heavy infantry on the walls. Just keep them away from archers. That is key. So call a Jihad, and get as many as you can. Their morale is insanely high. Great for flanking the enemy. They are very effective killers in melee.

Royal Mamluks (better than regular Mamluks) can kill most heavy cavalry in a melee if you really have to. Very high quality units with VERY high morale. Not the best charge, but a lot better in prolonged melee.