Low morale for Templars?

[silma]

I assaulted a citadel yesterday and noticed strange things happening... basically I was assaulting the outer walls on multiple points, I had a full stack army, built ram, 3 ladders and 2 siege towers and spread them on the walls, also on non-defended points.

Well, Templar guards (and some other units as well) panick way too easily I think, they routed while there still were 50 of them and they were actually winning against a unit of dism. sipahi lancers. Same thing for zweihanders, they routed for no apparent reason against a supposedly weaker enemy, obviously getting weaker and weaker, not to mention half of them getting caugth.

Later I managed to conquer the outer ring and move my army in, then I sent 5 full Noble Spearmen units against a Sipahi unit, they were pretty much getting shredded by spears, but my units (still 300 soldiers) all routed when there were 2 sipahis left. All the enemy had left was two bodyguards (King and a family member), a peasant unit and some spare soldiers, I had half a stack of soldiers at that point, but I couldn't even get near the enemy because my soldiers just kept panicking. My general was still alive so I don't really understand why. Also I cared about not keeping my general outside settlements for too long so I had the "Ready for action" trait... no idea why they would have such low morale.

[FriendoftheDork]

Perhaps the enemy general had high dread, in which case even good morale units can rout fairly quickly.

[silma]

Perhaps the enemy general had high dread, in which case even good morale units can rout fairly quickly.

Maybe... I haven't checked him, but thanks for the advice

[OG Grenadier]

I always execute prisoners. I think dread ROCKS. Particularly since I seem to get very few command stars.

[silma]

I like to get chivalrous generals instead, I like to play on the "good" side
also, doesn't high chivalry adds to the morale of your units? So I can counter enemy high dread generals.

I used to have a Saint general ("Saint of battle" trait ), Vanquisher of the Fatimids, Champion of Chivalry and so on, now he's dead and I'm doing a bit of roleplaying with his sons, trying to get them follow their father's steps and conquer the last Fatimid settlements

[-Aquila-]

I could of been because they were tired, I have personally never seen them route that easily when they were 'fresh' and I play the Templars alot.

[ceaser543]

A case of high dread general I once had my full stack of fairley veteran byzantine troops rout against a high dread general (he died mysteriousley of a snake bite the next turn:hmmm

[aduellist]

I could of been because they were tired, I have personally never seen them route that easily when they were 'fresh' and I play the Templars alot.

Yup, most likely cause is fatigue. If you let them get to "very tired" or "exhausted", they'll rout. One of the keys for Templars is "fight in winter". Avoids the additional fatigue from heat.

[silma]

I could of been because they were tired, I have personally never seen them route that easily when they were 'fresh' and I play the Templars alot.

Quite possible, but a unit of Templar Guards that routs against a single unit of dism. sipahi lancers, seems quite a mistery to me
And they were not that fatigued if I remember well. I'm more for the high dread general solution.

I'll also keep the "fight in winter" suggestion. Thank you all

[FriendoftheDork]

I like to get chivalrous generals instead, I like to play on the "good" side
also, doesn't high chivalry adds to the morale of your units? So I can counter enemy high dread generals.

I used to have a Saint general ("Saint of battle" trait ), Vanquisher of the Fatimids, Champion of Chivalry and so on, now he's dead and I'm doing a bit of roleplaying with his sons, trying to get them follow their father's steps and conquer the last Fatimid settlements

Yes a high civalry general should counter a high dread enemy one well, which is why this was reccomended when fighting mongols. However the general needs to be fairly close to the troops affected by the enemy general to work.

Other potential factors could be enemy using flame arrows or artillery or even just normal missile fire (including from towers).

And as said fatigue could play into it, and defenders in a siege tend to be able to fight alot longer on the defensive without becoming too tired compared to the attackers. especially in the cruel arabian sun.

[Furiøùs]

I usually see this happen with the egyptian armies.

Usually im outnumbered in my fights, and if they have a decent size advantage over your army, your units will route far easier. I found a good counter to this is a high chivalry general. and spam warhorn !