How do you play the Danes or Norse?

[Wolfgrin]

I'm playing the Danes in my current campaign and using tactics I've used with almost every faction I've played. I keep a center of four or five spears to block cavalry and then support them with archers, shock infantry and cavalry. As I've started playing around with the Shield Wall ability, I'm thinking there are possibilities to perhaps drop spearmen (which would be a logistical relief, as I have to build them in cities and ferry them to my castle troops.)

So, here's the question: Have any of you tried going with almost all shock infantry, lining them up, putting them in Shield Wall and then marching them forward? You could also have a few units of axemen behind the line to deal with cav once it engages the shield wall. I want to try it, but can't for a few nights.

I'd love to hear your experiences and tactics.

[htothehh]

I never use spearmen when I played as Norway... I just get a bunch of huscarls, some cavalry, and a few archers. That should do the trick.

[Kralj_Marin]

I usually use cheap spearmen to 'absorb' the enemy charges and wear them out a little. Once they become winded, I make them retreat and send in my main infantry at the tired foe. Shock infantry flanking and flaming arrows come next, followed by a rear cavalry charge if possible.

This is usally enough to make almost any quality troops rout.

[sabaku_no_gaara]

The shieldwall is great, even viking raiders fare well against tougher shock infantry when in their shieldwall.

The Norse archers are great aswell they are archers aswell as infantry that can hold their ground well enough against plenty oponents

[Wolfgrin]

There's no question that Scandinavian infantry is awesome. But I'm wondering how well the Shield Wall absorbs heavy cavalry charges? If they can take the brunt of the charge, axemen should be able to decimate and rout the cav. At least, that's my theory. I'd like to keep spearmen off the battlefield, until I can build obudshaer.

[Mauzeer]

Haven't tried Scandinavian factions yet, but in generally non-spear units with shield wall stand well against cav charges.

[gewehr36]

An army full of Viking Raiders in shield wall formation can destroy most enemy armies you come across.

[ssmarine]

An army full of Viking Raiders in shield wall formation can destroy most enemy armies you come across.

I completely agree. Just make massive armies of Raiders and swarm the enemy, it works really well.

[Kralj_Marin]

But I'm wondering how well the Shield Wall absorbs heavy cavalry charges?

Heavy cavalry will make very short work of you if they charge in wedge, or from the flanks/rear. This is why I use expendable spear militia.

Do they actually attack well in Shield Wall or just defend well? In other words, do they inflict a lot more casualties than they take while in shield wall?

Slowly but surely, yes. Much like schiltrom for spearmen, you will definitely last a lot longer and kill a good amount more if the enemy isn't significantly better than you.

Edit: I fail at edits ><

[Wolfgrin]

Do they actually attack well in Shield Wall or just defend well? In other words, do they inflict a lot more casualties than they take while in shield wall?

[Kralj_Marin]

Powerful as shield wall is, you are a sitting duck while in formation. If you don't get flanked from infantry, then heavy cavalry will make very short work of you if they charge in wedge. This is why I use expendable spear militia.