My game as Rajputs in short version :)

[anaztazioch]

Well its my lucky campaign as Rajputs. Early rush Anvihilvara city, sack it, build rajput shrine, rush south western most city and sack it and build 2nd tier huindu temple in Anvihilvara (2tier allows Kashatriya knights) and i recive mission to get Kutch with reward of "some of the best available units". So it took me 3 turns to get Kutch and i recived 4 kashatriyas. Shortly after i recived exacly same mission for Sommath. And 4 Kashatriyas.
8 Kashes and starting units + 1 adoped member was enough to Get Ajmer, and go norht. By that time i recived send diplomat to Chuan rajputs mission for 500 and diplomat to Ghorids for... 2 kashas
So once i gathered all but Delhi and Ghorids i decided to wait 2 turns and stabilize my economy, but council with its missions was against it. 3 blockade ports for 1000 money, 2 javnelins and 4 longbows (no kashas :/ ), so i decided to lower my army upkeep on war with ghorids... i recievd even more missions, resulting in 9 kashas, 8 javnelin cavs and 7 weakest spearmans.
After i made peace with Ghorids.
This time i wanted to build up economy. But NO, council ordered my troops to run arround whole India to strengthen garrisons... and i once again gained Kashas... (not from every mission, mostly it was levy spearmans).
And than i recievd mission to block Calula port for 3 turns. I did that and recived... 4 afghan hillmans... wtf rage quit <lol>

[anaztazioch]

Im once again playing as Rajputs, i used very simmilar tactics and i once again get a lot of Kashtariya warriors. Igained 7 or 8 from missions and 3 or 4 from regular recruiting. Game hasnt reached 1190 and i have about 10 full elite infantry and practicly own everyone on my way.
All i have is 2 lvl 2 shrines in Sommath and Anvihilvara (both are minor cities to conquer), and with 6000 income (4 merchants, 2 on wines in Herat about 800 each, 2 on silk in Merv about 600 each), have whole wester India provinces (border is desert and Delhi). Also i just conquered Calula and start producing merchants there for ~1400 each at start.

My opinion is that Rajputs are too easy to get highest tier units so early in game. Unlike Ghulams for Turks, Kashatriya are cheaper and Rajput economy s much higher (350 for silver mine, 450 for gold mine or something. Also 3 cities that get over 2000 income easilly)

[Samariten]

Well it is really easy to make it harder and more fun to play BC. Instead of filling up stacks with elites only use two elite units in every army stack. A mixed army is harder to field and more thinking is needed to win.

For example 1 general, 2 elephants, 3 or 4 spears, 4 archers, 2 elites,
2-4 assault infantary or 4 cavalry units.

[anaztazioch]

I was using mixed armies and in the field i find them super effective.

Managing javnelins and poorly accurate archers (i lowered their vs unit accuracy from 0.7 to 0.4 and radius to 0 or 0.0001) are my biggest weakness.

All in all i like to make 1 elite army stack and dont reinforce it, and retrain only the turn they capture a settlement. If that army gets beaten i lost a war and try to get peace even at cost of settlements or vassalage.

This makes me plan my moves. Unlike with mixed, or random armies that i just throw at enemy to auto-resolve or lead, i use elites to actually make use of ambush attack from forests, or use forts.

[Lupu]

0.4 is better accuracy than 0.7

[anaztazioch]

I know, thats why i lowered radious to compensate it. Right now my archers own pikemans, and are usefull against grouped usits.
Right now youc ant stand still and wait for enemy to run out of arrows. But the AI on VH has unlimited arrows :/

[Lupu]

Really? Damn ufair!