Best Unit for Captain?

**Niterider1784** · February 02, 2009, 05:16 PM

I wanted to get some input on this question from other experienced players. When you lack a proper general, which is the best next unit to select as your captain, and why?

I usually go for a cavalry unit, but most of the time I just start that battle with which ever unit is leading army, and then I end up not really using them for fear of him being killed or captured.

**Tropical Coke** · February 02, 2009, 05:26 PM

Calvary. But most of the time on Multiplayer battles it ends up being some useless unit to have a general on. One time it was peasants, another, artillery.

**Conquistatore** · February 02, 2009, 05:41 PM

I wasn't aware that you could select your captain. How do you do that?

**Niterider1784** · February 02, 2009, 05:46 PM

Well, it's not exactly selecting, the captain is the first unit in the stack, on the top left corner. If you select a unit and then add other to it, then that unit is the default captain during the battle.

**Owain Glyndŵr** · February 02, 2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Conquistatore

I wasn't aware that you could select your captain. How do you do that?

I believe the captain is assigned to the first unit on the roster.

I'd assign him on the following priority:

1- Heavy cavalry. Like a weaker version of a General's bodyguard.
2- A spare unit of tough infantry. Let's say you have a unit of Dismounted Feudal Knights that isn't needed in the main battle line; you can keep them with him and use them to reinforce your line and take advantage of the captain's Rally ability.
3- Light cavalry. At least they'll keep him out of trouble.
4. Shock troops being used for light duty. If your axemen smash into the flanks of your army and face little resistance, then there are worse places for your captain to be... at the worst, he's still surrounded by decent fighters.

**Pink Beard** · February 03, 2009, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Owain Glyndŵr

I believe the captain is assigned to the first unit on the roster.

I'd assign him on the following priority:

1- Heavy cavalry. Like a weaker version of a General's bodyguard.
2- A spare unit of tough infantry. Let's say you have a unit of Dismounted Feudal Knights that isn't needed in the main battle line; you can keep them with him and use them to reinforce your line and take advantage of the captain's Rally ability.
3- Light cavalry. At least they'll keep him out of trouble.
4. Shock troops being used for light duty. If your axemen smash into the flanks of your army and face little resistance, then there are worse places for your captain to be... at the worst, he's still surrounded by decent fighters.

I believe only Family members (not even generals!) can do a rally (ability). The captains ability depends on the unit he is in (let's say, if the captain is in a armoured sergeants unit his skill will be "schiltrom", not rally.)

**Surgeon** · February 02, 2009, 06:00 PM

Sometimes it may also be best to get your captain in with a unit of archers. That way he would normally stay out of melee but not be completely idle at the same time. Needless to say it's really preferable that they are good archers who can hold their own in melee.

**Conquistatore** · February 02, 2009, 06:29 PM

It's funny, a captain of my army was attached to the crew of a siege weapon once.. I didn't even do it on purpose.

**A Freaky Name** · February 03, 2009, 12:14 AM

I like having captains attached to light cavalry when I'm fighting an open field battle, that way he's easy to move around for a moral boost and can rack up quick valour by chasing down the routed army.

On the flip side I've found putting your captain in an experienced group of spearmen when defending walls is really useful because the shiltron will surround the captain and let his unit still be useful with little fear of and untimly death.

**Nazgûl Killer** · February 03, 2009, 12:36 AM

I'd assign my captain in this order:
1) Heavy Cavalry - It was said before, but still, an earlier unit of the General's Bodyguard, and my heavy cavalry play a big role in my battles, so there's a big chance he'll go family member on me. Disadvantage: Lack of notice for one second, and pikes will annihilate him.
2) Heavy Infantry/Spearmen - Strong units, sometimes very strong, able to protect my captain from cavalry at most times, and infantry-infantry battles, he can become very productive as he is usually hard to kill. Disadvantages: A cavalry charge aimed at the captain's side can easily dispose of him, that's why he is better in infantry in a tight formation.
3) Archers/Artillery - I almost never put him there, as they are a main target for cavalry attacks, and it will render him useless as he doesn't have a bow, and I'd rather use him for battles.
4) Light Infantry - I find those units useless, so I never will put him there. I find Light Infantry only good for dying.

**Viking Prince** · February 03, 2009, 04:17 AM

I have seen peasant captains with the rally ability. I am not certain if this is by chance, Kingdoms code, or what. I am not even certain if it is all the time. I might test this out if I am really bored.

**Nazgûl Killer** · February 03, 2009, 08:01 AM

The captain has the rally ability depending on the unit he's in; for example: Any heavy cavalry unit he's on aside the General's Bodyguard has the Wedge Formation ability instead of rally, archers have arrows/stakes, artillery has flaming boulders/bolts/cows, pikemen have spearwall and so on and so on. (I love doing custom battles, sue me!)