Campain map army setup

[General Tony]

So for my soon to begin Portugal role playing campain I have been thinking about how to set up my armies on the campain map to defend my colonial empire and I have an idea. I would like your input though on my thoughts. So here is what I am planning: I will have an almost roman type military system in the fact that I will try to have a minimum amount of full strength armies at all times. For example 1-2 full armies in iberia to patrol and defend all of iberia and help keep out invaders of my lands and my spanish allies as well. I will also keep atleast 1full army to defend islands and position other full armies to defend high income provinces. In other smaller provinces I will use the town garrison and a police force to defend my land. My police forces are small cavalry armies that will be positioned in forts throughout a province. The main point of the police forces are to destroy rebel armies and small enemy invasion forces. There secondary role is to slow the progress of large invasion forces untill I can send 1 of my "legions" to destroy the invaders. So now I ask for your tips to improve my idea or your critisism of it. Thanks for your time

[Viking Prince Olaf]

Thats incredible thinking and optimism my friend! O.o nice job !

However I think your going overboard as your only playing against the AI
and even on "VERY HARD" difficulty I don't think you'll get much activity.

[General Tony]

Forgot to put the third role of my police forces. That is that if needed I can throw a few units of infantry in a raid a nearby city. The police forces may also be a good way of getting my cavalry experience then sending them to the "legions"

Another thought I had is that if left un-garrisoned I lose my fort when I send out my police to take care of rebles. So im thinking of haveing atleast 2 units of pesant archers to keep the fort running and as a very weak defence, just incase.

[Muagan_ra]

You're going for a classical legion, then?

I think a more accurate way to do it would be to have armies that aren't full strength. Legions wheren't that large in man-power, they where just really, really good.

Maybe you could keep your "legions" to, say, 10 unit stacks. Endeavour to use them at that size whenever possible, and combine them whenever necessary. Maybe keep a pool of "auxillaries" in forts, like archers and cavalry, to join the Heavy Infantry legions when required.

The other way you could do it, a set up I prefere, is emulate the later Roman legions, the kind that Constantine instigated. Garrison your borders with Limitanei (frontier troops, skirmisher types, but with some melee ability) and use them to set ambushes etc for invading enemies. Have a few reserve armies of mobile Comitatenses (Heavy Infantry) to be moved to wherever needed while your frontier troops keep them occupied. A far elegant way to do things, I think.

[General Tony]

Hm I see what your saying. I like the 10 unit stacks you mentioned, as in this way the army would be easy to command. Also cavalry is something I have never used much as after a charge they really have no real big advantage. So in going after the earlier form of a roman legion my army would be made up like this: General unit, 2-3 light missile cavalry (jienets/mounted xbows) and the rest 6-7 of my best infantry. I like this idea. So what would you recomd about my police forces?

[Conquistatore]

It all sounds very good in theory but your empire will barely get off the ground if you are going to be paying for such large standing armies every turn. I'm betting the unit upkeep costs will either force to downsize your 'legions' or go on a rampage of rapid expansion to continue to finance your armies. My suggestion would be to at least halve all your forces you plan to have so that you have some money to upgrade and develop your settlements. It will do you no good to have these impressive and expensive legionary armies floating around if they come up against gunpowder troops and cannons.

Your 'police' forces should have more than just cavalry in them, if you come up against spearmen there will be little you can do to stop them. Maybe diversify their ranks with a couple of ranged units?

Otherwise it looks like a good idea, especially for the role-playing aspect that you are wanting. Good luck.

[Viking Prince Olaf]

Conquistador jenites are the perfect answer to that police force question,
they have javalins to soften up lightly armoured troops, (which they are good at) A moderate charge bonus +4 and extremly well combat stats for such A simple and cheap unit which can be found in almost any Iberian faction settlement.


In fact these advantages should place the Jenites at A high favorite pick to place in your "legions" as they are actually the steel backbone to the Portugese and Spanish alike militiary.

[General Tony]

Yeah I have been thinking about the upkeep costs as well. What im thinking is that I should probably take all of Iberia to have a cash cow more or less. With all of Iberia under me I would have two legions, legions running 10 units, to patrol and defend the land. No police forces needed there due to the legions. I will have one legion to ship around and defend my islands. And have an extra legion ready to go defend my high income ports. If I need to my police and garrisons can hold off enimies until I throw together another legion. So im looking at maybe 4 permant legions

[Viking Prince Olaf]

Yeah I have been thinking about the upkeep costs as well. What im thinking is that I should probably take all of Iberia to have a cash cow more or less. With all of Iberia under me I would have two legions, legions running 10 units, to patrol and defend the land. No police forces needed there due to the legions. I will have one legion to ship around and defend my islands. And have an extra legion ready to go defend my high income ports. If I need to my police and garrisons can hold off enimies until I throw together another legion. So im looking at maybe 4 permant legions

If you simply anchor A fleet in south Iberia and cut off France at the mountains in the north you can camp your legion and small police forces in the passes leading to Zaragoza and Pamplona, since the passes are so close it will be easy to replenish troops and easily defended with A river past the passes.......... Then you practically "Turtle" until your ready.

[General Tony]

Yes I think I know what I will do now in Iberia. I will conquer it all and cut it off as mentioned, this means only one "legion" will be needed there with garrisons and police forces aiding in the defence more activley. This will cut down on upkeep big time. Then I will turtle in Iberia until my economy is running smoothly at which point the fleets I have been working up will take my expierenced "legion" to conquer islands and provinces on the sea thus makeing my colonial empire but if the need arises I can fall back to Iberia. So how does that sound?

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

Yes I think I know what I will do now in Iberia. I will conquer it all and cut it off as mentioned, this means only one "legion" will be needed there with garrisons and police forces aiding in the defence more activley. This will cut down on upkeep big time. Then I will turtle in Iberia until my economy is running smoothly at which point the fleets I have been working up will take my expierenced "legion" to conquer islands and provinces on the sea thus makeing my colonial empire but if the need arises I can fall back to Iberia. So how does that sound?

Sounds fine to me..

[Viking Prince Olaf]

Yes I think I know what I will do now in Iberia. I will conquer it all and cut it off as mentioned, this means only one "legion" will be needed there with garrisons and police forces aiding in the defence more activley. This will cut down on upkeep big time. Then I will turtle in Iberia until my economy is running smoothly at which point the fleets I have been working up will take my expierenced "legion" to conquer islands and provinces on the sea thus makeing my colonial empire but if the need arises I can fall back to Iberia. So how does that sound?

So basically what I said? Kk,just station police forces in the mountains, keep your towns garrisoned and keep watchtowers so if rebel show up you can send militia to welcome them.

[Muagan_ra]

By the way, you could try fighting in a "checkerboard" formation in battle, if you really really want to roleplay some kind of Roman revival.

[Ric_English]

have you thought about the make-up of your legion i know you mentioned 10 units. but what will comprise them i suggest jinetes like VP mentioned. at least four two units of throw away infantry and the rest HI. plus if you do go with jinetes you won't need a lot of missile troops. I find heavy cav doesn't work well in spain with all the hills and woods. I guess thats why the spainish and portuguess have the javaline units.

[General Tony]

Yes I have thought about my legion make up. In the form of the first form of roman legions I wont have heavy cavalry but light cavalry, mainly jienets with mounted xbows later. I was also goning to have a general and the rest HI so it would look like this: General, 2-3 light cav, and 6-7 HI. But now that you mention a unit or two of expendable infantry should be included. Thanks for the tip

[Ric_English]

I'm actually playing Spain right now. one of the things that is annoying me is the southern border. The moors keep sending imams and small armies across that little crossing id suggest posting a police force there too.

[General Tony]

I'm actually playing Spain right now. one of the things that is annoying me is the southern border. The moors keep sending imams and small armies across that little crossing id suggest posting a police force there too.

Yes the moors and their imams are quite annoing. If you send a fleet down and place it on the green arrow between the iberia and africa they cant send anything towards you. Also a fort with a small garrison nearby to slow if not stop any armies they get through if they destroy your fleet.

[Last of the Mohawks]

Tony, I'm not going for the historical part of your campaign. and my police force and legions will be after my Iberian conquest.

Police set-up:

Cavalry force:
5 Jinetes recruits
Optional: 1 cavalry General who has just come into the Family

Police force

3 Light infantry recruits
2 Jinetes recruits

Police forces will clear rebels and clear small invasions of Enemies

Legion set-up

5 Heavy Infantry that have been police force members for a long time and have chevrons
4 Jinetes that have been police force members for a long time and have chevrons
1 5 star 3+ Dread/Chivalry General
Optional: 1-2 Artillery for invasions.


All invasions will contain at least 2 legions and 1 police force almost read for legions.

[General Tony]

So your saying your police forces are also serving as a legion infantry training ground as well? That a great idea.

[Last of the Mohawks]

So your saying your police forces are also serving as a legion infantry training ground as well? That a great idea.

I feel the Police is merely training, Police should be used in wars as wardens. That is my Police forces purpose, and its cost effenctive as 3-4 legions exist at a time, small raiders (My S.A.S force) and police force possibly 1 for Iberia 1 for each African region and a few more for my French base to come.