The Maratha Confederacy

[Society]

I've been struggling to find a nation with a late game flare which suited me, until I started learning these guys. The ability to recruit swordsmen (which are really cheap and have EXCELENT morale) is great.

Since I started playing them, I've been using Sikh musketeers to hold the enemy in place while sending a small horde of sikh warriors at the enemy line during their reload period, and then while several groups of enemy soldiers are busy dealing with these high morale psychopaths I use my remaining line infantry Sikh's to focus their fire on individual groups of enemies to create a weak point...

Once a weak section is found, I get my cavelry ready to charge from their flank, sending my generals bodyguard in a short time before to loosen their formation just before the charge hits.




Okay, it's not perfect, and DEFINATELY has weaknesses (the Maratha lack light infantry, sadly) but using a combo of my general's elephants to scatter their formation followed by a charge of heavy cavelry into that weak spot almost always breaks a group or two the moment the cavelry collide.


Anybody else having luck with these guys?

[jo the greek]

I have many battle with this kind of factions but my tactic are much different
if u try to mimic europeans tactics with them will loose most of the times
do not be afraid to use only swords and even elephant a carefull charge can brought victory
and use columns if i use muskets is only to defend the Art

[YellowMelon]

They are a nice rush faction, but they seem to lack versatility.

[RTKBarrett]

They are a nice rush faction, but they seem to lack versatility.

When i see my opponent take them i usually smile... not a good indication.

Still they can make a nice rush faction and i can see their use in say a 3v3... u can make a rediculous build with like 15 swords and a few cav... nice cannon fodder

[Verstorbene]

I actually have yet to lose with Maratha in quick battle. They most certainly do not lack versatility - quite the opposite. Rather than trying to form a standard line formation, form two lines. One with line infantry in the front, one with melee infantry in the back. Keep your general close by as Elephants damage enemy morale. As soon as the enemy fires, charge with your second line and move your first to his flanks.

Obviously, this is assuming you can or have already dealt with enemy cavalry. It's a game of maneuvers. However, Maratha's strength lies within it's melee infantry. There are a variety of tactics you can employ with them.

[YellowMelon]

Awful line infantry (overpriced too), and no skirmishers. There's just about one thing you can do with that, otherwise somebody will skirmish the hell out of you.

[RTKBarrett]

So what would u do if a normal player starts running away from ure swords and picks them off one by one?

[Society]

So what would u do if a normal player starts running away from ure swords and picks them off one by one?

They move faster than infantry and if you don't use cavelry as Maratha you're hopeless

Also, this is after the battle is engaged. Your line infantry (which start with 11! morale btw) hold their line in place while your screaming sikh's charge.


I STILL prefer to heavily favor one side of the line with melee as opposed to even distribution. 2 groups of swords per group of linemen, using one group to engage their front and the second to flank if possible.




The Maratha weakness is no light infantry, their strength is above par line infantry and extremely powerful melee infantry and cavelry. The Sipahi's have the HIGHEST charge rating of any heavy cavelry, and will absolutely crush morale if they hit in the back, especially if your elephants loosen their formation.

[RTKBarrett]

The thing is because maratha have no light infantry, why do i have to bring any... grenzers are a much better deal and they will eat any melee units... im not saying ure tactic is flawed. Nothing is perfect, its just with maratha u already have a strong understanding of what to expect.

When ure opponent has any idea of what u could bring to the field, ure already at a disadvantage.

[Berdiche Knyaz]

Marathas is cool
But they're sowrdsmen are sorta useless against Musketters

[Society]

Here's a recent replay to show what I mean. This is on the Bengal map against britain. It's not a particularly great example, as he used Dragoons as cavelry instead of as infantry, and lacked riflemen or anything .... but this HAS worked on people using more intricate strategies.

[Kaizer Merlox]

In low number fights where the enemy can only spare like 10 units or so... The Hindus can pop up 1 elephant unit + 19 melee units... It's results = you outnumber them by a TON, and cannons to very little to stop yeah...

(Also that the Hindus have stronger melee units with higher moral, it's very possible to line them up in a row of 3, while keeping your higher attack infantry, but lower moral, in VERY long colums behind them, followed with your general.... The enemy will be out numbered, and forced to give up their guns for melee, which they are not made for...!)

[Lord Karhedron]

I've played a fair amount of Maratha... but certainly prefer them on Early rather than Late (as the few units they actually gain, aren't anything special). Further, I've found Guards are the real bane to them, able to hold their own in melee, as well as dealing a nasty punch as your units close on them.

[Arej]

Some people try pure melee armies.. those fail, epicly. Especially since many infantry regiments even have a better melee than they do! It's just so easy to box up on the melee guys and shoot them from everywhere while they're busy with your elite infantry that can hold out/win them in melee anyways.

[jo the greek]

i have won more 5 games with melee armies
In order to happen what do u say
it must
the game set in big funds
also the enemy attacks your elite troop
If u manage box him
if i jump high i can land on mars

Normally melee armies are bigger that european so who box who

[Arej]

i have won more 5 games with melee armies
In order to happen what do u say
it must
the game set in big funds
also the enemy attacks your elite troop
If u manage box him
if i jump high i can land on mars

Normally melee armies are bigger that european so who box who

And I have won more than 10 games using only General's Bodyguards.. doesn't mean it's a good tactic.

And yes the enemy must attack my elite troops or they will get shot to pieces - remember, I'm the one with guns?

Melee armies might be bigger but my regiments will beat a melee unit in a 1v1 and some even in a 2v1 or 3v1 - and you can't afford to send two regiments against everyone. Therefore, I'll get a lot of regiments free quickly after first shooting at your units charging and then owning them in melee..

Or if you want to break through my line with, say, 3-4 regiments against one of my regiments.. I'll just make them fall back. Either you follow with everything and lose your numerical advantage.. or you let them run a bit and come back to shoot you.

Melee armies just cannot fight a ranged army that has a capable general.

[jo the greek]

u sound to sure of the things u speak but then is a classic sickness here
and second also marathas have cannons and big ones

In one battle that lost as maratha i almost routed half his army
and guess the other half was light infantry and won me

[AustrianGeneral]

If they would have skirmishers like Jaegers or Niziam Cedit Rifles i guess the Indians would be a very strong faction. Skith Muskeets are excellent Line Infantery, Siphai are one of the most powerful cavalry, elephants are able to beat even guards.

Its sure possible to make a non rush tactic with them, but you sure got problems if you play against a factions with 125 Rang Skirmishers and which use that rifles...

Another weakness of the Marthars is that they dont have Howizter, in the most game are Mortars not allowed ( correct me if im wrong) and howiter are on my opionen they only useful artillery after mortars because they have Explosion ammo like Mortars too.

[JackDionne]

Historically who did they fight against? Anybody know?

[eskrogh]

If they would have skirmishers like Jaegers or Niziam Cedit Rifles i guess the Indians would be a very strong faction. Skith Muskeets are excellent Line Infantery, Siphai are one of the most powerful cavalry, elephants are able to beat even guards.

Its sure possible to make a non rush tactic with them, but you sure got problems if you play against a factions with 125 Rang Skirmishers and which use that rifles...

Another weakness of the Marthars is that they dont have Howizter, in the most game are Mortars not allowed ( correct me if im wrong) and howiter are on my opionen they only useful artillery after mortars because they have Explosion ammo like Mortars too.

mortars aint allowed but the indians still got a little trick there great gun has a range of 600 even tho they only got round shot

so even in a non mortar/rocket game they got a brilliant range unit...

the lack of skrimishers dont matter if you just replace the missling skirmissers with swordmen and/or cavalry.. so you charge in defence...

i have won 2/4 games with them.. the two loses is because i suck in Mp :p