Whats your battle strategy?

[Welshman25]

I usually play as one of the European powers with Darthmod, and I usually change my strategy a bit depending on who I'm fighting.

Against other Europeans, I usually have general, 2-4 standard artillery, 2 dragoons, 6-8 line infantry, 2-4 "special" infantry (marines with marines mod, grenadiers, guards, etc), and a few heavy cavalry or light infantry/riflemen. I set up all my line infantry in a standard line, 4-5 ranks deep. Special infantry behind this (on elevated ground or woods, if possible), all cavalry on the flanks, artillery sitting back on a hill behind all this. I march my main line up to a good position and wait for the enemy to advance. I send my cavalry to attack any enemy cavalry. After a while of shooting from line to line, I send my special infantry around to one of the flanks and smash into the enemy flank. If my cavalry has routed the enemy cavalry they help flank too. Then a massive bayonet charge of the main line usually wins the battle. Throughout the whole thing, my artillery just sits back and takes potshots at the enemy general or tight knots of enemy troops.

Against native americans, I usually have more melee-strong infantry and cavalry, less light infantry/skirmishers. My few basically same tactics, with the few light infantry I have just supporting the main force by shooting into the massive melee from elevated ground.

Haven't fought much in India, so I'm not sure what to do there. Still getting to know naval tactics, too.

[Kyias]

I use a "box" formation that surrounds my artillery pieces and infantry boxing them in from all sides. I don't leave a flank for my enemy to attack me from

Generally, my setup will include a mainstay of line infantry, 3 units of light infantry, 2 24LB Howitzer cannons, and if available, 2 units of dragoons or Life Cavalry.

[Henry707]

I use a "box" formation that surrounds my artillery pieces and infantry boxing them in from all sides. I don't leave a flank for my enemy to attack me from

Generally, my setup will include a mainstay of line infantry, 3 units of light infantry, 2 24LB Howitzer cannons, and if available, 2 units of dragoons or Life Cavalry.

If the enemy or AI used cannons properly, you'd be mashed in that formation...but I do the same

Henri

[caldwell77]

Every battle is different so I can't say I fight "this way or that". But I do have certain tactics I tend to favor:
I love using walls when able. I don't actually crouch behind them as it seems to affect firing rate, but I position my troops directly behind them.
If the AI is being cautious I like to soften them up with a good artillery pounding. I definately favor targeting cav with my art. It's WAY more effective than against inf. Sadly my art vs art duels will likely come to an end with the next patch given that they plan to toughen up art pieces. A pity. That's very historical.
I don't use light inf at all so I prefer to stay out of the woods.
I haven't seen any value from high ground so I don't usually trouble myself with it.
I like to hold back long enough to see if the AI is going to send suicide cav charges against my flanks/art/gen. If so I deal with that first.
I try to keep a reserve back but I think the game play makes that a lot less important. Imagine how much different it'd be if you really only knew as much as you would have historically. I'd be scared poopless every time a tree swayed.
Generally I'm a 'rush up and smack somebody' type of player. I'm the defensive players dream opponent. I'm always impatient to run forward and give them the smackings and wackings they all deserve. I've gotten myself into some tight spots that way.

[Gators1]

I haven't seen any value from high ground so I don't usually trouble myself with it.

High ground is very valuable in this game. Enemy units move slowly up hills, so you have longer to keep up your musket fire before they reach your lines. Cavalry on top of a hill has an advantage over enemy units below. They come flying down the hill and blow right through the enemy formation. And obviously artillery up a hill is a big advantage. You have a better vantage point over the battle field and it slightly increases your range. I just fought a battle in the perfect terrain this weekend in Tunis. There was a huge hill to one side of the town with a bunch of rock faces such that the enemy couldn't climb up to a position near the top of the hill. I found a nice bluff and put my 3 artillery units up there with a line infantry (in case they could get up and I didn't see it). Then to the side of the hill there was a plain, slightly up hill and just wide enough to put all my line infantry 2 deep across it with low hills on either side for my cavalry. I wish I had a screen shot because it was perfect! Basically the artillery slaughtered everything, even as they tried to move back to the back of the battlefield to get out of range. A few units actually made it in range of my troops and were slaughtered by my two deep lines of musket fire. The cavalry troops had a few beers and watched the action.

As for tactics, it depends on who you are fighting. I usually try to rout the cavalry units with artillery early. When their line advances, I let them engage and then bring my cavalry from the flanks and start rolling up their line outside in. This scares the crap out of them and they flee en masse. With the new patch and economic issues, it has made many battles more interesting. I can't afford full armies everywhere, so I fight with small units and get creative. I had 4 line infantry defending Gibraltar from Morocco. Their infantry sucked, but I had to watch the camels and get in a square before they charged. Sometimes they brought the camels and infantry at the same time and it got hairy, but they never had enough units to defeat me.

The one bad thing about the AI (yeah I know there are many) is that the artillery seems to scare them into attacking too often. I start shooting and they get all discombobulated rather than holding a good tactical position when defending.

[Welshman25]

High ground is very valuable in this game. Enemy units move slowly up hills, so you have longer to keep up your musket fire before they reach your lines. Cavalry on top of a hill has an advantage over enemy units below. They come flying down the hill and blow right through the enemy formation. And obviously artillery up a hill is a big advantage. You have a better vantage point over the battle field and it slightly increases your range. I just fought a battle in the perfect terrain this weekend in Tunis. There was a huge hill to one side of the town with a bunch of rock faces such that the enemy couldn't climb up to a position near the top of the hill. I found a nice bluff and put my 3 artillery units up there with a line infantry (in case they could get up and I didn't see it). Then to the side of the hill there was a plain, slightly up hill and just wide enough to put all my line infantry 2 deep across it with low hills on either side for my cavalry. I wish I had a screen shot because it was perfect! Basically the artillery slaughtered everything, even as they tried to move back to the back of the battlefield to get out of range. A few units actually made it in range of my troops and were slaughtered by my two deep lines of musket fire. The cavalry troops had a few beers and watched the action.

As for tactics, it depends on who you are fighting. I usually try to rout the cavalry units with artillery early. When their line advances, I let them engage and then bring my cavalry from the flanks and start rolling up their line outside in. This scares the crap out of them and they flee en masse. With the new patch and economic issues, it has made many battles more interesting. I can't afford full armies everywhere, so I fight with small units and get creative. I had 4 line infantry defending Gibraltar from Morocco. Their infantry sucked, but I had to watch the camels and get in a square before they charged. Sometimes they brought the camels and infantry at the same time and it got hairy, but they never had enough units to defeat me.

The one bad thing about the AI (yeah I know there are many) is that the artillery seems to scare them into attacking too often. I start shooting and they get all discombobulated rather than holding a good tactical position when defending.

I hardly ever get decent high ground to fight on (small hills are usually all I get), but when I do, I change my army setup to match the terrain.

[Generalissimo]

1 general's bodyguard
6 green jackets
2 mortars
4 cavalry
1 grenadier
4 line infantry (coldstream guard if left over money)

I usually defend. When the enemy sends out their cavalry first I just make my skirmishers put pikes in front of the line infantry. I then put my skirmishers right behind my line infantry. If the cavalry take an alternative route (going around the infantry) I take them out with my cavalry. While my enemy advances my mortars take out about 1/5 of his infantry. The 4/5 are left over for my infantry. I use my general's bodyguard to guard my artillery. My grenadiers chuck their nades at the infantry.

[Thecake]

my stacks all differ and in my ottoman campaign i only have one full stack; the rest are half stacks and such that i use for occupation
but...
i form a wall of line infantry 3 ranks deep, and put any missile cavalry i have behind them, and some cannons in the center if i have any at my disposal
general in the center rear
cavalry at the flanks
and melee infantry behind the wall of line infantry.

if i'm on the offensive i'll split the line infantry into regiments of 3 units each and send them marching towards the enemy from different approaches, with skirmishers leading in a single file wall

if i'm on the defensive i wait for the enemy to approach, and then i let everyone shoot each other before i engage in melee and send the melee infantry crashing through the ranks of my line infantry, with the line infantry following shortly after. then the cavalry encircles the blob, and the missile cavalry chases down routing units
if i have skirmishers i usually situate them in a single file wall 50 yards or so in front of the line infantry, so that they can ambush any shock cavalry or melee troops and then retreat past my defensive wall or to the flanks

[My Fing ID]

My stacks consist of 3 dragoons, 3 grenadiers, 2 cannon, 1 general and the rest are line infantry. Here's their functions :

INFANTRY: Ill start with the bread and butter. My infantry is placed along a long line, 3 ranks deep, with the guns in the middle. This presents 3 weak spots, either end and the middle. Grenadiers are used to cover these areas.
I wait for the enemy to attack. They usually will commit the majority of their force to one part of the line. This allows me to wrap the un engaged part of my line around, flanking if not surrounding the enemy. Sometimes they have troops that are uncommitted so I taper the ends of the line to be ready to engage these forces.
When I have to advance ill stop the guns from firing (unless on a hill), close the gap in the middle, and move as one long line. I try to tie off my ends with wooded areas or buildings and always use walls (well stand by them)
Town militia is always placed in buildings so I have positions to tie off with if I need to fall back

CANNON: like I said the guns go in the middle, unless they're mortars. I basicly harass the enemy, looking for big concentrations of troops to fire into. When the enemy closes I fire one round of shot and if the enemy is still coming I cease fire and put the grenadiers up front. Cannons are a pain because if you cross infront of them you have to shut them down first. I use horse drawn or mortars, depends how mobile I want to be. If enemy is in a building ill use my guns if I have the time.

GRENADIERS: my quick reaction force in the rear and building raiders. They are placed at my weak spots; the ends of the line and behind the guns. They plug any hole or join any melee I'm not comfortable with. The only time I really use grenades is when taking out units in buildings.

DRAGOONS: I spend most my time with these guys at the start of the fight. Usually they run to the enemy rear, kill the cannons, then find a good spot to dismount and harass. If an enemy is behind a wall these guys hit their rear. If the enemy goes somewhere I don't want them to go these guys deploy and hold them until my line catches up. That's the key with these guys, get them where they need to go, dismount, and open fire. You can kill off the enemy guns quickly and cause them to pull a bunch of men from the front. Dragoons are very versatile and extremely useful.

GENERAL: He guards the guns. That's about it. I try not to commit him unless I have to (like if cav sneaks past my grenadiers and into my rear)

That's the basics. I divide the line if I have to but I usually want to outnumber the enemy in each engagement. If not I still move part of my line to their flank. Better to divide and hit them where they're weak than go toe to toe.

[cassidy981]

My favourite nation is Ottoman Empire and Austria because Ottoman have range 600 artillery and cheap elite infantry(I use them as line infantry). Austria has well Grenzers and irregulars, and also, 150 line infantry team.

I usually use 2 foot artillery, 2 mortar, 5 line infantry( Prepare team is Guards or Household), 3 light infantry, 2 irregulars (range 125 or, if lack of money, I will use grenadiers instead of irregulars), 2 Dragoons and 3 melee cavalry (always lancers, if Indian Countries, I use 1 Elephant and 2 camels).

I use 2 mortar to fire at enemy's artillery first, than, the 2 iregulars deployed at the right side of me. The 4 line infantry divide 2 lines and 1 line infantry become prepared team. all 3 light infantry deployed at the right-top hand side of my line infantry. The 2 Dragoons deployed at the left side of me. The 3 melee deployed at the extremely right hand side of me. My general move left and right quickly to prevent the mortar hit him.

I just use round shot in artillery, I fire high-explode shells with mortars. My irregulars stay and never move. My light infantry move forward some distance, and my line infantry follow up. And I stay and not move. While enemy come, my line infantry 1st line fire and my light infantry move to the equal right hand side of my line infantry and 1 of them move backward. My Dragoons move to the back of the enemy. My 2nd line line infantry move to equal left hand side of my 1st line line infantry. I cauculate the number of enemy came. If more behind, my irregulars will move forward and fire at the enemy come to support and my melee cavalry attack the artillery after the enemy all come to the front of me.

My artillery will fire round shot at the prepare enemy( if they have). If not, they will come out and stay calm with the mode melee. My mortar and melee cavalry killed all of their artillery units and fire at their general. If I killed their general, the 3 melee cavalry will strike at the behind of the enemy and the enemy start routing. If there one more reinforcement, my prepare line infantry will fire at them. And I am standing on the high ground of the battle, and they have no hope and lost the battle.

This is the theroy of my battle strategy on land battle.

Hope everyone gives me some advice, thank you.

[Cheshire Cat]

I never attack the AI i wait for them to attack me , Then if its later in the game ill just get my 24ib Howizers set on percussion to blast the enemy as they advance , if there lucky half will make it to my line , then just sweep up behind with your light horse...

[Stildawn]

Classic V or W lines with cannon at inside points for defence, use a spaced row of square formation Infanty across the rear to act as reserve and to slaughter enemy cavalry. Keep all other units (Cav, gen etc) inside this formation til I want to use them.

Attack, I generally split my Infantry up into groups of four regiments with supporting cav or dragoons. I then put this group in for easy marching. Will direct the (usually) three groups on wide circuits to attack on sides and rear of enemy position. Usually one of them (depending on the way the enemy deploys) will catch the brunt for a while taking on the whole enemy for a wee while. When attacking a deploy into line usually 2 or 3 ranks deep with cav behind on the side furtherest away from the enemy, I will wrap my little lines as much as possible and use my cav to do raking runs from left to right to left again across the back of the engaged enemy units while my Infantry hammer into them. Battles usually end pretty quickly when they are attacked from three sides by verstile operation groups.

[ArnyBoy]

My stacks usually consists of a General, some artillery, around 4 grenadiars/light infantry/rifleman and a lot of line infantry. I then split my line infantry into two large groups and one smaller group. The large groups of line infantry march towards the enemy, one group on the left and one on the right. The smaller line inf groups guards artillery. While my grenadiars/light inf/rifleman just go wherever i think they are needed and the general just runs around a bit.

[LouieMG]

One of the ways I've learned that you can take on large armies with a few good units is to use buildings for cover... not only by letting some units garrison in a building but also by 'hiding' other units behind the building.

So far I found that the AI never seems to target the buildings with cannon... just as the enemy units approach 'spring out' the units from behind the building and begin to fire on the incoming enemy (Making sure that they've already begun to chase the decoy cavalry). The trick here is to sacrifice one cavalry unit... sometimes this unit doesn't need to get eliminated completely but its numbers will suffer.

What I do is send the Cavalry unit out just past the incoming group of units (flank) then once the enemy troops turn to either target it with guns or charge it (this is when the 'hiding' units come out)... then I move the unit fast to the another point. Always maintain a triangular form or a far to near zigzag whenever possible and making sure I keep it within the line of fire of my own troops.

Surprisingly the AI attacks the closest unit (usually) and 'takes the bait' so that cavalry unit might suffer but while you keep the enemy units chasing it their numbers start dropping fast. As long as you keep your units in the buildings shooting.

Usually when I see that the unit is down to about 6 or so left I either send in another cavalry unit to replace it (for larger enemy armies) or I simply let them ride away from the area.

I know that for some purists this is too much like cheating but it’s gotten me out of seriously unfavorable match ups... and I always come out on top (So far).

I've tried doing this when my units are all out in the open but it seems that the enemy (AI) is more likely to only send a few in the direction of the cavalry unit... but when there are units in buildings it makes most units target the moving cavalry instead.

[powellinthesouth]

To be honest when I have lack of money I usually do" 1 General, 1-4 Artillery, 2-6 Line, all the rest militia

Very cheap, and with the new BAI if you use it right it will overcome any army

[kenken]

Well i did alot of experimenting and must say i'm disappointed. I win any battle on any difficulty setting with 8 mortars and the rest line infantry. Doesn't matter what nation either. I have yet to lose a battle unless i'm fighting 2 armies at once and they have double the numbers but even then I still put up a fight.

I used to use cavalry but decided to try this setup and low and behold it's all you really need...very pitiful ai. Might take a bit longer to chase down their artillery way back in the field but that's about it. It's funny, i've actually set all line infantry to mellee and they still haven't lost against an equal force. Wish ca would do something about this.

[Nastyvale]

Here's what you can do until you get hold of mortars in mid-late game:

Human Vauban

In short, think of a star fort with Line Infantry and place artillery at their point of intersection. Actually, this tactic has been mentioned way back in these forums as 'jagged line formation' or something similar.

As you already know, the AI just loves to go after your artillery pieces. Position your infantry at an angle and create a beaten zone of musket fire. By the time they get close to canister range they might as well be ready to break.

IMPORTANT! One Line infantry or even Pikemen deployed behind your guns in case they manage to pass the gauntlet. Optionally grab a couple ligth cavalry units to mop up the remaining pieces...

[Aeohjie]

As Europeans, usually lots of line infantry, at least four light infantry or riflemen, 3-6 howitzers, and 2-4 cavalry. I prefer to let the enemy attack me. I set the line infantry back and set the riflemen up front. The howitzers are usually close behind the line infantry and cavalry are at the line's flank. I use the riflemen in light infantry/skirmish to soften the advancing enemy. When they get close, I withdraw them behind the line, and put them on the flank. Cavalry are used to flank and chase down any runners. I use the howitzers with quicklime when the enemy is far away, and switch to round shot when they're close.

As Indians/Turks, usually lots of irregular infantries, around 6-8 mortars, and much more cavalry. Elephants and camels preferably. The infantry's only job then is to absorb the enemy fire while the cavalry and mortars do the real work. I don't use much cavalry against the Indians(as a European) because elephants and camels cause them to panic. I also use less light infantry because they're not as useful against cavalry.

As Americans, usually lots of melee, 2-4 bows, 2 muskets, 1-2 artillery, and the rest are cavalry. More lancers to muskets. The perfect battleground for me here is a valley surrounded by forests. I put the bows and muskets at one end and the melee and lancers on the flank. Artillery are behind and, if possible, above the archers. I use the musket cavalry to draw the enemy into the kill zone and let my archers and muskets and cannons go to work, then have my melee come in and flank. Armies in the European colonies aren't that large usually, so the battles are more often on a smaller scale. Against them, I like to fight them where their advantages are taken away in opens fields.

[Soveriegn]

Well, what I use is pretty good. I always use US, Maratha or Ottomans. But this is for US only.
Condidtions:Late Per, Large funds
1 gen, 2 heavy cavalry, 2 light dragoons, 2 gaurds, 6 line inf, 7 minutemen- don't knock it until you've actually tried it. Please take notice that you have 20 units.
I use this only when I am in any game besides a 1v1.

Organize your cavalry so that the dragoons are on one side and the heavy cav on the other- they both can handle themselves. Use the minutemen to form a single line w/each unit having 3 lines of troops behind them, a line of battle consisting of the line infantry and gaurds. When you advance, your minutemen weaken the enemies line infantry and their light infantry. Then your line infantry can wipe them up. Use your cav to take out the opponents cavalry, their art, or their light infantry-which ever is needed. Use the dragoons to flank and fire-dont use them to charge until you absolutely must.

If you are going at it 1v1 or have a tendency to like the ranged units-I have another setup.
2 heavy cavalry (1 as gen), 3 light dragoons, 2 gaurds, 6 line infantry, 5 long riflemen (4 have +1 exp.)

Send your riflemen out walking as far as you can to your oppponent. When you are out in front of of your main battle line by 20 paces, start your line infantry forward. Use your heavies and dragoons to hold your flanks. Keep the gen behind your line inf. use your riflemen to skirmish with theirs. Since you'll know when they are coming, while you walk up, keep fire at will off to stay hidden longer, and turn it on when their skirmishers are way insider your firing arcs. Half their units will be lost with a single volley. Use your cavalry to take one theirs-light dragoons can easily take on life gaurds and win. Slowly move your line infantry up, and fire over your crouching riflemen. Or wait, until you kill all their skirmishers-it depends on the situation of course. Once they are left with few skirmishers and their battle line is all that is left-march on them in full force. You'll get them in the end.

Let it be known that using the first setup- I was in a 3v3 game, I completely destroyed a french army w/light inf, elite line infantry, and 4 art units, and 5 cav units- and continued to inflict 1550+ casualties, while everyone else had inflicted 600 or less. I lost 1200 troops, out of a total of around 2300. (unit size was large).

[Tiberius Tosi]

---------------S--------------S----------------
-----------I-------I-------I-------I-------------
----------A---I---A---I---A---I---A-------------
----------G-------G-------G-------G------------
--------------C-------GEN-------C--------------

S = Skirmishers
G = Grenadiers
I = Infantry
A = Artillery
C = Cavalry
Gen. = General

I find this formation going into every battle leaves me a lot of room to adapt to situations. I find being able to adapt to my situations from the beginning is much more important than some utlimate strategy.

Of course if the terrain is good and in favor I will always make use of that, but if on flat ground with no advantes or disadvantage, this is my standard formation. It's based of the Roman formations.