Minimizing Battle Casualties

[Fotchimus]

What tricks do you do in battles to reduce losses?

For me if I have ranged cavalry units, I'll circle them behind the enemy line and specifically target their heavy cavalry and general bodyguard units. If I can kill them off or at least weaken them before they make it to my battle line, it saves a lot of people from a devasting charge.

In siege assaults, I'll try and get a spy in place before I reach the city to open the gates for me. Otherwise I'll use ladders from each side of the deployment zone so they are forced to spread their defenders out along multiple walls. Then once the battle starts, I move a ladder to the far side so all four sides of the settlement have people with ladders. Then I send ladders into areas that have no wall defenders on them. I prefer to avoid having melee-fests on the walls as you lose a lot of troops that way.

[alex5152]

well the best and most basic strategy for defending in a field battle is this:

FFFFFFFF IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII FFFFFFFF I=Light or spear infantry
FFFFFFFF IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII FFFFFFFF F= Heavy infantry or cavalry
FFFFFFFF IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII FFFFFFFF A= Archers


. AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA
. AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA
. AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA


Saved my @$$ more than one time when odds were against me

[Waffen]

I use a similar strategy when attacking/defending on the field.

A = Archers
X = Cavalry (heavy, light, range)
H = Heavy infantry/spears or both
O = Infantry (swordsmen,light infantry)


XXXXXX HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH XXXXXX XXXXX
XXXXXX OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOO XXXXXX XXXXX
. . . . . . . AAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAA AAAAAAA

This Strategy improvises in many different ways, depending on enemy size, enemy troop make up etc. If I have enough spears, Ill put a spear squad on the flanks for cavalry. If im outnumbered, I improvise a D shaped formation and make a stand on a hill with archers in the middle.
While sieging, I try and get a spy, but not necessary.I also try and get a trebuchet but if not, I implement this generic strategy mostly

ladder | tower | Ram | tower | ladder

I find this works. The ladder men are quick to get up and fight the enemy that rush to them, and by the time the towers open up, the men inside poor down onto the men waiting to kill the ladder men. However the troops in the towers have to be heavy inf in order for them to smash through the enemy waiting men.

[Trinity]

I set up field battles like so:

Archers
Spearmen/Light infantry/spearmen
Heavy Infantry/calvary

All, if not most of my calvary are on the right to flank. I have archers in front for better shots, and to soak up arrows.

I don't minimize casualties as much as I minimize expensive casualties.

[Kawee]

I set up field battles like so:

Archers
Spearmen/Light infantry/spearmen
Heavy Infantry/calvary

All, if not most of my calvary are on the right to flank. I have archers in front for better shots, and to soak up arrows.

I don't minimize casualties as much as I minimize expensive casualties.

Exactly. Those spear militias were suppose to die anyway. They signed up for it.

[Centaur]

Well when outnumbered in a siege where im defending I due what ranged damage I can then I hole up the door. In M2TW vanilla it helped alot against the mongols in which I was outnumbered by hundreds almost a thousand men. Keeping them stuck at the gate reduces their numbers advantage

[TheBromgrev]

Check out this thread on army formations and compositions. Yes the mod is different, but it's still the same game.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=301017

[meese]

Minimising losses? Avoid the prolonged battles by ensuring cavalry superiority is basically the gist of it. So I guess it really comes down to your army composition (I'm guessing you know how to use the basic cavalry encirclement strategy). Cavalry charges are at their best probably in the early stages (disregarding lancers and the like) when pikes aren't around. Usually I'll have at least four cavalry units, up to eight depending on the faction/other units. By the end, it varies from army to army.

Oh and when available, gunpowder units - the morale effect is very very useful if you can swing them around after the first engagement.

[soulson]

I tend to keep my spearman on the far sides to prevent cavalry flanking or if they do charge the lines I can flank them immediately. Heavy in the front/middle line with lighter swordsmen/axemen in the rear ready to run to either the left/right (which ever needs help) or flank. Cavalry on the far flank..If I have enough I will keep one with my general in the spread out position and will walk them into the front line during battle in hopes of routing the enemy.

[KittySN]

I tend to use stake capable archers, swords or axes and spears to guard flanks. Cavalry are nice, but not necessary. My entire strategy revolves around my archers. Drop stakes in a defensive arc, then switch your swords with archers so that they're protected from charges. Fire over the heads of your swords and spears. You don't need stakes, but they're a little easier to manage than pikes or extra spears.

[Goofy]

H = infantry
S = spearmen/pikemen
M = missile cavalry
A = missile infantry
X = cavalry
B = artillery

________________AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA_____________
_____________SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSS
MMMMMMM___(I put archers here) BBBBBBBB_____XXXXXXXXX______(gunpowder artillery here)

Missile cavalry runs on the left flank of the enemy and harasses them with arrows or javelins.
Artillery kills as many as possible. I like also using rotting cow carcass with Trebuchets.
Melee cavalry on the right flank, then I attack their archers, withdraw and perhaps run behind my own spearmen as the enemy heavy cavalry often tries to catch my cavalry.
When the enemy gets close, archers run behind my infantry.
Pikemen or spearmen kill the enemy cavalry.

You simply must manage your troops perfectly. Charge with your cavalry in exactly the right time, don't offer the enemy any chance to kill your missile troops. Bind their infantry with your own infantry and charge by cavalry from the rear.

[scarybandit]

After Battle Map is loaded select all of your units and use W key.

[JorisofHolland]

After Battle Map is loaded select all of your units and use Ctrl W.

Can someone post a screen of that? I think it would be funny if someone lost a battle due to trying it.
But how do you do this if you already retreated on the campaign map, so can't use CTRL + W anymore? Put yourself on the edge of the battlemap and wait for them to kill you?

[Navajo Joe]

If I am attacking AI faction, then this is the plan:
1. My missile cavarly attack enemy left flank, expend their ammo.
2. My artillery attack centre, with flaming missiles and flying cows!
3. My foot archers and X-Bows, unload their missile, into the enemy left flank.

Infantry wait behind my archers, and will move forward after steps 1-3 completed, as my infantry move forward my General and Heavy Cavarly, approach from and behind enemy left flank and impact when my infantry line engages. The enemy left and centre collapses and the right flank folds shortly after. I found this works regular particularly if AI thinks it is in a strong position e.g location, more troops. This works very well against enemy armies with no cavarly or little amounts

[merocaine]

Let those expensive merc's do the dieing, it means you dont have to pay them as much!

Or crappy spear milita.

Kind of like that scene in Brave Heart

Flunky "Shall we use the Archers Sir"
Edward Long Shanks "Arrows cost money, send in the Irish, they cost nothing"

[Fotchimus]

The problem with Scotland is... it's full of Scots!

How many cavalry units do you all use in your stacks? I think previously I wasn't using enough. As Egypt I throw in 6 Desert Cavalry and it seems to help a lot. But back when I was playing as France I was only using 2-4 Mailed Knights. If I were to play as them again in Early Campaign I think I'd go with 3 Mounted Sergeants and 3 Mailed Knights.

[Vaz]

I do 10% Light Cavalry, or if I have Decent Missile Cavalry (Cossack Mounted Gunners, Reiters etc), I'll forgo the 10% Light Cav, and instead go for 30% HA.

I always take between 30-50% Heavy Cavalry, unless I'm a Primary Horse Archer Force (Cumans). If I have Crap Heavy Cavalry, then I'll usually just get myself a Castle or Strategic Town with a Max Templar/Hospitaller Guild, and then have them get shipped out all over for Field Battles against Khwarz and Moors. But otherwise, it depends on the Faction I play.

I'm Antioch at the Minute, and although my Heavy Cavalry are awesome, Edessan Guard, Oathbreakers and Muslim Archers are my greatest strength, and Siege Battles are almost always mine, or very expensive losses for the Enemy.

[King Siegfried]

Here is one that I've used a few times. I was horribly outnumbered and fighting Ghulams, so my expensive knights were quite valuable to me.

PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PILGRIMS

............................................AAAAAA AAAAAA AAAAAA AAAAAA
............................... SSSSSS IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII SSSSSS
............................... CCCCCC ................. GENERAL ................. CCCCCC

All you really have to do is make sure the pilgrims (or peasants, or whatever) spread out as far as possible. Then the cavalry gets anxious and charges. The pilgrims absorb the charge, then you hit them with anti-cavalry (be it spears, halberds, pikes, or AP), and then you start swinging your cavalry around. The pilgrims absorb all the charges and may or may not break, and you just charge the enemy with your own spearmen/infantry. Then once they take your foot-charge, your cavalry slams into their backs. Instant rout. Sure I lose a few pilgrims (okay, most of them), but they're asking for it! Silly pilgrims entering a battlefield...

This works ESPECIALLY well in sieges.

[meese]

Haha! Yes, Pilgrims! Oh I love using them as cannon fodder...

As for how many cavalry units I use...it differs. As scotland, very few when pikes come out. In fact, I tend to end up playing to scotlands strength - pikes. I like having 15 units of pikes. Not the most effective army, but fun just being able to push everything around.

[Galain_Ironhide]

_________SSSSSSSS_________SSSSSSSS________SSSSSSSS_________SSSSSSSS_________
CCCCCCCC_________HHHHHHHH_________HHHHHHH_________HHHHHHHH_________CCCCCCCC
_________HHHHHHHH_________HHHHHHHH________HHHHHHHH_________HHHHHHHH_________
_________________AAAAAAAA_AAAAAAA_AAAAAAA_AAAAAAA_AAAAAAA___________________
_________________CCCCCCCCC_________GGGGGGG_________CCCCCCCC__________________

S=Spears (light/Heavy)
H=Infantry (usually Heavy)
A=Archers
C=Cav
G=General
_=open ground

Not my preferred method, but one I have fun with using western European forces.

I have played around with a staggered formation in some offensive battles that usually require some degree of defence from counter-attacks and with good results. I space my spears with enough room for my infantry and archers to move forward into the gaps (which is great during a charge). If this formation is attacked frontally by cavalry I can move my infantry units (if they are targeted) in behind one of the spears units before they achieve their charge and then bring forward my own reserve cavalry to mop up any thing that gets through the first line. Most usually enemy cav can not make a clean charge through gaps like this so half of them charge upon spears mistakingly.

When it comes time to charge the eneny ,my second line which composes of the Heavy infantry sitting in the gaps, leads the way with the first line of spears in next followed by the third line of H.Inf in reserve.

The Cavalry on the wings will flank around the enemy whilst I am moving the main army into position, plus encounter any enemy cav on the way, while the last of my cav and General unit if required flank to the left or right as well.