Homeland Security = Mounted Crossbowmen

[Avallach]

I've found that a half stack of mounted crossbowmen with a couple of units of heavy cavs are an excellent home patrol solution against those pesky respawning rebels.

If the rebels have no ranged units, you will annihilate them without taking a single casualty provided you remain on skirmish (default). Rebel armies usually have a couple of low grade ranged units but even with those, my mounted crossbows kick the stuffing out of them before they can do any significant damage. Also, due to their range and speed, it's nearly impossible for routing units to escape. If there are any artillery units, I'll send my heavy cavs after them.

The mounted crossbows are cheap to upkeep and have a lot of movement points (provided the entire stack is cav) allowing them to cover a large territory. I currently hold all of Iberia, most of Western Europe, and the Italian peninsula and I can keep that entire area clean with just two of these armies.

For those that may not be aware, rebel armies will hurt your income if allowed to linger but more importantly, keeping them cleared makes it a lot easier and safer to move your governors and agents around. I can safely move a governor by himself to any settlement without an accompanying army.

If you are carefully managing your empire, you should have very little chance for another faction to invade into your heartland unawares but even if they do, that many mounted crossbowmen are going to put the hurt on just about any AI army that pops in unawares so they can also be a good emergency army until you can get your main forces rallied.

[Loki_999]

Its a good point if you are playing as a faction that has any mounted ranged unit. However, if you play as England for example then you can only do this with mercenaries... and they cost.

[Hupsel]

The money rebels costs you is a lot less then the money you spend on the upkeep of your expensive all cavalary army. In my opinion youre far better off using just your city regiments + a family member to get rid of the random rebels.

However I do agree with you that mounted missile troops (xbows, bows, javelins anything) are great for border security I just wouldnt use them for the single purpose of killing rebels, I'd rather use them to invade enemy territory.

[Avallach]

The money rebels costs you is a lot less then the money you spend on the upkeep of your expensive all cavalary army. In my opinion youre far better off using just your city regiments + a family member to get rid of the random rebels.

My more important reason for using them is to keep the land safe for governor movement. I am at the point in the game anyway where money is not an issue regardless so it's more of a convenience thing but I agree that it is perhaps more of a rich man's solution. The other convenience thing is the speed of the battles. They get over really fast and the pwn'ge is fun to watch I am the type that fights 99% of all battles so this is a factor for me.

[Hupsel]

My more important reason for using them is to keep the land safe for governor movement. I am at the point in the game anyway where money is not an issue regardless so it's more of a convenience thing but I agree that it is perhaps more of a rich man's solution. The other convenience thing is the speed of the battles. They get over really fast and the pwn'ge is fun to watch I am the type that fights 99% of all battles so this is a factor for me.

If you like to speed your battles up, train a Dreadlord add 3 sets of Heavy chargers to his army and charge into your enemies lines, then sit back and enjoy your quick and victory.

[Loki_999]

If you like to speed your battles up, train a Dreadlord add 3 sets of Heavy chargers to his army and charge into your enemies lines, then sit back and enjoy your quick and victory.

Cool idea. I usually focus on making my generals chivalrous so never really created a dreadlord (nice term by the way... i think i will adopt it). Chivalrous generals are good because your low level units are less likely to rout when they get into trouble.

[Loki_999]

Ok, i'm sold. Was planning on playing Mr. Nice Guy this campaign, but I think evil SOB may be more fun. :-)

[Hupsel]

Ok, i'm sold. Was planning on playing Mr. Nice Guy this campaign, but I think evil SOB may be more fun. :-)

Its also alot better for your goldstock as you get to sack every village you conquer and you'll never have to fight the same troops again.

[Loki_999]

Its also alot better for your goldstock as you get to sack every village you conquer and you'll never have to fight the same troops again.

Took your advice. Took my lowest Chivalry general (actually was 0 chiv/0 dread) and took him pillaging and rampaging against some small stacks and rebels. When he had a few dread points I sent him against a full stack of Spanish who have 1 remaining territory in modern day France.

The enemy was sat in the middle of the map as usual and i sent my jinettes around the back and some cavalry/camels to each flank. General and some cavalry remained at the front. Started moving all units towards the computer and he started reorganizing his ranks.

Sent the jinettes at the back charging in to harass his general and then ordered the other units to charge into the center of his army.

I swear the couple of units of peasants he had already started routing before the cavalry even hit their lines. The rest of the army started fleeing very soon after they were hit.

I presume a number of factors were at play here:

1) Medium dread general on my side.
2) Low chivalry (or dread) general on their side.
3) Being surrounded
4) Being charged
5) Ranks in disarray (General chasing after jinettes instead of staying with the main body of the army)
6) Peasants already fleeing and other low morale units started to panic causing a chain reaction.

Now looking forward to getting him up a few more dread ranks to max. Can't wait to see the effect.