using elite troops

[Bond]

how often/when do you typically use your elite troops in battle(by this I mean unhorsed knights, or other high stat foot units)?

I generally only have 2-3 in my armies and they rarely see action since I usually deploy them behind my cannon fodder lines. I was thinking of starting to use them as my first wave in a siege assault as shock troops but I'm afraid of taking high casualties with them.

[melkor1861]

They are always the first wave in siege assaults, and they hold my walls in siege defense. Otherwise, I stick with foot archers, pikemen to protect my archers, and a whole lot of cavalry to win field battles! And you need to put them in the mix so they can build up experience... a gold chevroned Dismounted Knights Templar for instance, can hold off pretty much an entire army coming up a ladder by itself! Inexperienced troops can get panicked and rout relatively quickly.

[Fireright]

I use them every time in every battle. No point recruiting stuff and paying upkeep for units that don't get stuck in. Peasants and other garbage can soak up the arrows and do the suicide decoy stuff.

My top-tier heavy infantry guys are usually the first thing my foe sees. Get em whacked and routed

[Rakoua]

I usualy make a full stack of Chilvarics, Dismounted Chilvarics and the best archers I can get and upgrade them and go get some experience for them. Since by the time I get elite inf I have so much cash that I can spam such stacks.

[Incomitatus]

Elite cavalry - often.

Elite infantry - only siege assaults (up the siege towers), sometimes siege defence.

[Fireright]

Think of all the time and florins a player spends building and upgrading stuff, and it seems a crime not to use elite heavy infantry in battle and instead hold them back in reserve. Its a bit like having a load of expensive freeloaders on the payroll. Make them earn their keep and get them stuck in.

[ChivalrousKiller]

Think of all the time and florins a player spends building and upgrading stuff, and it seems a crime not to use elite heavy infantry in battle and instead hold them back in reserve. Its a bit like having a load of expensive freeloaders on the payroll. Make them earn their keep and get them stuck in.

Exactly

The only reason we have them is to use them

[Fireright]

Exactly

The only reason we have them is to use them

Spot On

I keep my armies lean and mean, no freeloaders in a Fireright Army. If I notice a stack or unit not doing damage to the foe, there'll be some serious questions asked after "End Turn"

[shikaka]

Depends on unit type.

I use the best (not über, but cost effectiveness) always from the ones which are unlikely to take big damage. Horse archers, siege equipment, pavese crossbow...

From the other units (likely to take damage), mainly melee, I only use those which I can most likely retrain at the AI's settlements. The simple reason is that I hate to ship them back to the only retrain center 6 provinces away...

[Incomitatus]

Think of all the time and florins a player spends building and upgrading stuff, and it seems a crime not to use elite heavy infantry in battle and instead hold them back in reserve. Its a bit like having a load of expensive freeloaders on the payroll. Make them earn their keep and get them stuck in.

Or... your could not train elite units, save the cost of training and upkeep, and do even more building and upgrading. I don't train elite units until I'm about to invade someone, then I use them mercilessly in assaults... merge the survivors, and try to come out of the war with as few elite units as possible (but well experienced now, of course).

[Fireright]

Or... your could not train elite units, save the cost of training and upkeep, and do even more building and upgrading. I don't train elite units until I'm about to invade someone, then I use them mercilessly in assaults... merge the survivors, and try to come out of the war with as few elite units as possible (but well experienced now, of course).

Minimal use of elite units matey? I feel honour bound to present my ai foe with as fearsome an army as I can muster. I want the ai trembling in fear..."Oh Gawd its that Fireright Army again, we're gonna get hammered here guys...check out all that heavy infantry"

[Auditor]

What I usually do in battles is sending 2-3 expendable cheep units towards enemy to soak missile fire and trigger skirmish running from enemy missile troops. My better units are advancing as a second line. Then I command first line (or what left of it) to retreat and charge the enemy lines with elite infantry.

Also I never disband units with experience points; I always merge or retrain them. Then I create an elite army and assign best general to it. This is kind of "dream army", made of best and most experienced troops and perfect mix of them. I never use it for smaller battles or unimportant city assaults.

I use them only for epic key battles and always fighting each battle (not auto-resolve).

This adds fun RP aspect to the game and it is hard for any unit to become part of this elite army – unit needs at least 2 silver chevron expo and all possible upgrades to join such an elite force

[Supermoler]

In all my campaign I got tons of coins and I'm not turtling (England 150th turn 500K gold, other campaign New Spain 300K gold in 60th turn...)
So I make always the best units, I dont care their cost

[Townsaver]

In all my campaign I got tons of coins and I'm not turtling (England 150th turn 500K gold, other campaign New Spain 300K gold in 60th turn...)
So I make always the best units, I dont care their cost

Holy Moly.
I think the most I have had in any game I have ever played was around 40-50K.
I am playing Scotland, now, after 30-40 turns, and im lucky if I have 5K. most often, its more like 2.

[landkarte]

Elite infantry troops are of great use in siege, where I usually use them with siege towers first to capture enemy walls or gate. Same goes the other way - good heavy infantry helps me to keep my castles and cities against superior numbers of attackers. For the above mentioned purposes 2 - 3 units in the army is usually enough.

One better unit of heavy cavalry in the army, to lead the charge is also good idea, especially if you're going to charge battle ready pikemen

Elite archers I train as much as possible and replace the weaker units in armies providing I have enough money for that.

[Incomitatus]

I prefer the AI (what's left) to go "How the deuce did he beat us with just spear militia and peasant archers and a couple mounted sergeants?? Who is this guy, Alexander the Great or something?"

[Fireright]

I prefer the AI (what's left) to go "How the deuce did he beat us with just spear militia and peasant archers and a couple mounted sergeants?? Who is this guy, Alexander the Great or something?"

Having read the informative and detailed recent posts of Mr Incomitantus, I reckon you've mastered the dark arts of what I believe is called "AI Kiting" and can therefore dish out jolly good ai thrashings with skilful use of light cavalry and stuff

Alas I am bereft of such skill and still dwell in the 'sledgehammer to crack a nut' camp

And I kinda like my army consisting of elite troops and other outright thugs. No finesse ere matey!!

[Incomitatus]

Having read the informative and detailed recent posts of Mr Incomitantus, I reckon you've mastered the dark arts of what I believe is called "AI Kiting" and can therefore dish out jolly good ai thrashings with skilful use of light cavalry and stuff

Alas I am bereft of such skill and still dwell in the 'sledgehammer to crack a nut' camp

And I kinda like my army consisting of elite troops and other outright thugs. No finesse ere matey!!

Well, I don't want to inadvertently overstate the case. I like elite units. They're fun. But I also like a balanced budget. Therefore, I try to limit the elites and keep them in the army that has the most difficult jobs - like storming enemy cities and castles where, thanks to the centre square, you actually do need to kill every last one of them, usually.

In the field, I attack enemy morale rather than focus on killing per se. For that, elite troops are often a bit of an overkill. That said, I'll always use the best spearmen and archers I can get, and I'll usually have a unit or two of the best knights I can get with any field army. I don't need the knights in every battle, but when I do, I really do.

Depending on faction, there are exceptions to this method of playing, though. For example: I tend to only play the Kingdoms campaigns, and when playing as the Spanish in the Americas, it's Dismounted Conquistadors all the way. They are indispensable. Likewise, when playing as Denmark in the Teutonic Campaign, nothing can replace Dismounted Huscarles (though my front line will always still be Spear Militia with full armour upgrades).

Almost every unit has a use, I just don't like to bring a shotgun to a paddle-ball tournament. Makes it too easy.

[Il Medico]

I use elite troops a lot. Especially infantry. (shocking I know)

My western armies (aka, armies that don't have good light cavalry and horse archers) usually are made up like this:

4-5 Units of Spear men/Pike Men.
4 Units of Foot archers
4-5 Units of Heavy Infantry (Elite)
1-2 Units of Light Calvary
1-2 Field Artillery (like a ballista)
2 Heavy Calvary (elite)

The combined arms approach works very well, even though it is often light on cavalry in my case.

[Fireright]

Aye, the combined arms approach is usually a winner and the way to go.


Ai foes often see this in battle:

1 unit peasants with a ram.
10 units heavy infantry.



wots cavalry and missile all about??