Ambushes

[Chad29]

I rarely use ambushes, and I'm not exactly sure how to best use one. Should an ambush troop be mainly cavalry, so you can quickly charge the enemy before they assemble themselves? What are some choice ambush locations?

Do most players use ambushes, or is it an underused tactic?

[Silverheart]

I rarely use them either, but I have found some advantages with them.
For example, when ambushing, you can deploy your troops on both sides of the enemy, and force them to fight a two-prong attack - something which is very hard for the AI to do properly.

I would also think that the best troops for ambushes are high-charge cavalry, working in tandem with powerful Long-range Archers (crossbowmen might take a little too long to reload to be effective in an ambush).
If your planning an ambush, it would also be a good idea to bring a general who has traits which make him effective at ambushing - even if you handle the battle yourself, the chances are greater that the enemy are taken completely by surprise (which would prevent them from deploying).

Good ambush sites are forests adjacent to roads, forest-dense areas and mountains (your troops can swarm down on the enemy from behind, with all the benefits of high ground)

[SCG man]

Im the master of ambushes and one of the best ofr ntw and etw

[voca]

My ambush always happen by chance. Those that I plan almost never succeed :s

My successful ambushes were done with heavy infantry (and sherwood archers they rox!)

[Incomitatus]

I don't bother. It's too painful when your carefully selected ambush force gets discovered and attacked... suddenly all those light archers and javelin troops aren't what you need when you can't pincushion all the enemy cavalry in the first volley.