Early, middle, or late game military?

[Chad29]

We all want to play a faction with a good military, and there are different stages where you have access to different troops. Which do you think is most important? The early game troops that help you expand quickly? The mid game troops that help you fight wars that crop up when factions run out of rebel settlements to take? Or late game troops that help you hold on to the empire you've carved out by the time the Timurids show up?

Mostly when i look at how strong a faction is, I look at the strongest troops. Of course those kind of troops I tend to not get until i have citadels and huge cities.

[shikaka]

For me, mostly early is important.
My preferance is to have at least a good projectile cavalry, and those are available early.
If I have that I'm set.

[shokh]

I build my armies small but strong. I´m a defensive player vs AI.
Only one thing a avoid in MTW - gunpowder

[thespaniard]

i prefer hungary high period since they got epic HAs, battlefield assasains, and pavise pikemen witch just look sweet

[Eastern Spain]

I prefer Spain late period. By this time, their Navy is unstoppable, they have good infantry and cavalry, and artillery is always a bonus. I must say I do enjoy when the game speeds up when you can take a fully defended Citadel in the same turn.

[eggthief]

I prefer Spain late period. By this time, their Navy is unstoppable, they have good infantry and cavalry, and artillery is always a bonus. I must say I do enjoy when the game speeds up when you can take a fully defended Citadel in the same turn.

Isn't Portugal like equal or better than Spain in any field during the late game?

[Chad29]

They're very similar. Practically the same thing, I think.

[Eastern Spain]

Isn't Portugal like equal or better than Spain in any field during the late game?

Yeah, Portugal or Spain. But Spain is cooler.

[Cormag]

I much prefer the Late Game giants, because I always seem to fly to Late game, so I spend most of my campaign at that age, which benefits a strong Late Game army.

[Xion]

I prefer high peroid...late makes it rather easy with the gunpowder..

I look for troops to fit my style of play..basically two decent archer units, good cavalry selection, and decent infantry..ie, France.

[Silverheart]

I prefer factions that are better and better the later into the game it is.
In the beginning, I never have the economy to support any super elite armies of the best men available, but I always do later in the game.
So I like the italian factions, since they have good militia for the early game, and will only continue to grow stronger and stronger as time goes on...

[Il Medico]

The Italian factions have good units in all periods and that is why I play as them a lot. What they lack however, is strong Calvary. Especially heavy Calvary in early and missile cavalry in general.

[Silverheart]

But the italian factions have the Feudal knights/Norman knights/Famiglia Ducale/Men-at-Arms + the Mounted Crossbowmen, if i´m not mistaken.
While none of those live up to the quality of the best of the best in their fields, they´re more than what you need.
And just like all units in this game, they become invincible when used properly.

[Chad29]

I've never actually tried the Italian factions yet, though I have fought against them. they get pavise crossbow militia pretty early, it seems. Not really sure which is the best, though. I think I read somewhere that Milan is.

[Il Medico]

But the italian factions have the Feudal knights/Norman knights/Famiglia Ducale/Men-at-Arms + the Mounted Crossbowmen, if i´m not mistaken.

all mid or late game. Broken lances are great infantry and good Calvary as well, but again you have to wait. And mounted crossbowmen aren't that great. (especially when you are fighting factions with actual horse archers. )

[Silverheart]

Milan and Venice are the best italian factions.
Personally I prefer the venetians - better starting position economically and I think their infantry is better + they have the Venetian Archers.
But Milan has slightly stronger cavalry (Famiglia Ducale) and can spam super strong long-range Crossbowmen early on.

It´s your choice - Crossbowmen or Infantry ^::^ but they´re both pretty equal on a theoretical level.
Sicily is more unique, not as strong later on, but with great starting position and incredible possibilites in the beginning.
Or if you have modded, you can play as the Pope (Papal Guard+Swiss Guard)...

[goro]

medium one.mainly because when i reach late game units and build an army full of them there comes a siege or battle with 5000 troops and i lose more than 500 men and retraining is difficult and i get pissed off

[Chad29]

Judging from how I've been playing, where I tend to get bored not long after the Mongols come, I'd say early-mid is best for me. Not really sure who has the best early game troops, though. I started a compilation of troops to compare them on one sheet instead of with the custom battle thing, but I got lazy and stopped.

[Silverheart]

Best factions in early game are the Byzantine Empire, Scotland, Denmark and italian factions.
The italians are also great later on, while most of the others doesn´t really keep up in the technological development, making them more challenging and fun.

[Silverheart]

Of course you have to wait a while, but don´t forget that so must all the surrounding factions as well.
In the beginning, you have the Mailed Knights, which are mega-effective if you can use them right.
And you will get all the other mounties by the same as everyone else - ergo, no worries!

And the efficiency of Mounted Crossbowmen depends on how you use them. If you don´t use them properly they´re of course worthless.
Also, don´t forget that they are designed for specific purposes - like taking down elehants and the super-heavy knights that some of the catholics get in the later periods.