Lithuania

[thespaniard]

ive played as a few other factions kieven rus venic sicily and crusaders i did decently with them but i also realise that they dont have the armor that the crusaders or venic and sicily so i was wondering what u guys like about them and how you like to play them in early and late campaign

[Tuatha Mordred]

Early Campaign, use and abuse Lithuanian Cavalry. Cheap at 150 upkeep so it's affordable to mass. Though its missile attack is just 2, it shoots it at a range of 140. That's huge. And it isn't a Local-type troop, so you can train them all over the world.

On the backs of Lithuanian Cavalry alone, you can conquer all of Western Europe. An especially ridiculous campaign I played once was a Lithuanian migration to the English Isles. The only threats to Lith Cav are other HA and foot archers with range equal or greater than 140.

For battles, just hide your Lith Cav in forests, lure the enemy around the battlefield with your general till they're tired, then whip out your Lith Cav and tear them to shreds.

Oh and another thing that I really love about Lithuania... the generals Frighten Nearby Enemy Infantry.

[Kolaris8472]

They have the best low-tier units in the whole game imo. Baltic Spears, Lithuanian Axes, Lithuanian Horse Archers, and Lithuanian Skirmishers...yeah they don't get much later on besides Dievas' Guard, but if you use your early advantage well you'll be in a commanding position.

[Etimos]

What are you guys talking about? Lithuanians get MUCH more than just dievas guard! Giltine's Chosen are AWESOME shock infantry! Massive attack, decent armor, large numbers, Frighten Nearby Enemy, bonus versus cavalry, effective against armor, etc! They also get Lithuanian Regular Spearmen and Swordsmen, which are damn good mid-game infantry units. Once I get my regular spearmen, I go on a rampage. 203 men, 7 attack, 17 armor, bonus versus cavalry, all that fun stuff. Ducal Cavalry kinda suck mind you, but they're good for mopping up remnants and taking out artillery. They do have that 'frighten nearby enemy" benefit which is nice!

[Ichon]

Lithuanian rosters only weakness is late game heavy cavalry. Dievas Guard are good but not quite equal to Catholic factions. Neither are their generals. However they have more AP units than almost any other faction.

[thespaniard]

ok what would u use as a seiging force?

[Ichon]

Gilitine, Nobles(both types), Latvian Crossbows, and Ducal Spearmen. Early era its going to be mostly Lithuanian axemen, Baltic spearmen, and Latvian Crossbow. Or even easier is just to siege with a general and 4-5 Lithuanian Cavalry. The AI will almost always sally and you get an easy victory.

[Thefallenhun]

I love lithuania, so much armor piercing, you can use your Lithuanian Axe men to punish heavier enemy cavalry, and the Ducal Spear hold the line decently. Of course abuse your light cavalry, it is not uncommon for me to wipe out an army twice my size by using missile cavalry until the arrows are gone, and then chargin with 300 horses until untis break. The only weakness I tend to see is sieges, as when their mobility is gone, the lithuanian roster can be found wanting against heavy infantry.

Overall I love it though.

[Forever Steadfast]

Lithuanian Axemen are beasts in the early game. They can make short work of better armored units, given that they're axes are AP, and their basic stats aren't that bad either. Baltic Spearmen are also quite damn good, seeing as their defense makes them good infantry of the line. The Lithuanian Cavalry are definitely a must, because while their archery may not be on par with say - the Mongols or Cumans - they have a decent attack and make great flankers.

[Ferdiad]

They're a bit like the Romans in that regard, Early strenght and Late weakness.

[Forever Steadfast]

They're also one of the most pleasing to the eye, as far as factions go. The Lithuanian skins are fantastic.

[Ferdiad]

I know I was liek OMG!! and then I was like OMG!!!!!!

[Forever Steadfast]

I piddled myself the first time I saw the Lithuanians. It was rather embarrassing, seeing as my girlfriend was in the same room.

[Thefallenhun]

Gotta conquer the whole world and make it pagan, and then bring baltic paganism (about which we know almost nothing) to the new world. Sadly I can't do that in SS

[Forever Steadfast]

Funny, I didn't know that Lithuania was the last major Pagan nation in Europe during the Middle Ages until I played Stainless Steel. This only inspired me to look into the subject through other sources later.

[Thefallenhun]

Poland-Lithuania was also the geographically largest kingdom of medieval europe, and had a primitive constitution and a remarkably democractic government.

[RollingWave]

Poland-Lithuania was also the geographically largest kingdom of medieval europe, and had a primitive constitution and a remarkably democractic government.

They had a council of Nobles that had very strong control on the Dukes , but social order wise they were deeply feudal, so in that sense they weren't too different from medieval England, though the nobles autonomy was probably even greater.

Ironically in today's context though, the most "democratic" people in the Pre-Mongol era was almost definately....


The Russians.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veche

[thespaniard]

Ironically in today's context though, the most "democratic" people in the Pre-Mongol era was almost definately....


The Russians.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veche

wow very very ironic

[Lord Humungus]

wow very very ironic

It gets even more ironic when you realize that russians suffered more casualties fighting against communists and nazis than any other nation in the world. But looking at them now...well, if irony was made of strawberries, all Russia would be covered in strawberry jam.

[Ferdiad]

Huh, I did not know that.Still didn't save them from the prussians and russians.