HMS' English Guide
England Short Campaign Guide
by: HMS England
Version 1.0
4/23/2011
Preview
Year:1080 It's been almost 20 years since the showdown at the battle of Hastings between current ruler King William the Conqueror and Harold II, William has settled down a bit and aged leaving his military suspended in animation while the French across the channel build power and start to unite under one banner and the Scots to the North keep to themselves.
The land of England has been spilled with the blood of war for centuries dating back to the Roman Legion occupation almost 1,000 years earlier. If William and his son Prince Rufus want any chance of uniting the British Isles under the English Flag he must take care of the barbaric Scots and deal with the rebels scattered throughout the region so he can focus his attention on the European mainland.
Culture:Northern European
Religion: Catholic
Number of Starting Regions:3
Starting Position
Starting Regions
London: Capital/Large Town
Nottingham: Castle
Caen: Castle
Units
Light Infantry
Peasants
Life at the bottom of medieval society was not easy or healthy. In times of war peasants are forced from their farms and drafted into levies, and if they are lucky, given some kind of simple weapon to fight with. Unsurprisingly peasants are undisciplined troops who are better at fleeing than they are fighting.
Town Militia
These men are commoners and peasants who have been levied into local militias to defend towns, roads and bolster armies. Given some training and equipped with a short spear and shield, though little armour, these units are useful in defence, but cannot be expected to endure for long on an open battlefield.
Spear Infantry
Levy Spearmen
Levy Spearmen are common folk from villages and towns that have been levied into the army. Armed with long spears and shields these troops are useful at defending flanks, but won't stand up in any prolonged melee.
Spear Militia
Common throughout Europe, Spear Militia are commoners and peasants who have been levied into local militias to defend towns, roads and fill gaps in armies. Given some training and equipped with a long spear and wooden shield, these units are useful in support roles for heavier and better units.
Heavy Infantry
Armoured Sergeants
Armoured Sergeants are professional warriors, drawn from the lower classes. They have some skill in combat and are well equipped with long spears, large shields and mail armour. They're very solid defensive units, able to resist attacks from both foot and horse, so long as they are well supported. If necessary they can form a defensive circle.
Armoured Swordsmen
Armoured Swordsmen represent those of the knightly class with a desire to fight on foot, or too poor to afford a horse. Able to afford excellent armour and swords, they can punish most other infantry. These units along with archers form the backbone of many English armies.
Bill Militia
Bill Militia are commoners handed a billhook and if lucky some armour, then formed into a unit to defend a settlement. Not afforded the training of normal and heavy Billmen units, Bill Milita are weaker in combat but make up for it by being cheap replacable troops.
Billmen
The billhook was originally developed from a farming tool, and consists of a axe and hook on the end of a long pole. A trained billmen can use it to stab, hack and drag down his enemies, including both infantry men and mounted troops. It works as both a defensive and assaulting weapon.
Dismounted English Knights
English knights often chose to fight dismounted. With their fearsome poleaxes, they can crush enemy infantry and fend off any horseman.
Dismounted Feudal Knights
Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.
Heavy Bill Militia
Heavy Bill Militia are superior English garrison troops compared to standard Bill Militia. Not only are they heavily armoured in plate armour and armed with a billhook, they are trained to be more effective units in combat as well.
Heavy Billmen
The pinnacle of English commoner infantry, The Heavy Billman is equally comfortable in attack and defense. Wielding the billhook allows Heavy Billmen to hack, stab and chop if needed and being encased in anything from half to three quarter plate armour means they can shrug off considerable damage.
Missile Infantry
Archer Militia
Archer Militia are bow-equipped peasants called upon to provide a settlement with a garrison of missile troops. Whilst poorly armoured, these troops are expected to shoot at an enemy from the safety of their own walls.
Arquebusiers
Fired at close range and quite accurate, with only a little chance of exploding and killing the person firing it. This forerunner of the musket is capable of firing deadly volleys that can pierce armour. This noisy, smokey and lethal weapon is so intimidating it causes morale damage as well as physical hurt.
Longbowmen
Originating from Wales, a longbow using a 'bodkin' arrow, a hard chiselled tip shaped like an elongated pyramid, can pierce all but the best armour. As the longbow is difficult to master longbowmen begin training at a young age. Being susceptible to cavalry, longbowmen can plant sharpened stakes in front of their position to help keep enemies at bay.
Peasant Archers
While most peasants in Europe were levied into the army, at sword point if need be, some welcomed the opportunity to earn some pay, and travel. Peasant Archers are accustomed to using their bow for hunting. These peasant archers are armed with a small bow, knife, and if lucky enough, some armour.
Retinue Longbowmen
Many longbowmen sign a contract of indenture with a captain to become part of his retinue or company. The captain then hires out their services to the king. Such men are in effect professional soldiers, and highly skilled archers. They're well armoured and equipped and confident in their own abilities.
Sherwood Archers
Hailing from Sherwood forest in Nottinghamshire and trained in the hunt from a young age, these deadly archers have now turned their skills to hunting men. Wielding a longbow made of yew, these archers can spit a man at a hundred paces, this, coupled with their ability to hide in forests means they can lay many a terrible ambush.
Yeoman Archers
Drawn from English freeholders and required by the King to be trained in warfare, Yeoman archers are highly skilled ranged troops. Lightly armoured and equipped with a longbow for ranged combat and wielding a large mallet for crushing armoured opponents in melee, Yeomen are also able to lay defensive wooden stakes to help keep enemies at bay.
Light Cavalry
Demi Lancers
Demi Lancers are representative of the trend in the latter medieval period of reducing the amount of overall armour, while improving the remaining armour to protect vital areas, particularly from gunpowder weapons. With less armour and little to no armour on the mount, Demi Lancers are more mobile and cheaper to equip than their fully armoured counter parts.
Hobilars
It is thought the term 'Hobilars' comes from the Norman name 'hobby' for the small horses that Gaelic troops rode in Scotland and Ireland. In medieval warfare Hobilars are the English version of the mounted sergeant as they are also clad in padded to light armour and armed with a spear.
Merchant Cavalry Militia
Well equipped, but poorly trained cavalry men used in most of Europe to protect merchants, provincial towns and main roads. As they poorly trained these units forgo using the lance, which requires specialist training, and fight with a sword. Protected by plate armour these units are very good at riding down archers and infantry.
Heavy Cavalry
Mailed Knights
Prominent in Western Europe, encased in mail, carrying a large shield and equipped with lances and swords, these knights are formidable fighting machines, capable of deadly charges and getting 'stuck in' to any melee. Although not as well trained or equipped as the knights that will follow them, they are invaluable heavy cavalry units during the early medieval period.
English Knights
Encased in plate armour, carrying a large shield and equipped with a lance and axe, these knights prefer to fight on foot. Fighting with a lance and an axe betrays their Anglo-Saxon and Norman heritage. Although not the elite of knights, they are more than capable of dishing out pain to their foes when either mounted or dismounted.
Feudal Knights
Feudal knights are given land, fiefs, in return for military service. Trained since childhood and protected by heavy mail, and later, plate armour, and trained in using the lance these elite warriors are used to crush and ride down their opponents. Taught to be the epitome of honour and chivalry these knights are known for impulsively charging into enemy ranks!
Early General's Bodyguard
These are truly formidable troops whose task it is to guard the army's general. Wearing mail, or early plate armour and wielding lances, these elite troops fear little on the battlefield and make fearsome opponents. Loyal and disciplined this elite heavy cavalry unit accompanies the general wherever he goes on the battlefield.
Late General's Bodyguard
The combination of full plate armour, and later magnificent gothic armour, a fully armoured horse and a lance make these elite warriors mobile killing machines. These warriors are the general's personal guard, fiercely loyal and disciplined there is little this unit cannot take on and not come out on top.
Knights Hospitaller
The Knights Hospitaler, also known as the Knights of St. John were established following the first Crusade to protect and treat Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, and are recognisable in their black surcoat with a white cross. An elite and powerful fighting order of well trained knights wearing heavy mail or plate armour and armed with a lance.
Knights Templar
The Templars, fearsome and uncompromising warriors famous for initiating the banking system, were formed in the early 1100's, shortly after the First Crusade to protect pilgrims. They were disbanded in 1307, after hundreds of templar's were simultaneously arrested and tortured in France on hundreds of charges including heresy, under orders from the Pope and the King of France, .
Artillery
Ballista
These artillery pieces resemble giant crossbows, on a simple wheeled carriage. They can hurl javelins with great accuracy, and the power of these machines means that their bolts can pierce any armour.
Catapult
Constructed of wood and capable of flinging stones large enough to crush a man's head, the catapult was a common site on the ancient Roman battlefield. Now in the medieval era, the catapult is being replaced by newer and more powerful weapons.
Ribault
The Ribault, also known as the organ gun due to its many pipes, is a fearsome spectacle on the battlefield. Armed with nine short-ranged barrels, it is often used in the defence of other longer-ranged artillery. Able to fire all nine barrels at once, it makes the enemy think twice before engaging!
Trebuchet
The counter-weight Trebuchet is an evolution of the man-powered mangonel and catapults dating back before the 11th century. It has quickly spread throughout the world as an effective siege engine capable of lobbing large wall- crushing boulders. The Trebuchet is also able to fling such things as burning missiles and rotten animal remains to devastate enemy units.
Bombard
The first primitive gunpowder siege artillery, bombards were created in China and Western Europe in the early 14th century and spread to the rest of the world by the late 14th century. They are forged from bronze or iron, and designed to fire stone balls that crumble enemy defences. They also shoot inaccurate flaming balls wrapped in pitch-soaked rags, that can incinerate enemy troops!
Culverin
The Culverin is a type of bombard and a fearsome piece of artillery, first used in Germany. It utilises advanced metallurgy techniques, superior construction and better trained crews to outrange and outshoot nearly all preceding bombards. Able to fire solid or exploding shots, the culverin is devastating against enemy walls and lethal against enemy troops!
Mortar
Resembling the iron bowl from which it gains its name, the Mortar was created to lob shots over intervening walls. Useful in dealing with units skulking behind walls for protection, or to whittle away besieging troops outside your own walls. The mortar's capabilities makes it an excellent siege weapon for both attacker and defender.
Intro
England starts out small on a very secluded island, The main goal for the Short Campaign is hold 15 regions and eliminate Scotland and France. The first step is get rid of all the units you would not use in your personal fighting style. (for me it would be the peasant archers) Next, unite your troops in Britain into one army and march on the village of York before Scotland beats you to it. From there you can either upgrade it over time to a large town and start building your economy or you can turn it in to a castle and use it as a staging ground against Edinburgh after you have captured Caernarvon. There are several different approaches you can take in getting started, i'm not gonna tell you which one is the "best" it all depends on what you want to do. The key to England's power comes from it's mighty economy and trade with other nations since it doesn't have much access to land like others. England's superb longbowmen and billmen are the back bone of most armies you'll find.
Faction Guide
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As with every other guide I will post how to over-come the factions with England
France - Your main Rivals. A decent army, but mostly a punching bag, use your longbow men and knights to over-power them. Also every one of France's neighbors wants a peice of them. Allie with France's enemies make them fight a two-front battle.
Scotland - Barbaric at the least, they have one city and don't really take Iverness. Bad Economy, bad armies. Should be a pish-over really.
Spain - Right, this faction is not to be under-estimated, they can easily send out stacks and stacks of Knights. They have a good army and have a good natural defence, many ports and easy access to Islamic factions and Timbuktu. Send a few merchants there and your set. Again, use your knights and longbow men, you also have good cavalry, very good cavalry, use them.
HRE - Should be pretty weak by the time you reach them. However if left to grow, can easily be the biggest force in Europe. The Pope hates them, simple. Use the Pope to start an economy down-fall on them. Try get them exo-communicated by sending your armies to their lands, but don't attack! Never become the attacker. Many castles and good armies. A challenge. Be up for it.
Milan - A Meagre faction, a state that has two cities, they have potential to grow, with Bern to their North, Florence to the South. And Corsica and Sardinia right below them. They can easily grow, HRE should keep them in place though. Depends how your game goes really. They can be very weak, or strong.
Venice - Shouldn't bother you, they tend to go to the Croatian and Bosnian coast. Hungary puts them to an instant halt. Decent Economy, nothing special about their army.
Denmark - Denmark has Arhus to the north, but Hamburg, a good castle lies to the South. HRE usually snaps it up. However if Denmark grabs it, be prepared for them to send stack after stack after stack to Antwerp and Bruges. Literally they wont stop untill you fight back. Try and get Poland to attack them too. They also go for Scandinavia first, if you really want to annoy them, instead of taking York at the start, ship over to Oslo.
Portugal - Poor army, not much heavy infantry and not a good economy, Moors and Spain normally take them out before you get a sniff of them. Your army is much much more superior than theirs.
Sicily - If you get to Northern Italy, Sicily, your Norman cousins, will want a peice of you. They don't normally send a stack through the Rome region, but take the mountains to the eastern coast of Italy. Naples and Palmero are good settlements to grab, also Sicily if on a halt, go for Northern Africa. A good army, good economy, be cautious.
Epilogue
England is a strong country with humble roots. Dormant at first, but can grow into a war machine unstoppable by any others in the known world once they get going. They boast strong Heavy Infantry, Unstoppable Longbowmen and altough they don't have a good variety of them, have great Cavalry. They have a wonderful position and an unlimited number of opporitunities to expand in any part of the globe. England is a very interesting and not to mention fun faction to play as. I hope you have learned something you will keep in mind next time you play an English campaign, and remember to utilize every advantage you're given against your enimies and to all that oppose you in any way.
If you don't mind tell me anything that concerns you or you think I should add/change.
Regards,
HMS England
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Originally Posted by HMS England
