teutonic expansion - lithuania

[ash874]

for some reason this is probably one of my favourite campaings
even when compared to magnificent mods much larger in scope

first of all i hate factions which are weak in infantry and rely on horse archers
i just cant be bothered with micro managing each battle
this is the only game setting in which i play against my instinct
because it is truly awesome
something about the balance of the game - almost impossible but not quite
kind of like third age id say in that matter

90% of the times i try playing as lithuania i quit
its honestly not even in your hands
with the capabilities you have and the challanges before you, you have to sometimes guess which frontier to guard less
lets say the mongols: i know they will attack
but i cant keep stacks there from the begining. so in the first turns you have to take some guesses
sometimes your timing is off and you lose

but in my current campaign i did exeptionaly well
i used loads (which i dont do in easier mods) - and not excessively
but i didnt use other cheats

reached the conversion event
have about 28 cities
maybe 7 stacks of troops (edit: i have 11 stacks)
norway is gone (obviously since they cant create units)
the mongols too
teutonic order is down to one city

the problem now is what mechanical engineers call fatigue failure
im just tired of war
for some reason all the factions are in alliance between themselves and against me
this doesnt even make sense
what does denmark care about me
it should be devouring germany
the TO with its one city has 5 full stacks (!!!)
novgorod about 7
poland about 5 that i know of
about half of those are strolling in my land looking for a target
which makes it really hard for me
at this point (actually since the first meeting with poland) my horse archers are obsolete (strelzy are too awesome)
so i cant intercept these armies in the open

i think if lithuania converts it should get peace with the catholics (so not with novgorod but at least the others) AND should get a massive diplomatic reputation boost
this way eventhough up to now my progress was magnificent, it is just becoming impossible now
the whole map is against me

[Silverheart]

If you´re having trouble with Lithuania, I suggest loading all your troops on ships and sending them to Sweden.
It´s far safer there, much easier to defend, and mostly rebel settlements which you can conquer swiftly.
Once you have Sweden you should have a good economy going, and can easily finance an invasion to reclaim your "homeland".

My normal tactic is to make an early alliance with the Mongols or Novgorodians, since they will most likely declare war on each other.
I also move quickly to make alliances with Poland, Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire (and also Norway, but that´s just for bonus rep )
And then I focus my war efforts on defending in the west and south-west, while attacking heavily against the Livonians (Teutonic Orders´ northern regions) in the north.
When you have eradicated the Teutons in the north, you can choose to either go against the danish colonies, the Novgorodians or send your armies south to finish the Teutons off for good.
You will be very low on money for the majority of this time, so you will have to choose your constructions and recruitments very carefully.
Also, you´re going to have to master skirmishing tactics and tactics for low-quality troops vs. heavy elites, since that´s what you will be up against at least as long as the Teutonic Order is still around. Make good use of your family members (Heavy melee cavalry) and the versatile Dzukijian Horsemen (surprisingly useful Missile Cavalry) to take out the most important or vulnerable Teutonic units, and then use Samogitian Axemen (eer... the name says it all, right?...) with a second line of Spear Militia for back-up and extra weight. Also, utilize the Latvian Crossbowmen with their AP bolts to weaken them from afar.
So basically, make good use of your Temple units - they are the best troops Lithuania has, and the main reason to why I always remain pagan when playing as them.

[13lackGu4rd]

in the 1 Lithuanian campaign I started I got bored rather fast because it was too easy, not too hard. after like 5 turns I conquered most of the Teutonic cities, both in the north and the south, and I even let the AI auto calculate some battles... that was on VH/VH by the way. but yeah, for a longer haul, stay pagan, your temple units are the best units in the expansion Imho. make good use of them and dominate. think of the Germans in RTW, very powerful units very early on, get a bunch of them than just go on a rampage. sack cities to solve all your money and unrest issues, 2 birds in 1 stone. as far as buildings go, don't bother with military buildings, as I said the temple units are superior. so focus on economy and temple upgrades, both of which are pretty cheap and pay for themselves very fast.

[Macunaíma]

You could try to attack the teutonic settlement when they're not around .

Get some siege equipment and make a surprise attack when their stacks are not near the settlement. Luckily you'll destroy their faction and their stacks will turn into rebels who won't be a problem for a while.

[ash874]

You could try to attack the teutonic settlement when they're not around .

Get some siege equipment and make a surprise attack when their stacks are not near the settlement. Luckily you'll destroy their faction and their stacks will turn into rebels who won't be a problem for a while.

they always have one full stack at minimum in the city
i cant imagine how a stack of lithuanians can take on a defending stack of TO

edit(update):
read a guide on mtw2 diplomacy
and my situation improved dramatically
sent a diplomat to poland
offered them very good deals which i knew they wont accept, until our relations became outstanding
made an alliance with them
which gave me peace for one turn with everyone and relieved some sieges
after that when other declared war poland remained on my side
now the western front is completely peacefull for many turns as poland holds it
they have some difficulties against germany but im not interfering
instead ive built quite a magnificent defense in that front
now my army is almost double of what it was
i also have taken a couple more cities since my previous post so im at around 30
the TO... ive sent two generals with nightfighting and catapults at their remaining settlement
they had 5 stacks but all their generals where in the castle
so the captains couldnt interfere as i used nightfighting
poland had half a stack there too so they helped
so TO is gone
now my next obvious move is to obliterate novgorod
and i have plenty of power for that
the thing is they have so many stacks and everything is so well guarded
i hate these hard battles
so ive been passing alot of turns avoiding it
i guess ill have to attack them soon

[Silverheart]

Judging by the map, you seem to be doing fine.
Why don´t you assemble some excess troops into a couple of armies and press against Novgorod?
Once they are gone, and the danish colonies with them, you will only have one frontline to worry about.

[ash874]

another update:
after the previous post i was hit by a plague and got into money problems
but some how survived that
ive kept true to my alliance with the poles and boy did the bastards flourish
germany is about to be done with
hopefully denmark wont kill them though cause ill have to deal with it too
as for mua, i took unguarded rusky cities but didnt touch their army
the result is that they have a million stacks guarding their remaining cities

[Silverheart]

Novgorod usually focuses on heavy infantry and Boyar Sons - Dzukijian Horsemen can deal with both if supported by some good melee cavalry.
You need to go face them in the field, one army at the time, or alternatively use generals with the "Night Fighter" trait to take their settlements without their captain-led field armies interfering.

I suggest doing that quickly, and then going at the Danish colonies.
Then send an invasion fleet across the East sea and take Scandinavia - when you meet up with poles, you´ll be able to attack them on two fronts

[PrestigeX]

It looks like you're doing really well. I just started my first try with Teutonic Campaign as Novgorod -- man am I having a tough go of it. My income is so low, either in the red, or just barely out of it. Teutons attacked immediately - and probably the Mongrels will launch an assault. Denmark already hovering armies outside my capital...Fighting off these westerners with light infantry and kazaks (Who break and flee if even nudged by the enemy) is a challenge, but Russian Bodyguards are powerful =)

It mentioned all this in the faction description, about having to struggle with trade/economy and rely on lame militians lol - but I know later on pumping out Boyar Sons and Dvor's I will rule the world.

It looks like you're about to win, so idk how you're having too much trouble --- If it were me, I'd of turned 'Christian' just to get those wicked looking Chiv knights (they have a unique shield or something?).

Teutons have so much heavy infantry, I am happy to see lots of those full-plate spearmen =) I was worried they'd be kind like "England" - a faction with tons of wicked units, but in campaign always recruiting their humblest.