Need advice for a new faction to play

[Noble Zweihander]

After visiting this forum daily the last couple of months, I need some advice to choose a new faction in vanilla/kingdoms.

The thing what I look in a faction is that I have 1 or 2 (or more ) elite unites that can make a difference to win a battle. So when the battle goes not well, you throw them in to give the final blow. Also infantry that can hold the line so I can use some cavalry tactics would be also nice

Other things: location is not important, I like crusades/Jihads but that can change and I already played England and France.

Thanx in advance!

[Nazgûl Killer]

I would suggest the Holy Roman Empire, Denmark or Venice. Each challenging (From hardest to easiest: HRE, Venice and Denmark) and each has proper infantry.

[Silverheart]

Well, all Muslim factions have the Hashashim (which are just the type of elite infantry you were requesting), and they also have the hold-the-line Saracen Militia or Urban Militia, but they also tend to be not for beginners.

So I suppose Venice (Italian Spear Militia/Armoured Sergeants, Venetian Heavy Infantry, Feudal knights) or Spain (Tercio Pikemen, Chivalric knights, Sword-and-Bucklermen) or Denmark (Sword Staff Militia/Obushaer, Huscarls, Feudal knights) or the Holy Roman Empire (Armoured Sergeants, Imperial knights, Feudal Knights) would be good.
But really, most factions have the troop types you are asking for, and in most cases it´s just a matter of slightly adapting your tactics.

[Noble Zweihander]

Well, all Muslim factions have the Hashashim (which are just the type of elite infantry you were requesting), and they also have the hold-the-line Saracen Militia or Urban Militia, but they also tend to be not for beginners.

So I suppose Venice (Italian Spear Militia/Armoured Sergeants, Venetian Heavy Infantry, Feudal knights) or Spain (Tercio Pikemen, Chivalric knights, Sword-and-Bucklermen) or Denmark (Sword Staff Militia/Obushaer, Huscarls, Feudal knights) or the Holy Roman Empire (Armoured Sergeants, Imperial knights, Feudal Knights) would be good.
But really, most factions have the troop types you are asking for, and in most cases it´s just a matter of slightly adapting your tactics.

I was already thinking about Denmark or HRE but it is always nice to hear others opinion.

What about Sicily, Milan or scotland?

I have got also a bit of a off topic question : I want to add the dismounted versions of the knight orders (specially Templar/St.John/Teutonic) and I posted this already in the modworkshop but it has little response. And the one who respond , send me a thread what is a bit difficult for me . Is there something easier that I can download and ready to go because I want only a small adjustment.

I know this is not the good place but you guy's are a bit longer then me on this forum

[CavalryCmdr]

Sicily is nothing special, basic troops really (meaning they have what you want, but in an unexceptional way.
Milan is nice because the Genoese Crossbowmen/militia can also be used as your line infantry, they will hold long enough, provided you have proper cavalry superiority, without actual infantry. Really they are a 'cheat' unit because you can just spam them and kill anything.
Scotland's archers are superior multi-purpose units, solid infantry, and early/easy access to pikemen. However they are rather lacking in cavalry except border horses are the fastest melee light cavalry there is (they are as fast as most missile cavalry of the eastern factions / tied for fastest in the game,) which makes them excellent 'hit and run' guys. But they lack a real 'battle winner' unit.

Denmark is probably your best bet, Huscarls trump knights (both mounted and dismounted) plus they have Armored Clergy that is an AP heavy cavalry they can recruit in cities. However both Huscarls and Armored Clergy lack the devastating, crushing, battle ending charge that 'proper' heavy cavalry have.

You may want to give Hungary a try, although many people dont like them. Pavise Spearmen are excellent 'line holding' infantry and they have every type of cavalry from missile cavalry to Chivalric Knights.

Edit: I answered your other question in the modding section

[Silverheart]

What about Sicily, Milan or scotland?

Sicily: Norman Knights, Men-at-Arms (elite), Italian militiamen (hold-the-line troops)
Located in the middle of the Mediterranean.
Milan: Men-at-Arms, Feudal Knights (elite), Famiglia Ducale (mounted elite), Genoese Crossbowmen (ranged elite), Italian militiamen (hold-the-line troops)
Located in northern Italy, with heavy comeptition to be expected in most directions.
Scotland: Higland Nobles, Noble Swordsmen, Noble Pikemen (elite) Noble Swordsmen, pikemen, Higlanders (hold-the-line troops)
Located in northern Brittannia, with only England as an immediate threat. They are however underpowered in comparison to many other factions, and become very challenging unless you´re familiar with tactics heavy on pikes and other infantry.

I have got also a bit of a off topic question : I want to add the dismounted versions of the knight orders (specially Templar/St.John/Teutonic) and I posted this already in the modworkshop but it has little response. And the one who respond , send me a thread what is a bit difficult for me . Is there something easier that I can download and ready to go because I want only a small adjustment.

I know this is not the good place but you guy's are a bit longer then me on this forum

I don´t know about that one.
But I would recommend that you look closer on that thread you got.
And if you don´t understand it, then say so in your thread, or send a message to a moderator about it (Irishron is pretty good with that stuff, I think)

[Nazgûl Killer]

Yeah, I would think Denmark would be your best bet. They're friendly enough to newcomers, tough infantry and good enough cavalry - And they have quite unique units when compared to the rest of the factions.

Just be mindful of the Holy Roman Empire when you're playing Denmark. They don't really like you.

[trustno1(2)]

The HRE has several elite units, Imperial knights, Gothic knights, Forlorn Hope, Zwie Hiedler.
Although they are not a challenging nation to play as, I still enjoy playing as them.

[PrestigeX]

I'm going to recommend Russia or Poland.

Russia and Poland get the 'spearman' unit , which are the eastern equiv of 'armor sergeants' - main difference being they start with leather armor and upgrade to heavy mail (1, 2, 3). So you easily can produce tons of 'line infantry' & even from lower-grade castles.

Russia has boyar sons and dismounted druzhina - which are easily the match of DFK's , huscarls, etc - being that they have 2 variants of the same basic unit (heavy infantry with axe and shield) they can produce loads of heavy infantry, pwn factory !
Both factions also get the 'woodsman' unit, which is cheaper than peasants (i believe) very low in upkeep, and actually quite the bargain -- 1 or 2 of these units 'into the fray' can really help in the early period.
Russia has the foot Dvor which is basically like... a DFK with an Axe, combined with Venetian Archer -- they're expensive but they are also available in good numbers once you get em and...exceptionally good.
Russia also gets Berdiche axemen who are a cheap , heavy armor, 2-hander infantry (can be fun , some not like but it's useful).

Poland lacks on the infantry compared with Russia, but you can produce all the basic infantry "spearman" and maybe dotted with dismounted polish nobles / dismounted polish knights (if in campaign i forget) etc..
Poland has one of the best cavalry forces in the game -- super good quality heavy plate knights in the late game,,, polish nobles which are like mailed knights combined with jinettes - super deadly in numbers. Tons of H.A. -- but most important of all... STRETLZKY - the 'polish shooters' availabe from the start, upgrades it's armor twice-- long range for a mounted xbowman -- has a small shield and axe for hand to hand - just super deadly, assasins against enemy's heavy knights.

Russia has the Boyar Sons, same idea like Polish Nobles -- then they get dvor cavalry which are heavily armored Horse Archers - equally suited to hand to hand combat - also able to upgrade armor as much like Chiv knights or anything else top tier.

Poland can use the crusades, but also has to be bound by the pope. Russia hasthe freedom of being Orthodox =P but, may find themselves fighting the mongols at disadvantaged strength

[13lackGu4rd]

You mentioned vanilla/kingdoms yet everyone so far suggested vanilla regular. As far as kingdoms go(the 4 kingdoms campaigns, without mods hence the vanilla part) I'd recommend the Teutonic Order in the Teutonic Campaign or the Principality of Jerusalem/Antioch in the Crusades campaign. Both are pretty well rounded, much like the top vanilla(non kingdoms) factions mentioned in this thread already, yet they offer the unique experience of faster paced campaigns and action right from the get go that the kingdoms campaigns offer.

[Silverheart]

The Apachean tribes in the Americas Campaign are definitely one of the most interesting factions, as is Lithuania in the Teutonic Campaign, though they are also a bit hard if you can´t figure them out quickly.

So in the Kingdoms Expansion, I´d recommend (for a newbie):
Americas - New Spain
Brittannia - Norway
Crusades - Principality of Antioch, Kingdom of Jerusalem
Teutonic - Denmark, the Holy Roman Empire

[CavalryCmdr]

I dont know, I found the Apachean Tribes both interesting and devestatingly effective, so I'd have to go with them for the Americas campaign. I agree with Norway and Denmark though they are both very similar to Denmark in vanilla. I found the Crusades campaign booring, so really have not played much of that.

[Silverheart]

I dont know, I found the Apachean Tribes both interesting and devestatingly effective, so I'd have to go with them for the Americas campaign. I agree with Norway and Denmark though they are both very similar to Denmark in vanilla. I found the Crusades campaign booring, so really have not played much of that.

The Apacheans are definitely not for beginners, though, because they lack protection and good variation. Their only really good units are the Mounted Thunder Braves and Medicine Men, maybe the Ondes Men too, but all the rest is basically just super-light archers, and nothing that can really be used for the tactics that I´m used to.
They require a severe adaptation for anyone who´s not already good with skirmishing tactics.

Norway and Denmark being similar to vanilla Denmark makes them good for someone playing the Brittannia or Teutonic campaigns for the first time.

In the Crusades campaign, you should try the Turks or Byzantines, they´re the funniest to play.
Especially the Byzantines, with their Flamethrowers and Mangonels, make for awesomely "heated" battles