Holy Roman Empire cowards!

[Drachos]

This day I fought five battles with Russia against the HRE. They were all custom battles because I picked a different army for the HRE every time, and every time they lost and my casualties are very few -.- . Once our melee infantry engages in combat, they all rout in half a minute or a minute -.- . They were on very hard and no I didn't put them a weak army.

I noticed that while playing a custom battle myself, after that I didn't play with them anymore, and I noticed people which use the HRE in online games complain about the same.

So could any of you tell me why does that happen and what army composition for the HRE is the best?

Thanks in advance.

[lolIsuck]

Germans need a strong leader or they're lost.

For an army I can't come up with anything but spamming knights (mounted/unmounted).

[Drachos]

How do you mean strong leader?

And spamming only one unit isn't fun xD

[lolIsuck]

You have different sorts of knights.

[Sursion]

Because the HRE is mostly militia based, no professional armies. In the middle ages, kings and other leaders didn't want to spend a lot, they just horded their wealth. It resulted in a lot of countries ending up with half-assed armies with no training.

Edit: To answer your question, if you want the least amount of routing possible, spam your generals rally call, and use the least amount of militia possible.

[Stívarðr Reynitré]

The HRE are fascinatingly strong circa 1400

[Drachos]

Lol i managed to win a battle against scottland XD, Nah im using Zwei hander's

[Blaze of Macedon]

Well if you want some ideas about compsing armies check out some of the battles on my youtube channel (in my sig). I use the HRE A LOT online and no they're not that weak as it appears at first

Gothic knights are a waste compared to upgraded Teutonic knights. What you need in all periods is a nice reinforced pike line (Landsknecht pikes) and lotsa, lotsa gunpowder. The absence of Musketeers is annoying but it isn't such a big deal. If you like micromanaging units also try the Reiters.

[Drachos]

What about zwei-handers ? are they worth the money?

[Blaze of Macedon]

What about zwei-handers ? are they worth the money?

As a back up they're ok, but always have in mind the 2 handed bug in vanilla m2 vanilla.

When i use them i usually deploy them as a back up, nehind the main line, near the wing where the Reiters are. So basically the idea is for them to be used as flanking infantry - for infantry they have excellent charge bonus.

For the main battle line always use Landsknecht and another backbone unit. Arqs or Hand Gunners if you wanna try a "Pike and Shot" thingie, DFK or DIK if you're going for good old German steel.

On the outer right i usually put my TK and general, can't afford more than 3 in a standard 15k battle, but on the campaign you might as well go for 6.

[Drachos]

Yeah I hate the 2handed bug cuz my fav unit's are two handed axemen =.=.=.=.=.=

[Mhaedros]

Play Kingdoms mods

[Macunaíma]

Dude, in the HRE campaign you get so much war that your generals improve a lot. Under a good general HRE kicks ass.

[Silverheart]

The Holy Roman Empire has a lot of strength in its´ knights.
Use the few most professional troops they have in tandem with cheaper militia for numbers, and you´ve got yourself a very capable army.

I suggest something along the lines of 4 Heavy Cavalry (Feudal Knights or higher), 2-3 Stormtrooper Infantry (Zwei Handers and other two-handers), 2-6 Heavy Infantry (Dismounted Feudal Knights, Dismounted Gothic Knights and the like), about 4 Foot Missile Troops (Pavise Crossbowmen, maybe one or two units Peasant Archers or Arquebusiers) and the rest just use Spear Militia as support for the rest of the infantry.