What units do you recommend?

[Winston Smith]

Depending on the faction, what unit do you think is the most essential? For example, I use lots of Knights of Jerusalem as the Crusader States.

[nikkami]

Hmm depends on playstyle. I.e. I use Cavalarii and other mounted archer units playing as Byz. Lots of mounted acritae as well.

[Chazz1225]

For the TO a late period mounted knight unit and a dismounted one as well, i've read up on TO army compositions and in the 1450s, before they became the vassals of the Poland-Lithuanian Kingdoms they had what was known as "Lay Knight" or what they were commonly known as Mitburders to the TO they were noble born men from the HRE and Poland who fought alongside the TO in their last years. They were around at about the time of the Gothic Pate being introduced and as Germans and Polish it seems only fitting that they are in the similar style of the mounted Gothic Knights or Polish Guard, their dismounted version could use a zweihander or could be given a mace and shield.

Although i can't go in depth with this, the Kievans and Novgorods need more differentiation in their rosters, the only difference in them are their professional spearmen, one being the Kievan Polace Guard and the Novgorod Home Guard. There need to be a gradual split in their units, the Kievs could have an increase in professional infantry while the Novgorods can excel in their cavalry. Caue look at the Gneoese and the Venetians, although they start off with similar units the Venetians become more powerful in their infantry with the Fanteria Pesante and the Genoese with their exceptional cav, the Genoese Patricians. With the Russian factons there are no splits in the rosters.

[Chazz1225]

i just realised that you weren't asking about what units should be added, anyway i don't retract what i said xD

[tudor93]

Depending on the faction, what unit do you think is the most essential? For example, I use lots of Knights of Jerusalem as the Crusader States.

Lol, those knights have really high upkeep (650, right ? been a while since I last played M2TW/SS) and not so high stats;My last campaign in SS was as The Crusader States and I used lots of religious order units - use Templar Knights (much better stats and only 250 upkeep) , same for St. Lazarus Knights and Hospitalier Knights (much better stats than Knights of Jerusalem and only 250 upkeep).
P.s.: I only use Knights of Jerusalem as garisson in castles because they have free upkeep when kept inside it.

[Silver Legionary]

To be fair to Knights of Jerusalem, they have REALLY good secondary weapons, they have AP axes
with like 7 base attack on it lol.

[Vissewalde rex de Gerzika]

To be fair to Knights of Jerusalem, they have REALLY good secondary weapons, they have AP axes
with like 7 base attack on it lol.

They tire pretty quickly trough.

[Alexanderos]

When I play as an italian faction as Genoa or Venice I like to outnumber my enemies . By far.

Typical army :

* 1 General
* 2 Feudal Knights
* 6 Urban Militia
* 3 Heavy Infantry ( Mailed Feudal Knights or Light Men At Arms )
* 6 Genonese Crossbowmen

On Huge unit scale , this army consists of about 3000 men

[nikkami]

I am doing the opposite. I dont like numbers superiority, in order to achieve heroic victories and increase gen stats.
Thus, I went with Skantharios tactics using many cav units:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...320711&page=41

At start u can use Turkopoles or Turcoman cavalry or Skythikon as mounted archers, but I prefer Cavalarii when they are available.
For HC at start u can recruit mercs and then use Pronaroii when available.
For LC Stratiotai are very good solution.

[nikkami]

I must add mounted acritae. They are very good when attcaking general's bodyguards

[VlaDeatHell]

Depends on the faction, my typical western setup is 1 general bodyguard, 4 heavy cavalry, 4-6 archers/longbowmen/crossbowmen and rest mix of elite swordsmen/spearmen, mainly using almost only elite armies for battles followed by a full stack of spear militia to leave at occupied cities. The economy in this game allows you to field 1-2 full elite stacks easily after turn 40 if u play right IMO.
For eastern factions add 4 horse archers and maybe add two good light cavalry, such as jinetes or other good stats fast ones and reduce archers to max 4. Usually works for most field battles. Other way to go is to have 2 specialized armies, one something like the ones I already suggested or heavy/missile cavalry only (which actually works pretty well for eastern factions if you know what you are doing) and one ONLY heavy infantry, some archers and 2-3 catapults/trebuchets. Use the second one ONLY for sieges or support. Works like a charm when pushing for territory with Byzantines for example. Other than that, only one thing to add : experiment, find your play style and adapt.

[Winston Smith]

Heavy Cavalry has always been good for me, particularly in the early period.

[Strengelicher]

Peasants. These are among the first you can recruit in newly conquered castles, they are always readily available and cheap. Fill your settlements with peasants and enemy armies will be deterred from attacks ("There were thousands on the walls! Thousands!"). Distract enemy armies with a fort garrisoned by a unit of peasants while you draw reinforcements from other provinces. Soak up heavy enemy fire from strong missile units by sending a unit of peasants ahead and bringing up your precious (BGR IV, RR) professional units behind it. When you have come to realize just how handy peasants are, play a campaign with nothing but peasant units. Peasants rule.

[Rushwithoutmercy]

Play as Byzantines and bring Scholarii - the best cavalry unit in the game.

[DeliCiousTZM]

Depends on the playstyle, if i really wanna play it i make every single high value unit i can recruit and keep expanding untill i have issues with corruption. Then i go into RP mode.

[Duck of Death]

What everyone said... depends on your playstyle.

With CS, I go with lots of Templars... theyre just as good as Knights of Jerusalem and half the upkeep. Maintain twice as many!

With France, mounted and foot knights (2-3 archers in the back)

England, longbowmen (6-7 archers, 2-3 cav, the rest inf)

Scotland, pikes (3 cav, 2 archers, 8ish pikes, 7ish attacking inf)

Byzantines, I prefer Infantry over cavalry... maybe not the popular choice but I just like seeing them as an infantry-heavy faction (lots of Spathatoi & Skoutatoi, 2 cav, 2-3 archers, 4-6 artilary)

Italian city-states, just the best mix of militia units available.

Those are the factions I usually play (and how).