England in Holy Land (Advice Please?)

[EΣXHATON]

So l'm playing SS 6.3 Early and starting a new English Campaign and l want to pack up and move to the Middle East. l plan on making Acre my capital and leaving it as a city, taking the town below Antioch and turning it to a castle, and taking Damascus and leaving it as a city and seeing how long l can last in this region without expanding too much (if at all..)

l will gift my old British Isles cities to the Seljuk's, Fatimid's and Crusader States for peace until l am (hopefully) developed enough to defend myself.

So the question is:

1.) Will l be able to get longbows before the Mongol's arrive?

2.) What is the best way to counter the Seljuk, Fatimid and Mongol Horse Archer's/Armies?

l was thinking of recruiting mercenary turkopole and turkoman's to leave on my flanks, and the rest of my army as per usual for fighting christian factions.

3.) Should this army (in theory) work against muslim factions?

...............S..S..S..S..S..S..S..S...............
..HA..HA....S..A..A..A..A..A..A..S....HA..HA..
..LC..LC.........HC..HC..HC..HC........LC..LC..

S - Spearmen/Heavy Infantry
A - Archers/Longbows (When l get them)
HA - Mercenary Horse Archers
LC - Light Cavalry
HC - Heavy Cavalry

(Just a rough guide, not exactly sure how many units in stack, 22 or 24 l think)

l normally fight as either France or Teutonic Order in Late and don't have much experience in fighting muslim armies. l also want to see how the Crusader States go in the campaign with my help, wether they will turn on me or not or if we both get butchered..

[flyingcat]

Longbowmen are local units,not available in Holy land
Use a cheap or heavy armoured infantry,scattered at the front,attracting their arrows.After they use up arrows,they're no longer threats.
It could work.But better if you put all cavalry in one side(attack),infantry in the middle and another side(defend)

[EΣXHATON]

Oh wow l didn't realise that. l wanted to use England in Holy Land for their longbow ability. l might either keep nottingham to train longbows and ship them down, or choose another catholic faction.

What Catholic faction has the best roster to use in that area?

What about Retinue Longbows or Yoeman Archers, can l recruit those guys in Holy Land?

[Strengelicher]

Longbowmen are local units,not available in Holy land

Wow, are you sure? Not even for England (if they gain provinces in the Holy Land)?

[flyingcat]

What about Retinue Longbows or Yoeman Archers, can l recruit those guys in Holy Land?

Yeomans're available after 1300A.D in any settlement with Archery Range or more.(Professional troops)

Retinues?Forget them.When you have them,you are facing Timurids.

If you are an expert player,Poland's cav are strong enough to compete with Mongols.

If not,rely on your infantry.
Melee based:Byzantine(Scholarii,Scoutatoi.with many Mourtatoi)
Crusader(Very effective infantry,religion knights,but serious lack of archer,not recommended)
Range based:Venice(Pesante Archers),Egypt(Nubian Archers+Mumluk Archers)

[Lord of Shadows]

"l might either keep nottingham to train longbows and ship them down"
That's a long way, I don't think it is a good idea.Why do you even want to relocate to Middle East?

[Ishan]

Guides and resources section is a repository of SS guides\resources not a section for asking questions like this. Use the main section for this. Thread moved out to SS main.