I cant make Turkey work

[Morakis]

In Medieval I, I had great succes with an infantry core of ottoman infantry and saracen millita, supported by two strong flanks of mixed horse acher units.

The horse would flank or even surround the enemy while shooting, meanwhile the infanty would also shoot. Unable to catch the horse archer, and unable to outshoot an army of so many archers, he would have to charge my infantry center, which would hold it's own until my cavalry would charge from behind.

This worked great because both Ottoman Infantry and Turkoman horse could do some fighting in hand to hand, while being able with a bow. But in Medieval II, first of all the dammage they do with their bows seems less. I find my self being outshot by armies containing half the number of shooters. Secondly, while the morale has never been great for the Turks, I find my entire center routing much faster than Im used to.

Any tips?

[jabo0511]

Are you fighting against a cavalry force or hand to hand? I would suggest instead of militia to switch to dismounted sipahi lancer and then the elite janissary. I'm right now on the year 1256 and my army consisted of mostly janissary heavy infantry and musketeers. Before gunpowder I use a lot of janissary archers.

I know the ottoman infantry has a pretty impressive stats for an archer unit but trust me stats are not everything in this game. Look at the JHI's stats its really crappy but they are probably one of the best heavy infantry in the game.

Switch from militia to regular professional army and don't bring archers unit expecting them to charge the enemy line.

[Spurius]

Saracen militia and Ottoman Infantry are too light for that job in M2, I think - try with Janissaries or minimally that lighter halbard militia, together with Turkish or even merc Balkan Archers, and it should work fine - and don't forget to upgrade them, or they will never amount to much.

Took some getting used to them here too, if you don't want to go all-cav, you really have to pick and choose.

[Ahiga]

Saracen militia and Ottoman Infantry are too light for that job in M2, I think - try with Janissaries or minimally that lighter halbard militia, together with Turkish or even merc Balkan Archers, and it should work fine - and don't forget to upgrade them, or they will never amount to much.

Took some getting used to them here too, if you don't want to go all-cav, you really have to pick and choose.

Which is strange, really - the ottoman's have 17 defense. I think I'd mod in good moral, which seems suitable to them (They are not some trash infantry, given their armor, skill with the sword and bow) and is probably the critically absent feature.

What I would suggest is going with two armies when you can afford it. One should be a traditional infantry force, the other should be -wholly- cavalry, with a majority horse archer. I've defeated entire crusader armies with it, and while it suffers causalities, it really helps in defense of your country.

[jabo0511]

I tried all cav with turks too, its awesome need tons of micro management though.