Hi all!! A few weeks ago I asked here how you wanted your infantry to fight ( old post ). The top answer by far was "make them hold the line", so that's what I built. It was called Better Infantry AI back then, now it's Hold the Line , and it's out as a beta. Available in Nexus Mods. What it does: No more moshpit: soldiers keep their place in the line and step in and back a little instead of turning into one big blob. AI formations that make contact switch to a charge, so both sides fight the same way. Shields in the front rank: shield and spear first, then other shields, then spears and pikes, then everyone else. Works in shield walls too. No more falxmen eating javelins and arrows in the front while the shield guys wait in the back. Rear ranks fight with spears: the second rank thrusts past the guy in front instead of hitting their back and getting stunned. AI spearmen also keep the spear out more instead of always pulling the sidearm. Deep format...
I’m fairly new to the game, but I’ve had a lot of fun playing around with battlefield tactics. Here are some that I’ve found to be effective. A lot of you will probably know these already, but I hope this helps someone!
Against an infantry army:
Put your infantry in front with archers behind, preferably on a hill. Lead your heavy cavalry into a head on charge and break through their lines. Keep going for several seconds. The enemy should be charging your cavalry, turn and lead your cavalry in to meet them, and command your infantry to charge at the same time. The enemy is sandwiched between heavy cavalry and infantry units cutting into their unshielded backs. When the enemy gets reinforcements, command infantry to pull back to their original positions, and clean up the stragglers of the first wave with your cavalry. Circle behind the new wave with your cavalry. Rinse and repeat.
On river maps:
Do not attempt to cross the river. Put your infantry on the river bank, archers behind on a hill. Enemy is mowed down by archers as they slowly cross the river. Survivors have reduced hp and have to fight uphill against your infantry line. Use your cavalry to intercept any groups getting around to the side of your infantry, or to challenge enemy cavalry.
Against a mix of infantry and cavalry:
Find a steep hill. Put archers on the peak and infantry just in front of them on the slope. This will prevent effective enemy cavalry charges. Have your cavalry follow you and wait beside the archers behind the infantry. Enemy cavalry will arrive first, intercept them with your cavalry. When the enemy cavalry is distracted, command infantry to charge. You will have the advantage against their infantry, since your archers can fire over your infantry’s heads, and their archers will be blocked by their own troops. Reform original positions before each wave, archers will provide protection against stragglers while your men retreat. Not paying attention to waves and letting enemy cavalry get into your lines spikes your casualties, but you’ll still win due to the terrain advantage.
In mountains:
Find a valley that the AI either can’t or won’t flank, usually with the mouth of the valley facing the enemy starting point. Face archers towards the mouth of the valley (on a hill is always best) and put infantry in front of them. Take your cavalry up the side of the valley and back a bit. When the enemy enters valley, command infantry to charge. As soon as they lock blades, lead your cavalry to charge into the enemy’s flank. Reform lines as your cavalry cleans up the stragglers and wait for the next wave.
Against Khergits:
A work in progress. Ive had the best results with a variation of the “mix of infantry and cavalry strategy. Difference is that you’ll move around with your cavalry the whole time, targeting first their heavy cavalry, especially lancers, and then their horseback archers. Their light cavalry dies pretty quickly when they try to penetrate your lines.
General tips:
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Always reform lines when you’re outnumbered. It doesn’t matter as much when the forces are even, because the enemy takes a big hit breaking against your formations, and then you just mop up. But when fighting wave after wave, right formations and precise orders preserve your units’ HP, allowing them to demolish multiple waves without casualties. I’ve fought off enemies while outnumbered 3 to 1 with zero casualties using these methods.
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It’s best to have your cavalry follow you most of the time, rather than just telling them to charge. In my strategies, you use them to break strong points and allow the infantry and archers to clean house uncontested. This only works when you guide them precisely where you want their charge to hit, and they can get too easily surrounded when left to make their own decisions. When it’s time to mop up stragglers, then tell them to charge. But call them back when the new wave comes.
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If you get to low health, you can run most of these strategies from behind your lines. Just keep your cavalry with you and tell them to charge at the right times. Recall them when needed. Less effective, but it keeps our men alive.
What are your favorite battlefield tactics?
Submitted January 14, 2022 at 02:59AM by zarfac https://ift.tt/3I3lEwH
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